Love and Decision

Looking at the person before him, whose eyes were gazing blankly at him yet brimming with a profound sorrow, Qingcang knew that he was not happy. Lin Yun was always like this; whenever something troubled him, he never confided in anyone.

Not even in me! Clearly, we were lovers, yet all of his pain was simply buried deep within his heart. Even when he was grieving, he never showed it in front of me.

Regarding this, I had always felt deeply distressed. Yet, I had never intended to investigate anything! Until one day, a man claiming to be Lin Yun's older brother came looking for me.

As soon as he stepped through the door, without a word, he threw a punch straight at me, fiercely knocking me to the ground! To be honest, had it not been out of consideration that he was Lin Yun's family, I think he would never have had the chance to see this world again! But as it happened, he was indeed Lin Yun's family—he was Lin Yun's own flesh and blood brother!

Therefore, I did not retaliate, and Lin Yun's brother seemed to only intend on teaching me a lesson rather than truly wanting to harm me.

However, the words he spoke next struck a deep chord within my soul! With a calm expression, he said, "If you are not sincere in your feelings for Lin Yun, please leave him! He has already suffered far more than he can bear."

That day, Lin Yun's brother told me everything Lin Yun had been through, and then he left without looking back.

I sat alone in the living room, digesting all of Lin Yun's past experiences. I had always thought that someone as pure as Lin Yun must come from a very happy family. But I never imagined that hidden beneath that innocent smile was a heart covered in scars!

I had always thought he was just acting out, always causing trouble. I had always thought he simply didn't understand me! Yet, when the truth was laid bare, what was revealed were bloody, agonizing memories that brought tears to one's eyes. Perhaps I truly had been too arrogant, even believing that I was the only one giving, while Lin Yun was always picking fights with me.

It turned out that my father had already sought him out and said many harsh things to undermine him. Even though I had not heard it with my own ears, I knew it must have been intensely painful and heartbreaking. No one knew where Lin Yun had found the courage at the time to tell my father: even if I were to eventually leave him, he would never regret his choice.

Perhaps it was because of those very words that my father never came to bother us again! Yet I had always foolishly believed that those results were won by my own persistence, completely unaware of the immense pressure Lin Yun had been bearing behind the scenes. Even now, he still kept everything to himself, no matter what happened. I could only wait quietly!

I had always believed that as long as I persevered, one day he would open the door to his heart for me, allowing me to truly step inside!

Slowly rising to my feet, I walked over to his side and pulled him tightly into my embrace, startling a soft cry from the person in my arms!

He struggled in earnest, trying to break free from this warm and comforting embrace that made him feel so vulnerable.

While pushing against his lover's intimate gesture, Lin Yun muttered under his breath, "Let go quickly! It won't do if someone sees us!"

Qingcang answered without a trace of care, "Being seen is even better, that way we won't have to skulk around hiding anymore."

As he spoke, he didn't forget to tighten his hold on the person in his arms, leaving him not the slightest chance to escape! Others might not know, but he knew very well! If he let him go now, he would probably hide in some unseen corner shortly afterward, licking his wounds all alone.

He didn't know what had stirred up those sorrowful memories, but he wanted to comfort him! Back then, Qianhu's father had outwardly told Qianhu Qingcang that he would not interfere in their affairs, yet behind the scenes, he had approached Lin Yun. The weather that day had been just as warm as today's.

Yet sitting in the private booth of the café, Lin Yun felt as though it was the worst day in the world, simply because seated across from him was his lover's father!

The man who claimed he wouldn't tear them apart! His heart grew increasingly heavy with every word spoken by the man across the table.

Enduring silently until the man finished speaking, Lin Yun maintained a calm expression, though the palms of his hands were slick with cold sweat. Summoning all his courage, he looked quietly at the man opposite him and said, "I'm sorry! I love Qingcang! As long as he doesn't tell me to my face that he wants to break up with me, I will never leave him!"

With that, he stood up, gave a polite nod to the man across from him, and opened the door to the booth. As he was leaving, the man behind him suddenly asked, "Even if you know there will be no good outcome, you still choose to stay with him?"

These words made Lin Yun, who was about to leave, pause in his tracks. Without turning back, he calmly replied, "Yes! Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will never regret the decision I made today!"

Even if nothing was said aloud now, just holding each other quietly was enough. Loving someone of the same sex was not wrong; it was simply because they happened to be men. It wasn't a deliberate choice to love someone of the same gender, but rather a chance encounter of love. They loved so deeply they were helplessly consumed by it, and even if they were shattered to pieces, they would never regret it.

This was their love—a love that transcended gender and the judgmental eyes of the worldly society. At this moment, Shangguan Xiao, who had just returned from school, stepped out of the car looking somewhat weary.

Gazing at the glittering villa before her, she suddenly felt a strange sense of awkwardness. Having grown accustomed to the austere and simplistic style of military training life, returning suddenly to this former life of comfort actually felt a bit extravagant! In the past, if someone had said such a thing to her, she would surely have sneered and brushed it off. But now, she finally understood that those people hadn't been lying; those were the genuine reflections of someone who had truly experienced it!

Thinking about it now, it really did feel rather unaccustomed. The wind gently brushed against her ear, and she raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind it.

Walking slowly through the front gates, she had the fleeting illusion that she didn't belong here. As she slowly pushed open the main door, the chauffeur stood quietly behind her, while the housekeeper and servants stood respectfully by the entryway. As the door swung open wide, a resonant and synchronized voice echoed across the entire street: "Welcome back home!"

Uncomfortably rubbing the bridge of her nose, Shangguan Xiao gave a light, dry cough, thinking to herself: What is going on here? I only went away for a month of military training, why have things at home changed so drastically?!

Filled with astonishment and a touch of curiosity, Shangguan Xiao stepped into the living room, her foot barely crossing the threshold.

From all sides, a sudden popping sound erupted as countless colorful ribbons fluttered toward her. Instinctively shielding her head, Shangguan Xiao was startled by the sudden noise.

Before she could even react, a voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar rang out beside her: "Welcome home, darling! You've worked hard! Mwah!"

Clasping Shangguan Xiao in a tight bear hug, Baili Meixi planted a resounding kiss right on her precious daughter's cheek, before releasing her just as Shangguan Xiao was about to go crazy.

Wiping the saliva off her face with an expression of intense dissatisfaction, Shangguan Xiao let out a coquettish roar: "Mom!"

Then she frantically wiped at her face with her hand over and over again. Only when she felt the moisture was gone did she continue, "Can you please not leave a pool of drool on my face every single time! Seriously!"

She cast a sidelong glare at her mother, who was standing in the embrace of her father. Even after such a long time apart, this mother of hers was still just as childish!

And Dad was just as bad! He had no idea how to keep his woman in line! Of course, these thoughts could only remain in her mind.

She wouldn't dare say them out loud in front of these two, otherwise it would surely trigger a cascade of disasters. The most obvious manifestation would be her mother trailing behind her endlessly, weeping and making a fuss!

Of course, she wasn't actually crying real tears, but rather the kind that thundered loudly without producing any rain. That was an absolute form of torture! In any case, she had no blessing to endure such a trial!

Wearily rubbing her forehead, Shangguan Xiao felt a deep-seated fatigue all over her body. For some reason, her head felt somewhat dizzy and light.

Witnessing her abnormal behavior, no matter how thick-skinned or oblivious her parents might usually be, they immediately realized their child was feeling unwell.

Therefore, her mother halted her playful antics and walked over with deep concern to her precious daughter's side, reaching out a hand to test the temperature at her forehead.

Discovering that her daughter's body temperature was indeed somewhat high, she hurriedly called out to her husband: "Honey! Quick, call the doctor, our darling has a fever! Hurry up!"

Following that, her father swiftly instructed a servant to call the family doctor over, while picking up Shangguan Xiao in his arms and carrying her back to her room to rest.

The luxurious villa was once again thrown into utter chaos. Everyone scurried about busily for the young mistress's health!

As people bustled in and out in a flurry, the night grew deeper. The stars and moon quietly hid behind the clouds, dozing off.

The late-night chill blew in gusts, remaining cool amidst the scorching heat of summer. Yet at this moment, the Shangguan household remained as busy as ever.

Beads of sweat hung on everyone's brow; even with the air conditioning running, it was hot enough to make people sweat. Having received the news that his younger sister had fallen ill, Shangguan Han hurriedly drove back home from Kevin's place.

In the Shangguan household, the person who worried them the most was the sweet young miss, Shangguan Xiao. Upon returning home, he didn't even have a moment to catch his breath.

Shangguan Han strode briskly toward his sister's bedroom. Inside the fantastical room, Shangguan Xiao was lying quietly upon the large purple bed.

Looking at her serene sleeping face, Shangguan Han felt an indescribable, strange sensation—as if she might just keep sleeping quietly like this forever, never to wake up again.

Shangguan Xiao, who practically never fell sick, would remain unconscious in bed for at least a month whenever she did fall ill! The doctor had once warned them to be very careful not to let her catch a chill!

Yet no matter how much they guarded against it, what was meant to happen would always come. Just like now, looking at her sleeping face, Shangguan Han's heart was filled with intense apprehension.

Gazing at the doctor standing by the window, Shangguan Han felt as though his breathing had stopped. After carefully examining Shangguan Xiao's condition, the doctor turned around with a delighted expression.

He smiled broadly and announced to the Shangguan family: "It's truly miraculous! The young miss has merely caught an ordinary cold and fever; she just needs to rest well for a few days and she'll be fine."

Unable to believe his ears! Shangguan Xiong, along with his wife and son (Shangguan Han), unanimously concluded that this doctor must be old and senile!

He belonged in retirement! How could he spout such nonsense here?! Looking at his sister's current state, did she look like someone who was completely fine?! Anyone with common sense would know that was impossible!

Consequently, Shangguan Xiong pointed at his precious daughter lying on the bed and roared at the grinning doctor: "Are you blind?! She's in this state and you call that nothing?! Then what on earth counts as something being wrong?! Who are you trying to fool?!"

Faced with the sudden rage of his employer, Dr. Lin reined in his smile and replied with a deadpan, serious expression: "Boss, even if I wanted to fool someone, I wouldn't dare fool you!"

Then, wiping the sweat from his face, he continued respectfully: "If you don't trust my medical skills, you are entirely welcome to bring in another doctor to examine the young miss."

Seeing the confident look on the doctor's face, Shangguan Xiong realized that every word he spoke was true. Surely the man lacked the sheer audacity to use his precious daughter's health as a joke!

With a slightly bewildered expression, he turned his head to look at the other two people who were similarly stunned into silence.

---Explanatory Note---
Due to a power outage in the residential area, today's update is delayed by two hours! Gongxian searched for a long time before power was finally restored! Apologies!