Chapter 91: Extra 19
Li Zhan had spent so much time with Ji Qingzhou that he had almost come to consider him a part of his own life.
The possessiveness and protectiveness he had unconsciously developed toward Ji Qingzhou felt entirely natural to him, so much so that he didn’t even need an external excuse to justify them. It was precisely for this reason that he had been so slow to recognize his own feelings for Ji Qingzhou.
Until that night, when Ji Qingzhou had kissed him first.
A kiss so light it could almost be ignored, yet it turned Li Zhan’s entire world upside down.
The feelings and desires that had not yet fully formed within him were effortlessly ignited by Ji Qingzhou, and once sparked, they became unstoppable. The impulses coursing through his body felt like a long-dormant beast suddenly roused, all vying to surge outward with a force so strong he could hardly contain it.
In truth, he didn’t need to restrain himself.
Ji Qingzhou loved him and was willing to give everything to him.
When Ji Qingzhou decided to kiss him, he had already discarded all hesitation.
The boy longed to be close to him, wishing he could offer even his soul in surrender.
…
…
That night, Li Zhan barely slept at all.
By the time dawn approached, he held the boy in his arms, almost convinced that everything from the night before had been a dream.
Yet the warmth and steady breathing of the person in his arms reminded him that it was real.
“Hiss…” Ji Qingzhou shifted in his sleep, pulling at a wound somewhere, involuntarily furrowing his brows and sucking in a sharp breath.
Li Zhan carefully leaned over and kissed the corner of his lips, then rose to fetch the medicine kit, looking for something to apply externally.
Ji Qingzhou woke up at the sight of him rummaging and blushed deeply when he realized what Li Zhan intended to do.
“No need…” Ji Qingzhou whispered. “It’s not that badly hurt.”
“Don’t be stubborn. Listen to me. Let me see.” Li Zhan coaxed him gently.
Ji Qingzhou had been very uninhibited the previous night, but now, for some reason, he was being awkward, refusing to let Li Zhan help. Li Zhan sat on the edge of the bed and reasoned with him patiently: “If you don’t let me apply the medicine and Li Cong notices your wound later, how are you going to explain it to him?”
“Just say I fell,” Ji Qingzhou said.
“Then he’ll insist on seeing exactly where you fell,” Li Zhan said with a smile.
Ji Qingzhou thought for a moment, then reached for the ointment from Li Zhan’s hand and said, “You go out first. I’ll do it myself.”
Li Zhan, at that moment, didn’t want to leave his side even a step, but he feared that if he stayed, Ji Qingzhou wouldn’t apply the medicine. So, he reluctantly got up and left.
After Li Zhan left, Ji Qingzhou went to the bathroom.
He first took a shower, then carefully applied the ointment himself.
Actually, although Li Zhan had been inexperienced and anxious the previous night, he had been quite gentle with Ji Qingzhou. When Ji Qingzhou said he wasn’t seriously hurt, it wasn’t a lie—his skin was delicate, and even a small scratch hurt, which made Li Zhan mistakenly think the wound was worse than it actually was.
Once Ji Qingzhou had finished tidying himself, he stepped out of the bathroom, feeling a little shy.
Although he knew no one else was in the house, he still felt nervous. Earlier, while checking himself in the mirror, he had noticed numerous marks left by Li Zhan on his neck. Though he put on a high-neck shirt, he still felt a bit self-conscious.
Fortunately, from his bedroom to the staircase, he didn’t encounter anyone. Otherwise, he would have been blushing and flustered all over again.
However, just as Ji Qingzhou was about to go downstairs, he heard raised voices coming from below.
It was Li Zhan and Father Li arguing, and judging by the tone, it was quite a heated dispute.
“You’ve grown bold now, thinking you can ignore even me!” Father Li shouted angrily.
“You’re the one overstepping. Don’t you think as a father, you’re meddling too much?” Li Zhan retorted.
Father Li grew even angrier. “I gave birth to you, raised you, and now I can’t even manage you?” he roared.
“Have you thought about why our eldest and second brothers have refused to return home for so long?” Li Zhan asked.
Father Li was momentarily stunned, as if the question had struck a nerve, and he immediately fell silent.
Since Ji Qingzhou had come to the Li household, he had never met Li Zhan’s eldest and second brothers. In the past ten years, Li Zhan and Father Li had met them abroad, but Ji Qingzhou remembered that every time Father Li returned, his mood was never good. On his face, there was no trace of joy at being reunited with his sons.
This time, Li Zhan’s eldest brother had someone send Li Cong back, refusing to come himself. It was clear he truly didn’t want to return to this home.
“Zhouzhou…” Ji Qingzhou stood at the top of the stairs, unsure whether he should go down to mediate or retreat and hide, when he heard a door open. A guest room door creaked, and Li Cong poked his little head out.
Ji Qingzhou walked over to him, and Li Cong reached out to hold his hand, looking up and asking, “Uncle and Grandpa arguing?”
“Yeah.” Ji Qingzhou knew Li Cong was smart, and he had no intention of smoothing things over between the father and son.
“Uncle is so fierce… Grandpa is fierce too.” Li Cong whispered.
Being so young, even though he was naturally outgoing, Li Cong could not help but feel some fear in front of Li Zhan and Father Li. On top of that, he had often witnessed his parents arguing while living abroad, so he was genuinely afraid of this scene.
Seeing this, Ji Qingzhou pulled Li Cong toward his own room, which was farther from the stairs and where the shouting couldn’t be heard.
In truth, Ji Qingzhou had rarely seen Li Zhan lose his temper. In his memory, Li Zhan had always been calm and composed, hardly ever using anger to get what he wanted. By contrast, Father Li had a typical temper, often provoked into anger, and raising his voice was normal for him.
However, most of Father Li’s anger in the past had been directed at the Fourth Young Master. Having a direct confrontation with Li Zhan, like today, seemed to be the first time.
“Zhouzhou, did you and Uncle kiss last night?” Once Li Cong entered the room, he felt much more at ease. Sitting on the carpet with his toys spread out, he began to gossip.
Ji Qingzhou chuckled. “You’re so young. Can’t you not care about these things?”
“What’s wrong with it? When I grow up, I’ll have to date too. I might as well start learning now,” Li Cong said very earnestly.
Ji Qingzhou reached out and ruffled his hair, asking, “Will you go back to your dad’s side?”
“They don’t like me…” Li Cong sighed. “And I don’t like them either.”
Ji Qingzhou felt a pang of sympathy. “Both your uncle and I like you.”
“Really?” Li Cong immediately lit up with a smile. “I like you both too.”
“If in the future you don’t want to go back, you can stay here. Your uncle and I will take good care of you,” Ji Qingzhou said.
Li Cong’s eyes brightened at the words, but he soon frowned slightly and asked, “Would Uncle mind if I’m a third wheel?”
Ji Qingzhou couldn’t help laughing. “You sure know a lot.”
“Zhouzhou, I know my uncle listens to you. If he doesn’t want me, you have to speak up for me,” Li Cong said.
Ji Qingzhou saw how the boy looked and felt a pang of tenderness. He coaxed him gently, “If he dares not to want you, then I won’t want him either.”
As soon as he said this, the door behind them opened, and Li Zhan strode in.
“You won’t want who?” Li Zhan walked to Ji Qingzhou and reached out as if to pull him into an embrace.
Ji Qingzhou stepped back, signaling for him not to act impulsively in front of Li Cong.
Li Zhan obediently refrained from any further action and instead sat cross-legged next to Li Cong, beginning to play with blocks alongside him.
“Why did you suddenly argue with your dad?” Ji Qingzhou asked.
“It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry,” Li Zhan said.
“You say that, but it makes me even more concerned. We’re already in this kind of relationship. Are you still hiding things from me?” Ji Qingzhou asked. Li Zhan paused and his expression softened slightly.
Li Cong interjected from the side, “What kind of relationship are you already in? Boyfriend relationship?”
Li Zhan’s hand came down roughly on Li Cong’s head, ruffling his hair, which made Li Cong protest until Li Zhan finally let go.
“He wants me to start working at the company right after graduation,” Li Zhan said.
“You don’t want to go?” Ji Qingzhou asked.
Li Zhan glanced at him. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just don’t want him to dictate things for me.”
Hearing this, Ji Qingzhou understood a little. “You’re afraid that if you accept this one arrangement, he’ll continue arranging everything else in your life, right?”
“Yeah.” Li Zhan nodded. “Look at what he did with my eldest brother—he arranged for him to go abroad and even arranged his marriage…” If Li Zhan accepted his father’s arrangement too easily, his father would soon start planning his marriage as well.
Li Zhan looked at Ji Qingzhou and took his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it all under control.”
“I’m not worried,” Ji Qingzhou said quickly. “It’s just that arguing won’t solve anything. Maybe you should find a chance to have a proper talk with him.”
Li Zhan nodded and smiled at Ji Qingzhou, the gesture reassuring him.
In fact, Li Zhan had been planning his life for years. While studying, he had done many things and saved a fair amount of money. Born into such a family, he knew that to escape his father’s control, he first needed financial independence. Without it, he would have no say in this household.
But Li Zhan wasn’t someone who opposed his father blindly. As long as his father didn’t interfere with his future or his marriage, he could coexist peacefully with him. After all, they were father and son, not enemies.
Now that Li Zhan’s relationship with Ji Qingzhou had grown closer, his plans needed to be even more careful.
After all, he couldn’t expect his father to be open-minded enough to unconditionally bless his relationship with Ji Qingzhou.
That day, after arguing with Li Zhan, his father moved back home. He had someone bring Li Cong, but Li Cong wanted to stay with Ji Qingzhou and Li Zhan, refusing to return. Father Li, being busy, didn’t insist.
From then on, Li Cong lived with Ji Qingzhou and Li Zhan.
During the day, Li Zhan was always very patient with Li Cong. Whether it was playing with him or telling him stories, he would almost always comply with any request. But at night, whenever Li Cong asked to sleep with Ji Qingzhou or insisted that Li Zhan stay and play with him, he was almost always refused.
After being forcibly sent back to his room several times, Li Cong began to feel a bit “hurt.”
One day, when Li Zhan wasn’t paying attention, he asked Ji Qingzhou, “Zhouzhou, do you think Uncle doesn’t want me anymore?”
“How could you think that?” Ji Qingzhou asked. “He likes you a lot and cares about you. He wouldn’t ever not want you.”
Li Cong furrowed his little brows, looking melancholy. “But he doesn’t want to stay with me at night, and he won’t let you stay with me either.”
Ji Qingzhou felt awkward. He didn’t know how to explain to Li Cong that the reason Li Zhan didn’t allow him to stay at night… was because the two of them had many “not suitable for children” things to do.
“Your uncle… snores at night. He’s afraid he’ll wake you up,” Ji Qingzhou said.
Li Cong looked at Ji Qingzhou with a face full of disbelief.
“How do you know? Do you sleep together every night?” Li Cong asked.
Li Cong’s question was completely innocent; there was no hidden meaning, but Ji Qingzhou, feeling guilty, blushed slightly.
Li Cong blinked, as if he had suddenly understood something.
In the past, his parents would occasionally take him into the guest room to sleep. Li Cong didn’t understand why there were things two adults couldn’t let him know, but he vaguely felt that parents who were close might all do this. So it seemed somewhat reasonable that Li Zhan and Ji Qingzhou didn’t let him stay with them at night.
The only difference was that his parents rarely needed to make him stay away, but Ji Qingzhou and his uncle required it every single night…
“Ahh!” Li Cong sighed softly. “Zhouzhou, after you and Uncle have a baby, will I have someone to keep me company?”
Ji Qingzhou, who had been drinking water, nearly choked on it.
Li Zhan, who had just entered the room, also clearly heard what he said.
“We won’t…” Ji Qingzhou started to say, thinking that as two men, there was no way they could have a child.
But Li Zhan joked, “Alright then, once we have a baby, he can sleep with you.”
Li Cong was delighted, studying both Ji Qingzhou and Li Zhan for a long while before asking, “Who’s the dad and who’s the mom?”
Li Zhan was momentarily taken aback. His earlier comment had been just a joke, never expecting Li Cong to take it seriously, and now he was truly stumped.
Ji Qingzhou quickly intervened, pointing at Li Zhan. “Your uncle is the mom, I’m the dad.”
Li Cong looked at Li Zhan, as if asking whether this was true. Li Zhan glanced at Ji Qingzhou, his eyes full of affection, and smiled. “That’s right. Whatever Zhouzhou says goes.”
“Yay!” Li Cong scooted over to Li Zhan, reaching out to touch his stomach. “Uncle, you’ve got this!”
Li Zhan laughed heartily at him, holding the little guy and ruffling him for a long while before letting go.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Father Li had been back home for two months.
The cold war between father and son seemed far from over, as Li Zhan still hadn’t mentioned returning home.
Ji Qingzhou, on the other hand, enjoyed living there. Besides the three of them, the house only had a cooking and cleaning maid, a few gardeners for the yard, and a driver.
But Li Zhan and Father Lir were, after all, father and son. Especially after the Fourth Young Master had been scolded by Father Li and sent away, Li Zhan was the only child left. Blood was thicker than water, and continuing this way wasn’t a solution.
Ji Qingzhou wanted to advise him but feared making Li Zhan upset, so he only hinted at the topic indirectly.
He thought this matter would drag on for some time, but unexpectedly, one day Father Li suddenly came over.
Whether intentionally or not, that day Li Zhan happened to be out, leaving only Ji Qingzhou and Li Cong at home.
After entering, Father Li didn’t ask where Li Zhan was. Instead, he instructed the housekeeper to take Li Cong out for a walk, clearly intending to speak with Ji Qingzhou alone.
Ji Qingzhou felt a chill run down his spine and a sense of foreboding rise.
Could it be that Father Li had discovered what he and Li Zhan were doing and, taking advantage of Li Zhan’s absence, wanted to confront him?
“You don’t need to be nervous. I know Old Three cares about you. If I make things difficult, he won’t let it go easily,” Father Li said, seeing Ji Qingzhou’s tension, trying to reassure him.
Ji Qingzhou relaxed slightly and stood quietly by, waiting for him to speak.
“You’ve been by the Third Young Master’s side all these years, officially as his companion for studies, but you should know how I’ve treated you,” Father Lisaid.
Ji Qingzhou nodded. Though Father Li could be somewhat snobbish, speaking and acting with a condescending air, he had, all things considered, treated Ji Qingzhou fairly.
Ji Qingzhou had the same standard of living as Li Zhan and received the companion allowance. Thanks to this, the Ji family’s finances had improved considerably. Ji Qingzhou was not ungrateful; he had always been aware of these things.
“I came to see you today because I have a request,” Father Li said.
Ji Qingzhou was startled. Father Li was usually arrogant and commanding. Today, he even used the word “request.”
Could it be… he was asking him to leave Li Zhan?
Ji Qingzhou, just having relaxed, immediately tensed up again.
“Take a look at this.” Father Li handed Ji Qingzhou a document.
Ji Qingzhou took it carefully, glancing at it. He didn’t fully understand, but he could tell it was something like a hospital report.
“This is…” Ji Qingzhou asked cautiously, looking at Father Li.
Father Li sighed and suddenly, overcome by grief, covered his face and began to cry.
Ji Qingzhou was frightened and didn’t know how to comfort him, so he quickly handed him two tissues.
Father Li took the tissues, wiped his eyes, and said, “No matter how wealthy or powerful a person is in life, they cannot escape birth, aging, sickness, and death.”
Ji Qingzhou’s heart skipped. He realized… Father Li had a terminal illness?
“Uncle…” Ji Qingzhou gently patted Father Li’s arm, trying to comfort him.
He had no experience with such matters and didn’t know what else to say.
“Qingzhou, among my four sons, the one with the most potential is Old Three” Father Li said with a heavy sigh. “But he also has the worst temper. I’ve never bowed to anyone in my life. If it were in the past, it might have been okay… but now that my days are limited, I can’t keep clashing with Old Three like this anymore.”
Ji Qingzhou felt a pang of sympathy. Seeing Father Li in such a tearful, distressed state made him uncomfortable.
“Uncle, actually he’s always wanted to talk to you properly. It’s just that he’s been busy lately and hasn’t had the chance,” Ji Qingzhou said.
Earlier, when Ji Qingzhou had used this argument to persuade Li Zhan, Li Zhan had agreed, so Ji Qingzhou wasn’t lying.
“Really?” Father Li asked, deeply moved.
“Yes,” Ji Qingzhou admitted, feeling a bit guilty.
Father Li looked relieved. “That’s good… Qingzhou, I know Old Three likes you…”
Ji Qingzhou was startled at this and his expression changed instantly, but he heard Father Li continue, “He doesn’t have many friends, and he’s always treated you like a brother…”
Ji Qingzhou was so taken aback by the heavy sigh that followed that he had to take a deep breath to calm himself.
“If you’re willing, help me persuade him to move back home,” Father Li said. “I have a check here. Take it. Once Old Three graduates and no longer needs a companion for studies, this money should be enough for you to buy a decent place of your own…”
Ji Qingzhou stepped back a couple of paces. “Uncle, I can’t take this money,” he said quickly.
Father Li, used to throwing money at people, saw Ji Qingzhou’s refusal as mere politeness. He immediately stood up and tried to shove the check into Ji Qingzhou’s hands.
“What are you doing?” a voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Father Li was startled and immediately embarrassed.
Li Zhan glanced at Ji Qingzhou and then at the check in his father’s hand. He immediately misinterpreted the situation, thinking his father knew about their relationship and was trying to bribe Ji Qingzhou. Angrily, he stepped forward, snatched the check, and crumpled it in his hand. “Don’t use your money to disgust people. You’d better stay out of our business.”
“Li Zhan…” Ji Qingzhou realized what Li Zhan was thinking and quickly tried to stop him.
But Father Li already provoked by his son’s words, shouted, “You brat! How dare you talk to your father like that?”
“You were the one who crossed the line first! We agreed you wouldn’t interfere in my matters, so what’s your meaning now?” Li Zhan shot back.
“This is my house. How is checking in my own house crossing the line?” Father Li yelled.
Li Zhan nodded, grabbed Ji Qingzhou’s wrist, and said, “Fine. Your house—then we’ll leave now.”
“Stand right there!” Father Li stepped forward to block him, not letting him take Ji Qingzhou away.
Li Zhan was still young, and combined with misunderstanding his father’s intentions, his temper flared, making him lose control. The father and son began to push and pull each other, the situation spiraling toward a fight, creating chaos.
Ji Qingzhou stepped forward to break them up but was flung aside by Father Li stumbling back several steps until he hit the sofa.
“Don’t touch him!” Li Zhan shouted.
“I didn’t do it on purpose, why are you yelling?” Father Li retorted angrily.
Ji Qingzhou, using the momentum of the collision, leaned against the sofa. Suddenly, he felt a bit dizzy and instinctively reached out to steady himself on the backrest.
Li Zhan caught this out of the corner of his eye and immediately panicked. He pushed Father Li aside and crouched in front of Ji Qingzhou. “What’s wrong? Did you hit your head?”
“The sofa is so low. How could he hit his head?” Father Li quickly said.
Seeing Ji Qingzhou’s face pale, Father Li also started to worry.
He had come tonight intending to act as a mediator and ease the tension between father and son, but things had gone awry. If Ji Qingzhou had gotten hurt, Li Zhan would definitely blame himself, making the father-son relationship even more strained.
“I’m fine,” Ji Qingzhou forced a smile, though his face remained pale.
Li Zhan had never seen him like this and was genuinely frightened.
Father Li reacted quickly, immediately calling for a private doctor.
The doctor arrived quickly, bringing a full set of professional equipment, clearly very capable.
Even though Ji Qingzhou insisted he was fine, both Li Zhan and his father insisted on a checkup.
“Dizzy? Cold sweats? Any other symptoms?” the doctor asked while examining him.
Ji Qingzhou thought for a moment. “Nothing else… just a little discomfort in my stomach.”
“Pain?” the doctor asked.
“Not exactly pain… it’s hard to describe,” Ji Qingzhou said.
The doctor studied him, then glanced at Li Zhan, before asking, “How’s your appetite?”
“I’m okay. I’ve been eating even more than before,” Ji Qingzhou said. “But in the mornings, I feel a little nauseous.”
The doctor raised his eyebrows, took a test strip from the medical kit, and handed it to Ji Qingzhou. “Try this and see.”
Ji Qingzhou took the test strip and felt it looked familiar, but for a moment he couldn’t recall what it was for.
He went to the bathroom with the test strip, and Li Zhan followed, waiting at the doorway.
Father Li watched Ji Qingzhou’s back, his expression complicated…
Ji Qingzhou didn’t recognize the test strip, but Father Li, being experienced, immediately knew what it was for.
“He’s a boy… how could it…” Father Li asked the doctor.
The doctor quickly said, “It’s just precautionary. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s real.”
Even though the doctor said this, Father Li couldn’t stop his mind from running wild. Taking this moment to observe Li Zhan, he formed a guess. At first it was just a vague suspicion, but as he recalled all the little details of how Li Zhan treated Ji Qingzhou, that suspicion became overwhelmingly convincing.
A moment later, Ji Qingzhou came out holding the test strip and handed it to the doctor.
Father Li’s gaze fell on the strip, and his expression changed immediately.
“You… step outside with me,” Father Li said to the doctor.
The doctor, about to follow, was stopped by Li Zhan, who said, “Say whatever you need to say here. Don’t sneak around.”
The doctor remained silent, clearly waiting for Father Li to speak first.
Father Li looked at Li Zhan, then at Ji Qingzhou, and understood everything he needed to know.
“Go ahead,” Father Li said.
The doctor nodded, then said to Ji Qingzhou, “You might be pregnant.”
Ji Qingzhou: …
Li Zhan: !!!
Both of them instinctively looked at each other. Ji Qingzhou couldn’t react at first; he just thought the doctor must be crazy, joking at a time like this.
Li Zhan, however, was slightly calmer. He glanced at the test strip and then at Father Li’s expression, feeling utterly shocked. He quickly realized this was not the time to dwell on shock—there would be time to investigate later. What mattered now was keeping Father Li from interfering in him and Ji Qingzhou’s affairs.
“Let’s go.” Li Zhan stepped forward, helping Ji Qingzhou as they moved toward the door.
Father Li was stunned. He grabbed Li Zhan’s arm. “Are you crazy? He’s in this condition—where do you think you’re taking him?”
Li Zhan looked at his father. “We have our own place. You’d better not interfere.”
“Is the child yours?” Father Li asked.
Li Zhan didn’t answer; he simply held Ji Qingzhou’s arm more firmly.
At this point, Father Li understood everything. He stepped back to reduce Li Zhan’s hostility and said, “I’ve heard about it. Over the past two years while studying, you’ve done quite a lot… bought property with your own money, saved a decent sum…”
“You!” Li Zhan shot him a wary look.
Father Li continued, “I know you can support both of you on your own… but now he’s carrying a child, and you’re running around with him. It’s not ideal. Home is safer, with doctors to help take care of him…”
Li Zhan looked at his father in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“If the child is yours, then it’s my grandson. What else could I mean?” Father Li said gruffly.
At that moment, the housekeeper brought Li Cong back.
Li Cong had picked two flowers from the garden and ran over to give them to Ji Qingzhou.
Father Li reached out to stop him. “Be careful with those flowers… don’t just pick anything and bring it in.”
He knew that some pregnant people were sensitive to pollen, and some flowers were even mildly toxic, harmful if handled too much.
Li Cong looked confused, so the housekeeper guided him to put the flowers in a vase in the hallway.
With Li Cong’s innocent interference, the atmosphere in the room relaxed slightly.
Li Zhan finally realized that his father’s visit today had ulterior motives, and that he had misunderstood the situation.
“If it’s convenient, move in here. That way there’ll be someone close to help,” Father Li said to the doctor.
The doctor nodded quickly. “No problem, but it’s best to have a proper hospital checkup tomorrow to ensure Young Master Ji’s health is stable.”
“Yes, yes, of course.”Father Li said, then turned to the housekeeper. “Arrange a car tomorrow to take Qingzhou to the hospital. Get a reliable driver and be very careful.”
Father Li took care of everything, and finally turned to Li Zhan. “If you don’t want me to come, I’ll come less often. No need to make a fuss for the sake of venting at your father-son relationship.” He hugged Li Cong, then turned and left.
After Father Li left, both Li Zhan and Ji Qingzhou were still in shock.
Ji Qingzhou suddenly had a child in his womb—this news was simply too unbelievable…
It wasn’t until the next day, when Li Zhan took Ji Qingzhou to a private hospital for a checkup, that the reality of it began to sink in.
The results confirmed that Ji Qingzhou was indeed pregnant, and the baby was already close to two months along.
Fortunately, Ji Qingzhou was in good health, and the baby was healthy too. If nothing unexpected happened, the child could be kept safely.
“Can you believe it?” That night, Li Zhan held Ji Qingzhou in his arms and said, “We actually have a child.”
“I didn’t expect Cong’er to be right,” Ji Qingzhou said with a smile. “Too bad the baby isn’t in your belly.”
Li Zhan leaned over and pressed his ear against Ji Qingzhou’s lower abdomen for a while. Ji Qingzhou laughed. “You can’t hear anything yet—it’s too small.”
“That’s fine, I’m still happy,” Li Zhan said, holding Ji Qingzhou tightly. “I’ll take good care of you both. I won’t let either of you suffer even a tiny bit of hardship or harm.”
Ji Qingzhou nodded. “I know.”
Li Zhan carefully leaned in and kissed Ji Qingzhou, then said gently, “You don’t have to believe everything my father said. I’ve checked on his illness—it’s not a terminal disease. With proper treatment, there won’t be major problems.”
“Mm,” Ji Qingzhou said. “He just wanted to reconcile with you, so he came to make a show of it.”
“As long as he doesn’t interfere with our matters, it’s fine,” Li Zhan said. “I’ve decided—the baby will take your surname, Ji.”
Ji Qingzhou was momentarily taken aback, then smiled. “Is that just to irritate your father?”
“That’s only part of it,” Li Zhan said. “It’s only natural that our child carries your name. I don’t need any other reason to want that.”
Li Zhan’s expression was serious when he said this. Ji Qingzhou felt warmth in his heart and leaned in to kiss him.
Li Zhan held Ji Qingzhou for a while, then said with some disappointment, “It’s a pity… we can’t get too close for now.”
“Are you disappointed?” Ji Qingzhou asked.
“Disappointed, yes, but worth it,” Li Zhan said. “Just thinking about having a child in the future, carrying both our genes… I can’t wait to give them everything.”
Ji Qingzhou leaned against Li Zhan’s shoulder. “Don’t spoil him too much,” he said.
“I won’t. With you by my side, the two of us raising him together, he’s bound to grow into a wonderful person,” Li Zhan said.
Two quick knocks came at the door, and then it opened. Li Cong poked his little head inside.
“Come here, Cong’er,” Ji Qingzhou called, waving.
Li Cong ran in, slowing down as he approached Ji Qingzhou.
He already knew about the baby, and his emotions were hardly calmer than Li Zhan’s.
He was firmly convinced that this was the result of his prayer on Ji Qingzhou’s birthday—that the heavens had heard and granted his wish for his uncle and Ji Qingzhou to “have a child soon”!
“Can I touch it?” Li Cong asked eagerly.
“Of course.” Ji Qingzhou placed Li Cong’s small hand on his belly.
Though nothing could be felt yet, Li Cong was still thrilled.
“Can I touch it every day from now on?” Li Cong asked softly.
Li Zhan reached over and rubbed the top of his head, laughing. “You’ve got quite the imagination!”
Li Cong’s imagination was indeed grand. Even before the baby was born, he had already started planning the future for the two “brothers.” His uncles had promised that once the baby arrived, he could sleep with him—so he would always have a companion!
Amid the wishes and blessings of many, the little one in Ji Qingzhou’s womb arrived months later as expected.
The birth went smoothly, and both father and child were safe.
Li Zhan named the little boy Ji Ze. Father Li mumbled a few words but didn’t openly oppose the choice.
The Ji family was overjoyed at the child’s arrival. Father Ji, who hadn’t taught much over the years, now volunteered to teach Ji Ze in the future. Father Li, going along with the flow, also entrusted Ji Cong’s future studies to Father Ji.
Time passed quickly. Under the care of everyone around, Ji Ze grew steadily, soon wobbling as he learned to walk.
Li Cong became very close to his little brother, wanting to spend every possible moment with him from morning till night.
That year on his birthday, Li Cong made a wish—that when his little brother learned to speak, the first word he said would be “brother.”
Perhaps it was because Li Cong had been so sincere, or perhaps because he constantly practiced saying “brother, brother” in front of Ji Ze, but when Ji Ze learned his first word, it really was “brother.” This made Li Zhan and Ji Qingzhou—the two “fathers”—feel a little envious.
Of course, Li Cong didn’t know when to stop. Every day, he would boast in front of Ji Qingzhou and Li Zhan, making Ji Ze call out “brother” from time to time.
Li Zhan and Ji Qingzhou couldn’t retaliate like children, and they were so “frustrated” that they would retreat behind closed doors to do other things to make up for it. Over time, Li Cong and Ji Ze grew closer, while Li Zhan and Ji Qingzhou’s relationship grew more harmonious…
Later, as Ji Ze gradually grew older, the relationship between Li Zhan and Father Li improved considerably.
As for the Li family’s fourth young master, he continued to misbehave outside. Father Li, fearing he would bring shame to the family, sent him abroad under the care of Li Cong’s father, effectively out of sight and out of mind.
On Ji Ze’s third birthday, Li Zhan took Ji Qingzhou and the two little ones on a seaside vacation.
The sun shone brightly that day, and the sea breeze carried a gentle coolness across the beach…
Li Cong squatted beside Ji Ze on the sand, playing, while Ji Qingzhou carried Ji Ze’s little fish bucket, picking up seashells by the shore.
“Hey, I found one,” Li Zhan said, standing behind Ji Qingzhou.
“Let me see,” Ji Qingzhou said, turning and reaching out his hand toward Li Zhan.
Li Zhan smiled, grabbed his hand, and took out a diamond ring, sliding it onto Ji Qingzhou’s ring finger.
“With such a big diamond, isn’t it inconvenient to wear?” Ji Qingzhou laughed.
“I’m proposing! Don’t mess around,” Li Zhan said. He pulled a red rose from behind his back, knelt on one knee, and said, “Ji Qingzhou, will you marry me and promise never to part from me, through this life and the next?”
Ji Qingzhou took the rose and asked, “Where did you hide it? How come I didn’t see it?”
“Promise me first, then we can chat—ceremony matters, ceremony matters!” Li Zhan said, exasperated.
“You’ve already put the ring on my finger—what ceremony are you talking about?” Ji Qingzhou laughed.
“Just say yes!” Li Zhan stayed kneeling. After Ji Qingzhou teased him enough, he finally said, “Alright, I’ll say yes.”
Hearing this, Li Zhan’s face lit up with joy. He got up, held Ji Qingzhou, and leaned in to kiss him.
Just then, Ji Ze ran over. “I want a flower too!” he exclaimed.
The rose in Ji Qingzhou’s hand was barely warm before Ji Ze grabbed it.
Li Zhan held Ji Qingzhou’s hand and kept laughing at him.
Ji Qingzhou, slightly puzzled by Li Zhan’s gaze, gave him a playful kick. Li Zhan didn’t dodge; his smile only deepened.
“We’ve finally reached the legal age to marry,” Li Zhan said, holding Ji Qingzhou’s hand firmly. “Can I start calling you something else now?”
“What do you want to call me?” Ji Qingzhou asked.
“Call you…” Li Zhan gauged Ji Qingzhou’s expression and tentatively said, “Call you ‘baby’… is that okay?”
Ji Qingzhou rolled his eyes and laughed. “Haven’t you used those names enough already?”
“That’s different,” Li Zhan hurriedly said. “Calling it in bed and calling it normally are two different things—it’s ceremonial!”
Ji Qingzhou gently pushed Li Zhan, then picked up Ji Ze and kissed the little boy.
Meanwhile, Li Zhan went to Li Cong. While Ji Qingzhou wasn’t looking, he whispered into Li Cong’s ear, “Your Zhouzhou and I are getting married.”
“Really?” Li Cong asked, eyes wide with excitement.
Although they had lived together all these years, Li Zhan and Ji Qingzhou had never had a ceremony.
Ji Qingzhou didn’t care much about these formalities. Li Zhan, however, had been waiting for the right day to propose and register their marriage, so he could finally feel settled. Li Cong, besides Li Zhan himself, was the one who most looked forward to their marriage.
Li Cong had already planned that he and Ji Ze would
be the flower children at the wedding.
“If I and Zhouzhou are married, then you can’t keep secrets from me anymore, right?” Li Zhan asked.
Li Zhan had always been curious about what little secret Ji Qingzhou and Li Cong had hidden the day Li Cong returned to the country.
Li Zhan had “assumed” that the secret must have something to do with himself, so he had been eager to find out. Unfortunately, Li Cong was very trustworthy and had never told him.
By now, Li Cong had grown into a big kid and no longer cared about such so-called “little secrets.” The reason he hadn’t told Li Zhan earlier was mostly to tease him a little. Today, being in a rare good mood, he decided not to keep it from Li Zhan any longer.
A few years ago, that night…
Ji Qingzhou had hurried into Li Zhan’s bedroom holding Li Cong. Li Cong had pointed at a photo of Ji Qingzhou and Li Zhan together and assumed that the two were dating. Ji Qingzhou had tried to explain, but the more he did, the worse it sounded, and in the end, he admitted…
He said, “I like your uncle, but we’re not together yet.”
“Why not together?” Li Cong asked innocently.
Ji Qingzhou smiled wryly. “Because he hasn’t started liking me yet.”
“Then when he starts liking you, he’ll be your official boyfriend, right?” Li Cong asked.
Ji Qingzhou blushed and nodded…
When Li Cong recounted this story to Li Zhan, Li Zhan’s gaze was fixed on Ji Qingzhou and Ji Ze not far away. His eyes were filled with unhidden tenderness, even wishing he could go back to that moment and tell the young man how he felt.
“What he said isn’t right,” Li Zhan suddenly spoke.
“What’s not right?” Li Cong asked.
Li Zhan said, “At that time, I had already started liking him.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Ji Qingzhou approaching, carrying Ji Ze.
Li Zhan covered Li Cong’s eyes with one hand and blocked Ji Ze’s view with the other, then leaned in to kiss Ji Qingzhou.
“I’m already so big, you should pay attention to the influence,” Li Cong said, clearly displeased.
Ji Qingzhou couldn’t help but smile. He then set Ji Ze down, and Li Cong held Ji Ze’s hand and walked over to the side to count the seashells Ji Qingzhou and Li Zhan had collected.
Ji Qingzhou glanced at Li Zhan and asked, “What were you whispering to Cong’er just now?”
“Talking about your little secret,” Li Zhan said. “I told Cong’er that I had definitely started liking you before that.”
Recalling the past, Ji Qingzhou still felt his heart flutter. He asked Li Zhan, “Before that… when exactly?”
“I don’t know either…” Li Zhan held him close and said, “I think it must have been a very, very long time ago. Maybe even in a past life… I had already started liking you.”
Li Zhan could not pinpoint the exact answer.
But he firmly believed that somewhere in the river of time…
In some past space and moment, they must have loved each other just as deeply as they did now.
“Do you believe that?” Li Zhan asked.
“Mm,” Ji Qingzhou said. “I do.”
Ciacia/N: Finally the enddddddddd!!!!!!
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