Chapter 131: Reunion
Following Zhou Qiyu's question, everyone realized that Lu Yan also came to the banquet today. However, it was heard that he recently opened a bar with Pan Yuan, and his business was going smoothly. His situation was much better than Lu Bing's.
Seeing the flames of war coming to him, Lu Yan simply walked over with his glass of wine. Unlike Lu Bing, he did not show his fatigue and suffering on his face. He was smiling, and his previously unstable temperament suddenly settled down during this period. Only his lazy tone remained the same as before: "Isn't this Mr. Zhou? We haven't seen each other for more than half a year."
Zhou Qiyu's eyes were filled with contempt: "Lu Yan, your brother came here to find his old lover to get back together, what are you doing here for? Aren't you also here to find Duan Jiyang?"
Lu Yan denied: "Of course not."
Zhou Qiyu thought he was just being stubborn and sneered, "Then why are you here? You're not here to eat cake, are you?"
Lu Yan said as a matter of course: "Of course it's to see you, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Qiyu was stunned: "See me? What do you want to see me for?"
Lu Yan took a sip of wine slowly, shook the glass and said, "I came all the way to attend the banquet just to meet you, Mr. Zhou. Didn't I meet you at the bar last year? I fell in love with you at first sight. I think about you day and night and can't eat."
“Wow——”
This sentence was like an explosion. Zhou Qiyu was stunned at first, then panicked and said angrily: "Lu Yan, what nonsense are you talking about?!"
"I'm not talking nonsense. How about it, Mr. Zhou, give me a chance?"
Lu Yan is shameless and tells all kinds of lies, but his face is charming and affectionate, and he seems quite credible when he speaks seriously. Now, people around them are looking at them with something strange in their eyes.
Zhou Qiyu took a step back subconsciously and stammered, "What...what opportunity?"
Lu Yan's smile deepened, and he said in a playful tone, "This is my chance to pursue you, Mr. Zhou. Even though my family is bankrupt, I can handle both housework and cooking. It's not impossible for me to become your son-in-law."
"You you you! You are a psychopath!"
Zhou Qi's tone was incoherent. Seeing Lu Yan's smiling peach blossom eyes staring at him, his face became hot with anger. He didn't even bother to find fault and turned away in panic.
The soft are afraid of the hard, the hard are afraid of the rough, the rough are afraid of the shameless, that's the truth.
Lu Yan angrily left Zhou Qiyu, raised his head and drank the liquid in the cup. Only then did he have time to check on Lu Bing's situation. He asked with interest, "Are you here to look for Duan Jiyang?"
Although Lu Yan always said that he wished the two of them would be locked up, but at this point today, he felt that Lu Bing might as well stay at home and recuperate. The other party was not as thick-skinned as himself, and could not bear being insulted by Zhou Qiyu. There would be more ridicule waiting for him in the future.
Lu Bing raised the corner of his mouth slightly, with a hint of sarcasm: "Why, only you can come to find him, but I can't?"
Lu Yan smiled and spread his hands: "Look for it if you want, it has nothing to do with me."
Anyway, it's his own business if he's embarrassed.
Lu Yan was about to go back to Pan Yuan when someone suddenly called him from behind: "Lu Yan!"
Duan Jiyang had not expected that Lu Yan would come to today's banquet. He suspected that he was seeing things. He walked forward quickly, looking a little doubtful: "Why are you here?"
Lu Yan hadn't seen Duan Ji Yang for a long time. When they met, he felt that he had lost a lot of weight. Duan Ji Yang used to be annoying but still had some spirited spirit. But now he seemed particularly introverted, even a little sad.
Lu Yan said a little slower, "Nothing much. Pan Yuan and I just came here to take a look around. I wish your dad a happy birthday."
Although they were clearly words of blessing, his tone was perfunctory and it sounded like he was cursing.
Duan Jiyang pulled the corners of his mouth and smiled a little stiffly: "I thought..."
Lu Yan subconsciously asked, "Why do you think so?"
Duan Jiyang saw that he looked ignorant and frowned slightly: "You really don't know?"
Lu Yan realized that these people around him always liked to keep him in suspense lately: "Know what?"
Duan Jiyang paused, not knowing whether he should tell Lu Yan the truth. A lot of things happened in the Duan family during this period, and the one who was most shocked was undoubtedly Duan Jiyang. He never thought that the poor student he once looked down upon would suddenly become his father's family, and he never thought that the other party would join the company and take away everything he had.
Duan Jiyang's fall from grace overnight had become a hot topic in the circle. He thought Lu Yan had also heard about it, but he didn't expect that the other party was not aware of it.
Duan Jiyang: "Haven't you heard that my father brought in an illegitimate child?"
Lu Yan had an inexplicable ominous premonition when he heard this, but his expression remained unchanged: "I heard about it."
Duan Jiyang looked mocking and dropped a bombshell: "Then do you know that the illegitimate child is Tang Rufeng?"
Lu Yan: “…”
Oh boy, he really doesn’t know.
Duan Jiyang saw that Lu Yan seemed to be stunned, and he felt better for some reason. "Lu Yan, what's the point of you being so nice to that poor student? He ran away from home without telling you, and he became very successful without telling you. Is this kind of person who despises poverty and loves wealth worthy of your love?"
Lu Yan raised his eyes when he heard this, and he noticed the loophole in Duan Jiyang's words: "How do you know he ran away from home?"
Only Pan Yuan knew that Tang Rufeng ran away from home. He was always tight-lipped and would never tell anyone about it. So how did Duan Jiyang know about it?
Duan Jiyang's eyes dodged, and he choked for a rare moment: "I have been paying attention to you, so I asked someone about it."
There was a continuous drizzle outside, and it seemed as if he had returned to that night. Lu Yan suddenly recalled a question Tang Rufeng had once asked him:
"Lu Yan, do I look a lot like your fiancé?"
Does it look like that?
Lu Yan always felt that this sentence was incoherent, because he had never thought of these two people. Tang Rufeng might not even have met Duan Jiyang. The clues that he had missed were recalled by him, and he had a vague answer in his heart.
Lu Yan's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes seemed a little cold: "Did you say anything to Tang Rufeng?"
Duan Jiyang's hands hanging by his side tightened unconsciously, and he calmly asked, "What can I say to him? If he really loves you, nothing I say will work. If he doesn't love you, he will leave even if I say nothing."
Lu Yan laughed, knowing full well that it was Duan Jiyang who was behind all this: "I heard that you have been dismissed by the board of directors?"
Duan Jiyang's expression froze slightly: "Yeah."
Lu Yan nodded and said in an ambiguous tone, "Very good."
It's all retribution.
He didn't want to stay any longer and went straight to find Pan Yuan, leaving Duan Ji Yang standing there with an ugly look on his face, not knowing that the scene when they just talked was seen by a figure on the second floor.
"Ji Yang!"
Lu Bing waited until Lu Yan left before he dared to go up and talk to Duan Ji Yang. His eyes were slightly red with guilt, self-blame, but more of aggrieved. After all, he had been lying in the hospital for so long, and Duan Ji Yang had never looked at him once.
Duan Jiyang saw Lu Bing's pale face and frowned: "Why are you here?"
He had just asked Lu Yan the same question, using exactly the same words, but conveying completely different emotions.
Lu Bing could hear the impatience in his words, so she held back her sobs and asked, "Ji Yang, after all this time you still won't forgive me?"
Duan Jiyang's eyes were cold: "I forgive you, so don't come to me again in the future, do you understand?"
The white moonlight that he once held in his heart and dared not tarnish, now became as full of holes as the surface of the moon after losing its halo and filter, making him feel unwilling to even take a second look at it.
Lu Bing didn't give up, she grabbed his hand almost pleadingly and said: "Ji Yang, my family is bankrupt now, my father can't take care of me at all, you are the only person I care about, can we reconcile? Lu Yan doesn't have you in his heart, he only has that poor student..."
Before he finished speaking, Duan Jiyang suddenly looked at him with a gloomy look: "Lu Bing, if you still want to save some face, just leave by yourself. Don't force me to embarrass you in public!"
Lu Bing clenched her fingers tightly, not knowing whether she was filled with hatred or anger. "Duan Jiyang, do you like Lu Yan so much that you'd go after him even if he licks your face?!"
"you!"
Duan Jiyang was furious when he heard this and was about to shake off Lu Bing's hand when suddenly there was a commotion in the crowd and shouts of surprise rang out all around:
"Yeah, Chairman Duan is here."
The protagonist of today's banquet was undoubtedly Duan Jianfeng, who was seen coming down from the second floor with the help of a cane. Although his temples were gray and his legs were inconvenient, everyone still smiled and congratulated him on his growing health. But the most eye-catching person was the young man next to him.
In the eyes of outsiders, Duan Jiyang was the legitimate "legitimate son", and the illegitimate child who was brought back from somewhere was not expected to be accepted by the upper class. However, when they saw him today, they were somewhat surprised.
Duan Jiyang could be described as a handsome man, but he was too arrogant and reckless, like a burning flame, hurting others and himself.
The man next to Chairman Duan has a face that is somewhat similar to Duan Jiyang, but his temperament is completely different. He exudes the calmness and composure of a superior. The crystal chandelier above his head is gorgeous and dazzling, making him look even more indifferent and arrogant, as if he was born to stand at a high place. Duan Jianfeng, who has been a leader in the business world for many years, also looks old and hunched in comparison.
There was a flash of surprise in everyone's eyes, and when they came to their senses, they came forward to congratulate him, thinking secretly in their hearts that it was really uncertain who would have the inheritance rights of the Duan family in the future.
The guests below were bustling about, but Tang Rufeng spotted Lu Yan standing in the distance at a glance. He vaguely remembered that he was like this in the past, always liking to go to lively places like bars, but once there he liked to stay alone in a corner, with a weird and unpredictable personality.
Tang Rufeng couldn't go forward because Duan Jianfeng was beside him. He didn't even have the courage to look Lu Yan in the eye. He could only raise his wine glass expressionlessly amidst the congratulations and praises, and drink it all in a numb state.
The moment the wine entered his throat, a strange thought suddenly popped up in Tang Rufeng's mind -
Has he changed beyond all recognition now?
Just as Lu Yan had predicted, Tang Rufeng had reached a very high position. He could wear expensive handmade suits to various occasions, and was driven in luxury cars. Every day when he woke up, he would find himself in his own 200-square-meter apartment in the city center, living a life of luxury and debauchery, with everything at his fingertips.
But he also lost something...
Others would only call him Duan Rufeng. The word "Tang" seemed to have been buried with the death of his mother, and only old friends would occasionally mention it.
Tang Rufeng and Lu Yan were only a few steps apart, but there seemed to be a barrier between them. He could only watch from afar as this man, with whom he had had countless entanglements, stood downstairs and chatted and laughed happily with Duan Jiyang.
The wine went down his throat, but what it brewed was hatred and corruption.
Tang Rufeng didn't know how long he stood next to Duan Jianfeng. Finally, he patted his shoulder and said, "You don't usually like to socialize. It would be a good opportunity to make a few more friends. Don't always stand next to me. Go and play with them."
Tang Rufeng moved when he heard this, lowered his eyes and said in a calm voice: "Thank you, Dad."
He could already calmly call an enemy "father", and there was even a slight smile on the corner of his mouth. To outsiders, it looked like a loving father and a filial son, but Duan Jiyang felt a chill down his spine and was indescribably creepy.
Lu Yan stood at a distance and watched quietly until Tang Rufeng left. He finally put down his glass and walked to the lawn outside. To the right of the artificial fountain was a dimly lit flowerbed. Although there was a pavilion to block the light, no guests would go there because it was raining.
He knew that Tang Rufeng would follow him, and in fact, he did follow him.
Lu Yan leaned against the wall. The sound of the rain could not cover up the dull sound of the man's leather shoes. When the figure appeared beside him, he didn't even look at it. He pulled the person over with his backhand and pushed him against the wall.
There were no superfluous words, nor was there a need for them. The two of them kissed each other almost fiercely, leaving only the most primitive impulse.
Tang Rufeng hated Lu Yan for hiding the truth from him, and Lu Yan hated Tang Rufeng for leaving without saying goodbye. At this moment, it just depends on who has a deeper hatred, and whoever wins will be the winner.
Lu Yan pressed Tang Rufeng against the wall. Without any foreplay, he roughly tore off her clothes in the dark. He bit Tang Rufeng's earlobe hard, his voice hoarse and low, with obvious anger: "Tell me, why did you suddenly leave without saying goodbye?!"
This is a very rare thing. You have to know that Lu Yan is a heartless person. He is smiling 99% of the time and only gets angry 1% of the time. It is rare.
Tang Rufeng frowned in pain, but did not answer. Instead, he hugged Lu Yan's neck tightly. He smiled and panted softly, with tears in the corners of his eyes, as if he was joking: "Lu Yan...you...you want to sleep with me?"
Their bodies fit so perfectly, and they gave each other their first time, a memory they would never forget.
Except for the two times when he was drunk, Lu Yan had always been gentle in bed, and had never been as rough as today. Tang Rufeng didn't wait for Lu Yan to answer, and gently bit his Adam's apple with his teeth. His eyelashes trembled, and something hot liquid fell into his collar. His throat was so hoarse that he couldn't speak for a while: "I miss you too..."
Lu Yan paused when he heard that, and the cool feeling on his collar finally calmed him down. He slowly lowered his head in the darkness, trying to see Tang Rufeng's expression, but there was only a blurry outline. He reached out and touched the other person's face, which was full of cold tears.
At that moment, Lu Yan's heart seemed to be stabbed by something, causing a wave of intense pain that could not be ignored. He asked in a low voice: "Can't I miss you too?"
He didn't look for Tang Rufeng for sex.
There are so many poor students in the world, and not all of them can be cared for by him, just like the stray cats and dogs on the street, only this one was picked up by him and brought home.
“…”
Tang Rufeng closed his eyes silently. His lower lip had been bitten until it bled. He did not dare to speak because his throat was so sour and bitter that it was difficult for him to breathe. In a trance, he heard Lu Yan whisper in his ear, "Why did you leave in the first place?"
Unlike the anger just now, his tone was exceptionally gentle, as if he was treated as something fragile.
Tang Rufeng paused, and uttered a hoarse word that was almost blown away by the wind: "I want to live a life of wealth, so I will return to my roots."
He could not recount all the sufferings he had endured during that time, because even recalling them had become a kind of torture. During his time at the Duan family, Tang Rufeng kept hypnotizing himself in this way.
Lu Yan stroked Tang Rufeng's cold face. His life of luxury actually made him look less frail than before, but he felt that Tang Rufeng must have had a very hard time in the Duan family. "Why didn't you tell me when your mother passed away?"
Lu Yan had thought countless times whether he would have noticed that something was wrong with Tang Rufeng if he had been more careful at the time. But it was that momentary negligence that led to today's situation.
Tang Rufeng just laughed and said in a nonchalant tone: "Yes, he passed away."
He said, "That's good. I don't have to suffer anymore."
The world is a place of sin. It doesn't matter if you die early. The only ones who suffer are the living.
Tang Rufeng still doesn't know whether Lu Yan really likes him or he just sympathizes with him. The words Duan Jiyang said at that time were like thorns that were deeply embedded in his heart. As the years passed, they festered and decayed, becoming an existence that cannot be mentioned.
Even Tang Rufeng himself would not mention or touch it.
Lu Yan kissed away the tears from Tang Rufeng's eyes. He just thought the man in front of him was too stupid. He hugged her waist tightly, his brows wrinkled uncontrollably, and his deep voice disappeared in their entangled lips and tongues: "Tang Rufeng, if you hadn't left, maybe we would have been married now."
This was Lu Yan's true feelings. Perhaps he had only contacted Tang Rufeng out of sympathy at first, but he didn't know since when, the other person's figure had quietly taken root in his heart, appearing repeatedly during the days when they were apart, reminding him again and again.
“Boom——!”
Suddenly, there was a muffled thunder in the sky, just like Tang Rufeng's fingertips suddenly tightened. He pinched Lu Yan's shoulders tightly, and his eyes turned red in an instant. At that moment, it seemed that an unknown pain swept through his whole body, and all he could feel was regret.
Unfortunately, they didn't give each other enough confidence at that time.
But Tang Rufeng felt that it was not too late. He could hold the same thing more tightly now than before. However, he refused to admit defeat and said in a hoarse voice: "I don't want to be supported by you for the rest of my life."
The wind and rain were blowing, and the grass and trees were rustling.
Lu Yan had to come in a hurry because of the time. He hugged the unsteady Tang Rufeng and helped him put his clothes in order. He said with a half-sincerity, "It's a pity that the Lu family is bankrupt now. I can't bring you back to support you. Otherwise, you won't be able to escape."
If he had some power in his hands, how could he have let Tang Rufeng disappear for so long.
Tang Rufeng lay on Lu Yan's shoulder with unsteady breathing, the redness at the corners of his eyes still lingering. His eyelashes trembled slightly when he heard the words, his eyes seemed a little dim in the dark night, and finally he hooked his fingertips around Lu Yan's belt and slowly tightened it:
"Then I'll support you, okay?"
The voice was hoarse, with undisguised possessiveness.
Tang Rufeng suddenly found that he really liked the word "keeping" because it meant unconditional possession and exclusive enjoyment, unconditional dependence and entanglement. It was a little more vulgar than "love" and more narrow-minded than "freedom", but it was very suitable for someone like him who was born in the mud.
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