After the Fake Young Master Betrayed the Australian Farmer - Chapter 30

 

“Adams, I’ve made up my mind.”

 

“We aren’t actually brothers; we just share the same surname,” Han Yan said.

 

“What? Does that mean the next time I meet someone named Fang, I have to ask if they’re your brother?” Han Yan shot Fang Jianan an amused glance. The latter scratched his face awkwardly, stiffening his neck as he explained, “I just thought it was quite a coincidence.”

 

“Han isn’t as common as Zhang, Wang, or Li. You two are about the same age and from the same city. Isn’t it normal for me to overthink it?”

 

Hearing this, a strange feeling flickered in Han Yan’s heart, and he furrowed his brows imperceptibly.

 

“Han Jue, you…”

 

A crisp ringtone instantly drowned out his voice.

 

Han Jue pulled his phone from his pocket. Looking at the screen, a trace of impatience leaked from his brow. He silenced the phone and tucked it back into his pocket. Noticing Han Yan’s hesitant gaze, he uttered a confused, “Hmm?”

 

Seeing Han Jue’s bewildered expression, Han Yan swallowed the question on the tip of his tongue, but suspicion began to take root in his heart like a seed.

 

It could not be such a coincidence, could it?

 

If Han Jue really was the “true young master” the Han family was looking for, he should not be ignorant of Han Yan’s name. And if he knew who Han Yan was, why would he pretend to be oblivious and hang out with him? Logically, the guy should at least dislike him.

 

As Han Yan pondered, he scrutinized Han Jue’s features. He did not look like Mrs. Song or Mr. Han, yet he seemed strangely familiar. I have definitely seen him somewhere. But where?

 

Suddenly, a pair of large hands covered his eyes, interrupting his thoughts. The calluses on the palms rubbed against his eyelids, feeling a bit itchy. A deep, distinctly resentful voice sounded in his ear.

 

“Han Yan, you have been staring at him for two minutes and forty-three seconds.”

 

Fine. This guy’s habit of counting the seconds had not changed at all.

 

Han Yan grabbed Adams’s wrist to pull the hands away from his eyes. He turned his head to meet a certain someone’s accusatory gaze and snorted with a smile. “Alright, that is enough. I was just thinking about something. Stop it.”

 

Watching their intimate interaction, as if no one else were around, Fang Jianan silently took a step back. He leaned toward Han Jue and whispered, “Do you not feel like we should be under the car right now?”

 

Han Jue: “…”

 

He looked up and bumped into Adams’s murderous glare. He cleared his throat and nodded in agreement. “I feel the same way.”

 

With this interruption, Han Yan stopped dwelling on Han Jue’s matter. For now, he would just enjoy the day and worry about the rest later. At the very least, the guy had not shown any ill will yet. Besides, he had not even confirmed if he was the real young master, so why overthink it? It was just adding to his troubles.

 

Han Yan tossed his worries aside, hooked his arm around Adams’s neck, and waved a hand at the two murmuring behind them. He strode toward the ticket gate.

 

The Animal Area

 

As soon as they entered, Fang Jianan and Han Jue were drawn to the animal area. The sight of various fluffy creatures available for petting made the two city boys’ eyes light up. They extended their “wicked claws” toward the small, helpless animals.

 

Han Yan looked down at the lamb in front of him. The soft texture under his hand reminded him of his “precious daughter” he had helped deliver at the farm. He wondered how Aurora and Lunetta were doing.

 

“Lunetta has been weaned. Now she eats fodder and tender grass every day. She has a huge appetite and is growing very fast.”

 

Adams scratched the lamb’s chin, and the little creature let out a pampered bleat.

 

“Grandfather says Lunetta is very naughty; she pesters Aurora to play every day. Aurora often gets annoyed by her and ignores her most of the time.”

 

Han Yan imagined the scene and could not help but curl his lips upward.

 

“So, the farm is back in Grandfather’s care now? He is getting on in years. After finally entrusting the farm to you, is he really happy to go back to work?”

 

Adams stared at the curve of Han Yan’s lips and pressed his own together. “Grandfather knows I have something very important to do, so he agreed quickly.”

 

“Something important?” Han Yan asked subconsciously, but he realized the answer almost immediately and looked up.

 

“Yes. You are very important.”

 

The blunt words were like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples. Han Yan’s fingers paused, and he raised an eyebrow imperceptibly. Tsk, he is quite the smooth talker.

 

Sweets and Secrets

 

Fang Jianan was frantically petting a lamb’s head, having zero resistance to such cute creatures. Han Jue tentatively reached out his hand; the lamb sniffed it and then gently licked his palm. Han Jue’s expression softened instantly, and a dimple appeared at the corner of his mouth, adding a touch of brightness to his delicate features.

 

Fang Jianan’s gaze accidentally drifted to Han Jue’s face. He looked surprised, as if he had discovered a new continent. “Whoa! You actually have a dimple!”

 

Before Han Jue could respond, the other guy started rambling to himself, “My sister has a dimple too, in almost the same spot. It is so cute when she smiles!”

 

Han Jue: “…” So this guy is a “sister-obsessed” maniac.

 

“Fang Jianan, Han Jue! Do you want to feed the lambs?” Han Yan called out to them. Four eyes lit up simultaneously.

 

“Yes, yes, yes! Where do we buy the feed?”

 

Fang Jianan and Han Jue each held a cup of feed, happily feeding the sheep. Han Yan pulled Adams along to wander around, petting rabbits, stroking alpacas, and even sparing some attention for the piglets. His hands never rested during the entire circuit.

 

Noticing Adams following him the whole time, Han Yan turned around and teased, “As a rancher who deals with these animals every day, you must find this pretty boring, right?”

 

Adams shook his head slightly. His emerald-green eyes, like pieces of warm jade, gazed at him quietly. “Not boring. You are beautiful.”

 

Han Yan chuckled, crossed his arms, and tilted his head. “Adams, did you rub honey on your lips today?”

 

“What?” Adams blinked, clearly not understanding the underlying meaning.

 

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, Han Yan looked up and planted a quick peck on his lips. It was a light, fleeting touch, and a smile flashed in his dark eyes. “True sweetness.”

 

The Cat Show

 

By a stroke of luck, they caught a cat show. The exhibition hall was bustling, so crowded that people were practically shoulder to shoulder. Adams raised his arm to pull Han Yan into his embrace, shielding him from physical contact with others.

 

Seeing the sea of heads in front, Han Yan gave up on squeezing to the front row. Standing at 1.82 meters, he peered at the stage from a distance. A solid black British Longhair stood on the platform; its cheeks were round, its tail was as fluffy as a squirrel’s, and its glossy long fur almost covered its feet. Its eyes were perfectly round, making it look endearingly clumsy.

 

“That cat is quite cute. I have always wanted to raise one like that.”

 

“It is like you.”

 

Han Yan met Adams’s deadpan gaze, and his mouth twitched. “What is wrong with your eyesight? How does that look like me? If I am like a cat, I should be a majestic Maine Coon, okay?”

 

Adams did not offer an opinion; he just kept staring at him. Han Yan nudged Adams’s stomach with his elbow, but the latter did not budge, his grip on Han Yan’s arm tightening slightly.

 

Fang Jianan and Han Jue stood behind them. They had not seen the cat, but they had witnessed the entire interaction and overheard everything.

 

“So, are they dating?” Han Jue whispered to Fang Jianan. The latter shrugged and threw his hands up. “Do not know. They have not told me.” But looking at this flirtatious atmosphere, it is pretty much a given.

 

“Han Jue, will you still have an appetite for lunch later?”

 

“Huh? I should be able to eat.”

 

Fang Jianan looked at the two figures ahead, who looked unexpectedly well-matched, and sighed dejectedly. “I probably will not. I am already stuffed with dog food.”

 

“Now that you mention it, I suddenly feel a bit full too.”

 

Lunch Break

 

For lunch, Adams pulled out bento boxes for four. He had not made Chinese food, just simple meals like sandwiches. Once Fang Jianan and Han Jue realized Adams had prepared lunch, their stomachs growled in unison. Having been beneficiaries of Han Yan’s friendship at school, they had tasted Adams’s cooking many times; it was truly top-tier!

 

Psh, what “stuffed with dog food”? They were clearly starving!

 

The group sat on chairs watching the long queues at the food trucks. They leisurely bit into meat-filled sandwiches, squinting happily in the warm breeze. Seeing Han Yan eating with his cheeks bulging, Adams took out a tissue to wipe the corner of Han Yan’s mouth and unscrewed a thermos to hand to him.

 

“If you do not have enough, there is more.”

 

Han Yan took a sip of water, confirming the temperature was not too hot before swallowing. He finished the food in his mouth and shook his head. “I ate a lot for breakfast, so I am not very hungry.” Given the luxury breakfast Adams had made, Han Yan felt it was a miracle he could even manage lunch.

 

“Um, actually, I can still eat,” Fang Jianan raised his hand weakly. Adams silently pushed the remaining sandwiches toward him and then went to the restroom.

 

When he returned, he sat down and pulled a lunch box from his bag. Opening the lid, he began peeling a plump grape. Once peeled, he held it to Han Yan’s lips. Han Yan opened his mouth and chewed a few times, naturally spitting the seeds into his palm, which he had already held out to catch them.

 

This fluid sequence left Fang Jianan and Han Jue dumbfounded. Fang Jianan looked at the half-eaten sandwich in his hand and suddenly felt like he was not that hungry anymore.

 

After finishing their meal, the group decided to watch a performance to digest. If they went on amusement rides right after eating, they would probably vomit while in the air. They entered the venue without checking what the show was; they just wanted to sit down.

 

Upon entering, they found it was not as noisy as expected. The audience sat in silence. The only background noise was the sound of a timer from the speakers and the rhythmic thud of an axe chopping wood.

 

Gemini said

 

In the center of the arena stood several wooden poles, each nearly as wide as a person. The competitors wore matching vests, with the names and representative colors of different states printed on their backs.

 

They gripped their axes, swinging with immense power into one side of the pole to carve out a notch. After wedging a wooden board into the gap, they flipped themselves upward to stand on it and repeated the process. Once they finished one side, they worked their way up the other. The first person to completely sever the top section of the pole would be declared the winner.

 

“It is tree felling! I missed it the last time I was here,” Han Yan remarked.

 

During his last visit to the Easter Show, the competition had already ended for the day, leaving him disappointed. He had long heard this was a quintessential Australian event. He had only seen it online before, where some people jokingly referred to the competitors as the “Axe Gang.” Looking at them now, the name seemed fitting. Buff men swinging axes at tree trunks, it was the “Axe Gang” indeed!

 

“Whoa, they are so fierce. Do you see those muscles? I feel like one punch could send me flying into the sky!” Fang Jianan watched the brawny men with envious tears in his eyes. If he had muscles like those, he would not have to pretend to be a weakling every day.

 

Han Jue looked at the competitors’ arms, which were nearly as thick as Fang Jianan’s calves, and patted his shoulder. “Be confident. Get rid of the ‘I feel like’ part.”

 

Han Yan glanced at the men casually before focusing on the race with moderate interest. They were just okay.

 

Currently, the competitor from Queensland was the fastest. While others were still working on the first side, he had already finished and flipped to the other side. New South Wales and Victoria followed closely behind, while Tasmania lagged slightly.

 

Han Yan watched the intensifying competition with relish. Just as he was guessing which state would win, a pair of large hands suddenly covered his waist, gripping him firmly. His shoulder suddenly felt heavy. He turned to meet a resentful gaze and could not help but laugh.

 

“What is it now?”

 

“Do you like their physiques?”

 

The jealousy was so thick it practically filled the entire stadium.

 

“They are all right.”

 

As expected, the air grew even more sour. Adams’s lips tightened into a straight line, his gaze darkened, and his broad shoulders slumped, radiating an aura of disappointment.

 

Han Yan reached up to rub the back of Adams’s head. Pressing his forehead against Adams’s, he chuckled. “But none of them are as good as you.”

 

Adams was stunned for a moment, a glimmer of light appearing in his eyes. Han Yan pinched his cheek, his eyebrows arching slightly. “So, can I watch the race in peace now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Fang Jianan caught sight of the pair flirting out of the corner of his eye and felt like a giant glowing light bulb. He turned to Han Jue, resting an arm on his shoulder with a melancholy expression.

 

“Brother, I do not think we should have shown up today. I did not notice it much at school, but looking at them now, how can they be so sappy?”

 

Fang Jianan could not figure it out. Aside from the conversation he had overheard at Han Yan’s house, he thought they were fairly normal—not this gay. Oh, wait. The last time he called Han Yan to talk about their topic, he heard Adams kiss Han Yan—a very loud “mwah.” As for where the kiss landed? He did not know and did not want to know! His stupid brain, how could he have forgotten that! He was never going out with this dog couple again. He was going to be stuffed with dog food by the end of the day!

 

“It is fine. Two light bulbs are better than one. I will shine right along with you,” Han Jue said.

 

Seeing Han Jue being so loyal, Fang Jianan’s eyes nearly welled up with tears. “Brother, you are my only brother from now on!”

 

The race ended with Queensland winning by a narrow margin. Han Yan stood up and stretched, lazily scanning the group. “Is everyone well-rested?”

 

Fang Jianan and Han Jue felt their scalps tingle, sensing that Han Yan was up to no good. Before they could answer, Han Yan’s excited voice rang out. “Since everyone is rested, let us go!”

 

As the sounds of constant screaming grew clearer, Han Yan walked ahead with a light step, even humming a cheerful tune. Fang Jianan looked at the towering amusement rides and felt his legs go weak. He swallowed nervously.

 

Han Yan stopped abruptly, turning back with a beaming smile. To Fang Jianan and Han Jue, that smile looked no different from a demon’s. “What do you say? Shall we start with an appetizer to warm up?”

 

The Drop

 

Fang Jianan looked down at the people below, who looked like tiny black dots. His heart was in his throat. The four of them sat in a row, with four other people sitting back-to-back behind them. They were suspended high in the air on a straight vertical tower. There were eight seats on each side of the long arm, and staff members were checking the safety buckles of the passengers.

 

“I say… is it too late for me to get off?” Fang Jianan’s voice cracked, trembling uncontrollably.

 

Han Jue, who sat between Han Yan and Fang Jianan, called out to him. “Forget it. Just close your eyes and it will be over.”

 

Fang Jianan was afraid that if he closed his eyes, he would never open them again. Han Yan noticed that Adams had not said a word since they boarded. He could not resist teasing him. “Are you scared, little brother?”

 

“I am… okay.” Adams spoke with difficulty. He did not sound okay at all; he sounded like he was too terrified to speak.

 

Han Yan turned his palm upward and reached toward Adams. “If you are scared, just hold onto me.”

 

Adams stared at those slender fingers. The moment their fingers interlaced, the seats began to tilt backward. Heads pointing toward the ground, they plummeted straight down.

 

“Holy sh—aaaaaaah!”

 

The whistling wind in Han Yan’s ears was mixed with Fang Jianan’s pig-like screams. He felt the warmth of another person’s hand in his palm, causing him to instinctively tighten his grip.

 

The seats rotated 360 degrees as the arm flung them into the air before dropping them again. He opened his eyes to look at the sky right above him and instinctively turned his head. At the highest point, he unexpectedly locked eyes with a vast emerald-green ocean. His heart beat so fast it felt like it would overload. His breath hitched briefly before a strong sense of weightlessness hit him.

 

When they finally got off the ride, Han Jue looked okay and still had the strength to support the weak-legged Fang Jianan. Han Yan looked down at his own palm, which was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Had he become weaker, or had these rides become more intense?

 

“Are you okay?”

 

The steady voice made him look up at Adams, who looked as if nothing had happened. Adams handed him a water bottle, though there were red marks on the back of his hand.

 

“I am fine.” Han Yan took a sip of water and studied Adams’s expression, raising an eyebrow in surprise. “You seem completely unfazed.”

 

“Yes, I think it was okay.”

 

Fine, this suited his taste even more.

 

Afterward, Fang Jianan refused to join Han Yan for any more high-risk activities. The four of them had to split up. Han Jue accompanied Fang Jianan to the carousel, while Han Yan and Adams went on every ride they wanted to try.

 

The roller coaster, the drop tower, the pirate ship, and the giant pendulum. Oh, and there was a ride called the Slingshot, which he found the most thrilling. It looked somewhat like a swing and seated two people at a time. Cables on both sides would launch the swing directly into the sky, followed by a free fall, only to be launched again. It felt similar to a drop tower but was much more grueling.

 

When Fang Jianan asked him later why he would do that to himself, Han Yan replied with a smile, “Because it is really exhilarating!”

 

The Decision

 

By the time Han Yan finished his rounds, the sun was beginning to set. He and Adams sat on a normal two-person swing. As the ground moved further away, their vision expanded, offering a panoramic view of the entire carnival from above.

 

The swing began to rotate. The evening breeze blew the stray hairs on Han Yan’s forehead, and the fiery red sunset reflected on his profile, gilding him in a golden glow.

 

“Adams, did you have fun today?”

 

Adams reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind Han Yan’s ear. “Yes. As long as I am with you, I am happy doing anything.”

 

Those eyes were like mirrors. In them, Han Yan saw the sunset behind him, the nearby Ferris wheel, and his own unconsciously upturned lips. A sense of weightlessness washed over him again. Understanding flashed in his eyes, and he let out a helpless, low laugh.

 

He leaned in to kiss Adams’s lips, his palm resting on the back of Adams’s hand. His fingertips lingered, affectionately tracing the other’s knuckles.

 

“Adams, I have made up my mind.” He bit Adams’s lower lip before licking it gently. “Let us continue being friends with benefits. But only with you.”