Green Tea Enters The Story Of Abuse [Book] Chapter 13

“Can we talk in the bedroom?” An Yu pleaded. “I don’t want anyone else to know.”

Wu Yuan always kept his distance when An Yu and Xing Zhan were interacting.

He watched as the two exchanged a few words, and then An Yu ran upstairs, with Xing Zhan following quickly, taking large strides.

This was truly…

In any case, Wu Yuan had never seen Xing Zhan look so eager.

But a day apart felt like three years, especially for a newly married couple. It was understandable.

He went to the dining room and told the servants not to rush the meal.

In the bedroom, An Yu recounted how An Pinghai had asked him to sound out Xing Zhan’s interest in a collaboration, adding some personal details: “He also told me to eavesdrop on your business affairs and see if I could find any leverage.”

He never spoke without a basis. In the original novel, An Pinghai had indeed given the Original Host this order, though the Original Host refused.

“So that’s it,” Xing Zhan said. “It’s fine.”

To manage such a vast family business, he had encountered countless ill-intentioned people; An Pinghai was completely insignificant.

An Yu, however, was surprisingly impressive. Despite the difficulty, he was willing to be open and honest.

An Yu looked disappointed in his father. “How can it be fine! It’s all my fault. He looks down on me, which is why he dared to scheme against you like this.”

With the Green Tea Arts taking hold, he felt sad and angry, guilty yet full of fighting spirit.

Afterward, Xing Zhan was confronted with An Yu’s bank card transaction history.

An Yu showed him An Pinghai’s transfer record: “No wonder he suddenly gave me such a large sum of money. He’s never been this generous…”

He considerately scrolled through the pages, showing the recent transaction records clearly.

Xing Zhan focused his attention: …One million yuan. Was that considered a lot?

An Yu’s current bank balance was 4.12 million yuan, 3 million of which Xing Zhan had transferred that morning.

In other words, An Yu originally had only about 100,000 yuan in savings.

His expenditures today were high, all related to the pet store, except for an eight-yuan purchase at a milk tea shop.

What could eight yuan buy?

He had to hide at home, keep the cat secretly, and barely had any money…

Xing Zhan himself had a monthly allowance of 100,000 yuan before he turned ten.

The An Family was considered wealthy; how could they be so stingy with An Yu?

An Yu secretly glanced at Xing Zhan and saw that he was indeed staring blankly at the eight-yuan expense, feeling smug inside.

Look at me, how poor I am! How pitiful!

They couldn’t casually deduct money from him in the future.

An Yu showed the bank records not only to prove An Pinghai’s malicious intent but also to show that his small savings couldn’t withstand deductions. Living under the same roof, conflicts were inevitable, but if every bump cost 100,000 yuan, even the God of Wealth couldn’t endure it.

An Yu clutched Xing Zhan’s sleeve. “Dad wants to cooperate with you; he should show sincerity, not act like this. I won’t take your money for nothing, and our family won’t take advantage of yours. You sent so many betrothal gifts to our house… I’ll be leaving in a year; this isn’t a real marriage at all. I’ll help you get the betrothal gifts back!”

He seemed overwhelmed by guilt and was desperate to make amends.

Xing Zhan looked at the hand gripping his sleeve. The hand, like its owner, was delicate, fair, and fragile.

Yet, despite this fragility, he constantly did unexpected things, both good and bad, with decisive resolution.

Among the betrothal gifts given to the An Family were many cherished items belonging to Xing Zhan’s elders. While Xing Zhan regretted losing them, the An Family didn’t know the marriage was only for a year, making it difficult to demand them back immediately.

Xing Zhan didn’t expect An Yu to have any useful method, but An Yu’s intention was good this time, and he should be encouraged.

He asked, “How will you do it?”

An Yu said, “The one who should have married you was An Shi. Our family broke the agreement first, so Dad is very guilty…”

He leaned closer to Xing Zhan and whispered.

Xing Zhan hadn’t expected An Yu to actually have a feasible plan, so he said, “We can try it.”

An Yu thought, What do you mean, ‘try it’? It’s practically guaranteed!

A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it ethically. He didn’t want those items for himself; he simply couldn’t stand An Pinghai keeping them. Otherwise, both the Original Host and Xing Zhan would have been wronged.

Having made a small show of loyalty, An Yu grew a little bolder and brought the cat into the bedroom when it was time to sleep.

Xing Zhan returned from the study and saw An Yu curled up on the sofa, holding the cat. He asked him, “Why aren’t you in bed?”

An Yu stroked the Little Orange Cat’s head. “Can I sleep holding it? Just for one night.”

The kitten was timid and needed time to adjust to a new place. An Yu planned to set up a proper bed for it tomorrow morning; once it was familiar with the surroundings, it could sleep alone.

Xing Zhan didn’t want to agree. For over twenty years, he had slept alone. Recently, with An Yu added to the mix, his sleep quality had been fragmented.

An Yu knew he was asking for too much. A cat was a living creature, and no matter how clean, it shed fur, and Xing Zhan was a germaphobe.

He tugged at the small blanket covering his legs and offered Plan B: “Can I sleep on the sofa with it? Its legs are too short to climb onto the bed.”

An Yu wasn’t afraid that Xing Zhan would forbid the cat from the bed; he was afraid Xing Zhan would clear both him and the cat out of the bedroom. To outsiders, that would signal falling out of favor, leading to many unpredictable changes in his life.

The sofa was large enough, and An Yu’s pearl-white pajamas were slightly oversized.

This made him look somewhat frail.

The kitten nestled in his arms sensed the awkward atmosphere and licked his wrist.

Xing Zhan said, “Just one night.”

As long as the cat didn’t climb onto his head, it was only one night; it would pass quickly.

An Yu’s eyes curved into crescents. “Brother, you’re so kind!”

He had been half-sitting, but he slid down and lay flat. The kitten scrambled up and instinctively nestled in the crook of his neck.

Xing Zhan said, “…Get into bed.”

Although An Yu guaranteed the kitten was very clean, Xing Zhan still wiped it down with a wet wipe, paying special attention to its four paw pads.

This night was not as difficult as Xing Zhan had imagined.

An Yu unconsciously held the kitten, and his sleeping posture was much more peaceful.

In the middle of the night, the kitten secretly sniffed Xing Zhan’s face. After having its ear tip pinched, it quickly scurried away.

Xing Zhan enjoyed a rare good night’s sleep.

The next evening, Xing Zhan didn’t work overtime and went to the bedroom early.

Seeing him arrive, An Yu murmured to the kitten, “Brother will come see you again tomorrow morning…”

Before he could finish speaking, a broad chest enveloped him briefly, and the cat in his arms was gone.

An Yu looked over.

Xing Zhan lifted the kitten by the scruff of its neck and placed it on the bed, then went straight to wash up.

An Yu followed him to the bathroom, poking his head around the door. “Brother…”

Xing Zhan didn’t look at him. “You don’t want to hold it tonight?”

An Yu asked, “Can I hold it tomorrow too?”

It looked like he would be able to sleep well tomorrow night too. Xing Zhan said expressionlessly, “Depends on its behavior.”

An Yu said, “It’s very well-behaved. Once it gets a little fatter, I’ll take it to see Grandpa. The doctor said keeping small animals can make people happy…”

An Yu wasn’t talking nonsense; ever since the kitten arrived, he had been in a good mood.

However, An Pinghai’s temper quickly arrived via phone call.

An Yu meekly said he was looking for an opportunity to sound Xing Zhan out.

He looked for this opportunity for half a month.

During this time, An Pinghai couldn’t wait any longer and nervously contacted Xing Zhan, probing indirectly.

Xing Zhan hung up after a few sentences, citing an urgent matter.

An Pinghai suspected Xing Zhan was trying to renege on the deal, but he didn’t dare to confront him.

He sent An Yu a message: [If there’s no progress soon, don’t call me your father anymore!]

Two days later, at ten o’clock at night, An Yu estimated that An Pinghai was likely asleep and called him.

The sleeping An Pinghai was startled by the phone call.

When the call connected, he was about to erupt in anger, but he heard An Yu say anxiously, “Dad, something bad has happened!”