Chapter 49 – Going Home

On New Year’s Eve morning, after Guan Heng had breakfast, he prepared to return home. His hometown was only a few hours away, but traffic jams were always a concern.

Ye Zhou accompanied him all the way to the car, reminding him to drive safely.

Guan Heng sat in the driver’s seat and, before leaving, looked deeply at Ye Zhou, instructing, “Don’t wander around unnecessarily. If you need to go out, check in with me every two hours.”

This request seemed unreasonable, but Ye Zhou knew Guan Heng was thinking about the incident when he went missing last time. Instead, his heart warmed as he nodded and said, “Understood.”

Guan Heng reached out to stroke his face again, “If there’s nothing particularly urgent, I’ll be back in two days.”

Ye Zhou glanced around for a moment, making sure no one was paying attention to them. Then, he rubbed his face against Guan Heng’s palm and smiled, “Alright, I’ll wait for you to come back.”

Afterwards, Guan Heng drove away. Ye Zhou watched the car disappear around a corner before turning to head back inside.

The streets on New Year’s Eve were unusually quiet. Even the vendors who usually sold breakfast early in the morning weren’t operating, giving the city a deserted appearance. Looking at the two villas filled with life, Ye Zhou suddenly felt a little lonely.

There was a minor traffic jam, but Guan Heng still managed to arrive home before five o’clock in the afternoon. He had lunch in the car since Ye Zhou feared that rest stops would be crowded and that buying food would require queuing. So, Ye Zhou packed a lunch box for him to take along.

During his lunch break, Guan Heng chatted casually with Ye Zhou, asking what he was up to.

Ye Zhou simply took a photo and sent it to Guan Heng. He was watching a series, with a pile of snacks on the table, looking quite comfortable.

He was obediently staying at home.

While eating, Guan Heng chatted with him. After finishing, he promptly hit the road again. When he arrived home in the evening, he sent another message to Ye Zhou, who replied that he knew, followed by a smiley face.

Guan Heng smiled softly at his phone as he got out of the car with the smile still on his lips.

Guan Yuan, standing at the door, paused before saying, “You’re back.”

Guan Heng nodded, “Sister.”

Guan Yuan bore a strong resemblance to Guan Heng, but her facial features were softer. However, her expression was also reserved, making it hard to read her emotions. The siblings probably inherited their father’s traits, both being independent and somewhat distant: “Come in quickly, Mom and Dad are waiting for you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

As soon as Guan Heng entered the house, he met his parents and saw a boy looking timidly at him.

Guan Yuan married late, and her child was only five years old this year. She said, “Xiao Qi, call him Uncle.”

At this age, children have just started learning to remember things. Xiao Qi had big, dark eyes and obediently called out, “Uncle.”

Guan Heng surveyed the room and didn’t see his brother-in-law, so he probably had some idea of what was going on. He stepped forward to pat his nephew’s head and pulled out a red envelope from his pocket to give him.

Guan Yuan didn’t stop him and told Xiao Qi, “Say thank you to your uncle.”

Perhaps because Guan Heng looked a lot like Guan Yuan, Xiao Qi gave him an extra curious glance, not feeling awkward, “Thank you, Uncle.”

Daughters traditionally return to their parents’ home on the second day of the New Year, but modern times didn’t follow such strict customs. However, since Guan Yuan had returned at this time, it indicated that the divorce must have been finalized.

Guan Heng didn’t ask any questions and took out the lunch box from his bag to wash in the kitchen.

Guan’s mother exchanged a glance with her daughter and let Guan’s father entertain his grandson while she followed Guan Heng into the kitchen. Seeing him washing dishes, she asked, “Where did the lunch box come from?”

Guan Heng answered her, “Ye Zhou packed it for me to eat on the road.”

Guan’s mother already knew that her son had separated from Yue Shu. Taking this opportunity, she asked, “Ye Zhou, the one you mentioned on the phone…”

“Yes.”

“You and Xiao Shu…” Guan’s mother was about to say something but stopped upon seeing the lunch box in Guan Heng’s hand. One could gauge how much someone cared from the details, “Both you and your sister have your own ideas. Your father and I can’t interfere; do what feels right for you.”

In fact, Guan’s mother and Yue Shu’s mother knew each other and were even close high school classmates, which they found serendipitous at the time.

However, after the alumni gathering, Yue Shu seemed to be having a rough time, making a major mistake during a concert and reportedly losing his position as the lead violinist. Guan’s mother occasionally kept in touch with Yue’s mother and heard about this. But Yue Shu was very competitive. After saying those rude words to Guan Heng last time, he probably couldn’t bring himself to face him again. Guan’s mother wanted to mediate due to their friendship, but now it seemed her son had met someone he liked more, which was why he was so attentive, making these small gestures in front of them.

Guan Heng likely sensed his mother’s intention to reconcile, so he directly said, “It’s impossible between Yue Shu and me.”

“I understand,” Guan’s mother knew her son well and didn’t press further. Instead, she asked about Ye Zhou, “Where is he from? Did he go home for the New Year?”

“He doesn’t have anyone left in his family.”

Guan’s mother paused, refraining from probing too much. She asked about Ye Zhou’s occupation before saying, “Bring him next time.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Around six in the evening, Guan Heng’s family gathered around the round table for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Guan Yuan’s divorce and Guan Heng’s homosexuality might be considered taboo topics in ordinary families, but in the Guan household, no one treated them as such. The family dined together in harmony. Guan’s father and mother had spent their lives teaching, encountering various types of parents. They understood that true care for their children wasn’t determined by the parents, but rather by the children themselves.

This meal lasted a long time, with no one saying anything disheartening. They discussed their daily routines and trivial matters, making for a peaceful yet relaxed atmosphere. After dinner, Guan’s mother and Guan Yuan, who had been busy in the kitchen all day, rested and played with the child, while Guan’s father and Guan Heng cleaned up the table and washed the dishes.

When Guan Heng had a free moment, he messaged Ye Zhou: “Have you eaten?”

Ye Zhou snapped a photo of a table full of dishes and replied, “Eating now.”

Guan Heng responded, “Eat first, we’ll talk later.”

“Okay.”

The countryside on New Year’s Eve was bustling, with long-separated family members reuniting for dinner. Outside, several children were setting off fireworks and firecrackers, creating a ruckus. Guan Yuan noticed her parents playing with the child and stepped outside to catch her breath. Guan Heng followed her shortly after.

Only the two of them stood at the door. It was noisy outside, but here they could speak without worrying that the child would overhear. Guan Heng directly asked, “Are you sure about getting a divorce?”

Guan Yuan replied in her usual calm manner, “Yes, it’s decided.”

“What are your plans for the future?”

Guan Yuan’s gaze flickered towards the house, a soft smile playing on her lips, her eyes tender, “I might change Xiao Qi’s surname to Guan.”

Guan Heng wasn’t surprised at all.

Although Guan Yuan appeared delicate and beautiful, she had a very strong personality. Both siblings had achieved extraordinary success; Guan Heng held a high degree and was a university professor, while Guan Yuan was no less impressive, serving as a female judge.

But even the most outstanding individuals had their emotions and desires, inevitably leading them to start families.

Guan Yuan’s husband was a diplomat. From the beginning, their thoughts and beliefs aligned perfectly. Due to work demands, they had a long-distance relationship even when they were dating. They overcame various difficulties, survived the long-distance relationship, and eventually got married. However, they never anticipated the challenges of family life.

After Guan Yuan became pregnant and gave birth to her child, her husband unexpectedly wanted her to give up her job and stay at home to raise the child. This wasn’t something Guan Yuan wanted. Getting married didn’t mean sacrificing her career. She wasn’t cut out to be a homemaker, yet her husband expected her to compromise like all women entering domestic life.

After several unsuccessful attempts at communication, neither side was willing to back down, leading to the decision to divorce and fight for custody of the child. Guan Yuan had a higher chance of winning, as she was fully capable of raising the child alone, unlike the child’s father, who often needed to travel abroad for work.

Recalling the years of their relationship, she sighed, “Love doesn’t necessarily mean suitability. Any relationship that forces one party to compromise isn’t worth continuing, as it’s destined to be imbalanced.”

Guan Heng said, “I understand.”

Guan Yuan turned to look at Xiao Qi in the house. The warm glow of the lights softened her face, “I didn’t plan on having Xiao Qi… But I don’t regret it. I can take good care of him myself.”

Guan Yuan then looked at Guan Heng, “I’m actually more worried about you.”

She was Guan Heng’s older sister, equally brilliant. Growing up under the same roof, she might not have known everything their parents missed, but she wouldn’t expose it either. Given her own marriage, it was even harder for Guan Heng to find someone who could accept him.

The old Guan Heng might not have been able to assure her, but now things were different. He said, “Don’t worry. I’ve found that person.”