After Marrying Bigshot Vegetable Boss - Chapter 21

It was as if someone had pressed a button on Yu Lan, and his usually quick-witted mind was now working very slowly.

 

Chu Wang knew this wasn’t the right time for an explanation, so he simply and calmly asked him, “Do you want the surveillance to be seen?”

 

“If not, then do as I say first.”

 

Yu Lan’s face turned red, but there was no time for words now. He could only nod, “Okay.”

 

Chu Wang told him to hurry to the control room before the butler came upstairs and destroy all the surveillance footage from the previous day until now. He suggested making it look like a machine malfunction due to lack of maintenance or low battery—basically, creating a situation with no evidence.

 

“Anyway, first get Yu Ling out of here,” Chu Wang said. “Go to the second floor, finish the task, and then come back to take me down.”

 

Yu Lan couldn’t refuse, “…Okay.”

 

He didn’t use the elevator but instead went directly to the second-floor surveillance room via the stairs. He remembered Chu Wang’s instructions perfectly and easily followed them. From locating the records to deleting them and returning to his room, the entire process took less than ten minutes.

 

Considering that usually no one could enter without the password, no one noticed his brief visit.

 

As Yu Lan deleted the files and closed the door to go upstairs, he suddenly felt like he and Chu Wang were colluding in some nefarious scheme.

 

Forget it.

 

After all, neither he nor Chu Wang were protagonists in the book!

 

What was wrong with a villain and a minor character joining forces?

 

But just then, the embarrassing and terrifying feeling he had deliberately ignored came flooding back—

 

How did Chu Wang know?

 

Did he see it?!

 

If he saw it, how much did he see, how much did he realize??

 

Yu Lan’s entire scalp tingled.

 

It was over, all over.

 

Thinking back to the times he thought Chu Wang couldn’t see him if he didn’t touch him, and his actions before and after turning on the machine…

 

Yu Lan rubbed his face hard.

 

How did he act back then?

 

He couldn’t remember, he forgot.

 

Many times, he just improvised.

 

It was over.

 

His mind was still filled with a barrage of “It’s over, it’s over, it’s over.”

 

At the time, he had acted pitifully in front of Chu Wang, tearfully complaining that Yu Ling bullied him and that he got his clothes wet while trying to protect him…

 

Back then, Chu Wang even agreed with him!

 

Saying Yu Ling went too far!

 

So, he knew everything?!?!

 

Yu Lan didn’t dare to think about where he had slipped up and exposed himself.

 

But.

 

Even though he felt utterly hopeless, he still had a bit of thinking capacity left.

 

Chu Wang’s reaction just now clearly indicated he knew the truth, yet the first thing he did was tell him how to erase the surveillance footage and cover for him?

 

Yu Lan couldn’t understand this, but with time pressing, he could only brace himself and re-enter the room.

 

As soon as he looked up, he saw Chu Wang, who hadn’t turned off the machine yet due to the short time he was away: “…”

 

He put his hands behind his back, initially intending to soften his voice, but now he didn’t know what to say.

 

Yu Lan’s eyes were big, and in his genuine confusion, there was a hint of inexplicable grievance. He didn’t move forward, just closed the door and leaned his entire back against it.

 

Chu Wang originally thought it was no big deal up to this point, but then he saw Yu Lan’s usually proud little curls drooping, and the corners of his mouth slightly turned down…

 

“Mr. Chu…”

 

“Deleted?” Chu Wang spoke first.

 

Yu Lan cautiously nodded.

 

Chu Wang floated a little closer.

 

“I also figured out the pattern slowly,” Chu Wang thought that if he could touch him, he could smooth Yu Lan’s few strands of hair. “That day, I saw what happened between you and Yu Ling because you threw yourself at me, which allowed me to leave this room.”

 

“I wanted to tell you the first night, but since you spoke for me, I didn’t immediately contradict you.” Chu Wang first addressed Yu Lan’s concern. “I wanted to tell you later, but never found the opportunity.”

 

“If you touch me frequently outside, I can appear near the body, but why you can’t see me outside… maybe it’s because my soul is originally trapped here.”

 

Seeing Yu Lan’s still bewildered expression, Chu Wang found it cute and softened his voice, “Yu Lan?”

 

Yu Lan, still immersed in the shock of being seen through by Chu Wang from the beginning, took three calls to snap out of it and dumbly nodded, “Uh-huh.”

 

Just as he was about to speak, the room door was knocked: “Mr. Xiao Yu, Madam is back! Do you want to take Mr. Chu downstairs, or should I help?”

 

Their conversation was interrupted, and Yu Lan quickly replied, “No need! I’ll do it myself, we’ll be down soon!”

 

Yu Lan lowered his head, moved him onto the wheelchair, seemingly avoiding Chu Wang’s gaze, though his cheeks were still flushed, which was hard to ignore.

 

“I… I’ll push you downstairs for a walk, and then come back.”

 

Chu Wang looked at the soft hair on top of his head.

 

“Okay.” Though he knew it wasn’t possible, he still reached out his hand, his translucent long fingers passing through Yu Lan’s hair, as if patting his head for real.

 

“It’s okay, I won’t let Yu Ling bully you.”

 

He said.

 

Yu Lan barely managed to react, but to avoid suspicion, he pushed the vegetative body downstairs first.

 

Xi Yun had just returned from a business trip and hadn’t even changed her clothes, but she was still happy to see them: “Xiao Yu, thank you for yesterday.”

 

“Zhang Yan told me about Chen Lin’s incident.” Xi Yun’s expression showed no dissatisfaction, rather some appreciation, “She said you were quite assertive yesterday, and you did the right thing.”

 

If it were last night, Yu Lan would have unceremoniously accepted the praise and been proud of his acting.

 

But now, looking down at the person in the wheelchair, he felt like he was still being watched by Chu Wang.

 

Xi Yun assumed he was shy from lowering his head. The butler entered at this moment and informed her of a visitor: “Madam, you have a guest…”

 

He then mentioned that Yu Ling was still in the courtyard.

 

Xi Yun remained composed, “Lost something?”

 

Yu Ling came in, and Xi Yun, still polite to those not yet openly hostile, said, “Are you Xiao Yu’s brother?”

 

He nodded and brought out gifts from home: “Hello, Madam Xi, this is a small token from my mother.”

 

Xi Yun glanced briefly and let the butler take it aside.

 

She had heard about Yu Ling’s previous visit and, given her low regard for Liang Zhiyu, didn’t develop a good impression.

 

Yu Ling said, “I came today to check on Xiao Lan and make sure he’s doing well for my mom. Also, I’m sorry, I lost something in your garden before, but I couldn’t find it…”

 

He bit his lip and hesitantly asked, “Do you have any video records that I could check to see where I lost it?”

 

Xi Yun frowned slightly and looked at Yu Lan first.

 

As if seeking his opinion, if Yu Lan was uncomfortable, she wouldn’t agree.

 

But Yu Lan, having already deleted the records, thought to himself and subconsciously rested his hand on Chu Wang’s shoulder, as if drawing strength: “Sure, brother, I’d like to help you find it, but the weather is nice, and I need to walk Mr. Chu first, so I won’t join you.”

 

Yu Ling, thinking he felt guilty, immediately agreed: “No problem, I’ll find it myself.”

 

Then he asked the butler where to check.

 

“Lao Liu, take him there.” Xi Yun observed his actions and said indifferently, then looked back at Yu Lan with a much softer expression, “Xiao Yu, is there anything you’d like to eat tonight? I’ll have someone prepare it.”

 

Yu Lan was completely uninterested in dealing with Yu Ling, so he nodded, “I like everything! Thank you, Auntie!”

 

Then he pushed Chu Wang out.

 

Once they reached the garden and there was no one else around, Yu Lan finally stopped and carefully looked around.

 

—No sign of Chu Wang.

 

He squatted down, slightly tilting his head to look at Chu Wang in the wheelchair, whose expression remained calm and unresponsive.

 

Yu Lan spoke softly, “Mr. Chu?”

 

Could he really see himself outside as well?

 

He remembered Chu Wang saying he knew these things because he had thrown himself on him that day, so…

 

Seeing no one around, Yu Lan finally gathered his courage, stepped forward, and slowly, very slowly, pressed half his body against Chu Wang, half-squatting on the ground, and hugged the man in front of him.

 

Chu Wang heard a very soft, fragmented voice calling him.

 

“Mr. Chu?”

 

Yu Lan’s posture gave off an illusion of devoutness, his cheek resting against Chu Wang’s body, holding his hand, and calling him several times.

 

Despite having extremely sensitive hearing and vision, Chu Wang’s tactile sense as a soul was still very limited.

 

“Mr. Chu, can you really see me now?”

 

Yu Lan still seemed unwilling to fully believe it, his voice sounding different than before, filled with doubt and a bit of shy clarity.

 

“Let’s do this,” Yu Lan, always good at finding a way out, thought for a moment and said to the man in the wheelchair, “Let’s secretly make a pact.”

 

Not far away, an osmanthus tree stood, and as he spoke, a breeze blew a few golden yellow flowers onto Chu Wang’s shoulder.

 

Yu Lan was about to brush them off but paused. He carefully picked up the two osmanthus flowers, placed them in Chu Wang’s hand, and then secretly closed his hand around them.

 

“If you didn’t see it, it’s fine. But if you did, remember to remind me to take the osmanthus out of your hand when we go back.”

 

Having finished this stealthy act, Yu Lan felt like he was doing something mischievous and laughed at himself.

 

“The moon was particularly beautiful last night when I pushed you out,” Yu Lan stood up, talking to Chu Wang as if he were speaking to himself.

 

“—If I had known you could see, I would have touched you so you could see it too.”

 

Chu Wang, watching from a distance, smiled slightly.

 

“It’s not a regret,” he said, “there’s always a next time.”

 

But Yu Lan couldn’t hear his voice now.

 

Chu Wang saw Yu Lan pushing him slowly through the courtyard, occasionally greeting people with a smile, seemingly the same as before.

 

Suddenly, Chu Wang felt that there was no point in sunbathing; he wanted to talk to Yu Lan, to explain what had just happened, and to know what Yu Lan was thinking.

 

What good is sunbathing for a soul?

 

He didn’t remember how that night, when Yu Lan didn’t bring him out, he was trapped in the room thinking, why shouldn’t a soul need moonlight?

 

Meanwhile, Yu Ling in the villa had no leisure to think about these things.

 

Following the butler upstairs, he had sensed the change in Xi Yun’s attitude towards them, stiffening him.

 

But he quickly sped up—if he could find evidence of their framing from that day, Xi Yun wouldn’t be deceived by them.

 

He watched the butler struggle with the password: “Sorry, Mr. Yu, it’s been a while since anyone’s been here.”

 

Yu Ling nodded on the surface, but inwardly he was anxious to get inside and find the evidence of Yu Lan soaking himself and falsely accusing him.

 

But when the butler finally opened the door and approached the surveillance mainframe, he exclaimed, “What’s going on?”

 

Yu Ling’s heart sank as he rushed over to see the butler searching repeatedly before telling him, “Mr. Yu, it seems the surveillance has been down for two weeks, with no recordings.”

 

The butler gratefully added, “Good thing you mentioned it, or we wouldn’t have known when we would’ve discovered it.”

 

Yu Ling furrowed his brows tightly, unable to believe it was such a coincidence: “How is that possible?”

 

The butler looked at him strangely, “Mr. Yu, this is considered normal. It’s just that we really can’t help you find your things… Otherwise, I can ask someone else to pay more attention—”

 

But Yu Ling didn’t listen, walking over to the computer himself. However, the result was the same; there was indeed nothing there, with the time freezing just before Yu Lan came to Chu’s house.

 

The butler went downstairs to call security to restart the surveillance. Looking at Yu Ling beside him, he asked, “Mr. Yu, do you have anything else to attend to?”

 

Yu Ling was dazed for a moment before shaking his head somewhat absentmindedly.

 

How could this be just a coincidence?

 

Yu Ling certainly didn’t believe it. How could the records disappear completely when he came? But no matter how many times he checked upstairs, he couldn’t find the time from that day. It was as if someone had known in advance and made preparations. But even with today’s visit being almost perfect, the butler didn’t know about that day, and Yu Lan came later. Even if there were one or two servants present at the time, it would be impossible for them to inform Yu Lan in such a short time…

 

And Yu Lan went to Chu Wang’s room after returning and came down not long after…

 

—It couldn’t possibly be a vegetable telling him all this, could it?!

 

Yu Ling felt somewhat disoriented; such strange thoughts were emerging.

 

He left the second floor in a daze. When he was going downstairs, Xi Yun saw him and casually asked, “Did you find it?”

 

“No…” Yu Ling started to say but quickly changed his tune, “No, Mrs. Xi, I didn’t find it.”

 

Xi Yun seemed indifferent, nodding, “Then I’ll have someone keep an eye out for you.”

 

Perhaps because of the stark contrast in her attitude toward him and Yu Lan, Yu Ling was always able to use his acting skills to make elders like him. Faced with such a disparity now, he couldn’t accept it.

 

“Do you want to stay for dinner, Mr. Yu?” Xi Yun asked casually, as if it were just a necessary courtesy rather than a genuine invitation for him to stay.

 

Before Yu Ling could respond, someone spoke for him:

 

“Stay for dinner, big brother!” Yu Lan’s voice was sweet as he pushed Chu Wang in, adding, “You’re already here anyway.”

 

Yu Ling twitched his mouth, but his expression wasn’t too stiff, “No need, my mother is waiting for me at home.”

 

“I just wanted to…”

 

“Did you find what you were looking for, big brother?” Yu Lan looked at him with clear eyes, as if he knew exactly what Yu Ling was looking for and was confident that he wouldn’t find it.

 

“Maybe it’s lost somewhere…” Yu Ling could only say, “I’ll go look again.”

 

Yu Lan walked over slowly and met his gaze. “Oh,” he said.

 

“Did Mom ask you to bring me anything?” Yu Ling turned his face away, “She asked me to bring some gifts to Mrs. Xi. I’ve already taken them over.”

 

Yu Lan responded with a meaningful sound.

 

Yu Ling didn’t look at him.

 

He knew why Liang Zhiyu had called him over.

 

It would be best to find the surveillance; that way, he could change Yu Lan’s impression at Chu’s house and please Xi Yun. The best solution would be to use a mix of kindness and severity, and then give the money that he hadn’t given to Yu Lan last time. After all, if he couldn’t please Chu’s family, he could please Yu Lan. Now that business at the Yu family wasn’t going well, for the sake of his father, who wouldn’t want to rely on such a big tree?

 

But, but…

 

But Yu Lan had almost taken everything from him, and even now, it continued. His previously calm life had been disrupted. How could he still come to please?

 

Yu Ling paused for a few seconds before shaking his head, “I won’t stay.”

 

Then he suddenly remembered something else: “By the way, Xiaolan, do you remember the store we went to last time?”

 

Yu Lan’s eyelashes fluttered, wondering what was coming next.

 

He heard Yu Ling say, “The owner of that store messaged me, asking who the big spender was last time, wanting me to give them your contact information to send you some new styles they’ve got in.”

 

Yu Lan finally understood, nodding to himself.

 

Saying that he spent a lot of money… It was probably because he had directly placed the card on the counter that day.

 

Did he suspect that he had taken Chu Wang’s card?

 

He wasn’t worried at all; if Xi Yun asked, he could just say it was from Zhang Yan. At most, the amount he had spent on the card that day was indeed not small…

 

“It’s my card for Yu Lan, what’s the matter?” Xi Yun, who was supposed to go upstairs, overheard and said casually, “Is it not enough to spend, Yu Lan?”

 

“And I’ve arranged for a custom designer for you. In case you buy the same thing, it wouldn’t look good to bump into someone wearing the same outfit,” Xi Yun said to Yu Lan with a smile.

 

Yu Lan didn’t expect Xi Yun to cover for his card so easily…

 

It just showed that rich people don’t care about balances.

 

He nodded immediately, “I understand, Auntie. I just went for a stroll after school that day.”

 

“And why are you so curious about his spending, Mr. Yu?” Xi Yun didn’t pamper him, pointing it out directly.

 

Yu Ling’s expression immediately turned ugly.

 

“No, Mrs. Xi, I just…”

 

But Xi Yun didn’t seem very interested either, only saying to Yu Lan, “Auntie has some work calls to make. Remember to come down for dinner at six.”

 

Then she walked up the stairs in her high heels.

 

In the hall, there were only a few servants and the two brothers left. Yu Lan looked at Yu Ling again, “Brother, are you really not staying for dinner?”

 

Yu Ling felt as if he had returned to that store and been humiliated again. He bit his slightly pale lips and forced a smile, “No, thanks.”

 

Yu Lan didn’t insist, but said regretfully, “Alright then.”

 

“Then I’ll take Mr. Chu back first, no need to see you off.” He pushed Chu Wang, passed Yu Ling face to face, and said, “Brother.”

 

Yu Lan still had things on his mind and didn’t chat with Yu Ling anymore. After saying that, he entered the elevator with Chu Wang and returned to their room.

 

This time, he didn’t dare to play it cool like before. He closed the door directly, without even putting Chu Wang back in bed, and tapped Chu Wang’s hand, calling him, “Mr. Chu, Mr. Chu.”

 

Since Chu Wang was pushed back by Yu Lan just now, he had heard roughly what had happened. He was about to speak but met Yu Lan’s hesitant eyes.

 

—Right, the matter from earlier hasn’t been resolved yet.

 

Yu Lan didn’t know how much Chu Wang had seen or heard, so after summoning him out, he couldn’t think of how to start the conversation.

 

Chu Wang looked at him, thought for a moment, and then called his name, “Yu Lan.”

 

His tone was calm. Chu Wang saw Yu Lan’s long, curled eyelashes flicker before he looked back up at him.

 

Chu Wang felt like he had just planned out a whole set of procedures.

 

How to start from the beginning, how to let Yu Lan know the truth without feeling too embarrassed, how to inform him of his speculation, and finally how to end it…

 

Chu Wang had already thought through it all with a very formulaic, standard, and efficient approach, the kind he always used at work.

 

But when he saw Yu Lan’s beautiful, black eyes, there was only one thought left in his mind.

 

—If he wasn’t a soul, could he see himself in those eyes?

 

Yu Lan noticed his voice stop, waited for a long time, and then softly called him again, “Mr. Chu?”

 

“Perhaps, do you remember…”

 

What I just said in the yard?

 

He had hugged Chu Wang in the garden earlier. If what Chu Wang said was true, perhaps he could see and hear him.

 

Then he had made a promise, and those two flowers that fell on Chu Wang’s shoulder, which he had stuffed into Chu Wang’s hand…

 

“Yu Lan.”

 

He heard Chu Wang call him again.

 

“Is it autumn already?”

 

“The osmanthus should be very fragrant now.”

 

AN – Here we go! A bit late, but I went to a birthday party today~ 

 

This chapter’s message is to give everyone red envelopes, mwah mwah!