104: Lantern Festival
Time slipped away, and as night gradually blanketed the earth, those who had gone to work today finally returned home.
Seeing the familiar headlights light up outside, Yan Zhuohua immediately stood up to greet them at the door.
“Why did you come out without a coat?” Yan Qinghe saw the person standing at the door, walked over in a few steps to pull him into his arms, and led him into the house. “Are you cold?”
“I'm not cold, I just came out.” Yan Zhuohua only then realized he seemed a bit too enthusiastic. It must be because he had been alone all day and felt too lonely. Finding a reasonable excuse for himself, Yan Zhuohua instantly regained his composure. “Hurry up and get ready to eat; I made everything you like.”
“Ah! I thought I was lucky enough today to eat a dinner prepared by my third brother, but it turns out I'm just riding on his husband's coattails!” Yan Zhuoyan's sarcastic voice came from the doorway. “Mom! Did you hear that? It's all things Qinghe likes!”
“Sigh, this old mother of mine simply can't compare to a young married couple, after all!” Jiang Fuyue, who followed in and was changing her shoes, also joined in the dramatic performance.
“Mom! Why didn't you say anything when you came in!” Yan Zhuohua looked at his second brother and mother who followed behind, feeling quite embarrassed and annoyed.
“Yo, how was I supposed to say something? Hire someone at the door to play a eunuch and shout 'The Second Prince has arrived' when they see me come in?” Yan Zhuoyan showed him no mercy, happily exposing him.
“Just shut up! 'Prince' indeed, you really know how to flatter yourself!” Yan Zhuohua argued righteously, “And how do you know I didn't make any dishes you and Mom like?”
No matter how Yan Zhuohua tried to argue, this meal was indeed full of Yan Qinghe's favorites; the dishes Yan Zhuoyan and Jiang Fuyue liked just happened to overlap with what was on the table.
The meal was filled with sighs and laments. Every time Yan Zhuoyan picked up a dish, he would remark on how well Yan Zhuohua understood Yan Qinghe's tastes, making Yan Zhuohua so angry he almost poured his bowl of bitter herbal medicine into Yan Zhuoyan's mouth.
When they finally finished that torturous dinner, Yan Zhuohua pulled Yan Qinghe back to their room, swearing never to pay attention to that trouble-making second brother again.
Although they returned to the room, the two did not immediately "get down to business."
“Is it okay if I go to work with you tomorrow?” Yan Zhuohua chatted with Yan Qinghe, who was feeding him fruit beside him, while holding his laptop to check his teacher's reply.
“Why do you suddenly want to go again?” Yan Qinghe raised his eyebrows in slight surprise.
“I was home alone today and it was too boring. I'll go with you tomorrow; you work, and I'll write my thesis next to you, okay?”
“I have no problem with it, of course, but aren't you afraid of being caught by Uncle? During the regular meeting today, he was looking at me with total disapproval.” Recalling Yan Muxuan's resentful gaze at being forced to postpone his retirement, Yan Qinghe still felt a bit spooked.
Yan Zhuohua was clearly also cowed by this resentful Uncle; he shuddered. “Then never mind, I'll just wait for you at home.”
Yan Qinghe suddenly closed the laptop in Yan Zhuohua's hands, threw it onto the nearby sofa, and then picked him up directly.
“What are you doing?” Yan Zhuohua cried out in surprise at being suddenly lifted, not even caring about the laptop anymore.
“Doing something that will let you sleep all day tomorrow, so you won't be afraid of being bored!” Yan Qinghe placed him on the bed and pressed down on him, completely ignoring Yan Zhuohua's shouts and struggles.
“Qinghe, you can't... I still have to write my thesis tomorrow!”
“Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.”
Early the next morning, Yan Zhuohua wrote his thesis while yawning, complaining in his heart that Yan Qinghe was doing no good.
What a garbage excuse; he ended up so drained that he could only write his thesis in bed—it was even worse than yesterday! Yan Qinghe, your loving dinner for today is gone!
The days passed like this, with Yan Zhuohua staying in bed to write his thesis during the day and staying in bed to "attend" to his husband at night.
Under this physically and mentally exhausting rush, Yan Zhuohua finally finished his thesis on the day of the Lantern Festival.
This year's Lantern Festival saw everyone gathered together. They chatted about everything and nothing, eating various flavors of Tangyuan; it was just as lively as New Year's Eve.
“Zhuohua, get ready. I'll take you to training after dinner tomorrow night.” Yan Zhuoyang had just finished the Tangyuan Yan Zhuohua made when he dropped this bombshell on him.
“Wait, isn't it the day after tomorrow?” Yan Zhuohua instantly became dejected.
“It starts the day after tomorrow in the morning. Do you want to rush to the Military Camp at two in the morning?” Yan Zhuoyang shattered his hopes, then looked at Yan Qinghe, whose mood had also dropped. “Qinghe, you aren't allowed to bother him tonight.”
“...Understood.”
The pain of the impending separation meant that neither of them had recovered by the time they went to sleep that night.
“I wonder if Big Brother will let me go see you.” Yan Qinghe's voice was very soft, but it still reached Yan Zhuohua's ears.
“It's hard to say. In the past when I went for training, it was common not to have contact with the outside world for over two months.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
After a long while, Yan Zhuohua forced a smile and said, “You've certainly found people to keep an eye on me, but I don't know if you'll take advantage of my absence to find someone like 'Zhao Zijing' or 'Liang Guiwan'.”
“You don't trust me?” Yan Qinghe also perked up. “Fine, you can also find someone to watch me. I'd be very happy to have that.”
“Pfft—” Yan Zhuohua couldn't help but laugh. “Then let it be Special Assistant Xiao. During these two-plus months I'm away, transfer him to your side. If he's there, I'll be quite relieved.”
“Then you can indeed be relieved. With Special Assistant Xiao by my side, won't he force me to work overtime every day?”
“Exactly. You'll be working non-stop at the company during the day and returning to the main residence on time at night. I'll be perfectly at ease.”
“Fine, I promise you.”
The closer the time came, the faster it seemed to pass. In what felt like the blink of an eye, it was time for Yan Zhuoyang to take Yan Zhuohua away.
The two bid a lingering farewell in front of the car, exhausting the patience of Yan Zhuoyang who was waiting inside. He issued a final ultimatum.
“One minute. Yan Zhuohua, if you don't get in the car, tomorrow's tasks will be doubled.”
This threat was indeed very effective. Yan Zhuohua gave Yan Qinghe one last hug, reminded him not to forget to help handle the graduation thesis matters, and finally turned to get into the car.
The car drove along the bustling, wide streets. The colored lights on the roadside trees hadn't been taken down yet, and their multicolored glow almost made Yan Zhuohua's eyes dizzy.
“What's wrong?” While driving, Yan Zhuoyang didn't forget to show concern for his dejected younger brother. “When I sent you for training during summer vacations in the past, I never saw you this reluctant.”
“How can that be the same?” Yan Zhuohua muttered softly.
“What did you say? Speak up!” Yan Zhuoyang didn't hear him clearly.
“Nothing.”
“Fine, isn't it just that you don't want to be apart?” Looking at his increasingly aggrieved younger brother, Yan Zhuoyang could guess what he was thinking.
Yan Zhuoyang let out a breath, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness. “I promise you, during the month you're doing recovery training with me, I'll let him come see you once a week.”
“Really?” Yan Zhuohua instantly perked up. “Then how long can he stay each time? A day?”
“What are you thinking? Don't push your luck. Two hours at most per visit.”
“Oh.” Two hours it is, then. If he haggled with Big Brother, those two hours would probably shrink.