Chapter 33

Sang Nian was driven back to his home by Wen Yan himself. Wen Yan had never been here before. He didn't ask Sang Nian anything, but instead drove smoothly into the underground parking garage without any problems.

After the car came to a complete stop in its designated parking space, Wen Yan opened the passenger door and carried Sang Nian out. Although Sang Nian said he could walk on his own, for some reason, Wen Yan was always worried about him, as if he were a fragile porcelain doll that might break at any moment.

Sang Nian liked this feeling of being cared for, which suddenly gave him the illusion that he was actually loved by Wen Yan. Even though a little voice inside him kept shouting that Wen Yan was just pitying him.

He didn't want to admit it, so he buried his face in Wen Yan's chest and inhaled Wen Yan's scent deeply.

While waiting for the elevator, Sang Nian asked Wen Yan, "Why is your license plate number written on that parking space?" This is an upscale residential area; unregistered license plates simply cannot enter. Yet Wen Yan's car not only entered but also had its own designated parking space.

Wen Yan didn't hide anything after hearing this, "Six months ago, I bought an apartment here, right downstairs from you."

Six months ago, it was when he was drawing design drafts for Ye Shu's flower shop. Sang Nian suddenly felt a pang of emotion. He gripped Wen Yan's sleeve tightly, opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time. Only after they entered the elevator did Sang Nian speak again: "I haven't met you."

What he really wanted to ask was why they bought this place. But given the current situation, both he and Wen Yan tacitly avoided mentioning Wen Yan's previous advice to stay away from him. If he were to bring it up rashly, it might disrupt the calm hidden beneath the surface of turbulent emotions.

He couldn't bear to part with it.

Wen Yan noticed the regret in his tone and explained, "I didn't intend to live here after I bought it. Later, I moved in, and then you moved out."

He moved in after Sang Nian's suicide. He didn't want to think about the specific reasons for moving in at the time, but now that he thinks about it, it seems he's always cared about Sang Nian, he just didn't want to admit it. As he spoke, he hugged Sang Nian tighter, his eyes fixed on the constantly changing numbers in the elevator, and said, "Your apartment hasn't been lived in for a long time, do you want to come to my place first?" Although he was asking for Sang Nian's opinion, even if Sang Nian disagreed, he would only take him back to his own place as a formality, and then take him downstairs.

He had already made up his mind at the hot spring resort that if he couldn't escape it, he could only face it, especially since he had a relationship with Sang Nian.

One can only truly appreciate the flavor of something after tasting its marrow.

Wen Yan never knew that she would become so engrossed in this matter.

Upon hearing Wen Yan's suggestion, Sang Nian nodded without hesitation. He had wanted to visit the apartment downstairs from Wen Yan ever since Wen Yan mentioned buying it. He smiled broadly in Wen Yan's arms, his eyes crinkling with laughter, clearly in a good mood. Wen Yan couldn't help but smile as well.

This apartment building has one unit per floor, ensuring a high degree of privacy. The entrance hall is right outside the elevator. After changing into her slippers, Wen Yan took out a pair of brand-new slippers from the shoe cabinet and helped Sang Nian put them on before leading him inside.

The room was brightly lit, and a delicious aroma wafted from outside. Wen Yan noticed Sang Nian's confusion and said, "I asked a cleaning lady to come and clean beforehand, and she also cooked a meal." He went into the kitchen and ladled out a bowl of soup that was simmering on the stove.

The warm white light shone on Wen Yan, making him look almost unreal. Sang Nian stood in the living room, watching him bustling around in the kitchen, a sudden surge of emotion welling up in her nose, and her eyes gradually moistened.

It had been a long time since anyone had treated him like this. After leaving Qiu Yang, he had long forgotten what home felt like. But today, in this place he was stepping into for the first time, a long-lost happiness suddenly welled up in his heart.

Sang Nian clutched her rapidly beating heart and walked step by step toward Wen Yan. When she reached him from behind, she stretched out her hands and hugged him tightly.

Wen Yan had always been a gentle person, and he had longed to be treated that way by him. But he knew that Wen Yan was acting this way out of necessity, because he had forced him to.

He is the one who wronged Wen Yan.

He didn't kill Sang Ning, but he was partly to blame. And he's keeping Wen Yan by his side now just to use him.

Although he genuinely liked Wen Yan.

"I'm sorry, Brother Wenyan," Sang Nian murmured to himself.

After dinner, Wen Yan received several phone calls, so he must have been very busy. Sang Nian didn't want to trouble him too much, so she said, "Brother Wen Yan, you go ahead and do your work. I can be by myself."

Wen Yan hung up the phone, rubbed her eyes, sighed, and said, "I have to take care of a few important things. You stay home and wait for me to come back. A housekeeper will come to cook dinner tonight. Is there anything you particularly want to eat?"

Sang Nian shook his head.

“Okay, you might not think of it right now because you’re full. If you remember later, you can call or text me.” He said, giving Sang Nian a deep look, silently adding in his mind: You’re too thin, it’s hard for him to hold you.

Sang Nian nodded and smiled at Wen Yan, saying "Okay." But although he was smiling, there was little emotion in his eyes, like a stagnant pool. He urged Wen Yan to get on with his work, but when it was time for him to leave, Sang Nian felt very sad.

Sometimes he felt like it was all a dream, because only in his dreams would Wen Yan be so gentle with him. He was afraid that once Wen Yan left, the dream would end.

Noticing Sang Nian's unusual behavior, Wen Yan suddenly hung up the phone, walked over to Sang Nian, and squatted down.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

As soon as he said that, Sang Nian suddenly choked up. He sniffed and wanted to shake his head and say that he was fine, but a sob escaped his lips.

He suddenly raised his hand and covered his mouth tightly.

Perhaps sensing Sang Nian's anxiety, Wen Yan reached out and hugged him, stroking his head and saying, "Don't worry, I'm just going to deal with the matter of Tao Youmin drugging me. Also, I said I would take responsibility for you."

When he brought it up last time, Sang Nian rejected him on the grounds of a "one-night stand." Although he was angry, he knew that this was not Sang Nian's true feeling.

Sang Nian wasn't as strong as he appeared; he had known this for a long time.

Hearing Wen Yan say he would take responsibility again, Sang Nian felt both happy and sad. He was speechless, as if Wen Yan had completely unlocked his tear ducts after that night.

Perhaps it was punishment for his past neglect of Sang Nian, which made him feel completely helpless in the face of Sang Nian now. Considering his past attitude, it was understandable that Sang Nian didn't believe him now.

Sang Nian needs time, and so does he.

There are some things he hasn't figured out yet. But he already knows the answer in his heart, and that won't change.

So he gently wiped away Sang Nian's tears and said, "Do you want to come to the company with me?"

Sang Nian's eyes widened instantly, her still tearful eyes glistening, making Wen Yan's heart itch with desire. He leaned in and gently kissed Sang Nian's eyes.

"Don't you want to?"

Sang Nian shook his head quickly, then said, "Wouldn't that bother you?" He wanted to go, but he was afraid of disturbing Wen Yan. After all, Wen Yan was dealing with some rather tricky matters, and he and Sang Ning were about to get engaged. People in Wen Yan's company should all know Sang Ning, and if he were suddenly brought to the company by Wen Yan...

Sang Nian glanced at Wen Yan, then hesitated, unsure how to begin.

Wen Yan is being exceptionally kind to him now, but it feels unreal. Sang Nian knows his attitude changed that night, but would someone like Wen Yan really take responsibility for a one-night stand?

He didn't think Wen Yan was an irresponsible person; he was just afraid that Wen Yan would act this way because he and Sang Ning were twins.

To outsiders, he and Sang Ning look almost exactly alike.

But if that's really the case, Wen Yan is using him as a substitute for Sang Ning... Thinking of this, Sang Nian's heart clenched, and he asked almost sadly, "Brother Wen Yan, do you think I look like Sang Ning?" He reached out and touched his face, his fingertips moving from his forehead to his eyes, then his nose, then his mouth, and finally his chin.

"My eyes, nose, mouth—which of these do I most resemble Sang Ning's?"

Sang Nian's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind. His voice trembled slightly as he asked the question with extreme caution.

Wen Yan suddenly couldn't speak. He stared blankly at Sang Nian, a man so thin that a gust of wind could blow him over—he was crying, his shoulders were trembling, but his eyes were fixed on him with unwavering determination, filled with sorrow.

Does he resemble Sang Ning?

It's very similar.

If someone else asked him, he would definitely nod without hesitation.

But now the person asking this question is Sang Nian, someone he has long wanted to avoid. Wen Yan knew the reason why Sang Nian suddenly asked this question, and couldn't help but feel sad.

Upon hearing Wen Yan's silence, Sang Nian suddenly smiled. He touched his face and said incredulously, "So it really is because of this face."

That's true, he's not some heartthrob who could make Wen Yan fall completely in love with him after sleeping with him twice. But why, even though Sang Nian already knew the answer, is she still heartbroken?

He laughed again, but the laugh was very ugly. A tear rolled down his cheek and slid down his thin, pointed chin.

Wen Yan reached out and wiped away the tear, then pulled Sang Nian into her arms before he could react, their heads touching, noses to noses.

He looked directly into Sang Nian's eyes, and then slowly, word by word, said, "You and Sang Ning look very alike."

Sang Nian clenched his hand that was placed to the side.

"But no matter when, I can recognize you at first glance."

By the lake in a private hospital, in a bustling corridor, on a snowy night with wind and snow, in a dimly lit and noisy bar... no matter when or where, he could recognize Sang Nian at first glance.

Moreover, he didn't want to admit that whenever Sang Nian and Sang Ning appeared together, his gaze would always follow Sang Nian.

At that time, he despised himself.

“Sang Nian, you are you, and Sang Ning is Sang Ning. I admit that I had many misunderstandings about you before, but you probably don’t know that from the day you appeared in my heart, you have a place in my heart.”

He had run away, hid, and resented, but now he no longer wanted to go against his conscience.

Wen Yan kissed Sang Nian's eyes again.

"You can trust me, Sang Nian, I will love you well from now on."

Her heart pounded harder and harder, and her blood boiled. Sang Nian burst into tears almost as soon as Wen Yan finished speaking the last word.

He looked at Wen Yan, and a long-lost smile finally appeared on his face, and his eyes became bright again.

He opened his mouth, mimicking Wen Yan's speaking pace, and slowly said, "I believe you."

He believed Wen Yan, for no reason other than he simply trusted him.