The Stranger’s Homeward Journey - Chapter 22
Translator: Rin Editor: Jadeite
— I am He Shuyu, Shen Mucheng’s fiancee.
After He Shuyu said these few words, the room fell into a terrible silence.
The heater was switched on in the room, but just for an instant, Luo Shaoheng felt as if he was in an ice cellar, shrouded by a bone-chilling cold.
If it was before, he would not care about these words. But it was different now. They had been separated for ten years, too many things could change in a decade. Shen Mucheng didn’t remember him as it is, making those beautiful moments dissipate like popped bubbles. He could never be sure that there were no other people by Shen Mucheng’s side in these years.
Trying his best to suppress the bitterness inside, Luo Shaoheng maintained a smile on his face. This smile exhausted half of the strength in his body.
Although he tried to remain calm, his shocked eyes and the sudden pallor of his face were still too obvious. He Shuyu originally just wanted to warn Shen Mucheng, but she didn’t expect to see his friend exhibit such a big reaction.
Looking at Luo Shaoheng’s pale face, she was slightly surprised and looked back at Shen Mucheng. “Am I disturbing you guys?”
Only then did Shen Mucheng slowly speak out, “Since you know, why are you still here?”
“You’ve been so busy lately, it’s better to meet by chance than to invite each other. This meal is on me, let’s have lunch together.”
He Shuyu spoke as she pulled out the chair next to him, intending to sit down. Shen Mucheng put the cup in his hand on the table, with moderate force, the porcelain and glass table clashed with a clank, halting her series of movements. She looked down and met Shen Mucheng’s line of sight, the coldness in them made her heart throb. The chair had been pulled out, but she didn’t dare to sit down.
“Has the He family’s tutelage been so low as to allow the daughter to come out and present herself as a self-proclaimed fiancee?” Shen Mucheng’s tone was still light, but the meaning in his words was as sharp as a knife.
The words were harsh to the ears, but compared to Shen Mucheng’s cold attitude, He Shuyu’s actions indeed carried a hint of rushing to marry into the Shen family. Due to the He family’s dignity, no one dared to gossip in front of her. But now, Shen Mucheng disgraced her in front of outsiders. Her expression slightly warped, “Shen Mucheng, what do you mean? “
Shen Mucheng didn’t say anything. He had made the meaning very clear just now.
He Shuyu’s hand, which was holding the back of the chair, dug into the leather, gritting her teeth as she said, “Shen Mucheng, don’t be too arrogant. You really think we, the He family, must have a marriage with the Shen Family? If not for Old Master Jiang–“
“I don’t think so.” Shen Mucheng interrupted her words. He glanced at her lightly, “If the He family wants to have a marriage, the logistic Liang’s family is also a good candidate.”
He didn’t specify everything, but it still startled He Shuyu that she almost thought he knew something. She pretended to be calm, “What do you mean?”
“That’s all I have to say.” Shen Mucheng picked up the teapot and poured tea into Luo Shaoheng’s cup, then put the teapot aside. “Go out.”
These two words were different from his indifferent attitude earlier. They were cold and fierce, making He Shuyu dare not say another word. After taking a few deep breaths to suppress her fury, she turned around and left the private room.
The two of them were left alone once again. Luo Shaoheng spoke in a somewhat dry tone, “Is this fine? After all, she is your……”
The following word stuck in his mouth, he couldn’t blurt it out no matter what. He lowered his head slightly and held the cup of hot tea Shen Mucheng filled for him tightly, in order to warm his slightly trembling hands, but to no avail. His ten fingers were so stiff as if they were not his, making it difficult to even make a single movement.
From Shen Mucheng’s perspective, he could only see half of Luo Shaoheng’s face and his upright nose tip. But even without looking, he couldn guess what expression he had on. It was probably just like how he looked like in Switzerland previously, he was upset and tried his best to suppress it.
The room was silent. After a long time, Shen Mucheng spoke, “I have no relationship with her.”
“En?” Luo Shaoheng looked up at him in dismay.
“I don’t have any relationship with He Shuyu, so you don’t need to worry.” Shen Mucheng repeated. Seeing that he was still staring at himself with a stunned expression, he couldn’t help but laugh lightly. His tone carried a softness he didn’t notice himself, “You’re already an adult, why are you still crying your nose off?”
He had thought he had fallen into hell, but the man in front of him pulled him out with just one sentence.
A simple smile made his nose sore, Shen Mucheng, how long has it been since I’ve seen you smile.
“Who’s crying their noses off.” Luo Shaoheng reached out and pinched his own nose, taking the opportunity to suppress that soreness. However, he didn’t notice that his voice had even changed in tone, such a retort was not at all convincing.
Shen Mucheng also did not expose him. He just quietly watched him pick up the tea to hide his own outburst, his face still had a trace of embarrassment. His whole person looked really soft.
Shen Mucheng’s gaze slowly moved down, stopping at his hand holding the cup. From the first time they met in Switzerland, he found Luo Shaoheng’s fingers very good-looking. Now that he was holding the navy green cup, it set off his slender, glittering fair five fingers. As his skin was too fair, the back of his hand had faint green veins, but it didn’t look fragile or feminine. Instead, it gave a sense of toughness like that of bamboo.
Thinking about the painting tools bought when he accompanied Luo Shaoheng earlier, he suddenly wanted to see these hands flying on the canvas.
It should be very nice, just like his person.
After the meal, Shen Mucheng sent Luo Shaoheng back to his apartment and helped him put the newly bought things into the temporary organized art room. He had many rooms, but he was the only one who lived here. There were several rooms on the first floor, so he only needed to vacate a room with good natural light.
Putting the things down, Luo Shaoheng unpacked the box to take out an easel. Just after he unpacked the packaging, Shen Mucheng took it over and unfolded it with his hands, while asking, “How to set it up?”
“Loosen the screw here, you can adjust the height, here it is used to adjust the width.” Luo Shaoheng leaned over and pointed to the screw clasp on it and explained to him.
The foldable easel was easy to adjust. Shen Mucheng adjusted the easel and put it on the ground quickly according to what Luo Shaoheng said. He compared it to Luo Shaoheng’s height, and compared it between him and the easel, then tightened the easel to make it stable. “It’s done.”
Shen Mucheng didn’t know that the height he adjusted was exactly the height at which Luo Shaoheng could stand and draw, but Luo Shaoheng knew it clearly. He reached out and touched the easel. In a place Shen Mucheng couldn’t see, he pursed his lips and sighed silently in his heart, then turned back to him as if nothing had happened and said, “Thank you.”
Shen Mucheng nodded and helped him unpack another easel and set it up, while Luo Shaoheng went to take out the other tools and sort them.
After sorting it out simply, it was time for Shen Mucheng to go to the company as he had a meeting in the afternoon.
He washed his hands cleanly and said to Luo Shaoheng, “Aunty Wang will come over to cook tonight, you can tell her if there is anything you want to eat. Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay. Will you come back for dinner tonight?” Luo Shaoheng asked.
“Not necessarily. You don’t have to wait for me.” Shen Mucheng had a social function in the evening.
“Then will you come back tonight?”
The look of expectation in Luo Shaoheng’s eyes was always so unconcealed, and this kind of words full of hope that he would come back put Shen Mucheng in a happy mood. “Yes.”
“Okay.” Getting the desired answer, Luo Shaoheng smiled. Knowing he had something to do, he no longer continued, “You go first, you’ve also delayed it for half a day.”
Shen Mucheng nodded, then took the key and left. Luo Shaoheng followed him out, and waited for him to enter the elevator before returning to the house. As soon as the door was closed, he received a call from Chen Zhan.
“Good afternoon, Honourable Dr. Chen.” Luo Shaoheng joked a little because he was in a good mood.
“Good afternoon, Boss Luo.” Chen Zhan smiled and asked, “In a good mood?”
“Not bad.” Luo Shaoheng walked to the sofa in the living room and sat down, turning on the TV in passing.
“At the hotel?” Chen Zhan heard the sound of the TV.
“No, no, no~ you guess.” Luo Shaoheng spun the remote control on the sofa with one hand.
“……” Chen Zhan couldn’t bear to listen to the braggadocio in his words. He didn’t want to play guessing games with him, and asked directly, “Is it okay over there?”
“Pretty good, don’t worry.” Luo Shaoheng said. Being able to successfully stay at Shen Mucheng’s house? It simply couldn’t be better.
“That’s good then.” Chen Zhan wasn’t worried anymore when he saw that his mood was good. “Right, what are you going to do? Not going to tell Shen Mucheng about what happened before?”
“I’ll find a suitable time.” Luo Shaoheng pondered for a moment. “He doesn’t seem to remember anything. I haven’t figured out how to tell him yet.”
Chen Zhan knew his worries and said nothing more, just telling him to take care of himself and then hung up the phone.
Putting the phone aside, Luo Shaoheng leaned back on the sofa and rubbed his brow.
How could he not want to confess everything to Shen Mucheng… he wanted to do it so much that he almost couldn’t suppress it. But what could they do even if he confessed everything? Shen Mucheng really didn’t remember him. Were he to say that both of them loved each other to death back then, would Shen Mucheng believe him? Would the two be able to return to the past?
He was not that naive. He wanted to confess everything, but he also couldn’t act rashly.
Now the two were living under the same roof, he could take their time. He was waiting, waiting for Shen Mucheng to get used to him, waiting for him to find out a little bit of their past. What he heard might be fake, but what he saw must be real. Personally witnessing was more useful than any amount of words.
After thinking about it, Luo Shaoheng no longer dwelled on it, put on his jacket and left the house.
There was a large supermarket at the entrance of the community, Luo Shaoheng intended to go out to buy back some dessert making materials and utensils needed. Since he was bored, he simply found something to do.
Shen Mucheng went directly to the company after he left the house. He didn’t see Shen Yun when the meeting was about to start. He asked others and knew that Shen Yun didn’t come back after he went out at noon.
“Boss, do we need to contact Special Assistant Shen.” The secretary asked.
“Give him a call.” Shen Mucheng said, after all, the information for the meeting was being handled by Shen Yun.
After the secretary contacted Shen Yun, she learned that he was already on his way back, Shen Mucheng nodded and instructed the secretary to follow him to the meeting.
When Shen Yun came back, the meeting had already passed half an hour. He came to the conference room, found a seat, took the information from the secretary who took his place, nodded towards the other party to show his gratitude, the other party returned a smile and gently withdrew from the conference room.
The meeting lasted for more than an hour, Shen Mucheng closed up the information. “Let’s end the meeting now.”
The words broke the depressing atmosphere in the conference room, the people secretly sighed with relief and watched him get up and leave the conference room. Shen Yun left a meaningful smile at the people and also followed him out of the conference room.
Back at the office, Shen Yun reported the recent work to Shen Mucheng first, after confirming that there was no error, he handed in the information he just brought back to Shen Mucheng. “This is the information about Young Master Luo that you asked to investigate, I think it’s necessary to let you see it first so I brought it back.”
Necessary meant that there was important information which Shen Mucheng should know.
Shen Mucheng heard what he said and looked at him, took the information and opened it.
The first page of the information was Luo Shaoheng’s personal information, it was stated that Luo Shaoheng was once a student of the College of Art in A University. At the age of twenty, he was exceptionally accepted by the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Y Country. This had always been his dream, it was also the dream of all those who study art, but what was surprising was that he not only didn’t go to school, but also didn’t even graduate from college.
The bottom of the information was Luo Shaoheng’s admission ceremony photo. He was wearing a white shirt standing on the stage, with a gentle and confident smile on his face, his back was facing the light, his whole person was as if outlined with a layer of gold.
“Young Master Luo’s information is not difficult to find, this is his personal information, as it’s urgent, many things have not been investigated clearly, but his matter was deliberately erased during the two years from the age of eighteen to twenty.” Shen Yun said from the side.
Shen Mucheng’s finger, which initially wanted to flip the pages, paused when he heard what he said. “Erased?”
“Yes.” Shen Yun wanted to say, “And ……”
“Get to the point.” Shen Mucheng turned over the back and continued to read it, his gaze widened slightly when his gaze landed on a name.
…… Well, there’s no need to say it anymore. Shen Yun’s sight also fell on that familiar name.
–Shen Mucheng.
Shen Mucheng quickly skimmed through the information on it, then re-read it carefully, confirming it twice word for word, and finally his gaze stopped on the same name as his own, his gaze was as sharp as a knife, almost chiselling through the thin paper.
After a long time, he looked up at Shen Yun. “What does this mean?”
He had a heavy chill in his eyes, and although his voice was light, it was like cold ice, making Shen Yun shiver secretly.
“According to the information we have found so far, twelve years ago, Luo Shaoheng had a lover during his college years, he …… had the same name as you and was killed in a car accident ten years ago.”
The same name as you.
Shen Mucheng’s hand instantly clenched, the paper crackled as he squeezed it tightly.
“Boss, there’s a picture of the two of them at the back.” Shen Yun almost said this sentence with a heart that was ready to die, looking at Shen Mucheng’s hand squeezing the paper, he had no doubt that if this force was squeezed on his neck, he had already reincarnated.
Shen Mucheng didn’t immediately turn over, he had a feeling that the things behind were not what he wanted to see, he could even guess something out from Shen Yun’s words. He was silent for a few seconds and then slowly turned over.
A slightly greyish photo was presented in front of him.
From the angle and clarity of the photo, it should be a photo that was taken secretly, the two faces were not very clear.
Under the dim street light, the teenage Luo Shaoheng intimately hooked a man’s neck, tilting his head and was saying something to him, the other party slightly lowered his head, a hand holding on Luo Shaoheng waist, smiling dotingly as he looked at him.
The man in the photo had a very familiar face, it was so familiar that Shen Mucheng could see it every day, it was so familiar that he almost suspected that there was something wrong with his eyes.
This was because he saw that the person in the photo looked very much like him, he seemed almost to the point of identical from the side profile.
His line of sight moved to Luo Shaoheng’s face, even if he couldn’t see the front, Shen Mucheng could also imagine that his eyes must be full of love at that time, his eyes as black and bright as ink was reflecting this man, as if there was no room for anyone else but him.
If it wasn’t for the fact that he didn’t know Luo Shaoheng before, he almost thought the person in the photo was himself.
A sudden ache came from his brain, Shen Mucheng forcefully closed his eyes, both of his hands clenched abruptly.
“Boss?!” Shen Yun saw the situation and knew that his headache was back, so he hurriedly took out the medicine bottle from the drawer next to him, unscrewed the cap and handed it to him.
Shen Mucheng didn’t take it, he tightened the corners of his lips, other than the headache, this picture in front of him made his heart stung as if it had been stabbed by a needle. The scene of meeting Luo Shaoheng for the first time in Switzerland appeared in front of him.
— Is your name Shen Mucheng?
–Can you show me your right hand?
–I want to be with you, I want to look at you every day.
When the two first met, Luo Shaoheng looked at him with a strong unconcealed affection in his gaze, so straightforward and passionate, like the apples of Eden, with a temptation that he could not refuse.
–Say it, who do you take me for?
–If I say that I’m not taking you for another person, that I’m very sure you’re Shen Mucheng, do you believe it?
Do you believe it?
If not for this information, Shen Mucheng almost believed it.
He previously felt that Luo Shaoheng was looking at others through him, and now this suspicion was confirmed.
It turned out that Luo Shaoheng used to have a lover with the same name as him, who looked very much like him, and had died ten years ago.
There were not many similar people in the world, and even fewer similar ones with the same name, but they all happened to him at once.
— Shen Mucheng, you’re back?
–Why don’t you say anything? Did I dream again?
–Are you still leaving this time? If you do, can you take me with you? I’m not afraid to go anywhere.
You’re not afraid to go anywhere …… including death?
How much does Luo Shaoheng love this person, to the point that he can even lose his life for him.
Once he thought of this, Shen Mucheng’s heart was so stuffed, the ache in his brain was even clearer, it came intermittently as if someone was scraping his brain with a sharp carving knife, the pain came like a tidal wave, causing dense sweat to emerge on his forehead.
“Boss!” Shen Yun shouted at him again.
Taking the medicine handed over by Shen Yun, he poured two pills and swallowed it with water. At this moment, Shen Mucheng’s expression was so cloudy that water almost dripped out. If his eyes could kill someone, the man in the photo had been killed countless times by him.
“Him and me, do we look similar?” Shen Mucheng asked softly, his voice carrying an unknown gloomy chill.
Shen Yun’s scalp tingled, he didn’t know what to say. If he said they looked similar, he was looking for death; If he said no, the fact was presented in front of his eyes, the photo of the man from this angle, other than the too-gentle look which was unlike Boss, they looked almost the same.
“The other information is still being checked, I will figure it out as soon as possible.” Shen Yun said stiffly, he was already almost frozen to death by the low pressure from his own boss, and regretted not investigating Luo Shaoheng earlier, and now Luo Shaoheng was already living in Boss’ home before knowing such things.
“Continue to investigate, until everything is clear.” Shen Mucheng’s voice was a few degrees colder than usual, no longer looking at the blinding photo, he turned the information to the back.
Shen Yun saw him turn over and quickly said, “Here at the back is Luo Shaoheng’s family situation, he is a member of the A City’s Luo family.”
A City’s Luo family, it also ruled out the possibility that Luo Shaoheng was someone from Shen Qiuxiong’s side.
But now this situation was no better than this possibility. From the several times he came into contact with Luo Shaoheng, Shen Yun obviously felt that Luo Shaoheng was someone different for Boss. He could feel it from Boss letting him follow along in Switzerland before knowing his identity, to taking care of him personally when he was sick, and then picking him up personally at the airport when Luo Shaoheng came.
He originally thought that Luo Shaoheng fell in love with Boss at first sight, and his affection deepened when they met for the second time, coming from thousands of miles away for the sake of the Boss. But now he found out that things were not in this case. In fact, for him, Boss turned out to be just a stand-in?
Once he thought of Boss postponing the meeting this morning for Luo Shaoheng, he suddenly had a feeling that the wedding scene turned into a Shura field.
It was not going to go well.
The phone ringing next to him interrupted this depressed aura, Shen Mucheng threw the information into the drawer, picked up the phone and walked aside, his expression changed after hearing the other party clearly. “I’ll go there immediately.”
After he hung up the phone, Shen Yun quickly asked, “What happened?”
“The Old Master had a heart attack and was admitted into the hospital.” Shen Mucheng grabbed the coat on the side of the chair and quickly left the office, and Shen Yun hurriedly followed.
When they arrived at the hospital, Old Master Shen was still in resuscitation. Outside the operating room stood Shen Qiuxiong’s family and the housekeeper, Uncle Zhao. As soon as Shen Qiuxiong saw him, he walked forward, next to him Shen Rongchang secretly hid behind.
“Mucheng, you’re here.” Shen Qiuxiong welcomed him, “Old Master is still being resuscitated, we ……”
Shen Mucheng casually nodded and directly walked past him,the rest of the words stuck in Shen Qiuxiong’s mouth, his expression was gloomy. He now didn’t have much power in the Jiang family, he wanted to cooperate with the logistics before, but it was sabotaged by Shen Mucheng!
Shen Mucheng didn’t care what he was thinking, he went straight to Uncle Zhao and asked, “Uncle Zhao, how is the situation?”
“Not too good.” Uncle Zhao shook his head. “Old Master couldn’t even catch his breath at that time, and his whole person fainted.”
Listening to his words, Shen Mucheng’s face sank and looked at Shen Rongchang at the side.
Shen Rongchang usually acted like a tyrant outside, that was because he had the position of being a member of the Shen Family, but when facing Shen Mucheng, he didn’t even dare to say a word aloud.
When Shen Mucheng was lying in the hospital for several years lifelessly, he thought that the sovereignty of the Shen family would finally fall into his father’s hands, and he would finally become the crown prince, but Shen Mucheng overcame the hardship of life and death. Not only that, with the help of the Jiang family, he cleaned the Shen family, the initially-scattered power was now back into his hands once again.
When Shen Mucheng’s father, Shen Zongxian, was still alive, the Old Master had always favoured the eldest son. Among their grandchildren, the Old Master also favoured Shen Mucheng, otherwise he would not have handed over the Jiang family to him. Shen Rongchang, who couldn’t be valued as importance by the Old Master, was very unhappy, especially when the Old Master became senile1, he was still thinking about his short-lived eldest son, which made him unable to swallow this bitterness. Moreover, he had always held a grudge towards Shen Mucheng for breaking his leg indirectly. Today, he was so angry that he insulted a few words at the Old Master, but he didn’t think he would pass out due to anger.
When the Old Master passed out, he was really taken aback. He didn’t expect the Old Master to be so fragile and unenergetic. In a panic, he hurriedly sent the Old Master to the hospital with Uncle Zhao. Now he saw Shen Mucheng’s cold face, his entire back was cold.
“Cou, Cousin Brother.” Shen Rongchang swallowed. “Don’t look at me like that, the Old Master passed out by himself, and it has nothing to do with me at all!”
“That’s right, Mucheng.” Zheng Qiuhong also said to protect his son, “It’s not only a day or two that the Old Master’’s body has some old health problems, and Rongchang can’t be blamed for that.”
“It has nothing to do with him at all?” Shen Mucheng sneered, straddling his long legs and going closer to Shen Rongchang, the other party was forced back by his height, and before he could react, he fell to the ground and let out a cry of pain.
“Rongchang!” Shen Qiuxiong and Zheng Qiuhong were startled and ran over quickly. Zheng Qiuhong helped him up and asked repeatedly, “Are you alright, how is it? Did you get injured anywhere?!”
Shen Rongchang covered his lower abdomen where he was kicked. The severe pain from there made his face turn blue, and he couldn’t answer except for a “hissing” moan.
Shen Mucheng retracted his feet, looked down at Shen Rongchang who was sitting on the ground, and said faintly, “You better pray that the Old Master is safe, otherwise I’ll send you down to make amends.”
His words made the expression of Shen Rongchang’s family change dramatically, especially Shen Rongchang was forced to move back by his aura, fearing that he would give him another kick.
“Shen Mucheng!” Shen Qiuxiong shouted in a low voice, “Don’t go too far! Do you still have me as your uncle in your eyes?!”
Shen Mucheng didn’t care about his anger. “Since the fourth uncle is usually too busy and neglects to discipline his son, then I don’t mind helping you educate him.” When he said this, his eyes swept across Shen Rongchang’s left leg, where it was once broken by the Wu family, and was still in plaster cast, it was impossible to walk normally in the future.
Shen Qiuxiong heard what he meant, but he couldn’t argue, after all, it was his son’s fault for this matter, so he could only say bitterly, “Right… right, now you don’t even care about your elders. Big brother really gave birth to a good son!”
Shen Mucheng didn’t want to talk nonsense with him, so he turned around and walked to a chair to sit down. Uncle Zhao and Shen Yun stood beside him respectively.
Shen Rongchang couldn’t say it out even though he was suffering, so he could only drag his stump leg and sit aside with his parents, and the corridor returned to its calmness again, as if this family dispute was just a short episode.
The rescue was very successful. The Old Master was safely sent to the intensive care unit. Everyone was relieved. The most fortunate one was Shen Rongchang. He had no doubt that if the Old Master really couldn’t survive, Shen Mucheng would really send him down to make amends.
The Old Master was still unconscious. After Shen Qiuxiong’s family left, only Shen Mucheng, Shen Yun and Uncle Zhao were left in the ward. Uncle Zhao reported to Shen Mucheng what happened in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, he accompanied the Old Master to the yard to bask in the sun. It happened that Shen Rongchang was also at home. Since Shen Rongchang was crippled, his arrogant and surly character was even worse than before. He didn’t dare to cause trouble for Shen Mucheng, so he could only make things difficult for the servant at home to vent his anger.
The spirit and memory of the Old Master who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease were inconsistent. He didn’t like to have other people around, it was only Uncle Zhao taking care of him all along. At that time, he went back to the house to add tea for the Old Master and saw Shen Rongchang shouting loudly in front of the Old Master as soon as he came out. He was saying something like that your favourite son was long gone.
The passing of his son, daughter-in-law, and his wife was a huge blow to the Old Master. He was sick in bed for several years, and his memory declined after he recovered. So far, he was still in this state of confusion, sometimes he couldn’t even remember who Shen Mucheng was, and sometimes recognized him as Shen Zongxian.
Listening to Uncle Zhao’s words, Shen Mucheng’s face turned cold. The death of his parents in a car accident had always been a psychological problem for him and the Old Master. Although the driver of the accident had already pleaded guilty, he could not let it go.
The mobile phone in his pocket rang, and when Shen Mucheng took it out, he saw Luo Shaoheng’s name on the screen. He remembered that Luo Shaoheng asked him if he would go back to eat before going out this afternoon, probably because he hadn’t returned home so he called to ask.
Once he thought of the photo on the document and what Luo Shaoheng said to him, Shen Mucheng could hardly hold back the anger that was churning in his heart.
He looked at the three words, “Luo Shaoheng”, and hung up expressionlessly.
“Hi, the user you’ve dialled is on another call, please…”
The notification that the phone had been hung up echoed by his ear, Luo Shaoheng guessed that Shen Mucheng was still busy, put the phone aside, and said to Aunty Wang who was cleaning the kitchen. “Aunty Wang, Shen Mucheng probably won’t come back, let’s have dinner first.”
Aunty Wang cleaned the knives and cutting board and put them away, wiped her hands, came out and said to him, “I won’t accompany you anymore, and I have to go home and take care of my grandson.”
“Then I’ll send you out.” Luo Shaoheng said and picked up the coat beside him.
“No need to send me out, my son will drop by to pick me up after getting off work, eat it quickly, or the food will be cold.” Aunty Wang waved her hand to let him eat quickly, and went downstairs with her things.
After Aunty Wang left, Luo Shaoheng looked at the dishes on the table and called Shen Mucheng again, but he still didn’t answer this time. He simply sent a message to ask Shen Mucheng to call him back when he saw the missed call.
After dinner, Luo Shaoheng simply cleaned up the table, put the used bowls in the dishwasher, and watched TV for a while, but Shen Mucheng didn’t call back or message him, and it had been two hours since he called Shen Mucheng.
“He’s so busy, it’s not easy to be a big boss.” Luo Shaoheng sighed, got up and went to the refrigerator to look at his desserts.
There was a layer of compartment filled with coconut milk jelly with wine in the refrigerator. There were more than a dozen bowls, all of which he made in the afternoon. It had been a long time since he made them so he was a bit unfamiliar with it. It took a lot of effort to make the taste the same as before.
The colour of the freshly frozen coconut milk jelly was very beautiful. For the sake of appearance, he also added some decorative flowers on the surface.
He took one of them and tried it. Luo Shaoheng was very satisfied with the taste, and looked forward to how Shen Mucheng would feel when he came back to see these things at night.
I wonder how you will react when he knows that I know how to do this? Will you remember something about us?
Luo Shaoheng stood beside the refrigerator for a while, and laughed at his whims. It was just a dessert, how could it be so magical.
Luo Shaoheng was not sure when Shen Mucheng would come back, so he went upstairs to take a shower after playing games for a while. It was past eleven o’clock in the evening when he came out of the shower. There were no missed calls on his mobile phone. As if Shen Mucheng had disappeared, no reply to his calls and messages.
This was also the case before Shen Mucheng’s accident back then. He couldn’t get in touch with him, and finally received a call from the hospital, informing him to go to the hospital to claim his body.
Although he already knew that the person at the time was not Shen Mucheng, but the incident had left psychological trauma, it was so serious that he couldn’t forget it until now. There was a panic in his heart for no reason, and he hurriedly called Shen Mucheng twice. Still no one answered.
Sitting in the living room for a while, he was alone in the empty living room, which made him feel like he was left alone at home after Shen Mucheng’s accident.
He was getting more and more panic in his heart, his fingers were trembling nervously, he forced himself to calm down and called Shen Yun instead.
Shen Yun was still in the hospital when he received the call. He walked over to Shen Mucheng with his mobile phone and handed it to him, and said in a low voice, “Boss, Young Master Luo’s call came to me.”
Shen Mucheng didn’t answer, his face was very gloomy, and he didn’t express anything to what he said.
In fact, Shen Mucheng’s cell phone was placed just next to him, Luo Shaoheng’s call rang several times and he didn’t answer it. Shen Yun also saw this, he hesitated for a while, but went to the door of the ward to accept the call. “Young Master Luo. “
“Shen Yun?” Luo Shaoheng asked, “I’m sorry to bother you so late.”
“It’s okay, why did you call?”
“Is Shen Mucheng with you? He didn’t answer his phone, are you guys still busy?” Luo Shaoheng asked directly, he urgently needed to know if Shen Mucheng was safe.
Shen Yun glanced at Shen Mucheng in the ward and said in a soft voice, “The boss is still busy, do you have any urgency to find him?”
Luo Shaoheng felt relieved after hearing him say this. “It’s okay, I’m just asking, you guys go ahead with work first.”
“Okay.”
Knowing that nothing happened to Shen Mucheng, Luo Shaoheng breathed a sigh of relief and leaned on the sofa. On such a cold day, his back was actually sweating.
Shen Yun hung up the phone and returned to the ward. As soon as he sat down, he heard Shen Mucheng ask, “What did he say?”
“Young Master Luo asked if you were busy.” Shen Yun said.
“Anything else?”
“Nothing else.”
“…” The corner of Shen Mucheng’s mouth pressed down slightly, and anyone could see his displeasure with the aura around him.
Being in the same space, Shen Yun was almost made to cry by the low pressure he released. Boss, you are the one who refused to answer his phone call, what do you actually want with an unhappy look like a baby? Why don’t you just go back! What’s wrong if you’re a stand in? You can also become a regular from a stand-in. Since Luo Shaoheng’s lover is dead, you will be a winner after capturing his heart and body determinedly!
Of course, Shen Yun only dared to complain about these words in his heart, and he would really reincarnate if he said it out loud.
Uncle Zhao, who was on the side, didn’t know who they were talking about, but he also knew that Shen Mucheng’s phone rang several times, so he said, “Young Master, go back first if you have something to do. The Old Master is no longer in critical condition, I’ll just stay here.”
“Nothing.” Shen Mucheng said.
“Really?” Uncle Zhao watched him grow up, and was obviously suspicious of his words.
“Really.” Shen Mucheng spit out these two words stiffly.
Uncle Zhao turned his head to take a glance at Shen Yun, and Shen Yun returned a look of “Think about it yourself”
Shen Mucheng insisted on staying, and Uncle Zhao naturally wouldn’t say much. The three of them waited for the Old Master to wake up.
While they were waiting for the Old Master to wake up, Luo Shaoheng on the other side was also waiting for Shen Mucheng to return. Even if he knew that the other party was all right, he would only be at ease after seeing him personally.
The Old Master woke up in the middle of the night. After the doctor came to check, he said that there was nothing serious, he just needed to rest. After the Old Master fell asleep again, Shen Mucheng also left the hospital, leaving Shen Yun to help take care of him.
On the road from the hospital to the community, Shen Mucheng drove very fast, and the black car body drew a sharp silhouette in the night.
Back in the community, when the elevator went up, Shen Mucheng’s mood was very complicated. He didn’t know why he came back so late, whether he wanted to prove Luo Shaoheng’s purpose of coming to find him, or because he promised Luo Shaoheng that he would come back in the afternoon.
What if it was what he thought it was?
After opening the door and going in, the light was still on in the room, Shen Mucheng walked in and saw Luo Shaoheng sleeping on the sofa in the living room.
Luo Shaoheng hugged a sofa pillow in his arms, a blanket was placed on him, he hunched over and curled up in the blanket and fell asleep. His sleeping position was the same as when he was sick last time, showing a posture of self-protection.
Shen Mucheng didn’t like having outsiders at home, so it was the first time that someone was waiting at home with the lights on at night. The moment he saw Luo Shaoheng, he felt that his heart was bewildered again, and his footsteps unconsciously became lighter as he walked to the sofa.
Luo Shaoheng didn’t sleep peacefully, his eyebrows were slightly frowned, and there were light marks there, indicating that he often frowned.
– He shouldn’t be sad, he shouldn’t be frowning.
Shen Mucheng thought so in his heart, bent down slightly, reached out to help him smooth the frown, his fingers stopped when he was about to touch him, Luo Shaoheng’s eyelids trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes .
Shen Mucheng withdrew his hand, and at the same time restrained the tenderness on his face, stood up straight and lowered his head to look down at him.
Just like the last time he was in Switzerland, Luo Shaoheng was stunned for a moment when he saw Shen Mucheng, his eyes were a little dazed, but he quickly reacted, and a happy smile blossomed at his lips. “You’re back?”
– Shen Mucheng, you’re back?
– Are you leaving this time? Can you take me with you?
Luo Shaoheng’s previous two sentences kept revolving in his mind, reminding Shen Mucheng that the other party was not waiting for him, but the person with the same name as him.
When he thought that all the warmth and love that Luo Shaoheng had given him before was not his, he was just looking at the person who no longer existed through himself, Shen Mucheng’s anger that was slightly suppressed started emerging again, like an invisible hand messing with his sanity.
Luo Shaoheng didn’t notice his emotions, he lifted the blanket and sat up. “Why did you come back so late? Were you very busy? Have you eaten yet?”
Shen Mucheng didn’t say a word, he just looked at him with a cold expression, and gradually Luo Shaoheng also realised something was wrong. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Why didn’t you go upstairs to sleep?” Shen Mucheng didn’t answer his question.
“I wanted to wait for you, but I fell asleep accidentally.” Luo Shaoheng touched his nose embarrassedly.
The more obedient Luo Shaoheng was, the more irritable Shen Mucheng was. He looked at Luo Shaoheng fixedly. “Did you wait for me in the living room like this before?”
“What?” Luo Shaoheng was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened suddenly after he understood what he said, “You…”
Before he could finish his words, there was a sudden pain in his chin, Shen Mucheng pinched his chin and forced him to look up. Both of them looked into each other’s eyes, the coldness in Shen Mucheng’s eyes were seen exposingly.
“Luo Shaoheng.” Shen Mucheng asked without a trace of emotion, clutching his chin, “Am I really so similar to him? That you’re so willing to send yourself to my doorstep?”
The sentence “You remembered it” was stuck in his throat, and the excited heart that he thought Shen Mucheng remembered something was also knocked to the depths of despair by this sentence.
This was the first time that Shen Mucheng had called him by his name since the reunion. It was different from the tender and sweet words of the past, called with his surname, causing a chill at the bone.
T/N: Sorry! Took quite a long time as the chapter was long, I actually finished this last week but it needs editing, but now my editor is busy, so please bear with it if there are any grammar mistakes, or you can point it out in the comments!
