Chapter 30.2

After dinner, Li Shuo took Wen Xiaohui home. Wen Xiaohui recalled how protective Luo Yi was about his privacy, so he asked Li Shuo to drop him off at a street junction, and he walked to the villas by himself.

The lights at Luo Yi's house were still on. As soon as Wen Xiaohui stepped through the door, he saw Luo Yi watching TV in the living room. When Luo Yi saw that he’d come home, he asked, "How did the date go?"

Wen Xiaohui replied, "It was alright. We’re going to try and get along as friends first."

"Is he the owner of Zhengxin Accountancy - Li Shuo?"

Wen Xiaohui was stunned. "How did you know?"

"You told me his name and his profession, so I could look him up online easily." Luo Yi crossed his arms across his chest, leaning against the wall and watching Wen Xiaohui take his shoes off. He said indifferently, "He really is quite handsome. He’s 27 years old - young and promising. He meets all your standards."

Wen Xiaohui felt somewhat awkward, and he couldn’t help recalling the incident with Shao Qun. At the time, Luo Yi mentioned that he got the information on Shao Qun from Cao Hai, but Cao Hai said that they hadn’t been in contact at all since the signing of the foster carer agreement. He didn’t know which one of them was lying, but at least Luo Yi was genuinely trying to find information on Shao Qun. He pretended to ask nonchalantly, "Why did you investigate Li Shuo?"

"I'm worried that you’ll meet a jerk, so it’s best that I find out more about them."

"He was just a date! He doesn’t even count as a friend yet, so it’s not necessary."

"It’s necessary if you plan to keep in contact with him." Luo Yi looked at him profoundly, "I’m sure you wouldn’t want to meet someone like your cheating ex-boyfriend. Therefore, we can spend some money to investigate him in depth if it’s necessary."

"It’s not necessary!" Wen Xiaohui said with greater emphasis, "It’s not good to behave like this."

"What's wrong with it?" Luo Yi stared right at him. His pupils were like two black holes that had the ability to suck people right into them.

Wen Xiaohui felt a little unhappy, because he lost count of the number of times that Luo Yi had shown a desire to control him. Although it was very mild, and in addition Luo Yi would immediately stop if Wen Xiaohui disapproved, he was sensitive to these things and he would always notice. He didn’t blame Luo Yi; the environment that he grew up in led to his insecurity. He was very dependent on his ‘only remaining’ relative, so it was inevitable that he would overreact. The more he was like this, the more his heart bled for Luo Yi. Therefore, he was going to try his best to neutralise Luo Yi’s desire to control, and the plan broadly involved stopping him each time he noticed it happening. As a result, he said in a serious tone, "Luo Yi, you’re still a student and I’m a grown-up, on the other hand. I know that you want to protect me, but I don’t need your protection. I’m capable of looking after myself. Our roles have been reversed - I should be the one protecting you and you shouldn’t have to worry about anything. Study hard and live a good life."

Luo Yi lowered his head and remained silent.

Wen Xiaohui went over and stroked Luo Yi’s head. He said gently, "I understand what you’re thinking, but I hope that you can live your life as a carefree student who doesn’t have to worry about me."

Luo Yi replied quietly, " I can't do that."

"..."

Luo Yi looked miserable as he tilted his head up and glanced at Wen Xiaohui. "You’re the only one I have left, Xiaohui-ge, and I’m afraid of losing you. I even worry about you having an accident when you go to work. That’s why I want to know everything about you - I want to eliminate everything that might harm you. Is my way of thinking really annoying? Do you find me annoying too?"

"Of course not!" Wen Xiaohui tried to hastily justify it. "How could I find you annoying? Of course, I know that you’re concerned about me, but there are things that people your age shouldn’t be worrying about. I can take care of myself - both my daily life and work. You just need to take care of yourself."

Luo Yi reached out to embrace Wen Xiaohui’s waist. With his face resting on Wen Xiaohui’s shoulder, he whispered, "What if I still can’t?"

Wen Xiaohui felt his heart starting to beat erratically. This was the first time that Luo Yi acted coy and heck, it was so cute that he couldn’t resist. Such a perfect and handsome young man who practically gave him all his attention; it was inevitable that it would cause ripples in his state of mind. He started to stutter ,"Erm… You… Try your best to focus on your own studies..." After he finished speaking, he wanted to beat himself up. Wasn’t this the phrase that grown-ups spouted when he was a student that he absolutely despised?

Luo Yi shook his head, "It doesn’t require much energy to keep on top of my studies. Xiaohui-ge, do you know that I can't work out how to get along with others? My family was very different from other people’s families. I don’t have any friends because I feel like there’s a generation gap between me and others. But you’re different - there is no pressure or awkwardness when I’m with you. You have your mother, your colleagues, your friends, and you’ll also have a boyfriend in future. But me… I only have you."

Wen Xiaohui felt that his heart had been struck again. All at once, the heartache, the pity, and the guilt - all of these emotions flooded his brain. In his eyes, regardless of Luo Yi being half a head taller than him, Luo Yi had transformed into a pitiful puppy that had been deprived of love. He comforted him by saying softly, "Don’t talk like that, you’ll make friends with someone that you get along with sooner or later. One day, you’ll meet someone that you’ll fall in love with. And even if you don’t, you still have me. I know that you lack a sense of security, but rest assured, I’ll never leave you."

Luo Yi rubbed Wen Xiaohui's neck. His lips glided over Wen Xiaohui’s collarbone, making Wen Xiaohui’s heart pound incessantly.

This particular moment could be described as tender, or it could be described as embarrassing. Wen Xiaohui couldn’t help but think what if he hadn’t gone to meet Cao Hai originally, or what if he’d never signed the agreement. How would things have turned out? Without Luo Yi, his life would have been the same as before, without any difference. But if Luo Yi didn’t have him… He began to feel a sense of heroic spirit that arose as a result of his rescue of a bewildered and lonely youth.

His mobile phone’s ringtone sounded and ended the silence. Luo Yi released his hand and he stood up straight. Wen Xiaohui also pretended to fuss over his hair in disguise and he answered the phone.

As soon as the call connected, Luo Rui shouted, "How was the date? How was the date?! How was the date?!!!"

"Shit! Can you keep it down?" Wen Xiaohui said half-heartedly, "I freeloaded an extortionate and delicious meal, that’s all. I had a good appetite sitting next to him, I even forgot that I was on a diet."

Luo Rui made a noise that sounded as if he was in a dream-like state. "Amazing!"

"What’s so amazing?" Wen Xiaohui saw that Luo Yi had gone to the kitchen and he whispered, "He’s not interested in me. He said that he’s busy at work and that he doesn’t have time to date."

"It looks like you’re not his type so set me up with him." Luo Rui said desperately.

"I tried and I’ve already told you his answer - he’s busy, no time to date."

"What nonsense, it’s clearly an excuse," lamented Luo Rui. "What an arrogant snob1! His standards are so high - what’s so great about him? In future, don’t pay him any attention."

"He said he was going to arrange dates for us with his tall and handsome friends."

"I take back what I said just now."

They chatted for a bit before hanging up. Luo Yi brought out a glass of warm milk. "Go shower after you finish your drink and go to sleep early."

Wen Xiaohui really liked Luo Yi’s softer side and how considerate he was of others. There couldn’t be anyone in this world who could refuse such meticulous care. Sometimes he would think ‘It doesn’t matter if I don’t have a boyfriend as long as I have Luo Yi,’ but he would immediately suppress these kinds of thoughts as soon as they surfaced.

Wen Xiaohui told Luo Yi about the changes at his work while they were chatting before bed. Director Luo and Shao Qun ought to meet with them when the integration completes, as the investors. He was very concerned about the prospect of meeting Director Luo.

Luo Yi said, "Don't worry, he didn’t dare do anything for so long, so it’s unlikely that he’s going to do anything now. You just have to act normal and try not to provoke him. You also have Shao Qun to support you, and in addition… I think Shao Qun will soon push Director Luo out."

"Oh? How do you know?"

"That’s just my guess. Shao Qun is very ambitious."

"Who knows? It’d be for the best if that were the case. Otherwise, with Director Luo putting pressure on me2, I’d still feel like there’s something wrong."

"Relax. I won't allow Director Luo to make life difficult for you3."

Wen Xiaohui turned his head to look at him. "You?"

"Did you forget that we have his photos?"

Wen Xiaohui widened his eyes. "Don’t act recklessly. I’ll live with it if he fires me. You absolutely must not break the law."

Luo Yi was a little puzzled. "We have compromising material, which can be used to protect you. Why are you still scared?"

"The less trouble, the better. Is there any logic in courting trouble? It’s only a job. Seriously, it isn't such a big deal. In any case, it’s not as important as your future prospects so you can’t act recklessly." Wen Xiaohui broke out in a cold sweat. On the topic of the photo, he would have nearly forgotten about it if no one mentioned Director Luo. He never thought that Luo Yi would actually consider using the photo to blackmail Director Luo. This wasn’t the first time that Luo Yi made him feel a tiny bit scared. That time when Luca was beaten up, Luo Yi recorded a video of it and it made him feel that it was… Very inappropriate.

Luo Yi shrugged. "Fine, I’ll do what you say."

Wen Xiaohui laid down momentarily, but he was still feeling a bit irritable and couldn’t help turning his body around to look at Luo Yi. "Luo Yi, how can you be so fearless?"

"Huh?"

"Well… For example, that time with Luca, you wanted me to feel less angry so you suggested putting the video online. It’s the same this time. Don’t you understand that all of these things are illegal?"

Luo Yi smiled and said, "If I dare to put it up online, then naturally I wouldn’t let them find out who did it. They won’t be able to trace it back to me."

"No, that’s not the point. You still did something very dangerous even if they can’t trace it back to you."

"How can it be dangerous if they can’t trace it back to me?" Luo Yi replied disapprovingly, "Even if they’re able to trace it back, have you forgotten that I’m only 16? It’s not like they can do anything to me."

Wen Xiaohui felt a slight chill in the air. Luo Yi seemed to lack a certain something, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it at this moment in time. It was like… How the majority of people believed that certain things were unethical, but they didn’t count as anything in Luo Yi’s eyes. It was very scary. He didn’t think that Luo Yi was a bad person, because Luo Yi was only trying to protect him. But his actions appeared to be a little extreme… He frantically tried to think up an excuse on behalf of Luo Yi, it was the commonly used one - his abnormal family. He said, "Luo Yi, you can’t think like this in future. Although you might think that it’s just like a prank or something… It’s still illegal and just because they don't catch you doesn’t mean it’s not illegal. Even though you want to protect me, you need to use the correct methods. You’re so young and you have a boundless future, so you can’t mess around with these sorts of things. Don’t speak like that again."

"Okay, I understand."

In his heart, Wen Xiaohui sighed slightly.

"I only want your life to be free of troubles." Luo Yi said, "I hope that you will never have to worry as a result of people, matters or money."

Wen Xiaohui’s demeanour softened. "Luo Yi, thank you."

"You don’t have to be so polite with me." Luo Yi grabbed onto Wen Xiaohui’s hand. "Xiaohui-ge, can I sleep while holding your hand?"

Under such a sincere and dependent expression, Wen Xiaohui was unable to refuse and he could only nod.

Luo Yi smiled slightly, he held onto Wen Xiaohui’s hand and tucked it into the duvet. He closed his eyes gently.

Wen Xiaohui tossed about in bed, unable to sleep. He couldn’t help sorting through both the small and the larger matters that happened since he met Luo Yi. He always felt as if there were things that seemed to be obscured by a layer of gauze, which made him unable to see through them or make out what they were. The more time he spent with Luo Yi, the more he felt that Luo Yi wasn’t as sunny and innocent as he imagined. This young man was very intelligent and scheming. There were times when Luo Yi was so intelligent that it scared him - the incidents with Luca and Director Luo, and the callousness that was hiding behind his intelligence. It made him feel at wit’s end. He could no longer regard Luo Yi as the youth who didn't know the ways of the world.