Later that night, Yichen and Zhiyuan finished dinner. Zhiyuan cleaned up the kitchen while Yichen went to the bedroom. A few minutes later, Zhiyuan walked into the bedroom, rubbing his lower back.
"Tired?" Yichen asked from the bed.
Zhiyuan nodded. "My back hurts. I've been standing all day at the clinic."
He lay down beside Yichen, face down on the pillow. Yichen immediately sat up and started rubbing his back gently.
"Why do you work so hard?" Yichen scolded softly. "You don't have to help at the clinic every day. You can rest."
Zhiyuan didn't answer. He just pulled Yichen back down and rested his head on Yichen's chest. His hand found Yichen's injured hand, holding it gently.
"You're not going fishing ever again," Zhiyuan said quietly.
Yichen froze. "What? Bao bei, it's just a small cut. It'll heal in a few days. Don't worry—"
Zhiyuan pressed his thumb lightly on the wound.
Yichen hissed in pain. "Ow!"
"See?" Zhiyuan looked up at him. "It hurts. And it's not a small cut. You got stitches, Yichen. You needed stitches. That means it's serious."
Yichen opened his mouth to argue.
Zhiyuan cut him off. "I swear to God, if you ever step out of this house to go fishing again, I will cut your legs myself."
Yichen stared at him. Then he smiled.
"Then how am I supposed to save up for our dream wedding?"
Zhiyuan sat up slowly. He looked deeply into Yichen's eyes.
"If I wanted a big wedding," Zhiyuan said softly, "if I wanted a big diamond ring and a fancy party, I wouldn't have left my wealth behind. You know that."
Yichen's smile faded.
Zhiyuan continued. "My dad saved money for me. He left me enough. We can use that. It's a lot. We can retire peacefully. We don't need to work so hard."
Yichen shook his head. He sat up too, facing Zhiyuan.
"If you want to use that money, use it on yourself. Buy things you like. Travel. Whatever makes you happy." His voice was firm. "I will never use it for myself. That money is yours. Your dad saved it for you."
"But Yichen—"
"And about the wedding." Yichen took Zhiyuan's hands. "It's my responsibility. I want to give you a wedding. A real one. With my own money. Money I earn by working hard."
Zhiyuan opened his mouth. Closed it. He could see in Yichen's eyes that he wouldn't change his mind.
Zhiyuan sighed. "Okay. Fine. Do what you want."
Yichen smiled.
"But." Zhiyuan pointed at him. "You're not going fishing. That's clear. No fishing. Find something else. Anything else. But not fishing."
Yichen opened his mouth.
"No fishing," Zhiyuan repeated firmly.
Yichen closed his mouth and nodded.
Zhiyuan lay back down, burying his face in Yichen's neck. Yichen wrapped his arms around him, careful with his injured hand.
"Thank you," Yichen whispered.
"For what?"
"For caring. For wanting me safe. For... for everything."
Zhiyuan pressed closer. "I just want you alive. That's all I want."
Yichen kissed his hair. "I'll find something else. Something safer. I promise."
"Good."
They lay there, holding each other, the night quiet around them.
Zhiyuan's hand found Yichen's again. He held it gently, careful around the bandages.
"Does it still hurt?" Zhiyuan asked softly.
"A little," Yichen admitted.
"Serves you right."
Yichen laughed quietly. "Meanie."
"You deserve it. You .....scared me."
Yichen's laughter faded. He held Zhiyuan tighter. "I'm sorry."
Zhiyuan looked up. "Just stay safe. That's all I ask."
Yichen nodded. "I'm sorry I'll take care of myself..I promise.
Zhiyuan smiled, closing his eyes. Yichen watched him, heart full.
No more fishing. He'd find something else. Something that wouldn't make Zhiyuan worry.
For now, he was just happy to hold the man he loved, safe in their home, away from the sea that kept trying to take him away.
Next Morning – After Breakfast
Yichen stood at the front door, putting on his shoes. He wore clean clothes, not his fishing clothes. He was ready to look for a new job.
Zhiyuan stood behind him, arms crossed, frowning.
"I don't like this," Zhiyuan said.
Yichen looked up. "Bao bei, we talked about this. No more fishing. I'm looking for something safer."
"You have stitches in your hand. You should rest. Stay home for a few days. Let your hand heal first."
"It's fine. See?" Yichen held up his bandaged hand and wiggled his fingers. "Good as new."
Zhiyuan's frown deepened. "That's not 'good as new.' That's 'barely healing.'"
Yichen stood up and walked to Zhiyuan. He wrapped his arms around Zhiyuan's waist and pulled him close.
"Don't worry so much," Yichen said softly. "I'll be careful. I'll find something easy. Maybe work at the store. Or help at the dock with counting fish, not catching them."
Zhiyuan tried to stay mad, but Yichen's arms were warm and his eyes were soft.
"Please?" Yichen kissed his cheek. "For me?"
Zhiyuan sighed. "You're impossible."
"That's not a no."
"That's a 'fine but come home early and don't hurt your hand more.'"
Yichen grinned and kissed him properly. "Deal. I love you."
He grabbed his jacket and was out the door before Zhiyuan could say anything else.
Zhiyuan stood at the door, watching him walk down the path. He shook his head but smiled anyway.
Atthe Clinic – An Hour Later
Zhiyuan walked into the clinic and found it empty. Dr. Shen's bag was missing from his desk.
Lin Wei appeared from the storage room. "Zhiyuan! Morning."
"Morning. Where's Dr. Shen?"
"House call. Old Mr. Chen up the hill called him over. Guo Lian went with him." Lin Wei smiled. "It's just us today."
Zhiyuan nodded and sat at his desk. "Okay. Let's get the files organized."
Lin Wei nodded but didn't move to his own work. Instead, he walked to the window and looked out.
"The weather is nice today," Lin Wei said. "Too nice to be stuck inside."
Zhiyuan looked up from the papers. "We have work."
"The clinic is quiet. No appointments until this afternoon." Lin Wei turned to him. "We should go out. Grab coffee maybe?"
Zhiyuan blinked. "I don't drink coffee."
"Oh." Lin Wei's smile didn't fade. "Then let's get traditional Chinese tea. I know a place nearby. Quiet. Peaceful. Good for relaxing."
Zhiyuan shook his head. "I should stay. What if someone comes?"
"The clinic is closed for lunch anyway. Dr. Shen won't be back for hours." Lin Wei walked closer. "Come on. Fresh air would be good for you. You look tired."
Zhiyuan hesitated. "I don't know..."
"We'll be quick. One cup of tea. Then back to work." Lin Wei's voice was soft, encouraging. "Please? I hate eating alone. It's sad to eat alone."
Zhiyuan looked at the empty clinic. No patients. No Dr. Shen. Nothing urgent.
He sighed. "Okay. One cup. Then we come right back."
Lin Wei's face lit up. "Great! Let me grab my jacket."
He hurried to the back. Zhiyuan stood, feeling a little uneasy but telling himself he was being silly.
It's just tea. Nothing wrong with tea.
Outside – Walking to the Tea Shop
Lin Wei walked close to Zhiyuan as they headed down the village path.
"This village is beautiful," Lin Wei said. "So different from the city."
Zhiyuan nodded. "I like it here it's quiet and peaceful."
"You grew up in the city, right? Dr. Shen mentioned you came from a big company."
"I did. But that life is behind me now."
Lin Wei glanced at him. "You don't miss it? The money. The power?"
Zhiyuan shook his head. "I have everything I need here."
They walked in silence for a moment.
Lin Wei spoke again. "You and Yichen look so close"
Zhiyuan's face softened. "Yeah we are pretty close.."
"He seems very protective."
Zhiyuan smiled. "He is."
Lin Wei nodded slowly, his smile tight. "That's nice. To have someone who cares that much."
They reached the tea shop. A small, quiet place tucked between two houses. An old woman greeted them warmly.
"Sit anywhere," she said. "I'll bring the menu."
Zhiyuan sat at a table by the window. Lin Wei sat across from him, still smiling.
But his eyes stayed on Zhiyuan the whole time. Watching. Waiting.
Zhiyuan looked out the window, unaware. Thinking of Yichen. Wondering where he was. What he was doing.
He already missed him.
The tea came soon. Lin Wei poured for both of them, leaning close to fill Zhiyuan's cup.
"Try this," Lin Wei said softly. "It's my favorite."
Zhiyuan took a small sip. It was good. But he barely tasted it.
His mind was somewhere else. With someone else.
Lin Wei noticed. His smile flickered. But he kept talking, kept laughing, kept trying to pull Zhiyuan's attention back.
Zhiyuan nodded politely, answered his questions, but his heart wasn't in it.
He just wanted to go home and cuddle with yichen.
Meanwhile – Village Road
Yichen walked down the village path, holding some papers in his hand. He was looking for any place that might need workers. A shop, a restaurant, anything that wasn't fishing.
Someone called from behind.
"Yichen! Yichen!"
Yichen froze. He turned around slowly.
An old man was running toward him, breathless. It was Lawyer Zhang. The same lawyer who worked for Zhenlong for many years.
The lawyer stopped in front of Yichen, breathing hard. "Finally! I found you!"
Yichen smiled, surprised. "Lawyer Zhang? It's been so long!"
Lawyer Zhang nodded, still catching his breath. "I've been looking for you. But you disappeared. Broke contact with everyone."
Yichen sighed. "I wanted a peaceful life. Away from everything."
The lawyer smiled warmly. "I understand. Really, I do. But..."
Yichen interrupted him. "Let's sit somewhere first. You look tired. Let me buy you some tea."
The lawyer laughed. "I could use that."
They walked to a small tea shop nearby and sat down. They ordered two cups of tea.
Lawyer Zhang took a deep breath. "I don't have much time. I have to be somewhere else soon."
Yichen frowned. "Why were you looking for me?"
The lawyer pulled out a folder from his bag. "Zhenlong made a will. Before he died."
Yichen's heart stopped.
"All his properties. His shares. Everything." The lawyer placed the folder on the table. "It's all yours now."
Yichen stared at the folder. His mind went blank.
"What?" His voice came out weak. "How could he... why would he..."
The lawyer nodded. "I know it's a shock. But it's all under your name now. I can't keep it forever. I needed to find you and give it to its rightful owner."
Yichen shook his head slowly. "I don't want it. I don't want to go back to that life. I'm happy here. Give it to someone else."
The lawyer sighed. "I can't. It's your name on everything now. You can give it away if you want. Sell it. Whatever you want." He pushed the folder closer. "But I would say keep it. It's Zhenlong's love for you. His way of saying thank you. And with this money, you can live your whole life without worry. Invest. Relax. Do whatever makes you happy."
Yichen stared at the folder. His mind raced.
A whole life without worry.
He thought about Zhiyuan. The small house. The hard work. The fishing cuts. The worry every night.
I could give him everything. A real home. A real wedding. Anything he wants.
He looked up, about to say something.
Then he saw them.
Across the street, outside another tea shop. Zhiyuan and Lin Wei were walking out together.
They were laughing. Talking. Walking close.
Yichen froze. His blood ran cold.
Zhiyuan smiled at something Lin Wei said. Lin Wei leaned closer, saying something back. They walked side by side, comfortable with each other.
Yichen started to stand.
The lawyer grabbed his arm. "Wait. I won't let you leave until you sign these. I can't keep running after you. I need to finish this."
Yichen sat back down, his jaw tight. His eyes stayed on them as they walked away together.
"You don't understand—" Yichen started.
"I understand," the lawyer said gently. "But these papers are important. They're your future."
Yichen forced himself to look away from the street. Forcing himself to focus on the papers.
Across the Street
Zhiyuan walked with Lin Wei, feeling lighter than before. The tea was good. The conversation was easy.
Lin Wei had been friendly. Funny. They talked about the village, about work, about nothing serious.
Zhiyuan was happy. He didn't have many friends here. Just Yichen, Dr. Shen, Guo Lian. It was nice to have someone new to talk to.
Lin Wei walked close to him, laughing at something Zhiyuan said.
"You're funny," Lin Wei said. "I didn't expect that. You seem so serious at the clinic."
Zhiyuan smiled. "I can be serious when I need to. But it's nice to relax sometimes."
Lin Wei nodded. "We should do this again. Maybe next week? There's a nice spot by the river. Very peaceful."
Zhiyuan considered it. "Maybe. If the clinic isn't busy."
"Great." Lin Wei's smile was wide. "I'll look forward to it."
They walked back toward the clinic, side by side, easy and comfortable.
Zhiyuan felt good. He didn't notice the eyes watching from across the street. Didn't see Yichen sitting frozen, watching them walk away together.
He just enjoyed the walk, the conversation, the simple pleasure of a new friendship.
At night..
Yichen walked home slowly. The papers were folded in his pocket. They felt Heavy. The weight of a fortune he never asked for.
The house was dark and quiet when he opened the door.
He walked upstairs softly, not wanting to wake anyone. The bedroom door was open. Inside, Zhiyuan lay on the bed, already asleep. His breathing was soft. Peaceful.
Yichen stood in the doorway for a long moment, just watching him. The moonlight fell across Zhiyuan's face, making him look younger. Softer.
Yichen smiled, heart aching with love. He wanted to crawl into bed and hold him. But his mind was too loud.
He walked to the balcony instead, opening the door quietly and stepping out. The night air was cool. The plants Yichen had planted swayed gently in the breeze. He touched one leaf softly, remembering the morning he spent planting them. The way Zhiyuan smiled from the balcony. The way his eyes lit up.
Yichen closed the balcony door behind him. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Took a long drag.
He looked up at the stars. Thousands of them. Bright. Distant.
His mind wouldn't stop.
The properties. The shares. The money.
Zhenlong gave me everything. Why? Why me?
He took another drag. The smoke curled up toward the stars.
I don't want to go back. I don't want that life. The danger. The darkness.
He looked at his bandaged hand. The stitches from yesterday. The cuts from weeks before.
But this life... working until my hands bleed... watching Zhiyuan worry every night...
He thought about Zhiyuan's face when he came home late. The worry in his eyes. The way he checked his hands for cuts.
I can't give him a big house. Nice things. A real wedding.
He took another drag. Exhaled slowly.
But with this money...
He touched the folder in his pocket.
I could give him everything. A house with a garden. A real kitchen. A wedding. A honeymoon. Anything he wants.
He thought about his dream. His dream for Zhiyuan. A good life. A safe life. A happy life.
But is this money clean? Will taking it pull me back into that world?
He looked at the plants again. The small garden he built with his hands. The simple life they built together.
Is this enough for him? Am I enough?
He closed his eyes. Thought about Zhiyuan's words from last night. If I wanted a big wedding, I wouldn't have left my wealth.
He doesn't care about money. He cares about me.
Then he thought about this afternoon. Zhiyuan and Lin Wei walking together. Laughing. Lin Wei walking too close. Zhiyuan smiling too wide.
Yichen's jaw tightened.
He deserves more than what I can give. More than this small house. More than a husband who comes home with bloody hands.
The cigarette burned down to his fingers. He stubbed it out.
He pulled out another one and lit it with his almost empty match box.
What should I do? Keep it? Sell it? Give it away?
He thought about Lawyer Zhang's words. It's Zhenlong's love for you.
A tear slipped down his cheek. He wiped it away quickly.
"Boss," he whispered to the stars. "Why did you do this to me? Why give me everything when I just wanted peace?"
The stars didn't answer.
He took another drag, mind still racing. The folder heavy in his pocket. The questions heavy in his heart.
What should I do? What should I do?
Behind him, the balcony door slid open.
Yichen turned quickly, hiding the cigarette behind his back.
Zhiyuan stood there, sleepy, hair messy, rubbing his eyes.
"You're back," Zhiyuan mumbled.
Yichen's heart clenched. "Yeah..... You should go back to sleep."
Zhiyuan walked to him, not paying attention to the cigarette smell. He wrapped his arms around Yichen's waist and pressed his face into his chest.
"You were gone too long."
Yichen put the cigarette out, wrapping his arms around Zhiyuan. "I'm sorry I was just thinking."
Zhiyuan looked up, still half asleep. "About what?"
Yichen stared into those sleepy, trusting eyes. The weight in his pocket burned.
"Nothing," he lied. "Just... thinking about the plants. They're growing well."
Zhiyuan smiled softly. "They are. You take good care of them."
Yichen kissed his forehead. "Do I take good care of you too?."
Zhiyuan hummed, already falling back asleep against him.
Yichen held him, staring at the stars, the secret burning a hole in his pocket, his heart torn between two worlds.