Chapter 67: Future

Tang Ming quickly recognized Shen Yu, who was next to Tang Li. While smiling, he nodded to him as a greeting.

“Tang Ming was the one who drove me here.” Tang Li seemed to be aware of Shen Yu’s disappointment. So, he carefully explained to him, “They have a dinner party tonight and they still want me to return.”

This ‘they’ naturally referred to the Tang family.

At first, Shen Yu didn’t notice. However, after Tang Li had mentioned that, he realised that he smelled of alcohol.

It’s just that the smell was not strong, perhaps he tried to cover it up.

Tang Li’s face was pale, but he didn’t look like he had drunk any liquor. However, his bloodshot eyes and the tiredness between his eyebrows could not be concealed.

Shen Yu knew that Tang Li’s livelihood would be difficult after he returned to the Tang family. He had already been mentally prepared for it. However, when he saw his family’s darling, Tang Li’s exhausted appearance and lack of sleep, he could not help but feel heartache.

If Tang Li wished for it, he would take him home now and treat it as if he had never met the Tang family.

Unfortunately, Tang Li didn’t wish for it.

Shen Yu sighed. He wanted to touch Tang Li’s face but he qualmed that Tang Ming was watching him from a distance. He could only resist his impulse.

“Go home early.” Shen Yu admonished, “Don’t tire yourself too much.”

Tang Li obediently nodded, “I know.”

Shen Yu wanted to say something but he hesitated. After dilly-dallying for a long time, he couldn’t restrain himself and said, “Actually, you don’t have to push yourself so hard. As long as you turn around, there is a way out.”

Saying that, Shen Yu stepped forward and pulled Tang Li’s hand. He gently grasped it for a little while, “I am your way out.”

As his voice fell, Shen Yu wanted to take his hand back, but it was tightly gripped by Tang Li.

Tang Li imitated Shen Yu’s manners from a moment ago and held his hand.

“I don’t want it to forever be you who is giving, and me, who will always be like a little child hiding under your wings, sheltering me from the wind and rain.” Tang Li said word by word seriously, “I also want to be your way out.”

Shen Yu, “…”

Somehow, his eyes were tearing a bit.

He broke away from Tang Li’s grasp and pushed the other, “Go on. Tang Ming is waiting for you.”

Tang Li nodded. Despite looking at Shen Yu with reluctant eyes, he nevertheless walked over to Tang Ming.

Shen Yu didn’t want to see Tang Li leave. So, he hurriedly turned his head and went inside his car.

When he arrived at the Shen family’s home, it was already one in the morning.

Since that incident, Shen Yu had sent Uncle Zhang away, along with two servants and several bodyguards who worked for Uncle Zhang. Now, there were only three servants in the family except Shen Yu and Aunt Chen.

At this point, other people had long quit.

Shen Yu went into the living room and switched on the floor lamp beside the sofa. The yellow light brightened the dark room as it projected the curve of the atmosphere.

His quiet surroundings were so terrifyingly quiet that even the sound of the clock on the wall could not be heard.

He obviously hadn’t even noticed how quiet the house was before….

He didn’t know whether it was because there were fewer people or because Tang Li moved away. Shen Yu always felt that there was something missing in this home, just like a missing corner of the moon. Somehow, he felt regret looking at it.

“Tang Li…”

Shen Yu leaned on the sofa. He closed his eyes and called the name that occupied too much of his attention in his life.

He never dreamed that the relationship between him and Tang Li would unexpectedly develop to this stage.

Everything was beyond his wildest dreams.

What made Shen Yu even more surprised was that—— he didn’t seem to reject Tang Li liking him.

Whether it was love or kinship, Tang Li’s existence had long been thoroughly integrated into his life. If he could not be separated in such a way, Shen Yu thought he could accept it.

All this time, he had been rushed straight to the blind date. The more women he has met, the more he didn’t want to force himself to marry people he didn’t like. He and those women had nothing in common, whether it be a hobby or an experience. They were also not willing to blindly invest in their own feelings.

Speaking of blind dates, Shen Yu felt that it was as if he was looking for a partner to live his life with.

If that’s the case, why can’t he find someone who’s he familiar with and someone who can be tolerant and understanding with each other to live together?

Shen Yu originally wasn’t a person with a strong demand for relationships. Otherwise, he would not be single for more than 20 years before crossing. He even made preparations for not getting married and not having children.

Now that Tang Li accompanied him, he also won’t feel alone anymore.

As for the child…

Shen Yu had thought about it. If he and Tang Li could uphold their relationship after Tang Li graduated from college, they could consider adopting.

That night, Shen Yu thought about it over and over again. He also thought about how to deal with his relationship with Tang Li after it would later be exposed…

The next day.

Shen Yu, who was in dreamland, was awakened by his ringing phone. He dazely opened his eyes, only to realise that he unexpectedly had fallen asleep on the sofa.

He had a thin blanket draped on him.

Shen Yu was befuddled for quite a while. He then heard Aunt Chen’s voice, “Sir, your phone is ringing.”

Aunt Chen handed Shen Yu’s phone on the sofa to him.

“Thank you.” Shen Yu took the cellphone and his eyes fell on it. It was a call from Elder Shen.

Ever since Shen Yu agreed to go on a blind date and put it into practice, he had been receiving Elder Shen’s concerned calls almost everyday asking about his progress of the blind date.

Shen Yu was annoyed by it and directly pressed the mute button. He placed his phone into his pocket, got up and went upstairs.

Aunt Chen urged him from behind, “Sir, breakfast ready. After you wash up, please remember to come down and eat.”

“I don’t want to eat.” Shen Yu just waved his hand without turning his back, “I’ll sleep a little longer. If my old man calls you, directly say that I’ve got other matters and that I’m not home.”

Aunt Chen answered bluntly, “Alright.”

Once Shen Yu returned to his room, he washed and changed into comfortable clothing, and directly lied down on the bed. Soon, he fell asleep again.

He seemed to have been sleeping for quite a long time.

When he opened his eyes again, the sky outside the window had been dyed with deep dark blue. and the scattered starlight was like chess pieces that dispersed all over the night sky.

The light inside was so dim that Shen Yu nearly thought he had slept till the next day.

At this moment, a slight knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Aunt Chen who was outside the door asked, “Sir, are you up? It’s time to eat. ”

“I’m up.” Shen Yu answered.

At the same time, he felt it was odd.

Before, Aunt Chen would only knock on the door to remind him to have breakfast. She had never called him out for lunch or dinner time. Normally, he would go to the dining room on time, without anyone else having to tell him.

However, Shen Yu didn’t think much about it. He hurriedly got out of the bed, tidied himself up and opened the door.

Aunt Chen waited nervously outside the door. With a complicated expression, she whispered, “Elder Shen is here.”

Shen Yu asked, “…When did he arrive? ”

Aunt Chen replied, “He has been waiting in the living room for nearly two hours. He said that he would let you rest more. So, I didn’t come up to call you.”

Shen Yu and Aunt Chen went downstairs together. Even at distance, he could see Elder Shen was smiling with a blooming face. Suddenly, he had an ominous premonition.

“Xiao Yu, come here quickly.” Elder Shen hurriedly waved at Shen Yue and giggled. He opened his mouth and asked, “Can you guess who I met at the dinner party yesterday?”

Shen Yu didn’t want to know, nor did he want to guess.

However, coming into contact with Elder Shen’s bright expression, he became determined, “An old friend?”

“Oh hey, you guessed that right.” Elder Shen patted his thigh, and continued the topic, “The thing is my friend lives abroad, but his granddaughter has lived here, in China, for quite a long time. I have met that girl. Her temperament is good and she is very pleasant. She may be your favorite type of…”

Shen Yu couldn’t help but to interrupt him, “Grandpa.”

Elder Shen was so keen on talking about it. When he was suddenly interrupted, he immediately became a little unhappy. He fumed instantly, “What? You don’t want to meet? How many times have you turned me down. You didn’t get in touch with that child herself, how do you know that she is not for you? ”

“…”

Shen Yu had a headache.

Here we go again.

It’s the same thing.

As long as he showed a little displeasure, Elder Shen would use these words to fool him. He would never get tired of trying.

Of course, even if Elder Shen was not upset, he was.

“I already complied and went to meet the girl you arranged yesterday. Even if you’re in a hurry to get me married, you should give me some break.” Shen Yu said gloomily.

“It’s just a meal. It’s not like you’re doing coolie works. What break are you talking about?” Elder Shen who hated iron for not becoming steel1 criticised him, “You’re almost 30 years old, and your relationship hasn’t stabilised yet. If your parents are here, They’ll blame me for not teaching you.”

Shen Yu found it laughable, “Is pushing me to get married and have children a way to teach me?”

“It’s not about getting married and having children. It’s that you’re getting old. You have to have someone around to keep you company. We2 can’t watch over you forever. If you have any problems in the future, who’s going to help you?”

Speaking about this, Elder Shen felt sentimental.

Before, Shen Yu was concerned about Du Pingting, who had eloped with other men. He refused to accept the other women they introduced. He could understand Shen Yu’s mood at that time. After the death of his daughter and his son-in-law, Shen Yu became disabled. He became more and more determined to find a partner for Shen Yu.

Most of the time, the person who accompanied one’s side was a partner. Regardless, whether they were elders or friends, they all had to leave.

Elder Shen paused at once and asked, “That girl from yesterday, you’re unsatisfied with her, right?”

Shen Yu was helpless, “She is a high school student, and she is half a year older than Chestnut.”

Elder Shen said, “Why don’t you go and meet the girl I just mentioned earlier if by any chance you see her, she may be to your liking?”

Shen Yu shook his head, “It’s unlikely.”

Elder Shen scowled, “For what reason?”

“…Because I’ve already found a partner. If there’s no mishap, we’ll be together in six months.”

Hearing this, Elder Shen swept away his anger and depression just now. His whole face was beaming. He asked happily, “Which girl is it?”

“It’s not a girl. It’s our own boy.” Shen Yu scratched his head and smiled bashfully, “It’s Tang Li.”

Elder Shen’s expression went stiff, “…”

Awe Hidden Corner: Chapter will be sporadic… I strained my eyes due to work lately. Sorry… Will tl and post whenever I can

Footnotes:

恨铁不成钢/Hèntiěbùchénggāng an idiom means to feel resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement
The raw state 我们/wǒmen which means we. Author probably refers to Shen’s family too.