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Chapter 43: “The past cannot be changed, but the future can still be pursued.”
He locked the main door of the teaching building tightly with a key, and then the gate at the entrance was shut with a clang.
Huo Niansheng patiently waited behind him.
It was like a cheetah guarding its prey, never leaving its side.
Chen Wengang certainly wouldn’t run away; Huo Niansheng had arranged the meeting with him the day before.
A high-end French restaurant, two VIP tickets for the opera “Turandot.”
This was a standard dating process.
Huo Niansheng pulled out a bouquet of Rhodes roses from the car. They were the most standard bright red, with a rich texture, and the flowers were as big as fists.
Chen Wengang smiled and took them, saying, “Thank you.”
Huo Niansheng opened the car door for him, saying, “Let’s go; let’s find a place to eat first.”
Suddenly, a roll of thunder echoed on the road, dark clouds gathered, and soon, raindrops densely pelted the car windows, turning the sky and ground black.
At the entrance, Huo Niansheng got out of the car first, pulled out an umbrella from the Rolls-Royce, and then gallantly opened it for Chen Wengang.
He tossed the keys to the parking attendant, and the doorman slightly bowed, wearing a professional smile, as he opened the door for them.
The inclement weather did not affect tonight’s arrangements; everything was carefully chosen. The restaurant had been reserved exclusively for only two guests. The violin’s melodious sound filled the air, creating an elegant atmosphere. The head chef personally came to inquire about the dining experience and if there were any improvements needed.
With each course, the cutlery was changed inside out. Chen Wengang wiped the corners of his mouth with a dining napkin, displaying flawless etiquette.
Huo Niansheng relaxed against the chair back, his gaze following Chen Wengang’s every move.
Both of them knew where this date was headed.
After “Turandot” concluded, the formally dressed audience stood and applauded. As the opera came to an end, the crowd slowly moved toward the theater exit.
All of this was part of a prolonged prelude, building up the atmosphere to its peak.
Finally, Huo Niansheng brought Chen Wengang to a hotel.
Five-star, as mentioned before—finding a good place.
Huo Niansheng’s intentions were clear; he went through a well-thought-out plan to make Chen Wengang truly accept him. Though the plot was cliché, its effectiveness mattered. Emotions were already running high today, and both knew what to expect. Chen Wengang sat on the bed, tilting his head up.
Huo Niansheng leaned in, one knee pressed against the bed, leaving a deep impression.
His thumb was warm as he touched under Chen Wengang’s eyes: “Look at me later, okay?”
The intense gaze across from him made Chen Wengang’s breath uneven. His long fingers slid into Huo Niansheng’s hair.
He gave permission with his own words: “You can do whatever you want.”
Huo Niansheng’s neck lowered, and he heard Chen Wengang repeat in his ear, “You can do whatever you want to me.”
In the presidential suite on the fiftieth floor, the wind howled, and the height of the building would surely send shivers down the spine of anyone afraid of heights. However, tonight, the rain was pouring heavily, and the vast misty rain veiled the distant night scenery. Countless threads of water formed a web on the glass, and Chen Wengang could see his own breath as he exhaled.
Resting his forehead against the floor-to-ceiling window, he half-closed his eyes, occasionally lifting them.
As the blurry moisture was wiped away, in the vast emptiness of his gaze, he faintly saw lights on the opposite bank of the river, forming a string of pearls.
Behind the transparent rainbow glass, the bathtub was filled with warm water, sprinkled with rose petals, creating a sea of flowers as the water splashed and spread across the floor.
***
In the latter part of the night, the sound of rain quieted down considerably. Huo Niansheng sealed his lips and kissed Chen Wengang’s shoulders, neck, and collarbone: “What are you thinking about?”
Chen Wengang moved as if he thought he had said something, but in reality, no sound came out. Huo Niansheng lowered his head to look at him again, only to see that his eyelids were on the verge of closing. He decided not to disturb him any further, saying, “Go to sleep.” Chen Wengang was extremely sleepy, and as if comforted by his words, he slipped into the embrace of dreams.
At the edge of consciousness, however, there were still some lingering thoughts. It was his own voice, and he thought of an ancient saying: “The past cannot be changed, but the future can still be pursued.”
***
By the time the sky brightened again, it was as clear as a mirror, dispelling some of the lingering summer heat.
Chen Wengang rarely slept in until midday, but on this day, he hadn’t woken up even by noon.
In the morning, Chen Wengang was briefly awakened by his biological clock. He struggled to open his heavy eyelids and attempted to message Zheng Maoxun, asking him to help request a leave at the company. But even after several attempts, he couldn’t string the words together. His phone was then taken away by Huo Niansheng, who seemed to be typing on his behalf.
Regardless of how he phrased his message, Chen Wengang paid no attention and soon fell back into a dream.
The dream was chaotic, filled with bizarre and surreal scenes, with strange figures running amok.
Initially, he slept out of exhaustion but later found himself unable to wake up. His throat gradually felt uncomfortable, and he was desperately thirsty, as if a fire were burning inside him.
He realized that he had a fever when Huo Niansheng reached out to test his forehead, asking if he was thirsty or wanted water.
Chen Wengang’s mind was hazy, and his voice sounded as if it were cotton-stuffed, making the other person’s words thunder in his ears.
As the cup touched his lips, he opened his mouth, tasting warm water with a hint of sweetness, as if it were mixed with honey.
Huo Niansheng helped Chen Wen Gang up, gave him a cup to drink, and seeing him gulping it down greedily, as if extremely thirsty, he turned around and poured another cup.
If there were outsiders present at this moment, they would likely be shocked, as Huo Niansheng was not someone expected to serve others. Regardless of his background, he was surrounded by nannies and tutors from a young age, accustomed to being served. However, his current actions were so skilled that they seemed unnatural.
After some time passed, a doctor arrived, took Chen Wengang’s temperature, and, upon seeing the situation in the room, understood what was happening. Huo Niansheng said a few words to the person on the bed, lifted the blanket slightly, and turned him halfway over, making it easier to administer the injection.
The doctor approached and examined Chen Wengang closely. Unlike the previous incident, this was Huo Niansheng’s regular family doctor, someone he was extremely familiar with. The doctor had never dealt with any of Huo Niansheng’s flings before, and this was a first. Especially after observing many traces, the doctor felt a mix of understanding and curiosity, even contemplating catching a glimpse of the true face of the awakened person. However, as a family doctor, maintaining discretion was paramount. He knew what to be curious about and what not to.
In addition to the fever-reducing treatment, the doctor also left some additional medication and gave a few instructions.
Huo Niansheng said, “Okay, give them all to me.”
The doctor nodded, “I’ll write down the instructions for usage and dosage.” With that, he had nothing else to attend to and left.
Among a pile of medicines, Huo Niansheng first pulled out a tube of ointment. He grabbed a slender wrist from the covers, slowly applying the ointment to the bruises.
Chen Wengang was still not fully awake. disturbed in his sleep, he subconsciously attempted to withdraw, but he was firmly held in place.
Huo Niansheng whispered in his ear, “Shh, I won’t disturb you anymore. Just applying some medicine to prevent scarring.”
After a brief pause and a faint sigh, Chen Wengang struggled to sit up, attempting to find a comfortable position. His eyes remained closed as he leaned into Huo Niansheng’s embrace. Huo Niansheng’s heart softened.
After a night in bed, a man is often at his most eloquent, and at that moment, every word he uttered felt like a gift from the stars and the moon.
Moreover, the memories of the previous night lingered in his mind, making anything he said now seem acceptable. Huo Niansheng went to pour himself a glass of ice water, drank it all in one go, and then suppressed the restlessness within him. He stood by the window for a moment, contemplating whether he was reflecting or savoring the memories.
Originally, he had only prepared for that one night, but with Chen Wengang falling ill, he couldn’t extricate himself.
Throughout the day, Amanda, Yu Shanding, and others had called, but Huo Niansheng lazily postponed all his tasks.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle things himself and leave the doctor in charge, but Huo Niansheng had no intention of doing so. He had never put in so much effort to please someone before, and now that he had finally left his mark, it was time to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
By evening, Chen Wengang’s forehead was still slightly warm. He had caught a chill and seemed to have a mild cold, but staying at the hotel indefinitely was not an option. Despite the attentive service, it wasn’t suitable for nursing.
Huo Niansheng decided to accompany him back to Zheng’s residence, allowing him to rest in a familiar environment.
Chen Wengang initially thought of slipping in quietly, but at the entrance, he encountered the housekeeper, Uncle Lin. “How did you catch a cold on such a day? Cranking up the air conditioning and seeking coolness?”
Chen Wengang, feeling light-headed, accepted the accusation and was handed over to Uncle Lin by Huo Niansheng.
Uncle Lin supported him and took a glance at Huo Niansheng. Despite his age, he was sharp. Chen Wengang knew he couldn’t hide anything from his perceptive eyes.
But the housekeeper didn’t say anything; he just asked if he had dinner and then instructed the kitchen to prepare some porridge for him. He didn’t mention anything else.
After all, being young and getting enough sleep would naturally help the body recover, and the next day, there wouldn’t be any major issues.
Chen Wengang’s spirits have improved somewhat. He didn’t go to school, either. Since it was not a busy season at the company recently, he simply let Zheng Maoxun take a few more days off.
The reason given was that the final exams were imminent, but there were also other reasons. This has to be blamed on Huo Niansheng. The bruises on the wrists, where the tie was bound, had not yet faded, displaying a mix of green and yellow. It was a scary sight, especially when he wore long-sleeved shirts that couldn’t conceal the marks, making it look quite alarming to anyone who saw it.
Chen Wengang was studying in the large study room shared by the whole family. Later in the evening, Zheng Baoqiu also came over to review her homework.
After reading for a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Where were you the day before yesterday and yesterday? And did you catch a cold?”
“On a date,” Chen Wengang replied succinctly: “I caught a cold in the rain.”
“With whom?”
“Not telling you.”
“Hmph, I know; it’s with my cousin.”
“Then why ask?” Chen Wengang raised an eyebrow at her.
“Ah…” She paused, shook her head with an air of elderliness, and sighed, “You never listen to advice.”
“Yeah,” a hint of a smile played on his lips, “so don’t tell anyone.”
“I got it. Do as you please.” Zheng Baoqiu, seeing his expression, fell silent. Chen Wengang might be gentle, but once he set his mind on something, no one could change it. “By the way, here’s some other gossip. Have you heard that Mu Qing met a patron, they’re some curator, and they’re even helping him organize an art exhibition?”
“Really? At which art gallery?” Chen Wengang pondered for a moment but couldn’t recall if the other person had achieved this in his previous life.
“I’m not sure. I only overheard him being modest with someone, saying his skills weren’t sufficient, but the other person insisted on promoting him as a new talent. It’s like he’s pretending that they begged to showcase him.” She added, “What’s the point? It’s better to just flaunt it. I clearly remember he also wanted to be famous.”
She had a reason for saying this, and the two present knew it all too well. Since starting university, Mu Qing had been tirelessly striving for fame.
However, in the contemporary art world, it is emphasized that one should become famous as early as possible. Nowadays, who wants to be like Van Gogh and only be appreciated after death?
Especially in the year he entered school, the same year at Jinda Art Academy produced a “young genius painter.” Before even completing the enrollment procedures, he stole the limelight with a lot of fanfare. The media and art organizations flocked to him, quickly pushing his works into auctions. However, for other students, this sets a less favorable precedent. If he could become famous, how could it not stir envy and desire in others?
Zheng Baoqiu didn’t lack sharp comments in private. Mu Qing was the kind of person who felt envy, jealousy, and resentment. If he didn’t become famous too, he would surely find fault with it: “Do you think he can make it big this time?”
The Zheng family didn’t lack money or influence. However, Zheng Bingyi felt that painting was not a proper profession, and, as an uncle, he wasn’t keen on supporting it. Fortunately, the art world was not short of connections, and all that was lacking was someone on the inside to help. It seemed that he had found this benefactor now.
“I don’t know. It depends on his skill.”
“I think it’s difficult. He’s been struggling for two years and hasn’t made a name for himself at school. I’m curious about who’s supporting him.”
Chen Wengang tapped Zheng Baoqiu with his pen and said, “Hold back on the gossip. Concentrate on your own studies and stop distracting yourself all the time.”
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