Love Notebook of a Reclusive Beautiful Boy - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

When Jiang Sheng and Du Yu returned to the Du residence, Yao Xiaohui had already come back.

It was unknown which talkative maid at home had told her about Zhong Huiyin having been here, causing the Du family household at this very moment to be nearly on the verge of tearing the house down.

Jiang Sheng had just walked to the entrance when he heard Yao Xiaohui shouting furiously downstairs, “If I am not comfortable, then no one else will have a good time either!”

“Smash!” Hearing the sound, it seemed as if some porcelain had been shattered.

Du Yanyu couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, standing by the window with a face full of annoyance, not uttering a single word.

The servants at home were long used to this sight and no longer found it strange. No one dared to meddle, and even Auntie Fang, who habitually loved to act as a peacemaker, didn’t dare to speak much either.

The moment Jiang Sheng and Du Yu came in, they witnessed this grand spectacle.

Yao Xiaohui had smashed quite a few things, the floor covered in porcelain vase fragments and shards. Out of her mind with rage, she looked exactly like a shrewd marketplace shrew.

“Without my father, your Du family would have been finished long ago! I’ll tell you this: as long as I am in the Du family for a day, that stinking bitch is not allowed to enter the Du family’s door!”

After she finished shouting furiously, her eyes swept over and she spotted Du Yu coming in.

She knew everything now. If it weren’t for selecting a date for Du Yu, how could that stinking bitch have come to the Du residence?

Du Yanyu was like a dull block of wood, not making a sound no matter how she cursed, but seeing Du Yu’s innocent and pure face, she thought of her own childless state over many years, and subsequently thought that Zhong Huiyin coming to the house was entirely for the sake of Du Yu. All at once, her anger flared up, wishing Du Yu could just drop dead on the spot.

Those words of hers were simply too unbearable for human ears. Du Yanyu truly couldn’t bear to listen to them any longer, and his temper flared up all at once, “All these years providing you food and providing you drink, what have you wanted that hasn’t been given to you? How else do you want me to repay that kindness from your Yao family back then? To go die?!”

Being snapped back at by him like this, Yao Xiaohui’s anger became even greater, “You go ahead then! You go die! The day after you die, I will drive that son of yours right out of the Du family and make your son go find food on the streets!”

Once Yao Xiaohui’s anger flared up, her brain became muddled, and she dared to spit out any words whatsoever. The virtue, kindness, and motherly tenderness she usually put on were all cast completely to the back of her mind.

Du Yanyu had endured enough, refusing to give Yao Xiaohui a single shred of face anymore, pointing at her, “If you dare to touch my son, tomorrow you will get out of my Du family!”

Yao Xiaohui was so angry her face turned red as well, hot blood rushing to her brain, likely unable to tell north from south or east from west anymore. She casually picked up a porcelain vase right at her hand, “You dare curse at me? You curse, I’ll let you curse!”

As she spoke, she smashed that porcelain vase right toward Du Yu. That porcelain vase flipped several times in mid-air, looking as if it was about to hit Du Yu, when Jiang Sheng threw a punch over, and that porcelain vase shattered right in mid-air.

Clattering and crashing, it fell scattered onto the ground, shattering viciously once over again.

Du Yanyu this time was truly furious to the extreme, “I see you have truly gone mad!”

Yao Xiaohui hadn’t cooled down yet, “Yes, I am mad! I’ve gone mad! I cannot stand to see you well with another woman! I shouldn’t have married you!”

Her entire life succeeded because of marriage, and was defeated because of marriage as well.

Falling in love with a man, being constantly anxious and full of care for him, pouring her heart and ripping her lungs out for him, yet in the end, it was making a marriage garment for someone else.

This grievance—how was she supposed to endure it?

As she thought and thought, she actually cooled down slowly. Du Yanyu was too angry to pay any more attention to her; walking over, he hurriedly checked on Du Yu, and then asked Jiang Sheng, “Are you alright?”

Jiang Sheng smiled, “I’m fine.”

“It’s good that you’re fine.” Just after Du Yanyu finished speaking, his eyes caught a smear of bright red on the back of Jiang Sheng’s hand, “Still saying you’re fine, it’s already bleeding.”

Over on her side, Yao Xiaohui was aggrieved and heartbroken, sitting by herself in the sofa, silently grieving, her eye sockets completely red.

Looking at this situation, she was willing to call a ceasefire to this farce. Du Yanyu cast a glance at Auntie Fang, “Have someone clean that up properly, and by the way, call someone to bandage Jiang Sheng up a bit.”

Auntie Fang had also witnessed this scene just now, seeing this scene of Jiang Sheng throwing a punch over. Thinking that his hand must have gotten injured, she hurriedly called Kelly to bring the medicine box over.

The speed of Kelly bringing it over was very fast. Auntie Fang opened the medicine box, just intending to give Jiang Sheng a good bandaging up, but she was turned down by Jiang Sheng, “I’ll do it myself.”

Auntie Fang assumed he wasn’t used to being served by others, so she didn’t force it, letting him be.

Jiang Sheng raised his hand, just preparing to use gauze to wipe away the blood on the back of his hand, when he was spotted by Du Yu beside him.

Jiang Sheng was sitting down, while Du Yu was standing up. He slightly bent his waist down, probably wanting to look a bit more closely, his two eyes staring at the back of his hand, saying in a light and gentle voice, “A-Sheng… is bleeding…”

His face was visually estimated to be less than twenty centimeters away from the back of Jiang Sheng’s hand. Seeing him looking so single-mindedly without blinking, Jiang Sheng smiled and said, “It’s fine, it will be better in a moment.”

His other hand rummaged through the medicine box, wanting to find gauze, but suddenly felt a wave of coolness coming from the back of his hand.

Turning his face to look, it turned out to be Du Yu.

His face had moved a bit closer than just now, his fair cheeks slightly puffed up, blowing air with a regular rhythm.

After blowing for a while, catching sight of Jiang Sheng looking at him, he raised his eyes, his gaze pure, smiling faintly as his dimples appeared and disappeared indistinctly, saying softly, “Blow on it, and A-Sheng won’t… hurt anymore.”

Jiang Sheng was stunned.

After smiling for a split second, Du Yu lowered his head again, gently blowing air.

He blew seriously, as if it really could reduce the pain.

In reality, this scratch was completely unfelt for Jiang Sheng; Jiang Sheng didn’t feel pain, but now with Du Yu blowing on it, bringing a faint coolness, that sensation actually felt quite comfortable.

But it was impossible for him to truly let Du Yu keep blowing on it for him forever.

His hand retracted down, smiling faintly, “Thank you, A-Yu. I don’t feel pain anymore.”

Hearing him offer thanks to himself, Du Yu smiled gently and obediently.

Jiang Sheng took a piece of gauze to wipe the bloodstains first, and only after that did he follow by sticking a piece of gauze on. Because the wound wasn’t large and Jiang Sheng didn’t want to make it too troublesome, he only simply stuck a piece of gauze on.

Just as things were finished here, Fushan came in from outside.

Behind him followed several people, carrying in the piano that Jiang Sheng and Du Yu had taken a fancy to today.

“Mr. Jiang, where do you see fit to place this piano?”

“Place it in the attic.”

After all, it was for Du Yu to learn, so it would be more convenient.

Du Yu’s gaze watched Fushan lead the people to climb upstairs. Jiang Sheng smiled and explained to him, “That is your piano.”

Du Yu murmured softly, “Piano…”

“Yeah, A-Yu can learn the piano in the future.”

“Learn the piano…” Du Yu said in a low voice, “A-Sheng learn it too.”

Jiang Sheng smiled, “I won’t learn it, I’ll just watch A-Yu play.”

“Must learn.”

Du Yu furrowed his brows as he looked at him.

Jiang Sheng was probably used to Du Yu being so stubborn sometimes. Because it was fated that there was no way to make him compromise, he had no choice but to compromise himself.

“Okay, then I will learn together with A-Yu.”

Du Yu smiled and nodded his head, “Mm.”

Because Yao Xiaohui had a big fight with Du Yanyu in the afternoon, making her utterly exhausted, her entire being was listless, so she didn’t come for dinner in the evening.

At the dining table, there were only four people: Du Yu, Du Yanyu, Jiang Sheng, and Auntie Fang.

Just as Du Yanyu sat down at the table and saw that Yao Xiaohui hadn’t come, he didn’t even feel like asking. Picking up his chopsticks, he issued the command, “Let’s eat.”

After saying that, he picked up some food, casting a glance at Jiang Sheng, “Your hand is fine now, right?”

Jiang Sheng replied, “It’s fine, a minor injury.”

“Mm, that’s good then.” Du Yanyu said, “Right, I heard Fushan say that A-Yu picked a piano?”

“Yeah.”

Du Yanyu smiled, “A-Yu picked it himself?”

“Yeah, saw that he likes it very much.”

Du Yanyu’s brows smoothed out, smiling gently, “The piano is not easy to play, but for this to be picked by A-Yu is indeed rare. In previous years I took him to shops to pick items, and not once did he choose. When asked about anything, he would say he wanted it, would say it was good, but as a result after buying it back, I never saw him touch it.”

Jiang Sheng smiled, “Then this time he probably truly likes it.”

“If he wants to play, if he is truly willing to play, later on I will hire another piano teacher to teach him well.”

Auntie Fang also chimed in along, “That would be wonderful. If this is learned over a long term, perhaps our A-Yu might even be able to play a piece by himself.”

Du Yanyu associated this with that image—Du Yu’s fingers moving like flowing water and floating clouds on the piano keys, wearing a tailcoat, a proud son of heaven aura spontaneously arising, actually feeling that his autism might slowly get better because of this. His entire being brimmed with joy.

He said to Jiang Sheng, “Go back and let him play first. If there’s no problem, tomorrow I’ll have someone invite a teacher back.”

Jiang Sheng replied, “Understood.”

When Du Yu was well, everyone was well.

At the dining table, a harmonious and joyful atmosphere instantly arose. In fact, as long as Yao Xiaohui wasn’t around, the home was usually a scene of harmony and joy.

Du Yu didn’t know yet that whether he was willing or not, Du Yanyu had already planned to arrange a teacher for him.

He silently sat beside Jiang Sheng eating his meal, watching Jiang Sheng pick up the stir-fried green vegetables in front of him several times, so he turned his face to look at him.

Jiang Sheng was currently eating his meal, sweeping a glance, “What’s wrong?”

Du Yu extended his hand, scooped up a large portion of green vegetables, placed it into Jiang Sheng’s bowl, and looked at him obediently, “A-Sheng eat.”

Jiang Sheng’s hand holding the chopsticks paused; however, in truth, the people at the dining table all paused as well.

This was the very first time Du Yu had served food to someone else. In this house, only Du Yanyu had ever received this treatment, and that was a very long time ago.

Du Yanyu knew Du Yu didn’t treat Jiang Sheng as an outsider, but he didn’t expect that he would treat Jiang Sheng so specially.

For the first time, he felt that he could no longer view him strictly through the identity of a bodyguard.

He recalled the words the psychologist had spoken to him not long ago: If one day Du Yu is willing to go and make contact with another person, talk, or even be a bit more special—not saying anything else—at least one point can be certain: this person can bring Du Yu out of his shadow.

Jiang Sheng didn’t think too much of it. Ever since Jiang Sheng brought him to fly a kite, he seemed different toward himself.

Looking at the food piled up in his bowl, the taciturn him only said one sentence, “Thank you.”

Du Yu’s eyes instantly curved. He still wanted to keep serving food; his thoughts were simple, merely because he was thanked with a sentence by Jiang Sheng, he wanted to keep serving it to him, and then be told thank you with a smile again.

This kind of feeling for him seemed very unique. Du Yu wouldn’t state it, but merely felt it was best if Jiang Sheng kept smiling like this forever.

But he was stopped quick-eyed and deft-handed by Jiang Sheng, “That’s enough, A-Yu. I can’t finish it all, no need to serve more.”

As he spoke, he also returned the favor by using a spoon to scoop up some diced chicken that Du Yu loved to eat, smiling faintly, “You eat too.”

Du Yu lightly grinned his lips. It looked like he was very happy, lowering his head, and started eating his meal slowly and in a very orderly manner.

Du Yanyu remained silent the whole time without speaking, and only after a good while did he ask him, “Is it often like this between A-Yu and you?”

Jiang Sheng let out a laugh, “Yeah, lately he seems to like giving me food to eat very much.”

Du Yanyu nodded his head and didn’t speak further.

He didn’t want it to be a joy in vain, planning to find time to take Du Yu to the psychologist’s place once more. He hoped Jiang Sheng truly could be that person.

After finishing the meal, Du Yu was taken by Fushan to take a bath.

Jiang Sheng also casually washed himself up and returned to the attic.

The brand-new piano was placed not far from the entrance of the attic.

The items inside the attic were originally few, so this piano became the most conspicuous thing in the attic.

Jiang Sheng wanted to wait for Du Yu to return before tinkering with the piano, so he lay down on the bed alone first.

Sister Xia had sent him a message, saying that Yu Chengyan’s state had been much better recently, and suddenly started muttering about Jiang Sheng again, asking him when he would have time to go back once more.

Jiang Sheng couldn’t give a certain time, replying with a sentence: Will go over when free, and then put down his phone.

His brows smoothed out, everything seeming to start developing in a good direction. Gazing at the ceiling, he thought about matters for a while.

Feeling a bit utterly bored, he returned to his senses, suddenly remembering that hanging chain, so he fished it out from his pocket.

The pendant in the middle was a photo box, which could hold photos.

Jiang Sheng gently flipped open the cover, took a glance at Du Yu’s bed opposite, thinking in his mind: Don’t know when would be good to give this hanging chain to him.

Du Li liked his older brother so much; it was likely absolutely necessary to put a photo of the two of them together inside. He could just get a small headshot put inside, let him hang it, and see it at all times—much more convenient than holding a photo frame the whole day.

How to get a small headshot into his hands—this was yet another problem.

He thought to himself, his thoughts wandering a bit out of focus.

Thinking and thinking, he saw the door being pushed open.

It was Fushan sending Du Yu back, seeing Jiang Sheng lying on the bed and smiling, “Mr. Jiang is sleeping so early?”

Jiang Sheng put away the hanging chain, stood up, and said, “Not yet.”

Fushan smiled faintly, “I have already had someone prepare the medicine. It can be sent over in a moment; Mr. Jiang look after A-Yu to make sure he takes it later.”

“Understood.”

“Oh right.” Fushan was just preparing to close the door when he suddenly recalled another matter, “Mr. Du said he wants to invite Dr. Tan to come over tomorrow morning. Wants A-Yu to sleep a bit early, and needs to wake up a bit early tomorrow morning.”

“Dr. Tan?”

“It’s A-Yu’s psychologist.”

“Understood.”

“Then Mr. Jiang rest a bit early, I’ll head out first.”

After Fushan left, the attic fell quiet once again.

Du Yu had just finished bathing, his body still carrying moisture. He spotted the piano at a single glance and sat down with a smile.

Leaning his head, he said to Jiang Sheng, “Piano…”

Jiang Sheng originally wanted to study this piano with him tomorrow, but seeing Du Yu having such an interest, he didn’t stop him either.

Smiling faintly, he walked over and sat down beside Du Yu.

A music score book was also placed on the piano surface. Jiang Sheng flipped it open to look; it was almost entirely staff notation. Only when flipping to the very end did he discover there was a page of numbered musical notation—the song Youthful Travels (Shaonian You) that everyone in Jinpu knew how to sing.

A song with very strong positive energy, the piece was very simple, similar to songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Two Tigers—simple melodies, very suitable for beginners to learn.

Jiang Sheng couldn’t understand staff notation, but he could understand numbered musical notation.

However, the piano was after all different from the guitar; it was just fortunate that this song was simple, almost being simple tunes like 1123556, 2234577, and then looping like this.

Although Jiang Sheng didn’t understand the piano keys, do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti—these few notes he could still hear out.

Trying to press a round, he heard it out.

Then following the numbered notation, he hummed gently. Although it wasn’t fluent enough, the piece finally came out after all.

After finishing playing, Jiang Sheng looked at Du Yu, “How about it, does it sound good?”

Du Yu nodded his head, “Good to hear.”

“Do you want to learn?”

“Want to learn…”

Jiang Sheng didn’t teach him the notation; even if he taught him, he wouldn’t necessarily be able to remember it.

He extended his index finger, saying to him, “A-Yu extend your finger.”

Du Yu followed by extending his index finger. Jiang Sheng gripped his wrist, slowly leading him to press on those few piano keys following the rhythm.

While pressing, he followed along by singing with quite some feeling. He was a native of Jinpu; this song was sung by all the streets and neighbors during his childhood.

How many years had it been since he sang this song? Suddenly singing it, it felt like returning to childhood.

“A tiny youth travels to the four directions, returning after losing his way is his hometown. If you want to ask where the hometown is, go to West Port to look at the bright pearl.”

He leaned his face, his brows lightly raised, his expression pleasant, rarely showing a bit of a young man’s feeling.

He sang very patiently, almost holding Du Yu’s wrist, emitting one word for every key pressed.

Du Yu looked at him half-understanding, listening to him singing a song. The voice when he sang was vastly different from usual; usually when speaking, his voice was always a bit magnetic and low.

Now singing a song, it was like penetrating through that layer of low window paper. Even though it wasn’t sung very coherently, as Du Yu listened, he just felt it was very good to hear.

But he didn’t speak, only carrying a smile at the corners of his mouth, watching the piano keys being pressed one after another like this.

This song only had four lines, very short and also very simple.

Jiang Sheng led Du Yu to practice three times, and followed along by singing three times.

By the fourth time, just when starting to press the first key “Do,” when he sang out “tiny,” Du Yu also followed along by singing.

He just heard Jiang Sheng sing beautifully, so he also wanted to follow along by singing.

Saying he sang, he yet didn’t seem to be singing—looking like he was reciting words, only carrying a bit of an intonation. He felt within himself as if he also followed along by singing.

Jiang Sheng smiled, yet didn’t say anything, following by pressing the next key, and then sang another “tiny,” immediately followed by Du Yu also singing, “tiny.”

Du Yu’s tone color was clear, but the words spat out always felt carrying a bit of childishness, probably because of the reason that he was ignorant of worldly affairs.

A Filipino maid passing by the attic inadvertently heard the bursts of singing coming from inside.

“A tiny youth travels to the four directions.”

Behind followed another segment, a soft and sticky voice, “A tiny youth travels to the four directions…”

The piano sound leaped joyfully on the fingertips, “Returning after losing his way is his hometown.”

“Returning after losing his way is his hometown…”

Jiang Sheng taught very patiently, “If you want to ask where the hometown is.”

Du Yu leaned his head, “If you want to ask where the hometown is…”

“Go to West Port to look at the bright pearl.”

“Go to West Port to look at the bright pearl…”

Du Yu followed Jiang Sheng step by step; whatever line he sang, he would follow by singing that line.

His twin eyes were dazzlingly bright, the smile on his face a streak of bright light.

Heaven can take away everything—shutting the door, closing the window, and further pulling on black curtains—yes, all of this is possible. But what absolutely cannot be taken away is a person’s longing for light.

In a dark life, provided there is a single person ripping open a tiny bit of the black curtain to reveal the slit shadow of light, then, this person has the meaning to pursue.

Living also has meaning.

The Du Yu of the past was abandoned by heaven. He closed himself off, his entire world having no one else except himself and the silhouette of Du Li in his memory.

At that time, he didn’t understand yet that outside the world where the door was shut, there was light, butterflies, and kites. Everything he once longed for was outside that door, it was just that he had forgotten it all.

That night Du Yu slept exceptionally well, almost in a deep slumber, that smear of a smile at the corners of his mouth not dissipating for a long time.

In a muddled state, he dreamed a dream.

Dreaming of the night he was kidnapped, he and Du Li were locked into a small dark room. That night it rained so heavily, crashing and clattering, keeping on falling without stopping, the thunder sounds terrifying.

At that time he was still very small, his stature short, and the ground was wet and cold. Shivering, he shrunk into Du Li’s embrace, raising his head to look at the cold wind howling and sweeping outside the window framed by bars, only feeling it was so high, so very high.

Du Li held him and said, “I’m so hungry, A-Yu. Going home tomorrow, what do you want to eat?”

He said in a crisp voice, “Cake.”

Du Li said, “Then you have to listen to me. When we go back, I’ll have Dad prepare two cakes. I’ll give mine to you too, how about it?”

That night was so cold, but because feeling that they could go home tomorrow and there was cake to eat, he leaned against Du Li and slept very soundly.

In the morning, Jiang Sheng was awakened by Auntie Fang.

Somewhat awkward—it was still the first time letting someone else wake him up, the key being that Du Yu was already awake.

Clearly the one who slept soundly last night was Du Yu, while he always slept lightly, yet in the morning he slept this late.

Du Yu was sitting by his bedside. After Auntie Fang gently woke him up, carrying an apologetic meaning, she said, “Sorry, Mr. Jiang, it’s A-Yu—he insisted on waiting for you to eat breakfast together. I had no choice but to disturb your rest.”

With his hand supporting the bed surface, Jiang Sheng sat up, took a glance at his wristwatch—it was only five-thirty. His voice carried the hoarseness of just waking up, “How come you woke up so early?”

Today was Saturday, Du Yu’s day off; even when there were classes usually, he would only wake up past six o’clock.

Auntie Fang explained, saying, “Mr. Du has to go to work early, and the appointment with Dr. Tan is at six, so he told me to wake A-Yu up a bit earlier.”

“How come you didn’t call me?”

He was a working stiff after all; how could he sleep even later than Du Yu?

Auntie Fang said with a smile, “There’s no need to go out anyway. Mr. Jiang follows A-Yu the whole day, you should rest more too.”

Jiang Sheng didn’t pick up the conversation.

Du Yu sat by the bedside looking at him, cradling a bowl of millet porridge in his hands, two maids standing behind him holding trays.

One tray was Western food—bread, ham, sandwiches, fried eggs…

The other tray was Chinese food—steamed buns, boiled eggs, breakfast pancakes, and also two bowls of porridge.

He handed the porridge in front of Jiang Sheng, “Eat.”

These past few days Du Yu was always like this, and Jiang Sheng was used to it.

He accepted it, but didn’t eat, placing it on the table to one side, “Why isn’t A-Yu eating?”

Du Yu looked at him, “Eat together.”

Auntie Fang said with a smile, “A-Yu refused to eat, shouting to come up and eat together with you, so I had no choice but to have people bring all the food up.”

Mobilizing a crowd like this truly made Jiang Sheng a bit unaccustomed. He wasn’t used to being served by others; eating a meal while having so many people staring was genuinely uncomfortable for him.

He stood up, “No need, tell them all to take it down. I’ll go down with A-Yu to eat right away.”

Auntie Fang associated with him a lot and knew he didn’t like others serving him, smiling, “Then I’ll take them down first.”

As soon as the people left completely, Jiang Sheng looked at Du Yu and said patiently, “A-Yu, next time I am not around, you eat your meal by yourself, don’t wait for me, understand?”

A scene like this—Jiang Sheng experiencing it once was enough.

Not to mention he would also request leave; although a vast amount of time was spent on Du Yu, it wasn’t all of his time either. He had his own matters, and also his own home.

But Du Yu didn’t understand this reasoning, only looking at him, muttering, “Eat together.”

“I know, but sometimes I will not be around, do you understand?”

“Eat together.”

Jiang Sheng touched his forehead, saying helplessly, “Forget it.”

Then smiling faintly, looking at him, “Eat together, eat together. Let’s go, go down to eat.”

In the living room, Du Yanyu was currently reading the paper. Jiang Sheng saw him when coming down from the stairs, greeting him, “Good morning, Mr. Du.”

Du Yanyu moved his gaze from the newspaper onto his body, replying with a “morning” and then said, “A-Yu didn’t eat for your sake?”

He had heard Auntie Fang mention it just now.

Jiang Sheng couldn’t tell whether he was pleased or displeased, answering truthfully, “Apologies, Mr. Du. A-Yu, he wanted to wait for me to eat.”

Du Yanyu suddenly let out a laugh, “It’s fine, A-Yu trusts you, and I am also very happy. Go eat.”

Just as Jiang Sheng was preparing to leave, Du Yanyu said again, “Right, last night you taught A-Yu to practice the piano?”

He only heard it from a Filipino maid in the morning. When he was eating, he only saw Auntie Fang and Du Yu, so he casually asked a sentence, “Where is Jiang Sheng?”

A Filipino maid who knew about it told him.

Jiang Sheng replied, “I did teach him. A-Yu likes the piano very much, so I simply taught him to play a bit.”

Du Yanyu smiled, “You actually know how to play the piano?”

Jiang Sheng smiled, “How could I know? I just know a few note keys. Seeing Du Yu wanted to learn, I taught the song Youthful Travels, as long as it didn’t mislead him it’s fine.”

As for the song Youthful Travels, how simple it was Du Yanyu still knew. He put down the paper, “He was truly willing to learn?”

Then he smiled again, “Then it seems he truly likes it. In a moment I’ll have Cheng Fei arrange a piano teacher to teach him.”

Jiang Sheng said, “That would be good too.”

By the time they reached the dining table, Du Yu was already sitting on his chair, but hadn’t moved anything yet. Seeing Jiang Sheng come over, he smiled faintly: “Eat…”

Jiang Sheng sat down with a smile, seeing that there was still nothing in his plate, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Du Yu said softly, “Wait for A-Sheng…”

Jiang Sheng took a bowl of millet porridge. At this time there were no other people around; Auntie Fang and Du Yanyu had both eaten, leaving only Jiang Sheng and Du Yu at the dining table.

He cast a glance at Du Yu, “What does A-Yu want to eat?”

Du Yu pointed at the same millet porridge as Jiang Sheng. Jiang Sheng brought a bowl for him and placed it in front of him, “Eat.”

Just as they were eating here, Dr. Tan arrived.

Fushan led him into the living room, saying to Du Yanyu, “Mr. Du, Dr. Tan has arrived.”

Du Yanyu stood up and walked over, smiling, “It’s rare to make an appointment with you. Have you been busy lately?”

Dr. Tan replied with a smile, “Busy, but when you call me, I always have to give you face.”

After saying that, he asked, “Where is A-Yu?”

Du Yanyu said, “Eating. You come over, I called you to come meet a person.”

As he spoke, Du Yanyu led Tan Shao over.

Tan Shao guessed at a single glance the person Du Yanyu had mentioned on the phone last night.

He was currently sitting at the dining table, Du Yu leaning very close to him. A maid came over to deliver medicine; he poured a few pills into the palm of his hand, and then said something to Du Yu, only to see Du Yu obediently extend his hand, and then take the medicine down.

The last time Tan Shao saw Du Yu was probably three months ago. When Du Yanyu planned to let Du Yu go to school, he had come over to consult him on whether letting him go to school would have an impact on his illness.

His reply was that making more contact with peers might perhaps have a soothing effect on his illness.

He said “perhaps” at that time; to be honest, his certainty wasn’t very large, or rather it was nearly very low, because Du Yu was simply too autistic.

He had associated with Du Yu for such a long time, yet hadn’t heard him say a few words, and calling him produced no reaction either.

Those tests conducted on him—without exception, he occupied the lowest possibility.

But what made him somewhat surprised was that strictly from the surface, he could tell that the current Du Yu was obviously different from three months ago.

Hard to imagine, such a short time.

He tilted his head to ask Du Yanyu, “Who is that person?”

Du Yanyu replied, “The bodyguard I hired for Du Yu.”

“Bodyguard?” Tan Shao took another glance.

This person’s facial features were a bit sharp, his aura slightly cold, but during contact with Du Yu, his eyes and brows were always gentle. It could be seen that he treated Du Yu very well.

Du Yu treated him differently from others too.

“When did he start following A-Yu?”

“He’s been following him ever since A-Yu started going to school.”

“How does he follow—inseparable like body and shadow?”

“Yeah.”

Tan Shao said, “In a moment I’ll conduct another test on him to see.”

Du Yanyu gave an acknowledgment, stepping forward to say to Du Yu, “A-Yu, look who has come to see you—this is your Uncle Tan.”

Du Yu cast a glance at him, no waves whatsoever in his gaze.

Tan Shao greeted Du Yu with a smile, “Hello, A-Yu. Have you been listening to Dad lately?”

Du Yu raised his head to look at Du Yanyu. Du Yanyu said, “A-Yu needs to be polite. Uncle Tan is talking to you, what are you supposed to do?”

Du Yu replied slowly, “Listen to Dad…”

In fact, it was much better. In the past, Du Yanyu had to speak to him several times before Du Yu could respond to the meaning in his words.

Tan Shao smiled, and Du Yanyu formally introduced Jiang Sheng to him again, “This is Jiang Sheng. I didn’t tell you—he used to work in the Jinpu police station before.”

“It can be seen; Mr. Jiang has the courage of someone who has worked in the police force.” Tan Shao smiled and extended his hand, “Hello, Mr. Jiang. I am Du Yu’s psychologist, Tan Shao.”

Jiang Sheng extended his hand to shake with him, “Hello, Mr. Tan.”

After a simple introduction of identities, Tan Shao brought Du Yu into the room.

Du Yanyu spoke to him seriously, “A-Yu, you must listen to Uncle Tan seriously, remember?”

Du Yu didn’t respond, his half-understanding gaze sweeping past Jiang Sheng. Jiang Sheng smiled faintly, not speaking.

Entering the room, it was very quiet. Du Yu sat opposite the desk, and Tan Shao slowly and gently asked him according to the questions on the form.

A very minor portion of the questions he answered, but for the vast majority of the questions, he was just like before, not answering words.

Tan Shao felt very strange; clearly when he saw Du Yu at the dining table just now, he wasn’t this appearance.

He originally still had a lot of confidence—this kind of form, Du Yu could at least get sixty or seventy points. The difference from what was imagined was a bit large.

Thinking and thinking, a jolt—he suddenly understood something.

He opened the door, seeing Jiang Sheng not far away, “Sorry, Mr. Jiang, trouble you to come in for a moment.”

Jiang Sheng opened the door, “What’s wrong?”

Tan Shao handed the form to Jiang Sheng, “Sorry, it might require you to play my role for a bit.”

Jiang Sheng looked down at the contents on the form and understood.

Tan Shao sat to one side to observe, while Jiang Sheng sat in Tan Shao’s original position.

The first few items, such as “reacts to others calling one’s own name,” “body will react to feelings of pain,” “does not actively avoid eye contact with others”…

These few items had already received points when Tan Shao did them just now. Although Du Yu didn’t speak, as long as the demeanor, gaze, and movements had a reaction, it all counted as a reaction.

In previous years he had barely ever scored a few points, so it was already an improvement.

Therefore, these few items when Jiang Sheng did them also similarly received reactions.

Behind there were also, “whether able to accept simple instructions (e.g., sit down, stand up, come over).”

Jiang Sheng cast a glance at Du Yu; he wasn’t dazed. Generally when he wasn’t dazed, calling him would mostly receive a response.

He pointed at a book on the desk, “A-Yu, bring that over to me.”

And so Du Yu extended his hand, picked up the book, and handed it over.

This item when Tan Shao did it was 0 points.

He did several items in a row, all without any problem, until there was one item where Jiang Sheng paused for a moment, asking Tan Shao, “Body exhibits severe stiffness—how do I test this one?”

Tan Shao replied, “Try giving him a hug.”

Jiang Sheng didn’t hesitate, putting down the form, walking to Du Yu’s side, and then, extending his hands, hugged him.

His arms went around Du Yu’s neck, his head leaning against his head, his cheek pressed against his ear. Du Yu’s ear was icy and cool, while Jiang Sheng’s shoulders were broad and thick. When hugging Du Yu, it was like scooping his entire being into his embrace.

From Tan Shao’s angle, he could only see Du Yu’s head.

Du Yu was stunned, his facial features stopping all reaction.

He was clearly the most afraid of tickles; Jiang Sheng pressing against his ear like this—usually a slight rub would make him laugh and shout it was ticklish—this time yet had no reaction whatsoever.

He was blank, letting Jiang Sheng hug him like this.

After Jiang Sheng hugged for a while, he asked Tan Shao, “How is it?”

Tan Shao was currently observing Du Yu. Seeing that he had no reaction for a good while, he let out a sigh, “Still won’t do.”

Just as Jiang Sheng heard this and was preparing to loosen his hands, he suddenly heard Tan Shao shout a sentence, “Wait a moment.”

Only to see that Du Yu’s gaze had already returned to his senses. He slowly raised a hand, gently stroking onto Jiang Sheng’s back.

His movements were a bit stiff—probably because he hadn’t been approached closely by someone else like this for many years—and his expression was also very stiff.

But it could be seen that he was already doing his best to respond.

Feeling him hugging himself, Jiang Sheng was somewhat surprised. The hand hugging him gently patted his back, looking as if reassuring him.

Tan Shao let out a laugh, “Alright, Mr. Jiang, the test is finished. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Jiang Sheng loosened his hands, turning his face to say, “It’s fine. Du Yu is a good kid; anything Jiang Sheng can help with, I will definitely help to the best of my ability.”

Tan Shao smiled, “If Mr. Du were to hear these words of yours, he would definitely be very happy.”

After saying that, he looked at Du Yu who was out of it, “Alright, A-Yu, you can go out.”

Tan Shao compared the two sheets of paper, shook his head with a smile, and then followed out as well.

Passing through this round, in fact, Jiang Sheng had already guessed why Tan Shao wanted to call him to do the test for Du Yu. He had to admit that Du Yu was different toward himself compared to other people.

Du Yanyu was currently drinking coffee outside. Seeing Tan Shao come out, he hurriedly asked, “How was it?”

Tan Shao handed the two forms over, pointing while explaining, “This one was tested by your bodyguard Jiang Sheng, and this one was tested by me for A-Yu. Testing in previous years, A-Yu at most scored ten points, which was the absolute ceiling… Today I tested him and only scored thirty. In fact, it’s already counted as an improvement, but I yet felt it was strange, so I called your bodyguard inside.”

He let out a laugh, “He tested a seventy for Du Yu.”

Du Yanyu had actually guessed there would be a difference, but just didn’t expect it to be this high. Somewhat excited, “Seventy points—is that no different from an ordinary person?”

Tan Shao said, “There are still some differences, but roughly simple communication is no problem now.”

Du Yanyu’s eyes and brows fully opened with a smile, the cares of how many years all put down. Several decades later, even if he died, he would die in peace.

“That truly is wonderful. A-Yu, he finally can…”

Seeing Du Yanyu so excited, Tan Shao really wanted to let him keep being excited. Unfortunately, psychologically it wasn’t allowed, so he still interrupted him, “Mr. Du, did you misunderstand something?”

“What?”

“That seventy points was tested by Jiang Sheng for him; I tested him and only scored thirty. Do you understand the meaning of this? Or let me switch to a more blunt way of putting it—that is, although Du Yu scored seventy points and can communicate simply, that is also only in front of Jiang Sheng, and it is also only simple communication. Anything more complex he cannot understand for the time being, and still needs to go little by little.”

Du Yanyu’s bitter tears swirled inside his eyeballs, stubbornly not falling down, “Only in front of Jiang Sheng?”

“Yeah.”

Even if it was like this, Du Yanyu also saw the light, his heart full of joy, “Even if it’s only in front of Jiang Sheng, I am also happy. Having waited for so many years, I have finally seen the light.”

Tan Shao smiled, “Yes, Mr. Du. I see this bodyguard truly is Du Yu’s miraculous medicine. Du Yu’s future will have to rely on him.”