Chapter 10
When Sang Ke came to call Sang Nian for dinner, Sang Nian was having a dream.
He dreamt that he was back in that dark, semi-basement room in Dingzhou, and Qiu Yang was sitting by his bedside, serving him a large pork knuckle. But he didn't smell the familiar Chinese medicine scent, so he asked, "Brother, are you feeling better? Why aren't you taking your Chinese medicine anymore?"
Qiu Yang simply put down his chopsticks and smiled at him. The smile grew wider and wider until it became distorted, and Qiu Yang's face gradually became blurred. Behind him, it seemed as if flames were flashing, and Sang Nian could faintly smell the burning.
He watched as Qiu Yang's face was about to disappear into the firelight, and he desperately reached out to grab Qiu Yang, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach Qiu Yang's hand.
Qiu Yang cried out to him in anguish, "Mo Mo, brother is burning up! Brother is about to be burned to death! Save brother!"
He was so frightened that he screamed "Brother!"
Sang Ke pushed open the door at that moment. She only heard Sang Nian let out a painful roar. The two words were too indistinct, and it took her a few minutes to realize what he was saying.
In his dream, he called out "brother".
That brother couldn't be Sang Ning; it could only be Qiu Yang, who had been living with him in Dingzhou. But Qiu Yang had died five years ago. She had become suspicious after Sang Nian returned in a frenzy, questioning Sang Yu about what she had done to Qiu Yang. She had also overheard Sang Yu asking Sang Jing, "Has Qiu Yang been dealt with properly?" At the time, she didn't think there was anything wrong with that question. Later, because Sang Nian had asked her to take care of Qiu Yang, Sang Ke sent someone to Dingzhou.
All they received was the news that Qiu Yang had died unexpectedly in a fire.
Although she didn't tell Sang Nian the news, it had been on the news in Dingzhou, and she wasn't sure if Sang Nian would see it while he was abroad.
But now it seems that Sang Nian knows. In an instant, an indescribable emotion welled up inside her, and her eyes instantly reddened.
She truly felt sorry for Sang Nian, but she couldn't take any of his burdens or help him.
The person on the bed stirred slightly. Sang Ke cleared her throat and whispered to him, "Sang Nian, get up and have dinner. Everyone is waiting for you." After saying that, she walked to the bedside and turned on the bedside lamp for Sang Nian.
The moment the light came on, Sang Ke saw two clearly visible tear tracks on his face.
The light stung Sang Nian's eyes, and he groggily opened them to see Sang Ke standing by his bedside. He immediately became alert, wiped his face, and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"
His tone was unpleasant, but Sang Ke didn't say anything. Instead, she bent down, reached out and patted his head, smiling as she said, "Dinner's ready. Everyone's waiting for you."
After Sang Nian finished getting ready and went downstairs, he saw the people in the restaurant and realized that the "everyone" that Sang Ke mentioned did not only refer to the Sang family, but also to someone else he did not expect to see.
Five years ago, he had only met Wen Yan twice, and both times he was in a very bad state. The specific details were already blurry, but he still remembered the pleasant citrus scent on Wen Yan and the rich milky and sweet taste of a White Rabbit candy melting in his mouth.
Wen Yan sat next to Sang Ning, and the two chatted as if no one else was around, their eyes only on each other. Sang Nian watched all this indifferently, and then Sang Wenhua pulled him to sit down next to her.
Sang Wenhua pointed at Wen Yan and said, "Niannian, this is Wen Yan, your brother's boyfriend. He is three years older than you. You can call him Brother Wen Yan." Then she said to Wen Yan, "This is Sang Nian, Ningning's twin brother."
Wen Yan stood up and greeted Sang Nian with a smile.
Hello, Sang Nian.
Sang Nian nodded and smiled, a bright smile, and said, "Brother Wen Yan, we've met before."
Wen Yan was taken aback, then glanced at him again, still smiling, "Yes, we've met before, you remember."
Sang Ning frowned as he watched the interaction between the two. He tugged at Wen Yan's hand and asked in a low voice after Wen Yan sat down, "Brother Wen Yan, when did you two meet?"
Wen Yan: "About five years ago, I ran into you at the hospital." Twice, strangely enough, Wen Yan remembered both encounters vividly. He could still picture Sang Nian's desperate expression with his eyes closed. He didn't know what had happened, only that it was a family matter for the Sang family, and it was inappropriate for an outsider like him to interfere.
Later, he learned that Sang Nian had gone abroad to study. He gradually forgot about this little episode, but unexpectedly, when he saw Sang Nian again five years later, he almost immediately remembered the scene from that day.
Sang Ning, unsuspecting, picked up a piece of short rib for Wen Yan after Sang Wenhua started eating. "Brother Wen Yan, this is your favorite black pepper short rib. Aunt Zhang knows you like it, so she made it especially for you."
Wen Yan smiled and said thank you.
Sang Ning was a little unhappy. He said, "Brother Wen Yan, we don't need to be so polite between us." He and Wen Yan were getting engaged after the New Year, and they would be family afterward. Family doesn't need to be so polite.
Thinking of all this, Sang Ning lowered her head and smiled, a hint of shyness appearing on her fair face.
When Sang Nian saw this, his eyes flickered, a mocking smile appeared on his lips, and he pushed aside every single seafood that Sang Wenhua had put in his bowl, only eating the dishes he had picked himself.
After resting at home for a whole week, Sang Nian was finally summoned to Sang Wenhua's study one afternoon. The study was on the first floor and had a large floor-to-ceiling window. Outside the window were green bamboos, whose leaves were still lush and green even though it was winter.
Warm sunlight streamed through the glass windows, giving the study a touch of warmth.
Sang Wenhua sat on the sofa in front of the French windows, brewing tea. Hearing Sang Nian push the door open and come in, he didn't turn around but told him to sit down next to him.
Sang Nian sat down as instructed.
Sang Wenhua was quite old, and his only pleasure was drinking tea. He brewed two bowls of tea and handed one of them to Sang Nian.
Sang Nian took it, tilted his head back, and drank it down.
"How about it?"
"bitter."
Sang Wenhua took a sip and asked, "And now?"
Sang Nian savored it carefully, and suddenly a sweet taste lingered on his tongue. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Sweet."
Hearing his words, Sang Wenhua finally smiled and nodded. "That's right, bitterness comes before sweetness. This applies to the way of tea, and it also applies to life." As he spoke, he added another bowl for Sang Nian.
Sang Nian held the teacup, his brows furrowed slightly. He knew Sang Wenhua's words had a hidden meaning, but he didn't know exactly what Sang Wenhua was reminding him of.
Does he mean that his previous hard times are over and that he will live a sweet life from now on?
That seems to be the case.
But Sang Nian dared not believe it easily. He did not believe that Sang Wenhua would suddenly be so kind. An elder who could condone his son and daughter-in-law doing such a thing to their own son would not easily change, even if he was old.
He didn't drink the second bowl of tea, but instead placed the teacup on the table and looked at Sang Wenhua.
"What does Grandpa want to say?"
Sang Wenhua glanced at him and asked unhurriedly, "Did you study architecture abroad?"
Sang Nian was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
"Not bad, you've inherited your mother's artistic talent. Grandpa wasn't kidding when he said he'd give you a house. Since you're studying design, you can decorate it to your liking."
As he spoke, he took out a file bag from a low cabinet next to him. When Sang Nian opened it, he found that it was a property certificate with his name on it.
"Grandpa is getting old and can't take care of your parents for much longer, but Grandpa can guarantee that you will never be hurt again. What happened five years ago was because Grandpa didn't think things through and made you sad."
Sang Nian suddenly gripped the file folder tightly. Everything he had experienced five years ago was described by Sang Wenhua as nothing more than two light words.
sad?
Sang Wenhua's words are so high-sounding and dignified.
“You will always be a member of the Sang family, and you should be the same as Ningning.”
Sang Nian opened his mouth, but found that his dry, hoarse throat couldn't utter a sound. So he grabbed his teacup and took a big gulp before finally speaking: "What do you want me to do?"
Sang Wenhua paused in his tea-pouring, but only for a moment. The next second, he resumed his normal posture and looked at Sang Nian with appreciation: "You are a promising young man. Since you have brought it up, Grandpa will not keep you in suspense any longer."
“You know, your uncle and Ningning both like men, so Grandpa can’t count on them. Therefore, Grandpa can only rely on you to carry on the Sang family line.”
Sang Nian was so angry he laughed. He never expected that Sang Wenhua had gone through all this trouble just for this.
"Grandpa, how do you want me to carry on the family line? By having someone else have a child or by having one myself? Have you forgotten that I'm a monster who's neither male nor female?"
He smiled and said it calmly.
Sang Wenhua's face suddenly darkened, and he immediately said in a deep voice, "Sang Nian! Watch your words." After saying that, he seemed to realize that his tone was too harsh, so he lowered his voice and said, "I asked your aunt, and she said that your male organ is developed almost like a normal person's, and you can get married and have children."
"Heh." Sang Nian had no idea what this shameless old man was thinking, actually wanting him to get married and have children? Was he drunk from drinking tea? But he certainly wouldn't let him have his way, so he casually said, "Grandpa, I forgot to tell you, I also like men." After saying that, he gave Sang Wenhua a provocative look.
Sang Wenhua didn't react for a moment, only picking up the teapot to pour tea. It wasn't until the tea overflowed that he regained his senses. He asked Sang Nian incredulously, "You like men too?"
“Yes, I like men.” After saying that, he changed his posture, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and continued, “Uncle, my brother and I both like men. I’ve heard abroad that sexual orientation can be hereditary. So, Grandpa, do you also like men?” He didn’t give Sang Wenhua any time to react before standing up and turning to leave.
“I don’t need your house, and I don’t like living in the Sang family’s house, so I’m moving out starting today. Oh, right, I’m an adult now, so you can’t just send me abroad like you did five years ago. Besides, I’m all alone and have no one to hold me back, so you can’t threaten me anymore.”
After finishing speaking, Sang Nian pushed open the door and left, leaving Sang Wenhua standing there in a daze. As Sang Nian went upstairs, he heard the sound of a teacup breaking coming from Sang Wenhua's study. He raised the corners of his mouth and smiled happily.
After that day, he moved out of the Sang family home. Without telling anyone, he rented a place on his own and went to work at an architectural design firm he had interviewed online from abroad the next day.
The interview results were only announced two days ago. He initially thought he hadn't passed, but unexpectedly, he did. Since he had just angered Sang Wenhua, there was no need to pretend any longer.
Although he left the Sang family, he was determined to take back everything the Sang family owed him and everything he was entitled to.
Getting a job at an architectural design firm is the first step.
Because Wen Yan is the owner of this architectural design firm.
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