The night was hazy, and a row of streetlights along the roadside illuminated the way for night travelers. A black sedan drove at a steady speed, blending into the flow of traffic.

The passenger window was half open, and the night wind blowing into the car ruffled the boy's black hair. His face was cool, and his eyes were still red from crying so hard, as was the tip of his nose.

Those watery eyes held a multitude of emotions, the neon lights reflected within them as if adding a touch of brilliance. When he looked away, the light in his eyes vanished.

Lin Qingyan looked forward to what would happen next, but he felt more uncertain and lost. He sat on pins and needles, and as time passed, his unease swelled up like a sponge that had absorbed water.

Gu Fei stopped the car at the traffic light and took the boy's unusually cold hand into his palm. Lin Qingyan's bewilderment and unease were written on his face. Gu Fei tightened his grip on his hand and said, "Don't be afraid."

"Mm." Lin Qingyan nodded and gave the man a smile.

The car stopped at the red light, and Gu Fei continued driving. After a few minutes, Lin Qingyan, who had been silent, suddenly whispered, "Brother Fei, I don't want to go anymore. Let's go back."

Gu Fei glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and asked gently, "What's wrong?"

Lin Qingyan lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly. After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke, "I want to go back to the dormitory. It's not good to go back too late. Contestants are not allowed to go out on their own."

Gu Fei: "It's okay, I'll explain to the production team."

After hearing Gu Fei's words, Lin Qingyan fell silent again. (Original URL)

After a moment, he looked up at Gu Fei and said, "But I don't want to go anymore. Can we turn back?" He looked at the man beside him, his moist eyes filled with a fragile light, and his gaze and tone were pleading.

Coupled with his red eyes and red nose, he looked exceptionally aggrieved and vulnerable, as if he would break at the slightest touch. Gu Fei's heart trembled at just one glance at him.

The child was scared.

Gu Fei looked at the road ahead, his deep eyes appearing as gentle as moonlight against the backdrop of the night. He seemed to be able to guess Lin Qingyan's concerns.

“Yan Yan, you are the true child of the An family by blood. An Nanyi is just a cuckoo occupying the nest. You should both return to your rightful places. Otherwise, it’s so unfair, isn’t it?”

No parent dislikes their own child.

Gu Fei's words struck at Lin Qingyan's weak point.

Although what he said made sense, Lin Qingyan couldn't help but overthink. Due to his family background and upbringing, he was a person who lacked self-confidence.

Lin Qingyan was indeed scared and backed down, because An Nanyi, who had dominated his life for nineteen years, was the one who stayed in that house all those years and was loved and cared for by his parents and two older brothers.

So what is his suddenly appearing biological son? To the An family, he is nothing more than a stranger with blood ties. Can he compare to An Nanyi, who has lived with the An family day and night for nineteen years?

Lin Qingyan was unsure of what to do.

Even if the An family accepts him as their son, can they give up An Nanyi for him? If it weren't An Nanyi he was swapped with, Lin Qingyan would have had difficulty accepting anyone else, let alone An Nanyi.

He is not a saint, so he absolutely cannot accept sharing his relatives with An Nanyi, let alone calling them brothers and living under the same roof. As long as An Nanyi is in the An family, he will not go back.

The boy's eyes were dull and lifeless, and the scene of An Nanyi talking to her mother on the phone just now kept replaying in his mind. Her tone was so intimate, and they were chatting so happily.

And then there's An Jing. Isn't An Jing also very good to his younger brother An Nanyi? Lin Qingyan has seen it all.

They all really like Annan...

The car continued to move.

The panic in Lin Qingyan's heart spread faster and faster, until tears silently welled up in his eyes again. His hands trembled as he tugged at Gu Fei's sleeve, his voice trembling as he pleaded, "Brother Fei, let's go back? Please?"

"It's so sudden, sob..." He couldn't help but choke up, raising his hand to wipe away his tears, and said in a choked voice, "I'm not mentally prepared yet, please let me... let me think about it some more, okay?"

Gu Fei couldn't bear to refuse his request, nor did she want to see him break down again, as it could easily lead to an accident in the car. So she could only nod in agreement, "Okay, we won't go."

"Yan Yan, calm down."

"Hmm..." Lin Qingyan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It took him a while to calm himself down and his tears slowly stopped. He felt that he was being too dramatic and unreasonable. Gu Fei was clearly trying to help him.

He lowered his eyes meekly, his voice a little hoarse, with a soft nasal tone from just having cried, "Brother Fei, I'm sorry, I think I was too willful."

Gu Fei said, "Yan Yan is the most well-behaved child I've ever met."

Lin Qingyan: "I... am nineteen years old."

Gu Fei: "Hmm? So?"

Lin Qingyan said, "Brother Fei, I'm not a child anymore."

Gu Fei said, "I hope that Yan Yan can be a carefree child by my side."

The man's voice was deep and gentle, and Lin Qingyan felt a warm current spreading through his body, warming his limbs and bones, and gradually calming his restless heart.

No matter what, he still has Gu Fei.

This man always helps him when he encounters difficulties and setbacks, and stays by his side. Whether in the past life or this life, for Lin Qingyan, Gu Fei is the bond of his life, which he can never sever.

Lin Qingyan didn't actually want to go back. He couldn't calmly face An Nanyi yet. He was frowning slightly when Gu Fei said, "There's a hotel up ahead. If Qingyan doesn't want to go back, we can stay at the hotel for the night and go back tomorrow morning."

Gu Fei seemed to have mind-reading abilities, always able to guess what he was thinking. But Lin Qingyan couldn't be surprised at the moment. He hesitated for a moment and then nodded, saying okay.

Gu Fei drove to the hotel and booked a luxury suite.

The hotel was a five-star hotel, and the room was very nice, with a floor-to-ceiling window offering a view of the bustling city lights. Lin Qingyan glanced at it and then looked away; he had no time to pay attention to such things.

Gu Fei asked him, "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

Lin Qingyan shook her head and said she wasn't hungry.

Considering that the child had only eaten some cake and it certainly wouldn't be enough to fill his stomach, Gu Fei still called room service to have food delivered.

The staff quickly brought the food over. Gu Fei had ordered all of Lin Qingyan's favorite dishes. Lin Qingyan had no appetite, but in order not to worry Gu Fei, she obediently sat down at the table and started eating.

"Eat slowly." Gu Fei sat beside him, watching him with a hint of worry in his eyes. After a while, he stood up again, reached out and ruffled the boy's hair. "Brother Fei is going out for a bit, he'll be back soon."

The boy nodded, watched the man's figure disappear from sight, and then buried his head in his food. Only when he couldn't eat anymore did he put down his chopsticks.

About twenty minutes later, Gu Fei returned, carrying two bags. He had gone to the supermarket next to the hotel to buy some clean clothes and asked the hotel staff for an ice pack.

As he walked in, he saw Lin Qingyan standing by the French windows. The young man was thin and frail, looking particularly lonely. His delicate profile was soft and looked especially cold and desolate under the moonlight.

Lin Qingyan thought that he might never be able to let go of it.

The thought of An Nanyi usurping his rightful identity, his family, and living the life of a young master as a matter of course weighed heavily on his heart, making him extremely unhappy and suffocated.

Lin Qingyan was lost in his own world. Only when Gu Fei got closer did he hear footsteps and immediately come back to reality. He turned to look at Gu Fei, and before he could hide the sadness in his eyes, he smiled.

"Brother Fei, you're back."

Gu Fei saw everything but said nothing. He took Lin Qingyan's hand and walked towards the sofa. "Your eyes are a little swollen from crying. You need to put ice on them."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyan realized how embarrassing he had been. He must look terrible right now, and he would look even worse if he cried, but he just couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

He felt deeply saddened and wronged, and this feeling of injustice hadn't subsided yet. He was afraid he would burst into tears again at any moment. No... he felt his nose starting to sting again.

This time it wasn't because he felt wronged, but because Gu Fei had been too good to him.

"Yan Yan, lie down on my lap."

Lin Qingyan was a little embarrassed, but he still did as Gu Fei said and carefully rested his head on the man's lap. He opened his eyes, which were as red as a rabbit's, and looked at the man's face from this angle for the first time. He was so handsome. He was indeed beautiful from every angle.

Gu Fei suddenly lowered his head. "Close your eyes."

The person in front of him seemed frightened and immediately closed his eyes. Gu Fei's lips curled up slightly, and although his expression became serious, he gently touched the skin around the boy's eyes with an ice pack.

Lin Qingyan was stiff all over, her lips tightly pressed together, not daring to move even a finger. Only her thick, dark eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, as if she were being tortured.

Gu Fei smiled silently.

After the ice packs were finished, it was getting late. The two took showers one after the other and lay down on the bed feeling refreshed. Even though they were covered by the same blanket, it felt as if there was a magpie bridge separating them.

Lin Qingyan didn't have much experience sleeping in the same bed with Gu Fei, so she felt uneasy and slept close to the edge of the bed, keeping a good distance between them.

"Yan Yan, are you planning to sleep under the bed in the middle of the night?"

...

Before Lin Qingyan could speak, an arm came across his waist and pulled him closer until his back was against the man's chest. Even through the fabric, he could feel the warm breath.

Lin Qingyan froze, even holding her breath.

Gu Fei tightened his arms, locking the boy firmly in his embrace. His breath carried the boy's scent, mixed with the faint fragrance of shower gel.

He lowered his head and gently kissed the boy's fair and delicate nape, as if it were a rare treasure.

Goodnight, my love.