"I missed you, too."

He Jingyuan's voice unconsciously became softer and lighter: "You stuffed small yellow croaker into my suitcase? I saw it, it's all your cat hair and smells like you."

The warm sun smell that belongs only to kittens.

On the other side of the screen, Yunyun's face immediately turned stern: "You can only look at the little yellow croaker and think of me, but you can't hold the little yellow croaker while sleeping. You can only hold me while sleeping."

What a strong smell of vinegar.

He Jingyuan suppressed the laughter that threatened to overflow and promised seriously, "Okay, I won't miss you when I look at it. Just looking at you in the video will be enough."

His eyes fell on the puffed and overly pretty face of his boyfriend.

The assurance of this sentence is obviously very useful.

Yunyun hummed and mumbled a few times. Although he tried hard to appear tense, the joy in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows revealed that he was in a good mood at the moment.

"Don't worry." He Jingyuan's heart softened at the sight of him. "I'll definitely come back to spend the New Year with you."

He coaxed her gently for a long time.

Until the kitten in the video nodded its head little by little, its eyelids began to droop, its breathing gradually became long and even, and finally it could not resist the sleepiness and fell asleep.

The boy's face was peaceful as he slept, with a few strands of hair lying softly on his forehead.

He Jingyuan watched quietly for a moment, secretly took a screenshot, and then said "good night" to Yunyun on the screen.

The video was disconnected.

It was morning in New York at this time. He Jingyuan changed his clothes and slowly walked to the restaurant to eat.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows were tall buildings. The waiter spent ten minutes introducing the history of the plate to him in a rhythmic tone.

He Jingyuan listened politely, took a bite of the carefully cooked steak, and found it tasteless.

My mind was full of thoughts about the soy milk and fried dough sticks at the breakfast shop downstairs, and Yunyun, who was sitting next to me, eating with her head down and her cheeks bulging from eating.

He finished his meal slowly and glanced at the time.

Almost there.

So I took a taxi to find those three people.

As soon as the car stopped at the corner, an extremely strong and indescribable pungent smell entered my nose.

It was like a mixture of something rotten and sweet, stronger than the smell of mugwort, making one's stomach churn.

He Jingyuan took out his mask and put it on expressionlessly before walking towards the apartment building.

The most unbearable thing about the poor areas in the United States is the security environment. The closer to the apartment building, the stronger the smell.

The rough sound of banging on the door and the man's English curses came out very clearly.

He Jingyuan didn't stop and turned the corner, then he saw the scene he had been seeing for the past few days.

Several burly black men wearing thick gold necklaces were blocking the apartment door, and the leader was pounding on the door impatiently with his fists.

And his father, the once well-dressed man, was now kneeling on the floor at the door in a panic, begging something in fluent English.

He Jingyuan stood in the shadows a few steps away, watching coldly.

I don’t know what Mr. He said next, but the leading black man cursed softly, waved his hand, and left with his men.

When passing by He Jingyuan, several eyes lingered on his fine coat for a moment, with a hint of scrutiny.

He Jingyuan ignored them and passed them by.

Mr. He was trying to close the door in shock when a bony hand suddenly pressed against the door panel.

Seeing He Jingyuan outside the door, the fear on Mr. He's face was instantly replaced by embarrassment.

He forced a stiff smile and stepped aside: "Yuanyuan, you're here, come in quickly."

The apartment became even more cramped and chaotic.

When Mrs. He saw her eldest son, her eyes flickered and she immediately turned around and went into the bedroom.

Her deliberately lowered voice of comfort soon came from inside.

Only Mr. He remained awkwardly in the living room.

On the dining table, an opened bottle of cold milk and a box of unknown brand of cereal were placed alone.

A bowl nearby had fallen over, and sticky cereal had covered a small area of the floor.

He Jingyuan just stood in the open space at the entrance, his eyes sweeping over the mess.

"Have you eaten yet?" Mr. He picked up the only clean bowl on the table. "Would you like something to eat?"

He Jingyuan's voice was flat: "No, I've eaten outside."

Mr. He put down his bowl awkwardly: "What good food can there be in a hotel..."

He rubbed his hands, his eyes falling on the tight mask on He Jingyuan's face, "Why don't you take off the mask? In your own home..."

"It tastes strong." He Jingyuan interrupted him.

Mr. He was stunned for a moment, a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face. He hurried to the window and pushed the already closed window open again as if to check. "Yes, the neighbor next door has a bad habit. Every day at this time..."

The windows were closed, but the smell still stubbornly lingered in the air.

"Oh, no more."

He seemed eager to end the topic, forcing a hint of deliberate concern onto his face. "You can see how things are at home right now. We really don't have anywhere for you to stay, so we have no choice but to ask you to stay in a hotel. Listen to your parents. They will never harm you... Which hotel are you staying in? Do you want me to give you a ride?"

He Jingyuan raised his eyelids and gave the name of a hotel in Manhattan.

The muscles on Mr. He's face twitched visibly, and his smile became even stiffer. "Not bad...very good. It's time to have some fun and relax here."

The sourness in his tone was so intense.

At this moment, there was a crisp "clang" sound from the bedroom, like something glass falling to the ground.

Then came the sound of Mrs. He frantically cleaning up: "What are you doing again!"

He Jingyin's nervously excited voice penetrated the thin door panel and shouted in English: "I want to go skiing! I want to go now!"

"I'll take you there in a few days, be good..." Mrs. He's voice was full of tired coaxing.

"A few days? I can't wait!" He Jingyin's voice suddenly rose. "We have our own private ski resort! We don't want to squeeze in with those low-class people!"

He Jingyuan raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly.

Mr. He's face turned pale and blue as he explained awkwardly, "We used to have a ski resort at home with beautiful scenery. Jingyin liked the hustle and bustle and often held parties there."

His tone was full of aftertaste. "He has been popular since he was a child. Many beautiful girls have been around him. At that time, we old guys were standing in front of the French windows watching the younger generation play. When Jingyin came back, his body was covered with red lipstick marks. If there is a chance in the future, I will take you out to play and meet some friends."

"No need." He Jingyuan refused directly.

You can tell right away that this isn't some serious party.

The noise in the bedroom became louder and louder. Mrs. He's comforting voice gradually became tearful, and even mixed with the muffled sound of bodies colliding. It was obvious that He Jingyin was getting impatient.

Mr. He said "sorry" to He Jingyuan as if he had been pardoned, and immediately rushed into the bedroom.

The door wasn't closed tightly, and the sounds of quarreling, banging, and He Jingyin's hysterical yelling could be heard more clearly. Mr. He seemed to be trying to coax something in a humble manner.

He Jingyuan watched this absurd farce without stopping, turned around, opened the door and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind them, the suppressed quarrel inside suddenly burst out like a flood.

He Jingyin's sharp and piercing curses penetrated the door:

"Isn't he your own son?! Why don't you ask him for some money? Why does he get to live in the best hotel in Manhattan while I have to squeeze in this pigpen with you and wait to die?!"

"You're just biased! It's been like this since we were little! He's the only one you have eyes for! You don't care about my life or death at all!"

He Jingyuan paused at the stairs and left the building without looking back.

In the following days, He Jingyuan's appearances in the small apartment decreased visibly.

Boiling a frog in warm water.

He spent more time with the kitten on the other side of the ocean.

Video calls are more frequent and last longer. Even if we just turn on the video, do our own things, and listen to the subtle sounds from the other side, we are very happy.

Occasionally, when I went there again, as expected, I would run into the debt collectors again.

This time, the other party obviously lost patience.

The leading black man grabbed Mr. He by the collar and mercilessly smashed his face and stomach with his fists as big as casserole pots. Mr. He's painful wail echoed in the corridor.

Mrs. He cried and rushed forward to stop them, but was roughly pushed away and fell to the ground.

"Stop fighting! Please stop fighting! We will definitely pay you back! Once we get things done, we will pay you back right away!" Mrs. He burst into tears.

The black man waved his fist with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Really! This time it's real!"

Mr. He was beaten black and blue, curled up on the ground, and suddenly remembered something. He eagerly assured me, "I'm in China! I still have a lot of assets in China! My eldest son! He has a lot of money too! It's just... it takes time to transfer the money to the United States! Please give me a little more time!"

He seemed afraid the other party wouldn't believe him, and eagerly added details, "You've seen him several times! He wears designer clothes! As long as we take care of things in China, the money will be here soon! Right away!"

The black man kicked him hard again and delivered an ultimatum in English: "One month. If you don't pay, you're doomed."

After everyone left, Mrs. He quickly rolled over and crawled over to help her husband up. Looking at his horrible face, she cried even harder: "How could he be beaten like this... What on earth is He Jingyuan thinking? It's been so many days, and he watched us being forced to pay our debts, and he didn't even show any intention of helping..."

Mr. He gasped for breath, each breath causing severe pain in his chest and abdomen. He touched the wound at the corner of his mouth and grimaced in pain: "After all, he was raised by the old man. He is not close to us. I am afraid he still resents us in his heart."

Mrs. He's cries were choked in her throat.

He Jingyuan had stood at the corner of the stairs without him noticing, and was watching them quietly.

He was standing in a very awkward position, and the light was dim, so I couldn't see the expression on his face, let alone tell how much he heard or what he heard.

The two of them froze in place for a moment, their eyes filled with guilt.

He Jingyuan stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Mr. He's swollen, purple face. He was silent for a few seconds before asking calmly, "How did this happen?"

"Ah?" Mr. He was totally unprepared for this question and was unable to react for a moment.

He Jingyuan raised his finger and pointed at the most hideous wound on his face: "Here."

"Ah...ah!" He snapped back to his senses, his eyes dodging in panic. He subconsciously raised his hand to cover his mouth, but it hurt, and he gasped in pain. "No, it's okay! Dad just accidentally fell and bumped himself! Let's go inside first, let's talk inside first."

He was talking incoherently and just wanted to get He Jingyuan into the house quickly.

He Jingyuan didn't expose this clumsy lie, but just nodded: "Okay."

Mr. and Mrs. He let He Jingyuan into the house very cautiously.

He Jingyin seemed to be frightened by the violent scene just now. He curled up in the wheelchair with a panicked look in his eyes.

Mrs. He didn't care about anything else and rushed over to comfort her frightened little son.

Mr. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, as if he suddenly thought of something. He looked at He Jingyuan and said in a deliberately flattering tone, "Yuanyuan, aren't you studying clinical medicine? Dad's injury... can you take a look at it and give him some medicine?"

He Jingyuan didn't even raise his eyelids when he heard this: "No, I haven't graduated, I haven't done internship, I haven't received regular training, I don't have a license, and I don't understand the medical regulations in the United States. I'm not qualified to treat your wound."

Mr. He was choked by this rejection: "...Haha, that's quite elegant."

The house was empty, without even a decent medicine box, and all the money he had on him had been taken away long ago.

The father and son sat facing each other in silence. Mr. He could only endure the severe pain all over his body, with cold sweat soaking his back.

Mrs. He comforted He Jingyin, walked over and poured a glass of water for each of them, and then gave Mr. He a wink.

Mr. He picked up the glass of water and took a sip.

He awkwardly smoothed his hair, but couldn't help but look at his son in front of him again.

This child really looks like his grandfather, especially that scrutinizing look in his eyes, which makes him feel an indelible disgust and...fear.

He was the eldest son who grew up in Mr. He's almost doting care.

He wanted to study art and hated business, and the old man let him do what he wanted and never forced him.

It was not until the year He Jingyuan was born that he accidentally saw the old man's draft will, which had not yet been finalized.

The huge family business was left to his smart and capable younger brother who graduated from the management department of a prestigious university.

All that was left to him were a few houses, land, and a considerable amount of cash, which was ultimately incomparable to his core assets.

The huge sense of gap and humiliation instantly overwhelmed him.

As the eldest son, the inheritance of the family business should be his!

He couldn't bear the feeling of being abandoned by his father.

So he rebelled in the most violent way - abandoning the infant He Jingyuan and taking his wife on a long journey around the world, venting his dissatisfaction through squandering and escaping.

Four years later, after having enough fun and squandering their money, they returned to China.

At that time, his wife was pregnant again.

He thought that this time when he came back, the old man would soften his attitude for the sake of his soon-to-be-born grandson.

But he didn't expect that when he entered the old house with his pregnant wife, he was greeted by the old man's unprecedented anger.

"Yuanyuan can't even talk yet, and you're just so willful as to abandon him! This isn't your cat or dog! Even if it were, they shouldn't be treated so casually! And now you've had enough fun, and you suddenly come back and tell me you're pregnant again? What? When you get angry, are you going to abandon another one and run off to have fun?!"

The old man slammed his cane to the ground, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "Besides, were you seriously preparing for pregnancy?! The day before your wife found out she was pregnant, you were partying in a Munich nightclub! Drinking! Smoking! Even if it was for the good of the child, you should have done a thorough checkup to confirm whether you wanted to have the baby!"

At that time, Mr. He stiffened his neck and thought his father was unreasonable.

This is the fruit of his romantic love with his wife and the witness of their happiest times!

He tried to argue, and even wanted to pull little He Jingyuan to his side and let him choose between his father and grandfather.

But what does a four-year-old know?

Little He Jingyuan only felt that the excited man in front of him was ferocious and terrifying.

He was so scared that he burst into tears and hugged his grandfather's legs tightly, refusing to look at him again.

At that moment, Mr. He felt a surge of anger rising to his head. The huge embarrassment and humiliation made him completely vent his anger on this "untreatable" eldest son.

From that day on, the already thin fatherly love he had for He Jingyuan disappeared completely, leaving only indifference and an inexplicable resentment.

Mr. He took another big sip of water to suppress the emotions surging in his chest.

At the beginning, he was indeed a bit noble and was embarrassed to ask He Jingyuan for money directly.

But after asking for it so many times, I became numb to it and even took it for granted.

He is his father, and it is only natural for him to spend his son's money.

But... the older He Jingyuan gets, the deeper his thoughts become, and the harder it is to control him.

He cleared his throat and decided not to beat around the bush: "You are... a sophomore now?"

"Yeah." He Jingyuan responded.

"Don't study for the remaining few years." Mr. He suddenly said something shocking, with a sense of self-righteous magnanimity, "Just come to America. Dad has thought about it. All these years... I've let you down. Now I've come to terms with it. Being together as a family is more important than anything else. Let the past be the past."

He Jingyuan's gaze finally turned back to him and landed on his face: "Then will you pay for my tuition?"

"Of course!" Mr. He seemed to see hope and immediately patted his chest to guarantee, "Now that we're in America, Dad will sell everything he has to send you to the best school!"

As long as I get that money... He seemed to have seen a bright future, and his voice quickened. "When you return, complete the procedures for withdrawing from school. Get rid of all the properties in China, yours and mine, as soon as possible, and transfer the money to the United States..."

He Jingyuan just looked at him silently without saying anything.

Mr. He felt a little uneasy, so he quickly emphasized his tone, trying to impress him with family affection: "Jingyuan, I am your father. Mom and Dad will never harm you... Just believe me this time!"

He stared at He Jingyuan's face nervously, waiting for his reaction.

A long silence stretched out in the small living room.

He Jingyuan seemed to be thinking seriously, his brows slightly furrowed, with a hint of hesitation: "But, He Jingyin needs treatment now..."

He paused at just the right moment.

Mr. He seemed to have grasped a lifeline and immediately explained eagerly, "Don't worry! Dad will definitely not ask you for money this time! Sell the properties left by your grandfather and let me pay off the debt. The remaining money will be enough for us to make a comeback in the United States! It's just that I'm being watched too closely now, and I can't go back to China at all..."

"As for Jingyin..." His voice lowered, "I've also let it go. His illness... I'm afraid it can't be cured. From now on..."

Mr. He raised his eyes, his cloudy eyes showing a hint of desperation, "You are Dad's only son, and everything Dad has is yours!"

The words were spoken with sincerity and great temptation.

The expression on He Jingyuan's face seemed to have relaxed. He lowered his eyes and was silent for a few seconds before whispering in a struggling tone, "...Let me think about it again."

Mr. He breathed a long sigh of relief, his face filled with smiles. "Okay! Okay! It's my duty. Think about it carefully! Dad is waiting for your good news!"

Since you have a goal, you must take action.

He Jingyuan's relationship with this family seemed to suddenly heat up.

From that day on, Mrs. He went out to buy groceries for the first time and tried to cook Chinese food.

Although He Jingyin still couldn't help showing hostility and neurotic irritability every time he saw He Jingyuan, he was able to calm down a little under the strong suppression of his parents.

Mr. He, on the other hand, became the most attentive one, spending most of his time nagging He Jingyuan about the difficulties of the past and the hardships of the present. His core purpose was only one -

Urge He Jingyuan to immigrate to the United States with all his assets in the country.

He Jingyuan usually just listened quietly, occasionally saying "hmm" perfunctorily.

More often than not, he would slowly and methodically use chopsticks to stir the over-chopped and over-fried vegetables in the bowl, picking out the tiny chopped green onions bit by bit.

At the same time, his other hand was under the table, rapidly tapping on the phone screen.

[He Jingyuan]: Baby, what are you doing?

[He Jingyuan]: The Chinese food here is terrible.

[He Jingyuan]: Is there anything you want? I'll bring it back to you.

When the message was sent, it was already late at night on the other side of the ocean, but Yunyun's reply would always pop up at night.

Therefore, He Jingyuan spent almost all of the rest of her time asking people to look for the things her boyfriend wanted, then carefully packing them and sending them back to China.

This frequent behavior of checking the phone quickly caught He Jingyin's attention.

The pair of deep-set eyes stared at him intently, and suddenly asked in hoarse English: "Who are you talking to?"

Mr. He also put down his chopsticks, looked at the untouched food in his bowl, and said hesitantly: "Yuanyuan, are you... dating someone?"

He tried to sound like a concerned father, "We have to take care of domestic affairs."

He Jingyuan locked his phone, placed it on the table, and calmly admitted, "Yes, I have a partner."

The dinner table suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Mr. and Mrs. He's expressions became extremely complicated, and He Jingyin even snorted coldly with a sinister look in his eyes.

With ties to his home country, He Jingyuan might not be so obedient as to abandon everything and come to the United States.

Mr. He's attitude suddenly changed from "I won't force you" to fierce and persuasive persuasion.

Every time they meet, the topic eventually turns to "immigration", "selling assets", and "family reunion in the United States".

He Jingyuan also dragged on slowly. After watching them being beaten several times by the debt collectors, he said to the anxious Mr. He, "Let's have a good talk tomorrow."

After leaving the apartment building, He Jingyuan looked up at the New York sky, took out his mobile phone and looked at the calendar.

There is only one week left until the Lunar New Year.

That's enough.

He almost immediately took out his cell phone and booked the earliest flight back home.

The next day, Mrs. He prepared another large table of dishes.

Because He Jingyuan spent the whole morning picking chopped green onions last time, she deliberately didn't add any chopped green onions this time.

However, after He Jingyuan sat down, he glanced at the dishes and started picking peppers again.

The three of them watched him slowly and methodically remove the chili peppers from the dish bit by bit and pile them into the bone dish, while the food was hardly touched. The impatience and anxiety in their eyes almost overflowed.

During the meal, He Jingyin couldn't help but complain: "Chinese food is so bad."

Not long after the meal, Mrs. He pushed the gloomy-looking He Jingyin out to "bask in the sun."

Mr. He couldn't wait to take out a printed document from the bedroom and solemnly pushed it in front of He Jingyuan: "Yuanyuan, look, this is the detailed list of all the remaining properties of Dad in China. Dad is counting on you now! You must do it as soon as possible! Help me deal with it as soon as possible! Otherwise, the debt collectors will come again next month..."

He Jingyuan picked up the document and scanned it quickly.

The above content is almost the same as the information he had previously found through special channels.

He closed the document, looked at Mr. He, and pursed his lips hesitantly: "Ancestral home...are you really going to sell it? Grandpa worked hard for most of his life to buy it. It's his hard work."

Mr. He frowned immediately and waved his hand, "What's the point of hard work? Those who plant trees provide shade for future generations. It's only natural! I'm in trouble now, so this should be put to good use! Can hard work be eaten? Can it save lives?"

He Jingyuan looked at his expression and curled his lips: "Okay."

He said no more, took out a neatly bound document and pushed it in front of Mr. He.

Mr. He took it doubtfully, squinting his eyes as he read the title: "Property Share Transfer Agreement?"

He raised his head and looked at He Jingyuan in confusion. "Selling a house and transferring property, isn't it just a matter of signing a power of attorney and entrusting you to handle it for me? Why make it so complicated?"

He Jingyuan's expression was calm, and he had already prepared his words. He opened his mouth and said, "It was possible before."

"You are now the subject of enforcement. The domestic courts are watching closely, and debt collectors abroad are also eyeing you covetously. Any disturbance could be considered a malicious transfer of assets by the court, with serious consequences."

He paused. "Legal transfer of your share of property to me. On the one hand, this value can be used to offset the debt you owe me. The procedure will be clearer, and it will also make it easier to lift the court's blockade of your other assets. On the other hand, as the obligee, I will handle the subsequent asset transfer or liquidation procedures. This will be more convenient and less cumbersome in the United States."

He was clear and logical, and sounded like he had Mr. He's best interests at heart.

Mr. He held a pen and looked at the agreement, his face full of struggle.

After all, this was equivalent to handing over his last trump card and hope to the hands of this son whom he did not really trust.

But there is nothing we can do.

"It's okay. This matter does require careful consideration." He Jingyuan spoke sympathetically, as if to take back the agreement. "You can think it over carefully. But I have to remind you."

"School is about to start in a few days, and I have to go back home. The next time I can find time to come here, I'm afraid I'll have to wait until summer vacation."

summer vacation?

Mr. He's heart sank suddenly.

A month later, that group of vicious debt collectors will come to your door again!

Without money, next time it won’t be as simple as just a beating!

Fear instantly overwhelmed all doubts.

"Wait!" Mr. He hurriedly held down the agreement, with cold sweat oozing from his forehead.

He looked at He Jingyuan's calm face, and his mind suddenly flashed back to He Jingyuan's softened attitude during this period, as well as the words he had repeatedly used to impress his son -

Will your parents harm you?

He Jingyuan seemed to see through his thoughts and gently pressed his hand as he was about to sign.

This time, he didn't remain silent as usual. Instead, he spoke in a tone he had never spoken before: "Dad, when you kept asking me, 'Would Mom and Dad ever hurt you?' I actually obeyed you unconditionally, transferring money to you again and again. Because no matter what, you are indeed my parents."

"But now I also want to tell you something," he looked directly into Mr. He's eyes, "I've grown up. Please leave things to me. Could it be that—"

He paused slightly: "Will I harm you?"

Mr. He's heart skipped a beat.

He looked at He Jingyuan. In the dim light, his face was surprisingly similar to the stern old man He in his memory.

During this period, he put aside all his dignity and said so many nice things to his son like an old dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy.

The other person's attitude, as if everything was under control, was exactly the same as that of the old man back then.

A huge feeling of humiliation surged in his chest, but he suppressed it.

Right now, besides trusting He Jingyuan, does he have any other options? He can't return to his country at all. Only He Jingyuan can do this!

Besides, He Jingyuan has appeared in front of them frequently recently, just wanting some fatherly and motherly love.

As long as He Jingyuan comes to the United States... As long as he comes...

It’s only natural for me to punish my son!

"...Okay! Dad believes you! Dad will leave everything to you!" Mr. He picked up the pen, as if he was afraid of regretting it. He didn't even read the specific terms of the agreement carefully. He signed his name forcefully in several places where signatures were required, and the tip of the pen almost scratched the paper.

He Jingyuan took back the agreement, carefully read it page by page, and confirmed that the signature was correct.

Mr. He was just about to ask him about the specific schedule for returning to China and subsequent plans, but he saw He Jingyuan's eyes lingering on a certain place on the last page of the agreement.

"Actually," He Jingyuan suddenly spoke in a very soft voice, "I hate you guys quite a bit."

The fake smile on Mr. He's face froze instantly.

"When I was little, my grandparents were always busy and couldn't always take care of me." He Jingyuan raised his eyes from the agreement. "I saw my cousins living together in the old house, their parents picking them up after school every day, their schoolbags stuffed with snacks, and family trips together on weekends...but I had nothing."

Mr. He opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be blocked and no sound came out.

"Later, my grandparents passed away. I thought...finally someone would be able to take me away."

"What happened? My so-called father called me and told me I was sensible and grown up, that I still had money and that I shouldn't ask him for living expenses and tuition anymore."

Mr. He was speechless, his face drained of all color. It took him a long while to find his voice again, and he palely defended himself, "You...you have to understand me! Everyone is not who they appear to be! Your grandfather! He deliberately ruined me, and in the end, he didn't even leave the company to me! I'm the eldest brother! The eldest son! Do you know how humiliating this is to me?!"

He Jingyuan raised his eyebrows as if he had heard some ridiculous joke: "Is it the art that grandpa forced you to learn with a knife?"

“…” Mr. He choked.

"Did grandpa stop you from joining the company to learn management?"

“…” Mr. He’s face turned pale and he was unable to refute.

"The opportunity," He Jingyuan sneered, "was right in front of you. But it was you who always loved only yourself, only cared about your own happiness. You only saw what you had lost, never what you had, and certainly not the responsibilities and... people you so carelessly discarded."

"Fortunately," He Jingyuan's tone suddenly softened, "I got over it later. I met someone I really like. I can't live without him, and he can't live without me."

Mr. He anxiously tried to comfort him: "If you have the ability, you can bring him here! Then we'll move back to Manhattan! It's quiet over there, and it might be boring for you young people, but it's enough for our family to live a stable life! Try...try to have two children, and adopt one to your brother, so that he can have an heir..."

He Jingyuan leaned back slightly in his chair, his posture relaxed, and his gaze fell back on the agreement.

It was clearly written above - Property transferee: Yunjun.

"I can't have children." He said slowly.

Mr. He was immersed in his fantasy and didn't react for a moment: "Ah? How can I not have a baby? Technology is so advanced now, with in vitro fertilization and so on..."

"Because I like men."

"Male..." The expression on Mr. He's face froze instantly, and his eyes widened almost to the point of bursting.

"It doesn't matter if it's a boy...it doesn't matter if it's a boy!" He struggled in vain, speaking at an alarming speed. "After you come to America! You must find a woman! Find a woman to have children with! As long as you have a child, I don't care what happens to you in the future! At least...at least leave a descendant for your brother? Okay? Dad is begging you!"

Mr. He almost pounced on the table, staring at He Jingyuan with his bloodshot eyes.

He Jingyuan looked at his crazy appearance and asked: "Did I ever say that I want to immigrate to the United States?"

"You...what did you say?!" The blood color on Mr. He's face instantly faded away, and his raised finger trembled violently, pointing at He Jingyuan, as if he had seen a ghost.

"I never said I was going to immigrate to the United States. The only reason I came this time," he picked up the signed agreement on the table and shook it gently, causing the paper to rustle, "is for your money."

"you--!!!"

Mr. He's eyes were bloodshot, he jumped up from his chair, reached over the table and grabbed He Jingyuan's collar tightly.

"How dare you lie to me?! He Jingyuan! You beast! How dare you lie to me?! You think you can just get rid of me like that?! You're dreaming! I will always be your father! My blood flows through you! Even when I'm old and paralyzed, you'll still have to take care of my shit and piss!!"

This body, hollowed out by years of indulgence in alcohol and sex in the United States, is no match for He Jingyuan anymore.

He Jingyuan pushed him away casually.

Mr. He was thrown heavily to the ground, his back hitting the corner of the wall.

The scattered glass fragments on the ground instantly pierced the skin on his arms and back, and blood immediately soaked his thin clothes. He curled up on the ground, groaning in pain, and was unable to get up for a while.

"You want me to take care of you in your old age?" He chuckled. "Just survive until the debt collectors come knocking on your door next month."

"Don't worry, they won't really do anything to you if you don't pay back the money. You'll just have to suffer a little."

Signing this agreement meant that he completely lost all his financial resources.

He Jingyin's illness is a bottomless pit, and this couple is used to squandering money and would never go out to work...the only thing waiting for them is death.

However, these have nothing to do with He Jingyuan.

He didn't even glance at Mr. He, who was lying on the ground like a pile of mud. He picked up the crucial agreement, turned around, and walked towards the door without looking back.

When I walked downstairs, I happened to see Mrs. He pushing He Jingyin back.

When the two saw him, Mrs. He's expression of indifference had not yet changed to a disguised gentleness, while He Jingyin still had that sickly and pretentious arrogant expression.

He Jingyuan's gaze lingered on He Jingyin's arm for a moment.

It was covered with dense needle holes, which looked particularly hideous and glaring on the pale and loose skin.

"When did you get it?" He Jingyuan asked.

He Jingyin said in panic: "What did you say?!"

"When I first arrived in the United States, I was desperate to get into the so-called upper class, thinking that by hanging out with those people, I could solidify my status."

He Jingyuan glanced at Mrs. He's instantly pale face and said, "If a group wants to be inseparable, the most effective way is not to exchange interests, but to become 'accomplices'."

"You've probably been thinking about how to drag me into this as your 'accomplice' lately, right? Unfortunately, either you don't have the money, or..." He curled his lips, "you realized that I didn't fall into your trap at all."

"I don't know what you've been secretly instilling in He Jingyin, causing him to constantly send me photos showing off his extravagant lifestyle. Comparing? Proving that your son is better than his grandfather's?"

"Sometimes, I really think you two are made for each other. You always think only of yourselves. Everyone else is just a stepping stone for you to pave the way for your own comfortable life."

Finally, his gaze fixed on He Jingyin's face, which was twisted with anger and fear, and he spoke to Madam He: "After all, this is the child you raised with all your love. Although time is short, this life..."

He paused deliberately. "It's very valuable. If something 'accidentally' happened, would it be a loss for you now... or a huge gain?"

He Jingyin suddenly opened his eyes wide, finally understanding the terrible hint. His skinny fingers tightly grasped the armrest of the wheelchair, making a "creaking" sound, and his eyes were instantly filled with surprise and suspicion when he looked at his mother.

"He Jingyuan! What are you crazy about! What nonsense are you talking about!" Mrs. He completely collapsed, screamed hysterically, and pounced on He Jingyuan to tear him apart, trying to use madness to cover up her inner panic.

Just at this moment, the cell phone in her pocket vibrated wildly, and Mr. He's name flashed on the screen.

Mrs. He frantically took out her cell phone, and heard Mr. He's weak and frightened cry for help: "Hurry... Come back quickly... I'm bleeding... So much blood..."

Taking advantage of the moment when she was distracted and had no time to pay attention to him, He Jingyuan turned around without hesitation and strode away.

He returned to the hotel room, locked the door, then quickly walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and the water flowed down.

He Jingyuan leaned forward, his hands resting on the polished sink, looking at the tired yet remarkably calm face in the mirror. The next second, without hesitation, he extended two fingers deep into his throat, pressing hard against the base of his tongue.

A strong feeling of nausea surged up, and my stomach cramped violently.

I didn't eat anything at noon and all I vomited was acid water.

Even though he was extremely careful and didn't even drink a sip of water, he couldn't suppress the strong physical disgust when he thought of the disgusting needle holes on He Jingyin's arm.

He rinsed his mouth repeatedly until only the taste of water and a hint of bitterness remained in his mouth, then he stood up.

The person in the mirror had a pale face, but his eyes looked as if they had been washed with water, and were unusually relaxed.

It was as if the heavy shackles that had been carried for many years were lifted off.

it's all over.

He dried his face and walked out of the bathroom.

The room was unusually quiet.

At this time, it is late at night in China, and the kitten should be curled up in the quilt and sleeping soundly.

He Jingyuan picked up the phone on the bedside table and clicked on the pinned item.

My fingertips stayed on the input box for a long time, with thousands of words stuck in my chest.

[He Jingyuan]: Baby, I miss you so much.

…

When Yunyun woke up, it was already morning in China.

The winter sun shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin strip of light on the wooden floor.

He reached for his phone in a daze, and the light from the screen made him squint.

It’s news from He Jingyuan.

Just a short line of words.

After being apart for so long, every time He Jingyuan was in a bad mood or missed him particularly, he would send such sticky messages.

Yunyun rubbed her eyes and poked the screen a few times with her fingertips.

[Yunyun]: Got it!

After thinking about it, I sent another emoticon of a fat orange cat rolling around.

Then he threw his phone aside and went to wash up in his slippers.

The two of them have a time difference and their schedules are reversed, so there are very few opportunities for them to chat simultaneously.

At around ten o'clock in the morning, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Yunyun was a little surprised and ran to open the door.

Standing outside the door was Fang Die, holding a bulging cat bag in her arms, and Huahua's furry head was curiously poking out from the breathable mesh.

"Senior!" Fang Die smiled brightly. "Jingyuan asked me to bring Huahua over to play with you for a few days! He said he was worried you'd get bored at home alone."

Huahua is the "bully" among stray cats. Now that he has arrived in a new environment and was let out of the cat bag by Fang Die, he first crouched down and quickly patrolled the living room vigilantly.

Its nose twitched, and soon it confirmed that this was Yunyun's territory. It relaxed and meowed at Yunyun with full energy.

Yunyun squatted down and scratched Huahua's chin with her fingers.

The two cats live in rare harmony.

"Oh..." the boy responded slowly.

Fang Die didn't care and took off her shoes and came in as if she was familiar with the place.

Yunyun loves cleanliness, and even when He Jingyuan is not around, the house is kept spotless.

The two of them simply sat on the carpet in the living room.

Fang Die took out the cat toy she brought from her bag, and Huahua was immediately attracted by the shaking feathers. They watched together as the silly cat excitedly chased the cat toy around the living room.

"Hey, when do you think Jingyuan will be back?" Fang Die said, shaking the cat toy, "I miss Yunyun a little bit."

As soon as she finished speaking, Huahua suddenly stopped, turned her head, meowed in dissatisfaction, turned around and stretched out her claws, scratching the sleeve of her new sweater accurately.

"I don't want to think about it anymore, I don't want to think about it anymore!" Fang Die immediately raised her hands in surrender.

Yunyun's voice was soft: "He said he would be back before the New Year."

Fang Die paused playing with the cat and didn't dare to respond.

Today is the Little New Year in the south, tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and in six days it will be New Year's Eve.

She and Lin Qian had discussed this privately countless times, and He Jingyuan was most likely going to look for his unreliable parents this time.

And it's already the end of the year, and the senior is still here alone...

These two people are really a bunch of bitter melons.

She sighed inwardly, but didn't dare show it on her face.

Huahua was tired from playing and lay on the carpet panting.

Fang Die looked at the time and felt that it was not appropriate for a man and a woman to stay together for too long, so she stood up and said goodbye: "Huahua is tired from playing, I'll take it back to rest for a while. Senior, if you are bored, just send me a message and I will bring Huahua over for you to play with!"

Yunyun walked her to the door.

"By the way, Senior," Fang Die, holding the cat bag, suddenly turned around and winked at him playfully, "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! Maybe... Jing Yuan has prepared a surprise for you?"

After she finished speaking, she waved her hand and carried Huahua into the elevator.

Valentine's Day?

The door closed behind her, and Yunyun finally realized what was happening.

He immediately took out his cell phone and quickly searched "What do people usually do on Valentine's Day?"

The answers that popped up were varied.

Watching a movie, having a candlelight dinner, making cakes together, giving each other gifts... almost every activity requires two people to be together.

Yunyun wrinkled her nose.

It was freezing outside and he didn't want to go out at all.

For him, the best Valentine's Day is to stay at home with the sea crucian carp and take a nap while hugging the warm sea crucian carp.

But... the sea crucian carp is not at home.

Even though you're not here, you still have to prepare gifts!

The kitten made up his mind.

After flipping through the options on my phone, I finally settled on the one that seemed to have the highest chance of success: homemade chocolate.

I placed an order through the food delivery app, and soon a bag of chocolate bars and silicone molds of various cute shapes were delivered to my home.

Yunyun followed the tutorial on her phone and started to operate with great interest.

The process seems simple: melt the chocolate over water, pour it into the mold, and put it in the refrigerator to freeze and set.

But actually doing it is another matter entirely.

As the chocolate melted, steam and a rich, sweet aroma filled the kitchen.

Yunyun couldn't help but use the tip of the spoon to taste it.

Slightly bitter, with a mellow cocoa aroma.

Taste a little more... and a little more...

When he poured the melted chocolate into the mold, he realized that he had unknowingly eaten most of the large bag of chocolate bars he had bought.

Barely enough to fill a few small heart and cat paw molds.

The kitten licked the remaining chocolate stains at the corner of its mouth guiltily, and carefully put the molds into the freezer.

After doing all this, sleepiness came over me again.

He hugged the gray velvet blanket that He Jingyuan often covered himself with, curled up on the sofa in the living room, and his eyelids began to droop.

Wait until He Jingyuan calls me via video in the evening.

Although He Jingyuan can't eat chocolate, I can show him how it looks first, so that he can have a taste of it...

As a result, I slept extremely deeply.

When I opened my eyes again, the living room was dark, with only a faint light coming in from the street lamp outside the window.

Yunyun reached for her phone in a daze and took a look—

It's ten o'clock in the evening!

He sat up with a start, all sleepiness gone.

The screen is unlocked, and the chat box at the top of WeChat is quiet, with no new messages and no missed video requests.

The kitten tilted its head in confusion, its amber eyes filled with confusion.

Are you really busy? So busy that you don't even have time to send a message? You even forgot to make a video call?

He hesitated for a moment and took the initiative to make a video call.

No one answered the call until it automatically hung up.

The kitten sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding a blanket in his arms, staring blankly at the screen of his mobile phone.

When the screen went dark, he poked it with his finger to light it up.

The only sounds in the living room were the subtle hum of the refrigerator and his own shallow breathing, which made the room even more empty and quiet.

As I waited, sleepiness came over me again.

My eyelids became heavier and heavier, my head nodded, and finally, my body tilted, and I fell asleep on the sofa with my phone in my arms.

Maybe tomorrow morning, news about He Jingyuan will arrive...

I don’t know how long I slept, but a chill made Yunyun curl up unconsciously in her sleep and wrap the blanket tighter around her.

Just as his consciousness was becoming hazy, his ears moved slightly.

"bite--"

It was the crisp sound of the elevator arriving at the floor, which was particularly clear in the quiet of the night.

Then, there was the familiar sound of footsteps, approaching slowly from afar, and finally stopped at his door.

Yunyun suddenly opened her eyes, and the sleepiness disappeared in an instant.

Barefoot, he slid down from the sofa silently and approached the door silently.

From outside the door came the sound of a combination lock button being pressed, followed by the soft click of the lock cylinder turning. The door was slowly pushed open.

The light in the corridor outlined a tall and straight figure, who looked dusty and was carrying a large suitcase in his hands.

He Jingyuan stood at the door, feeling the cold air from outside. When he saw Yunyun, who was barefoot and looking up at him blankly, he was also stunned.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Not a dream!

In front of you is a live sea crucian carp!

Yunyun's eyes widened instantly, and all the confusion and sleepiness on her face disappeared, replaced by great joy.

"Why did you come back so suddenly? You scared me!" He threw himself into He Jingyuan's arms like a little cannonball, wrapped his arms tightly around his neck, stood on tiptoes, and gave him a loud kiss on the cheek. His voice was filled with uncontrollable joy, "I'm so happy! He Jingyuan! I'm so happy!"

He Jingyuan was knocked back half a step by him, and the suitcase in his hand fell to the ground in the entrance with a "clang".

His strong arms caught the kitten steadily, and he lowered his head to capture the two lips accurately.

The longing was like a flood that broke through the dam, drowning the two of them in an instant.

The kiss was urgent and deep, as if to fill all the blanks of the days and nights apart.

Until Yunyun was breathless and her cheeks flushed from the kiss, He Jingyuan reluctantly stepped back a little, his forehead resting against his, his nose rubbing against his, their hot breaths blending together.

"Well, I'm back."

He paused, looked at Yunyun's lips which were moist due to lack of oxygen, and leaned forward to peck her gently.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Yunyun."