Additional Inheritance - Chap 84
Chapter 84
The four of them sat down and chatted for over an hour. Wen Xiaohui observed how his mum went from overbearing to chatting casually, since Luo Yi walked through the door. Although she still looked a bit stiff and awkward, she didn’t utter anything provocative from beginning to end.
He knew that his mum had been prepared to exert her authority to the point where she might have picked up the vegetable cleaver on his behalf. Back then, his mum had chased the teacher who bullied him around half of the sports field and beat him up. She was fearless when protecting her young. However, Luo Yi was as soft as a ball of cotton wool and greeted her with a smile from beginning to end. Not to mention his mum, even he and Luo Rui would be bewildered.
In the end, his mum asked Luo Yi to stay for dinner.
Luo Yi was particularly keen to cook. He smiled and added, “Xiaohui-ge, doesn’t know how to cook, so I’m the one who usually cooks at home. I’m very quick, feel free to watch some TV while you wait.”
Luo Yi went to the kitchen to cook, leaving the three of them to stare at each other.
Feng Yuehua coughed quietly. “Hmm… This kid isn’t what I expected at all.”
Wen Xiaohui felt a little dispirited. “What did you think he’d be like?”
Feng Yuehua frowned. At that moment, she had no idea how to describe him.
In actual fact, even if she didn’t say anything, Wen Xiaohui could have guessed that anyone would expect a monster who wanted to burn his own father to death at the age of eight to be sinister, strange, cold-blooded, cruel, and abnormal. Luo Yi was actually a perfect fit for three of those adjectives, but it was impossible to tell when he wanted to pretend otherwise. He couldn’t tell his mum about Luo Yi’s true colours.
Feng Yuehua pondered for a while and asked, “It looks like he treats you very well; why did you argue?”
Wen Xiaohui said in a hoarse voice, “There was a misunderstanding. Relationships are complicated.”
Feng Yuehua sighed, “It’s very unexpected. How could it turn out like this? He’s Yaya’s son. It must be fate. How did this happen?”
That’s right, wasn’t it fate? How many people in this world would end up in a relationship like his?
“Do you really like him?” Feng Yuehua asked Wen Xiaohui seriously.
Wen Xiaohui nibbled on his lip. He felt very unwilling to answer this question, but he nodded like a robot.
“It’s really inappropriate for you to be together with him – he’s your elder sister’s son. It doesn’t sound good even if you’re not blood-related. Furthermore, he’s five years younger than you. His father is…” Feng Yuehua heaved another sigh. “Why did you fall in love with him in spite of everything? What do you want me to say?”
Wen Xiaohui’s head drooped, nearly reaching his chest. He wholeheartedly felt it was ironic. Extremely ironic. He constantly thought about leaving Luo Yi, but he had to pretend to be happy and blissful in front of everyone. Luo Yi had fooled even his mum, and Luo Yi seemed to have isolated him from the rest of the world. Eventually, he would have no choice but to rely on Luo Yi. He still couldn’t explain how he managed to walk right into Luo Yi’s trap, and he was unable to turn back. He pinched the centre of his palm and forced himself to smile. “Mum, I’m fine. You… shouldn’t worry about me. You need to give me a mixed-race brother or sister as soon as possible.”
“Nonsense! At my age! Ian has children and I already have you. Why would I have another child?” After Feng Yuehua finished, she smiled slightly and said in an exasperated tone, “That kid, Luo Yi, is very polite, but it doesn’t mean I approve of your relationship. You ran off to another city after an argument. Would you never come home if you had another disagreement? I need to keep my eye on him for a bit longer. You need to break all ties immediately if there’s something wrong with him.”
Wen Xiaohui nodded as he laughed bitterly in his heart.
Some time later, Luo Yi finished cooking enough food to fill an entire dining table, and he also took out the tableware that had previously been covered in dust. It was arranged beautifully. He paid special attention to the details, then he called them over to have dinner.
Not a single person in Wen Xiaohui’s family could cook. His dad never used to enter the kitchen, and the extent of his mum’s cooking was making sure things were cooked all the way through. Never had his household witnessed such a rich and exquisite dinner. Looking at the dining table of dishes which looked, smelled and tasted great, also made people feel that life was beautiful.
Feng Yuehua couldn’t help but utter praise. “Smells wonderful.”
Luo Yi revealed a dazzling smile. “Auntie, please try some.” He took the initiative to pull out a chair for Feng Yuehua, attentive like a son-in-law towards his mother-in-law.
The mood was even more peaceful during the meal. Feng Yuehua inquired a lot about Luo Yi and his responses were impeccable. He showed off his sunny disposition, gentleness, intelligence, and cheerfulness during the whole afternoon. He was a diligent and entrepreneurial young man, and he was also handsome. If Feng Yuehua didn’t have any preconceptions about him, there was no way that she would have disliked such a young man.
Who would dislike such a perfect person, if he were real?
After dinner, Luo Yi wanted to clear the table, but he was stopped by Feng Yuehua. She already felt embarrassed when Luo Yi brought the fruit salad dessert to her and urged Luo Yi to go to the living room to watch TV, so that she could tidy up by herself. In the end, Wen Xiaohui snatched the job.
While Wen Xiaohui was scrubbing dishes in the kitchen, he kept hearing Luo Yi’s clear laughter coming from the living room. Later, Luo Rui must have been unable to sit still anymore and went to the kitchen to help. Masked by the sound of water, he whispered, “He’s really good at acting.”
Wen Xiaohui forced a laugh. “Yeah.”
“People like him are really scary.”
A thousand people have a thousand faces1. It was truly terrifying. Luo Yi had been acting for three years in order to deceive Wen Xiaohui, so what was an afternoon? Sometimes he wondered if Luo Yi would suffer from schizophrenia.
After Wen Xiaohui finished in the kitchen, Luo Yi excused himself appropriately. Feng Yuehua said, “Xiaohui, go see Luo Yi off. Luo Rui, stay. Auntie needs to talk to you about something.”
Wen Xiaohui glanced at Luo Rui, hinting to him that he had to be careful with his words. His mum clearly wanted to hear Luo Rui’s assessment of Luo Yi.
Luo Rui was inevitably a bit nervous, but he could only stay.
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Wen Xiaohui escorted Luo Yi out of the building. The nighttime breeze felt cool and refreshing. Luo Yi stretched his muscles and smiled as he said, “Auntie is more polite than I imagined. You were worrying too much.”
Wen Xiaohui clenched his fists with all his strength. “We’re already outside, you don’t have to pretend anymore.”
Luo Yi was a little surprised – it was as if someone had woken him up in the middle of a pleasant dream. Disappointment filled his eyes and they dimmed. “I respect her because she’s your mother. I’m genuinely trying to please her.”
“Yeah, you did well. It was flawless.” Unspeakable resentment pooled in Wen Xiaohui’s chest.
“Xiaohui-ge, I don’t have a hidden motive behind everything I do. I just… want to make you happy.”
“I’m not unhappy.” Wen Xiaohui’s footsteps paused. “I won’t accompany you any further, go home.”
Luo Yi stopped as well, reaching out to stroke Wen Xiaohui’s face. He said gently, “Did you ever wonder what it would be like to have a boyfriend?”
Wen Xiaohui pondered for two seconds, then stopped in his tracks when he realised what Luo Yi was trying to say.
“Bringing your boyfriend home to meet the parents, chatting, watching TV, and eating dinner together – like what happened this afternoon. Have you ever thought about it? Is it different from what you imagined?”
“I’m heading back.” Wen Xiaohui refused to follow Luo Yi’s train of thought.
Luo Yi hooked his arm around Wen Xiaohui’s shoulders, and stared into his eyes solemnly. “Xiaohui-ge, I can give you everything you want – including the life you dreamed of. I’ll try my hardest to make your friends and family like me. I’ll take care of all your worries, so that you’ll live an easy and happy life. I’m willing to do anything as long as you smile at me.” His fingertip glided gently down Wen Xiaohui’s face. “One day, you’ll find you can’t live without me.”
Wen Xiaohui stepped back as his heart pounded. In that instant, he believed that Luo Yi was speaking the truth – Luo Yi had engraved too many indelible marks on both his body and in his heart, and he felt as though he would never be able to love another person for the rest of his life. Ignoring everything that had happened in the past, Luo Yi was ultimately the perfect partner. He was stunned by his own thoughts. When did Luo Yi lower his bottom-line? Amidst the gradual compromise and submission, he came close to abandoning his own sense of self and his struggle. He felt as though he’d lost the ability of independent thought and was completely following Luo Yi’s lead.
Alarm bells blared in his heart. If Luo Yi messed with him once more, he might never be able to get back up again.
Luo Yi said gently, “Go home and rest. Your car will arrive in a few days. Once you’ve settled in, I can arrange for you to go back to Juxing if you’d like.”
“Chang Xing… How’s he doing?” Wen Xiaohui had always been worried about him.
Luo Yi’s expression dimmed. “His appeal is still under review, but I won’t give him a chance to make a comeback.”
“I don’t care about what you want to do, I’ll fight you both to the death if you involve my friends and family.”
“I won’t let you or anyone important to you be in danger. Once his case is sentenced, I’ll eradicate the rest of his supporters. He’s already taken up most of my life, I just want to spend my remaining time with you in peace.”
Wen Xiaohui was somewhat sceptical, his heart was shrouded by a layer of unease to the point where he didn’t want to go back to work in the short term. He’d rather spend more time with his mum. After some time, he would persuade his mum to go back to the US, far from this troublesome place.
Luo Yi said softly, “I’m going.”
Wen Xiaohui nodded.
Both of them turned and proceeded to walk in the opposite direction to each other. Suddenly, Luo Yi turned back around. Wen Xiaohui seemed to sense something was wrong and froze. Luo Yi quickly rushed over, grabbing Wen Xiaohui by the shoulder and lowering his head to kiss him firmly.
At that particular moment, there was a kind of nervousness pulsing through the air that was difficult to describe. Wen Xiaohui stared at him absentmindedly.
Luo Yi licked his lips. He replied as he smiled slightly, “Thinking about how I won’t see you for a few days, I’m reluctant to let you go.”
Wen Xiaohui turned away. “You should go.”
“Tell me when you’ll be back, so I can look forward to it.”
Wen Xiaohui frowned. “I’m staying with my mum.”
“I understand, but tell me when you’ll be home.” Luo Yi stared at him. “I can’t bear to wait endlessly. I’ve suffered enough during the past two years, and I don’t want to spend another day like that.” Not knowing where Wen Xiaohui was, unsure about his quality of life or his safety, whether he was eating well or dressing warmly for the weather, whether he harboured any resentment or missed him even slightly, and uncertain about the possibility of him falling in love with another person – he felt tortured by these questions during the 500 days and nights. Yearning and regret were engraved deep within his bones. He was upset, disappointed, and angry, but in the end, when all these excess thoughts were about to be purged, his only wish was to set his eyes on the person that he longed for, even if it was just one look. He really couldn’t go back to living that sort of life again.
Wen Xiaohui’s mouth and tongue felt dry. He opened his mouth and said with some difficulty, “A month.”
“That’s too long.”
“Half a month.”
“That’s still too long.”
“Don’t go too…”
“You have to come back at least once a week.” Luo Yi practically pleaded, “I’ll feel scared if I don’t see you for a long time.”
Wen Xiaohui pursed his lips, and after a while, he nodded.
Luo Yi held him tightly in his arms and muttered words of endearment into his ear as if it were a spell. “I love you… In my heart, all the people and things in this world combined do not compare to you.”
Wen Xiaohui shut his eyes and gnawed on his lip. He once swore on his bleeding heart that in this lifetime, he would never believe a single word from Luo Yi.
Footnotes:
A phrase which seems to suggest that people are different, and can be good or bad. It also has a completely different meaning when referring to technology and refers to algorithms used to personalise adverts to sell products to customers.
