For a long time, the room remained silent, with only faint, occasional signs of life, until finally, the sound of a voice broke through.

“Ah—, it’s so hot—”

A sigh mingled with a muttering tone, as if grumbling. The soft, chuckling laughter of an old man gently responded. The clattering sounds of tidying up that followed suggested that everything was likely finished.

Yuri, who had been waiting outside the curtain, turned around gently and called out through the door.

“Is everything done?”

“Yes—.”

The drawn-out reply from Ling Xinlu echoed. Yuri said: “I’m coming in”, and then opened the door. The pungent smell of dried grass rushed straight into his nose. Ling Xinlu, who was buttoning up his shirt, turned to look at Yuri and asked: “Have you been waiting long?”

Yuri helped the old man tidy up the thin pieces of paper and sort out the remaining white powder, then took the bowl of water outside to sprinkle it away. Aside from that, there was nothing else he could assist with. The old man had warned him not to touch anything. Even being allowed to handle the bowl was a recent permission.

Yuri dried the bowl with a dry cloth and handed it back to the old man. The old man received the bowl while mumbling something. Yuri couldn’t understand what he was saying, even though the old man smiled gently with his wrinkled lips. Yuri was quite proficient in Chinese, but the old man’s accent was beyond him. Previously, Ling Xinlu had laughed and said: “His speech is a mix of various southern dialects, that’s why it’s like that.”

Though he still didn’t understand, Yuri listened attentively and looked at the old man sincerely. The old man continued to speak fluently, regardless of whether Yuri understood or not. Then, he gently patted Yuri’s arm as if encouraging a well-behaved grandson. Yuri nodded and replied: “Yes, sir.”

At that moment, Ling Xinlu, who was dressing nearby, burst into laughter.

“Do you even know what Mr. Chang said to agree like that?”

“I assumed he was saying something kind.”

Yuri widened his eyes slightly as he spoke, while Ling Xinlu giggled.

“He praised your posture. He saw your silhouette sitting upright behind the curtain the entire time and said you have a very elegant stance.”

Yuri nodded in thanks to the old man, who nodded back in return.

Ling Xinlu kept chuckling, though it was unclear what amused him so much, as he fastened his last button.

“Mr. Gable can be quite funny sometimes. Once, I saw you standing in an alley, trying to chat with some girls using a language neither side understood.”

Ling Xinlu recounted how, despite their conversation making no sense, they chatted animatedly as if they fully comprehended each other. The memory made him laugh again. Shortly after, the old man finished organizing his tools and sipped the tea brought by an attendant. Ling Xinlu, now properly dressed, and Yuri, who had drunk several cups of tea while waiting, also picked up their own teacups.

Twice a week, Ling Xinlu came for acupuncture and herbal steaming sessions. Though his condition wasn’t hopeless, there had been no visible improvement in his eyesight. The old man had been sought out extensively by Ling Xinlu’s clan, so he was certainly no fraud—yet progress remained elusive.

Ling Xinlu held little expectation or enthusiasm but had no reason to refuse, so he continued meeting the old man regularly. Throughout each session, Yuri waited outside, separated only by a door, until it all concluded.

“Why does it feel hotter every day? Ugh, my skin’s going to scar. How can my porcelain skin endure this?”

Ling Xinlu sipped his tea while grumbling, but throughout the entire steaming process, he had never once complained of pain or heat. Once, Yuri had entered the room during the session because of an urgent matter and saw Ling Xinlu calmly gazing at the ceiling, even though his skin had turned completely red. It was only after getting dressed that he began joking and complaining about the heat. If it wasn’t intentional, then it was clear that this young man never revealed his vulnerabilities in front of others.

After finishing his tea, the old man, as usual, gave a nod and left, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

Yuri pulled back the curtain, revealing a sunlit courtyard. The annex, located deep within the Ling Xinlu clan estate, was always surrounded by a garden full of flowers—except in winter. It was the garden Ling Xinlu’s mother had loved the most.

“Shall we head back now?”

As soon as Ling Xinlu set down his teacup, he made to stand up. Yuri silently watched him for a moment, then quietly stood up as well. Just as they stepped out of the room and put on their shoes, a servant arrived with some fruit, looking rather flustered.

“Sir, the young lady is about to arrive……”

“Ah, tell her I had an appointment and had to leave early. I’ll drop by over the weekend.”

Ling Xinlu quickly walked toward the parking area, while Yuri gave the servant a slight nod and followed behind.

Yuri had been living at the main residence of the Ling Xinlu clan for less than a month.

When he first arrived in China, Ling Xinlu was staying at the main residence, and Yuri had stayed there with him. However, not long after, Ling Xinlu found a private house and moved out. He explained to the elders in the clan – though young in age, he was considered an ‘adult’ in terms of seniority – that due to his body’s inability to recover and the immense suffering he had endured, he wanted to live quietly for a while to stabilize his mind. But shortly after moving into the apartment, which was about a 40-minute drive from the estate, the first thing he said was: “Ah, this is much more comfortable. People there were just too overbearing.”

“Are your relations with your family not good?”

Yuri didn’t mean to pry, but he thought that if he was going to take care of Ling Xinlu for a while, it would be better to know the full picture. Ling Xinlu shrugged, as if to say, ‘It’s not like that.’

“My parents both love me dearly. They treat me like a treasure.”

The expression on Ling Xinlu’s face as he added that sometimes that love could be truly ‘terrifying’ was not feigned. Indeed, during the short time Yuri had spent at the Ling clan’s main residence, he had also sensed the overwhelming affection those two had for Ling Xinlu. It was a suffocating kind of love, one that could make you feel like you were drowning in it.

“I’d heard rumors and had some idea, but…… it’s still astonishing.”

As soon as Yuri arrived at the Ling estate, he was summoned to meet Ling Houlong face-to-face – the man who wanted to see for himself who his youngest son had brought home. After a long session of drinking tea with him – though most of the conversation revolved around worldly matters, as it seemed Yuri’s personal information had already been thoroughly investigated – Yuri couldn’t help but utter a sentence filled with amazement.

Ling Houlong had such an overpowering presence that simply being in the same room with him felt like having your energy drained. Perhaps, if it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have been able to lead such a massive family like his own personal empire.

What was surprising was that a man who seemed like he would never shed a drop of blood or tears could show such an incomprehensible, unconditional love for his youngest son. To the point where outsiders even wondered if someone as cunning, ruthless, and fierce as a tiger like him was hiding some ulterior motive.

“My father is a bit excessive. But when I left, he said: ‘Please take care of my son’, so it seems you’ve passed the test, Mr. Gable. My father is a very demanding man, and he rarely shows his emotions like that.”

Ling Xinlu smiled softly and added: “He definitely approves of you, Mr. Yuri.” Then, with a radiant smile on his lips, he pulled Yuri along to meet his mother, saying: “This time, it’s my mother’s turn to interview you.”

Ling Xinlu’s mother, though already in her middle age, still retained the beauty of her youth. Yuri had to admit that she was…… overwhelming. The elegant woman with a hint of melancholy observed Yuri, who stood beside her son, with a gaze that made one feel uneasy. Every word she spoke to her son was filled with such affection that Yuri thought if this continued, she would spoil him rotten.

The excessive love, as if she were caring for a fragile, sickly infant, was something Yuri could sense even after only a brief interaction with her. In such an environment, it was surprising that Ling Xinlu had grown up so remarkably well. The love his parents had for him was absolute and unconditional.

So, when Ling Xinlu moved out of the main house and into the apartment, Yuri could understand the look of relief on his face.

“…… Yes, Mom. I have an appointment with Qianping, so I have to leave early. Today’s therapy session ran longer, so I’m a bit pressed for time…… Of course, I want to see you too.”

Less than five minutes after leaving the family estate, Ling Xinlu’s phone rang. Yuri glanced at him through the rearview mirror and gently slowed down. Noticing the reduced speed, Ling Xinlu shot him a quick look and signaled for Yuri to continue driving normally. Yuri accelerated again after a brief pause.

“…… Yes, I’ll come home this weekend. Yes, I love you, Mom.”

After saying a sweet goodbye, Ling Xinlu tossed his phone onto the back seat.

“Ah, now my mom will call Qianping. She’ll ask where we’re meeting, what we’re doing, and remind her to be careful and take good care of me.”

Yuri raised an eyebrow as he heard Ling Xinlu muttering under his breath.

“But you don’t actually have plans with her, do you?”

“That’s right.”  

“And if your mom calls her……”  

“She’ll know I lied.”  

“……Aren’t you worried?”  

“It’s fine. She won’t call back to confront me about it anyway.”  

Ling Xinlu waved his hand dismissively, showing no concern, saying that his mother wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters. Yuri silently looked ahead. In truth, this had happened more than once or twice, but Yuri had never seen Ling Xinlu’s mother scold or punish him for it. On the contrary, she became even more cautious, daring only to ask softly: “Do you hate me, son?”  

“Honestly, given these circumstances, the fact that I’m not spoiled rotten is something I find quite admirable. Don’t you think so?”  

“Yes.”  

Yuri nodded gently, and Ling Xinlu almost laughed, his cheeks puffing up slightly as he glanced at Yuri. Yuri continued to casually chat while focusing on driving smoothly down the road without any hindrances:  

“Because in front of them, you’ve always been a lovable son.”  

Though occasionally stubborn, Ling Xinlu always wore a gentle demeanor and a radiant smile like a mask. He chuckled softly:  

“That’s the image they expect. Showing them what they want to see is also a form of filial piety, isn’t it? But in truth, they know it too. Human eyes aren’t blind. Even if they seem not to notice, they see everything.”  

He didn’t try to hide the fact that the image of an obedient and lovable son in front of them wasn’t the entirety of who he was. Yet, it seemed as if he was saying, ‘If they like me this way, then so be it.’

Indeed, being obedient doesn’t always guarantee love. Some might think it’s unfair, but love isn’t something that can be earned through effort alone.  

Yuri silently kept his eyes on the road ahead.  

Sometimes, Ling Xinlu would look at Yuri with a gaze that seemed to say: ‘No matter how I am, in the end, you’ll still like me.’ And that thought wasn’t wrong. To the point where even his arrogant confidence became endearing in Yuri’s eyes. Perhaps, once struck by love, people become this blind.  

Yuri thought to himself: ‘If an outsider like me feels this way, what about his parents?’ Just then, the phone in the side compartment beeped, signaling an incoming message.  

“……”  

Yuri and Ling Xinlu almost simultaneously glanced at the phone. Ling Xinlu’s phone had been tossed to the back seat, so the message was definitely for Yuri. However, he made no move to check it, as if nothing had happened.  

“You got a message.”  

“I’m driving.”  

“It might be urgent.”  

“If it were, they would’ve called. I’ll check later.”  

Even without looking, Yuri could guess who the sender was. Ling Xinlu probably could too.  

Yuri had only been here for a few months, so the number of people who texted him was very limited. Most of his contacts preferred calling, and moreover, the number of people he communicated with in this country was small.  

“Looks like Fei’s back home.”  

Ling Xinlu muttered, and Yuri calmly replied: “Probably.”

The content of the message was easy to guess. It would undoubtedly be something along the lines of: [‘Home—Estate—Heard you’ve arrived. If I’d known earlier, I would’ve come back sooner. Take care.’]  

If there was any surprise, it might be that the sender wasn’t Fei but Xiaojun. Still, the content would likely be similar. After all, despite the significant age gap, the way the two siblings behaved was almost like twins.  

Ling Tangyun had only two children, and both Fei – the eldest, and Xiaojun – the younger sister – were children to be proud of. Though they weren’t doted on unconditionally like Ling Tangyun’s youngest son, whenever Ling Tangyun spoke about his children, his eyes softened noticeably.  

Yuri also knew the two siblings well. Since they were young, even if they didn’t meet often, he had the chance to see them with Ling Tangyun. The way they called him ‘Uncle’ and clung to him like puppies hadn’t changed even as they grew up. Perhaps because the age gap between Yuri and Fei was smaller than the one between Yuri and Ling Tangyun, Fei – who had no older brother – might have seen Yuri as a sort of older brother figure.  

When Yuri had packed his belongings and entered the Ling clan estate after signing the contract with Ling Xinlu, it was these two siblings who were the first to welcome him with bright smiles. Fei, who had just graduated from the U.S. and returned home not long ago, along with Xiaojun, who was studying at a university in Shanghai but happened to be home for their grandmother’s birthday – the matriarch of the Ling clan – both clung to Yuri, repeatedly calling out: “Uncle Yuri, Uncle Yuri”, like a pair of puppies.  

To the point where even Ling Xinlu, who usually didn’t care much about others’ affairs, couldn’t help but mutter: “Since when did Mr. Gable become part of my generation?”  

Ling Xinlu, a few years younger than his nephew Fei, had never paid much attention to his place in the family hierarchy based on age. However, he didn’t like it when his nieces and nephews called him ‘Brother’ or ‘Uncle’ just because they were close in age. It wasn’t about status; he simply disliked the idea of distant relatives acting overly familiar.  

“Xiaojun messages you sometimes too, doesn’t she? She’s a student studying far from home; she should focus on her studies.”

Ling Xinlu glanced at Yuri’s phone, where the unread message notification was still blinking intermittently, then let out a faint, mocking smile. Yuri glanced at him and calmly said:  

“They’re good kids.”  

“Good kids? Please. I don’t want to hear it. I think I’ve said it before—I don’t like those two.”  

“But they like ‘Uncle Xinlu.’”  

“If a dog likes me, does that mean I have to like the dog?!?? Stop it, I’m really not in the mood.”  

Ling Xinlu frowned, waving his hand to signal he didn’t want to hear any more. His action of turning his face toward the window said it all. Yuri simply shrugged and fell silent.  

It seemed their relationship had never been particularly close. While it wasn’t outright bad, it was clear Ling Xinlu wasn’t fond of his nieces and nephews.  

Yuri had once tactfully asked Fei about it, but there didn’t seem to be any specific reason. Fei didn’t even know Ling Xinlu disliked him. He innocently said: “Uncle Xinlu? He’s a bit hard to approach. Maybe he’s just a little shy.” Then he added proudly: “But he’s closer to me than to the others—I mean, my siblings. We even chat sometimes.” Of course, Yuri didn’t reveal Ling Xinlu’s true feelings about him.  

Perhaps the issue lay in their personalities.  

The two cousins were the type who were unafraid to be outgoing and friendly with everyone, much like dogs. Meanwhile, Ling Xinlu, who could be charming when needed but was fundamentally unpredictable and highly individualistic, was more like a cat.  

“Come to think of it, when I lived at my grandmother’s house in Birmingham, they had both dogs and cats.”

Yuri spoke up, and Ling Xinlu looked at him with an expression that seemed to ask: ‘Why are you suddenly bringing up dogs and cats?’ but remained silent and listened.  

“They were raised together since they were young, so they didn’t fight viciously, but they weren’t particularly close either. No, that’s not quite it…… The dog liked the cat, so it kept following the cat around, while the cat hated it and kept running away.”  

“Of course, anyone would hate it if something they disliked kept chasing after them.”  

Ling Xinlu naturally sided with the cat. Yuri looked at him and smiled faintly. The smile disappeared quickly, making Ling Xinlu suspicious as he asked: “Did you just smile? Or was I imagining it?” Yuri calmly shook his head: “No, I was just thinking that maybe dogs and cats aren’t very compatible. That’s all.”  

Yuri glanced at Ling Xinlu, who was trying to figure out why Yuri had suddenly brought up such a strange topic and what hidden meaning lay behind it, then changed the subject:  

“Should we stop somewhere before heading home, or go straight back?”  

“Hmm? Li—Let’s just go home. I think the DVD I ordered a few days ago is supposed to arrive today.”  

Ling Xinlu let out a soft sigh, seemingly giving up on trying to understand Yuri’s thoughts.  

Yuri looked at Ling Xinlu, who was sitting in the passenger seat with his knees drawn up, inserting a CD into the player, and frowned slightly. Even though he had fastened his seatbelt, every time the car turned sharply or changed direction abruptly, Ling Xinlu would sway, making Yuri feel uneasy. Yuri had told him many times not to sit like that, but Ling Xinlu never changed.  

So, in the end, Yuri would reach out to steady Ling Xinlu whenever the car turned. Each time, Ling Xinlu would chuckle softly and say: “I’m not going to fall.” But Yuri had also decided not to listen to him anymore.

***************

[“That’s why I’m calling to ask you, even though it’s a bit troublesome, to please pay a little more attention to him from now on.”]  

[“I didn’t want to say these things to you either, but,”] – Ling Tangyun’s voice came through the phone, accompanied by a sigh. Yuri could clearly picture his expression at that moment, probably rubbing his furrowed forehead and shaking his head as if deeply troubled.  

Ling Tangyun was in his fifties. Although his tiger-like father was still sharp-minded and he had to tread carefully in every action, it was clear that he was the head of the family. While not as famous as his father, who had made both positive and negative waves, Ling Tangyun was also a formidable figure in his own right. For him to call and ask a favor from someone else, especially for something not directly his responsibility, was extremely rare.  

It seemed that Ling Xinlu’s mother had been deeply saddened when he returned to the main house only for treatment and then left immediately. (Just as Ling Xinlu had predicted, she had called his friend too.) The woman, who doted on her son to the point of ‘not even feeling pain if he were thrown into her eyes’ had cried and been so upset that it made Ling Houlong uncomfortable. However, he couldn’t directly call and say anything to his youngest son, so he asked his eldest son – who had a close relationship with Yuri, the one serving Ling Xinlu – to relay the message.  

Thus, Ling Tangyun, who had no reason to ask favors from anyone and wouldn’t dare treat anyone disrespectfully, called Yuri and sighed as if he were about to collapse. He wanted Yuri to try to keep Ling Xinlu at the main house a little longer whenever he visited.  

“This isn’t something I can decide, so I can’t promise anything, but I’ll do my best.”  

Yuri, who was always honest and clear about what he could and couldn’t do, answered straightforwardly. Seemingly having anticipated this response, Ling Tangyun only sighed and said nothing more.  

[“What about Xinlu? How has he been lately?”]  

“He’s taking a shower right now. If you need something, I can have him call you back after he’s done.”

“He’s taking a shower right now. If you need something, I can have him call you back after he’s done.”

[“No, no, that’s not necessary.”]

Ling Tangyun quickly declined. Yuri, who had anticipated this, calmly replied: “Alright, then let’s leave it at that.”

In the past, before Yuri met Ling Xinlu in Seringe, he had occasionally heard Ling Tangyun talk about his ‘youngest brother.’ And every time, though not entirely sure, Yuri always had the feeling that Ling Tangyun was somewhat uncomfortable with this younger sibling. It wasn’t dislike or resentment.

Ling Tangyun wasn’t the petty type to envy the youngest son, who was doted on by their aging father and even referred to by everyone as the ‘young master’. But still, that feeling wasn’t hatred or jealousy—it was more like wariness, a sense of keeping one’s distance. Yuri only vaguely understood the reason after arriving here. It was a feeling similar to being on guard against a mischievous monkey, never knowing when it might do something startling.

For example, last month.

At the Ling household, unless there was something special going on, close family members would gather for dinner every weekend. Ling Xinlu, who lived separately, often returned home on weekends for dinner and sometimes even stayed overnight.

At the end of last month, Ling Xinlu had also returned home, and of course, Yuri accompanied him.

At the time, Ling Xinlu was upset with Ling Tangyun, though the reason wasn’t too serious. A few days earlier, when Ling Xinlu had come home for acupuncture, Ling Tangyun happened to run into Yuri and remarked, half-jokingly and without malice: “Yuri Gable, someone so sought after by many, is here doing odd jobs for others and burying his talents. I’ve heard quite a few people feel sorry for him.” Those words had inadvertently reached Ling Xinlu’s ears.

“Did my eldest brother really say that?” – Ling Xinlu asked Yuri with a bright smile, but Yuri sensed something was off. However, fearing that Ling Xinlu might dwell on it, he nodded and answered straightforwardly: “Yes, he did. But I don’t think I’m burying my talents. On the contrary, I feel like I’m getting a very comfortable break and being paid far too generously, so I feel a little guilty.”

“Haha, so you feel like you’re freeloading, huh?” – Ling Xinlu laughed and dropped the topic, but it seemed he hadn’t forgotten and had stored that memory away in his mind.

Ling Xinlu believed there was no need to argue with Ling Tangyun—doing so would only make their relationship awkward—and he also couldn’t do it, so Yuri thought he would simply forget about it. Yuri himself didn’t dwell on it either, so he quickly let it go. After all, it was such a trivial matter that holding onto it for too long would have been laughable.

Then came the weekend, when the whole family gathered for a meal. Only the immediate family was present, and since it only extended to Ling Xinlu’s generation, the number of people wasn’t very large.

While they ate, Yuri sat in a separate corner and had his meal alone. That day, by the time he finished eating and returned, their family dinner was still ongoing because Ling Houlong had returned later than expected. So, Yuri stood silently by a pillar in the dining room.

Due to his poor eyesight, Ling Xinlu couldn’t clearly gauge distances, so he ate rather slowly. Yuri watched as he carefully picked up food with his chopsticks. He ate a bit slower than everyone else, but there was nothing unusual about it. Ling Tangyun, who had already finished his meal and was holding a teacup, suddenly turned to Ling Xinlu as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, are you doing alright living outside? Is everything convenient for you?”

Ling Xinlu paused his chopsticks mid-air for a moment, looked at Ling Tangyun, and then smiled.

“Yes, I’m doing fine. Everything’s going smoothly.”

“Good, that’s good. I probably don’t need to remind you, but if there’s anything you need, just let me know.”

“Of course.” – Ling Xinlu nodded gently. Then, with an adorable smile, he innocently added:

“Sometimes, big bro, you feel just like our father to me.”

The room suddenly fell silent. From Ling Houlong, who had just picked up his teacup, to Ling Tangyun, and even the other family members, everyone turned their gaze toward Ling Xinlu. Ling Tangyun forced a smile, trying to suppress the bewildered expression that had briefly flashed across his face.

“What do you mean? You’re quite like our father yourself.”

“No, I don’t mean in terms of appearance, but rather the way people often describe Father. Generous and reliable. I’ve thought this way for a while now. Big bro, you’re just like our father.”

Perhaps it was because of the age gap, Ling Xinlu added with a natural smile. After his words, the room fell silent for a few seconds. Only Ling Xinlu remained at ease, continuing to pick up food with his chopsticks.

Ling Tangyun didn’t take his eyes off him, seemingly observing Ling Houlong’s reaction. Ling Houlong sipped his tea and said nothing, but the firm line of his mouth tightened slightly.