Uncle’s fingers were hot.

With one touch, his chest began to burn.

Uncle’s smile was also beautiful.

From Cheng Yiming to Li Shuyun, from Lin Chen to Wen Siheng, Cheng Huanzhen felt that Uncle looked equally beautiful when he smiled.

The warmth in that smile was real, and the emotions hidden in his eyes were real too.

Cheng Huanzhen was momentarily dazed. He unconsciously wanted to lean forward but was firmly pushed back by the finger against his chest.

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Cheng Huanzhen stared at him fixedly and said again, “Uncle, you haven’t replied to my messages for three days.”

Lin Chen hummed a response, patiently waiting for the next sentence.

Cheng Huanzhen said dejectedly, “I’m very sad. I thought for three days—did Uncle encounter danger, or did you regret and not want to acknowledge me anymore?”

Lin Chen smiled, asking knowingly, “So you want?”

Reflected in Cheng Huanzhen’s eyes was Lin Chen’s smiling figure. He said seriously, “So, can Uncle give me a hug to comfort me?”

Lin Chen put a hand to his forehead and laughed, scolding him, “It’s only been three days since we last met. Why are you exactly like last time? Did I not coax you well enough then?”

He withdrew the hand pressed against Cheng Huanzhen’s chest—

Cheng Huanzhen leaned in!

A huge and warm embrace clumsily pounced on him. The short, stiff hair at the back of his head unknowingly rubbed against the side of his neck.

A faint woody perfume scent followed. Lin Chen couldn’t distinguish the specific scent, but he could tell that at least this was the perfume Cheng Huanzhen bought again after being criticized by him.

Before Lin Chen finished laughing, he was knocked backward by this pounce.

Fortunately, he propped himself up with his elbows in time, so he didn’t fall completely.

Cheng Huanzhen buried his face in his neck, voice muffled and hoarse, “No, Uncle, this is a new longing.”

Lin Chen stroked his back gently. He didn’t mind providing a little comfort to a work partner with whom he had gotten along pleasantly enough in the past.

But he didn’t hide anything either. “But I’m Shaozhuo’s brother now.”

The arms around him tightened abruptly, squeezing Lin Chen until it was slightly difficult to breathe.

His expression remained unchanged as he continued, “You can continue calling me Uncle, but I am not your real uncle after all. You always have to learn to digest this emotion yourself.”

The joy that had risen in Cheng Huanzhen from being close to Uncle dissipated by half.

He didn’t know what Uncle’s specific job was, but he could vaguely guess—after all, he had also been one of Uncle’s “clients.”

Uncle was undoubtedly special to him.

He originally thought their shared memories were unique.

But now he suddenly realized that the special interactions for him might just be Uncle’s ordinary daily routine.

Uncle would become the “special person” for many people.

Uncle would give many people the same “special experience.”

Before him, after him, there were many people lucky enough to be sheltered by Uncle.

And he seemed to have no special significance to Uncle.

Lin Chen wanted to continue, but seeing the head on his shoulder droop lower and lower, he couldn’t help but stop naturally.

He lowered his head and patted Cheng Huanzhen. “Sad?”

Cheng Huanzhen was silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, “Uncle, what do I have to do for you to come back and continue being my uncle?”

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”

Cheng Huanzhen lifted his head from the crook of his shoulder. The hair on his forehead looked a bit messy from the hug just now. His dark eyes pierced through the messy hair layers, staring straight at him. “You must have signed a contract with them. How much money do I need to sign a contract with you?”

Lin Chen said gently, “You can’t afford to sign it yet.”

Cheng Huanzhen pursued stubbornly, “How much money?”

Lin Chen had long had an idea about the price for long-term orders, and he had indeed considered developing Cheng Huanzhen into a long-term client.

But whenever this happened, he would always remember the blood, sweat, and effort Cheng Huanzhen poured into scraping together medical fees for him back then.

Cheng Yiming’s need for medical fees was fake.

But the spirit, effort, and attitude Cheng Huanzhen paid for it were real.

So, the price—which was still a bit high for a child who hadn’t inherited the family business or built his own business empire yet—rolled around his throat and was swallowed back down.

Lin Chen didn’t answer his question.

He said, “You don’t need to sign a contract with me. We are friends now. You can come to me directly when you are unhappy. Is this not enough?”

He reached out, pressing against Cheng Huanzhen’s collarbone.

Lightning illuminated his eyes, lighting up the smile within them brightly.

He tried to push Cheng Huanzhen up from his body. “It’s getting late, you should get up…”

“Boom—”

Continuous, muffled thunder exploded beside their ears.

Before Lin Chen could react, the strength surrounding his arms suddenly loosened, then two palms covered his ears.

Deep eyes still stared fixedly at him. This action seemed not to have diverted any of his attention; it was purely a subconscious bodily reaction.

Those eyes looked at him with loss and longing, full of “tell me.”

But his hoarse voice was saying, “The thunder will pass soon, Uncle don’t be afraid.”

Only when the silent atmosphere outlasted the thunder did he continue to ask persistently, “How much money is enough, Uncle?”

Stubborn. Wholehearted. Full of sincerity.

Blood flowing. Heart beating fast.

In the instant the hands left his ears, Lin Chen heard the vigorous and powerful rapid heartbeat of the young man before him.

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

Every beat seemed to be stubbornly pursuing his answer.

Lin Chen sighed softly and long.

He used some strength to firm up his thoughts, stating his attitude once again, “I can’t tell you.”

This time he successfully pushed Cheng Huanzhen away from himself.

He sat up from the sofa.

Adjusted his collar, smoothed his hem, and looked down at the young man who was somewhat dejected and silent because he didn’t get an answer.

He reached out, patted Cheng Huanzhen’s head, and relented a little, “But if you really want to know, you can ask around.”

Ask around.

Cheng Huanzhen’s eyes lit up again. He stared fixedly at Lin Chen, many questions appearing in his mind.

Who should he ask? Why can he ask around but you won’t tell me the price directly? Does Uncle want me to know or not want me to know?

But all these questions failed to be asked in the end.

Uncle’s body warmth remained in his arms. He gathered his coat, trying to keep more warmth.

He was quietly escorted by Lin Chen to the reception room door, palm on the door handle. Suddenly stopped, turned back and asked, “Uncle, will you go to the Li family funeral tomorrow?”

Lin Chen was somewhat surprised. “Tomorrow? How come I didn’t get any news?”

Cheng Huanzhen said, “The Li family and the Wen family rarely have business dealings.”

Cheng Huanzhen said softly, “If Uncle wants to go, I’ll go think of a way for you later.”

He knew Uncle always liked attending his own funerals.

Sure enough, Uncle didn’t refuse him. Uncle thought for a moment and said, “If convenient, I want to take Ah Shao with me.”

Uncle explained, “Take him to see real death.”

Cheng Huanzhen was somewhat unhappy, but he still agreed.

He left the Wen family in the rainy night. When getting in the car, his mind was filled with only one thought—he should go ask around earlier.

…

When Wen Siheng sent Cheng Huanzhen off, Wen Dad and Wen Mom popped out from some room, politely seeing off the guest.

After the guest left, Wen Siheng also intended to return to his room to rest.

He went upstairs, only to find Wen Dad and Wen Mom stopped on the second floor with him, directly opening the door and entering Wen Shaozhuo’s room.

Wen Siheng: “?”

He frowned, immediately changing his steps, not returning to his own room.

In Wen Shaozhuo’s bedroom, Wen Dad and Wen Mom’s scolding soon echoed piercingly throughout the second floor.

“When guests come, what should be said, what should be done—look at how well Siheng did, and look at you!”

“Cheng Huanzhen isn’t much older than you, but look at his achievements now. And you? At your age, people could already manage family businesses in an orderly manner! Your genes aren’t any worse than his; why can’t you do what he can? Have you reflected on yourself properly?”

The two spoke one sentence after another, making Wen Siheng furious.

He strode into the room, gaze passing through Wen Dad and Wen Mom, seeing Wen Shaozhuo trembling and curled up in the corner of the bed deep inside the bedroom.

When he led Wen Shaozhuo home tonight, there was a tiny light burning in Wen Shaozhuo’s eyes.

But now?

Forget about any light; tears of fear covered his entire cheeks, and even his gaze had become extremely numb. Hearing his footsteps entering the door, Wen Shaozhuo’s whole body trembled heavily as if in a stress reaction.

Wen Siheng was furious!

His clear voice interrupted the man and woman’s nagging at once: “Reflect on what? In my opinion, Ah Shao is excellent right now! Ah Shao is exceptionally talented in painting; how can I compare? Ah Shao is emotionally sensitive; how can Cheng Huanzhen compare with him on this point?”

“In my opinion, you are just blind in half of each eye! Use the seeing half to look at others, and the blind half to look at Ah Shao!”

He stood firmly in front of his brother’s bed, turned to face Wen Dad and Wen Mom, eyes burning: “When I was in the orphanage, teachers taught us that entering someone else’s room without knocking is extremely impolite. What, Dad, Mom, didn’t your parents teach you this?”

The sudden interruption and sarcasm made Wen Dad and Wen Mom angry at once.

Wen Yifeng frowned tightly: “Just praised you a couple of sentences and you turn upside down? What’s the use of painting well? Things that can’t even sell for a few bucks! And emotionally sensitive? I see he’s just immersed in his own world all day, doing useless things!”

Wen Qingcai was also extremely displeased: “Who are you talking to? No respect for elders! What polite or impolite, who bought this house? Whose house does he live in? What Shaozhuo does alone in the bedroom every day, aren’t you clear as a brother? Making a fuss over a few words, do we parents lose the right to discipline our child?!”

Wen Siheng pinched his throat “Oh my” once, feigning surprise: “So Ah Shao and I are just guests staying in your house? When I was in the orphanage, the dean always said there are no children who can’t be taught well, only parents who don’t know how to teach. If you think I’m better than Ah Shao, isn’t that saying the orphanage knows how to raise children better than you?”

Seeing Wen Dad and Wen Mom provoked to speak again, Wen Siheng sneered, interrupting directly: “Enough, take a good look, how much Ah Shao doesn’t want to hear your voices right now! This is Ah Shao’s room. If he doesn’t want you here, you can’t come in! Get out. If you don’t get out, tomorrow I’ll take Ah Shao to live outside!”