Love Notebook of a Reclusive Beautiful Boy - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

After discussing the birthday party arrangements, Du Yanyu took Jiang Sheng and Du Yu out for a meal at Xiao Lang Ting.

This meal was different for the Du family: there was no Yao Xiaohui; Zhong Huiyin was gentle and generous; and for the first time, Du Yu was willing to go out. The progress he made by dining outside was significant, and Du Yanyu’s mood could truly not be described by a simple word like “happy.”

When they had finished eating, the group prepared to return.

Old Ma had received the news and had been waiting outside Xiao Lang Ting early on. After the meal concluded, Zhong Huiyin walked Du Yanyu and the others all the way to the hotel entrance.

She adjusted his tie and said softly, “Don’t argue with her; remember to be safe on the way back.”

Having spent so long in the business world, Zhong Huiyin had a good grasp of how a woman should appear gentle and magnanimous in front of a man.

Du Yanyu loved that she was poised and generous. He smiled and patted her shoulder, “I know. I’m leaving; call me if anything comes up.”

“Mm, go back quickly.”

Saying that, the group boarded the car.

The moonlight was beautiful tonight. Du Yanyu, fresh from the comfort of his lover’s company, was in a great mood. Suddenly, he remembered what Secretary Chen had told him that afternoon.

He looked at Jiang Sheng and asked, “How did A-Yu do with his piano lessons today?”

When Xue Xue left yesterday, Mother Fang had asked her the same question. Xue Xue’s reply was that it was “not bad,” but his attention was not focused, and things always had to be said several times.

This was an old problem; Du Yu often stared blankly and lost focus, so there was nothing new to report.

Jiang Sheng replied simply: “Not bad.”

“Not bad? Was he willing to listen to the lesson?”

“Mm.”

Du Yanyu glanced at Du Yu and smiled, “A-Yu, did you listen carefully to your piano lesson today?”

“A-Yu is obedient…”

Du Yanyu patted his head, “As long as you are obedient. When the teacher is speaking, just listen carefully; don’t think about other things, do you know?”

This was the first time Du Yu had shown interest in learning something. Whether he could master it or succeed, Du Yanyu didn’t care; he just needed Du Yu to be willing to learn, and that was enough.

Du Yu did not answer him, silently looking at the road ahead.

Seeing him remain silent, Du Yanyu asked again, “Then, was A-Yu happy learning piano today?”

Du Yu’s expression was hesitant, then he nodded, his voice faint, “Happy…”

The words were spoken with some hesitation.

Du Yanyu saw his hesitation and asked, “What’s wrong? Is A-Yu not happy?”

Du Yu slowly turned his face to look at Jiang Sheng in the back row, his eyes filled with anticipation, “A-Sheng, don’t learn…”

No one knows a child like his father; Du Yanyu understood what he meant.

“You want Jiang Sheng to learn with you?”

Du Yu nodded, “Learn together.”

Du Yanyu smiled, knowing that he viewed Jiang Sheng differently.

He was also happy for Du Yu to be this way. Tan Shao’s words were still echoing in his ears; letting Jiang Sheng and Du Yu interact more was not a bad thing.

He turned his face toward Jiang Sheng and said, “A-Yu wants to learn the piano with you. You still know how to play ‘Youth Journey’ [Shaonian You], so you must have good talent. I’ll tell Secretary Chen to inform the piano teacher later; from now on, you can learn together.”

In one sentence, every decision was set in stone, leaving Jiang Sheng no room to refuse.

This was not a discussion; it was an announcement.

Although Du Yanyu spoke politely, his meaning was obvious: he was giving Jiang Sheng absolutely no chance to decline.

Jiang Sheng knew that Du Yu wanted him to accompany him in learning the piano, and he didn’t actually mind.

But hearing the underlying tone in Du Yanyu’s words—that he was not permitted to refuse—made him frown slightly.

Yet, who told him to sign that contract in the first place? From then on, nothing he did could be of his own volition; he was not his own master.

He was stunned for only a few seconds, but his tone remained gentle, devoid of anger or joy, extremely flat.

“I understand.”

Du Yanyu, naturally, would not care whether Jiang Sheng was willing or not; he only needed Du Yu to be happy.

He smiled and lowered his head to look at Du Yu, “A-Yu, starting tomorrow, Jiang Sheng will be learning the piano with you. Are you happy?”

Du Yu’s mood was significantly better than before. His eyes curved, and his tone became livelier, “Happy…”

Then he turned his head again to look at Jiang Sheng, his eyes still smiling, “A-Sheng, learn piano together.”

Du Yu was persistent about this; he simply wanted to learn with Jiang Sheng. Perhaps it was because that night, when Jiang Sheng taught him, he played very happily and listened very happily.

Or perhaps, it was because of something else.

He clearly liked listening to the piano, yet that day, he could never really focus on the music.

If it hadn’t been for his heart thinking constantly about the words Jiang Sheng said to him: A-Yu, you learn quickly, and when you’ve learned it well, will you teach me, okay?

Because of that sentence, he sat there obediently and listened for a very, very long time.

Although he tried his best to listen, in his mind, he kept wondering, What is Jiang Sheng doing outside?

To Du Yu, not seeing him made every second seem to stretch longer.

He couldn’t figure out these things, nor could he understand what this meant for him.

He only wanted to finish learning quickly so he could go out and play with Jiang Sheng. But he had sat for a very, very long time before he heard Xue Xue’s voice: Alright A-Yu, this lesson ends here. Did you learn what I taught you today? Remember to review; I will test you tomorrow. Now let’s go out.

Of that long sentence, he only heard the words “go out.”

In that moment, his somewhat gloomy face instantly brightened.

Jiang Sheng would not understand Du Yu’s thoughts, and not even Du Yu understood them himself.

Although Jiang Sheng didn’t like what Du Yanyu said, it was just a fleeting moment of discomfort in his heart upon hearing it.

He knew his own identity; Jiang Sheng had self-awareness and understood it very clearly.

He smiled slightly at Du Yu, “Mm, from now on, I can learn with A-Yu.”

Du Yu was simple and cute; few people could dislike him, and Jiang Sheng was no exception.

He was a rational person and would never hold any resentment toward Du Yu because of other matters.

Du Yu heard Jiang Sheng’s words and turned his head back, smiling.

The car was quiet for a while. Jiang Sheng looked out the window, his thoughts drifting far away as he contemplated things, when his phone suddenly vibrated.

He opened his phone and took a look; it was a message from Sister Xia.

[Mr. Jiang, Sister Yan had another episode yesterday. She has refused to eat, and when Dr. Shao came for his rounds yesterday, he said she needed to change her medication, but it requires you to come in person. When do you think you’ll have time to come over?]

Things seemed to pile up deliberately; Du Yu had to learn the piano, his birthday was coming up in a few days, and there was still Yao Xiaohui at the Du residence causing trouble all day. How could Jiang Sheng find an opening to ask Du Yanyu for leave?

Jiang Sheng felt a bit irritated. He didn’t reply to the message, closed his phone, and turned toward the window, looking somewhat exhausted, seemingly wanting some peace.

The car drove quickly. It was already dark, and neon lights had been hung on the street trees on both sides of the road. Beneath such a dazzling city, the dots of light seemed so humble, so insignificant.

Human fate was just like these neon lights, contributing their own share of light on this long line of bulbs.

From the moment they were hung up, no one had the right to say no.

Jiang Sheng lost himself in thought for a while. Perhaps because he had quieted down, his heart settled, and the fatigue dissipated along with it.

He opened his phone and replied to Sister Xia: [I understand. I am not free for the moment; let’s make it in a few days. How is my mother now?]

Sister Xia replied quickly; not long after, the message came back.

[She has already fallen asleep. She has refused to eat, insisting that there is poison in the food. No matter how much I try to persuade her, she won’t eat.]

Jiang Sheng replied: [What does the doctor say?]

Sister Xia replied: [The doctor says to change her medication, but the cost will be higher than before, so he wants you to come over and see if you are willing to change it.]

Jiang Sheng was just about to reply when Du Yanyu suddenly asked, “The lines I told you to teach A-Yu last time, have you taught him?”

Jiang Sheng put away his phone and replied, “Not yet, I plan to teach him tonight.”

“Mm,” Du Yanyu said, “Hurry up and teach him well.”

The car drove fast. Just as Jiang Sheng finished speaking to Du Yanyu, Old Ma stopped the car and hurried out to open the door for Du Yanyu.

Jiang Sheng remembered he hadn’t replied to Sister Xia’s message, so he took out his phone and replied: [Don’t wait for me. If it’s useful, go ahead and change it. I don’t have time recently; I will go over it when I have free time.]

After sending it, he followed along and got out of the car.

Seeing the three of them come in together, Yao Xiaohui guessed what was going on and prepared to interrogate Du Yanyu, “Where did you go?”

Du Yanyu couldn’t be bothered to talk nonsense with her; knowing she was bound to make a scene, he said to Jiang Sheng, “Take A-Yu upstairs first.”

Jiang Sheng understood and nodded, “Then we will head up first.”

They had only reached the fourth floor when they heard a huge argument break out downstairs, accompanied by Yao Xiaohui’s cry of “Let’s perish together!” Jiang Sheng closed the door.

Once the door was closed, it was much quieter.

Du Yu habitually sat on the edge of his bed.

Jiang Sheng lay on his own bed, half-reclining against the headboard.

Remembering that Du Yanyu had mentioned teaching Du Yu his lines in the car, he took the slip of paper out of his pocket.

Looking at the note, he read it silently in his heart: Thank you, friends, for attending my eighteenth birthday party. I just returned to China this year, my Chinese is not very good, and I hope everyone can have a pleasant evening tonight.

As he read, he drifted into thought: Since Du Yanyu cares so much about Du Yu, and since he has prepared such a grand birthday party, why is he unwilling to openly introduce Du Yu’s identity to the public? If it is because of Du Yu’s condition, then why prepare this birthday banquet at all?

Or perhaps, what was the reason?

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly felt his head being touched.

He came back to his senses and looked to the side.

Du Yu was sitting on the edge of his bed, his back against the headboard, his face slightly turned, his forehead gently resting against Jiang Sheng’s temple. He was curiously stretching his chin to see the paper in Jiang Sheng’s hand.

After watching for about a few seconds, his eyes lifted slightly to look at Jiang Sheng. With this lift, his face tilted, and his cheek gently brushed against Jiang Sheng’s. His big eyes blinked, “What is A-Sheng looking at…”

The slightly warm sensation pressed tightly against Jiang Sheng. Jiang Sheng inexplicably felt it was a bit strange, but he couldn’t put his finger on what was strange about it, so he simply allowed him to lean against him like that.

Jiang Sheng glanced at him, “Does A-Yu want to know what this is?”

Du Yu saw Jiang Sheng looking at it without speaking. Of course he wanted to know what it was.

He replied: “Want to…”

In the past ten years, Du Yu had not gone to school. Du Yanyu had hired tutors for him, but almost without exception, they would resign not long after.

The reason was none other than that he wouldn’t speak for a long time, or he would only spit out one or two words after a long while—and they wouldn’t even be related to the content being taught—making the tutors quite headache-prone.

Even so, Du Yanyu continued to hire tutor after tutor for Du Yu, but after many years, the results were minimal. Moreover, Du Yu never took the initiative to speak, which made it even more futile.

“Then, whatever I say, you repeat after me.”

Jiang Sheng looked at him and said,

“Okay.”

Du Yu obediently agreed.

“Thank you, dear friends.”

Du Yu obediently followed, “Thank you, dear friends…”

Jiang Sheng smiled, “Very good. For attending my eighteenth birthday party.”

“For attending my eighteenth…”

Jiang Sheng reminded him, “Birthday party.”

“Birthday party…”

“I just returned to China this year.”

“I just returned to China this year…”

He followed Jiang Sheng, repeating it sentence by sentence.

He was a youth who had just stepped out of a tower, taking tentative, cautious steps as he followed Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng was the knight, the guiding star in the sky, the pathfinder before the horse.

Whatever road lay ahead—a straight road, a turn, danger or not—Jiang Sheng would always go first.

Walking before him, as tall and silent as a black statue.

The teaching went very smoothly. Jiang Sheng could not be compared to the others; he explained things very clearly to Du Yu and told him he must remember them.

Du Yu listened to his words, so every sentence Jiang Sheng taught him, Du Yu would obediently listen. After teaching him a few times, he had memorized it.

Du Yanyu had told him with great solemnity that there must be no mistakes. He knew the gravity of the situation, so he dared not slacken.

Having already taught him five times and just about to teach him one more, whether he was tired of reciting it or something else, he suddenly buried his face in Jiang Sheng’s neck, his voice sounding cute: “A-Yu has remembered them all…”

The warm air from his words blew against Jiang Sheng’s neck, hot and itchy.

His nose tip pressed gently against Jiang Sheng’s collarbone; it was a bit cool. He probably found leaning against Jiang Sheng very comfortable, so when Jiang Sheng didn’t speak, he just stayed pressed against him like that.

Jiang Sheng was slightly stunned.

He finally knew what was “strange”—Du Yu seemed to be too intimate with him.

What two men could be so intimate? He was just about to push him away, but suddenly thinking of something, he wanted to laugh, so he let out a light laugh.

He himself didn’t even realize that he had just viewed Du Yu as a “man.”

But Du Yu was still just a child, having had no close friends for so many years, and when he needed his mother most, she was not by his side.

His stepmother made things difficult for him at every turn, and his only caring father was often away.

Only one servant, Mother Fang, put him first, looking after him and caring for him everywhere.

But in the end, she was a servant, and there were many things she couldn’t intervene in.

Now Jiang Sheng has arrived.

Jiang Sheng could tell that Du Yu relied on him very much.

Even the people in the Du house could see this.

He’s just a child, what was I thinking just now?

Jiang Sheng thought in his heart and laughed again.

So he reached out and patted him gently, with an extremely soft motion, “Alright, I know, then we won’t learn anymore.”