After the Fake Young Master Betrayed the Australian Farmer - Chapter 41

“But I do not want to be friends with benefits with you anymore.”

Han Yan and the others spent nearly half a month traveling in Tasmania. They did not return to Sydney until the day before the new semester began, still feeling as though they had not had enough fun. Song Zhiyun had arranged for someone to buy a large luxury apartment in Sydney for the two brothers. She told them to live there for the time being, and if they found another property they liked in the future, they could simply buy it then.

Han Yan still had some belongings left at his previous rental, and he planned to go back and retrieve them after class the next day. At the thought of a certain someone he had not seen for a while, a faint surge of excitement welled up in his heart. It was enough to keep him tossing and turning on his soft bed all night without a wink of sleep.

Han Yan felt that since he had cleared his mind, he was no longer as composed as he used to be. Instead, he felt like a young boy experiencing the first stirrings of love. He could not help but shake his head with a smile, feeling somewhat expectant about Adams’ reaction when they met the next day.

On the first day of the semester, Han Yan and Han Jue walked into the classroom together. They had intentionally selected the same courses, so their schedules for this term overlapped completely. Fortunately, they ran into an old acquaintance in their very first class, and the two brothers’ eyes instantly lit up. This course was as good as settled.

“Fang Jianan, you lived quite a comfortable life over the break. I see you have filled out quite a bit.”

Han Yan sat down next to Fang Jianan and could not resist teasing him about his noticeably rounder cheeks.

“Well, I happened to find a part time job at a sushi restaurant over the holidays. I spent every day in the kitchen making sushi while eating it. If there was sushi left over at closing time, the boss would let us pack up the leftovers and take them home. I have eaten so much that I am almost sick of it.”

Han Jue studied Fang Jianan and let out a laugh. “Actually, you do look a bit like a piece of sushi now.”

Han Jue was referring to the round kind of sushi with seaweed on the outside and salmon or avocado wrapped inside. Fang Jianan covered his face in mock agony. “I said that is enough. I know I have gained weight, alright?”

In truth, Fang Jianan did not look bad even after gaining weight. He actually looked quite cheerful, provided he was not wearing those glasses that were as thick as bricks.

Han Yan did not see any sign of Adams even after the roll call was finished, but he had definitely heard the professor call Adams’ name. At least he had not dropped out; he was likely delayed by something. Han Yan thought that even if Adams did not show up today, they would eventually run into each other in a few days. However, he never expected that the guy would fail to show up for an entire week. Even when Han Yan went back to the old rental to pick up his things, no one was home.

He could not possibly be skipping school just to avoid him, could he?

Han Yan truly felt that Adams was the type of person who might do such a thing. After a period of internal struggle, he removed Adams’ contact information from his block list and gave him a call. The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered. There was a long silence on the other end. Han Yan almost thought the call had not connected, but after checking the call duration on his screen, he tentatively called out, “Adams?”

“Yes.”

The emotion on the other end was clearly low. The syllable was raspy and carried a slight nasal tone. Han Yan’s heart skipped a beat. He said in a deep voice, “Where are you right now?”

He immediately called Xie Yu, waking him from his sleep, to ask to borrow his car. Before Xie Yu’s brain could fully function, the mechanical sound of a passcode being entered rang out from the door. Han Yan pushed the door open and walked into the house with swagger. He swiped the car keys from the table, gave a brief greeting, and turned to leave in a hurry. The series of movements was so fluid that Xie Yu thought he was still dreaming. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, flopped back onto the bed, and fell fast asleep again.

Han Yan drove Xie Yu’s flashy red supercar. With a heavy foot on the accelerator and the deafening roar of the engine, the rear of the car swung out in a beautiful curve.

“Brother, tomorrow is Fang Jianan’s birthday. Are you free tomorrow night?”

Han Jue’s voice came through the car’s Bluetooth. Han Yan kept an eye on the vehicles on both sides while steering with one hand.

“I am going to find Adams now. I might not be able to make it back tomorrow night. Help me prepare a gift for Fang Jianan and tell him happy birthday for me.”

“Alright.”

Han Jue paused and then joked with a light laugh, “Brother, you are finally being brave for once. Should I wish you luck in bringing back my brother in law soon?”

Han Yan snorted with a smile. “Enough of that. You make me sound like I am on a mission. By the way, if Xie Yu asks about me, tell him I borrowed his car. I told him just now, but he was clearly not awake and probably will not remember a thing when he wakes up.”

Han Jue agreed and told him to be careful on the road, adding that he should speak up if he needed any help. Then he hung up the phone.

Han Yan parked the car at the entrance of the farm and ran toward the dorms. Along the way, he played out every possible scenario in his head until the solitary figure of Adams appeared in his line of sight. His heart tightened suddenly.

“Adams!”

He walked quickly toward the other man while panting for breath. Adams’ body stiffened as he slowly turned to look at him. His face was haggard, he had stubble on his chin, and his cheeks were sunken. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot, and his eyelids were red. Han Yan instinctively furrowed his brow and reached out to touch the man’s face.

“What happened?”

Adams’ Adam’s apple bobbed as he said in a raspy voice, “Luneta is sick. The mortality rate is very high, and she has had a high fever for a week. The veterinarian said that if the fever does not break in the next few days, Luneta might not make it.”

Adams suddenly turned his head away and pursed his lips tightly. In the next second, a warm body firmly pulled him into a hug. He could feel the other man’s strong heartbeat against his chest, and his shoulders finally slumped. Han Yan rubbed the back of his head and patted his back gently.

“Luneta will be fine. Trust me.”

Adams raised his arms to hug him back with a strength that suggested he wanted to pull Han Yan into his very bones. He buried his face in Han Yan’s shoulder and took a deep breath with his eyes closed.

Luneta needed her temperature taken every hour. She was wrapped in a blanket to keep warm, and her dying state made Han Yan feel a deep ache in his heart. Although he had not spent much time with her, he had delivered Luneta with his own hands, giving her a special significance. No one wanted to see a small life they had personally welcomed into the world fade away. It was a terrible feeling.

Adams tried to feed Luneta her medicine, but whether it was because the medicine was too bitter or because of her physical condition, she would vomit it up almost immediately after swallowing. Disregarding the filth splashed onto his trousers, Adams hurried off to prepare another dose of medicine in a syringe.

“Let me try.”

Han Yan took the syringe from Adams and knelt. The filth on the ground had not been cleaned yet, and it emitted a foul odor. However, it was as if he had turned off his sense of smell. He did not even flinch as he supported Luneta’s head and held the syringe to her lips.

“Luneta, be a good girl and take your medicine, okay? Your body can only get better if you take it. Once you are well, we can eat delicious things. Do you not like fresh, tender grass the most? When you are better, we can eat it every day, as much as you want. Your mother is very worried about you. You are her precious baby, and she cannot be without you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Aurora’s heartbreaking bleating drifted over from a distance. Luneta tilted her neck back with difficulty and let out a faint bleat before proactively taking the tip of the syringe into her mouth. Seeing this, Han Yan quickly pushed the medicine into her throat. Fearing she might choke if he went too fast, he used a stop and go motion to ensure she swallowed every drop. By the time the syringe was empty, his palms were covered in a layer of sweat.

The two of them waited by her side for over half an hour. Seeing that Luneta had not vomited the medicine this time, they exchanged a joyful glance. As long as the medicine stayed down, there was still a chance for recovery. A spark of hope ignited in Adams’ eyes, and he said solemnly to Han Yan, “Thank you.”

Han Yan took his hand and raised an eyebrow. “If you really want to thank me, how about you treat me to a meal later?”

“Alright.”

John returned with a pile of new medicine from the vet. He did not look surprised to see Han Yan. He simply patted his shoulder and thanked him sincerely. “Yan, thank you for being willing to come back and stay with Adams.”

While they spoke, Adams was tending to Luneta nearby. Han Yan gazed at his figure and curled his lips into a smile. “I am also glad that I could come back to be with him.”

The three of them took turns looking after Luneta. Adams could not set his mind at ease and stubbornly refused to rest until Han Yan forcibly dragged him back to the dorm. Under Han Yan’s watchful eye, he obediently took a shower and ate a bowl of instant noodles that Han Yan had prepared. Han Yan then pressed him onto the bed and pulled the blanket over him.

“I am actually not tired.”

“Even if you are not tired, close your eyes and rest.”

Han Yan stood over Adams with his arms crossed. The dark circles under the man’s eyes were heavy. John had mentioned that Adams had barely closed his eyes all week, only managing to nap for brief moments before checking on Luneta. He reached out and brushed the long hair away from Adams’ forehead. “Your grandfather and I will watch over her tonight. Nothing will happen.”

Adams stared unblinkingly at Han Yan’s gentle features. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “Han Yan, why are you…”

“Shh.”

Han Yan pressed his finger against Adams’ pale lips and rubbed them slightly. “Go to sleep first. When Luneta is better, we will have a proper talk.”

Adams pursed his lips and gave a low murmur of agreement. Han Yan felt a sense of helplessness and leaned down to lightly brush his nose against Adams’ nose. “Nighty night, Adams.”

Just as Han Yan walked out of the dorm, he received a call from a certain person who had finally woken up. He held the phone to his ear and heard Xie Yu’s voice. “Yan, what did you borrow my car for today?”

“Did Han Jue not tell you?”

Han Yan looked up at the star filled sky, away from any light pollution, and said casually, “I did not do much. I just went to take care of my sick daughter.”

“What?!”

Xie Yu’s scream was so loud that it made Han Yan’s eardrum sting. He moved the phone slightly away.

“Xiao Yu, why are you shouting so loud in the middle of the night? Are you trying to make me deaf?”

“No, since when do you have a daughter? When did this happen? Are you not gay? Do not tell me you are actually bisexual!”

Xie Yu’s world view was nearly shattered. Who would have thought that the brother he believed to be gay would suddenly have a daughter? A pregnancy takes ten months; calculating the dates, it would have to be around the time Han Yan’s funding was cut off last year. Heavens, what exactly had his good brother gone through?

“Yan, with your taste for muscular men, you do not look bisexual at all. Could it be…”

“Yan, how did you lose your way? If Aunt Song finds out, she will definitely beat you to death!”

Han Yan was almost driven to anger by Xie Yu’s runaway imagination. He said crossly, “Do I look like that kind of person? My daughter is a sheep. She is a sheep, alright!”

“Oh.”

Xie Yu’s concern came to an abrupt halt. After a long silence, he cursed. “Damn it, Yan, you should have said so sooner. I was just thinking about where Aunt Song would bury you. You scared me to death!”

On the other end of the phone, Xie Yu wiped away a cold sweat. Fortunately, it was a misunderstanding, or he would have had to dig his good brother out of a hole. “So why is your daughter a sheep? That is quite unusual.”

Han Yan explained the situation briefly, leaving Xie Yu dumbfounded. It took a long time for him to find his voice again. He smacked his lips and said, “After all that, it turns out you and that big foreigner actually have a child together?”

“If you want to understand it that way, I suppose it works. Also, he has a name. It is Adams.”

Xie Yu processed this for a moment before sounding confused. “But that is not right. Think about it, Yan. That big sheep was delivered by Adams, so the big sheep is his daughter. His daughter then gave birth to a lamb that is your daughter. Does that not make him your father-in-law?”

Han Yan fell silent. Put that way, it actually seemed to make some sense. Wait, was this really the time to be arguing with Xie Yu over such a meaningless topic?

“Enough, I am done talking to you. I have to go look after my daughter. I will talk to you later. Goodbye.”

He rubbed his temples and hung up the phone without hesitation before walking toward Luneta’s pen.

Under the collective care of the group, Luneta’s fever miraculously broke on the third day. By the fourth day, she began to eat on her own. The veterinarian came by for an inspection and concluded that Luneta was out of danger; she simply needed careful nursing for a period of time to fully recover.

Han Yan excitedly hooked his arm around Adams’ neck, his eyes curving into crescents. “I told you! Luneta would definitely be fine!”

The sorrow lingering in Adams’ brow finally dissipated, and he followed with a relaxed smile. “Yes.”

Two more days passed. Aside from not being quite as active as before, Luneta returned to normal. Every time she saw Han Yan, she would let out a pampered bleat. Whenever he reached out, the lamb would affectionately nuzzle his palm with her wet nose.

John disinfected the pen before finally allowing Aurora, who had been pacing incessantly at the entrance, to come inside. As soon as the mother and daughter saw each other, they burst into a chorus of bleating, huddling together and nuzzling one another.

Han Yan took out his phone to capture the scene and posted it to his social feed with a lamb emoji.

Mom: The little lamb is so cute. It makes me want to raise one myself.

Han Yan replied to Mom: If you like them, I will find a pet sheep that catches your eye to keep you company at home.

Han Jue: So, has the brother-in-law been successfully abducted yet?

Mom replied to Han Jue: Oh, the progress is quite fast. You are already calling him brother-in-law?

Xie Yu replied to Han Jue: ??? What did I miss again ???

Fang Jianan replied to Han Jue: So after all this time, you two really are brothers???

Han Yan replied to Han Jue: Nothing is official yet. Stop shouting nonsense.

Han Jue replied to Han Yan: Good luck!

Han Yan ignored the notifications bombarding his phone and shoved it back into his pocket. He turned his head toward Adams, who was standing nearby preparing feed for the sheep, and suddenly said, “Adams, it is time for me to go back.”

Adams paused and straightened his back to look at him. He pursed his lips. “I see. Thank you for your help these past few days.”

Han Yan tilted his head, his eyebrows arching slightly. “Do you have nothing else you want to say to me?”

Adams remained silent for a long moment before speaking with difficulty. “Can you… please stop ignoring me?”

“I am not ignoring you. Am I not talking to you right now?”

Han Yan watched him with interest. Adams’ hands tightened at his sides, the veins on the back of his hands bulging like a winding mountain range.

“Can you… give me another chance?” He asked cautiously, watching Han Yan’s expression with deep anxiety hidden in his eyes.

Han Yan did not respond for a long time. Adams’ eyes gradually dimmed, and his eyelashes drooped to hide his emotions. His lips tightened into a straight line.

“I understa—”

“Alright.”

Adams snapped his head up, staring at Han Yan’s smiling eyes in disbelief.

“What?”

“I said, al-right.” Han Yan curled his finger and flicked Adams on the forehead.

Adams stood dazed, covering his forehead with his hand. The dullness in his eyes was replaced by shimmering light, like a dusty jade rediscovering its luster.

Han Yan pinched his chin. “But I do not want to be friends with benefits with you anymore.” He paused, meeting Adams’ trembling gaze, and curled his lips into a playful smile. “If you can catch me this time, I will agree to be your boyfriend.”

Adams left at the same time as Han Yan. When Adams realized Han Yan had driven himself there, a clear look of disappointment flashed in his eyes. He really could not hide his little thoughts.

Han Yan told Adams that he would no longer be living at the old place. When Adams asked for his new address, Han Yan gave it to him readily. He leaned against the steering wheel, his fingers tapping the edge, and raised an eyebrow. “I am leaving. I look forward to your performance.”

When Han Yan arrived home, Xie Yu happened to be there, so he tossed the car keys to him.

“Here, thanks. The car is downstairs; drive it back yourself later.”

Xie Yu wailed. “Yan! You want me to drive from the city center at this hour? Do you know how much fuel this car consumes?”

“I filled the tank for you on the way back. It is more than enough to get you home.”

Xie Yu’s face changed instantly into a beaming smile. “Yan, I knew you were the best.”

Han Yan pushed away the head leaning toward him, acting disgusted. “Xiao Yu, do not smile at me so disgustingly. You are giving me goosebumps.”

Han Jue came out of the bathroom after a shower and saw Han Yan. “Brother, you are back.” He then looked curiously behind Han Yan. Not seeing the person he expected, he shook his head in disappointment. “Brother, you are lacking.”

Han Yan unceremoniously slapped him on the back of the head. “A man should never say he is lacking. Besides, how could things happen that fast? A normal relationship requires a period of pursuit, does it not?”

Han Jue rubbed his head, which did not actually hurt, and shrugged. “Fine, have it your way. I thought you two would be like dry wood and a raging fire.”

Hearing the suggestive words, Han Yan was briefly at a loss for words. He glared at Han Jue. “How do you know what stage we have reached?”

Seeing that Han Yan truly seemed unaware, Han Jue sighed helplessly. “Brother, pay more attention. Before, every day you went to school, there was a blatant hickey behind your ear. Fang Jianan and I could see it perfectly clearly.”

Han Yan knew Adams liked to leave marks on him. The day after they were together, he would specifically wear collared shirts to hide them or use large bandages. However, he could not see behind his own ear in the mirror, so he had never noticed.

Picking a spot I cannot see but everyone else can. Han Yan thought. His possessiveness really is quite strong.

Xie Yu’s eyes lit up with gossip. He hooked his arm around Han Yan’s neck. “Oh? So you two have already developed to that stage? Why did you not tell me before?”

“Why should I tell you such private matters in detail?” Han Yan rolled his eyes and pulled Xie Yu’s arm off. “Enough. I am going to take a shower. You should head back early. Han Jue and I have class tomorrow afternoon.”

“Why do you not just find someone to take the class for you? It is not like you lack the money. Is it not better to have fun while you are young?”

Han Jue stood behind Xie Yu and said with a smile, “Because my brother and I do not want to waste our time.”

Xie Yu: “…” Thanks, he felt attacked.

Han Yan collapsed onto his bed after his shower. He picked up his phone and clicked on the latest message on the lock screen.

Adams: Are you asleep?

Han Yan: Not yet.

The moment he clicked send, the other side replied instantly.

Adams: Can I call you?

Han Yan snorted with a smile and dialed the number.

“Han Yan?” Adams’ voice sounded deeper than usual.

“Yes. Why did you want to call me?”

“I just… wanted to hear your voice.”

Even though they had been intimate countless times, Han Yan still felt his heartstrings being lightly tugged by these words. It felt as if his heart had been dropped into a pile of soft cotton. He rolled over and hugged his pillow. “You have heard it now. Are you satisfied?”

“Yes. I miss you.”

Han Yan smiled silently, his tone lazy. “So, have you decided when you are going to treat me to that meal?”

The shift in topic was so large that the other side did not react for a moment.

“Adams, you did not forget about it, did you?”

“I did not,” Adams argued quickly. “When are you free? What do you want to eat?”

Han Yan rolled over again to face the ceiling and stretched. “You arrange it. Just tell me the time when you have decided.”

Adams agreed, and the two chatted casually. Han Yan’s eyelids grew heavy, and he mumbled something before the world went dark and he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Han Yan’s biological clock woke him up on time. He stared blankly at the ceiling for a while before reaching for his phone, only to find it had run out of battery and turned off. He plugged it in and went to the bathroom to wash up, trying to wake himself up.

Hearing a clattering noise outside, he walked out of the bathroom while drying his face. “What is happening out there? Why is it so noisy?”

Han Jue swallowed his lunch. “I did not ask. It is probably someone moving in.”

Han Yan said nothing more. He went to the kitchen to serve himself a bowl of the food prepared by the housekeeper their mother had hired. It tasted quite good, but still not as good as the food made by a certain someone.

After eating, Han Yan went to his room to pack his bag, unplugged his phone, and left the apartment with Han Jue. As soon as they opened the door, they ran straight into the person outside. Both parties were visibly stunned.

“Why are you here?”

The green eyes flickered unnaturally. “I live across from you. I just moved in today.”