Why Does First Love Feel This Sweet? - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After dropping Sheng Yi off at the exam center, Rong Yu drove straight back to his parents’ residence.

The housekeeper opened the car door for him in the courtyard. “Young Master hasn’t been back in a long time.”

“Uncle Xu.” Rong Yu nodded politely, stepped out of the car, crossed the lawn, and entered the main manor house.

When Rong Yu was fourteen, Rong Qinghe seized a domestic economic opportunity and struck it rich overnight. The family moved away from the villa opposite Sheng Yi’s house and settled into this modern estate, nestled between mountains and water with exquisite views. When the new home was first built, netizens discussed the private estate with awe—the courtyard alone spanned nearly ten thousand square meters, with a total land area of twelve thousand. They marveled at the infinite possibilities of the wealthy.

But Rong Yu had barely lived there for a few days. To stay close to Sheng Yi, he lived in the old house until he graduated high school. After graduation, he bought his own property in a villa district near the university.

Rong Yu walked into the main hall. Rong Qinghe was leaning back in a rosewood chair, smoking a cigar while discussing business with a partner. Catching sight of his son finally returning home, the amiable smile on Rong Qinghe’s face faded slightly. He politely dismissed his guest and squinted at Rong Yu as he sat down.

“So you still know the way back?” Rong Qinghe sneered. “I don’t need an unfilial son like you.”

Rong Yu took a sip of the tea handed to him by the housekeeper, his eyes lowered calmly, saying nothing.

“Old Rong!” Tang Yun rushed downstairs upon hearing Rong Yu had returned. She arrived just in time to hear Rong Qinghe trying to drive him away and gave her husband a sharp look. “I’m the one who called him here, for his grandfather’s 80th birthday tomorrow.”

Rong Qinghe exhaled a cloud of smoke and gave a short laugh. “I thought you insisted on staying in the country to study medicine because you truly had great ambitions to save the world. Turns out, it was all for that boy.”

Rong Yu’s coat still radiated the chill from outside. His scarf lay across his knees; he hadn’t let anyone take it to be hung up, looking like he might leave at any moment. He drank his tea quietly, offering no argument.

“Did Xiao Yi force you into marriage? I find that hard to believe.” Rong Qinghe knew his son too well. He shook his head with a smile. “I think that silly boy has been manipulated by you, and he’s still helping you talk your way out of it.”

“Why bring that up now?” Tang Yun sighed and said gently, “Xiao Yu, your father and I have discussed it. If you two truly have those kinds of feelings, we… aren’t such close-minded parents.”

After all, their son was exceptionally talented and had always rationally planned his life. The couple didn’t believe Rong Yu would fall into ruin just because he married a man. Same-sex marriage was now common in society, with no shortage of successful individuals among them. Some social surveys even suggested that same-sex couples were more likely to achieve excellence in both marital happiness and career success.

However, the fact that a same-sex marriage could not produce biological children was something the couple, who were waiting for grandchildren, found hard to accept.

“After you finish your master’s degree, give up your plan to practice medicine and come back to inherit the family business,” Rong Qinghe stated his terms. “Then I will accept him. But you must adopt children in the future.”

Rong Yu put down his teacup. As if he had long anticipated this outcome, he didn’t think twice. “Fine.”

Tang Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Rong Qinghe was somewhat surprised. Rong Yu had always been very resistant to taking over his business; he had expected to negotiate several times to convince him. He hadn’t realized his son could be so “easy” to push around.

Actually, Rong Qinghe had always had a good impression of Sheng Yi. Having convinced himself, he figured he now simply had two sons to inherit the business. Striking while the iron was hot, he added: “I heard from your mother that Sheng Yi wants to major in fine arts? Tell him to study something practical so you can manage the group together later.”

“Impossible.” Rong Yu refused flatly, raising his eyes calmly. “You can only control me. His life is his own choice.”

“You really do protect him,” Rong Qinghe smiled. He wasn’t in a hurry; having secured the biggest concession, he knew when to stop. “Fine. Bring him over tomorrow night to meet the family. We’ll hold a wedding for you in a while and make it official. Since you’re married, bring him to live here. A family should live together, and in a courtyard this big, we old folks won’t disturb you young people.”

“That’s right,” Tang Yun urged. “We watched Xiao Yi grow up; we won’t make things hard for him. Besides, Xiao Yi’s health isn’t great right now. If you’re looking after him alone while studying, how will you manage? Living here, there will be people to help care for him.”

“There’s no rush for the wedding, and moving in depends on his opinion.” Rong Yu checked his watch and stood up. “I’ll bring him for Grandpa’s birthday tomorrow night. There’s one more thing,” Rong Yu said finally before leaving. “Sheng Yi has amnesia. He doesn’t remember the past. I hope you won’t say too much in front of him.”

With that, Rong Yu picked up his scarf and turned to leave.

Tang Yun: “!!” Rong Qinghe: “…”

…

As the final color theory exam ended, Sheng Yi carried his art supplies and leisurely followed the crowd out of the exam hall.

Winter nights come early; the sky had already turned a pure sapphire blue. Sheng Yi looked up at the richly colored sky and took a deep breath of the refreshing, crisp air. He turned on his phone and received a text from an unknown number: Xiao Yi, call me back after your exam. This is Cheng Wenge.

Cheng Wenge? Sheng Yi didn’t remember the name, but he had a vague intuition that it might be the middle school classmate he had seen at the engagement banquet. He dialed the number, and it was answered quickly.

Cheng Wenge’s tone seemed very familiar, but he didn’t sound like he was calling for a pleasant catch-up. “Finished? Are you free tonight? Let’s meet.”

Sheng Yi had been wanting to find him for a while, so he agreed. As he hung up and looked across the street, he saw a handsome young man standing by a car.

Amidst the dim crowd, the young man stood tall—a silhouette like a clear crescent moon cutting through the gloom, carving out a path of silver light for him. Across the crowd, their eyes met. The young man called out to him over the noise: “Hang-hang.”

Sheng Yi’s eyes lit up. He couldn’t wait; he slung his art bag over his shoulder, ran across the road, dropped his toolbox, and threw his arms wide to embrace him with a grin. “Wife! I missed you so much.”

Rong Yu was jolted backward by the impact, his long lashes lifting in surprise. After a second of stunned silence, he pressed his hand against Sheng Yi’s back to steady them.

Since childhood, Sheng Yi had always liked using physical contact to show affection. Back in school, he loved hugging his friends without restraint, like a child who had grown up abroad. It seemed he was still exactly the same after losing his memory.

It had been so long since Rong Yu had been initiated into such intimacy by Sheng Yi that he was dazed for a moment, remaining stiff for several seconds before responding. Feeling the warmth of the body against his, Rong Yu slowly lowered his gaze and gently patted the other man’s back. “It’s been hard on you. What do you want to eat? I’ll take you out tonight.”

“Can we do it tomorrow?” Sheng Yi looked up and said, “Someone asked to meet me in a bit.”

Rong Yu thought of something, his brow furrowing for an instant. “Did Cheng Wenge contact you?”

“Yeah. Cheng Wenge is that classmate who recognized me the other day, right? I want to see him. Maybe talking to him will help me remember some things.” Sheng Yi let go of him and scrutinized his expression, asking carefully, “Can I go?”

“Why not ask me?” Rong Yu’s gaze involuntarily dimmed.

In fact, Rong Yu had been waiting for him for a long time. Aside from the two questions on that first night, Sheng Yi had never asked him about the past again. Rong Yu guessed it was because Sheng Yi still felt like he was a stranger.

That was why he hadn’t stayed at home much this past month, maintaining a distance like a polite stranger. Before they could rebuild a relationship of trust, Rong Yu had given Sheng Yi plenty of time to get to know him again and space to be alone comfortably. He had always felt he had handled it perfectly, hiding his emotions well.

However, Sheng Yi’s response was something he hadn’t expected.

Sheng Yi looked at him for a while, then suddenly smiled and said softly, “If I ask you, you’ll be sad.”

Rong Yu’s pupils wavered slightly.

Seeing that Rong Yu was still habitually hiding his feelings, Sheng Yi embraced him once more, patting his back comfortingly.

The students by the roadside had dispersed, and the security guards were closing the gates of the exam center. Above them, the sky had deepened from sapphire to a dark navy. The blurred lights of passing traffic drifted past them like a dream.

Sheng Yi felt Rong Yu’s face brush past his ear as he lowered his head slightly.

“Xiao Yu, I’m sorry.” Sheng Yi had wanted to say these words for a long time. “I forgot our past, I lost your best friend, and I made you sad. I’ve already remembered a little bit.” Sheng Yi rested his chin on Rong Yu’s shoulder and said apologetically, “Just give me a little more time. I promise I’ll find myself again as soon as possible. Trust me.”

Sensing the slight tremor in Rong Yu’s body, Sheng Yi’s voice carried a smile, his tone light and reassuring. “I will definitely remember… remember just how wonderful a childhood friend my Rong Yu is.”