DASFAM_106

Compared to the Shang family, whose name resounded throughout the capital social circles, the Zhang family was far more low-key, yet the family's foundations could be considered solid and steady—

The older generation of the Zhang family had already made their fortune through commerce back in the Republican era. When war broke out later, the Zhang family put their wealth into relief efforts, and instead earned themselves a fine reputation.

Later on, as the nation needed to develop, quite a few members of the Zhang family went into classified research and development in fields such as aerospace and armaments.

"I heard that Old Master Zhang is a direct line descendant of the main branch. His elder brother and sister-in-law, as well as his younger sister, are all research professors, but he himself remained devoted to commerce, so the three siblings split off from each other when they were young."

Relying on the connections and standing the Zhang family had accumulated over the years, Old Master Zhang's road in business had gone rather smoothly, and by the time his eldest son Zhang Du took over, the company had been expanded to an even larger scale.

Shang Yanxiao drove the car into a lakeside villa complex with excellent privacy, "Besides Changxu and Changning, the two of them also have an elder brother."

Bai Xu watched the scenery retreating outside the window, and replied offhandedly, "I know, Zhang Changfeng, eight years older than Changning? Already married by the time he graduated from university, and even has a daughter?"

Shang Yanxiao answered truthfully, "Mm, she was only born last year. I heard her nickname is Niannian."

Bai Xu murmured, "Niannian?"

Shang Yanxiao gave a simple explanation, "The Zhang family has many males, and the whole family had been longing for a little girl."

Bai Xu understood, "Yearning that never ceases will surely find its echo, is that what it means?"

"Mm."

Shang Yanxiao gestured toward the large white three-and-a-half-storey villa not far off, "That building is the one."

Bai Xu watched the house drawing closer and closer, a ripple of nervousness stirring in his heart, "Yanxiao, is it not quite right for us to show up like this empty-handed?"

After all, he'd never had this kind of experience of visiting someone's home before, his mind had gone completely blank, and he'd only thought of it as they were nearly there.

Shang Yanxiao replied, "Grandmother and Little Aunt prepared things for you long ago, and loaded them into the trunk first thing in the morning."

Bai Xu was touched, "Mm?"

"I think, the fact that you're willing to come tonight is already the best gift for the Zhang family."

Shang Yanxiao gave his lover's hand a gentle squeeze, reassuring him, "You, just keep a calm heart about it, there's plenty of time ahead."

Bai Xu was never short on this sort of etiquette and grace, and the Zhang family was even less short on visiting gifts, so long as they could become family again, was there any fear there wouldn't be other opportunities in the future?

Bai Xu let out a sigh, "True enough."

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the Zhang family villa, and the next second, the white picket gate on the outside swung open.

Zhang Du and Shen Mian came out supporting the Old Madam Zhang, and in the eyes of the old woman and the couple alike was an intensely fervent anticipation.

Zhang Changfeng and his wife stood to the right of the gate, with a bright-eyed little girl cradled in his arms, blinking her large eyes as she stared at this unfamiliar vehicle.

Beyond them, Zhang Changning, whom Bai Xu hadn't seen in quite a long while, had also come out to greet them.

"……"

Neither Bai Xu nor Shang Yanxiao inside the car had anticipated such a reception. The nervousness Bai Xu had just managed to press down came surging back, and he instinctively turned his head to look at his lover.

Shang Yanxiao met his gaze, and unexpectedly let out a sigh, "This is something else, I somehow also have an inexplicable sense of awkwardness, like I'm meeting the parents."

Bai Xu was made to laugh by this remark, "Let's get out of the car. We've already come all this way, it's not like we can run now, can we?"

The two of them got out of the car, one on each side.

Shang Yanxiao quickly came around to Bai Xu's side, and took the initiative to greet each member of the Zhang family one by one.

Old Madam Zhang seemed very emotional, her eyes glistening with tears as they remained fixed on Bai Xu without looking away, "Good, good child, let, let grandmother take a good look at you."

As she said this, she carefully took hold of Bai Xu's wrist.

Faced with the old woman's concern, Bai Xu neither shied away nor stepped back, and greeted her, "Hello, Grandmother, I'm Bai Xu."

The Zhang couple felt Bai Xu's friendly demeanor, and the tension in their hearts eased slightly.

Zhang Changfeng and Shang Yanxiao had known each other since childhood, and the two exchanged a courteous nod.

"Dad, Mom, Grandmother, why don't we go inside first? We can sit down and chat at leisure."

Zhang Changning, standing to the side, quietly picked up the thread, "That's right, there's a bit of a wind picking up in the evening, let's not let grandmother and Niannian get cold."

"Changfeng and Changning are right!"

Zhang Du reined in that surge of emotion, and waved Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu inside, "Come in, come in and we'll talk."

Shang Yanxiao chimed in at just the right moment, "Right, Bai Xu and I brought some gifts for you all, they're still in the trunk, let me get them."

Shen Mian said, "You two children, coming all this way is enough, what did you need to bring gifts for?"

Zhang Changfeng was very perceptive. He passed his precious daughter into his wife's arms, "Yanxiao, let me help you."

Zhang Changning also stepped closer, "Let me."

...

The whole group filed into the villa in a lively procession. It wasn't quite dinnertime yet, and the household staff were busy in the kitchen.

"Come, have some fruit first to tide you over."

"Bai Xu, would you like tea? Or juice? Or is there some other drink you'd like? I can have the staff go buy some."

"……"

Zhang Changning looked at his elder brother, who had stepped forward first, then looked at Bai Xu, surrounded by the older generation, and for a moment stood somewhat at a loss at the very edge of the living room.

Bai Xu immediately noticed his friend's situation, and called out deliberately, "Changning, where's Dr. Zhang?"

"Hm?"

Zhang Changning came to his senses and quickly explained, "Oh, Second Brother seems to have an academic seminar today that only ends at four-thirty, he should be home soon."

Bai Xu pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze toward the Zhang couple, "May I have a few words alone with Changning?"

Zhang Du, sensing the relatively "awkward" relationship between the two young people, said, "Of course, dinner will still be a little while, whatever makes you happy."

After all, Bai Xu had already been willing to come to the house for dinner, was there any fear there wouldn't be time for a deeper conversation that evening? There was no need to rush at this moment.

Shen Mian and Old Madam Zhang chimed in in agreement, "That's right, this is your own home, please don't feel constrained at all."

While showing concern for Bai Xu, they hadn't neglected Zhang Changning's feelings and emotions either.

Zhang Changning, meeting the glances directed at him from the others, felt inexplicably a little self-conscious.

Zhang Changfeng, sensing the hint of helplessness Zhang Changning was letting show, smoothly came to his rescue without making it obvious, "Changning, why don't you take Bai Xu upstairs? When it's time for dinner we'll call you both down."

Zhang Changning responded, "Alright."

Hearing this, Bai Xu exchanged a glance with Shang Yanxiao, who understood his meaning in perfect sync and gave him a slight nod.

...

Zhang Changning's bedroom was at the far end of the right corridor on the second floor, and came with a large terrace, from which one could stand inside the room and gaze out at the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountain behind.

At this moment, the sunset was just right.

Zhang Changning took two bottles of cocktail from the small refrigerator in his room, "This is all I have here, the alcohol content isn't high, would you like some?"

"Sure."

Bai Xu casually picked up a bottle and neatly popped the cap, "The view outside your room here is quite nice."

Zhang Changning pressed his lips together, and spoke sincerely, "If you're ever willing to come back, I'll have this room tidied up for you to stay in."

Bai Xu was momentarily stunned, then couldn't help breaking into a smile, "If I were to come live here, that would leave Yanxiao alone in the Shang household every night, go downstairs and ask him if he'd be willing."

"……"

Zhang Changning muttered, "That's not what I meant."

Bai Xu gently clinked his bottle against his, "Alright, stop going around in circles in front of me. You know, I never intended to compete with you for anything."

Zhang Changning of course understood Bai Xu's character, and let out a sigh, "It was yours to begin with, there's nothing to compete for."

"Changning."

"Mm?"

"There's something I want to say to you sincerely, I'm sorry."

"……"

Zhang Changning was surprised, but quickly followed what he truly felt, "What are you apologizing to me for? The one who should be saying sorry is me."

Bai Xu continued with his own thread, "Last time at the hospital, I didn't give you any advance notice, and yet insisted that you and the Zhang family dissolve the adoption."

"I was too caught up in my own perspective at the time, and forgot to consider your feelings. If I hurt you in any way, even for just a moment, I owe you an apology."

"But I hope you know, the reason I seized that opportunity to want you and the Zhang family to dissolve…"

Before he'd finished speaking, Zhang Changning responded, "I know, I worked it out afterward."

Bai Xu looked at him steadily, "Worked it out?"

"Mm."

Worked it out, yet still didn't dare to easily cross over that threshold.

Zhang Changning took a sip of the ice-cold cocktail, as if only this could settle his emotions, "So that's why I 'ran away,' even thinking about whether I should just leave like that altogether."

Bai Xu asked curiously, "So, where did you go during that period?"

Zhang Changning answered honestly, "A welfare primary school in Gannan, I went and taught art there for a while."

Its predecessor was a children's welfare institution, and also the place where Zhang Changning had once lived.

At the time, the police had determined that the spot where the child was last known to have gone missing was near Chuan City, but there was a strong possibility of having been taken to the surrounding areas.

Zhang Du had refused to give up even the slightest thread of hope, searching all around, and in the end had only found Zhang Changning at that children's welfare institution, also an abandoned infant.

"And then?"

"And then…" Zhang Changning let out a hum, "By a twist of fate, I ran into Second Brother, who'd been dispatched by the hospital."

Bai Xu laughed inwardly, "What a twist of fate indeed."

Zhang Changning heard the teasing in his friend's voice, and whether it was from thinking of something else, the tips of his ears instantly turned red.

He stammered, "A, anyway we just ran into each other, and I'd worked things out, so I came back together with him."

Bai Xu teased, "I didn't ask much more than that, what are you nervous about?"

Zhang Changning took a deep breath, and spoke what was in his heart, "Bai Xu, the Zhang family has done so much for me over the years. If I were to just up and leave, I'd truly become an ingrate."

"So, I ask that you allow me to stay by Mom and Dad's side, and repay their care in my own way."

"I know you've suffered a great deal over the years, while I've been occupying the place that was originally yours, enjoying a life that wasn't mine for a long stretch of time."

Zhang Changning felt deeply sorry, yet truly didn't know how to make it up.

"Bai Xu, if there's ever an opportunity in the future, or anywhere you need my help, I absolutely won't shy away from it!"

Bai Xu smiled, "Changning, what happened back then wasn't your fault. I've never held any resentment toward you, on the contrary, I'm grateful for your existence."

Zhang Changning's heart gave a jolt, "What?"

"I heard that Madam Zhang developed depression because of this matter, and at her worst had moments of irrational behavior, it was your presence that, to some degree, filled the void of regret in this family."

"The me of today has my own lover and my own life. To be honest, I'm not averse to returning to the Zhang family, but that doesn't mean you have to step out and leave."

"The time that's passed can't be retrieved. What I prefer is to cherish the present and the future. As a friend I hold in regard, I hope you can be the same—"

"Now that the adoption with the Zhang family has already been dissolved, certain things will have far fewer obstacles. Changning, I hope you can also see clearly what's in your own heart, and hold on to everything you truly want."

"……"

Zhang Changning's eyes reddened, and the surge of gratitude welling up from the depths of his heart seemed to be wrapping itself around him entirely.

Unable to hold back the impulse, he went straight in and hugged his friend, and when he opened his mouth couldn't tell whether he wanted to cry or laugh, "Bai Xu, thank you."

Bai Xu was startled by his sudden embrace, but didn't push him away, "Zhang Changning, if you want to cry, don't come to me for it, I have absolutely no experience in coaxing people."

Though that's what he said, he freed up one hand and ruffled his friend's naturally curly hair, comforting him a few times before finding himself quite fond of it.

"Your hair is rather fun."

The words had barely fallen when the half-shut door was pushed open by someone.

Shang Yanxiao and Zhang Changxu, who had come to check on them, saw the scene inside the room and both stopped in their tracks at the same moment:

What was going on here?

How had they ended up hugging each other?

Zhang Changning heard the movement and released his emotional bear hug of his friend at just the right moment, turning to see Shang Yanxiao and Zhang Changxu stepping forward briskly.

The four of them exchanged glances with one another.

Bai Xu met Shang Yanxiao's subtle expression, the kind that wanted to ask yet felt it unnecessary, and couldn't hold back a laugh, but deliberately chose to tease, "Please bear witness, Third Young Master, Changning and I are perfectly innocent~"

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