Chapter 36: CH 040

TL: Moonlit

Hidden in Lin Hanchuan and Qi Fenghua’s blind spot, Qi Yuyu heard their conversation clearly.

After the initial surprise, Qi Yuyu remembered that he had no special connection with Yi Qinglou, they were mostly acquaintances who barely nodded at each other. How could he…

After careful recollection, the only intimate contact between them had been nearly ten years ago when both Qi Yuyu and Yi Qinglou were teenagers.

Yi Qinglou hadn’t been hardened by his parents’ neglect at that time. He still had expectations of familial love. On his birthday, his parents had prepared gifts for Yi Wusheng, meticulously arranged for a renowned artist to be Yi Wusheng’s private tutor, and provided a set of expensive art supplies. They bought a cake and invited numerous friends and relatives.

They were the best parents to Yi Wusheng, but they unintentionally ignored the fact that it was also Yi Qinglou’s birthday.

No gift, not even the cake and well wishes were for Yi Qinglou. It was difficult for Yi Qinglou not to feel resentful.

Frustrated and feeling wronged, Yi Qinglou ran away from home.

Yi Qinglou thought that as their biological son, his parents would eventually notice his absence and go out to search for him. This was the only way he could reclaim their attention according to his young mindset.

During the time he “ran away,” Yi Qinglou wandered near the house, anxiously watching the direction of the Yi family’s home. He waited and waited, from day to night, from sunny to rainy. Yi’s parents never stepped out of the house.

Sitting alone on the steps outside a 24-hour convenience store, the drizzle in the sky turned into pouring rain, drenching the entire world. Yi Qinglou’s heart was also damp.

Perhaps they were celebrating Yi Wusheng’s birthday and didn’t have time to look for me. Maybe they hadn’t noticed my absence and thought I had gone out to play… Lost in chaotic thoughts, Yi Qinglou stared blankly in the direction of his home, his eyes hollow.

He was too proud to lose face. When he ran away from home, he had decided not to return unless someone came looking for him.

Caught in a dilemma, Qi Yuyu saw Yi Qinglou.

Before this, Yi Qinglou and Qi Yuyu didn’t have a close relationship, but no one else noticed Yi Qinglou’s runaway and his sullen thoughts, only Qi Yuyu did.

Even a stranger who wasn’t very familiar with the situation noticed it, while his closest parents coldly let it slip by. Unable to contain his emotions, Yi Qinglou felt utterly dejected. “Yuyu ge, I have no talent for painting.”

Qi Yuyu also had some understanding of the Yi family’s situation. He knew the unspoken implication behind Yi Qinglou’s words. Looking at the young man in front of him, Qi Yuyu said, “Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps you’re not good at painting, but you might have exceptional talents in other areas.”

Yi Qinglou murmured, “I have a talent for academics. I excel in school, but they don’t care about academic achievements. They only care about painting.”

Raindrops the size of beans pattered on the ground, splashing into water blossoms in the puddles, much like the silent sadness of a boy whose heart was left unspoken.

Seeing Yi Qinglou, Qi Yuyu saw himself.

Every family has its own difficulties. The Qi family wasn’t much better off than the Yi family. While the Yi family’s favoritism was apparent, the Qi family presented a united front to the outside world, with everyone praising them as good, fair parents. Only Qi Yuyu could perceive the difference.

Eating the same food, using the same things, but Qi Yuyu could feel the difference in tone, attitude in different situations, and who would be blamed after an argument… Being in the midst of it, he knew where the warmth and coldness lay.

Looking at the young boy standing before him on his birthday, stranded in the pouring rain with nowhere to go, a wave of pity surged in Qi Yuyu’s heart. He didn’t know if he felt sorry for the boy or for himself.

“When they don’t love you, no matter how you look or what talents you have, they won’t pay attention,” Qi Yuyu took out a pack of tissue and handed it to Yi Qionglou, his voice hoarse. “But if they don’t love you, there will always be someone who does.”

Qi Yuyu said, “What you need to do is not waste your time and energy on those who don’t love you. Love yourself, and in the future… someone who loves you will appear, regardless of your talents, they will love you.”

Qi Yuyu couldn’t remember the details of what happened next. He only vaguely remembered that after the heavy rain stopped, he escorted Yi Qinglou back to his family. The incident was like a passing breeze, leaving no trace.

And that brief exchange on the rainy night was quickly buried deep in Qi Yuyu’s memory.

Now thinking back, Yi Qinglou took Qi Yuyu’s words to heart. From that moment on, he no longer yearned for a familial bond that didn’t belong to him. He worked hard, gradually became more outgoing, and achieved excellent results, getting admitted to the best art academy in the country and leaving for another city. He rarely returned to the Yi family.

It was only after Yi Wusheng’s passing that Yi Qinglou returned to Qingzhou City and then entered into a marriage alliance with Qi Fenghua.

Memories that were on the verge of being completely forgotten resurfaced in Qi Yuyu’s mind, causing him to space out slightly. Was Yi Qinglou waiting for someone who loved him? Was that person Qi Fenghua or himself?

Qi Fenghua’s sharp and high-pitched voice echoed in the art gallery, “You have no shame! Shameless!”

The sound reverberated in the well-decorated art gallery, and Lin Hanchuan couldn’t help but rub his ears. “What shameless thing did I do?”

“You treated me as a substitute for Qi Yuyu, searching for his shadow in me… Qi Yuyu is my real brother. By doing this, are you a pervert?” Qi Fenghua was furious, unable to maintain his usual elegance as a genius artist. He glared fiercely at Lin Hanchuan, his hands tightly clenched, the veins on his back clearly visible.

“You actually find it disgusting?” Lin Hanchuan was somewhat surprised. He scrutinized Qi Fenghua up and down several times, his eyes clearly expressing those few words.

“Yi Qinglou, you make me feel disgusted,” Qi Fenghua gritted his teeth, each word squeezed through the gaps between his teeth.

“If you don’t find it disgusting, why should I?” Lin Hanchuan remained calm. He spoke frankly, “Yi Wusheng and I are still twin brothers.”

Lin Hanchuan didn’t understand matters of the heart very well, but based on his shallow analysis, Yi Qinglou’s feelings for Qi Yuyu were more like a yearning for something beautiful rather than romantic love.

Back then, Qi Yuyu’s words had awakened Yi Qinglou, setting him on a different path, freeing him from the jealousy and competition within the Yi family and Yi Wusheng. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Qi Yuyu had changed Yi Qinglou’s life.

So, Lin Hanchuan could somewhat understand why Yi Qinglou had a special filter for Qi Yuyu. However, this emotion wasn’t quite like romantic love. Lin Hanchuan had reasonable and logical thoughts.

Qi Fenghua, who had been filled with anger, was stopped in his tracks by Yi Qinglou’s words. At this moment, he suddenly remembered that his own actions were no different from Yi Qinglou’s and even more excessive.

At least Yi Qinglou had been upfront and honest about the truth from the beginning, while he had kept it concealed all along.

“My art gallery doesn’t welcome you anymore. You don’t need to come here again.” Lin Hanchuan admired Qi Fenghua’s pale and unsightly face for a few seconds. The resentment he had carried since coming into this world seemed to dissipate a bit.

Qi Fenghua wanted to ask a question: In these past two years, did you ever have feelings for me? If you didn’t, what were those kindnesses you showed me in the beginning?

But he no longer had the qualifications, nor the face to ask such a question.

Qi Fenghua left in a daze. It was the first time Lin Hanchuan had seen him in such a desolate state.

Lin Hanchuan felt refreshed.

Yi Qinglou was an open and honest person. If he didn’t like Qi Fenghua, he wouldn’t have treated him kindly. From the beginning, he didn’t hide his true feelings, and he had been straightforward with Qi Fenghua about everything. But if he truly fell in love, he would be more gentle than anyone else.

In the original text, Qi Fenghua had been touched by Yi Qinglou’s gentle and straightforward attitude. In Lin Hanchuan’s memory, it was the same. Yi Qinglou’s feelings for Qi Fenghua had evolved from indifference to a growing fondness, and once he developed feelings, he treated Qi Fenghua as his future partner, being attentive and silently supportive.

Unfortunately, all his sincere efforts had been in vain.

After Qi Fenghua left, Lin Hanchuan continued to busy himself with hanging paintings, completely disregarding the incident.

After waiting for a while in the corner, Qi Yuyu finally came out. He stood next to Lin Hanchuan, his gaze complex. “I just received a notification. The selected paintings for the Spring Breeze Exhibition will be exhibited in Qingzhou City in a few days before being sent to the capital for the final competition.”

Lin Hanchuan’s eyes lit up. “That’s great.”

During the selection process, only authorized personnel were allowed to enter, and it was kept completely confidential. However, the exhibition itself was open to the public for free, and many other artists would also participate, observing and learning from each other’s artwork.

This is also the most active time for art dealers, as they network with famous or unknown artists, buy artwork, and acquire representation rights. For art dealers, the triennial Spring Breeze Exhibition is the best opportunity to discover emerging artists.

Qi Yuyu absentmindedly responded, casually saying, “I’ll print some more business cards.”

After saying that, Qi Yuyu realized that he was no longer an art dealer.

“You’re right, I will print some more business cards,” Lin Hanchuan said with a smile, naturally covering for Qi Yuyu.

Looking at that smile, Qi Yuyu’s emotions surged, and he couldn’t contain them any longer.

Sweat formed in his palms, and his throat rolled a few times as Qi Yuyu tentatively asked, “Do you remember our childhood?”

The more cherished it was, the more hesitant he felt to make any bold moves. Qi Yuyu had overheard the other person’s words, understood their feelings, but he didn’t dare to ask directly. Instead, he tried to capture any traces from Lin Hanchuan’s expression and demeanor.

“There were so many things from our childhood, which one are you referring to?” Lin Hanchuan was somewhat puzzled and asked in return.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Qi Yuyu, with a dry throat, said, “On your birthday, you didn’t celebrate at home. You ran away alone.”

Qi Yuyu provided a few hints, and Lin Hanchuan snapped back to reality. He didn’t need to search Yi Qinglou’s memories to know this plot point.

It was the beginning of Yi Qinglou’s budding feelings for Qi Yuyu, as well as a turning point in his life. It was an indispensable plotline in the original text. Lin Hanchuan restrained his smile and spoke earnestly, “I remember. I should thank you.”

Lin Hanchuan’s attitude was solemn, but Qi Yuyu’s heart plummeted straight down, from the warmth of spring to the icy winter.

This expression and demeanor weren’t reminiscent of sweet memories or the attitude of being infatuated. Qi Yuyu suppressed his disappointment and forced a smile, saying, “That was many years ago, and yet you still remember.”

Qi Yuyu also snapped out of the surprise of suddenly becoming incredibly wealthy and felt a hint of bitterness deep within. Fortunately, he was cautious by nature, and even though he heard Lin Hanchuan’s words with his own ears, he didn’t impulsively reveal his own feelings.

Otherwise, he would have lost everything and ended up in complete defeat. He might not even have remained friends with Lin Hanchuan.

In this game called love, Qi Yuyu had placed all his chips in Lin Hanchuan’s hands. Whether it would lead to overnight riches or destitution, the outcome depended solely on Lin Hanchuan’s whim.

Lin Hanchuan still appeared quite happy. “As long as your paintings are exhibited at the Spring Breeze Exhibition, you’ll have a name in the art world.”

He genuinely seemed pleased for me, Qi Yuyu struggled to curl his lips and showed a happy expression. Soon, the forced smile turned into a genuine one. “Even if I become famous, my paintings will only hang in your art gallery.”

At least, at this moment, Lin Hanchuan had placed him in his heart, regardless of whether his identity was that of a friend, colleague, or subordinate. That’s what Qi Yuyu thought in his heart.