It turns out that the three views[mfn]values[/mfn] of close family members can influence each other. In the Li family, it wasn’t just his father who had a skewed worldview.
Professor Li invited Ji Kai to sit down, his smile carrying a bureaucratic air. “I’m very familiar with your university president. He holds you in high regard, Professor Ji, and often praises your ambition and talent in academic fields.”
“……”
“You may already know that I serve as an external reviewer for many core academic journals and the National Social Science Fund. I have the power of veto. Of course, here at R University, we also have our own research team and are always looking to bring in fresh talent. Recently, we’ve been paying close attention to you, Professor Ji.”
“……Young man, sometimes your future and destiny are in your own hands. You must consider things carefully and seize the opportunities before you.”
The underlying message was clear without further explanation—essentially, “I hold a high position in academia; I can make or break your career with ease.” Ji Kai was at a loss for words.
“Thank you very much, Professor Li, but honestly, I don’t have that much of a career ambition.”
A lack of desire leads to true independence.
Excelling in academics doesn’t necessarily mean one has a genuine passion for research.
His initial decision to study law was never about “passion” or “ideals” in the first place. It was simply because he couldn’t accept what had happened in his sister’s case—he had hoped to find some semblance of fairness and justice within the pages of his textbooks.
Unfortunately, after years of delving into the field, publishing numerous papers, and even earning the coveted title of associate professor—envied by many—he had still found nothing close to what he was truly searching for.
He had already been feeling lost and exhausted, considering taking a step back to reorganize his life direction. And just as he was about to pause and reflect, this renowned academic figure suddenly appeared before him.
Back in university, he had read “Professor Li’s” biography. He remembered how Professor Li had traveled to the U.S. several times to study but repeatedly turned down lucrative offers to stay abroad, choosing instead to return to China as scheduled.
Later, he became an author, dedicated himself to academia, contributed to legislation, and devoted his scholarly pursuits to serving the country. Ji Kai had always believed that he was a warrior of justice—a noble fighter wielding the sword of law and holding the scales of fairness.
But meeting him in person today had shattered that illusion.
……
As he walked out of R University’s teaching building, the campus’s main road stretched ahead in a straight line, flanked by tall, lush birch trees.
Strolling along that path, his thoughts drifted through memories of countless people and events—his family from the past, Weidu, Zhu Ling, Zhou Yi’an…
As time passed, some people changed completely, drifting with the current until they became unrecognizable. But surely, there were also those strong-willed individuals who never forgot their original aspirations, who held onto their youthful determination and stubbornness.
“You can’t always get what you want, but as long as you stay true to yourself, that’s enough.”
He still remembered when he first entered university. The old president, already seventy at the time, insisted on attending their opening ceremony. His voice was hoarse, trembling slightly as he repeated the same ancient wisdom over and over again—words that everyone thought they understood.
He stopped walking. Even the wind had stilled.
There seems to be some clarity in his heart.
Before heading home that day, he went to the gym and worked up a serious sweat. They say exercise releases endorphins, which improve one’s mood—and sure enough, the gloom quickly lifted.
……
When he got home, the whole place was filled with the warm aroma of freshly steamed buns. His beloved little tin man had recently leveled up his baking skills by +10086.
Watching that busy figure moving around the kitchen, a deep warmth spread through his heart. He had always longed for a cozy home.
A place where, after returning late, he could have a hot meal waiting, a warm smile to soothe his exhaustion, and a loved one to hold his hand and chat with.
Now, he was lucky—he had all of that. Plus, an added bonus: a breathtakingly beautiful lover who greeted him with hugs and kisses at the entrance.
“Wait, wait, wait! Not today—I’m all sweaty! Don’t hug me!”
He had just exercised at the gym, hadn’t brought a change of clothes, and hadn’t showered…
But he was still pulled into a tight embrace—without a hint of hesitation.
And thoroughly groped.
……
On the day of Li Father’s grand wedding, Ji Kai happened to have no classes and was at home, taking all kinds of loving care of Li Weidu, who had caught a cold from indulging in the cool air. Lying in bed with a mild fever, Li Weidu looked helpless as he held a thermometer in his mouth.
As for what exactly had made him too cold…
A late-night windowsill play session, perhaps? Professor Ji felt that one should be low-key in life, and some topics were better left unspoken.
After taking Li Weidu’s temperature and giving him his medicine, Ji Kai leaned over, intending to steal a kiss. Li Weidu awkwardly turned his face away.
“…I have a cold. I can’t kiss you today.”
“It’s fine, wind-cold colds aren’t contagious.”
With that, Ji Kai decisively planted a kiss on him despite the weak struggles. A deep and solid one. Li Weidu let out a small, comfortable sigh like a little animal, his gaze dropping as his cheeks flushed, a lingering sweetness in his expression.
Ji Kai truly felt that these occasional moments of shyness and fluttering emotions from Li Weidu were irresistibly charming.
After all, they had already been intimately familiar with each other countless times. Especially last night—who was it that had gone all out, indulging in unspeakable, eye-averting, highly high-rated acts? And yet, once out of that heated state, he could immediately return to being a pure and innocent young man, completely unlike the fierce, high-intensity, relentless version of himself from the night before.
“I can’t sleep. Stay with me and tell me a story, okay?” The pure and sleepy Li Weidu acted coy, lifting the blanket to let Ji Kai in. With an overwhelming sense of possessiveness, he hugged his baby bear tightly and pressed his cool feet against Ji Kai for warmth.
Ji Kai then told him some heartwarming stories from his childhood.
Stories about how his sister sewed clothes and slippers for the family, about how his parents bickered and got jealous over small things every few days, and about how he, as a mischievous child, once caught crickets and hid them under his parents’ pillows—or blew up the free condoms from the family planning office into balloons and gave them to the neighbors, only to be beaten up by both his parents and sister, who ultimately saved him from a dire fate.
Li Weidu listened with envy on his face. “The people in your family are really interesting…”
Of course, they were fun! Hmph, do you even know whose family you’re talking about?
They weren’t rich, but the four of them had enough love to sustain them. Every day was filled with warmth and happiness—something money couldn’t buy. At least… it was far better than growing up in a luxurious mansion where a framed photo of one’s uncle shaking hands with the country’s leaders hung above the bed, while the parents had long run away from home for twenty years in an endless cycle of wealth and cold indifference.
“I was wondering… if parents and siblings like yours…” Li Weidu leaned his fevered head against Ji Kai’s shoulder, his voice husky and seductive, sending a ticklish sensation through Ji Kai’s heart.
“If you got hurt outside, or if someone bullied you, would they… blame you first? Would they think it was your fault, that you deserved it and should reflect on yourself? Or would they think, ‘It’s all the other person’s fault’?”
That question was way too easy. “Of course, it would be the other person’s fault!”
“My family is super protective, okay? Even if it was my fault, it would still be someone else’s fault! I remember when I was little—probably four or five years old—I was running too fast one day and tripped over a chair, chipping my front tooth. As I cried, my mom scolded the chair while hitting it, then my dad took a turn hitting it, and then my sister took over. They all blamed the chair, saying it was at fault and deserved to be punished.”
As Ji Kai spoke, he pulled the now-silent and dazed Li Weidu into a comforting embrace.
The Li family would never have had such a scene. That scumbag father of his probably never cared if he was hurt or in pain.
“…When I got hurt, my dad only ever called me stupid.”
“When I was bullied, he would just sneer and say, ‘Why do people pick on you and not others? It must be because you’re annoying.’”
“Growing up, no matter what achievements I had, he always took them for granted. Not once did he ever praise me. But when it came to scolding me, he always found the harshest words possible.”
At such a young age, he had never felt any love—only a raw, bitter desolation that still haunted him.
So now, even if that man was getting married, even if it was some grand reunion with his long-lost true love, all Li Weidu could feel was cold indifference. He couldn’t be happy. He couldn’t offer blessings.
Li Weidu always wondered—if he had been born into a family like Ji Kai’s, loud and full of love, maybe he could have grown up bright and confident instead of being so preoccupied with others’ opinions, so self-conscious, cautious, and insecure.
“…Sorry, I shouldn’t have complained to you so much.”
It was always like this. He never had anything positive to say, and he knew that these petty grievances wouldn’t change anything. Just as he was hating himself for it, Ji Kai kissed him—a long and intense kiss, leaving him breathless, his tongue tingling.
“Weidu, my dad always said, ‘The concept of family exists to embrace weakness, complaints, exhaustion, and tears.’”
“He said that if we fully relax at home and recharge ourselves, we can be stronger when we step outside.”
“If you really think of me as ‘family,’ then from now on, whenever you’re unhappy, you have to tell me. I promise I won’t get annoyed. I’ll even help you fight those mean little chairs and benches that bully you.”
Li Weidu let out a soft chuckle at that, but his eyes felt hot. In a daze, he looked up and met Ji Kai’s gaze, which was as gentle as if he were looking at a treasured gem. Embarrassed, he shrank into the blanket, secretly reaching out to touch his swollen lips, savoring the lingering sweetness in his heart.
“But Weidu, I always feel it’s such a pity! If only my parents and sister were still alive. If they got to meet you, they would definitely adore you. Then, it wouldn’t just be me protecting you.”
“And honestly, my family was always so laid-back, carefree, and absentminded. We were just missing someone meticulous, who takes things seriously, to lead us. You’d fit in perfectly as our family’s guiding pillar.”
Li Weidu hummed in response, snuggling closer and wrapping his arms around Ji Kai’s waist.
“Actually… after hearing you talk about them so much, I feel like I already know them. Almost as if I’ve met them, sat at the dinner table with them, and shared a happy meal together.”
Because in you, I can clearly see all the kindness, warmth, and love they must have had.
……
They napped until nightfall, then lazily got up and nestled together on the bed, watching TV.
First, there was a documentary about cats.
“The Persian cat, the aristocrat among felines—gentle and elegant in temperament, intelligent and agile, empathetic, preferring stillness over movement, and naturally exuding a pampered demeanor. It gives off a sense of luxury and nobility and has always been deeply loved by cat enthusiasts worldwide.”
Ji Kai turned his head and glanced at the person beside him. “That sounds just like you.”
Li Weidu: “Pick one! I can’t be both a cat and a fish!”
“Why not?”
“Because they’re natural enemies!”
Ji Kai thought about it for a long time but couldn’t quite figure out the logic.
The cat documentary ended, and Li Weidu lifted the remote, flipping through a few channels.
Ji Kai said, “Wait, wait, Weidu, wasn’t that channel just now airing the Golden Maple Music Awards?”
“Oh? Do you want to see if Zhu Ling won an award?”
“No, no, switch to whatever you want.” Ji Kai broke out in a cold sweat. He just wanted to watch an awards show—who knew this would end up stepping on a landmine?
Li Weidu, with his single eyelid, glanced at him and decisively switched it back.
The nominations for the new award were being announced. The camera panned across the audience, and suddenly, Ye Yin’s fair and delicate face appeared on screen.
Li Weidu froze. Ji Kai immediately teased, “Oh~ don’t tell me you want to see your ex?”
The camera pulled back, revealing Zhu Ling in a dazzling suit adorned with tiny diamonds, seated right next to Ye Yin. They occasionally leaned in to whisper to each other.
Lately… they seemed to be making a point of not avoiding public speculation anymore.
Both of them were nominees for the “Most Popular Song Award (Online Voting).” However, Zhu Ling’s fan base and level of fame were significantly higher than the other candidates. So when the host announced, “Congratulations to Zhu Ling,” Ji Kai wasn’t surprised at all.
“Alright, enough of this. Change the channel?”
Li Weidu remained motionless, his face still carrying that signature air of arrogance. Ji Kai had no choice but to brace himself and continue watching his distant ex stand handsomely on stage, delivering the usual long list of thank-yous to his producer, staff, and so on.
Normally, once the speech was over, he should have just left the stage.
However, for some unknown reason, after a brief buzzing sound from the microphone and a two-second silence, the man on stage, holding the crystal trophy in his hand, suddenly spoke again, his expression serious:
“Over the years, every time I achieved something, I thanked a lot of people, but I have never thanked someone who was truly important to me. That person helped me unconditionally during my toughest times and stood by my side, cheering me on when I was just starting my career.”
The camera turned to the audience, capturing Ye Yin’s face. Caught off guard, the little beauty’s expression revealed his real emotions—his face was pale, his gaze heavy.
“Kai-ge,” Zhu Ling lowered his eyes and softly spoke two words. Then he looked up, his dark pupils filled with deep emotion as he stared straight into the camera.
“I’m sorry.”
“And… thank you. Really, thank you.”
Beside him, Li Weidu’s eyes turned icy in an instant, sharp as if he were sharpening a blade.
Ji Kai: What did I do?!
It was like a disaster just dropped out of the sky.
Translator: Lynn
Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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