As he was about to crawl back, Yan Sui locked his arms around Meng Ting’s waist, causing him to sit right on top of Yan Sui. Meng Ting turned his head to look at Yan Sui, his expression puzzled, “What, do you want to…” Look?
Before he could finish his sentence, Yan Sui kissed him. Yan Sui’s kiss wasn’t affected by drowsiness at all. He kissed Meng Ting until he gradually fell backward, and their positions switched, their lying direction changing from the head of the bed to the foot of the bed.
Meng Ting’s eyes went from wide to half-closed. He didn’t understand why Yan Sui suddenly wanted this again, but he didn’t refuse. In fact, he could even be said to be cooperative. His trust in Yan Sui surpassed everything else, and with his body relaxed, everything else became easier.
They rolled from the outer side of the bed to the inner side, and by the time it ended, Meng Ting was lying back in his usual sleeping position.
But he didn’t notice this. He only felt utterly exhausted. His eyes half-closed, he nuzzled against Yan Sui haphazardly, his tone slightly accusatory, “I’m going to be drained dry by you…”
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Ting’s eyes completely closed, and he hugged the person, falling asleep just like that.
Yan Sui had initially felt that he had gone too far, but hearing Meng Ting’s words, those apologies couldn’t form. His lips curled into a smile and he kissed Meng Ting’s cheek again. He patted him gently for a while, letting him fall into a deep sleep, before getting up again to clean up for them.
***
After finishing, he lay back down on the bed and glanced at his watch. It was already two o’clock in the morning.
He picked up his phone, intending to send a text message to Uncle Xiao and Wang Feng, but found an unread message.
After reading it, Yan Sui got up from the bed again, threw on some clothes, and walked out to the small balcony outside the bedroom, and then dialed a number.
“What’s the matter?”
The voice on the other end was also a man’s. At this hour, his tone showed no sign of fatigue. He didn’t bother with small talk and got straight to the point. “My people told me that Su Siyu was acting unusual today.”
“The TV?” Yan Sui’s reaction was very quick. As soon as he asked, the other end fell silent. It was exactly as Yan Sui had guessed.
There was a pause on the other end before the voice continued, “After watching it, he smashed everything he could in his place, then he calmed down again. As for his next plans, my people couldn’t get anything out of him, but he has basically gained his trust.”
“If he plans to go to Licheng next, just let him go.”
The other end acknowledged, and then Yan Sui hung up the phone. He stood on the balcony for a while longer before finally heading back into the room.
Meng Ting was really too tired and didn’t notice Yan Sui leaving. Yan Sui carefully looked at Meng Ting and noticed that his sleep wasn’t disturbed by his absence. A touch of warmth returned to his face. He pulled the blanket over them, embraced the person, and closed his eyes as well.
***
The next day, apart from the early-rising Old Master Xiao, no one else in the Yan family woke up early, especially Yan Sui and Meng Ting, who didn’t come downstairs until almost nine o’clock. Old Master Xiao, who was usually very particular about going to bed and waking up early for his health, twitched his beard but ultimately didn’t say anything to reprimand them.
But after Meng Ting finished breakfast and sat down on the sofa, Old Master Xiao spoke, “Pack up your things and come back to Beicheng with us.”
Meng Ting was momentarily stunned. He turned his head to look at Old Master Xiao, then looked again at Yan Sui who was talking to Xiao Huimin by the door. But before he could respond, Old Master Xiao spoke again.
“Only by returning to the Xiao family can you help him. Otherwise, why would the Xiao family go against the Yán family for you? You need to know that the Yán family has stood firm for so many years; moving against them won’t be easy. Without the Xiao family, that boy Yan Sui will have a tough battle ahead.”
Even the Xu family, his own grandmother’s side, chose to sit back and do nothing. How could other families dare to get involved? Even though the Zhong family had a good relationship with the Yan family, they hadn’t made any statement so far. Even Zhong Ming didn’t dare to suggest to Yan Sui that he should persuade his grandfather to help.
When it comes to matters of family interests, decisions aren’t made easily. Other families not taking advantage of the situation is already considered decent.
Old Master Xiao’s words were actually quite fair, but Meng Ting’s expression remained unchanged. He gently shook his head, “I believe in Yan Sui. Even without your help, he can achieve anything he sets his mind to.”
“He wouldn’t want me to leave, I know that.”
Meng Ting’s trust in Yan Sui far exceeded Old Master Xiao’s expectations. Although he was somewhat frightened by Old Master Xiao’s analysis, it still couldn’t change his decision. He lowered his gaze and then raised them again to look at Old Master Xiao again, “I won’t leave. If you’re unwilling to help, you absolutely don’t need to force yourselves.”
“If Mom and Dad like me, they can still come to see me, but I will never leave Yan Sui or Haicheng.”
Meng Ting knew that his decision would even be considered selfish by outsiders, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do otherwise. He would rather endure more hardships with Yan Sui than accept help that came with reluctance.
It could be said that Old Master Xiao’s words completely eroded the goodwill that Meng Ting had just begun to feel towards the Xiao family.
Old Master Xiao’s beard twitched again. He looked at Meng Ting, and at this moment, it seemed he finally saw clearly what kind of person he was, what his temperament was like. He looked simple, but in reality, he wasn’t easy to fool at all.
“You mean, if the Xiao family doesn’t help Yan Sui, you won’t acknowledge your ancestors and return to the clan?”
Meng Ting and Old Master Xiao were separated by a generational gap so wide that Meng Ting couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind his words. “Why does leaving Yan Sui and going to Beicheng count as acknowledging them? Didn’t I already call Dad and Mom? Isn’t that enough?”
Meng Ting felt a bit sad again. He looked up at Ning Zhou, who was bringing over some fruit, and those feelings of regret suddenly dissipated. Perhaps he was destined not to have the connection of parents and family in this life. Since that was the case, there was no need to force it.
“I understand.”
Meng Ting said these words, pursed his lips, and didn’t plan to say anything more to Old Master Xiao.
However, Old Master Xiao had no idea what Meng Ting had understood. There was naturally a reason for him to say those words. In his opinion, there was a significant difference between Meng Ting returning to Beicheng or not.
If Meng Ting returned to Beicheng and the situation didn’t go as optimistically as expected, it would still be easy for the Xiao family to withdraw. Otherwise, given Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou’s personalities, they would definitely protect Meng Ting and Yan Sui to the end.
He had said those words because he could see that Meng Ting had deep feelings for Yan Sui. But the deeper the affection, the more one should be willing to sacrifice for the other. Why, then, had Meng Ting refused to return to Beicheng for Yan Sui’s sake? Old Master Xiao truly couldn’t comprehend it.
It wasn’t easy for them to find such an opportunity to talk. As Ning Zhou approached with the fruit, Old Master Xiao remained silent and turned his attention back to the television.
But Meng Ting didn’t have that tacit understanding. When Ning Zhou sat down and reached out to touch Meng Ting’s hair, he avoided her hand.
Not only did he avoid her, but he also stood up, pursed his lips, and walked towards Yan Sui.
“What’s wrong with Nuo Nuo?” Ning Zhou asked, feeling both disappointed and frustrated. She looked at Old Master Xiao, pondered for a moment, and her expression also turned unpleasant. “Dad, what did you say to Zinuo?”
Ning Zhou’s voice wasn’t quiet, and she even stood up, a hint of suppressed anger on her face. Yan Sui and Xiao Huimin, who were talking by the door, both looked over, but Yan Sui immediately looked at Meng Ting. He walked towards him and took Meng Ting’s hand, which had unconsciously clenched into a fist.
Yan Sui gave Xiao Huimin a slight nod, then led Meng Ting out of the living room. They walked to the lawn to talk.
But even after walking quite a distance, Meng Ting remained silent. Yan Sui waited patiently until Meng Ting finally let out a soft sigh, and then they stopped.
Meng Ting looked up at Yan Sui, then reached out to embrace him. “Yan Sui, I’m sorry. I refused Grandpa.”
“He said he would only be willing to help you if I went back to Beicheng with him and acknowledged my ancestors. I refused.”
He was willing to do anything for Yan Sui, but there was one condition: Yan Sui also had to be willing to let him do it. Exchanging the Xiao family’s help for such a condition was something Yan Sui would never agree to. Meng Ting knew this even without asking Yan Sui.
It wasn’t just that Yan Sui couldn’t bear to part with him; it was also about Yan Sui’s own pride. He would never want it this way.
Upon hearing this, there was no surprise on Yan Sui’s face. He gently rubbed the back of Meng Ting’s neck, a faint smile appearing on his lips. As if afraid Meng Ting wouldn’t feel it, he lifted Meng Ting’s face and kissed his lips. “There’s no need to apologize. If you hadn’t refused, I would have been the one who was unhappy.”
To be precise, Yan Sui was very happy right now because Meng Ting truly understood him. This feeling of being connected at heart was quite wonderful and quite rare. In his lifetime, apart from Meng Ting, he would never experience this with anyone else.
“Thank you, thank you for believing in me.”
Having walked with Yan Sui for so long, Meng Ting no longer felt as uncomfortable as he had in the living room, but there was still a lingering heaviness in his chest. However, Yan Sui’s words quickly dispelled that heaviness.
Meng Ting hugged Yan Sui even tighter. “No matter the situation, I won’t leave you, and you mustn’t drive me away. Even if I wouldn’t leave, I would still feel sad, so please don’t drive me away.”
“Mm,” Yan Sui responded after a moment of silence. He knew what Meng Ting was telling him—he rejected any departure under the guise of doing what was best for him. Whether it was poverty, hardship, or even danger, Meng Ting would not leave.
***
In the living room of the Yan residence, despite Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou’s increasingly unpleasant expressions, Old Master Xiao remained calm and composed as he watched TV. He knew that no matter how angry Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou were, they wouldn’t directly argue with him. But even so, he still felt a sense of defeat in his heart.
Meng Ting’s reaction was completely beyond his expectations, but he was still waiting—waiting for the outcome of Meng Ting and Yan Sui’s discussion.
Half an hour later, Yan Sui and Meng Ting returned. Yan Sui’s expression remained unchanged, while Meng Ting kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Old Master Xiao’s beard twitched slightly, and he understood the situation in his heart, but there was still some dissatisfaction in his expression. However, Yan Sui’s words quickly negated Old Master Xiao’s self-righteousness.
“Ting Ting will stay in Haicheng, by my side. No matter what happens, he and I will face it together.”
Yan Sui spoke directly to Old Master Xiao, and then he continued, “I don’t need help dealing with the Yán family.”
“How can you still…” Xiao Huimin looked at Yan Sui, somewhat speechless. Earlier, at the entrance, he had discussed this very matter with Yan Sui. When he asked about Yan Sui’s plans, Yan Sui had told him he didn’t need help, which had left Xiao Huimin frustrated.
“Grandpa said he would only help if I returned to Beicheng to acknowledge my ancestors. I refused, and Yan Sui agreed,”
Meng Ting interjected. They didn’t need the Xiao family’s help, and there was no reason for them to feel like they were still owed a favor.
“If Mom and Dad miss me, they can still come to see me… Beicheng, I won’t go.”
Meng Ting didn’t want to take his frustration out on Xiao Huimin and Ning Zhou, but his current mood was peculiar. By saying this, the sense of distance and formality returned.
Ning Zhou looked at Meng Ting, tears welling up in her eyes again, but Meng Ting only glanced at her briefly before lowering his head again.
After a moment, he raised his head once more and spoke earnestly, “You don’t need to feel like you owe me anything, nor do you need to go out of your way for me. I’ve said it before—if you don’t like me, you don’t need to force yourselves.”
“How, how did it become forcing?”
As soon as Meng Ting finished speaking, Ning Zhou swayed and sat back down on the sofa. She looked at Old Master Xiao. Her upbringing prevented her from losing her temper with an elder, but she was also unwilling to let Meng Ting become estranged from her like this.
She looked at Meng Ting, her expression and tone carrying a hint of pleading. “Mom doesn’t want to leave anymore. Can I stay here and accompany you?”
Meng Ting looked at Ning Zhou, then at Yan Sui, and nodded. “I’m sorry, I don’t know how to express myself well, and I’ve made you sad.”
“No, it’s Mom who’s not good, it’s Mom who’s not good.”
Ning Zhou walked over and took Meng Ting’s hand, then took a step to the side to stand beside him. She looked at Xiao Huimin, her eyes quite firm.
When Old Master Xiao decided to come to Haicheng, Ning Zhou had a bad premonition, and sure enough, it was as she feared. She bit her lip and glanced at Yan Sui again, realizing that he had probably anticipated Old Master Xiao’s reaction much earlier than they had.
If Old Master Xiao had been surprised before, then now he was shocked. He had intended to take Meng Ting away, free from anyone’s control, but now he had even the Xiao family’s matriarch staying in Haicheng.
[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 079.2″]
乘虛而入 (chéng xū ér rù): to enter or invade by exploiting of one’s opponent’s unpreparedness or weakness; to break through a weak point or advance when one’s opponent is off guard; to enter by exploiting a weak spot (idiom); to take advantage of a lapse; take advantage of a weak point; act when sb is off guard; exploit sb’s weakness; break through at a weak point. An idiom that comes from a historical story. This idiom originally refers to a military attack on a place where the enemy has no facilities or weak forces, and generally refers to invading an empty or weak place.每時每刻 (měi shí měi kè): at all times; at every moment; all the time; twenty-four seven; by the minute; always; constantly.
言猶在耳 (yán yóu zài ěr): words still ringing in one’s ears (idiom); sb’s words are still ringing/reverberating in one’s ears; sb’s words/promises are still fresh in one’s mind.
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