On Chinese New Year’s Eve, Lu Feng sat in front of the dinner table, unable to enjoy the festive flavors by even a little bit. It was lively and bustling with noise outside the window. But inside the house, there was only silence, almost solemn in nature.
Three minutes ago, Lu Chonghua and Yu Ling had once again tried to persuade Lu Feng to “attempt to live a normal life” and “find a girlfriend whom he could properly get along with for the rest of his days.”
Cai Youyang was seated at the dinner table as Lu Feng’s boyfriend. Listening to what was being said, he could only put on an awkward smile. He knew that Lu Feng’s parents had never accepted him, but he didn’t expect that the two elders would speak such words right to his face.
Lu Feng didn’t interrupt his parents with a cold expression like before. Instead, he only silently listened. Yu Ling was secretly filled with satisfaction, thinking that her son must have finally seen the light. She couldn’t help but shoot a glance at Cai Youyang who seemed to be transparent.
Cai Youyang stared at Lu Feng, flabbergasted. But Lu Feng didn’t return the gaze to console him.
“Poor child,” thought Yu Ling, furrowing her eyebrows. Maybe she should prepare a small break-up fee for him. After all, he had wasted so many years in this relationship. However, her sympathy for Cai Youyang lasted only for a moment. Seeing Lu Feng deep in thought, Yu Ling felt more joy that her life-long wish was about to be fulfilled. She had originally thought she wouldn’t be able to see Lu Feng get married before she died, but it seemed things were taking a turn for the better.
Faced with Yu Ling’s expectant eyes, Lu Feng hesitated to speak—a rare sight coming from him—as though he was afraid of scaring her. After contemplating on something for a short while, he solemnly said, “Dad, Mom, don’t mention this matter again in the future. It doesn’t work anymore. I shouldn’t harm a girl and turn her into a grass widow at a young age.”
Yu Ling repeatedly blinked. “Doesn’t work? What doesn’t work?” Then soon after the words left her mouth, she did a double-take and glanced at Lu Feng’s covered crotch in extreme shock, face growing as pale as a sheet.
Cai Youyang was also startled by this. He grabbed Lu Feng’s hand and said, “Don’t joke about that.”
Lu Chonghua loudly coughed, then stared at Cai Youyang in discontentment. Angry, Cai Youyang tried retracting his hand, but Lu Feng held onto it.
Lu Feng turned to his father and gravely said, “It’s true, Dad.”
Lu Chonghua let out a cold laugh, clearly showing his disbelief. With an ashen face and a sarcastic tone, he spoke, “Oh really? The nerve of you to actually say that!” He had seen hickeys and bruises on Cai Youyang’s neck countless times. During their yearly visits to his and his wife’s home, Cai Youyang could only sit on the sofa, always holding his waist. As a fellow male, he naturally knew what this meant. Lu Feng had actually come up with such a terrible lie to avoid their arranged blind date. He couldn’t help but applaud him.
Lu Feng said, “What can I do if you don’t believe me? I even went to the hospital to check.”
In contrast with Lu Chonghua’s skepticism, Yu Ling believed him for the most part. Her son was a police officer. How could a police officer lie? “What did the doctor say?” she hastily asked.
“You actually believe in his nonsense!” scolded Lu Chonghua.
Yu Ling didn’t even look at Lu Chonghua.
Lu Feng dully said, “The doctor said it’s a psychological problem. Apparently, I’ve been under too much pressure recently.” He kept his face fairly expressionless, but the three other people present could see the melancholy between his eyebrows.
Cai Youyang couldn’t resist the urge to clench Lu Feng’s hand. “But you haven’t had any new cases recently, right?” Then in a worried voice, he asked, “Could… there be a mistake?”
Lu Chonghua stared at Cai Youyang in suspicion. He was a veteran police officer in the crime investigation unit with 30 years under his belt. Cai Youyang was a rather simple person, so if he was just putting up an act, he wouldn’t have been able to hide it from him. But based on Cai Youyang’s behavior, he truly was worried about what “wasn’t working” with Lu Feng. Lu Chonghua had initially suspected that Lu Feng was just lying to him, but now, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
Yu Ling grabbed Cai Youyang’s shoulder. “Xiao Cai, even you didn’t know too? But you’re his partner…” Face pale, she said in disbelief, “This surely can’t be true!”
Cai Youyang stuttered, “I… I went on vacation last week…” And still hadn’t had the opportunity to verify whether Lu Feng’s thing was working or not.
Lu Feng got up, rescued him from Yu Ling’s hands, and said in a low voice, “Mom, how could I not know the condition of my own body?”
Yu Ling’s pupils dilated, and she stared up at her tall and handsome son, still unable to accept this matter. How could this happen? Her son had always been in great health. Where… where did this issue come from?! If it were some other illness, then they could maybe still find someone willing to marry him once they lowered their requirements. But how could a man who couldn’t do it still be considered a man? Which young lady would promise themselves to a man who couldn’t do it?
Yu Ling wanted to cry. She turned around and punched Lu Chonghua several times. “I already told you from the very beginning not to let him follow your footsteps and become a police officer in your unit.”
Lu Chonghua still wanted to observe Lu Feng and Cai Youyang’s expressions, so he hurriedly protested, “But I can still do it until now!”
Yu Ling: “…”
Lu Feng forced a smile and told him, “Despite the years, you’re both still hale and hearty.”
Lu Chonghua’s features were as rigid as stone. This wasn’t a good time to mention his standpoint that Lu Feng was lying. But, he felt like Lu Feng was flaunting his illness too much for it to be true.
Yu Ling stared at Lu Chonghua with fiery eyes. She grabbed Lu Feng’s sleeve and asked, “Did… the doctor say it can be cured?”
Lu Feng’s face twisted in a frown. “Psychological problems are hard to treat.” He took Yu Ling’s hand and continued, “Mom, I’m a bit tired. I’ll go ahead and take a rest first.”
Yu Ling let out a sound of surprise, still wanting to ask a few more questions. But after some thought, the doctor did say that the cause of his illness was too much pressure. If she continued asking questions, then wouldn’t that be giving Lu Feng even more pressure? With this in mind, she didn’t dare ask any further.
Cai Youyang looked at the two parents. He stood up, bowing his head toward them, then silently followed Lu Feng.
Lu Chonghua called out, “Wait a minute.”
Filled with apprehension, Cai Youyang turned around and saw Lu Chonghua waving at him. He followed his order and obediently walked over to him, after which Lu Chonghua whispered into his ear, “Later… go test him.”
Cai Youyang blinked, staring blankly at him. Lu Chonghua sacrificed his elderly dignity and said, “Still want me to teach you how to do it?”
Cai Youyang quickly shook his head before turning back around. He headed upstairs and entered the bedroom.
Inside, Lu Feng was lying on the bed with his hands placed at the back of his head, staring at the ceiling with hollow eyes. When he heard footsteps, he shot a glance at the door. Then, as though nothing had happened, he said, “Come here?”
Cai Youyang made a sound of agreement and slowly made his way to the side of the bed, sitting beside Lu Feng. After staring at Lu Feng’s serene expression for quite a long while, Cai Youyang finally gathered the courage and asked in a small voice, “Give me a hint. Is it true or not?
Lu Feng responded, “It’s true… What are you gonna do about it?”
Cai Youyang’s heart, which had been strung up from worry, relaxed and fell back down. He pushed Lu Feng’s shoulder and laughingly said with a lighter tone, “Sure enough, you were just lying to your parents. You scared the hell out of me.”
Lu Feng shook his head. “It really is true.”
Cai Youyang’s smile froze on his lips. “Huh?”
Lu Feng gazed at him. “I was just too embarrassed to explain to my mother back there. The doctor said that it must’ve been my parents urging me to marry that caused me to feel too pressured.”
Cai Youyang was struck dumb by this. “Then… then what now?”
On the other side of the door, Lu Feng’s parents, who were eavesdropping on their conversation, exchanged glances. Tears streamed down Yu Ling’s face, and she looked guilty and extremely regretful. Lu Chonghua frowned, seeming to be thinking of something.
Inside the room, Lu Feng said, “Let me ask you, Teacher Cai. Now that I’m sick and can’t do it in the meantime… what are you gonna do?”
Cai Youyang had drooped his head in sadness and didn’t see the fleeting smile that crossed Lu Feng’s face. Lu Feng raised a hand to caress the back of Cai Youyang’s head, enjoying the soft, supple feeling underneath his fingers. In his mind, he believed that once his parents heard Teacher Cai’s response, they would realize just who wouldn’t give up on him at this critical moment. He had great confidence in Cai Youyang.
Just as he was thinking this, Cai Youyang raised his head and firmly said, “Don’t you worry…”
Lu Feng watched the door slightly open, thinking, “Yes, you better listen…”
“…I can be the one on top too.” Although Cai Youyang completed his sentence in a calm manner, his hands were slightly trembling with excitement.
On Chinese New Year’s Eve, Lu Feng sat in front of the dinner table, unable to enjoy the festive flavors by even a little bit. It was lively and bustling with noise outside the window. But inside the house, there was only silence, almost solemn in nature.
Three minutes ago, Lu Chonghua and Yu Ling had once again tried to persuade Lu Feng to “attempt to live a normal life” and “find a girlfriend whom he could properly get along with for the rest of his days.”
Cai Youyang was seated at the dinner table as Lu Feng’s boyfriend. Listening to what was being said, he could only put on an awkward smile. He knew that Lu Feng’s parents had never accepted him, but he didn’t expect that the two elders would speak such words right to his face.
Lu Feng didn’t interrupt his parents with a cold expression like before. Instead, he only silently listened. Yu Ling was secretly filled with satisfaction, thinking that her son must have finally seen the light. She couldn’t help but shoot a glance at Cai Youyang who seemed to be transparent.
Cai Youyang stared at Lu Feng, flabbergasted. But Lu Feng didn’t return the gaze to console him.
“Poor child,” thought Yu Ling, furrowing her eyebrows. Maybe she should prepare a small break-up fee for him. After all, he had wasted so many years in this relationship. However, her sympathy for Cai Youyang lasted only for a moment. Seeing Lu Feng deep in thought, Yu Ling felt more joy that her life-long wish was about to be fulfilled. She had originally thought she wouldn’t be able to see Lu Feng get married before she died, but it seemed things were taking a turn for the better.
Faced with Yu Ling’s expectant eyes, Lu Feng hesitated to speak—a rare sight coming from him—as though he was afraid of scaring her. After contemplating on something for a short while, he solemnly said, “Dad, Mom, don’t mention this matter again in the future. It doesn’t work anymore. I shouldn’t harm a girl and turn her into a grass widow at a young age.”
Yu Ling repeatedly blinked. “Doesn’t work? What doesn’t work?” Then soon after the words left her mouth, she did a double-take and glanced at Lu Feng’s covered crotch in extreme shock, face growing as pale as a sheet.
Cai Youyang was also startled by this. He grabbed Lu Feng’s hand and said, “Don’t joke about that.”
Lu Chonghua loudly coughed, then stared at Cai Youyang in discontentment. Angry, Cai Youyang tried retracting his hand, but Lu Feng held onto it.
Lu Feng turned to his father and gravely said, “It’s true, Dad.”
Lu Chonghua let out a cold laugh, clearly showing his disbelief. With an ashen face and a sarcastic tone, he spoke, “Oh really? The nerve of you to actually say that!” He had seen hickeys and bruises on Cai Youyang’s neck countless times. During their yearly visits to his and his wife’s home, Cai Youyang could only sit on the sofa, always holding his waist. As a fellow male, he naturally knew what this meant. Lu Feng had actually come up with such a terrible lie to avoid their arranged blind date. He couldn’t help but applaud him.
Lu Feng said, “What can I do if you don’t believe me? I even went to the hospital to check.”
In contrast with Lu Chonghua’s skepticism, Yu Ling believed him for the most part. Her son was a police officer. How could a police officer lie? “What did the doctor say?” she hastily asked.
“You actually believe in his nonsense!” scolded Lu Chonghua.
Yu Ling didn’t even look at Lu Chonghua.
Lu Feng dully said, “The doctor said it’s a psychological problem. Apparently, I’ve been under too much pressure recently.” He kept his face fairly expressionless, but the three other people present could see the melancholy between his eyebrows.
Cai Youyang couldn’t resist the urge to clench Lu Feng’s hand. “But you haven’t had any new cases recently, right?” Then in a worried voice, he asked, “Could… there be a mistake?”
Lu Chonghua stared at Cai Youyang in suspicion. He was a veteran police officer in the crime investigation unit with 30 years under his belt. Cai Youyang was a rather simple person, so if he was just putting up an act, he wouldn’t have been able to hide it from him. But based on Cai Youyang’s behavior, he truly was worried about what “wasn’t working” with Lu Feng. Lu Chonghua had initially suspected that Lu Feng was just lying to him, but now, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
Yu Ling grabbed Cai Youyang’s shoulder. “Xiao Cai, even you didn’t know too? But you’re his partner…” Face pale, she said in disbelief, “This surely can’t be true!”
Cai Youyang stuttered, “I… I went on vacation last week…” And still hadn’t had the opportunity to verify whether Lu Feng’s thing was working or not.
Lu Feng got up, rescued him from Yu Ling’s hands, and said in a low voice, “Mom, how could I not know the condition of my own body?”
Yu Ling’s pupils dilated, and she stared up at her tall and handsome son, still unable to accept this matter. How could this happen? Her son had always been in great health. Where… where did this issue come from?! If it were some other illness, then they could maybe still find someone willing to marry him once they lowered their requirements. But how could a man who couldn’t do it still be considered a man? Which young lady would promise themselves to a man who couldn’t do it?
Yu Ling wanted to cry. She turned around and punched Lu Chonghua several times. “I already told you from the very beginning not to let him follow your footsteps and become a police officer in your unit.”
Lu Chonghua still wanted to observe Lu Feng and Cai Youyang’s expressions, so he hurriedly protested, “But I can still do it until now!”
Yu Ling: “…”
Lu Feng forced a smile and told him, “Despite the years, you’re both still hale and hearty.”
Lu Chonghua’s features were as rigid as stone. This wasn’t a good time to mention his standpoint that Lu Feng was lying. But, he felt like Lu Feng was flaunting his illness too much for it to be true.
Yu Ling stared at Lu Chonghua with fiery eyes. She grabbed Lu Feng’s sleeve and asked, “Did… the doctor say it can be cured?”
Lu Feng’s face twisted in a frown. “Psychological problems are hard to treat.” He took Yu Ling’s hand and continued, “Mom, I’m a bit tired. I’ll go ahead and take a rest first.”
Yu Ling let out a sound of surprise, still wanting to ask a few more questions. But after some thought, the doctor did say that the cause of his illness was too much pressure. If she continued asking questions, then wouldn’t that be giving Lu Feng even more pressure? With this in mind, she didn’t dare ask any further.
Cai Youyang looked at the two parents. He stood up, bowing his head toward them, then silently followed Lu Feng.
Lu Chonghua called out, “Wait a minute.”
Filled with apprehension, Cai Youyang turned around and saw Lu Chonghua waving at him. He followed his order and obediently walked over to him, after which Lu Chonghua whispered into his ear, “Later… go test him.”
Cai Youyang blinked, staring blankly at him. Lu Chonghua sacrificed his elderly dignity and said, “Still want me to teach you how to do it?”
Cai Youyang quickly shook his head before turning back around. He headed upstairs and entered the bedroom.
Inside, Lu Feng was lying on the bed with his hands placed at the back of his head, staring at the ceiling with hollow eyes. When he heard footsteps, he shot a glance at the door. Then, as though nothing had happened, he said, “Come here?”
Cai Youyang made a sound of agreement and slowly made his way to the side of the bed, sitting beside Lu Feng. After staring at Lu Feng’s serene expression for quite a long while, Cai Youyang finally gathered the courage and asked in a small voice, “Give me a hint. Is it true or not?
Lu Feng responded, “It’s true… What are you gonna do about it?”
Cai Youyang’s heart, which had been strung up from worry, relaxed and fell back down. He pushed Lu Feng’s shoulder and laughingly said with a lighter tone, “Sure enough, you were just lying to your parents. You scared the hell out of me.”
Lu Feng shook his head. “It really is true.”
Cai Youyang’s smile froze on his lips. “Huh?”
Lu Feng gazed at him. “I was just too embarrassed to explain to my mother back there. The doctor said that it must’ve been my parents urging me to marry that caused me to feel too pressured.”
Cai Youyang was struck dumb by this. “Then… then what now?”
On the other side of the door, Lu Feng’s parents, who were eavesdropping on their conversation, exchanged glances. Tears streamed down Yu Ling’s face, and she looked guilty and extremely regretful. Lu Chonghua frowned, seeming to be thinking of something.
Inside the room, Lu Feng said, “Let me ask you, Teacher Cai. Now that I’m sick and can’t do it in the meantime… what are you gonna do?”
Cai Youyang had drooped his head in sadness and didn’t see the fleeting smile that crossed Lu Feng’s face. Lu Feng raised a hand to caress the back of Cai Youyang’s head, enjoying the soft, supple feeling underneath his fingers. In his mind, he believed that once his parents heard Teacher Cai’s response, they would realize just who wouldn’t give up on him at this critical moment. He had great confidence in Cai Youyang.
Just as he was thinking this, Cai Youyang raised his head and firmly said, “Don’t you worry…”
Lu Feng watched the door slightly open, thinking, “Yes, you better listen…”
“…I can be the one on top too.” Although Cai Youyang completed his sentence in a calm manner, his hands were slightly trembling with excitement.
