Chapter 25
Yan Shiting dropped Yu Li off at the gate of Y University.
Before getting out of the car, Yu Li looked at the marriage certificate in his hand and said, "Brother Yan, can you keep my marriage certificate as well?"
If it was accidentally seen by his roommates in the dorm, it would be difficult to explain.
Especially since he married Yan Shiting's brother.
Thinking about this, Yu Li also said, "Will you tell Yan Sui about our marriage?"
Yan Shiting's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. He turned to look at Yu Li and after a long while, said, "No."
Yu Li didn't notice his change in demeanor and felt a little relieved after getting the answer.
At least for now, he didn't want the people around him to know.
Once the marriage was exposed, there would certainly be people asking about the reason, and it wouldn't be easy to say it was for the child...
Moreover, Yu Li didn't even dare to tell his mother and sister about the marriage yet.
Handing the marriage certificate to Yan Shiting, Yu Li got out of the car.
"Brother Yan, goodbye."
Yan Shiting looked at him and nodded lightly, "Goodbye."
After Yu Li's figure disappeared from his sight, Yan Shiting lowered his gaze and looked at the marriage certificate in his hand.
A moment later, he started the car and left.
...
It took some time to get the marriage certificate, and when Yu Li returned to the dorm, it was already close to 11 o'clock in the morning.
Liuzheng had gone to the library to study and had not yet returned, so the dorm only had Yan Sui and Xu Bin.
When Yu Li opened the door, the diligently studying Xu Bin was startled and turned around in fear.
Seeing that it was Yu Li, he sighed in relief, "Fourth brother, you're back."
Yu Li nodded, "Sorry for startling you."
Xu Bin shook his head, "It's fine."
The two were talking when Yan Sui, sleeping on the bed, opened the bed curtain and looked at them with a slightly drowsy gaze.
"Yu Li, you're back. Where did you go so early this morning?"
Yu Li put away the household registration book and gave the prepared reason, "I went to reapply for my ID card."
"Oh." Yan Sui nodded, as he had just casually mentioned it, so he didn't ask further.
At lunchtime, Yu Li again refused Yan Shiting's offer to order for him, and went to the cafeteria to eat with Xu Bin.
Since Xu Bin had noticed that Yu Li often "ordered takeout", in the few days after the end of the long vacation, Yu Li had been trying to eat outside as much as possible.
Although those dishes were not very palatable to him, he could still eat the light and mild-flavored ones.
After lunch, when they returned to the dorm, Yan Sui had already gone out to meet with Xu Changke.
Yu Li sat at his desk, munching on an apple, feeling sleepy.
Xu Bin, whose bed was next to his, kept glancing at him, seeming to have something he wanted to say but couldn't.
After Yu Li climbed onto the bed for his afternoon nap, Xu Bin retracted his gaze, deep in thought.
-
After getting the certificate, the household registration book needed to be mailed back home.
In the afternoon, as Yu Li came out of the express delivery station, he sent a message to his sister.
[Xin Xin, I've mailed the household registration book back. The courier will leave it at the station, you can go pick it up on the weekend.]
It was still class time, so Yu Xin didn't reply yet.
Yu Li put away his phone, and on his way back to the dorm, he suddenly received a message from Yan Shiting.
[I'm waiting for you at the school gate.]
Yu Li was a bit surprised: [? Brother Yan, is there something?]
[Let's go eat together.]
Yu Li hurried to the school gate and got into the car, greeting:
"Brother Yan."
Yan Shiting's gaze fell on him, and he responded with a "hmm."
The driver started the car.
Yu Li's phone rang, and it was his sister Yu Xin sending him an OK emoji.
Yu Li: [Done with school?]
Yu Xin: [Yep, I'm having dinner now.]
Then Yu Xin sent another message: [Brother, I saw the money you stuffed in my backpack. Why are you giving me money again? Do you have enough for yourself?]
[Enough, don't worry. Go get your bike fixed or get a new one on the weekend, and if the money isn't enough, just tell your brother.]
Yu Xin: [It's enough, enough, I also have some pocket money saved up. Thank you, brother.jpg]
Yu Li: [Patting head.jpg]
After the chat ended, Yu Li looked at his phone with a somewhat troubled expression.
He recalled the words Yu Xin had said when she came to visit during National Day - that there was an uncle who seemed to have a rather close relationship with their mother.
This was the private matter of the elders, and as a son, Yu Li really didn't know how to bring it up.
It's not like he could just directly ask his mother if there was someone pursuing her recently, right?
Yu Li furrowed his brows.
Finding an opportunity to talk to his mother... that opportunity was really hard to find.
Yu Li leaned against the car window with a pillow, gently sighing.
Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a Jiangnan-style garden landscape building.
Yu Li collected his thoughts and got out of the car, following Yan Shiting in. He found the water pavilion in the middle of the pond on the right side looked familiar.
Walking a few more steps, the change in angle finally made Yu Li realize.
The simple logo on the takeout bag of the private chef's dishes Yan Shiting had ordered for him was exactly the same as this water pavilion.
So this was the private chef restaurant Yan Shiting had been ordering from.
Was it because he had been unwilling to "order takeout" these past few days, so Yan Shiting directly brought him here to eat?
Yu Li speculated, but also worried that he was overthinking.
He secretly glanced at Yan Shiting, and their gazes happened to meet.
"Would you like to take a look at the scenery first?" Yan Shiting asked.
Yu Li was taken aback, not having come up with an answer yet, when Yan Shiting stopped and ordered a few dishes from the attending attendant.
Then Yan Shiting looked at Yu Li, "Let's go."
Yu Li snapped out of it and followed Yan Shiting to the water pavilion.
The water pavilion was open on all four sides, and the wide-open view allowed them to take in the surrounding scenery.
Inside the high walls, in the southwest corner, there was a large tree about three people could wrap their arms around.
The several central buildings were connected by corridors, with latticed windows carved into the corridor walls.
By the pond, there was a rockery, and on top of it stood a wind pavilion, directly connected to this water pavilion.
Yu Li originally hadn't decided whether he wanted to tour, but after Yan Shiting led him through, he couldn't help but be attracted by the beautiful and antique landscape.
The troubles in his heart also dissipated a bit.
After the tour, the dishes they had ordered had also arrived.
They went to the private room, and Yan Shiting poured Yu Li a cup of warm water, saying, "On the way here, you seemed to have something on your mind. What's wrong?"
Yu Li froze with the teacup in his hand.
On the way here, he had been immersed in his own thoughts and didn't notice Yan Shiting paying attention to him.
Unexpected...
Yu Li lowered his gaze, pursing his lips a little, hesitating whether to speak up.
Yan Shiting's expression remained calm, but his tone seemed a bit gentle, "If there's anything I can help with, feel free to tell me."
Yu Li took a sip of the warm water.
His hesitation was because this matter involved his family situation.
But now that he had married Yan Shiting, although not out of love, but as a future ally in raising the child, he couldn't hide his family situation forever.
Perhaps, he really could tell Yan Shiting about it, and with Yan Shiting's rational and calm personality, he might even be able to give him some good advice.
With this in mind, Yu Li put down the teacup and said with a lowered gaze, "My family is a single-parent family, my father passed away nine years ago."
Yu Li had never told anyone about his father's passing, not even Yan Sui.
He thought he could mention this matter calmly, but when he said it to Yan Shiting, he couldn't help but pause.
The word "passed away" was spoken a bit haltingly.
A single-parent family...
Yan Shiting's hand movement paused as he poured the water.
He looked up at Yu Li.
The young man's expression remained relatively calm, but the slight trembling of his eyelashes still revealed a bit of emotion.
Yan Shiting silently put down the teapot, his fingers lightly gripping the edge of the table.
When he had persuaded Yu Li to marry using the reason of coming from a two-parent family, had he unknowingly hurt the person in front of him?
Yan Shiting withdrew his hand, curling it slightly.
Unable to see Yan Shiting's reaction, Yu Li secretly took a deep breath and continued, "A few days ago, my sister told me..."
He briefly explained what Yu Xin had said that day and his own concerns.
Yan Shiting listened quietly, and when Yu Li's words trailed off, he said, "The main problem in this matter lies with that man, you can try to understand him a bit more."
Yu Li's body trembled slightly as he looked up at Yan Shiting.
Yan Shiting said, "If he's a decent person, he will consider your sister's feelings. The matter of him and your mother starting a new life should be handled by him."
"If he's not a good person, then it's even better."
Yu Li was a bit lost, "How do I do it?"
Yan Shiting's voice remained calm and steady, "Go after him, make him actively distance himself."
Yu Li thought about what he said, and had to admit that this was a good approach.
If he just asked his mother, his mother's subjective perspective might also affect his judgment.
He asked for advice, "Then how do I understand him?"
Yan Shiting paused, looking into Yu Li's clear eyes, and said, "I suggest actual observation."
In addition to the official public information, to really know what kind of person the other party is, only actual observation would do.
And to actually observe, it meant that Yu Li needed to go back home and stay for a few days.
Yu Li was slightly startled.
Going home...
He looked down at his own belly.
Although he hasn't started showing yet, and won't be seen as pregnant by his mother and sister, even if they do notice, they won't think of it as that. But Yu Li was still a bit worried.
The worry was not only about whether his mother and sister could accept it...
Yu Li pressed his lips together, his gaze struggling.
In the end, he firmly nodded, "Then I'll go back tomorrow."
Yan Shiting looked at him, pushing a small steamed pork rib dish closer to Yu Li.
"Eat first, the dishes are getting cold."
"Okay." Yu Li picked up the bowl, smiling sincerely.
Yan Shiting had already pointed him in the right direction, and now solving this matter would be much easier.
With the troubles in his heart put down, and the dishes palatable to his taste, Yu Li happily ate half a bowl more.
After the meal, Yan Shiting sent him back to the university.
When they arrived at Y University, it had already turned dark.
As the car stopped, Yan Shiting spoke up in a light tone, "I'll accompany you back there tomorrow."
Yu Li's hand paused as he opened the car door.
He turned his head, and in the streetlight, he could see the earnest look in Yan Shiting's eyes.
Yu Li instinctively didn't want to trouble him, "But you're so busy with work..."
Yan Shiting said, "I can handle work remotely."
"Yu Li," Yan Shiting's tone seemed a bit gentler, "I'm not at ease with you going alone."
Although he knew the other party's words were probably because of the child, Yu Li's heart still skipped a beat.
He was soft-hearted and unable to refuse this kind of caring.
Yu Li rubbed his slightly flushed ear and said, "Alright then."
"I'll come pick you up in the morning, go back and rest early tonight."
Yu Li nodded, opened the car door and said unconsciously, "Good night."
Before the car door closed, he heard Yan Shiting's low voice, "Good night."
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