“Mingya came to protest to you?” Yan Sui asked, his lips still lingering on Meng Ting’s forehead. His fingers gently pinched Meng Ting’s earlobes, and when he saw the flush spreading from Meng Ting’s ears to his cheeks, he couldn’t resist lowering his head to kiss Meng Ting’s lips.
Meng Ting’s eyes widened slightly before curving into a smile. He tightened his arms around Yan Sui’s waist, meeting Yan Sui’s kiss and turning the light peck into an unrestrained, deep kiss.
Meng Ting allowed himself to sink into the room’s sofa, his legs instinctively lifting to hook around Yan Sui’s waist. Even if they really fell off the sofa, he could still at least protect Yan Sui’s injured back first.
His neck arched as he felt Yan Sui’s kisses trail from his lips to his throat. Only then did he have the chance to think about Yan Sui’s question.
“I’m Mingya’s little aunt—he wouldn’t dare…” At most, he might put on a pitiful act for Meng Ting. But even if his acting skills had improved slightly, Meng Ting had only spent half a day in the lab before coming home.
With Yan Sui recuperating at home, Meng Ting’s heart was anchored here. He had to return.
“Yan Sui…” Meng Ting’s voice suddenly sounded a bit strange—it was because Yan Sui had taken his Adam’s apple between his lips. He couldn’t help but swallow hard, but Yan Sui’s lips and tongue followed the movement of his Adam’s apple, clearly not intending to let go.
“Don’t do this, it’ll break!”
Meng Ting wasn’t sure whether it was his Adam’s apple that would break or his overstimulated brain. He lightly pinched pinched the ticklish spot on Yan Sui’s waist. “Be good, let go. You’re injured now. We can continue after you recover.”
Meng Ting had used this very reason last night to righteously reject Yan Sui’s advances—a rare occurrence. Meng Ting was usually quite open about such matters, always enthusiastic, and even if he changed his mind, it was usually during the latter half of the act that thoughts of retreat surfaced.
But last night and now, they had barely started foreplay, and Meng Ting had already refused.
Yan Sui finally released Meng Ting’s Adam’s apple upon hearing his words. He leaned against Meng Ting’s shoulder, breathing softly, while the person he leaned against dared not move at all. Meng Ting understood the intensity of Yan Sui’s physical reaction even better than Yan Sui himself—struggling or provoking him now was out of the question.
After spending so much time with Yan Sui, Meng Ting had finally learned this lesson. Yet, he still didn’t realize that at times like these, even words could be dangerously provocative for a man.
“Be good, little Yan Sui, just wait a few more… days,” Meng Ting said, his eyes widening slightly. He could clearly feel that his attempt to soothe had backfired—but why? Meng Ting still didn’t understand.
“You really… want it this badly?” In the end, Meng Ting couldn’t bear to see Yan Sui enduring like this; he looked even more uncomfortable than when he was injured. He stared at Yan Sui for a moment, and finally, his heart softened, and he reluctantly agreed, “Then, just once. But no more—”
Before he could finish, Yan Sui kissed him again. While Yan Sui had been restraining himself with great effort, Meng Ting had obliviously been saying these things. But this was more unbearable than him just squirming in his arms. Now that Meng Ting had agreed, Yan Sui no longer wanted to hold back.
This sofa was no stranger to them. On days when they were in high spirits, Yan Sui had even deliberately carried Meng Ting here to indulge.
Apart from occasionally remembering to be mindful of Yan Sui’s back injury, everything else remained as harmonious as ever. Or perhaps it was precisely because of Meng Ting’s concern that Yan Sui couldn’t help but grow even more excited. Even in the dead of winter, Yan Sui was still drenched in sweat.
Finally, he released Meng Ting, withdrawing from his body before pulling him into an embrace. Meng Ting’s gaze was slightly dazed, drifting aimlessly over Yan Sui. Suddenly remembering something, he gently broke free from Yan Sui’s arms.
“Turn around…”
Before Yan Sui could react, Meng Ting pushed and turned him around. He didn’t intend to do anything—he just wanted to make sure Yan Sui’s injury hadn’t been aggravated by their activities.
Yan Sui remained still, letting Meng Ting inspect him. But then, a soft kiss pressed against his back.
Around the edges of his wound, Meng Ting placed feather-light kisses, his heartache palpable. Yan Sui felt it but didn’t move or speak, allowing Meng Ting to kiss him gently until he was satisfied. Only then did Yan Sui turn back and pull him into his arms.
“I’m not lying to you this time—it really doesn’t hurt anymore.”
When it wasn’t touched or pressed, he could barely even feel its existence. These kinds of injuries had been commonplace for Yan Sui in the past. His level of endurance far surpassed that of ordinary people, and perhaps that was one of the main reasons he had become so exceptional.
His ability to consistently outmatch his childhood friends wasn’t due to some innate, unrivaled talent. Most people only saw the results he displayed, unaware of the immense effort he put in behind the scenes.
Most of the injuries he had suffered in the past were far more severe than this one. He was only human—pain that others could feel, he felt just as much. He had simply learned to ignore and disregard it. And when he truly couldn’t ignore it, he could only endure it silently.
Even the two elders of the Yan family had grown accustomed to Yan Sui’s resilience and sensibility. They cared about Yan Sui’s studies and growth, but they had also became used to his silence and maturity. Gradually, they too overlooked the fact that Yan Sui could feel pain and exhaustion.
As time went on, even Yan Sui had the misconception that he shouldn’t feel pain or fatigue. But now, Meng Ting genuinely felt heartache for him, empathizing with him completely, which allowed him to reclaim those lost sensations.
He had once told Xiao Huimin that Meng Ting gave him far more than he could ever gave to Meng Ting in return. This was the truth—meeting Meng Ting was undoubtedly the greatest fortune of his life.
“I need to call Grandpa later to ask about that bad woman’s situation,” Meng Ting said, now fully accustomed to not hiding anything in front of Yan Sui. Even now, as he revealed his murderous intent, he made no effort to hide it.
Yan Sui knew Meng Ting was furious again after seeing his wounds. He ruffled Meng Ting’s hair but didn’t dismiss the idea. “I’ll make the call. You can just listen.”
While Old Master Xiao might appreciate this side of Meng Ting, his priorities and values ultimately differed too much from Meng Ting’s. Repeatedly exposing this ruthless aspect of Meng Ting in front of Old Master Xiao still wasn’t entirely appropriate. It was better for Yan Sui to handle it.
As the rightful patriarch of the Yan family, decisiveness in judgment and action was an essential quality for him.
“Mm,” Meng Ting nodded. Whether Yan Sui made the call or he did, it made no difference to Meng Ting—as long as he got the answers he wanted.
***
These past few days, Old Master Xiao had been so enraged that he ate half a bowl less at every meal. The filth and depravity hidden within powerful families were nothing new to someone of his experience, but he had never imagined it would surface among his own descendants.
Xiao Huimin, as the eldest son, had his status as heir apparent confirmed when he was three years old. After he turned ten, Old Master Xiao personally took him under his wing for guidance. For his second and third sons, who weren’t meant to inherit the main family line, were largely left to their own devices.
His original intention was for them to develop their own strengths, much like Xiao Huimin’s three sons now.
Xiao Zi’ang also had been groomed as the heir since childhood, while the second son, Xiao Zimo, was allowed to live as he pleased—and indeed, he became a renowned painter at a young age, known both domestically and abroad. Had Meng Ting grown up safely in the Xiao family, his talent in perfumery would likely have earned him his own laboratory early on, with fame in his youth almost a foregone conclusion.
Old Master Xiao’s original intentions were good, but he had fail to notice his deceased wife’s excessive pampering of the children, nor the excessive flattery from those around them due to their family’s status and influence.
Xiao Xuanmin turned out somewhat mediocre, while Xiao Zi grew up to be a complete playboy—one who even dared to lay hands on his own sister-in-law. Old Master Xiao was utterly furious. The doctors said Xiao Zi’s legs were ruined, that he’d never be able to stand again. There was no need for Old Master Xiao to punish him—Xiao Zi had already sunk into deep depression and bitterness.
When Old Master Xiao confronted him, Xiao Zi admitted it without hesitation.
“Occasionally. After all, Second Sister-in-Law is a beauty.”
And an exceptionally dangerous beauty at that. Xiao Zi had spent his life seeking thrills and novelty, so he naturally wouldn’t refuse such advances. But since he was often abroad, ‘occasionally’ meant whenever he occasionally returned to Beicheng.
Even now, when questioned by Old Master Xiao, he showed not a shred of remorse.
He also had a question for Old Master Xiao. “Is Eldest Brother’s youngest son the one from the Yan family in Haicheng?”
Confined to the sanatorium, his access to information was much more limited than outside. Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou were very careful about protecting Meng Ting’s information. He had to ask many people to find out. When he brought this up, his expression turned ugly—not just because of his illness, but also because he thought of Yan Sui and Yan Yu.
“Dad, the Yan father and son ruined my legs. Are you just going to accept that?”
Meng Ting was Xiao Huimin’s son, but he was also Old Master Xiao’s son!
However, Old Master Xiao’s ruthlessness wasn’t directed at anyone in particular—it was the same toward everyone. He looked at Xiao Zi, his anger turning into an expressionless gaze. He answered the question, “Yes, I accept it.”
“You committed adultery with your sister-in-law, secretly colluded with the Yán family to harm Haicheng’s Yan Yu, and delayed their daughter’s life for decades. The fact that I didn’t hand you over already counts as the utmost kindness.” Old Master Xiao glanced at Xiao Zi a couple more times before turning and leaving the ward.
From now on, unless Xiao Zi’s leg miraculously healed and he secretly escaped, he would never be allowed to leave this sanatorium for the rest of his life. Furthermore, all his contact with the outside world would be severed. There was absolutely no chance of him stirring up trouble from the shadows again.
Xiao Zi seemed to finally realize Old Master Xiao’s ruthlessness. He shouted, “Dad, I was wrong! Dad…”
But no matter how loudly he yelled, it was useless. The door closed, and Old Master Xiao could no longer hear anything.
***
When Old Master Xiao was nearly back to the Xiao residence by car, he received a call from Yan Sui. He had the driver pull over to the side of the road and asked both the driver and bodyguard to step out of the car so he could speak privately with Yan Sui. The call lasted nearly half an hour before it ended.
He sat in the car, lost in thought for another ten minutes, before finally letting the driver and bodyguard back in and continuing the journey back to the Xiao residence.
By the time he arrived, Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou were in the living room reviewing a report—one that Xiao Zi’ang had personally retrieved from the hospital. Xiao Zilu was indeed Xiao Xuanmin’s child, but Xiao Ziyue was not. After thorough comparison, her father turned out to be the Zheng family patriarch who had been executed by firing squad more than a decade ago.
The Xiao family had unknowingly raised the child of an enemy for twenty years—providing her with the most privileged life, the best education, and top-tier medical care—while their true ‘heaven’s favored child’ had been left to suffer outside. If not for Yan Sui, they truly didn’t know if they would ever have found Meng Ting again in this lifetime—or if they had, there was no telling whether Meng Ting would even still be alive.
Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou both knew Xiao Ziyue was innocent, but when they thought of the hardships and suffering Meng Ting had endured, they couldn’t help but feel resentment. Old Master Xiao took one look at their expressions and already had a guess. He took the report, and his face couldn’t help but darken as well.
“Tell Xuanmin to truthfully inform Zilu and… Ziyue, then send her abroad. She is never to return for the rest of her life.” Not just the Xiao family in Beicheng, but she is forbidden from setting foot anywhere in Xia Country.
After Old Master Xiao finished speaking, he didn’t want to stay in the living room any longer. He brushed away the housekeeper’s hand that offered support and walked with heavy steps toward his room alone.
***
Meanwhile, at the Yan residence in Haicheng, Meng Ting, after listening to Yan Sui’s phone call with Old Master Xiao, also fell silent for a while. However, he felt no guilt. In Meng Ting’s eyes, Wei Xiaoyu’s life wasn’t worth a single strand of Yan Sui’s hair.
Yan Sui studied Meng Ting for a long while. Seeing that he seemed to have finally figured something out, he asked, “What are you thinking?”
Occasionally, he truly couldn’t guess what Meng Ting was thinking; his thought process was indeed somewhat unusual.
Meng Ting let out a soft ‘hmph’ and wrapped his arms around Yan Sui’s neck again. “I was thinking if we’ve been too lenient with her…”
Meng Ting still sounded a bit annoyed as he said this. He carefully examined Yan Sui’s face, then leaned in for a kiss. His eyes remained bright and clear, and his words came entirely from the heart, “I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
Yan Sui and Meng Ting looked at each other, and Yan Sui unable to suppress his smile. He embraced Meng Ting and softly replied, “Okay.”
***
But even after that day, Meng Ting’s anxious state regarding Yan Sui remained unchanged. He followed Yan Sui wherever he went. Even when Yan Mingya called repeatedly, Meng Ting would only go to the lab for half a day. Once his work was done, he’d immediately call Yan Sui, and after finding out his location, he would go to him.
Four days later, the bruises no longer needed medication, but the discoloration wouldn’t fade so quickly. Whether Yan Sui insisted he was fine or Gu Li and Zhen Han reassured him, as long as Meng Ting could still see the bruises, even if he verbally acknowledged it, his behavior remained unchanged.
Two weeks later, when the bruises had mostly faded, only then did Meng Ting finally resumed his normal work schedule. But he still clung to Yan Sui even more than before. Even when Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou visited, he didn’t hold back. If Yan Sui went to the restroom, Meng Ting would wait by the door.
“Don’t mind them, they’ve always been like this…” Yan Manjia said with a laugh to Ning Zhou and Xiao Huimin. As far as she could tell, ever since she moved back into the Yan residence, Meng Ting and Yan Sui had always been this affectionate—no, even more so over time.
Ning Zhou nodded gently at this. Even if she wanted to feel jealous, she didn’t have much right to. She and Xiao Huimin were destined to come second to Yan Sui—and the gap between them wasn’t small at all.
“Dad and we all think Nuo Nuo’s birthday banquet should be held in Beicheng.”
Ning Zhou spoke to Yan Manjia with a hint of worry. She and Xiao Huimin had been there for hours but still hadn’t found the right moment to bring it up. They were probably afraid Meng Ting would refuse, especially after what had happened recently that upset him so much.
Of course, the main purpose of holding it in Beicheng was to officially add Meng Ting to the family genealogy on that day, marking his formal recognition as part of the Xiao family.
Hearing Ning Zhou’s words, Yan Manjia didn’t dare offer advice lightly. She replied honestly, “You’ll have to ask Ting Ting and Sui Sui about that.” In truth, it primarily depended on Meng Ting’s wishes; if he wasn’t willing, Yan Sui would absolutely not force him.
Ning Zhou nodded resignedly upon hearing this. Given Meng Ting’s feelings for Yan Sui and his sense of belonging to the Yan family, he would undoubtedly prefer to celebrate his birthday in Haicheng.
Meng Ting and Yan Sui returned and sat down on the sofa. Ning Zhou carefully chose her words, then honestly told Meng Ting the situation.
“…Ultimately, it’s your decision. Wherever you want to celebrate, your father, brothers, and I will come along to be with you,” Ning Zhou said, taking Meng Ting’s hand. As she felt the scars on his hands—marks that would never fade—her heart suddenly ached again.
Meng Ting didn’t mind Ning Zhou holding his hand, but only if he was leaning against Yan Sui. That way, he could feel at ease letting her hold it and have the mental space to think about other things. He glanced at Ning Zhou, then turned to look at Yan Sui before nodding.
“Then this year, we’ll go to Beicheng. From then on, every birthday will be at mine and Yan Sui’s home.”
Meng Ting’s decision took Ning Zhou and Xiao Huimin completely by surprise, but upon reflection, it made perfect sense in Meng Ting’s logic.
He was willing to agree because he was certain he would celebrate many more birthdays with Yan Sui in the future. If there was a need for it to be in Beicheng this time, then so be it—but it would only be this once.
For future birthdays, he simply wanted to spend his birthdays with Yan Sui, Ning Zhou, and his family, without too many guests.
Of course, there was another reason that influenced his decision. Not long ago, he had promised Yan Sui that he wouldn’t let him get hurt again. This required more than just excellent fighting skills—he needed other resources too. Thus, he wouldn’t reject the Xiao family’s recognition.
He didn’t covet what the Xiao family could offer him, but if it could make him stronger and better equipped to protect Yan Sui, then he was willing.
Meng Ting didn’t tell Yan Sui this, nor did he need to. He just needed to work hard to make it happen.
“Alright—wait, what?” Xiao Huimin agreed before realizing what Meng Ting had said, then broke into a delighted grin. “Good, that’s wonderful!”
Ning Zhou looked at Meng Ting, her eyes welling up again, but like Xiao Huimin, she was overjoyed. Meng Ting choosing to celebrate his first birthday in Beicheng was, to them, the greatest acknowledgment he could give. How could they not be happy?
Meng Ting watched Ning Zhou with a hint of helplessness but didn’t try to console her anymore. Maybe Ning Zhou was simply made of water—always ready to cry at the slightest thing.
***
After dinner that evening, Meng Ting and Yan Sui, bundled up warmly, went out for their usual walk.
“What are you looking at?” Yan Sui asked Meng Ting. Since the afternoon, Meng Ting had been stealing glances at him. He thought for a moment and said, “The injury has healed. Didn’t you confirm it again yesterday?”
“I wasn’t looking at that,” Meng Ting said, pulling Yan Sui to a stop. He wasn’t sneaking glances anymore—he was staring openly. But in the end, he decided to ask directly. No matter how much he tried to decipher Yan Sui’s thoughts, nothing was clearer than directly asking.
“I decided to celebrate my birthday in Beicheng. Are you mad at me?”
He hadn’t discussed it with Yan Sui before making the decision. He’d been watching him to see if he was upset.
“No, just as you said, we’ll have fifty or sixty more birthdays together in the future, and not necessarily all have to be in Haicheng. If you like, we can go to the Rose Manor in F Country, or anywhere else you want to go.”
“Mm,” Meng Ting nodded upon hearing this. He nestled into Yan Sui’s embrace and hugged him tightly. “As long as you’re with me, I can celebrate my birthday anywhere. For today, let’s just make Mom and Dad happy. Last time… I probably scared them.”
He and Yan Sui were already inseparable, so for now, they could both yield a little to Ning Zhou and Xiao Huimin.
Yan Sui hugged Meng Ting back, tilting his head to plant a kiss on his cheek. The two embraced quietly for a moment before continuing their walk.
[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 087″]
藏污納垢 (cáng wū nà gòu): to hide dirt, to conceal corruption (idiom); hide dirt and accept grime; store dirt and accept filth—shelter evil people and countenance evil practices; to shelter evil people and accept wrongdoing; aiding and abetting wicked deeds; harbor evil practices; shelter wrongdoers; cover up filth; conceal corruption; tolerate vice; a metaphor for hiding or tolerating bad people and bad things, and describes a place where bad people gather.仁至義盡 (rén zhì yì jìn): extreme benevolence, utmost duty (idiom); meticulous virtue and attention to duty; to have helped or cared for to the greatest extent; do everything called for by humanity and duty; treat sb with the utmost tolerance and kindness; do one’s best in helping others; be extremely magnanimous and tolerant; a person’s kindness and help have gone to the maximum extent.
發自肺腑 (fā zì fèi fǔ): from the depth of one’s heart; used to describe words or emotions that come from the depths of one’s heart. Its core meaning refers to the expression of true feelings that are completely sincere and unadorned.
喜笑顏開 (xǐ xiào yán kāi): grinning from ear to ear (idiom); beaming with happiness; to be beaming with joy; to be smiling happily; light up with pleasure; Describes happy heart, full of smiles.
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this story has a bit of a tendency to villainize women huh
old master xiao is the one neglecting his kids but his wife is the problem for spoiling them😂 spoiling the kids that didn’t get as much of their father attention😂😂