Chapter 62: “You’re so good, I like you for a lifetime…”

Lu Liu gently held his hand back and continued telling Lin Zhi what Yao Wenjing had shared with him.

That night, the debt collectors found nothing valuable at Yao Wenjing’s house. The place was in a mess, as if it had been looted. Late at night, Yao Wenjing curled up on his small bed, thinking about what the men had told him. Yao Kangping had accumulated a massive gambling debt. Unable to repay, he mortgaged his last house to borrow money at high interest. Now that the time had come to repay, they couldn’t contact Yao Kangping. Acting on behalf of the lender, the men had come to collect the debt. If Yao Kangping didn’t show up by the deadline, the house would be seized. Moreover, the remaining high-interest debt would be sought from him as well.

Yao Wenjing was shocked when he heard this, as he thought that his impoverished father hadn’t gambled much. He never expected the debt to be so large. While it was only right to repay a debt, Yao Wenjing felt he had lost the right to call the police.

The men, seeing that Yao Wenjing was still a student, felt some sympathy for him. They didn’t press him further, but they were workers themselves and couldn’t neglect their own jobs. Unable to contact Yao Kangping, they decided to wait at his house, thinking that Yao Kangping wouldn’t completely abandon his only son. However, they underestimated Yao Kangping’s cowardice. They waited for two days and nights, but never got any news of him.

With his timid nature, Yao Wenjing couldn’t even focus on taking the college entrance exam. He couldn’t eat during the day, and couldn’t sleep at night. His phone was broken, and he didn’t dare use someone else’s phone to contact Lin Zhi, fearing that his family’s troubles might drag Lin Zhi into the mess.

When the deadline for repaying the debt arrived, the lender took the house, and Yao Wenjing was naturally kicked out as well.

Lu Liu paused, closed his lips, and gently wrapped his arm around Lin Zhi’s shoulder.

Lin Zhi’s eyes were already red, bloodshot, and he struggled to steady his trembling voice. “What happened next?”

“Yao Wenjing didn’t go into specifics about what happened afterward,” Lu Liu whispered, “At such a young age, he was forced to enter society alone, without anyone to look out for him. Life must have been tough for him, and…”

Lu Liu paused again, then added, “And, one mistake could lead him down the wrong path.”

In that instant, Lin Zhi’s mind flashed to the scene of Yao Wenjing in a nightclub, mingling with a group of troubled youths.

Lin Zhi clenched his fist, smashing it onto the counter with a loud “bang.” “Scum!”

Lu Liu sighed lightly, took Lin Zhi’s clenched fist, gently pried his fingers open, and slipped his own hand inside, letting Lin Zhi press his fingers into the back of his hand.

“I’m so angry!” Lin Zhi’s heart was heavy, even though he had come back in time to change Yao Wenjing’s fate. Hearing this still made him feel unbearable pain. “That bastard man, he’s not even human! Yao Wenjing is such a fool, why didn’t he tell me? How could he not care whether he was dragging me down? And I’m such an idiot! Yao Wenjing must have been terrified back then, and I didn’t even know…”

“Alright, Lin Zhi, this isn’t your fault,” Lu Liu interrupted his rant, “It’s not Yao Wenjing’s fault either. You both wanted the best for each other. All that is in the past now, and everything is fine. Let’s not think about it anymore, alright?”

“I don’t want to think about it,” Lin Zhi replied with a sad face, “I just feel bad.”

Lu Liu wasn’t sure how to comfort Lin Zhi and awkwardly said, “If I had known you’d feel this bad, I wouldn’t have told you.”

“But you’ve already said it, and you said it so sincerely. When I think about what happened, I just feel so sorry for Yao Wenjing.”

Lu Liu was at a loss and said, “Fine, but now Yao Wenjing is doing well. I’ll give you five minutes to feel sorry for him, but if you take longer, I’ll get jealous.”

“…Do you still have a conscience, Lu Liu?” Lin Zhi said unhappily, “In a situation like this, you’re still jealous?”

“Why not?” Lu Liu replied cheekily, “Does being jealous have to follow rules about time and place? Anyway, I’m only concerned about the people involved.”

Lin Zhi: “…”

He was frustrated. There was no way to create a sad atmosphere.

“Quickly feel sorry for him,” Lu Liu kindly reminded, “You’ve already wasted half a minute. There’s only four and a half minutes left.”

“Feel sorry for you, my ass!” Lin Zhi pretended to punch his shoulder. “You said you’re jealous, how am I supposed to feel sorry for him?”

“What’s wrong with me being jealous?” Lu Liu muttered, “You don’t feel sorry for me.”

“Alright, alright, I feel sorry for you,” Lin Zhi nodded hurriedly. “You just want to make a fuss about everything. You’re such a child.”

Lu Liu lightly chuckled and didn’t argue. He raised their hands, tightly entwined, and kissed the back of Lin Zhi’s hand.

Just as his lips left the back of Lin Zhi’s hand, the convenience store curtain was lifted from the outside. Lin Zhi quickly hid their hands under the counter.

This time, it wasn’t a regular customer entering, but Lin Qingye, carrying a thermos lunch box. Lin Zhi was surprised, “Dad?”

Lu Liu quickly released Lin Zhi’s hand, putting on his usual warm smile, but he was actually flustered as he jumped up from his chair, stood straight, puffed out his chest, and almost saluted, before softening his posture and politely greeting, “Hello, Uncle.”

Lin Qingye, holding the lunch box, paused at the door, seeming a bit awkward. This was the first time he had seen the two of them together since learning about their relationship.

Although he still couldn’t fully accept two men being in a relationship, after meeting Lu Liu again, Lin Qingye couldn’t help but change his previous assessment of him. He started observing this young man with a gaze usually reserved for his son’s boyfriend.

He scrutinized for a long while but couldn’t figure out much. What caught his attention, though, was the posture of the two of them—too close for comfort.

The convenience store was small, especially the area behind the counter, but it wasn’t so cramped that two people sitting there would feel crowded. Why were they practically glued to each other?

He hadn’t seen the exact posture before Lu Liu stood up, but after that, Lin Zhi’s shoulder was pressed directly against Lu Liu’s thigh. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think Lin Zhi had a spinal problem and needed support even while sitting.

Lin Zhi watched as his dad’s gaze bounced back and forth between him and Lu Liu, his face growing darker. He couldn’t tell what Lin Qingye was thinking, but it definitely wasn’t good.

Lin Zhi suddenly realized something was wrong. He hadn’t told Lu Liu that he impulsively came out to his father, who was still very angry about it. He couldn’t let Lin Qingye make things difficult for Lu Liu.

“Dad,” Lin Zhi broke the awkward silence, “What brings you here?”

Lin Qingye gave a vague chuckle and placed the lunch box down on the counter with a “thud.” “I brought you lunch, made by Wenjing.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Lin Zhi grinned, “You didn’t have to come all the way here.”

“I only brought one set of utensils,” Lin Qingye added, “Didn’t expect Lu Liu to be here as well.”

“Thanks, Uncle, but I don’t…”

“Well, there are chopsticks and a spoon,” Lin Zhi interrupted Lu Liu with a smile, “We can share.”

Lu Liu subtly nudged Lin Zhi with his knee, signaling him to tone it down.

Whether Lin Zhi noticed or not, this little gesture was clearly seen by Lin Qingye, who snorted softly through his nose. He couldn’t decide whether to leave or stay and supervise these two troublesome boys.

Lin Zhi, feeling he had already explained everything to his father, pretended to be carefree, openly showing his usual interactions with Lu Liu, without a care for what was going on in Lin Qingye’s mind.

Lin Qingye, neither embarrassed nor awkward, walked around the shelves, his eyes on the goods while his ears were trained to listen to the conversation between the two boys.

Lin Zhi asked Lu Liu whether he wanted to use the chopsticks or the spoon. Lu Liu, glancing at Lin Qingye’s figure, vaguely replied that either was fine.

Lu Liu suggested splitting the rice, but Lin Zhi shamelessly said they could eat it together, each taking a bite. The next moment, Lin Zhi made a sound, probably because Lu Liu stepped on his foot.

—

Lin Qingye circled the shelves and, just as Lin Zhi shouted that he wanted to use Lu Liu’s spoon to drink the soup, he forcefully lifted the curtain and left.

If he could, he really didn’t want to admit that Lin Zhi, with such a shameless attitude, was his son. They were so affectionate in front of him, who knows what they were like in private?

It was truly embarrassing. He would deal with Lin Zhi when he got home.

Lin Zhi watched his father leave in a hurry and couldn’t help but laugh, taking a big sip of soup from the lunch box, completely ignoring the spoon.

Lu Liu relaxed and smiled helplessly. “What’s the performance this time?”

“Being myself,” Lin Zhi wiped his mouth with a napkin, “Let my dad see how deep our love is.”

Whether Lin Qingye saw through it was another matter…

“I only saw that Uncle seemed a little upset,” Lu Liu asked, “Why did he act like that?”

“Mm,” Lin Zhi picked up a chicken wing and placed it on Lu Liu’s spoon, glancing at him as he said, “The night before yesterday, I told my dad you’re my boyfriend.”

Lu Liu widened his eyes slightly but didn’t speak. The chicken wing that fell from the spoon into the rice expressed his surprise.

“At first, he didn’t agree and even yelled at me,” Lin Zhi complained after a few days, and then confidently continued, “But after I persuaded him with both reason and emotion, I believe he’ll accept it soon. You see, he didn’t say anything today, right?”

“Mm.” Lu Liu looked at the lively expression on Lin Zhi’s face. Although he was skeptical about the latter part of what Lin Zhi said, his heart was full of emotions, overwhelmed with love and admiration. Lu Liu hoarsely called out, “Baby.”

“Huh?”

“You’re so good. I’ll love you for a lifetime.”

The sudden words of affection caught Lin Zhi off guard. He raised his hand to touch his warm ears, feeling embarrassed. “Only one lifetime? I’ve already liked you for two lifetimes.”

Lu Liu quickly leaned over and kissed Lin Zhi’s lips, saying, “You’re even better at ruining the mood than I am.”

“Hehe,” Lin Zhi stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, “Tastes like chicken wings.”

Lu Liu scooped up the chicken wing that had fallen into the rice and smiled, “I haven’t eaten it yet.”

“I ate it earlier.”

That night, after Lin Zhi closed the store and headed home, he took a detour to buy something. When he got home, it was past ten, and since Lin Qingye, who couldn’t stay up late, had already gone to bed, Yao Wenjing was waiting on the sofa playing on his phone, with only the hallway light on.

Hearing the door open, Yao Wenjing looked up at the entrance and quietly asked, “Why is it so late today?”

“I went to buy some food,” Lin Zhi showed him the paper bag in his hand, which contained hot, freshly made sugar-roasted chestnuts that emitted a delightful aroma. “Just in time to catch the last batch before they closed.”

“Wow—” This was Yao Wenjing’s favorite snack during the winter, and the sweet chestnuts made him crave them.

Lin Zhi placed the paper bag on the coffee table and, while Yao Wenjing reached for it, grabbed his wrist and briefly hugged him in a surprising move.

Yao Wenjing was somewhat confused. Aside from helping him clarify his feelings toward Lin Zhi earlier, they had never been so physically close. Boys’ friendships were never as delicate as girls’, and their way of expressing emotions had never been through physical contact.

Moreover, after knowing each other’s sexual orientation and Lin Zhi’s relationship with Lu Liu, although Yao Wenjing didn’t say it, he had unconsciously kept his distance from Lin Zhi.

“What’s wrong?” Yao Wenjing asked cautiously.

“Nothing,” Lin Zhi smiled and lightly patted his head. “Is Dad asleep?”

Yao Wenjing widened his eyes in confusion but didn’t ask further. “He went in about ten minutes ago. Not sure if he’s asleep yet.”

“I’ll go check.” Lin Zhi grabbed a bag of chestnuts, walked to Lin Qingye’s door, lightly knocked twice, and then pushed the door open slightly. Seeing the light still on inside, he fully opened the door. “Dad, want a late-night snack?”

Lin Qingye, leaning against the headboard, was still reading with his reading glasses on. Upon hearing Lin Zhi’s question, he answered, “No, I’m not eating.”

“Come on, have some, it’s delicious while it’s hot.” Lin Zhi acted like a sales person for sugar-roasted chestnuts, closing the door and walking up to Lin Qingye’s bedside. “Are you studying the game?”

Lin Qingye, with his glasses perched on his nose, raised his eyes to glance at him, signaling with a look—Isn’t this a question you already know the answer to?

Lin Zhi touched his nose, placed the chestnuts on the bedside table, and picked one that was peeled whole, handing it to Lin Qingye. “This bag doesn’t have sugar roasted on it, I specifically bought it for you.”

Lin Qingye couldn’t resist, put down the game manual, took the chestnut, and chewed it, muttering indistinctly, “If you have something to say, just say it, don’t do this kind of thing.”

The unpleasantness earlier when he delivered lunch hadn’t been settled yet, and he had planned to let it go because it was already late, but now Lin Zhi still insisted on pushing it.

“Nothing, I just wanted to share some food with you,” Lin Zhi said with a pout, “What kind of person do you think your son is?”

Lin Qingye laughed angrily. Now that he remembered, this was his son. How come he didn’t think like this when Lin Zhi was acting pretentious earlier?

After sharing the food, Lin Zhi didn’t leave, continuing to eat the chestnuts.

Lin Qingye watched him eat one after another and, feeling his appetite stirred, peeled one himself, saying, “Wasn’t this for me? Looks like you want to eat it yourself.”

Lin Zhi pretended not to hear him, but when he ate, he sighed dramatically, with a sigh for every chestnut he ate.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Qingye, annoyed, said, “You’ve been messing around with your boyfriend all day, and you’re still not happy?”