The "Secret" Hidden in the Years (Final Chapter)

On the first rest day after coming out, Jiang Lin didn't say much. He just took the gifts and went back to Gu's house with Gu Yansheng.

After dinner, Gu Yansheng was sent to the kitchen by his mother to help cut fruit. Only Jiang Lin and Gu's parents were left in the living room, and the atmosphere was a little heavy for a while.

Jiang Lin stood up and walked in front of Gu's father and mother. Without any extra greetings, he bowed deeply first.

"Uncle, aunt," he raised his head, his eyes frank, with a hint of barely perceptible guilt, "I'm sorry, I know that the path Yansheng and I have chosen may not be what you originally expected, and it may have caused you to worry."

He paused, took out a few documents from the file bag he carried with him, and gently placed them on the coffee table. It was not a show-off, but a solemn explanation.

"This is my proof of assets. It also includes some investments and real estate. It's not a lot, but it's enough to ensure that Yansheng can focus on his research without having to worry about making a living."

His tone was calm and pragmatic, as if he were outlining a surgical plan. "I know these words may sound cheesy, but I want you to know that I am capable of and will definitely provide him with a stable and worry-free living environment."

He put away the documents and looked towards the kitchen, where he could hear Gu Yansheng and Zhou Yuan chatting and laughing. His eyes softened unconsciously and his tone became more firm.

"As for Yansheng's health and his rainy-weather hypersensitivity syndrome, I understand it better than anyone. From the age of seven until now, for over twenty years, taking care of him and staying with him when he's unwell has long become my instinct, ingrained in my bones."

He looked at Gu's parents, his eyes full of undeniable seriousness. "Please rest assured, as long as I'm here, I won't let him suffer alone. I will use all my time and energy to take good care of him, just like I have for the past twenty years, only better."

He did not make any flowery vows or empty promises. He simply laid out everything he had in front of the two elders - his responsibilities, abilities, and the "instinct" he had developed over the past twenty years.

Mother Gu looked at him, her eyes slightly red. She reached out and gently patted Jiang Lin's arm, her voice choked with sobs, "Silly child... Auntie has never worried about this. I'll leave you to Yansheng... No, I'll leave Yansheng to you. Auntie is 100% assured."

Father Gu had been silent the whole time, but at this moment he sighed heavily. There was helplessness in that sigh, but more of a sense of relief and entrustment.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and finally spoke in a low voice, "...From now on, this is still your home. Come back often."

At this moment, Jiang Lin's heart finally settled down. He knew that he had obtained the most precious and solid support for this relationship.

This formal recognition from their elders was like the last piece of a puzzle, placing their relationship firmly under the sun.

After returning to their shared residence, Jiang Lincai told Gu Yansheng about another decision. He took out a letter of intent to purchase a villa at "Yunjian Villa", which is famous for its natural hot springs.

"I've researched the private hot springs at Yunjian Villa, and they're natural sulfur springs. The water is good for your skin and circulatory system." Jiang Lin's tone was calm, as if he were discussing a perfectly ordinary treatment plan. "Let's move there. If you feel unwell on rainy days, you can always soak in them to relieve the symptoms."

Gu Yansheng looked at the letter of intent and his eyes felt slightly hot. It turned out that this house was bought for him. Jiang Lin had planned their future a long time ago.

This person always planned his future in the most practical way, incorporating his care into every detail of their lives. He nodded heavily without hesitation, "Okay."

After deciding to move, they began the tedious process of packing. On a sunny weekend afternoon, the two were packing Gu Yansheng's belongings at his house.

At the bottom of a storage box, Jiang Lin accidentally found an old iron box with a simple combination lock. He was moved and tried to enter Gu Yansheng's birthday - "Click", and the lock opened.

Inside were some yellowed photos, a few dull glass marbles, and at the very bottom, lay a notebook with childish stars and moons drawn on the cover.

Jiang Lin opened it with a hint of nostalgic curiosity. On the yellowed pages were the crooked handwriting of Gu Yansheng when he was a child.

[On Wednesday, Qing, the brother who saved me had many scratches on the back of his hand, as if he had been cut by a knife. It looked so painful.]

[I heard the nurse and my mother whisper that this brother has a lot of dark clouds in his heart, doesn't like to talk, and is likely to hurt himself... He might become a high-risk person for suicide in the future...]

But my brother saved me, so why is he so overshadowed? Mom said he's at high risk for suicide, and he might go to heaven one day...

[I've decided. I want to be Brother Jiang Lin's best friend! I want to always follow him and hold his hand, so that he won't be alone... Will he be able to stay with me forever?]

[Today, I held his hand, and he didn't push me away! That's great! Brother Jiang Lin, be happy every day!]

[My ninth birthday wish is still that Jiang Lin can always be with me and be happy every day...]

[My eleventh birthday wish is still for Jiang Lin to be happy every day... I keep making this wish, it should come true. Jiang Lin can't go to heaven before me...]

Page after page.

Those childish yet extremely clear words were like a key that was overdue for more than 20 years. With a "click", they suddenly solved the mystery that had remained unsolved in the depths of Jiang Lin's memory for many years - why this young master, who was doted on by the whole family, was so surprisingly enthusiastic about him, a "gloomy" and "withdrawn" child.

Why, no matter how indifferent he was to her, those little hands would always stubbornly reach out to her? Why was Gu Yansheng so persistent in pulling him into his own world, taking him to every family activity and feeling every bit of excitement...

He always thought that he was strong enough to protect this sensitive and fragile boy who depended on him.

Until this moment, the truth came like an avalanche.

As early as when he was eight years old, he was tortured by his domestic violence father and was so desperate that he wanted to commit suicide by jumping into the river. At this time, he heard crying sounds from the abandoned factory. The kidnapped young master was actually an "angel" sent by God to save him.

She had just escaped from the nightmare of kidnapping, but with a heart as pure and transparent as crystal, she keenly perceived his self-destructive tendencies and boundless loneliness hidden under his indifferent appearance.

Then, this little sun, with all the enthusiasm of his entire childhood, youth and even now, unswervingly, clumsily but firmly carried out the great plan of "saving brother Jiang Lin".

He did not passively accept the warm moonlight, but was the only sun that came to rescue him from the cold abyss.

The immense shock and overwhelming grief instantly overwhelmed Jiang Lin. He gripped the light notebook, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

He lowered his head, tears streaming down his face without warning, scalding onto the yellowed paper, leaving a small, wet mark. It wasn't sadness, but a numbing pain in the heart, struck by a profound truth and deep love.

After Gu Yansheng finished packing up the things in another room and walked in, he saw Jiang Lin looking at the old diary with tears streaming down his face and his shoulders shaking.

He was stunned at first, then immediately understood. His heart instantly softened, and he walked over and gently hugged from behind this seemingly indestructible, socially isolated Mr. Zhuma, who was now as fragile as a lost child.

"Did you see...everything?" he asked softly, his voice gentle and knowing.

Jiang Lin couldn't utter a word, his throat seemed to be blocked by something. He just turned around suddenly, and used all his strength to hold Gu Yansheng tightly in his arms, tightening his arms again and again, as if to confirm that this love and redemption that had spanned more than 20 years and had been integrated into his bones and blood was real.

Gu Yansheng felt his violent trembling and the hot tears soaking the clothes on his shoulders. He hugged him back and patted his back gently, just like Jiang Lin comforted him when he was a child.

"I've told you all the secrets..." Gu Yansheng's voice was filled with laughter, but his eyes were red. "Jiang Lin, are you feeling happy now? You won't suddenly go to heaven early one day, will you?"

Jiang Lin buried his face deeply in his neck and nodded. All his calmness and composure collapsed at this moment. He finally understood that all the warmth he had and all the ties he had to the world came from the person behind him who seemed to need his protection. In that summer more than 20 years ago, the person generously gave him the whole bright world in the bravest way that he had never noticed.

It turns out that love is an unspoken two-way journey between them that lasted for half a lifetime. He heals his body and he saves his soul.

Jiang Lin finally understood what Gu Yansheng said in the hotel that day that he couldn't understand.

[Luckily, I was able to hold your hand when I was so young.]