YMH CH 73

Lamplight

Cen Xiao ruffled Cen Wu’s hair a few times, then suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Turning around, he found Xie Guilan’s eyes dark and gloomy, like a hazy cold mist shrouded beneath the night sky.

Cen Xiao: “…”

Alright, cousin’s not worthy.

Cen Xiao raised his hands in surrender and took a few steps back, signaling that he wouldn’t touch Cen Wu again.

Cen Wu’s parents didn’t notice the undercurrents over here. Before Cen Wu could even react, he was ushered into the car, squeezed between Guan Xingxue and Xie Guilan in the back seat.

Cen Wu: “…”

Small, pitiful, and helpless.

In the depths of winter, snow still fell at night. Cen Wu obediently placed his hands on his knees. Guan Xingxue instructed Cen Xiao to drive first to the place where Cen Wu had been staying these past few days to pick up his luggage, then to get Xie Guilan’s things. It soon became clear that their living conditions were worse than expected—especially Xie Guilan’s cheap, dilapidated rental, practically a crumbling building swaying in the winter night’s wind and snow.

A group of hoodlums smoking in a dark alley, drunken reeking of alcohol, and even on such a cold night, someone wore revealing clothes with cheap smoky makeup to attract customers, a cigarette dangling from bright red lips. One even blew a suggestive smoke ring toward Cen Xiao from a distance.

Cen Xiao glanced at the leather skirt, initially thinking it was a woman, then suddenly noticed the person’s Adam’s apple.

Cen Xiao: “…”

If you mess with me, you’ve messed with the wrong person.

The alley was too narrow for the car to enter, so they had to get out and walk. Guan Xingxue’s face was pale—she truly couldn’t imagine how anyone could live in such a place.

Filthy, chaotic, nauseating.

Cen Junshan wore a dark gray overcoat, his black hair already streaked with silver, but his figure remained tall and upright, appearing stern and solemn. A few bodyguards followed behind him.

The commotion was too conspicuous, so no one dared approach, but that didn’t stop a few hoodlums from peeking curiously. Only when they met Xie Guilan’s dark, brooding eyes did they wisely hide away.

A high school student living alone in such a place was an obvious target for robbery. But after being beaten half to death a few times, these hoodlums finally gave up on this tough nut to crack.

Guan Xingxue’s eyes reddened. Cen Wu had once helped Xie Guilan move goods for just one night, and his palms were covered in blisters. Yet Xie Guilan had endured such a life for many years.

On snowy nights in Huaijin, they busied themselves attending various banquets, living in luxury, exchanging toasts, and considering themselves the upper crust. Meanwhile, Xie Guilan walked alone through the wind and snow.

Cen Wu glanced at Xie Guilan, then at Guan Xingxue, and thought, This isn’t good. In the original story, Cen Wu’s parents had also come. Back then, Guan Xingxue had looked heartbroken and reached out to hug Xie Guilan.

Xie Guilan had returned the embrace, but his cool, peach-blossom eyes had lowered, filled with nothing but utter, icy mockery.

Disgusting.

Being able to rent this place, no longer having to endure the scorn of the Xie family, was the greatest comfort he’d had in over a decade. Yet in her eyes, it was something to pity.

Back when Xie Shangjing had put a dog leash on him and made him kneel outside the banquet hall all night in the dead of winter, Guan Xingxue had walked right past without a flicker of emotion in her eyes, as if he were less than a dog.

What was she pretending for now?

Xie Guilan didn’t believe Guan Xingxue could love him. She simply didn’t understand him. Besides, her shock, her tenderness, her distress—all were over these trivial, insignificant matters.

And he had kept walking, and walking, only to find that the night had no end. When Guan Xingxue and the others finally found him, the pitch-black night hadn’t brought a single lamp. Hatred might not be the word, but love felt just as blurry.

So he hadn’t lingered either.

Guan Xingxue’s tears were about to fall, and Xie Guilan’s thin lips pressed into a cold, sharp line. Cen Wu quickly scurried forward a few steps and stood in the stairwell, bouncing up and down vigorously.

With each bounce, the stairwell light flickered on. In the darkness, he looked like a glowing little mushroom, his snow-white face flushed red from the effort as he looked up expectantly.

Look at me.

Guan Xingxue: “…”

Tears, retracted.

“Th-this… this, this,” Cen Wu cringed inwardly. So awkward, so embarrassing. How would Xie Guilan ever repay him for this? He stammered, “Th-this light’s br-broken.”

Guan Xingxue adjusted her white fur stole, walking toward Cen Wu with an air of noble elegance, her high heels clicking firmly onto the steps.

The light bulbs flickered on one by one.

Cen Wu: “…”

So strong.

The queen of queens.

Truly worthy of being the mother of a protagonist like the Dragon Proud Sky.

Cen Junshan: “…”

Cen Xiao: “…”

Xie Guilan: “…”

Xie Guilan’s dark eyes lifted. In the depths of the cold, snowy night, he looked at Cen Wu. Cen Wu curved his eyes into a smile, his misty pupils reflecting the lamplight. Xie Guilan’s lips also curved slightly as he walked toward him.

Xie Guilan, holding the keys, took a few steps forward, walking ahead with Cen Wu, and took hold of his wrist.

Cen Wu didn’t dare struggle too obviously. Even Zhang Fei and Guan Yu could hold wrists—it wasn’t a big deal. But if Guan Yu struggled, the feeling suddenly became… off.

Cen Wu muttered softly, “What would you do without me?”

He’d definitely be unhappy again.

“Mm,” Xie Guilan’s thumb rubbed against his wrist bone, his tone gentle in the darkness. “What would I do without you.”

Cen Xiao: “…”

Cen Xiao followed behind them, hearing their entire conversation. So gross, so mushy.

What would I do with you two.

Xie Guilan didn’t speak further. He reached out and opened the door. Cen Wu had been worried the blood on the wall would frighten Guan Xingxue, but when he looked up, he noticed Xie Guilan had somehow plastered over it.

The drawer hiding the contraband had also been cleared out. A jacket hung over the chairback, open exercise books and scratch paper lay on the desk, and a chipped thermos cup sat beside them.

Overall, it looked like the humble, upright study of a top student.

Cen Wu: “…”

Bro, you’re pretty good at acting too.

Xie Guilan took off his down jacket, grabbed his suitcase, and began packing. It was mostly books and the clothes Cen Wu had bought him before. There wasn’t much else worth taking.

Guan Xingxue and the others hesitated to touch his belongings, so Cen Wu stepped in to help Xie Guilan pack. Xie Guilan had rolled up the sleeves of his sweater, revealing the slim, long arms of a young man.

He picked up a stack of books and passed by Guan Xingxue. Her eyes suddenly widened as she noticed a long, bruised scar on Xie Guilan’s arm—reddened to the point of purple, swollen and severe.

Guan Xingxue had been looking at a photograph earlier. Song Lingwei hadn’t had much money and had almost never taken Xie Guilan for photos.

Only once, when Xie Guilan was five years old, she had suddenly been struck by a whim and taken him to a small-town photo studio for a picture together. That photo had been placed in a frame by Xie Guilan and displayed on his bookshelf.

Little Xie Guilan wore a blue sweater and black corduroy pants, his skin pale to the point of looking cold, his eyes dark and deep. Even at such a young age, the handsome contours he would grow into were already visible.

Guan Xingxue’s throat tightened with emotion. She would never get to see Xie Guilan as a child again—never know how he had grown taller bit by bit, whether he had been prone to crying as a child, or if he had missed his mother when he went to kindergarten.

Xie Guilan would also never see his young mother again.

These long eighteen years had been enough for him to grow up, and enough for her to grow old.

Guan Xingxue’s eyes reddened. She frowned, reaching out to pull Xie Guilan’s arm closer to inspect the wound.

Xie Guilan lifted his cool, thin eyelids, glancing at the photo beside him. Instead of responding to Guan Xingxue, he silently pulled his sweater sleeve back down and continued packing.

Cen Wu: “…”

Cen Wu was certain the photo hadn’t been there the last time he visited. No wonder, after finding him, Xie Guilan had clung to him as if afraid he’d run away again. Yet the day before yesterday, Xie Guilan had suddenly gone out.

He must have come here to cover up the bloodstains on the wall, dispose of the poison to prevent Guan Xingxue from thinking he was psychologically disturbed, then developed this photo to display, and finally whipped his own arm hard with a belt.

Guan Xingxue was clearly distressed and angered, assuming Song Lingwei had caused the injury. Xie Guilan, seeing her photo, fell silent as if suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He’s scheming again, brother.

Xie Guilan wanted Guan Xingxue to deal with Song Lingwei. He could have simply told Guan Xingxue he hated her, and she would have helped him. But Xie Guilan didn’t trust Guan Xingxue.

Even when playing the victim and placing himself in a vulnerable position, he would never relinquish control.

Cen Wu pursed his lips. Guan Xingxue turned her head to wipe away a tear. He felt unsure—he couldn’t undermine Xie Guilan’s act, but Guan Xingxue had been very kind to him, and he didn’t want her to be sad either.

In the original story, Xie Guilan hadn’t let them come upstairs at all—he had packed his things himself and carried his suitcase down. Cen Wu had thought that this time, because Xie Guilan was more familiar with the Cen family, he had allowed them upstairs.

Xie Guilan’s goal achieved, he didn’t delay any longer. He quickly finished packing and left with the Cen family.

This time, they walked at the back. Cen Wu secretly hooked his finger around Xie Guilan’s. Xie Guilan turned his head, and Cen Wu bared his teeth at him, then pulled his arm to inspect the injury.

Xie Guilan had been acting flirtatiously around him every day. For the past few nights, he hadn’t even worn proper sleepwear—at most, just sleeping pants—and would hold him while sleeping, claiming it was to make it easier for Cen Wu to touch his abs.

Then, starting the day before yesterday, he had suddenly begun dressing properly. Cen Wu had thought he’d escaped a tight spot and hadn’t thought much of it. Who knew Xie Guilan had gone and hurt himself again.

Cen Wu touched his arm and said fiercely, “If… if there’s a next time, I won’t talk to you anymore.”

Xie Guilan’s arm was cold and pale, the purplish-red bruising truly shocking. The subcutaneous bruising had even turned black. Cen Wu’s heart ached with a prickling pain. He wanted to tell him, You don’t have to do this—she could love you too. But Xie Guilan definitely wouldn’t listen.

Cen Wu reached out and pinched Xie Guilan’s face, feeling somewhat relieved that he hadn’t run too far away. Otherwise, what would Xie Guilan do, all alone?

Cen Xiao, walking ahead, suddenly heard Xie Guilan call out “gege” in a low voice. Honestly, his heart trembled for a moment. Since receiving the paternity test results until now, Xie Guilan had never called him “brother.” He had once looked forward to Xie Guilan’s birth so much.

But something felt strangely off.

With this ominous premonition, Cen Xiao turned around to see Xie Guilan leaning on Cen Wu’s shoulder, nuzzling his face against Cen Wu’s, calling him “gege” like he was acting spoiled.

Cen Xiao: “…”

Let’s say it again.

Damn green tea.

Cen Xiao was utterly numb, no longer wanting to deal with them. If they wanted to date, let them. He couldn’t control it anyway. This whole night had angered him so much he felt several new knots growing.

Once in the car and almost home, Cen Wu’s palms were sweating. He really wanted to run away, unsure if the servants would gossip behind his back. The original character was quite hated.

He had gone from being the young master of the Cen family to Xie Mingcheng’s illegitimate child—his status plummeting. Who knew how many people would look down on him now?

They wouldn’t dare in front of Guan Xingxue and the others, but privately? Hard to say.

Guan Xingxue and the others seemed to have considered this too, instructing ahead of time. Upon arriving at the Cen house, everyone still addressed Cen Wu as “Second Young Master.”

Cen Wu didn’t plan to leave for the time being—he couldn’t rest easy about Xie Guilan. But he felt he should move out eventually. His presence here would only make Xie Guilan’s position more awkward.

However, bringing it up tonight was impossible—no one would agree.

Cen Wu still had some unfinished homework. During evening self-study, Meng Liangping had handed out a form for them to fill out and submit tomorrow. It required their parents’ names and contact information, along with a parent’s signature.

He sprawled over the living room table, quickly filled it out, had Guan Xingxue sign it, then went to sneak a peek at Xie Guilan.

Xie Guilan lowered his eyes. In the “Mother” column, he first made a dot, then started writing Guan Xingxue’s name. He should have written the stroke horizontally, but his pen tip dropped downward instead—as if out of habit, he had intended to write “Song Lingwei.”

Then he paused and changed it to “Guan Xingxue.”

Guan Xingxue’s eyes dimmed slightly. She hadn’t been resting well these past few days and had grown several white hairs. She forced a smile and said, “Xiao Lan, you’ve filled it out too, right? Would you like Mommy to sign it for you?”

Cen Wu: “…”

Xie Guilan couldn’t possibly make such a low-level mistake. He did it on purpose—another stab to Guan Xingxue’s heart.

To make her deal with Song Lingwei for him.

He didn’t want to get his own hands dirty for fear Cen Wu would hate him. But whether he sent Song Lingwei to prison or to her grave, she could never appear before Cen Wu again. He needed a scapegoat.

In the original story, the Cen family had never resented him for his coldness, but they had certainly been deeply hurt by it.

Cen Wu rested his cheek on the table, the plump flesh of his face bunching up into a soft mound. Under the table, he hooked a finger around Xie Guilan’s hand and gave it a little shake. Xie Guilan hooked his pinky in return.

Cen Wu then shuffled over to Guan Xingxue, who had been silently studying the form. When Cen Wu suddenly poked his head up, she reached out and patted his cheek, her somber mood once again interrupted.

Cen Wu: “…”
So exhausting.
This family would fall apart without him.

Guan Xingxue had called for Dr. Lu to come take a look at the injury on Xie Guilan’s arm. The bruise was a dark, angry purple, and she was afraid to touch it for fear of causing him more pain.

Dr. Lu had served as the Cen family physician for over a decade. This was only the second time he’d been summoned in the middle of the night.

Another taste of the family doctor’s life in a CEO novel.

Dr. Lu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and strode purposefully into the Cen mansion. He was no longer just an ordinary family doctor!

He was now the family doctor in a story about the true and fake young masters of a wealthy family.

Dr. Lu prescribed some ointment for Xie Guilan, along with anti-inflammatory and circulation-promoting medicine.

Thinking about how close Cen Wu and Xie Guilan were, and worried that Xie Guilan might not settle in easily, Guan Xingxue had the bedroom next to Cen Wu’s tidied up for him.

Xie Guilan lowered his gaze. He had been quiet all evening, but now he suddenly spoke. “I want to stay with the young master.”

Cen Wu: “…”
Cen Wu almost broke into a cold sweat. Brother, please don’t. I should be the one calling you young master.

Guan Xingxue’s heart already ached for him. Hearing this, it shattered all over again. She thought Xie Guilan still hadn’t fully grasped that he was their child, not some illegitimate son of Xie Mingcheng.

“My treasure,” Guan Xingxue stroked his hair. Despite her pity, she didn’t make the decision unilaterally, first asking Cen Wu for his opinion. “Could the two of you stay together for a while?”

What else could Cen Wu say? He could only take Xie Guilan with him, or else this young master would sink back into melancholy.

This was Xie Guilan’s final move—to make Guan Xingxue realize just how important Cen Wu was to him. If she truly loved him, she would, for his sake, deal with Song Lingwei and find a way to keep Cen Wu by his side.

As soon as Xie Guilan got into bed, he pulled Cen Wu into a tight embrace. He had brought the little bear plushie, removed its mittens, and put them on Cen Wu’s hands. Then he gathered Cen Wu into his arms, holding him so tightly it felt like he was being captured.

Wearing the bear mittens, Cen Wu pushed against Xie Guilan’s head with all his might. “You… sleep by yourself.”

“I’m scared,” Xie Guilan murmured, burying his nose in the crook of Cen Wu’s neck and nuzzling softly. His voice dropped low, tinged with loneliness. “I don’t dare sleep at night when you’re not here.”

Cen Wu: “…”
Who are you trying to fool?

Cen Wu didn’t believe it at first, but Xie Guilan kept insisting, clinging to him, on the verge of tears. He started to wonder—could it actually be true?

There was no rule saying Xie Guilan couldn’t be afraid of sleeping alone.

But what if he really was?

Xie Guilan’s dark gaze grew even deeper. He wrapped his arms around Cen Wu’s waist, leaning against him with a profound sense of dependence. Cen Wu quickly patted his back, his heart aching for him. “Then… then don’t go touching me everywhere.”

To be more precise—don’t force me to touch you everywhere.

Just the thought of Xie Guilan’s parents and brother being right there while Xie Guilan gripped his hand tightly, forcing him to feel his abs… The shame was enough to make him want to bury his head.

Xie Guilan made an ambiguous sound in his throat, neither agreeing nor refusing, and simply held Cen Wu as they fell asleep.

Cen Wu was also exhausted from the day’s events. Held in Xie Guilan’s arms, he quickly drifted off—or perhaps was simply squeezed unconscious.

Only then did Xie Guilan open his eyes. He propped himself up in the darkness, whispering softly, “Wuwu.”

Cen Wu’s eyelashes fluttered in sleep, his cool, pale face flushed a soft pink. He gave no reaction whatsoever, sleeping deeply and soundly.

Xie Guilan’s nose bridge was cast in a cool, dim light. He lowered his head and licked Cen Wu’s thin, red lips.

Cen Wu still didn’t react.

Xie Guilan then pressed his lips against Cen Wu’s, gently prying them open while keeping a watchful eye on whether Cen Wu might wake. He slipped his tongue inside, carefully intertwining with Cen Wu’s. He didn’t dare kiss too fiercely, afraid of being discovered. The kiss was unusually tender, accompanied by soft, wet sounds in the deep of the night.

Cen Wu seemed to feel his lips being sucked. In his sleep, he pushed against Xie Guilan’s tongue, trying to shove him away. But drowsy and weak, it felt more like a soft, gentle lick.

Tendons stood out along Xie Guilan’s neck. Cen Wu never kissed him voluntarily when awake. Kneeling beside Cen Wu, he arched his back like a dog, suppressing low gasps as he lowered his head to continue entwining their tongues, his dark, cool peach-blossom eyes fixed intently on him.

Cen Wu’s thick, long lashes trembled. Xie Guilan’s breathing grew heavier. Under the covers, he found Cen Wu’s hand—his palm soft, sending shivers through Xie Guilan.

Xie Guilan finally hunched over, pressing his forehead against Cen Wu’s shoulder, gripping his hand tightly until it ached.

Cen Wu let out a soft “mm,” like a kitten, sleeping restlessly and seeming a bit unhappy. He struggled to pull his hand out from under the covers, wanting to rub his eyes.

Xie Guilan’s heart skipped a beat, his ears flushing slightly red. He caught Cen Wu’s wrist and carefully wiped his palm clean.

I’m going insane.
What am I doing to Cen Wu?

But Cen Wu slept so innocently, as if anything done to him would go unnoticed.

He felt he truly was going mad. Guan Xingxie hadn’t actually wronged him, yet he treated her with such cruelty. Cen Wu probably loved him dearly, yet he wanted to taint him.

He couldn’t control himself. He no longer knew if he was right or wrong, constantly in agony. Only after meeting Cen Wu had the pain lessened, yet he was terrified he might end up hurting him.

“Baby,” Xie Guilan lay back down, holding Cen Wu tightly, kissing his ear as he whispered, “Save me.”