DLRAS Chapter 164 [If Grew Up With You]

Chapter 164: Going abroad together

“It’s not that I’m being old-fashioned or superstitious, but I’ve already consulted two masters, and after all, both of them said the exact same thing.” Huo Meijie lowered her voice, seizing a moment when no one else was around to complain to her nephew. “That child has a harsh destiny, bringing bad luck to his close relatives. He really isn’t suited to be brought into our home.”

“The words of these masters can actually just be taken with a grain of salt. If you believe it, it exists; if you don’t, it doesn’t,” Huo Niansheng said.

“But look at his biological parents—both of them passed away at such a young age… Sigh, there are some things you just can’t help but believe.”

Huo Niansheng merely smiled faintly.

He was sitting in the Zheng family’s living room, and the cup of hot tea before him had already gone cold.

Huo Meijie paused her complaints temporarily and gestured, calling over a domestic helper to replace it with a fresh cup for him.

She observed this son of her eldest brother. In truth, Huo Niansheng had only recently entered adulthood. While other young men his age were usually preoccupied with having fun, projecting an aura of pure, innocent aimlessness, Huo Niansheng possessed a precocious maturity. Every gesture and movement of his already exuded a deep sense of composure.

As a result, Huo Meijie would often find herself unconsciously treating him as someone she could consult and discuss matters with, someone capable of making decisions.

At this moment, what flickered across Huo Niansheng’s mind was the image of that tiny toddler clad in a school uniform—a white shirt embroidered with the school’s name, suspender shorts, and calf-length socks. The child had stood there in a thoroughly proper, timid manner as the butler led him out, facing the evaluating gazes of the crowd.

The boy’s arrival at the Zheng household had occurred the year before last.

Taking a sip of his tea, Huo Niansheng asked, “Uncle shouldn’t be affected, right? At the end of the day, he’s only an adoptive father. How could any ‘harsh destiny’ possibly rebound onto him?”

Huo Meijie replied, “If that were truly the case, I wouldn’t be this worried. Niansheng, to tell you the truth, for the entirety of last year, it felt as though our family had offended the Grand Duke Jupiter—absolutely nothing went smoothly. One moment your uncle was having heart problems, the next the company hit a major snag, and then Maoxun suffered an allergy attack so severe he nearly went into shock. If he… truly brings bad luck to those around him, who knows who will be affected next? Your uncle barely kept his life after that car accident the year before last; he can’t handle being repeatedly shaken up like this. My heart hangs in suspense every single day; I truly can’t even find peace in my dreams.”

Hearing this, Huo Niansheng asked, “Then what does Aunt mean by this? Do you want to find a reason to send him back?”

Huo Meijie looked weighed down by worry. “I certainly urged your uncle to consider it, but he doesn’t say a word. I have no idea what on earth he is thinking.”

As Huo Niansheng set his teacup back onto the coffee table, she proceeded to overturn her own words: “Actually, his thoughts aren’t difficult to guess either—nothing more than fearing that outsiders will gossip, thinking that his adoption of the child back then was merely putting on a show, and that we would sweep him out of the house the moment the dust settled. You know how nasty the media can be with their words. Even if just for the sake of his own reputation, your uncle could never do such a thing.”

Huo Niansheng pondered for a moment. “Actually, it’s not entirely without a solution. What if, for example, we send him to a boarding school?”

These words struck a chord right in Huo Meijie’s heart; it wasn’t that she hadn’t considered it before. “But… there are still issues. For one thing, during the summer and winter vacations, he would ultimately have to come back to stay. For another, there’s no way to explain it—with so many children in the family, why would we only send him to a boarding school?”

Huo Niansheng cast a glance at Huo Meijie. She was draped in a cashmere shawl, her face exceptionally well-maintained, showing almost no wrinkles.

Yet, compared to her younger days, her nasolabial folds had ultimately become much more pronounced, standing out against her smooth skin.

He smiled faintly. “Then wouldn’t going abroad work? That could be considered as well.”

“Going abroad to study? Is that feasible?”

“It’s just studying abroad. In this day and age, it’s a very normal thing.”

“That’s true. But which country would be appropriate, in your opinion?”

“How about this, I’ll go look into it first,” Huo Niansheng said. “As you know, Aunt, I happen to be heading to the UK to study. There are many renowned boarding schools over there. If Wengang meets the criteria, we can have him go over. With me over there as a relative, I can look after him as much as possible. This way, you won’t have to worry about outsiders gossiping, thinking that you’re treating him poorly. What do you think?”

“Ah—” Huo Meijie fell silent for a brief moment, seemingly weighing the matter in her mind.

However, she was already thoroughly swayed. “That could work, it’s just… would it be too much trouble for you?”

Huo Niansheng replied, “It’s fine, it’s only right. I see that he is very well-behaved. As long as he is willing himself, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Just before he departed, Huo Meijie suddenly hesitated again. “It’s not that I want to drive him away either. Speaking of this child’s background, he truly is pitiful. But tell me, who wouldn’t prioritize their own family members first? I’m even a bit worried about you. What if you live with him over the long term…”

Huo Niansheng laughed. “Don’t say that. I’ve never cared about these superstitions to begin with. To take ten thousand steps back, no matter what the masters say, I am not his blood relative, so I am not that easily doomed to suffer misfortune.”

Outside the window, a sparrow flapped its wings and took flight from a branch.

Two months later, the dust settled.

Chen Wengang’s departure to study abroad became a finalized arrangement, with the various procedures mostly completed.

Zheng Baochu was the one most reluctant to see him go, the little girl crying until her eyes turned completely red. Zheng Yucheng couldn’t accept it either, running off to ask Zheng Bingyi why he absolutely had to send Chen Wengang away. He strongly suspected this was a malicious plot engineered by his stepmother, Huo Meijie, but the confrontation resulted in nothing more than a harsh scolding.

Chen Wengang comforted him inside his bedroom. “Don’t be sad. Sooner or later, I will return in the future.”

Zheng Yucheng grumbled with a sense of injustice, “Did she threaten you? She fundamentally just wants to drive you out!”

Chen Wengang offered a gentle smile. “No, she didn’t. It’s just that I personally feel going abroad to study sounds quite interesting.”

Zheng Yucheng murmured and whined, but ultimately having no other solution available, he gifted him a Transformers toy.

Despite speaking so lightly, the closer it got to the departure date, the more anxious Chen Wengang became, to the point of being unable to sleep.

When he was called into the study to have a conversation with Zheng Bingyi and Huo Meijie, Chen Wengang had actually been completely dazed.

He had lived in Jincheng since childhood, where looking up meant seeing the square patch of sky bounded by the courtyard. Having arrived at the Zheng residence two years ago, he had adapted to the life here at his own pace. Meanwhile, the so-called “abroad” resembled an uncharted abyss; he had no idea what kind of place it truly was.

What did the streets look like? What kind of lessons were taught in the school? What kind of people were the teachers and classmates? Would they be easy to get along with? Would he be able to make friends? Would he still be able to watch his favorite television programs?

His limited imagination made it impossible to preview his future life; he merely sensed that his adoptive father wished for him to nod and agree.

With the goal of helping him adapt to the linguistic environment of an English-speaking country, a private tutor provided intensive cramming sessions for two months. Even though Chen Wengang’s English grades were decent, he was still left completely dizzy. Sometimes when he grew anxious, the grammar rules would clash inside his head, leaving him unable to distinguish which language he was even speaking.

When Huo Niansheng spotted that tiny, fully braced figure at the airport, the boy was still clutching a vocabulary booklet, muttering words under his breath.

Uncle Lin had brought along the family driver to escort Chen Wengang to the terminal building.

Ordinarily, if no one else was traveling along, the driver would have purchased an extra ticket to escort him through the entire journey. However, because Huo Niansheng had stated he could take care of him and had brought along a personal bodyguard, Chen Wengang was placed into his hands after Uncle Lin bombarded the boy with a thousand reminders and exhortations.

With one hand tucked into his pocket, Huo Niansheng extended his other hand toward Chen Wengang. “Come here.”

Chen Wengang turned his head back to look at Uncle Lin. Uncle Lin patted him. “Go on. Make sure to listen to this older brother, and call back home once you arrive.”

He stepped forward, tentatively grasping Huo Niansheng’s fingers.

Huo Niansheng burst out laughing. “Why are you suddenly getting shy? I bought you ice cream last time, don’t you remember?”

Chen Wengang waved his hand to bid farewell to Uncle Lin and the driver.

Chen Wengang’s luggage consisted of one large piece and one small piece, but Huo Niansheng carried even less than him—possessing only a single suitcase. They passed through the security checkpoint one by one. The bodyguard gathered all the suitcases, finding a trolley to strap them onto, leaving the older youth and the small child facing each other.

Chen Wengang wasn’t unfamiliar with Huo Niansheng to begin with, yet under the present circumstances, he had no idea what to say.

Huo Niansheng proactively smiled instead. “Let’s go.”

Chen Wengang trailed behind him. Feeling embarrassed to keep holding his hand continuously, he unconsciously let go of his grip in secret.

Huo Niansheng spun around, abruptly snatching him by the wrist. “Keep up properly. With so many people around, if I lose sight of you for a single second, be careful or you’ll end up being sold off.”

Chen Wengang let out an ah, staring up at him with wide eyes.

Huo Niansheng intimidated him: “Do you know what happens to people who get human-trafficked? They’ll sell you into the deep mountains, and if you don’t listen, you’ll get beaten…”

Chen Wengang leaned in closer, tightly clutching his hand and pasting himself right against him.

A passenger passed by dragging two massive suitcases, and Huo Niansheng shielded him, stepping back slightly to avoid them.

The bodyguard followed closely behind pushing the small trolley, and the airport staff assisted them in checking in their large pieces of luggage.

Now, Chen Wengang was left with nothing but a personal backpack to carry with him. Huo Niansheng led him by the hand just like that, passing through border control and security. The airport was massive; they walked for ages without seeing the end. It was Chen Wengang’s very first time taking a plane, and he followed the two adults in a state of utter bewilderment.

Their strides were too large, forcing Chen Wengang to practically trot the entire way to keep up.

As it turned out, upon arriving at the boarding gate, an announcement broadcasted that due to weather conditions, the flight was delayed and would take off three hours later than scheduled.

The tickets purchased were for first class, which granted access to a dedicated lounge complete with comfortable sofas and a large-screen television. The staff brought over drinks and snacks, and Chen Wengang sat properly, right next to Huo Niansheng.

The beautiful attendant took a great liking to him, asking if he wanted to watch a cartoon.

The screen began playing Finding Nemo. Nemo was taken away from the ocean, and his timid father embarked on a rescue mission.

Chen Wengang watched with rapt attention. Huo Niansheng looked down, observing his backpack. “What do you have packed inside here?”

The boy was so deeply absorbed that it took him a moment to react. Chen Wengang pulled open the zipper to show him. His identification documents were stored within the inner compartment, while the center of the backpack held two changes of clothes and stationery. The item occupying the most space was a black Transformers toy, looking mighty and cool.

Huo Niansheng smiled faintly, pulling the Transformers toy out to fiddle with it.

Chen Wengang opened his mouth but hesitated, ultimately saying nothing. It seemed he felt the older youth wouldn’t break it, generously letting him play with it as he pleased.

Huo Niansheng transformed the toy into a different mode. He looked down; Chen Wengang’s eyes had fixed back onto the television screen, his expression shifting dynamically along with the experiences of Nemo’s father. No matter what this child did, he always seemed to possess an exceptionally earnest quality.

Huo Niansheng couldn’t recall what he himself had been like at this age. He simply felt that some children grew up a bit faster, while others grew up slower. It was hard to say whether Chen Wengang belonged to the fast category or the slow one; compared to his peer Zheng Yucheng, he always appeared to carry a few more traces of childish innocence. Yet he wasn’t dense by any means; in a certain sense, his mind was more sensitive and mature.

It was just that he lacked the self-righteousness and arrogance unique to boys of this age. When he looked at you, it felt as though he knew everything in his heart, he just refused to express it easily.

Midway through, another flight delay was announced. Having woken up early in the morning and eaten a little something, drowsiness unconsciously crept over Chen Wengang.

By the time he was nudged awake, he saw that the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was filled with the evening glow, a blazing fire coloring half the sky red.

He was nestled inside someone’s embrace. Rubbing his eyes as he sat up, his mind was entirely blank—not knowing what day it was, nor where he was.

Huo Niansheng’s voice echoed from above his head, “What’s wrong? Slept yourself into a daze?”

In an instant, Chen Wengang remembered everything.

He was about to leave his homeland, crossing the vast ocean to go to a very distant place.

Huo Niansheng lifted him up. Still carrying the grogginess of someone who hadn’t fully woken up, Chen Wengang clutched his coat hem as they walked out.

After boarding, their seats were right next to each other. The space within the first-class cabin was incredibly spacious, and Chen Wengang began looking around with curiosity. The flight attendant came over to assist him in buckling his seatbelt, gently reminding him not to unbuckle it before the aircraft ascended. Then, the plane slowly moved, taxiing, and taking off.

The temperature inside the cabin grew colder and colder. Even though Chen Wengang had already pulled out his jacket from his backpack to put on, it was still insufficient to keep him warm.

He hugged his backpack, shivering imperceptibly. He had never imagined that flying on a plane would be such a freezing experience. Suddenly, a blanket was tossed right over his head. He pulled the fabric down, meeting Huo Niansheng’s eyes, which were observing him with a half-smile.

“If you’re cold, just call for someone,” Huo Niansheng raised his eyebrows. “Don’t you know how to speak up?”

Chen Wengang didn’t feel annoyed either, murmuring softly, “Thank you.”

Huo Niansheng shot him a sidelong glance, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. Folding both hands over his stomach, he closed his eyes and went to sleep on his own.

After a long flight, the massive aircraft roared as it touched down at Heathrow Airport.

The moment they entered the airport terminal hall, the world turned completely upside down, altering its appearance entirely—everywhere his eyes looked were blond-haired and blue-eyed foreigners, and his ears were filled with the rapid chatter of a foreign tongue. Chen Wengang could catch fragments, seemingly able to comprehend a portion, yet finding it highly difficult to keep up entirely.

He was small in stature. Looking up, from the shop signs to the directional indicators, this was a completely unfamiliar territory.

Chen Wengang felt anxious. Huo Niansheng and the bodyguard—possessing the same faces and speaking the same language—had truly become his sole reliance now.

They boarded a very long car and drove for an exceptionally long time. The place where they settled down was an apartment featuring luxurious decor and a row of vintage bay windows. This was a property under Huo Kaishan’s name, fully staffed with a butler, a nanny, and a driver.

Upon arriving at the destination, Chen Wengang was already utterly exhausted. Coupled with the jet lag, once he reached the guest room prepared for him, he fell asleep for a whole day and night.

The butler was British. Following the instructions of Huo Meijie and Huo Niansheng, he took on the responsibility of looking after Chen Wengang during his stay.

He possessed an unsmiling demeanor, yet he was decently patient, slowing down his speaking speed to communicate with Chen Wengang and guiding him to familiarize himself with the surrounding environment.

Meanwhile, Huo Niansheng had his own life, turning into someone who left early and returned late.

For many consecutive days, Chen Wengang could only catch a glimpse of him twice a day, in the morning and evening.

At his age, he naturally possessed an innate admiration for an older brother figure. Coupled with the reliance stemming from being fellow countrymen, it was inevitable that he gradually came to view Huo Niansheng as his pillar of support. It was just that Huo Niansheng didn’t seem to share the same sentiment.

As long as he ensured someone was watching over Chen Wengang, he considered his duty of care fulfilled.

By the final weekend before the school term commenced, Chen Wengang returned from outside with the butler, only to find someone leaning by the window making a phone call.

This was a rare sunny day. The sunlight poured through the window panes, dividing light and shadow across Huo Niansheng’s face. Speaking in an unhurried cadence, he disconnected the line and maintained a smile as he looked over. Huo Niansheng appeared to be in a good mood; he proactively asked Chen Wengang, “Are you about to start school?”

Chen Wengang gave a well-behaved response.

Huo Niansheng pondered for a moment. “How about I take you out to have some fun tomorrow?”

Chen Wengang nodded. While maintaining a calm face, his heart was actually leaping with joy.

The following day, Huo Niansheng truly fulfilled his promise, taking him on a one-day tour of London.

They went to Hyde Park early in the morning to look at the ducks and swans in the Serpentine, then visited the National Gallery, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey, followed by a view of Big Ben. The two found a place near the River Thames to have lunch, then took a cruise boat passing by the Tower of London and the Millennium Bridge, browsed through various street-side shops, and ultimately wrapped up the day at a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.

Chen Wengang held a Nutcracker soldier doll that Huo Niansheng had bought for him, rubbing its smooth, hard hat, practically unable to put it down.

Returning to the apartment in the evening, he let out a yawn and heard Huo Niansheng ask, “Are you getting used to living over here?”

Chen Wengang nodded. Clutching the doll in his hand, he thought about it for a second and wrapped his arms around the older youth’s waist for a brief embrace.

Huo Niansheng patted the top of his head. “Once you’ve played enough, gather your thoughts and focus on studying well.”

A child’s ability to adapt to a new environment was actually faster than an adult’s; for them, homesickness was often an emotion that could only be understood much later. Having been here for a period of time, Chen Wengang was no longer that terrified. He gradually grew familiar with the new lifestyle.

The butler escorted him to the boarding school. By the time Huo Niansheng remembered him again, it already felt as though he hadn’t seen Chen Wengang for a very long time.

In truth, it hadn’t been that long—two months, neither particularly long nor short.

Huo Niansheng had his own studies and life, and he also knew that Chen Wengang was being looked after by teachers and staff at the boarding school. It was just that every day when he returned to the apartment, the absence of that little fellow who used to revolve around him—while foolishly assuming he was hiding it well—made the place feel somewhat empty.

Unsure if this constituted a premonition, Huo Niansheng received a phone call that evening; the incoming number belonged to Chen Wengang.

Once connected, the other end remained completely silent. Huo Niansheng asked, “Is something the matter?”

The opposite side still offered no words for a long time, with nothing but faint breathing sounds traveling through the radio waves.

After asking a few more times without receiving an answer, Huo Niansheng raised his eyebrows. “Then I’m hanging up.”

Chen Wengang murmured softly, “Don’t.” He finally spoke up in a hesitant manner, “I… miss you a little bit.”

Huo Niansheng let out a brief laugh. He thought about it. “Is someone bullying you at school?”

Chen Wengang replied, “No. It’s just that none of them can speak Chinese, so I feel a little lonely.”

The phone call concluded just like that. It was merely a child feeling homesick, lacking any substantial meaning.

Huo Niansheng pushed open the door to the guest room—this was the room that had consistently been allocated for Chen Wengang to stay in. A few personal items were stored inside, not many, and they were arranged exceptionally neatly. He hadn’t brought his toys to school; a cool Transformers toy sat on the bookshelf, and standing right next to it was that Nutcracker soldier, holding a rifle in a mighty, majestic stance, its round eyes staring down at the intruder from its high perch.

Come Friday, Huo Niansheng remembered something, freeing up his schedule to drive down to the boarding school.

He went to find the housemaster first to understand Chen Wengang’s situation at school.

The school Chen Wengang attended was a public school with a long history—an elite all-boys institution. The Zheng family’s ability to send him here certainly didn’t count as mistreating him. Both the housemaster and the course teachers validated Chen Wengang’s performance; he was highly diligent. While receiving instruction in English had been a bit difficult at the absolute beginning, he used his spare time every day to flip through the dictionary, and he was already capable of keeping up with the curriculum. The other boys didn’t bully him either, and the interactions between classmates were decently inclusive.

It was just that the cultural backgrounds and customs these children had been exposed to since childhood were entirely different from what Chen Wengang knew. Coupled with his introverted personality and quiet nature, even if others didn’t intentionally isolate him, he always found it highly difficult to blend in when the others were chatting enthusiastically.

Furthermore, the students capable of attending this kind of school mostly hailed from elite families, possessing endless talents in sports and arts. The school held various sports, competitions, and club activities year-round; while others participated in them, Chen Wengang needed to spend a vast amount of time consulting the dictionary and reviewing his schoolwork.

Even with the housemaster’s deliberate encouragement, he still lacked sufficient energy to participate in activities, let alone forge friendships.

Outside the dormitory entrance, a solitary Chen Wengang clearly had his eyes light up the moment he spotted Huo Niansheng.

Clutching his textbooks in his arms, he practically skipped over in bounds. “Why are you here?”

Huo Niansheng smiled and said, “Didn’t you say you missed me? I’m taking you out to grab a meal.”

The food in the school dining hall was predominantly Western cuisine. While the nutrition was technically sufficient, Chen Wengang had already prematurely developed a sense of world-weariness toward fish and chips, burgers, and bread that didn’t belong to this age group.

Consequently, when Huo Niansheng brought him back to Chinatown, the boy kept both hands pressed against the car window, staring longingly at the signs overhead.

Huo Niansheng stepped on the brake, shooting a sidelong glance at him before failing to hold back a burst of laughter.

The majority of Chinese restaurants abroad underwent localization to adapt to the tastes of the locals, making it truly difficult to locate an authentic one.

Fortunately, the young master found one, and the flavor was quite good—Chen Wengang was elegantly using his chopsticks to pick up pieces of Kung Pao chicken one after another. The older youth rested his chin on one hand while using his other hand to pick up a spoon, suddenly scooping up a massive portion and boisterously dropping it into the small bowl before the boy.

Chen Wengang looked up, and Huo Niansheng smiled. “It’s just the two of us, there are no outsiders. No need to eat so delicately.”

Then, he pulled out a thin pancake, wrapped it with roast duck and shredded cucumber, added sweet bean sauce, rolled it up, and handed it to Chen Wengang.

Due to a slight oversight, the back of the pancake was smudged with sauce. Chen Wengang wanted to take it, but found no clean spot to grab.

Huo Niansheng gestured with his eyes.

Hesitating for a moment, the boy leaned forward against the other’s hand and directly took a massive bite, filling his mouth with fragrance.

For some reason, Chen Wengang felt that today’s Huo Niansheng was a bit different, as if he were harboring some words he wanted to voice.

Having eaten and drunk their fill under a deep night sky, they went for a stroll, even walking quite a distance until they stood on a bridge to catch the breeze.

The cool wind blew gently, making it exceptionally comfortable. Huo Niansheng suddenly asked Chen Wengang, “Do you regret agreeing to come out and study?”

Clutching his coat hem without letting go, Chen Wengang asked in confusion, “What?”

Huo Niansheng smiled faintly. “Actually, suggesting to send you out was my idea. But I don’t know if, when you fully process it in the future, you will end up hating me for it.”

Chen Wengang stared at him blankly, seemingly failing to comprehend the meaning of these words—wondering why the conversation had suddenly jumped to a topic as heavy as hatred.

Yet he was precocious after all, quickly catching on. “Is it because they didn’t want me to remain at Adoptive Father’s house?”

Huo Niansheng let out an oh. “You knew?”

Chen Wengang stared at the pitch-black surface of the water, his voice incredibly small. “That Master Qiu said it. I overheard him outside the window. He said my Bazi profile was unfavorable, that my connection with close relatives was weak, and that I had to stay far away from parents and brothers to guarantee the peace of the household. So… it must have left everyone in a very difficult position, right?”

Huo Niansheng said, “What ‘master’? He’s talking absolute bullsh*t.”

It was Chen Wengang’s very first time hearing him use profanity, yet he burst into a laugh, his eyes curving into two crescent moons.

A moment later, Huo Niansheng turned the boy’s face around to look straight at him. Looking down, he met Chen Wengang’s gaze. “In reality, no matter who we are, it is highly difficult to possess true freedom. It’s just that for someone like me, I happen to enjoy watching the chaos unfold, and sometimes I like to meddle in business that isn’t mine. As I see it, you staying in the Zheng family would be like being stuck to a spiderweb; you would find yourself helpless at every turn in the future. So I couldn’t help but feel a bit curious—if we changed the environment, what would you grow up to look like? My taking the initiative to bring you to a place this far away might be an opportunity you can grasp, or it might be a completely erroneous decision. In truth, no one knows what the future holds. Can you understand what I mean?”

He felt for the lighter in his pocket. “If you truly want to go back—transferring back to study domestically—it’s still not too late right now.”

Chen Wengang looked at him, shaking his head almost without a second thought. “It’s fine, there’s no need.”

An inexplicable surge of impulse prompted him to wrap his arms tightly around Huo Niansheng’s waist. He seemed to deeply enjoy embracing Huo Niansheng like this.

“I can work hard to adapt to the school. And… I prefer living together with you.”

Huo Niansheng seemed taken aback, pausing for several seconds before slowly laughing. “Me? What’s so good about me?”

Chen Wengang spoke honestly, “You care about me.”

The smile on Huo Niansheng’s lips seemed to deepen slightly, and he raised his hand to pat the boy’s back.

They spent a while longer chatting about random things, predominantly with Huo Niansheng keeping Chen Wengang company to discuss topics the boy cared about. Regarding school, he told Chen Wengang, “How about this, from now on you come home whenever the weekend arrives. Don’t stay in the UK for too long and end up forgetting your Chinese.”

This promise constituted an absolute pleasant surprise, to the point that Chen Wengang’s eyes turned bright, practically illuminating Huo Niansheng’s face.

Huo Niansheng let out a breath, resting his hand on his shoulder and asking, “Are there any other troubles at school?”

Chen Wengang initially shook his head to say no, but then remembered something. Looking cautious, he gave the older youth’s sleeve a gentle tug.

Huo Niansheng bent his body down, leaning close to Chen Wengang’s ear. He felt that the boy had gathered an immense amount of courage before finally making up his mind to speak, murmuring a couple of words: “One of my teeth hurts…”

Huo Niansheng froze for a second. “A toothache?”

That was indeed the reality. Chen Wengang’s back-right molar had been aching for a long time, but he felt too embarrassed to trouble the teachers, and equally embarrassed to inform the butler, so he had consistently endured it until now. Of course, this was his own explanation; perhaps it only accounted for a portion of the reason.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the clinic, Huo Niansheng realized that the greater probability was that the boy was terrified of seeing the dentist.

Chen Wengang trailed behind Huo Niansheng, adopting a stance that looked like he wanted to flee but didn’t dare to. When the appointment time arrived, he was dragged inside to see the dentist.

After taking X-rays and undergoing a diagnosis, it turned out a wisdom tooth was growing in the back, and because it was crooked, it could only be extracted.

The nerve-racking sound of an electric drill echoed from the curtained treatment room, buzzing away as if boring straight into his bones. Chen Wengang’s palm-sized face turned white as paper. Huo Niansheng sat on a chair, and Chen Wengang clutched his hand tightly, even attempting to pretend he couldn’t understand the nurse’s words.

Huo Niansheng nearly burst out laughing, stroking his head. “Be a bit brave, go on inside.”

Chen Wengang remained stubbornly motionless, his feet looking as if they had grown nails anchoring them to the floor.

Huo Niansheng leaned across, offering him a warm embrace. “Don’t be afraid. They’ll administer anesthesia, it won’t hurt. If it hurts, you can come out and hit me.”

As if drawing a wave of strength from his body, Chen Wengang finally let go of Huo Niansheng’s hand.

When the boy emerged, Huo Niansheng patiently walked over and embraced him once more. “See? It didn’t hurt, right?”

Chen Wengang possessed absolutely no desire to argue back, hanging limply against his body in a thoroughly drained state.

Having finally cleared this catastrophe, the school granted him two days of leave. Chen Wengang’s spirits remained low, and under the butler’s care, he consumed liquid food for a few days. It wasn’t until the wound healed and he went to the clinic to have the stitches removed that he regained his lively, energetic self and returned to school.

Following this incident, whenever Friday arrived, Huo Niansheng kept his word to pick him up and bring him home.

When he had spare time, he would drive down personally; when he didn’t, the butler would fulfill the task instead. As time went on, Chen Wengang developed a special reliance on him. To the boy, Huo Niansheng felt like a father and an older brother, while also sharing the same cultural roots—resembling his sole connection to his homeland.

Huo Niansheng also possessed an exceptional patience toward Chen Wengang. When Chen Wengang didn’t know how to ride a bicycle, he found a plaza to teach him.

When Chen Wengang needed to make a traditional Chinese kite for a handicraft class, Huo Niansheng raised his eyebrows and accompanied him to study how to frame the bamboo split.

Coupled with holidays and vacations, over these few years, they didn’t merely travel across the UK; they left their footprints across various European countries to some extent. In the blink of an eye, four years slipped away, and Huo Niansheng’s university life drew to a close.

He stood by the bay window, watching two boys approach from a distance. Both looked to be in their teens—one was Chen Wengang, and the other was his classmate named Michael. They were chatting and laughing, waving goodbye in front of the apartment entrance.

Chen Wengang entered the door, initially startled before turning joyful. “Didn’t you return to the country? When did you arrive?”

Huo Niansheng extended his arms, catching his embrace. “I just got home. Who was that waving at you down there?”

Chen Wengang said, “He’s a classmate of mine who took Chinese as an elective. He wanted to ask how to pass the HSK Chinese Proficiency Test.”

Huo Niansheng gazed deeply at him. He naturally knew who this Michael was—starting out by using language learning as an excuse to strike up a friendship with Chen Wengang, and through all this practicing of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, the number of times they went out together grew more frequent, to the point of chasing him right to his home.

As Chen Wengang poured him a glass of water, Huo Niansheng leaned against the edge of the table. “Huo Zhenfei’s intention is to have me return to work at a subsidiary company of the Huo Corporation.”

He noted the smile on Chen Wengang’s face gradually fading away, replaced by a proper, serious expression.

Chen Wengang hesitated, testing the waters: “Then… are you returning to the country to work?”

Huo Niansheng smiled and leaned in close to him instead. “Are you reluctant to see me leave?”

Chen Wengang smiled faintly, giving him a gentle push. “This is serious business. If it’s time to leave, of course you should go.”

He pondered for another moment. “I still have three years before I start university. When that time comes, I can return as well…”

However, Huo Niansheng stated calmly, “Leaving isn’t a certainty; I’ve already declined it.”

Chen Wengang froze. “Why?”

Huo Niansheng laughed. “What do you think?”

The setting sun poured through the window. Huo Niansheng set the glass onto the windowsill; the water inside sloshed slightly but didn’t spill out.

“Wengang,” Huo Niansheng smoothed his hair with near-tenderness. “In truth, I’ve never considered myself a good person, nor do I like to advertise myself as such. But I’m willing to say it bluntly—you are different to me. Perhaps everyone calculates their own investments; at least for me, I spent several years accompanying you as you grew up, and this process carries a special meaning for me. Things having reached this point, I have no intention of abandoning it halfway, nor do I plan on casually returning to the country. At the very least, before you graduate, I will not abandon you here alone.”

Chen Wengang looked at him with worry. “Then what about your work?”

Huo Niansheng replied, “There are branch offices over here just the same. Besides, I believe Huo Zhenfei can find some tasks that he needs me to handle for him.”

He spoke with deep meaning. Chen Wengang seemed to let out a sigh of relief; he burst into a smile, abruptly snatching Huo Niansheng’s glass away to place it back onto the table.

Huo Niansheng stared at his silhouette. Chen Wengang had grown up and grown taller; his body was shooting up rapidly, to the point of occasionally making a fuss about leg pains in the middle of the night.

Simultaneously, his physical features had fully opened up, his contours shedding their childish aura to transform into a refined, gentle appearance.

This entire process of growth was one Huo Niansheng had participated in completely. He was thoroughly familiar with every single preference Chen Wengang had held since childhood, remembered when his physical development occurred, when his voice broke, and when his Adam’s apple began to protrude. He also knew every single habit, every tiny gesture, and every single thing Chen Wengang wished to accomplish in the future. Before those milestones were completed, he possessed no intention of withdrawing and walking away.

Chen Wengang turned around, meeting his gaze. “Then three years from now, once I graduate, how will we make our decision?”

Huo Niansheng chuckled. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, consider what we’re having for dinner tonight; I’ll take you out.”

They still possessed a vast amount of time to spend together, so there was no rush. The story of the future would only unfold further once the protected child had fully grown up.

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