Bo Xiyun's words were entirely the deepest truth hidden in his heart. These words momentarily silenced Yi Zhongshen. However, he soon spoke again, "Yun—"
But his words were interrupted by a voice from the side, "Xiyun, Zhongshen!"
Gu Sheng walked back from the corner.
"My mom asked if you guys want to eat. Let's have lunch first."
They had arrived at the hospital shortly after taking the high-speed train, and they had been busy without much free time. Lunch had not been eaten yet.
Interrupted by this, Yi Zhongshen didn't continue his sentence.
He lowered his gaze and looked at Bo Xiyun, asking softly, "Do you want to eat?"
Bo Xiyun didn't have much appetite at the moment, but with Gu Sheng present, he forced himself to compose his emotions and said, "Anything is fine."
Yi Zhongshen was earnestly inquiring as if it were a significant matter, "Do you want something warm or something light?"
Bo Xiyun hesitated for a moment, and his scattered thoughts gradually returned to this simple question.
"I... I'd like some porridge."
Yi Zhongshen suggested, "The hospital cafeteria has limited soup options. There's a good congee restaurant near the main entrance. Do you want to go there, or should we get it for takeout?"
His choices were very clear and specific, making it easy for people to decide.
As expected, Bo Xiyun didn't hesitate for long and said, "Let's go to the restaurant."
He looked up and asked Gu Sheng, "What do you think, senior Gu?"
Gu Sheng snapped out of his thoughts and said hurriedly, "Sure, I'm fine with either. My mom also wants something easily digestible."
After speaking, he felt an even stronger sense of feeling overshadowed.
How did Yi Zhongshen become so knowledgeable about the local eateries?
Gu Sheng hadn't heard of anyone from the Yi family being hospitalized recently. Did Yi Zhongshen research all this before coming?
Just as they stepped outside, Gu Sheng noticed that Bo Xiyun's mood seemed a bit low. He thought it was because of hearing the past events and didn't think much of it.
However, after Yi Zhongshen's suggestions, Gu Sheng noticed that his younger brother's mood seemed to have eased a bit.
As they were still pondering, Ms. Song returned and saw no objections. After informing the elderly couple, they all walked together towards the restaurant.
Gu Sheng, who was trailing behind, observed Bo Xiyun and Yi Zhongshen walking side by side in front and finally sensed that something was off.
Why does it seem like Yi Zhongshen takes better care of his younger brother than a good friend would?
Gu Sheng couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical about life.
Is it possible that even the big shots are better at taking care of people than he is?
It's not that Gu Sheng doubts his friend; it's just that words like "considerate" and "gentle" don't seem to match Yi Zhongshen's usual cold and distant image.
Gu Sheng began to reflect on his own stereotypical impressions. However, he didn't see that Yi Zhongshen's fingers, which were originally hanging down, suddenly intertwined.
Bo Xiyun felt a slight warmth on his fingertips, and then there was something in his hand.
He looked down and saw a piece of cow's milk candy in his palm.
The bright red packaging displayed a familiar logo—it was Bo Xiyun's favorite candy.
As there were others present, Yi Zhongshen didn't hold Bo Xiyun's hand. Instead, he just gave him the candy and quickly took it back.
While Bo Xiyun was looking at the candy, Yi Zhongshen whispered, "Can we talk later?"
He didn't forget or intentionally avoid the topic Bo Xiyun brought up earlier.
Bo Xiyun hesitated for a moment before replying, "En."
The cow's milk candy in his palm still carried the warmth of another person's touch, even though the wrapper was still intact, and the sweetness had yet to touch his tongue.
The young man felt like he had gained some silent support.
*
The congee shop indeed served delicious food. After the four of them finished their meal and returned to the hospital, the eldest son of the Gu family had also arrived.
The eldest son's name was Gu Zhengbang, and his wife's surname was Guo. She was a professor at Z University, and both of them had a scholarly and refined demeanor, especially Gu Zhengbang, who seemed to inherit the characteristics of his uncle.
This made Bo Xiyun find it somewhat peculiar.
Gu Zhengbang didn't resemble his father much and instead took after his uncle.
Perhaps noticing the young man's curiosity, Yi Zhongshen explained to him.
When Gu Zheng was young, his father, Gu Zhengbang, had a demanding job in a province on the plateau, and he would often only return home once every three years. Moreover, his mother, Guo, had health issues and found it challenging to take care of him, so Gu Zheng often stayed with his uncle.
(Gu Zheng= Gu Zeng. a silly spelling mistakes from my part)
As he grew older, Gu Zheng chose to join the military and followed a similar path as his uncle.
Gu Sheng chimed in, "Yes, when my big brother was five years old, he traveled with my dad to Beihai."
(Beihai is a city in China)
At that time, Gu Sheng hadn't been born yet, and their family hadn't moved to Q City.
Bo Xiyun paid attention to a word, "Beihai? Beihai Park?"
(Beihai Park is a famous imperial garden located in Beijing, China.)
"Yeah," Yi Zhongshen replied, "There are many people jogging there now. If you want to go, we can go early in the morning when the weather gets warmer."
Bo Xiyun's heart stirred, "Okay."
...
Only Gu Sheng had a blank expression.
Second young master Gu couldn't help but sigh.
He admitted it. When it came to getting up early and exercising, Yi Zhongshen was more like Bo Xiyun's real brother.
They spent the afternoon in the recuperation building, and the adults discussed the follow-up treatment for Grandma Gu. As evening approached, Gu Sheng's father, Gu Xingchao, also returned. After settling Grandma Gu, they all went to the pre-arranged hotel.
Ms. Song also extended an invitation to Yi Zhongshen, "Zhong Shen, why don't you come with us too? It would be nice to be with Yunyun."
Yi Zhongshen had no intention of separating from the child, but this was, after all, the Gu family's family gathering. He replied, "My family just called, and the dinner is also at the Bai family mansion. Can I ride with you to get there?"
Together with Yi Zhongshen, Bo Xiyun rarely experienced motion sickness during the car ride.
"How coincidental?" Ms. Song was surprised. "Then, let's take the fast car and go."
The seven of them split into different cars and headed to the Bai family mansion. There were also two of Grandpa Gu's bodyguard cars discreetly escorting them.
When they arrived at the hotel, Yi Zhongshen didn't follow Bo Xiyun anymore. He pointed to the courtyard where his family was staying.
"I'll be there. When you finish your meal or want to take a walk in the courtyard, just find me."
Bo Xiyun nodded.
Initially, he was prepared to follow Gu Sheng, but then he thought of something.
Yi Zhongshen said, "Just find me." Does that mean he will keep an eye on this side and wait for Bo Xiyun to come out?
Bo Xiyun hesitated for a moment, then called Yi Zhongshen again.
"Senior."
He said, "When I'm about to come out, can I send you a message in advance?"
Yi Zhongshen agreed, "Sure."
Once Bo Xiyun entered the room in the courtyard, Yi Zhongshen went to his own area.
On Yi Zhongshen's side, it was his mother's family gathering. As he had just returned, he naturally received inquiries, but the elders were used to his reticence, so they stopped asking after a while.
The kids were still running around in the room, but they became much calmer when Yi Zhongshen arrived. Even though Yi Zhongshen's cousin wasn't as cold, the shadow of constantly being overshadowed by his achievements was still quite painful for the group of kids.
Only the youngest sister wasn't afraid of him. She came running over with her short legs, looking up at him with a tender face and called out, "Big brother~"
As the youngest, it took her some effort to say the long sentence clearly, "Brother, they want to know, who are you waiting for a message from?"
Even without lifting his eyes, Yi Zhongshen noticed the curious glances of the several boys nearby. When he checked his phone three times just now, he overheard them whispering to each other.
The three of them were betting on who Yi Zhongshen was waiting for. One guessed it was a teacher, another guessed it was his boss, and the third one thought it might be a friend, which led to some teasing.
"You think big brother is like you, waiting for friends to play games together all day?" they said mockingly.
Ignoring the nervous and expectant glances from the three boys, Yi Zhongshen reached out and placed his palm on the back of his little cousin, ensuring the girl, who was wrapped in a fluffy sweater, stood steadily before he responded.
"Jia Jia thinks it's the beautiful sister, right?" his little cousin said with a serious and innocent tone.
The three boys, who were listening attentively nearby, didn't take this guess seriously at all. One of them couldn't help but burst into laughter.
However, to their astonishment, they heard their usually cold and distant cousin casually correct her, "It's the handsome big brother."
(Tn: the way I smiled...haha)
"??!"
The three boys were utterly shocked by this unexpected response, but Yi Zhongshen didn't pay any further attention to them. His phone had finally received the long-awaited notification.
[Senior, I'm at the Hexagonal Pavilion.]
Yi Zhongshen stood up from the other side, making sure his little cousin was stable before saying, "I'm going out for a bit."
The phone received another message immediately after.
[You can go ahead and eat first. I'll wait here for a while.]
However, just after sending the message, as he raised his head, he saw a slender figure walking not far away.
The courtyard wasn't brightly lit, but the Bai family's estate was situated in a former imperial garden, and besides the various courtyards, it still retained the old water pool and pavilions.
It was winter, and the water pool was devoid of greenery, with beautiful lotus-shaped lanterns floating on the surface, illuminating the pavilion, creating an elegant and tranquil atmosphere.
Yi Zhongshen walked into the pavilion, which was located in a secluded corner of the courtyard, with few other guests passing by. The surrounding rockery landscaping shielded them from the cold wind.
Inside the pavilion, there were special seats for appreciating the scenery. From this spot, one could see the twinkling river lanterns.
Yi Zhongshen asked, "Have you eaten?"
Nodding, Bo Xiyun glanced around to ensure no one else was present and said, "I just found out something, no wonder Mr. Gu's name sounded so familiar."
Clearly excited, the young boy couldn't wait to share his discovery with Yi Zhongshen.
At some point, perhaps even he hadn't noticed, Bo Xiyun seemed to have grown accustomed to trusting and confiding in his senior.
"I had a feeling that I've heard that name somewhere before," Bo Xiyun said, "Then when I opened my phone, I saw his name in the search recommendations, so I clicked on it."
With a background in big data, some apps on his phone often utilized system permissions to capture users' conversations and analyze them for precise targeting.
Indeed, it's not a new phenomenon. Bo Xiyun didn't think much about it; he just clicked on the name when he saw it, and then he discovered that this Mr. Gu was his blood relative, a maternal uncle, to be precise, holding a position at the provincial committee level.
"I must have heard about him in the news before, but I didn't pay much attention," Bo Xiyun said.
It was quite surprising.
Not because of the relative's position, as Bo Xiyun was already aware of Mr. Gu's status as a senior member.
Rather, what surprised Bo Xiyun was that he had never thought, upon meeting his uncle and aunt, that they were of such a high rank. He had assumed that they were all professors, just like when Yi Zhongshen mentioned Gu Xing Bang's visit to the high-altitude province; Bo Xiyun thought he was in a geological or exploration-related field.
"They are both very friendly and approachable, without any airs," Bo Xiyun added.
Yi Zhongshen listened quietly, and in the soft glow of the pink lanterns, he glanced at the young boy. With his tender cheeks and radiant eyes, Bo Xiyun looked captivating.
For such a kind-hearted boy, who would be willing to be harsh with him?
Bo Xiyun continued talking about the dinner.
"It seems that they didn't order from the regular menu but rather wrote down the dish names themselves and had the kitchen prepare them separately," Bo Xiyun said. He knew that prices in B city would be higher, but when he saw the menu prices, he was still genuinely surprised.
What surprised him even more was the concept of having a private chef who would cook dishes based on the guests' specific requests, rather than ordering from ready-made options.
"They specifically ordered dishes from Q city for me," Bo Xiyun said. "The whole meal was arranged according to the eating habits of that place."
"Mr. Gu even tried dishes from Q city himself. I heard from Gu Sheng that Grandpa Gu prefers light flavors and never eats heavily greasy or salty food. But today, he insisted on trying... saying he wanted to taste the flavors that raised me."
What truly touched Bo Xiyun was not the renowned status of the Gu family but their genuine care for him.
"When Grandpa Gu left the table early, he even packed some dishes from Q city," Bo Xiyun added. Grandpa Gu didn't stay long for the dinner as he was concerned about his wife at the sanatorium and returned to the hospital after eating.
"Ms. Song said that Grandma doesn't usually eat outside food because she has her medications and nutritious meals, but today she insisted on trying it, and no one in the family objected."
They had waited for so long.
Even if they made exceptions, it wouldn't be enough to express the joy and delight of having him back.
Bo Xiyun's voice gradually lowered as he continued speaking, "Earlier, they told me that when Gu Sheng takes me back, the adults will go to the hospital and then visit Grandma again."
"But in reality..."
Bo Xiyun paused and then spoke softly, "I overheard them talking just now. They were afraid that if the adults stay with me all the time, I might feel pressured."
Someone like Grandpa Gu, how could he not see Bo Xiyun's unease?
The adults not only talked about it, they even had a special family meeting as if it were a significant matter. They even consulted a psychologist and had extensive discussions before finally reaching a unanimous decision.
They decided that after being reunited with the lost child, it would be better for him to spend time with people of his age or those he was familiar with to avoid unnecessary stress.
Both Grandpa Gu and his uncle's family were deeply concerned about him.
They all clearly came for Bo Xiyun, going out of their way to make special arrangements for him. Bo Xiyun's feet rested on the stone railing as he wrapped his arms around his legs, slowly burying his face in his knees.
In a soft and muffled voice, he expressed, "I really don't know... how to repay them." He was unsure about how to interact appropriately, as he had never experienced such depth of affection before. He couldn't comprehend how to respond and reciprocate in a suitable manner.
Because he had never experienced such intense emotions before. Previously, "family" had a completely different meaning for Bo Xiyun. The best example of family love he could think of was the way he and Wu Ying interacted – giving money and taking care of his medical needs. That was the extent of his understanding of family love.
(Tn: Bai Gelei's wife is Wu Ying)
Now, facing the deep affection and care shown by the Gu family, he was at a loss. He didn't know how to respond or reciprocate because he had never encountered such warmth and love before.
In the darkness of the night, the boy's frail figure became even more apparent, despite wearing the warm down jacket provided by the Gu family. It couldn't conceal his vulnerability.
He felt like he had been walking alone in this icy world for so long, still unable to embrace the warmth that surrounded him.
"Yun," a deep voice came from the side.
Bo Xiyun lifted his head, revealing his teary eyes and slightly reddened nose from the cold. A slender and warm hand reached out to help him adjust the collar, covering him more securely. After the boy's face was surrounded by the soft fur collar, Yi Zhongshen spoke.
"You told me at noon, but I couldn't respond properly."
He started talking about his own experiences, and the boy attentively gazed into his eyes, his clear gaze shimmering like ripples in the night light.
"Mhm."
"It's okay."
Yi Zhongshen's voice was steady, as always, low and calming.
"It's okay," he repeated, "I wanted to tell you that it's okay."
If they hadn't been interrupted, Bo Xiyun would have heard this answer a little earlier.
It was Yi Zhongshen's most candid response.
"Because you treat me seriously, and my feelings seriously, it's okay."
Not "I love you," but "it's okay."
It's not just one person making concessions and retreating.
Yi Zhongshen patiently told him, "Whether it's me or anyone else in the Gu family, liking you has always been a joyful thing."
Bo Xiyun was slightly taken aback.
"I..."
Gentle fingers lightly brushed against the soft side of the boy's cheek, and the warmth transmitted from the other person seemed to seep into his inner self through the skin.
"What you need to do is not to immediately repay or blame yourself for not doing well," Yi Zhongshen said in a slow voice. "But to understand these feelings."
"Understanding all of this is something you deserve."
Bo Xiyun's lips opened and closed a few times before he softly asked, "Is that true for all of them?"
And Yi Zhongshen responded with certainty, just as softly, "It's all for you."
No need to worry.
Having feelings for someone is worth sharing with them.
*
They didn't stay in the pavilion for too long since it was still quite cold outside, and the dinner was not yet over.
But as Bo Xiyun returned, his mood noticeably improved, and he playfully pinched his own fluffy collar and rubbed it against Yi Zhongshen's cheek.
"Look, it's really soft."
"Yeah," Yi Zhongshen responded with a nod, his gaze fixed on the boy's pale and delicate cheeks.
He had felt something softer before.
Not just his cheeks, but Bo Xiyun's hair and earlobes were also very soft.
Having not touched them before, all of Yi Zhongshen's various imaginings were nowhere near the reality of their touch.
After actually feeling them, he couldn't help but feel the need to touch them again to be satisfied.
As they were about to arrive at the courtyard where the Gu family was, Yi Zhongshen didn't say much more—actions spoke louder than words.
Talking about their feelings earlier with the boy had been quite a fortunate gain.
The dinner didn't last too late, and after the Gu family finished eating, Bo Xiyun came out and happened to see Yi Zhongshen leaving the courtyard as well.
After all the elders in Yi Zhongshen's family had left, he was the only one who walked over. Bo Xiyun hadn't intended to trouble Yi Zhongshen any further. His condition had been good all day, and he hadn't experienced any motion sickness.
Yi Zhongshen should also go home and rest, reuniting with his long-lost family.
However, when Bo Xiyun was about to ask Yi Zhongshen who he would be going home with, Yi Zhongshen's friend, Gu Sheng, who was standing nearby, spoke up.
"Oh, it doesn't matter, I'll drive. I'll bring the car over."
Because his driving skills had been questioned by his friends before, Gu Sheng had always been eager to showcase his exceptional driving abilities whenever he had the chance.
While the adults in the Gu family had already gone to the hospital, Gu Sheng drove Bo Xiyun and Yi Zhongshen back to the Gu family's residence. Due to the family's long-term investments, the Gu family owned several properties in B City, and each of the siblings had their own place. However, during the Spring Festival, everyone from the Gu family in B City would gather at the family residence, so both Gu Sheng and Bo Xiyun would stay there for these days.
Despite the rush hour traffic, they managed to make their way through the city. Bo Xiyun checked the location and realized that they were heading towards the Second Ring Road.
The Gu family residence was located in the central area within the Second Ring Road.
Fortunately, they arrived at the residence at a reasonable hour, not too late. Yi Zhongshen didn't rush to leave; instead, he helped Bo Xiyun carry his luggage into the house.
The residence was a traditional courtyard with red walls and bright yellow glazed tiles along the outer perimeter, creating a striking and beautiful contrast.
Although it was nighttime, Bo Xiyun could imagine how beautiful the red walls and yellow glazed tiles would look under the sunlight during the day.
The interior of the residence also followed a simple and elegant style, blending modern amenities with the classical design. Gu Sheng led Bo Xiyun around the hall before taking him to a courtyard with a particular room.
"Look, Xiyun, this is your bedroom."
Bo Xiyun was stunned.
Before him wasn't just an ordinary guest room, but a warm and comfortable bedroom that had clearly been carefully prepared for a long time.
This was the room that had been set up specifically for Bo Xiyun.
"As soon as we knew you were coming, we arranged this room for you," Gu Sheng explained, then opened a few wardrobes in the room.
"Take a look."
The wardrobes were filled with clothes of various sizes, ranging from children's sizes to those fit for a seventeen-year-old.
"This is just part of it. There are more clothes in the adjacent dressing room that we haven't unpacked yet," Gu Sheng said.
"All these clothes have been washed, and you can wear whichever you like during your stay here."
Not only that, but he also pointed to the other side of the wardrobe.
"All these gift boxes are for you, they are the presents we prepared for you."
Large gift boxes were stacked together, and some of the bright outer packaging had faded a bit due to the passing years, but all the gifts were carefully preserved and neatly sealed.
From the day of his birth, the full moon, first birthday, to now at the age of seventeen.
The Gu family remembered every single day that belonged to Bo Xiyun.
From the toys he liked as a child to the latest electronic gadgets, the sizes of the gift boxes were not uniform. Each year, they would give Bo Xiyun the most popular gifts among his peers.
Every person in the family prepared a birthday gift for him.
It was as if Bo Xiyun was still at home with them.
Not a single year had been missed.
Bo Xiyun was completely stunned, looking at the full cabinet of gifts.
Seventeen years of care and thoughtfulness were all laid out in front of him.
"Buzz—"
His phone vibrated, and Gu Sheng glanced at the screen, showing an apologetic expression.
"Sorry, I need to take a call first."
Bo Xiyun nodded in response, still in a daze.
After a while, he realized that he was alone in the room. Bo Xiyun slowly shifted his gaze away from the gifts and looked at Yi Zhongshen.
"Senior..."
As if knowing what he wanted to say, Yi Zhongshen raised his hand and gently pressed it against the back of Bo Xiyun's neck, speaking softly.
"It's a bit late, but you can slowly open them."
With just a few words, Bo Xiyun's eyes became slightly red.
"I... then what should I..."
"You open them and accept them, that's the best response for your family."
Yi Zhongshen's voice was calm and gentle.
"If you accept, it will mean the world to them."
And for Yi Zhongshen, it was no different.
The entire day had been like a dream of good fortune, even for the usually composed and self-contained Yi Zhongshen.
His beloved young man didn't feel disgusted or repulsed.
He seriously considered their feelings and his own.
Yi Zhongshen patiently reassured the slightly bewildered young man, and after a while, he heard Bo Xiyun's voice again.
Yi Zhongshen nodded, "Yes."
Sensing that Bo Xiyun wanted to say something but hesitated, Yi Zhongshen asked, "What's wrong?"
Just a moment ago, Yi Zhongshen felt that he was incredibly fortunate, as if in a dream.
Little did he know that the true enchanting dreamlike moment was yet to come.
After a brief silence, Bo Xiyun finally spoke, his voice soft and honest.
"I feel like... that night when you kissed me, I can also accept it."
_____________________________________________
Tn: the end kinda teared me up
<3