The Long Road Ahead

Chapter 26

At lunch, both the guests and the hosts enjoyed themselves and their meals.

On his knees, the hands resting on them clasped together without him knowing. "That... Those things have nothing to do with me and Haiming, how can they?"

At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.

"She um... had her own troubles." Out of habit, Xiao Ning smiled lightly as he continued, "She had left some money for me to be taking care of at my aunt's place, but during my high school years I lived at the dormitory, so I lost contact with them over the years."

Wu Yi was a very gracious hostess, not allowing anyone to feel left out in the cold. But regardless of it was due to her nature or just her ability, she nonetheless made people feel at ease.

"Of course not, Mr. Shan," Xiao Ning replied.

"Perhaps..." Xiao Ning, losing himself in his role, smiled bitterly as he continued, "he still doesn't know me well enough to share all of those things with me. To be honest, we haven't known each other for very long, and we still haven't shared our unhappy past with one another. So apart from the things he did tell me, I can only guess about other things pertaining to him."

Such efficiency... After being done with asking the cause of the relationship, he got right to checking out the members of the household.

"Wang Hua, as in his assistant?" Shan Yisong asked in confirmation.

"It so happened that Wang-ge's wife had given birth, so when I went to see them I ended up talking about that matter with him, and that was how I found out abut Haming's identity. I was quite shocked upon hearing it, too. I hadn't recalled Shan Haihong's name clearly back then either," Xiao Ning explained himself in detail, then added, "I guess it was fate. So, all in all, Haiming and I got in touch with each other once more like this. I was grateful for his help, and we kept in touch with each other more. But since we had already spent the night together, things progressed in a way that couldn't be controlled."

"Sit."

It wasn't because he was currently being interrogated like a criminal, however, it was instead for Shan Haiming's sake.

But this relaxed state of Xiao Ning's did not last for very long, because Shan Yisong who had maintained his silence the entire time had called him up to his study.

However, to the contrary, Xiao Ning was a calm as a tranquil sea. "My father had already passed away a long time ago. And before he left this world, he and my mother had divorced. So for a short period of time, I had lived with my paternal aunt."

"Good." Shan Yisong then asked, "So tell me, what did my son give you to make you come here and put on this act of his?"

Panic flashed on Shan Yisong's face at this question, his expression could almost be described as helpless, but it was quickly hidden away, nowhere to be seen. And if not for Xiao Ning's habit for observation and pouring every once of his attention towards that old man's body language, he would've missed that expression.

"Wang Hua, as in his assistant?" Shan Yisong asked in confirmation.

For a long time, he looked at Xiao Ning with a gaze that grew all the more complex. "If you lost contact with them during high school, how did you manage to continue your studies and housing?"

"I'm not interested in your flowery words, I just want the truth."

Out of caution, Xiao Ning could only ask, "Exactly what Haiming had told you."

It was nothing he did not expect. It was bound to occur sooner or later. So rather calmly, Xiao Ning made his way up the stairs.

At lunch, both the guests and the hosts enjoyed themselves and their meals.

"Sit."

Thinking it over for a bit, Xiao Ning replied, "I know a little."

Nodding, Shan Yisong to a moment before he finally spoke. "I understand, and I believe you, for now."

Disbelief mixed with a struggle of acceptance saturated the older man's features, so much so, he rose to his feet and took a couple steps away from his desk. Xiao Ning's gaze trailed the man's movements, guessing there would be another scene between the father and son proceeding this meeting.

Shan Yisong was sitting behind his desk, which had two wooden chairs laid out before it, chairs that didn't seem one bit comfortable. It looks like he discusses business matters with people at home during the weekdays.

"Wang Hua, as in his assistant?" Shan Yisong asked in confirmation.

"Wang-ge was my superior in the past." Xiao Ning nodded as he replied. "Honestly, after that night, because it was rather embarrassing, the two of us weren't planning to continue our in-depth exchanges. I also thought I would never get into contact with Haiming again. But then I had some trouble at work. He had mentioned this to you, right?"

Maintaining his smile, Xiao Ning continued, "Which is why it doesn't matter that they don't know about me and Haiming."

Out of caution, Xiao Ning could only ask, "Exactly what Haiming had told you."

It was a good thing. Liking the same sex on the familial side of things can be a difficult road to traverse, so if it can be resolved, it should. This way, even if he and Shan Haiming do "breakup" Shan Haiming would be able to choose being with a male partner freely.

Smiling politely, Xiao Ning took a seat opposite the older man.

Xiao Ning grinned as he replied, "I have a classmate from primary school who has been my friend since then. His family is very kind, and once they knew of my situation they had helped me a lot."

"Good." Shan Yisong then asked, "So tell me, what did my son give you to make you come here and put on this act of his?"

"Sit."

Xiao Ning looked at Shan Yisong. While speaking of Shan Haiming's sexual orientation, he still managed to maintain an inscrutable expression because it's Shan Haiming's own choice, which indicated the existence of a certain level of trust Shan Yisong has in his son. But at the mere possibility of his son being subjected to unfair treatment, he displayed his anger clearly.

The Conversation

Smiling politely, Xiao Ning took a seat opposite the older man.

"Don't speak in circles." Shan Yisong frown was extremely intimidating. "How can Haiming like men? Did he bring you here as a farce?"

Without any delay, Shan Yisong directly stuck the knife in and cut to the chase, "What's going on between you and Haiming?"

This old man is also quite cute.

And to it, Shan Yisong nodded while admitting, "You two have only only known each other for about three months."

"What do you mean they don;t need to know?" Shan Yison looked as though he wanted to slam the desk, and the pressure leaving him rose sharply. "I'm warning you..."

Xiao Ning was rather hesitant to reply to this question. What was he supposed to say? Young people are extremely frivolous? It's a waste if someone doesn't act carefree during their youth?

On his knees, the hands resting on them clasped together without him knowing. "That... Those things have nothing to do with me and Haiming, how can they?"

iana: Happy New Year!

Those words of his made Xiao Ning think the man before him knew that the only thing between himself and Shan Haiming was an agreement. What on earth did Shan Haiming say to his father?

And to it, Shan Yisong nodded while admitting, "You two have only only known each other for about three months."

Out of caution, Xiao Ning could only ask, "Exactly what Haiming had told you."

It was nothing he did not expect. It was bound to occur sooner or later. So rather calmly, Xiao Ning made his way up the stairs.

Xiao Ning was rather hesitant to reply to this question. What was he supposed to say? Young people are extremely frivolous? It's a waste if someone doesn't act carefree during their youth?

Wu Yi was a very gracious hostess, not allowing anyone to feel left out in the cold. But regardless of it was due to her nature or just her ability, she nonetheless made people feel at ease.

The next words Xiao Ning spoke were said with a bit more aggression than he normally used to speak. "From the start, you had already decided for yourself what sort of person I am. So in my humble opinion, apart from hearing what you think to be true, nothing I say would ever qualify as your 'truth.'"

This old man is also quite cute.

That question of Shan Yisong's made Xiao Ning break character, it wasn't something he had ever in his life considered. So when Shan Yisong proposed such a question he mulled over logic behind the man's query for a while before he understood, and at that moment, Xiao Ning experienced a novel sense of hilarity.

"Don't speak in circles." Shan Yisong frown was extremely intimidating. "How can Haiming like men? Did he bring you here as a farce?"

In the end, Xiao Ning gathered his courage and replied to the older man, "On the night we met one another, the two of us drank a bit and afterwards... Haiming spent the night at my place."

And the gaze he had cast towards Xiao Ning grew all the more displeased. "Haihong said you worked at Rihua, so did you know of Haiming and deliberately approach him?"

At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.

"Good." Shan Yisong then asked, "So tell me, what did my son give you to make you come here and put on this act of his?"

Like father, like son, huh...

Maintaining his smile, Xiao Ning continued, "Which is why it doesn't matter that they don't know about me and Haiming."

It wasn't because he was currently being interrogated like a criminal, however, it was instead for Shan Haiming's sake.

At lunch, both the guests and the hosts enjoyed themselves and their meals.

But he obviously couldn't laugh out loud then and there, so with a gulp, he restrained himself and replied, "Um... I was actually taken there that night by Wang Hua. I had no idea who I was even meeting."

This old man is also quite cute.

The hands Shan Yisong used to hold the back of his chair clenched tightly as he bellowed, "Nonsense!"

Xiao Ning remained silent for a moment, then asked a question he probably shouldn't have. "Why would he go bring someone here to pretend he was gay?"

And the gaze he had cast towards Xiao Ning grew all the more displeased. "Haihong said you worked at Rihua, so did you know of Haiming and deliberately approach him?"

Shan Yisong's eyes widened. "If he hasn't told you anything, how am I supposed to believe you two are a actually couple?"

And to it, Shan Yisong nodded while admitting, "You two have only only known each other for about three months."

"Good." Shan Yisong then asked, "So tell me, what did my son give you to make you come here and put on this act of his?"

When Shan Yisong stepped back, the vague tangled web of emotions woven onto his face gradually turned into resolve, and from his elevated position, he looked down at Xiao Ning. "How long have the of you been dating?"

Stopping himself mid-sentence, the older man's expression changed again, a weary sigh escaping him before he sat himself back into he chair and massaged his temples. "Continue."

iana: Happy New Year!

Probably because he never expected Xiao Ning's family situation to be like this, Shan Yisong lost his bearings, but he still did not hesitate to ask, "How did your father pass? Was it a hereditary genetic illness or was it accidental?"

"Young man, I'm the one asking the question's here," Shan Yisong declared.

The family elder emitted a pressure as he then spoke, "Who are the members of your family? What do they do? Are you alone in here in C-City, r do you have relatives here?"

Xiao Ning was rather hesitant to reply to this question. What was he supposed to say? Young people are extremely frivolous? It's a waste if someone doesn't act carefree during their youth?

"I understand, Mr. Shan." Xiao Ning then thought carefully before he added, "I sincerely apologise. I had no intention of offending you. It would be too arrogant of me if I said I understood your feelings. I found out that Haiming holds his family in very high regards, but he never explained his family matters to me in detail, so your question just now really caught me by surprise."

Ultimately, Xiao Ning replied, "Things happen for a reason?"

And the gaze he had cast towards Xiao Ning grew all the more displeased. "Haihong said you worked at Rihua, so did you know of Haiming and deliberately approach him?"

Those words of his made Xiao Ning think the man before him knew that the only thing between himself and Shan Haiming was an agreement. What on earth did Shan Haiming say to his father?

Xiao Ning was taken aback. He and Shan Haiming never rehearsed any lines.

Those words of his made Xiao Ning think the man before him knew that the only thing between himself and Shan Haiming was an agreement. What on earth did Shan Haiming say to his father?

"I'm not interested in your flowery words, I just want the truth."

Shan Yisong's eyes widened. "If he hasn't told you anything, how am I supposed to believe you two are a actually couple?"

This old man who could not be looked upon as an old man, held his back straight and bore the demeanour of someone who stood above all—as someone who had full dominion over all, prompting Xiao Ning to square himself in his seat. But even though he carefully considered Shan Yisong's words, for some reason he could not explain, Xiao Ning felt his anger rise.

Xiao Ning was taken aback. He and Shan Haiming never rehearsed any lines.

It wasn't because he was currently being interrogated like a criminal, however, it was instead for Shan Haiming's sake.

This explanation was perfect.

It was nothing he did not expect. It was bound to occur sooner or later. So rather calmly, Xiao Ning made his way up the stairs.

"Sit."

After all, even an idiot could figure out the situation after one or two guesses, and Xiao Ning was a person who had always thought a lot. How could Shan Yisong not see the enmity Shan Haihong has towards Shan Haiming? And instead of doing something, that man was questioning him. He didn't even think about why Shan Haiming would be doing all this.

"Good." Shan Yisong then asked, "So tell me, what did my son give you to make you come here and put on this act of his?"

The family elder emitted a pressure as he then spoke, "Who are the members of your family? What do they do? Are you alone in here in C-City, r do you have relatives here?"

In the end, Xiao Ning gathered his courage and replied to the older man, "On the night we met one another, the two of us drank a bit and afterwards... Haiming spent the night at my place."

Shan Yisong's expression did not look all that great, having no idea where his imagination had taken him. "Haiming did tell me, he said..."

Xiao Ning remained silent for a while.

But then, following a pause, he added, "There's still a long way to go."

"I thought you were a person who had at least some sense of propriety." Shan Yisong narrowed his eyes and seriously assessed Xiao Ning. "This is my house, and you don't wish to be kicked out of here, do you not?"

Those words of his made Xiao Ning think the man before him knew that the only thing between himself and Shan Haiming was an agreement. What on earth did Shan Haiming say to his father?

"Young man, I'm the one asking the question's here," Shan Yisong declared.

Like father, like son, huh...

"What do you mean they don;t need to know?" Shan Yison looked as though he wanted to slam the desk, and the pressure leaving him rose sharply. "I'm warning you..."

"I'm not interested in your flowery words, I just want the truth."

"Of course not, Mr. Shan," Xiao Ning replied.

With his gaze cast downwards, Xiao Ning couldn't help a feeling of admiration from brewing.

"Good." Shan Yisong then asked, "So tell me, what did my son give you to make you come here and put on this act of his?"

At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.

This explanation was perfect.

Nodding, Shan Yisong to a moment before he finally spoke. "I understand, and I believe you, for now."

So this is why Shan Haiming had an easy time coming out the closet, because Shan Yisong just never believed him at all?

Perhaps he put to much faith in Shan Haiming, and unexpectedly, had never thought of going over his lines with Shan Haiming even once.

For a long time, he looked at Xiao Ning with a gaze that grew all the more complex. "If you lost contact with them during high school, how did you manage to continue your studies and housing?"

Xiao Ning remained silent for a moment, then asked a question he probably shouldn't have. "Why would he go bring someone here to pretend he was gay?"

Xiao Ning felt his sense of responsibly grow a bit greater, his mouth pressing into a line before he responded, "Mr. Shan, so you think your son are I are putting on an act, or is it that you hope this is all just a show?"

But before Xiao Ning could open his mouth to speak, Shan Yisong raised his hand to stop him and added, "Just know, I have methods of verifying whether your words are truthful or lies."

This old man is also quite cute.

The family elder emitted a pressure as he then spoke, "Who are the members of your family? What do they do? Are you alone in here in C-City, r do you have relatives here?"

For a good while, Shan Yisong simply stared at Xiao Ning, as if he were dissecting the younger man's expression with his eyes. In the end, he closed his eyes while releasing a drawn out sigh, the fiercely imposing air that had gathered around him earlier quietly dissipating. "Do you know about what happened to Shan Haiming before?"

Maintaining his smile, Xiao Ning continued, "Which is why it doesn't matter that they don't know about me and Haiming."

So this is why Shan Haiming had an easy time coming out the closet, because Shan Yisong just never believed him at all?

Thinking it over for a bit, Xiao Ning replied, "I know a little."

Shan Yisong wasn't a young man who understood nothing, so despite the tact ans simplicity within the words Xiao Ning spoke, In between his sentences was the difficulties of a youth who had lost his support system.

Out of caution, Xiao Ning could only ask, "Exactly what Haiming had told you."

Like father, like son, huh...

Internally, her regretted his carelessness, his brows crinkling slightly into a frown. Shan Yisong never believed Shan Haiming was gay from the beginning, so maybe... this was something he hadn't asked?

But before Xiao Ning could open his mouth to speak, Shan Yisong raised his hand to stop him and added, "Just know, I have methods of verifying whether your words are truthful or lies."

After he was finished speaking, Xiao Ning let out a breath of satisfaction at having delivered this story of chock full of twists and turns, along with riveting ups and downs. It was reasonable enough to make a person be convinced.

The family elder emitted a pressure as he then spoke, "Who are the members of your family? What do they do? Are you alone in here in C-City, r do you have relatives here?"

"So what do you think about it?" Shan Yisong asked.

Shan Yisong's expression did not look all that great, having no idea where his imagination had taken him. "Haiming did tell me, he said..."

Xiao Ning was rather hesitant to reply to this question. What was he supposed to say? Young people are extremely frivolous? It's a waste if someone doesn't act carefree during their youth?

Ultimately, Xiao Ning replied, "Things happen for a reason?"

"Don't speak in circles." Shan Yisong frown was extremely intimidating. "How can Haiming like men? Did he bring you here as a farce?"

It wasn't because he was currently being interrogated like a criminal, however, it was instead for Shan Haiming's sake.

But then, following a pause, he added, "There's still a long way to go."

Ultimately, Xiao Ning replied, "Things happen for a reason?"

Sir, do you think this is some kind of TV drama?

Shan Yisong's eyes widened. "If he hasn't told you anything, how am I supposed to believe you two are a actually couple?"

"Nothing to do with you and Haiming?" Shan Yisong asked. "How can they have nothing to do with you two! Shan Haiming brought this matter to us on this side, so what about your own? Do your parents know about you and Haiming?"

Stopping himself mid-sentence, the older man's expression changed again, a weary sigh escaping him before he sat himself back into he chair and massaged his temples. "Continue."

Xiao Ning was rather hesitant to reply to this question. What was he supposed to say? Young people are extremely frivolous? It's a waste if someone doesn't act carefree during their youth?

This explanation was perfect.

Xiao Ning was rather hesitant to reply to this question. What was he supposed to say? Young people are extremely frivolous? It's a waste if someone doesn't act carefree during their youth?

And to it, Shan Yisong nodded while admitting, "You two have only only known each other for about three months."

"Sit."

Xiao Ning's honest and assured response had allowed him to gain some of Shan Yisong's trust. So now, the older man's words no longer held an edge. "Does Haiming really like men?"

"Don't speak in circles." Shan Yisong frown was extremely intimidating. "How can Haiming like men? Did he bring you here as a farce?"

"I'm not interested in your flowery words, I just want the truth."

Maintaining his smile, Xiao Ning continued, "Which is why it doesn't matter that they don't know about me and Haiming."

Shan Yisong's face had also been devoid of doubt. It only held a reluctance to believe the words spoken as true. Words even Xiao Ning himself would have believed.