Upon hearing Song Linchu’s thoughts, Tan Yue’s initial reaction was one of astonishment.
He knew that Song Linchu had approached him with ulterior motives, but he didn’t expect his ambitions to be so grand.
The thought of what would happen if Song Linchu hadn’t mistaken his target and had pursued Tan Yuming instead, with all the words and actions directed toward another man…
Tan Yue’s eyes darkened for a moment.
Seeing that Tan Yue didn’t speak, Song Linchu’s heart grew restless.
His hand unconsciously retracted, feeling ashamed of his past thoughts.
He decided to leave first, allowing Tan Yue some time alone to digest everything.
Regardless of whether Tan Yue minded or became angry, or even saw him as greedy, a thief trying to gain something without effort, he would endure it all.
Since he had chosen to be honest, he was prepared to accept any reaction from Tan Yue.
“Gege, I…”
Before Song Linchu could finish his sentence, he heard a low chuckle.
He was slightly stunned and looked up at Tan Yue with a perplexed expression.
There was still a hint of amusement in Tan Yue’s eyes. He spun his chair around, extended his hand, and pulled Song Linchu down. Caught off guard, Song Linchu fell into his embrace and ended up sitting on his lap.
“Gege?”
Song Linchu worried about Tan Yue’s wound and tried to stand up, but Tan Yue’s grip tightened, preventing him from leaving.
“Who told you that becoming someone’s legal partner grants you their inheritance rights?”
Song Linchu replied, “The law told me.”
“…”
Tan Yue choked for a moment, then sighed and said, “Didn’t Tan Mingqing ever tell you that Tan Yuming was married?”
Song Linchu was taken aback.
Tan Yue could tell from his reaction that he didn’t know.
He said, “His wife divorced him because she didn’t like his way of life. In the end, he made sure she left with nothing, not even the sports car she bought when they got married.”
Song Linchu: “…”
Song Linchu was genuinely shocked.
He turned to look at Tan Yue and asked, “But… why didn’t that person report him?”
Leaving aside other matters, everyone is equal before the law.
Tan Yue remained silent, but smiled.
This smile carried a trace of disdainful mockery, revealing his contempt for Tan Yuming.
Suddenly, it dawned on Song Linchu.
Yes, it is true that everyone is equal before the law. But what if the other party couldn’t even raise the weapon of the law to defend her own rights?
If Tan Yuming could orchestrate a car accident to eliminate a competitor for a project, or even commit murder to seek revenge against Tan Yue, then he would surely resort to extreme measures to ensure his partner left with nothing willingly.
An involuntary shiver ran down Song Linchu’s spine.
He couldn’t really blame himself for pursuing someone without even knowing if they were human or a ghost. After all, in Tan Mingqing’s description, Tan Yuming was a truly wonderful uncle who treated him well, gave him pocket money without hesitation, worked hard to earn money even though he didn’t have much time left, and even cultivated an excellent team for him to take over in the future.
Under the filters Tan Mingqing conjured, Song Linchu’s image of Tan Yuming was similar to Tan Yue.
Who would have known…
It was outrageous, far beyond his imagination.
Therefore, to truly understand a person, one must not blindly trust a one-sided account. Otherwise, who knows what kind of cosmetic-grade filters the other person might be wearing!
While still in a state of shock, Song Linchu once again felt grateful that he had pursued the wrong person.
“So…,”
Just as Song Linchu was silently thanking his lucky stars, Tan Yue spoke again.
There was a subtle look in his eyes as he said, “On Valentine’s Day, when you were teasing me so boldly and then resisted so fiercely afterward, were you under the impression that I…”
Tan Yue’s voice paused for a moment, and then spit out the three words, “…couldn’t do it?”
Song Linchu: “…”
No, how did your mind leap to this conclusion!
Song Linchu scratched his head in embarrassment: “I…”
Tan Yue: “Hmm?”
Damn it, how should he phrase it? If he admitted, it would make him appear less intelligent.
Song Linchu stubbornly retorted, “When did I actively tease you? I thought you were terminally ill and going to leave me, that’s why… You misunderstood!”
Tan Yue remained silent.
Seeing his silence, Song Linchu felt a bit uneasy. He shifted his position on Tan Yue’s lap, now facing him directly.
Then, he met the man’s eyes that were filled with a teasing smile.
Song Linchu: “…”
Damn it, he fell for it!
Song Linchu immediately tried to get up, but Tan Yue’s hands tightly held his waist, refusing to let him go.
“Is that so?” The man didn’t let him off the hook, pressing for an answer.
Song Linchu was worried about Tan Yue’s condition so he didn’t dare to struggle forcefully. Instead, he decided to throw caution to the wind and said, “Yes, so what? In the end, it benefited you.”
Tan Yue had reservations about the word “benefit” and asked, “You didn’t enjoy it?”
“…”
“You even had one more time than me.”
“???”
Song Linchu no longer wanted to talk to this dog man!
He tried to pry Tan Yue’s hands apart and leave. His hand had just touched the doorknob of the study when Tan Yue’s voice came from behind him.
“Now that you’ve realized I’m not Tan Mingqing’s biological uncle, do you regret it?”
Tan Yue was smart, many things from the past now made sense when he connected Song Linchu’s confession.
For example, after their first time together, Song Linchu suddenly became distant and even demanded that Tan Yue not come to his bed. At the time, he thought he had overindulged and had hurt him, so Song Linchu made that request.
As he reflected on his actions, he searched online for advice on how to handle such situations. Many people said that couples in the honeymoon phase, after their first intimate encounter, usually experienced more sweetness and an unwillingness to part, wishing to be together all the time.
This heartless withdrawal usually had only one reason: the other person doesn’t love you enough.
Tan Yue coldly closed the webpage at that time. He thought, if Song Linchu’s reaction that night didn’t show how much he loved him, then what could?
But now, it all made sense.
Song Linchu didn’t love him deeply; he simply mistook him for Tan Yuming, thinking he had a terminal illness and feared his death. That’s why he reacted that way.
Upon discovering that he wasn’t Tan Yuming, everything fell into place. That’s why he avoided him and even after the second intimacy as a result of his scheming, he stayed away from home for over a week.
All those initiatives and enthusiasm from before vanished like a mirage…
So, that’s how it was.
Song Linchu stiffened at his question.
Indeed, back then, he had some inner struggle, not regret, but he felt that things were progressing too quickly. His feelings for Tan Yue hadn’t reached that level.
But things had changed.
Song Linchu turned around. “I…”
Tan Yue raised his hand to interrupt him.
He leisurely fastened the buttons of his shirt, saying, “I allow you to have regrets, and I can even turn around and pursue you. But divorce…”
Tan Yue looked at Song Linchu. “Don’t even think about it.”
It was Song Linchu who had brought himself to the door.
He, Tan Yue, wasn’t the kind of person who would pursue someone and then discard them at will.
He had given Song Linchu a chance to regret.
Not just once.
Just as Tan Yue started to entertain dangerous thoughts, such as finding a way to keep Song Linchu by his side or even making sure he couldn’t leave the bed, Song Linchu suddenly rushed over and hugged him.
“I don’t want to divorce!”
The chill on Tan Yue’s face melted away like a gentle spring breeze
Song Linchu rested on his shoulder. “I have no regrets. At that time, I just felt that things were progressing too quickly, and my affection for you hadn’t reached the level for us to be intimate.”
As if a northern wind had been stirred up, the recently melted ice and snow turned into frost once more.
“But now, it’s different,” Song Linchu released him and looked into Tan Yue’s eyes, speaking earnestly. “Now, I can responsibly say that I love Tan Yue, the kind of love that wants to spend a lifetime together.”
The frost melted once again, becoming murmuring springwater.
From a young age, Song Linchu had been cut off from close relatives, with hardly any warmth in his life besides his mother. Tan Yue was the first person to treat him so well, the first person willing to protect him with his life.
In that moment when Tan Yue got stabbed, Song Linchu once again realized how afraid he was of losing this man. He feared losing him and wished to be by his side forever.
Once he realized it, his feelings for Tan Yue bloomed and bore fruit, yielding brilliant results.
———————
The moving process was delayed until late March, coinciding with Tan Yue’s recovery. Apart from a scar, there were no lasting effects from his injury.
Moving was merely a ceremonial act. The valuable belongings had already been transported, and only everyday items like clothes remained to be moved. The new house was fully furnished, so everything else stayed behind.
With the help of professional housekeeping services, the move was even easier than moving dormitories. Song Linchu’s only task was to sit in the car and travel from the old home to the new one.
As for guests, since Tan Yue disliked having outsiders in the house, only his grandfather and Song Linchu’s cousin, Lin Qixiu, were invited.
Originally, Tan Yue wanted to invite the people from Song Linchu’s dormitory, but Song Linchu didn’t agree.
Firstly, according to local customs in Haikou, attending a housewarming banquet required giving red packets. Given the consumption level in the city, the starting amount was 500 yuan.
Apart from someone wealthy like He Wenyin’s, it would be a considerable expense for the other two. Especially Li Chang, who already had more expenses due to his relationship and renting an apartment outside. Asking him to come up with an additional 500 yuan as a red packet would leave him strapped for cash for a month.
If they were exempted from giving red packets, they would certainly feel uncomfortable.
So Song Linchu decided not to invite them that day. Since they lived so close, he could invite them individually later on, which would be more comfortable.
Although Lin Qixiu was also poor, his red packet would be given by his parents. Even if he didn’t come, Auntie would definitely send it to him via WeChat, so it was all the same.
They were at ease, but Lin Qixiu was in agony.
“Why did you only invite a few people for the move? What about your classmates? You didn’t invite them even though they live so close?” He took the opportunity to ask Song Linchu in a low voice.
“I’ll invite them over in a few days. Why? Do you want to expand your social circle to include my classmates?” Song Linchu replied.
“Injustice,” Lin Qixiu covered his face. “Haven’t you noticed that I’m surrounded by a group of big shots? The pressure is immense.”
Song Linchu looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Aren’t you the social butterfly?”
“Brother, being socially successful doesn’t mean being invincible. Can’t you see the agony in my eyes?”
Song Linchu silently turned away: “I can’t see it.”
Lin Qiuxiu: “…”
He wondered if he could apply for a replacement for his cousin.
Although Lin Qiuxiu hadn’t achieved success in socializing with great figures, he had successfully connected with a cute little one.
Ever since Tan Yue set up Tuantuan during the Chinese New Year, he had become well-behaved and hadn’t contacted Song Linchu for a while. This time, when he saw Song Linchu, he didn’t rush over with the same enthusiasm as before.
However, when Tan Yue wasn’t paying attention, Tuantuan looked at Song Linchu with eager eyes, as if he wanted to write “Big brother, I miss you, come and play with me” on his face, almost competing with a pitiful second male lead in a TV drama.
Song Linchu sent Lin Qiuxiu to play with him.
Lin Qiuxiu activated his social mode and found a common topic in LEGO, which both men and boys loved. So the two had a happy chat.
Song Linchu solved two problems at once and was in a happy mood. Suddenly, he heard someone coughing behind him.
Song Linchu turned around. “Grandpa.”
“Mmm,” Grandpa Tan smiled kindly and said, “Your courtyard looks quite nice. Will you accompany me for a walk outside?”
“Okay.”
There were gardeners trimming flowers and plants in the courtyard. It was now late March, the season when grass grew and birds sang. The courtyard was full of vitality, with new sprouts appearing on the flowers and plants, some even blooming discreetly.
With a gentle breeze and warm sunlight, walking on the bluestone path in the courtyard was truly delightful.
“Is that your school over there?” Grandpa Tan pointed to a nearby building and asked.
He had fallen and injured himself last time. Although he had fully recovered now and was in perfect health, he still had some lingering effects: his right hand would occasionally tremble uncontrollably.
So, he was still adapting to using his left hand.
“Yes, and that’s my former dormitory building,” Song Linchu raised his hand and pointed to a building.
“It’s so close,” Grandpa Tan smiled. “It’s rare for that brat to be so considerate once. It seems I don’t have to worry about you two getting divorced in the future.”
Song Linchu was momentarily stunned by this sudden remark, but he quickly cane back to his senses and blinked, saying, “Grandpa, you don’t have to worry. My love for gege is genuine. Even if everyone in the world gets divorced, we won’t!”
Now he spoke with great confidence.
When hearts understand each other, they can be willful!
Grandpa Tan burst into hearty laughter.
In fact, when Tan Yue proposed to marry Song Linchu, he knew that with Tan Yue’s personality, he wouldn’t marry someone without any feelings. But he also knew the weight he carried in Tan Yue’s heart as his grandfather, which was enough to make him break that principle.
So Grandpa Tan had been torn between belief and disbelief. Now that he saw the two of them not separating even after his recovery, and Tan Yue was even willing to move for Song Linchu’s convenience, he felt relieved for the most part.
He continued walking forward and said, “Little Yue has suffered a lot. You should take care of each other and understand each other.”
Song Linchu caught up with him and asked, “Grandpa, can you tell me about gege’s family situation?”
Last time, Tan Gan accused him of being a murderer, causing their father’s death and his disability. Of course, Song Linchu didn’t believe it, but he was still curious about the truth of the matter.
However, he didn’t find an opportunity to ask Tan Yue because he felt that it probably wasn’t a pleasant experience for him, and he was afraid of reopening old wounds.
Grandpa Tan sighed and said, “A bunch of troubles.”
Tan Yue and Tan Gan were half-siblings, with different mothers. Tan Yue’s mother was his father’s second wife after Tan Gan’s mother passed away.
According to the usual pattern, where an older husband had a younger wife, coupled with the fact that Tan Yue’s mother was beautiful, Tan Yue’s father should have doted on her, and Tan Yue should have had an easy life.
But it was different for them.
Tan Gan’s mother was Father Tan’s true love. After her death, Father Tan was depressed for a long time. He married Tan Yue’s mother not because he favored her, but because he was mediocre in ability and needed to increase his leverage.
But he didn’t have any feelings for her, and after Tan Yue’s mother passed away, he only doted on Tan Gan, who resembled his ex-wife.
Moreover, their grandfather had a long life and remained the patriarch of the family. His several sons were all average in ability, but there were several outstanding grandsons, among whom Tan Yue was the most remarkable.
Seeing that the grandfather was considering choosing a successor from the grandchildren, Father Tan, in order to increase his and Tan Gan’s chances, directly sent Tan Yue, the most competitive one, abroad.
Tan Yue was only 13 years old and suffered a lot overseas. He was also someone who didn’t complain, so his grandfather didn’t know that he was mistreated by his biological father until he was 16 and hospitalized for a stomach bleed.
Their grandfather forcefully brought him back to the country. Father Tan and Tan Gan feared that he would have ambitions for power, so they started suppressing him in secret. They even suggested changing his surname to his mother’s, entering the maternal grandfather’s side of the family tree, which would completely kick him out of the competition.
Tan Yue didn’t care about the Tan surname, but he wouldn’t give away what belonged to him, especially to these two people who should have been the closest to him in the world.
The struggle for power was a long battle.
As for the car accident, it was all because of Father Tan. He saw a high possibility of Tan Yue rising to power and harbored evil intentions.
—He had someone tamper with Tan Yue’s car.
Unfortunately, his men had long been bribed by Tan Yue.
The orders Tan Yue gave them were to retaliate with whatever methods his father came up with, without notifying him.
And that’s how the car accident happened.
Upon hearing Grandpa Tan’s account, Song Linchu fell into silence.
They say a tiger does not eat its own cubs, but Tan Yue’s father truly wanted to kill him.
What kind of father was he? Calling him a beast would be an insult to beasts.
“Due to this incident, Little Yue felt a lot of self-blame and even went to see a psychologist. Although he appears indifferent, he is not as cold-blooded as his father. So, I don’t care about what others say about him. I hope you won’t think of him this way,” Grandpa Tan said.
Song Linchu immediately responded, “No, I won’t! I can see what kind of person he is with my own eyes. I won’t blindly follow others’ opinions!”
Grandpa Tan patted his shoulder with relief.
Tan Yue finished a conversation with his uncle about work and when he came out of the study, he saw Song Linchu waving at him from the entrance of the small living room.
Tan Yue walked over and entered the small living room with him. He asked, “What…?”
Before he could finish his sentence, Song Linchu leaned over and hugged him tightly.
Tan Yue paused for a moment and then reached out to rub the head pressed against his chest. “Why are you suddenly so clingy?”
Song Linchu didn’t want to tell him that he knew about his past and felt heartbroken for him.
Now that Tan Yue had come out of it, there was no need to dwell on those unpleasant memories.
From now on, he was his lover and his family.
Song Linchu’s voice sounded muffled, “I just wanted to see if you’ve gained weight or not.”
“…”
Recently, Tan Yue hadn’t been able to exercise much due to his injury, and the midlife crisis alarm in the older man’s mind immediately went off. He asked cautiously, “So, did I gain weight?”
Song Linchu was amused by his serious tone.
He said, “Mmm, you gained a bit.”
Tan Yue: !!!
Pills, exercise! He must exercise!
Just as Tan Yue was mentally formulating an exercise plan, the young man in his arms chuckled softly.
“I was kidding, you didn’t gain weight,” Song Linchu said with a mischievous smile, “It’s just that my affection for you has made you gain a little weight in spirit.”
With that, Song Linchu placed his hand on Tan Yue’s chest and said, “Biubihbiu, love fat launching.”
Tan Yue: “…”
