I Only Want You chapter 27
Due to Yang Xiaole’s insistence, Yan Lan packed up the clothes and books he wanted to take and walked out of the dormitory building with him.
At this time, the sky was still bright, far from the time when the sun would set, and students’ figures could be seen everywhere on campus.
When Yan Lan walked out, he could feel eyes from everywhere.
Unlike before, these people, whether familiar or unfamiliar, didn’t enthusiastically or politely call him senior brother as usual. They just quietly watched him and Yang Xiaole, observed them walking past, and then gathered together to whisper.
Yan Lan didn’t bother to listen to what they were saying. It couldn’t be anything good, and he had heard enough unpleasant words today.
No matter how intense the online world was, and how unworthy he seemed to some people, they lacked the courage to confront him face-to-face in the real world.
Yan Lan wasn’t afraid of them, not even the people insulting him online. However, the feeling of being intensely scrutinized wherever he went made him uncomfortable. At this moment, all he could do was to keep his back straight and not look sideways.
Walking beside him, Yang Xiaole, with a dark face, looked like a fierce and protective bodyguard. It seemed like he would immediately rush forward and take action if anyone dared to say something unpleasant to Yan Lan.
Although he had a slender figure, that fearless aura was quite intimidating.
With Yang Xiaole “escorting” him, Yan Lan wasn’t troubled by anyone and smoothly walked out of the school gate.
The Mercedes that had once picked him up before was waiting by the roadside. Yang Xiaole tightly held his hand and embraced him. “It will be okay Momo. Fake rumors are just fake. When Xie Yun Zhi returns, everyone will know they were wrong. You’re not that kind of person at all.”
Yan Lan couldn’t help but smile at his words, gently patting his back before turning to get into the car.
A little over half an hour later, he knocked on the door of Xie’s house. Tiantian, who had been waiting in the living room, walked up to him as soon as he saw him, reaching for his hand.
Auntie, with a smiling face, explained, “Mr. Xie called and said you would be coming to stay for a couple of days. He told me to remember to let Tiantian know, and Tiantian has been waiting for you in the living room since earlier.”
Yan Lan nodded and smiled at Tiantian, raising his hand to pat his soft curls, then walked upstairs with him to help with homework.
In the evening, Auntie cooked a few home-cooked dishes and a pot of corn and pork rib soup. The three of them sat at the dining table, and Auntie, looking at Tiantian who was eating with his head down, sighed lightly and said to Yan Lan, “Actually, when Mr. Xie is away these days, Tiantian’s mood is not good, and he eats less. Before Mr. Xie goes on a business trip, even if he has social engagements and can’t come back, he would still make it home by eight or nine at night, and Tiantian would wait for him before going to sleep.”
“Mr. Xie has been on a business trip for several days, and Tiantian may not express it, but I’ve seen him standing by the window looking out, waiting for Mr. Xie’s car. I know he feels lonely.”
Auntie turned her face and looked at Yan Lan. “So when he knew you were coming, he had been waiting for you all the time.”
Yan Lan felt a bit sorry after hearing this. Tiantian’s world was indeed too small. Apart from the teachers who taught him, he could count the people he saw every day on one hand.
In the past, Tiantian and Xie Yun Zhi had a strained relationship, and Tiantian would not be happy to see him, let alone miss him. However, as their relationship improved, and Xie Yun Zhi moved back to live with them, both Auntie and Yan Lan could feel that Tiantian was becoming more and more dependent on him. In such a situation, Xie Yun Zhi’s absence from home would definitely make Tiantian uncomfortable, and he would instinctively look for his uncle, hoping his uncle’s car would be parked downstairs.
Looking at Tiantian, who was quietly eating dinner beside him, Yan Lan suddenly remembered the day when Xie Yun Zhi expressed to Tiantian, “Uncle will be with you, and the teacher will also be with you…” The result was that the two adults still disappointed the child.
Yan Lan felt guilty. Although he was busy, he should still be able to spare some time. He hadn’t even thought about coming to play with Tiantian during Xie Yun Zhi’s business trip, even if it was just playing LEGO with him. It could have made him happier, preventing him from feeling too lonely.
Perhaps feeling a bit remorseful, that night he played with Tiantian with all the toys he wanted to play with. They played until it was time for Tiantian to sleep, and they agreed to play video games together the next day.
After coming out of Tiantian’s bedroom, Yan Lan, carrying his bag, subconsciously headed towards the guest room. However, when he pushed the door open, he only saw a completely bare bed, not even a sheet.
He couldn’t help feeling puzzled. Did Auntie forget that he needed sheets and pillows for his sleep here? This could be so embarrassing… How should he remind Auntie that he needed sheets and pillows? Oh, and a blanket too…
Just as he was at a loss, Auntie came upstairs and saw him standing outside the guest room, seemingly lost in thought. She explained with a smile, “Oh, Mr. Xie told me not to tidy up the guest room. He asked you to stay in his room.”
Hearing this, Yan Lan’s expression became even more puzzled.
Auntie nodded emphatically, reiterating, “Mr. Xie did say that. So I didn’t tidy up the guest room. The towels and toothbrush you used before have been moved to the master bedroom. Mr. Xie said you could use all the items in the room.”
Yan Lan didn’t doubt Auntie’s words. He was just puzzled.
If Xie Yun Zhi was at home, it would be fine for him to sleep in his room. However, when he wasn’t at home, Yan Lan felt a bit strange sleeping in his room. It didn’t seem quite appropriate.
But now, since the guest room wasn’t suitable for sleeping, and Auntie would definitely follow Xie Yun Zhi’s instructions and not allow him to sleep in the guest room, he had no other choice but to sleep in the master bedroom.
Seeing Yan Lan still standing there, Auntie knew he might feel embarrassed. She smiled and said, “Mr. Xie and you are in a relationship. It’s not excessive for lovers to sleep in the same bed. Moreover, it was Mr. Xie’s idea for you to sleep in his room.”
Yan Lan blushed a bit at Auntie’s words.
Auntie continued, “So, you don’t have to feel uneasy about it. Otherwise, Mr. Xie might think you dislike him.”
Hearing this, Yan Lan’s heart moved, and he raised his eyes to meet Auntie’s gaze. Using sign language, he made a somewhat amused gesture: Did he tell you to say this?
Auntie nodded with a smile, “Good night, Teacher Yan. Rest early. Mr. Xie should be back soon.”
Yan Lan: Good night.
Once inside the master bedroom, Yan Lan dropped his bag on the floor, opened his phone, and noticed that the previously disconnected internet had automatically reconnected. The next moment, the phone entered a frenzy of vibrations, indicating that he had received many messages on WeChat.
Curious, he opened them one by one, finding that they were mostly from Yang Xiaole, who had sent him dozens of messages, with the majority containing links to Weibo.
With a deep sense of doubt, Yan Lan opened each link that Yang Xiaole had sent.
The first few links were from some marketing accounts. However, their tone was different from the insults he had received during the day. They didn’t mention him at all and instead provided a rational perspective on the current controversy. They strongly criticized paparazzi for violating citizens’ privacy and accused the analysis post of lacking objectivity, having a strong subjective bias, and possibly inciting online attacks.
The last part of their message was a legal perspective, citing laws related to spreading rumors online and emphasizing potential legal consequences for the person behind the analysis post.
Yang Xiaole burst into laughter.
[Did you see that?] [Your husband’s legal team is quite something, controlling public opinion. I’ve noticed a lot of people’s opinions are changing.]Yan Lan clicked on the links and checked the popular comments section. Indeed, there were no more people blindly insulting him as a male third party. Some even argued that Yao Jinni and Xie Yun Zhi had never publicly admitted to their relationship but had only clarified it, so could they really be considered a couple?
After reading through all the links, Yan Lan returned to WeChat and found another message from Yang Xiaole.
[It looks like netizens will calm down tomorrow during the day.]Yan Lan replied: Hopefully.
After replying to Yang Xiaole, he exited the chat and clicked on Xie Yun Zhi’s pinned chat. After hesitating for a moment, he typed a message and sent it.
[Actually, I can just sleep in the guest room.]Xie Yun Zhi took a few minutes to reply.
[If you’re not a guest, don’t keep using the guest room.] [Am I the first person to sleep in your room besides you?] [Yes.] [~]Far away at Alandra International Airport, Xie Yun Zhi waited for a couple of minutes before receiving a shy message from Yan Lan. It was a cute expression of “I love you,” accompanied by a cat holding a rose.
Xie Yun Zhi couldn’t help but find it amusing and was about to ask for more. However, Yan Lan had already stopped replying, pretending to be offline.
Early the next morning, Xie Yun Zhi landed at the airport at 8 am. Just like the last time he returned from Sweden, there were several media reporters waiting for him.
Xie Yun Zhi never paid attention to them, refusing to say a word no matter how they questioned him.
Once in the car, sitting in the passenger seat, Secretary Lin turned to ask, “Mr. Xie, are we heading straight to the company?”
“No, let’s go home first. I’ll accompany them for breakfast.”
He said ‘them,’ but even at this hour, Secretary Lin knew that Tiantian hadn’t woken up yet. Xie Yun Zhi just wanted to go back and see Yan Lan.
After more than half an hour, the car stopped outside the gate. Xie Yun Zhi pushed open the door and saw Yan Lan, wearing pajamas, waiting for him at the door, seemingly eating something.
For some reason, Xie Yun Zhi suddenly smiled, pushed open the intricately carved iron gate, and walked towards the person standing on the steps. As he got closer, he noticed Yan Lan holding a meat bun.
Xie Yun Zhi didn’t know why he suddenly laughed as he approached the person on the steps. Yan Lan was wearing loose dark green pajamas, casually wearing a pair of slippers, eating a meat bun while staring at him without turning away.
Xie Yun Zhi smiled and asked him, “Can I have a bite?”
Yan Lan glanced at the half-eaten meat bun in his hand, thought for a moment, took a few steps down the stairs, and offered the side with more meat to his mouth. When he took a bite, Yan Lan withdrew it, turned and walked back.
Xie Yun Zhi reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Just one bite?”
Upon hearing this, Yan Lan pointed inside, indicating there were more inside.
“I want to eat from your hand; yours tastes better.”
Yan Lan glanced at him, handed him the last bit of the meat bun, and pulled him up the stairs.
Just before entering the house, Xie Yun Zhi grabbed his wrist, pulled him into his arms with force, and at the same time, his arm tightly embraced his waist. With a magnetic tone and a clear hint of laughter, he said, “This pajama you’re wearing looks familiar, like it’s mine?”