DLRAS Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Like a love letter written by the sea to the land.

A bright moon hung in the sky. The boat floated silently on the sea, allowing them to truly experience the ancient poetic sentiment of “drifting with the current, wandering wherever it pleases.”

Chen Wengang cut the cake. It was a petite five-inch round cake, pocket-sized and adorable, topped with fresh fruit.

There hadn’t been any strict need to cut it right at midnight, but since it was brought all the way from the shore, it would slowly melt even in the fridge over time. It was better eaten sooner rather than later. Fortunately, neither of them cared much about the details. Huo Niansheng lit two number-shaped candles.

The candlelight illuminated the soft contours of his face.

He asked Chen Wengang what he had wished for.

Chen Wengang thought about it for a long while. “I wish time could stop at this moment forever.”

He said it with a smile.

For some inexplicable reason, Huo Niansheng felt this sounded even more sincere than an “I love you.”

Like a beauty beneath the moonlight or jade beneath a lamp, he held Chen Wengang, stroking his hair. The moment truly felt timeless and profound. The strands of hair against his palm were soft and compliant; it was said that people with hair this soft had equally soft hearts. Beneath the boat, the waves churned up snow-white foam, and Chen Wengang seemed just as fragile. Huo Niansheng looked down at the person in his arms. Among the secrets Chen Wengang refused to share, Huo Niansheng finally understood the biggest one—and saw clearly the source of that pervasive fragility.

It stemmed from the fact that he was someone who didn’t know how to be loved.

By the following evening, having taken in enough of the scenery and admired the Mid-Autumn moon, they finally set sail back toward the yacht club’s marina.

The moment they entered the cell tower’s coverage area, still a long way from shore, their phones began to ping with message after message.

It felt like falling straight out of an otherworldly paradise and crashing back into the mundane web of reality.

Huo Niansheng was steering the boat, while Chen Wengang sat on the deck sofa, his phone nearly freezing from the sudden influx of data.

He hadn’t forgotten the trouble he had caused.

In his worst-case scenarios, He Jiajun wouldn’t let the matter go. He might have called the police—which, of course, he would have every right to do.

When the barrage of messages flooded in, Chen Wengang even waited a moment to see if there was a notification from the police.

But it seemed Huo Niansheng’s intimidation carried more weight; the prodigal son hadn’t dared to go that far.

Chen Wengang had no intention of dodging responsibility. He Jiajun had, after all, taken a severe beating, and it wasn’t the sort of thing that could be easily swept under the rug. He had been dining properly in a restaurant, disappeared for forty minutes, and returned with his face beaten to a pulp. Only a fool would believe he had just fallen.

Going back looking like that, everyone was bound to ask questions. Plus, He Wanxin was there; there was no way she wouldn’t add fuel to the fire.

Couple that with another person at the dinner having slipped away without a word, and it wasn’t hard to connect the dots.

The next day, Zheng Baoqiu simply asked Chen Wengang directly if he was the one who did it, her tone carrying a hint of praise.

She viewed things simply. Of course, acting on impulse and taking satisfying revenge were simple concepts. But Chen Wengang knew that Zheng Bingyi must have found a way to clean up his mess that day. Whether it was to maintain the relationship with the He family or to save their own face, it was something he had to do.

Only after that would come the time to close the doors and settle the score.

Being scooped away by Huo Niansheng was a stroke of temporary luck; he still had to go back and offer a humble apology.

Scrolling through the messages from top to bottom, he unsurprisingly saw Uncle Lin asking where he was, followed by instructions to see his adoptive father as soon as he got home.

Chen Wengang sighed. Leaning against the ship’s rail, he spaced out while gazing at the distant blue sky, white clouds, lighthouses, and white sails.

Scene after scene of the past played in his mind, encompassing both his previous life and his current one. The sea breeze tousled his hair, and he brushed it aside, tucking it behind his ear with long, pale fingers. Huo Niansheng turned his head just in time to catch this sight. For a moment, he said nothing, then turned back around.

But the image of that fleeting moment was already branded into his eyes.

Chen Wengang was wearing a pale white shirt, the top button undone at his neck. His collar fluttered in the wind, rustling like the pages of a book.

It looked like a love letter written by the ocean to the land.

They entered the marina where the staff was waiting. After the boat was docked, the two of them stepped back onto the shore one after the other.

Having swayed on the sea for so long, they had adapted to the rocking rhythm. Walking on flat ground now felt like stepping on a trampoline.

Chen Wengang kept his head down and gently stamped his feet. Huo Niansheng naturally reached out to wrap an arm around his waist.

Knowing Chen Wengang had been staring at his phone for a long time, he teased, “Any earth-shattering news?”

“No,” Chen Wengang said. “But if it counts as good news, at least I don’t have to go to the police station.”

Huo Niansheng smiled. It was just noon, so they headed to a restaurant.

Life at sea was certainly romantic, but here they could finally enjoy a proper meal with a bit more culinary substance.

While Chen Wengang looked at the menu, pondering the excuse he would give Zheng Bingyi, Huo Niansheng caught sight of Uncle Lin’s message on his screen.

“You’re just too well-behaved. Have you ever heard the saying, the crying baby gets the milk?” he instigated, trying to lead Chen Wengang astray. “The more you act like the perfect student, the higher people’s expectations of you become, and the more severely you’ll be let down. Sometimes, it’s not a bad idea to be a little willful.”

“But given my status,” Chen Wengang rested his chin on his hand and looked at him, “no one has any obligation to give me milk in the first place, do they?”

“Then it must be because you don’t know how to cry,” Huo Niansheng said. “If you get the chance, you should study and practice a bit.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?” Chen Wengang let out a scoffing laugh.

“You don’t believe me?” Huo Niansheng acted like a rogue, reaching out to nudge his leg under the table. “Just like yesterday—crying so beautifully, looking so utterly pitiful. You couldn’t see how you looked, but right then, if you had asked me to dive into the sea and fish out the moon, I wouldn’t have dared say a word in protest.”

Chen Wengang’s cheeks flushed red. Using the tablecloth as cover, he kicked him, only to have his leg trapped between Huo Niansheng’s calves.

The waiter placed two glasses of lemon water in front of them, and Huo Niansheng released him beneath the table.

He said, “At least in front of me, you can cry whenever you feel like it. Whether others care or not, I’m definitely a sucker for it.”

Chen Wengang chuckled, highly amused. “Didn’t I do that once, back when we first got to know each other?”

He was referring to the time they were looking at the exhibition at his school.

Huo Niansheng said, “Yes, and I was very happy back then. You smiled at everyone you met, and only cried in front of me. You only showed your vulnerable side to me, which naturally made me feel very different—that I must hold a special place in your heart.”

Chen Wengang reached his hand across the table, and Huo Niansheng clasped it.

“When you were crying against my chest, I kept wondering: what could possibly make you so sad? What hurdle could you not overcome?” he said, his voice alluring. “I want to know what causes you pain, what makes you sad. I can share anything with you, unless you feel the time isn’t right yet.”

After the meal, the driver took them back to the city.

Those words kept looping in Chen Wengang’s mind. Huo Niansheng had an effortless knack for sweet-talking; just listening to him made you want to immediately throw yourself into his arms, shed another tear, and spill all your secrets in exchange for his cherished tenderness.

But how could he say it? How could he tell someone: Until the day you died, you obsessed over whether I had ever loved you?

Chen Wengang simply couldn’t bring himself to say it.

He buckled his seatbelt. Finding nowhere to place his hands, he subconsciously picked up his phone again.

Huo Niansheng let him be, resting a hand on his knee and giving it a gentle stroke.

The remaining unread messages were mostly mass-sent holiday greetings. Among them was one from a former teacher at his international high school, mentioning they were inviting outstanding alumni back for a pep rally to give the graduating class advice on choosing majors and future careers.

Chen Wengang thought about it but couldn’t decide right away, so he temporarily brushed it aside.

Aimlessly, he finished reading his messages and began browsing the web. While searching for He Jiajun’s name, he stumbled upon a news headline.

Only then did he realize that during their two days isolated offshore, this farce had fermented in an unexpected direction.

—After all, He Jiajun didn’t have the temperament to stay quietly at home. The very next day, he made an appearance at the racetrack. A sharp-eyed junior reporter took a closer look and noticed the He family’s young master had a bruised mouth and scraped cheeks—injuries that were obviously from a fight.

Now this was interesting. Wasn’t the underlying reason worth a little curiosity?

Did he get into a brawl over jealousy? Did he mess with someone tough and get taught a lesson? Was he kidnapped, or caught cheating at a casino?

Chen Wengang clicked the link. The author carried the title of “intern reporter,” and it wasn’t published by a well-known media outlet, so it hadn’t garnered much attention.

At least for now, the story hadn’t blown up. The intern reporter had limited sources, relying on wild guesses and listing a whole bunch of baseless nonsense.

None of it was reliable, and it was far removed from the actual truth.

They arrived at the Zheng residence. Chen Wengang got out of the car, and Huo Niansheng followed.

Having gone on a short vacation, they seemed even more inseparable. Chen Wengang shared a parting kiss with him by the roadside. “I have to go in now.”

Before they could let go, another car approached from behind. Huo Niansheng saw it first from his angle. He patted Chen Wengang’s back and released him.

Chen Wengang turned his head too. The car model and license plate couldn’t be more familiar.

The Lincoln pulled up beside them. Uncle Wang was driving. He rolled down the window and offered a greeting, looking somewhat awkward.

Chen Wengang hadn’t even leaned over to look inside, but his intuition told him Zheng Bingyi was in there.

Huo Niansheng smiled and asked him in a low voice, “Do you want me to go in and explain?”

Chen Wengang gave him a gentle push. “You head back. This is something I need to clarify myself.”

Zheng Bingyi was indeed in the car, and there was no doubt he had seen the scene at the gate.

Ten minutes later, Chen Wengang went to his study to talk.

He took the initiative to admit his fault. “I’m sorry. I’ve disappointed you.”

Zheng Bingyi furrowed his brows, choosing to first pursue the matter of the assault. “How could you be so impulsive?”

Unexpectedly, Chen Wengang had conveniently recorded the conversation from that day: “Your dad was just a lousy driver. What skills did he have? If he wasn’t lucky enough to die at the perfect time, do you think you’d be sitting as equals with us today? The biggest blessing in your life is that your dad died…”

After listening, the look on Zheng Bingyi’s face was quite a sight. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Chen Wengang stood there quietly, watching him with amber eyes.

Zheng Bingyi sighed and waved his hand. “It is understandable to get angry when someone insults your parents. Your Uncle He doesn’t know how to discipline his son, and Jiajun is truly disgraceful. Of course, this doesn’t mean I agree with your methods. You vented your anger for a moment, but it damages the harmony and dignity between our two families. In short, both of you are at fault here. I’ll invite him and his son out later. You come along and offer them a proper apology.”

Chen Wengang acknowledged this, but then asked, “Do I have to go?”

He had almost never refused Zheng Bingyi’s requests before, leaving Zheng Bingyi momentarily caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

Chen Wengang’s tone remained calm. “I know you definitely smoothed things over for me at the time, and I am very grateful for that. But you yourself said he insulted my parents… It’s actually better if the young master of the He family and I don’t cross paths again. With this recording, I would rather face him in court.”

Zheng Bingyi looked at him for a long time, realizing his wings had truly grown hard. “Suit yourself.”

Silence then descended upon them. The older man was probably still weighing the implications of that passionate kiss.

Chen Wengang took the initiative to confess, “Huo Niansheng and I are in a serious relationship.”

“Him? Serious?” Zheng Bingyi retorted. “I think you’d better forget it. Wengang, you used to be very steady. How did you become like this? You believe whatever he says. How did you let him bamboozle you so thoroughly? Of course, he’s the same way. I can’t control the young men of other families; I can only manage you all. But I’m warning you—it’s hard to protect your reputation, but very easy to slide downhill. Think it over yourself. Do you want to cherish your good name or not?”

Chen Wengang could only say, “I’m sorry.”

As soon as he pushed the study door open, Zheng Baoqiu scrambled away. Caught red-handed eavesdropping, she simply dropped the pretense and asked with concern, “How did it go? Did Dad scold you?”

“No, it wasn’t a scolding.”

“I’m relieved then.”

“However, I’ll probably be moving out soon,” Chen Wengang told her.

“So soon? Why?” she suddenly froze.

Chen Wengang patted the top of her head. Why?

He was fooling around with Huo Niansheng in a messy, unconventional entanglement. Staying here would damage the family’s dignity; he was like a ticking scandal time bomb.

Rather than leaving the host family on edge waiting for him to explode, it was better to proactively distance himself. It was good for everyone and preserved everyone’s dignity.

But Zheng Bingyi wasn’t that petty; he had asked him where he planned to live in the future. Master Zheng didn’t really think much of Chen Wengang’s old house on Jiangchao Street in the old district. He just asked casually, and perhaps thinking of his subordinate who died in the line of duty, generously offered him a single-story apartment.

Sensing something, Chen Wengang looked up. On the second-floor balcony, Mu Qing’s silhouette walked past. He didn’t know if the other man had overheard them.

Zheng Baoqiu shook her head and sighed. “Once you move out, the house will be full of awful people. I want to move out too.”

Chen Wengang told her not to talk nonsense.

Returning to his bedroom, he glanced around, just wondering where to start packing, when his phone received another message.

Unexpectedly, the sender was Qi Tongzhou: “Wengang, is it a good time to call?”

When Chen Wengang called back, Qi Tongzhou felt as if a lifetime had passed upon hearing his voice.

He hadn’t appeared by Chen Wengang’s side for a while, but that didn’t mean he had let go of his throbbing affection.

In all fairness, the upbringing in Qi Tongzhou’s family was commendable. From a young age, his parents and older siblings had taught him to maintain gentlemanly grace: when pursuing someone, don’t cause them trouble; if rejected, don’t pester them endlessly. Leave some breathing room for both yourself and the other person.

He had indeed followed this advice. But while he could control his actions, he couldn’t control his heart and mind.

Qi Tongzhou steadied his voice. “There’s something I think you should see.”

Chen Wengang looked at the link he sent. It was a local forum covering topics like food, real estate, finance, and health. Coincidentally, in the local city section, a busybody had cross-posted the news about He Jiajun getting beaten up.

In the replies, someone claiming to be a server at the Crown Hotel dropped a bombshell, saying they knew exactly what happened to the useless idiot surnamed He.

Because they had seen the person who threw the punches—a very good-looking young man—which was followed by a string of juicy gossip.

Seeing people discussing him in a place like this was a surreal feeling. Chen Wengang didn’t know whether he should be surprised that he was more famous than he thought, or that someone who knew him actually browsed this forum. In any case, they were on the verge of exposing his identity; no wonder Qi Tongzhou had figured it out.

Chen Wengang thanked him and listened as he said, “I looked at it. If this causes you trouble, I can contact the admin to have the thread deleted.”

He agreed again, saying he would read it carefully. Only then did Qi Tongzhou reluctantly hang up the phone.

Chen Wengang forwarded the link to Lawyer Zhu. As usual, Lawyer Zhu replied with an ‘OK’ emoji.

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