The afternoon sun was high and bright, streaming through the curtains that hadn't been drawn properly the night before.
Zhiyuan stirred first. His body felt pleasantly sore, wrapped in warmth and the heavy weight of an arm draped across his waist. He blinked slowly, trying to process the time.
Sunlight. Bright sunlight. Too bright.
He fumbled for his phone on the nightstand. His eyes widened.
"Yichen," he croaked, his voice rough with sleep. He shoved at the warm body beside him. "Yichen, wake up!"
Yichen groaned, pulling Zhiyuan closer and burying his face in his shoulder. "Five more minutes..."
"It's almost one in the afternoon!" Zhiyuan said, still shoving him. "We slept through the entire morning!"
Yichen's eyes cracked open. He squinted at the window, then at the clock on Zhiyuan's phone. A lazy, satisfied smile spread across his face.
"So?" he mumbled, tightening his hold. "We had a long night. A very long night." He pressed a kiss to Zhiyuan's bare shoulder. "The company can survive without you for a few more hours."
"I have meetings," Zhiyuan protested weakly, but he wasn't pushing as hard anymore.
"Cancel them," Yichen said simply. "Tell them the CEO needed rest."
Zhiyuan sighed, but he was smiling. He dropped his phone back on the nightstand and turned in Yichen's arms to face him.
"You're a terrible influence," he said, tracing a finger down Yichen's nose.
Yichen caught his finger and kissed it. "And you love it."
They lay there for a while, tangled together, not speaking. The world outside could wait.
Finally, Zhiyuan's stomach growled loudly.
Yichen laughed. "Okay, okay. Food first. Then we can go back to sleep."
"I'm not going back to sleep," Zhiyuan insisted, even as he snuggled closer.
"Sure, bao bei," Yichen said, kissing his forehead. "Whatever you say."
Neither of them moved for another twenty minutes.
At the Liang Group headquarters, Miss Zhang was having the day from hell.
She had just gotten off the phone with the third important client who had been stood up for a morning meeting. Now she was staring at a stack of documents that needed the CEO's signature sitting uselessly on her desk because the CEO was unreachable.
She dialed Zhiyuan's personal number for the fifth time. Voicemail.
She slammed the phone down and dropped her head into her hands.
"Unbelievable," she muttered. "Absolutely unbelievable. I'm running a multi-billion dollar company while my boss is... is..."
She didn't even want to think about what he was doing.
Her office door opened. She looked up, ready to snap at whoever dared to disturb her, but her expression softened instantly.
Xiao Xue walked in, carrying two cups of coffee and wearing a bright, concerned smile.
"I brought reinforcements!" Xiao Xue announced, setting one cup in front of Miss Zhang and keeping the other for herself. "You looked like you needed it."
Miss Zhang's professional composure crumbled. She stood up, walked around her desk, and wrapped her arms around Xiao Xue in a tight, desperate hug.
"He's not answering," Miss Zhang whined into Xiao Xue's shoulder. "Again! Three clients! Three very angry clients! And this stack of papers is never going to sign itself!"
Xiao Xue chuckled, patting her back. "There, there. Let it all out."
"I've been here since seven in the morning!" Miss Zhang continued, her voice muffled. "I haven't eaten. I haven't peed. I've been putting out fires all day while my boss is probably... probably..."
"Probably very happy?" Xiao Xue offered diplomatically, a knowing grin on her face.
Miss Zhang pulled back, glaring. "This isn't funny! I deserve a raise! I deserve a vacation! I deserve—"
"You deserve to sit down and drink your coffee," Xiao Xue interrupted gently, guiding her back to her chair. She pushed the coffee cup into Miss Zhang's hands. "Drink. Breathe. Tell me everything."
Miss Zhang took a long sip, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. She sighed. "It's just... I thought once the drama with his aunt was over, things would be normal. But now he's happy and in love and apparently that means he forgets he has a company to run!"
Xiao Xue pulled up a chair and sat beside her. "He's been through a lot. Let him have this."
"I know, I know," Miss Zhang said, slumping. "I'm happy for him. Really. But I'm also exhausted."
Xiao Xue reached over and squeezed her hand. "Then let me help. Tell me what needs to be done. I can call clients, smooth things over. I'm very charming."
Miss Zhang looked at her, a small smile finally breaking through her frustration. "You'd do that?"
"For you? Of course." Xiao Xue winked. "That's what girlfriends are for."
Miss Zhang's cheeks flushed slightly, but she was smiling fully now. She leaned over and rested her head on Xiao Xue's shoulder.
"I love you," she mumbled.
"I love you too," Xiao Xue said, kissing the top of her head. "Now drink your coffee, and then we'll conquer this chaos together. Zhiyuan owes us both a very expensive dinner after this."
Miss Zhang laughed, the sound lighter than before. For the first time all day, things felt manageable.
The afternoon sun was warm over Xiapu Village. The small clinic by the sea was quiet, with no patients needing attention.
Dr. Shen sat on the wooden porch, a book in his lap that he wasn't really reading. His eyes kept drifting to the horizon where the blue sea met the sky.
Guo Lian emerged from the house, carrying two cups of tea. He had been staying in the small guest room for weeks now. Neither of them had talked about how long he would stay. It just felt... right.
"Here," Guo Lian said softly, handing a cup to Dr. Shen.
Dr. Shen looked up, surprised. "Thank you." He wrapped his hands around the warm cup. "You didn't have to."
Guo Lian shrugged and sat down beside him on the porch, their shoulders almost touching. "I wanted to."
Silence settled between them, but it was comfortable. The kind of silence that didn't need filling.
Dr. Shen took a sip. "You've been here for a while now."
Guo Lian tensed slightly. "Are you asking me to leave?"
"What? No!" Dr. Shen turned quickly. "No, that's not what I meant. I just... wondered if you're okay. If you're happy here."
Guo Lian looked out at the sea. His face, once so hard and cold, was softer now. "I haven't been happy in a long time," he admitted quietly. "But here... with you... I feel something I can't name."
Dr. Shen's heart gave a strange little flutter. He looked away, pretending to focus on his tea.
"It's peaceful," Guo Lian continued. "You make it peaceful. You don't ask about the past. You don't look at me like a monster."
"You're not a monster," Dr. Shen said firmly.
Guo Lian let out a small, bitter laugh. "I did terrible things for Ruifen. Hurt people. Almost killed your friends."
"But you didn't. You helped us. You saved us." Dr. Shen finally looked at him directly. "That counts for something."
Guo Lian met his gaze. For a long moment, neither spoke. The air between them felt charged, heavy with unspoken words.
"You're different than I expected," Guo Lian finally said, his voice low.
"Different how?"
"I don't know." Guo Lian's eyes traced Dr. Shen's face. "Kind. Patient. You look at me like I'm... human."
Dr. Shen felt his cheeks warm. He cleared his throat. "Well. You are human. Despite your best efforts to hide it."
A small, genuine smile tugged at Guo Lian's lips a rare sight. "Maybe."
They sat there as the sun began its slow descent, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Two men with complicated pasts, finding something simple and new in each other's company.
After a while, Dr. Shen spoke again, his voice softer. "Do you ever think about staying? For good?"
Guo Lian turned to him, surprise in his eyes. "Here? In Xiapu?"
"Yes."
"You want me to stay?"
Dr. Shen hesitated, then nodded. "The clinic could use an extra hand. And... I've gotten used to having you around."
Something warm flickered in Guo Lian's eyes. He looked away quickly, but not before Dr. Shen saw it.
"I'll think about it," Guo Lian said quietly.
But they both knew. He had already decided.
At the mansion, the evening was warm and peaceful. The smell of grilled food filled the air. Yichen was standing by the large outdoor grill, focused on flipping meat and vegetables, while Zhenlong and Zhiyuan sat nearby, chatting.
Zhenlong took a sip of his drink. "You know what we should do? Something as a family. A short trip. Maybe camping."
Zhiyuan's eyes lit up immediately. He sat up straight, his face bright with excitement. "Yeah! That's a great idea! We should all go camping together. I've always wanted to do that. Sleeping under the stars, making a fire—"
"I'm glad you agree," Zhenlong interrupted smoothly, a small smirk playing on his lips. "We'll have so much fun. Just the two of us. Father-son bonding."
Zhiyuan stopped mid-sentence. He frowned. "Wait. You mean... just two of us? What about Yichen?"
Zhenlong glanced toward the grill where Yichen was pretending very hard to be interested in the cooking food. His shoulders were tense, his ears clearly listening.
"I said family," Zhenlong replied, his tone casual but deliberate. "Just family."
Zhiyuan's frown deepened. He turned to look at Yichen, then back at his father. His voice was firm. "Yichen is part of this family too. He's your son-in-law."
Zhenlong raised an eyebrow. He leaned back in his chair, that annoying smirk still there. "Son-in-law? I can't see a ring on your finger though."
Zhiyuan's cheeks flushed. He shot a quick glare at Yichen, who suddenly became very busy flipping a piece of meat that was already perfectly cooked.
Turning back to his father, Zhiyuan crossed his arms. "That's just... I'm not ready for a ring yet. What if I change my mind?"
The words hung in the air. Yichen's hand froze over the grill for just a second before he forced himself to keep moving. His face didn't change, but something in his posture drooped slightly.
Zhenlong noticed everything. His smirk softened into something more thoughtful.
Before he could respond, Zhiyuan spoke up again, his voice decisive. "So it's decided. We're going camping. All three of us. Together."
The finality in his tone left no room for argument.
Just then,
"Hello! We're here!" Xiao Xue's voice rang out as she and Miss Zhang stepped into the backyard. Xiao Xue was carrying a bag of snacks, Miss Zhang following with a bottle of wine.
Xiao Xue's eyes sparkled as she spotted them. "WHERE are you guys planning to go? I heard camping! Are we invited? Please say yes! I've never been camping before! Miss Zhang, have you ever been camping?"
Miss Zhang sighed, but she was smiling. "No, dear. And we weren't invited."
"But we are now, right?" Xiao Xue looked at Zhiyuan with pleading puppy eyes.
Zhiyuan chuckled, the tension from earlier melting away. "The more the merrier. Right, Dad?"
Zhenlong grumbled something under his breath but nodded. "Fine. But you're all carrying your own gear."
"Yes!" Xiao Xue pumped her fist in the air. "Camping trip! This is going to be amazing!"
Behind the grill, Yichen finally relaxed, a small smile tugging at his lips. He caught Zhiyuan's eye across the yard. Zhiyuan gave him a tiny, reassuring nod.
Son-in-law or not, ring or not, they both knew the truth. They were family. And nothing, not even Zhenlong's teasing, could change that.
Yichen flipped another piece of meat on the grill, trying to stay out of the father-son argument. But an idea popped into his head.
"Hey," he said quietly, not looking up from the grill. "Maybe we should ask Dr. Shen too. He's alone in Xiapu village. Might be nice for him to join."
Zhenlong's head snapped around. "No."
Zhiyuan immediately perked up. "Actually, that's a great idea! Dr. Shen would love it. He's always talking about how peaceful it is there, but he might enjoy some company."
"I said no," Zhenlong repeated, his voice firmer.
"Why not?" Zhiyuan challenged, crossing his arms. "He's family too. He was Dad's best friend. He helped us. He deserves to be included."
"He's annoying."
"He's not annoying!"
"He is," Zhenlong insisted. "He talks too much. He complains about my cooking. He always has that know-it-all look on his face."
Zhiyuan threw his hands up. "That's not a real reason! You just don't want to admit you actually like having him around."
"I do NOT like having him around."
"Then why did you let him stay at your house for three days at Xiapu village?"
Zhenlong's mouth opened, then closed. He looked away, muttering something unintelligible.
Xiao Xue watched the argument with glee, whispering to Miss Zhang, "This is better than TV."
Miss Zhang shushed her, but she was smiling.
Zhiyuan pressed his advantage. "See? You can't even deny it. We're calling Dr. Shen and inviting him. That's final."
Zhenlong glared at his son. For a long moment, the backyard was tense.
Then Zhenlong's shoulders sagged in defeat. He shook his head, a reluctant admiration in his eyes.
"You," he said, pointing at Zhiyuan, "are just like your father. Stubborn. Impossible. Always think you're right."
Zhiyuan smirked. "Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't a compliment."
"I'm still taking it as one."
Zhenlong sighed heavily and reached for his drink. "Fine. Invite the old nuisance. But don't blame me when he spends the whole trip criticizing everything."
Yichen hid his smile behind the grill. "I'll call him tomorrow."
Xiao Xue clapped her hands. "Yay! More people! This camping trip is getting bigger and better!"
Next Morning – Xiapu Village
The sun was just rising over the calm sea. Dr. Shen was in his small kitchen, making breakfast simple scrambled eggs and toast. Guo Lian sat at the tiny table, nursing a cup of tea, still in his sleep clothes. The domestic scene had become routine, comfortable.
Dr. Shen's phone rang. He wiped his hands on a towel and picked it up.
"Yichen? Good morning. Everything okay?"
On the other end, Yichen's voice was warm. "Morning, Dr. Shen. Everything's fine. Actually, we're planning a camping trip. Wanted to invite you."
Dr. Shen raised an eyebrow. "A camping trip?"
"Yeah. Zhiyuan's idea. The whole chaotic family is going. Xiao Xue, Miss Zhang, Zhenlong, me, Zhiyuan. Thought you might want to join. Get out of that quiet village for a few days."
Dr. Shen chuckled. "I like my quiet village, thank you very much."
"But you'll come?" Yichen pressed. "Zhiyuan really wants you there. And honestly, Zhenlong needs someone to argue with or he gets bored."
Dr. Shen laughed properly at that. "True. Someone has to keep him humble." He paused, glancing at Guo Lian, who was pretending to read a newspaper but clearly listening. "Actually... can I bring someone along?"
There was a surprised pause from Yichen. "Someone? Who?"
"Just... a friend," Dr. Shen said carefully. "He's been staying here. Helping around. I think he could use a change of scenery. And some... positive company."
Yichen's voice was curious but accepting. "Sure, Dr. Shen. The more the merrier. Xiao Xue keeps saying that. Who is this friend? Do we know them?"
Dr. Shen hesitated. "You might. But... maybe let it be a surprise? If that's okay."
Another pause. Then Yichen's voice, warm and trusting. "Okay. Surprise it is. I'll send the details. We leave in three days."
"Thank you, Yichen. We'll be there."
They said their goodbyes and ended the call.
Dr. Shen set the phone down and took a deep breath. When he turned around, Guo Lian was watching him intently, the newspaper forgotten.
"Who was that?" Guo Lian asked quietly.
"Yichen. Zhiyuan's... partner. The bodyguard." Dr. Shen sat back down at the table. "They're organizing a camping trip. Wanted to invite me."
Guo Lian nodded slowly. "And you said yes?"
"I said yes." Dr. Shen looked at him, something uncertain in his eyes. "I also asked if I could bring someone."
Guo Lian's brow furrowed. "Someone?"
"You," Dr. Shen said simply. "If you want to come. It's not just me anymore, is it? You're here. You're part of... whatever this is." He gestured vaguely between them. "I didn't want to go without asking you first."
Guo Lian stared at him, surprise flickering across his usually guarded face. "You want me to meet them? All of them? Zhiyuan knows who I am. What I did."
"He also knows you helped us. You saved our lives." Dr. Shen's voice was gentle. "They might be surprised. But they're good people. They'll see what I see."
"And what do you see?" Guo Lian asked, the question barely a whisper.
Dr. Shen met his gaze. "Someone trying to be better. Someone who deserves a second chance. Someone I..." He trailed off, unsure how to finish.
Guo Lian didn't push. He just nodded slowly, a small, rare warmth in his eyes. "Okay."
"Okay?" Dr. Shen blinked. "You'll come?"
"Someone has to make sure you don't get eaten by a bear," Guo Lian said dryly.
Dr. snorted. "There are no bears where we're going."
"Then I'll protect you from Zhenlong's bad cooking."
Dr. Shen laughed, the sound light and free. "Deal."
They sat in comfortable silence, breakfast forgotten, the morning sun warming the kitchen. Three days until the trip. Three days until Dr. Shen introduced his unexpected companion to the family.
Neither of them knew exactly what they were walking into. But for the first time in a long time, Guo Lian felt something close to hope. And Dr. Shen felt something close to happiness the kind that came from not being alone anymore.