Chapter 50 – Lack of Love

On New Year’s Eve, everyone stayed up late, but Father Guan and Mother Guan had a habit of going to bed early. Even Xiao Qi, who was young, started to doze off. There weren’t many rules in their family, which was why they were able to raise such independent siblings.

Guan Yuan carried Xiao Qi to his room to sleep, while Guan Heng went outside to call Ye Zhou.

The phone was answered almost immediately, and Ye Zhou’s cheerful voice came through, accompanied by the noisy background sounds of the television. “Brother Heng.”

Guan Heng asked with a smile, “Bored at home?”

“Mm, very bored.” But Ye Zhou didn’t dwell on the topic, nor did he complain. Instead, he asked, “How’s it at home?”

“There’s nothing special,” Guan Heng thought for a moment, then asked, “Want to see?”

“Sure.”

After Guan Heng hung up the call, he switched to video chat. Ye Zhou picked up, and his background was still the living room. He had already taken a shower and put on pajamas, and there was half-eaten snacks on the table, indicating that he was planning to spend the night in the living room.

Guan Heng watched him for a while before moving the camera away to show him the surroundings.

At that moment, fireworks exploded in the night sky, and children nearby let out excited shrieks, laughing and playing.

Ye Zhou also laughed, showing no signs of loneliness from being alone at home.

Suddenly, Guan Heng felt that he should have brought him back for the New Year.

The two chatted aimlessly, neither of them mentioning hanging up despite having nothing much to talk about. Time flew by until it was past midnight, and firecrackers and fireworks continued to sound.

Amidst the noise, Ye Zhou said with a smile, “Brother Heng, Happy New Year.”

Guan Heng also wished him a happy new year.

But at that moment, Ye Zhou suddenly paused, then muttered to himself, “When did we start the video call…”

Guan Heng looked at Ye Zhou without saying anything.

Ye Zhou’s pause seemed like an illusion. His phone rang at that moment, with many messages of New Year greetings coming in. Perhaps too many people were video chatting at the same time, causing the internet speed to lag. Ye Zhou had to hang up the call and send a message instead: “I might be missing you a bit today. Everything feels a bit off. I even put sugar instead of salt when cooking tonight.”

Guan Heng ran his fingers over the words, pursing his lips slightly. He chatted with him for a while longer before ending the conversation: “Get some rest soon.”

“Okay.”

Ye Zhou sighed, sitting in the living room in a daze for a while, then replied to some messages from friends. It wasn’t until two in the morning that he went to sleep.

On New Year’s Day, Ye Zhou didn’t idle at home; he went out for a walk. Although his home was quiet, the outside world was bustling. Before leaving, he remembered to inform Guan Heng: “I’m going for a walk around the nearby mall.”

Guan Heng replied, “Okay. Relatives are visiting at home.”

Ye Zhou understood that this meant he couldn’t chat much, so he replied, “Then you’re busy.”

The mall didn’t close during the holidays, packed with crowds and holding various raffles. Ye Zhou didn’t intend to buy anything; he just wanted to join in the fun. He planned to spend the entire day outside since he didn’t want to be alone at home. He informed Guan Heng again when he had lunch.

Guan Heng replied half an hour later, simply asking where he had gone and what he had done.

Ye Zhou replied in detail, even sending some photos. Despite Guan Heng’s slow and brief replies, he was still enthusiastic.

After finishing his meal, Ye Zhou left the mall and walked around the nearby square.

The square was bustling, perhaps due to some event. Staff members were giving balloons to passing children.

Ye Zhou stood far away and watched for a while. A family of three approached him, the father holding the little girl’s hand, who was carrying a balloon. She would occasionally look up at her mother and say, “Mom, look at my balloon…”

The young parents wore gentle and kind smiles, appearing to be a happy family.

But at that moment, the wind blew the little girl’s balloon, making it hit a tree branch. The balloon suddenly burst with a loud pop.

The little girl was startled and began to wail loudly.

Ye Zhou watched this scene, and a memory flashed through his mind. His pupils constricted slightly, his hands trembling involuntarily. Panic washed over him like a tidal wave. He suddenly felt as if he had sunk to the bottom of the water, everything in front of him becoming blurry, and the sounds around him growing distant…

At that moment, a familiar and steady male voice sounded behind him, piercing through the layers of water and reaching his ears. “…Ye Zhou.”

Ye Zhou trembled suddenly, the inexplicable panic slowly receding as he gradually calmed down.

He turned around and saw the familiar person and face. After staring blankly for a moment, he revealed a relieved smile, surprised and astonished. “How could you be here…”

It was three o’clock in the afternoon, the time when Ye Zhou usually checked in, but he didn’t reply to the message. Guan Heng glanced at his parents, who were chatting with relatives, and was about to go out to make a call when Ye Zhou’s reply finally came: “I’m at the square.”

Guan Heng was about to stand up but sat back down after seeing the reply. He asked, “What happened?”

“Nothing, I just saw a little girl’s balloon burst and she was crying, so I got one for her.”

Ye Zhou’s reply seemed normal, but he didn’t take any photos and spoke much less than usual, unlike his enthusiastic typing and picture-taking attitude at noon. Guan Heng didn’t ask further, sensing something was off. Although there were guests, he still asked a few more questions.

Guan Yuan rarely saw her brother frequently checking his phone, and she was somewhat surprised.

After Ye Zhou left the square, he returned home, remaining quiet. Guan Heng spent the whole afternoon lost in thought, suddenly saying before dinner, “Sorry, Mom and Dad, Sister, I need to go back now.”

Father Guan and Guan Yuan were both taken aback, and Xiao Qi also raised his head to look at his uncle. Mother Guan knew that Ye Zhou was alone at home and didn’t stop him. “Bring some food back to eat.”

“Okay.”

The highways on New Year’s Day evening were empty, and Guan Heng drove smoothly without any obstacles, arriving home half an hour earlier than usual. After parking his car on the roadside and turning off the engine, he looked into the courtyard. The two villas connected together only had lights on in the living room on the right side. It appeared that Ye Zhou was staying put at home, obediently staying in Guan Heng’s house.

Guan Heng carried the food his mother gave him and entered the courtyard by swiping his fingerprint on the gate.

The courtyard gate was a metal gate, and whether opened or closed, it made quite a noise. Anyone in the living room wouldn’t fail to hear it. Therefore, when Guan Heng opened the door, he saw Ye Zhou, who was stunned.

Ye Zhou stared blankly at Guan Heng, not speaking for a moment, repeatedly confirming with his eyes. “Teacher Guan?”

Guan Heng scanned Ye Zhou up and down. “Hiding someone at home?”

“What?” Ye Zhou was stunned for a moment, then laughed. “How could that be possible?”

After Guan Heng put down the things, he went over and touched his face. “Then why did you look so surprised when you saw me?”

“I was just too pleasantly surprised.” From the moment Guan Heng started talking, Ye Zhou couldn’t hide his joy. “Why did you suddenly come back? Wasn’t it supposed to be tomorrow?”

“Coming back to see if you’ve been doing anything bad.” Guan Heng’s hand slid down to his neck and pinched it lightly. Although he was joking, his tone was intimate.

“If you’re looking, then look and see if there’s anyone else here.” Ye Zhou offered his neck for Guan Heng to knead, even leaning against him in a rare display of dependence, smelling the pleasant woody fragrance on his body.

Guan Heng noticed Ye Zhou’s unconscious small movements and pulled him into his arms.

Ye Zhou’s body pressed against Guan Heng’s chest, quietly leaning against him for a moment, feeling the firm touch of his pectoral muscles. Suddenly, he asked, “What if there really was someone here?”

Guan Heng knew he wasn’t serious, but still, he bit his ear in punishment. “Don’t you want your ass anymore?”

Ye Zhou hissed, laughing muffledly. “I thought you were going to lock me up again.”

Guan Heng suggested, “Tie you to the bed then.”

Ye Zhou laughed. “Okay.”

He no longer cared about Guan Heng saying such things. He thought he might be a bit twisted himself, enjoying finding a sense of security in Guan Heng’s possessiveness. Although he was independent, he had always known that deep down, he was a person lacking love. Once he set his sights on something, he would hold on tightly and never let go. Because once missed, he might lose everything, and he would never make the same mistake as Yue Shu.

More importantly, although Guan Heng’s possessiveness was strong, he had never forced him to do anything or restricted his freedom.

Guan Heng was different from the typical control freak. He was rational, so he knew how to restrain himself. He had a moral compass in his heart, so he suppressed his desires and wouldn’t become a criminal who acted on impulse. He wasn’t like this towards anyone or anything; he only showed his true self to specific people, those close to him. Although this side of him might seem twisted and even a bit dark to ordinary people, he wouldn’t hide anything.

Yue Shu misunderstood. He was afraid of such a Guan Heng, thinking it was abnormal, which led him to overlook Guan Heng’s true inner self and blame him based on stereotypes.

After the joke ended, Ye Zhou didn’t continue the topic, turning to look at the table. “What did you bring back?”

Guan Heng replied, “Food.”

Ye Zhou went to check what was available to eat. They were all freshly cooked home-cooked dishes, as well as Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and longevity greens, dishes that every household must eat during the New Year. These clearly weren’t bought from outside. “Auntie is thoughtful.”

Guan Heng said, “She wants me to bring you back next time.”

Ye Zhou looked at Guan Heng, stunned, unable to speak for a moment. After a while, he nodded and said, “Okay.”

Guan Heng had spent several hours driving, and the dishes had already cooled down, but they could be reheated and eaten again. Ye Zhou hadn’t eaten much in the evening, so he sat down with Guan Heng to have a belated dinner.

This was also their reunion dinner.