The Flower Of The High Mountain Is Pregnant With The Son Of The Sand Sculpture Ceo Chapter 22
byChapter 22 Pei Yumin, if you help me today, then…
Lu Shangyan received the fish soup Pei Yumin had prepared on the way. It was still warm. Pei Yumin’s cooking had always been good; in his limited memory, it was the best food he had ever eaten.
But the moment the lid was opened this time, his brow furrowed uncontrollably. It was clearly a fresh and fragrant soup, yet the moment the smell reached his nose, his appetite vanished completely.
Yet, he hadn’t eaten much dinner. Because Pei Yumin had been delayed on the road and came home ten minutes late, he was afraid of being fined for being late for work, so he hadn’t waited for Pei Yumin to return. He simply slurped a few mouthfuls of instant noodles and left.
He had been salivating when he took the thermos, but now the rush of hot steam made him feel completely full, even slightly nauseous.
Lu Shangyan didn’t want Pei Yumin’s efforts to be in vain. He wanted to pinch his nose and drink it, especially since the soup clearly looked very nourishing. However, the bowl just wouldn’t reach his mouth; instead, he held it further and further away.
Pei Yumin had always been confident in his cooking. Previously, when he brought Lu Shangyan a late-night snack, the food would be half-gone by the time he turned the corner of this street. The situation today was clearly wrong: “You don’t like fish?”
Just as Lu Shangyan was about to say no, Pei Yumin negated his own words: “No, that’s not right. The day before yesterday, when I made steamed fish, you ate more than half a fish by yourself. And I made fish soup once when we first moved in together; you ate it for two meals.”
At that time, he and Lu Shangyan were still hesitant to be too intimate. After Lu Shangyan ate lunch, he proactively offered to clean up the leftovers. Pei Yumin didn’t think much of it and went to work. When he returned that evening, he found out that Lu Shangyan had saved the leftover fish soup, reheated it, and used it to cook instant noodles.
With the old matter brought up, Lu Shangyan shook his head, slightly embarrassed: “Just smelling it makes me full.”
He couldn’t help but suspect that his palate had truly been spoiled by Pei Yumin.
Pei Yumin waited for a traffic light: “If you don’t want to drink it, then don’t. What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you when I get back.”
Lu Shangyan rolled the car window down a little. Once the air started circulating, he felt better: “No need. This is fine.”
He drank half the thermos of soup and ate three pieces of fish, then covered the rest: “Use this to cook noodles tomorrow morning.”
Pei Yumin smiled and said okay: “Then I’ll go buy some noodles later, we’re out.”
He didn’t really approve of Lu Shangyan constantly eating instant noodles. Since he was home, Lu Shangyan didn’t need to eat such unnutritious things. If he wasn’t home, Lu Shangyan didn’t know how to cook, and he was afraid Lu Shangyan would blow up the kitchen and hurt himself. Only in that situation was Lu Shangyan allowed to eat instant noodles.
Lu Shangyan rarely refused this time, nor did he feel it was too much trouble. Full and satisfied, enjoying the breeze, he leaned his head against the car window and fell asleep again.
This time, he didn’t sleep too deeply. He woke up just as they were nearing home. He sat in the car, taking a moment to regain his senses.
He wasn’t like this before. His body used to be incredibly strong. Even when it was snowing in winter, he could jump out of bed the moment the alarm rang to study for exams.
When getting out of the car, his hand unconsciously rested on his abdomen again, as if this had become an instinct.
Lu Shangyan looked down, and Pei Yumin also followed suit. Once he looked, he couldn’t look away. He was afraid Lu Shangyan would lift his shirt again to show him, asking him strange questions, and he would miss this “golden opportunity.”
No, no, he should be afraid of missing the chance to help Lu Shangyan answer his questions.
But this time, Lu Shangyan didn’t lift his shirt. He just touched his abdomen through the fabric, smoothing out the loose clothing, and showed Pei Yumin the outline of his belly: “Do you think my stomach has gotten a bit bigger recently? Did I gain weight?”
Pei Yumin wished he would gain weight, but not only had his face not gained any flesh, he looked thinner. Fearing that Lu Shangyan might start dieting because of this, he quickly said, “No.”
So Lu Shangyan stopped talking. After getting into the elevator, he started calculating again. Final exams were less than a month away, and many of his part-time jobs were coming to an end. He would have a lot of free time and would be paid a lot of wages. Then he would have the time and money to go to the hospital for a check-up.
He had also noticed the abnormality in his body and was afraid he might have a tumor growing in his abdomen. He needed to find a way to save enough money, lest he not even have the funds for surgery.
–
Lu Shangyan had something on his mind and tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After a while, he felt chest tightness and nausea. Lying down was impossible, so he simply sat up to read. His major didn’t really allow him to cram before exams.
But now, reading couldn’t calm him down either. He ran out, grabbed a small stool, and sat on the balcony to enjoy the breeze.
Pei Yumin’s bedroom was near the balcony. He didn’t turn on the light, afraid of disturbing his sleep.
Pei Yumin had bought this small stool a week ago. He had planted a row of flowers and plants on the balcony and would sit here loosening the soil when he had nothing else to do. The height of the chair was just right.
Today, Lu Shangyan, having nothing to do, took over Pei Yumin’s task.
Halfway through, Pei Yumin suddenly opened the door and came out. Lu Shangyan initially thought he had woken him up by tossing soil and was about to apologize, when he saw Pei Yumin tiptoeing to close the door, then bending over and quietly walking out.
He accidentally bumped into a dining chair on his way out and quietly muttered a curse, then quickly slipped to the entrance foyer and began carefully opening the front door.
Four inappropriate words floated into Lu Shangyan’s mind: “Wretched development.” He often heard this when listening to classmates play games in the classroom. He had been thinking about getting a new phone that could handle games when he had money, to see why they said that. He never expected the phrase to be used on Pei Yumin first.
He stood by the window and watched Pei Yumin run downstairs. The man was like a monkey just released from a cage, limbs flailing as he ran towards the main gate.
He hadn’t driven, so Lu Shangyan knew he wouldn’t go far. He stood by the window watching him, but after running a short distance, Pei Yumin was blocked by the residential buildings in front. Lu Shangyan had no choice but to squat down again to loosen the soil and water the flowers.
He hadn’t finished his work when Pei Yumin ran back up. This time, he stood at the doorway and looked inside, only then seeing Lu Shangyan on the balcony: “When did you get here?”
Lu Shangyan gestured with his eyes towards the stool that had been knocked out of place. Pei Yumin understood, but he didn’t think there was anything wrong with his frantic behavior just now. Instead, he smugly moved the stool and sat next to Lu Shangyan: “I thought I did it perfectly, no different from a secret agent in a novel. I didn’t even wake you up.”
Lu Shangyan’s expression was stiff: “How many CEO novels have you read?”
Pei Yumin genuinely thought about it: “Since junior high until now, I’ve been secretly reading whenever I have free time. I can’t even remember.”
Lu Shangyan’s mouth opened, unable to utter another word.
Pei Yumin, however, smiled, took the watering can from his hand, filled it with water, and continued watering the flowers. Although this wasn’t the ideal time to water, clearly spending time with Lu Shangyan was more important.
Lu Shangyan leaned against the wall, stretching out his legs, watching him work. After a while, he suddenly couldn’t help but blurt out: “It’s almost eleven. What were you running out for just now?”
Pei Yumin had been running so happily. He really wanted to know who Pei Yumin was so excited to see.
Pei Yumin was immersed in the excitement of Lu Shangyan proactively asking about his whereabouts, and his mind wasn’t working properly: “My parents came to see me. I was afraid they would disturb you, so I asked them to wait at the entrance.”
“They brought a lot of things. I was afraid bringing them in would wake you up, so I left them all at the door for now.”
Lu Shangyan pursed his lips, watching the happy lift of Pei Yumin’s eyebrows as he spoke. He realized that Pei Yumin’s relationship with his parents must have eased.
He had been temporarily “kicked out” before because their relationship had soured. So now…
In the dark night, Lu Shangyan’s eyes were still bright, brighter than before: “So you’re going to move back?”
His voice carried a hint of dampness. Pei Yumin realized the situation was wrong, and his upturned lips immediately straightened: “I’m not going back.”
He desperately tried to compensate: “My mom just said that I’ve become quite independent living on my own, and she doesn’t even want me to move back.”
Seeing that Lu Shangyan’s mood remained low, he squatted beside him, staring into his eyes, and asked half-jokingly, “Besides, if I move out, will you really bear to part with me?”
After saying that, his heart started pounding rapidly. He regretted saying that to lighten the mood.
Who knew that this time Lu Shangyan didn’t shy away, avoiding eye contact: “No.”
He paused, adding in his heart: Actually, a little bit.
Seeing Pei Yumin laugh out loud, he continued: “If you have a home, you must cherish it. You will go back eventually.”
Pei Yumin countered: “Then this is our home, the two of us. Is it not okay for me to come back here?”
His heart was beating even faster.
What kind of thing was he asking!
He stared at Lu Shangyan, afraid he would be unhappy.
But Lu Shangyan’s face showed no emotional fluctuation. He stood up and returned to his room first, though he was walking slightly awkwardly, with his arms and legs moving together.
–
Lu Shangyan was sleepless again. He went to school with two large dark circles under his eyes, dragging his body, looking incredibly fatigued.
Pei Yumin was worried. He originally wanted him to take the day off to rest at home, but Lu Shangyan refused. Unable to persuade him, Pei Yumin drove him there himself.
Since there were many people at this time, Lu Shangyan was afraid of being seen and sparking “gossip,” so he asked Pei Yumin to stop at the intersection across the road.
He was biting an unfinished bun, carrying his backpack over one shoulder. Inside were his textbooks and the nutritional smoothie Pei Yumin had insisted on giving him, telling him to drink it during his morning class.
As soon as he entered the main gate, the bun was slapped out of his hand.
Just like last time, the only person who would attack his food was Chen Shuo!
However, this time, a dignified and elegant woman stood beside him. She was very well-preserved and looked young. If it weren’t for her clothing and styling subtly revealing her age, Lu Shangyan would have thought she was Chen Shuo’s sister, given Chen Shuo’s old-looking face.
Chen Shuo pointed at his nose: “Mom! This dog-thing is the one who slandered me!”
He was truly petty, showing up so quickly, not even waiting a day. Lu Shangyan sneered, not wanting to argue with an idiot, and tried to walk around him.
But he was blocked by the bodyguard Chen Mu had brought. Chen Mu wore a dangerous smile: “What you did yesterday seriously affected Xiao Shuo. I guess there must have been a misunderstanding between you two before. How about we find a place to talk properly? That would be good for both you and Xiao Shuo.”
Half-threat, half-concession, she spoke flawlessly. But Lu Shangyan wasn’t stupid. He knew that if he really went with her, he would probably be “skinned alive” before returning.
He waited for more onlookers to gather so he could seize the opportunity to escape.
But before he could calculate a suitable escape route, his wrist was grabbed: “If you have something to discuss, talk to me. Don’t bother him.”
Lu Shangyan turned his head to the side. Many times before, he had solved things alone. At worst, he would fight for his life. Even when Lu Lin was choking him, he hadn’t thought of needing someone to save him.
But now, Pei Yumin stood beside him, and the warmth transmitted from his palm reminded him that relying on Pei Yumin occasionally didn’t seem so bad.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he let out a long breath: “Pei Yumin, if you help me today, you have to see it through.”