Chapter 61 – Epilogue
“A bunch of idiots.”
In the enormous room, only a single dim light was on. The faint glow from the lamp failed to reach every corner.
The emptiness of the space amplified those words endlessly, as if they echoed—circling back again not long after they were spoken.
Several people stood in the room, hearing the sentence repeat again and again, yet no one dared to make a sound.
The man who had spoken earlier exhaled a ring of smoke and calmly added, “How did you let him be taken away?”
The group standing before the table remained silent. Not a single person dared to respond.
After a brief pause, someone finally spoke.
“I’ll go to the Lu family.”
“You’re sure you can bring him back—no, the cat?” the man asked, still blowing smoke rings.
The speaker nodded.
“Father, everything belonging to the Lu family was yours to begin with,” the young man said. “We’re just taking back what’s ours.”
“There are outsiders here. Don’t call me Father,” Lu Tingyan said coldly.
“Yes.” The man nodded respectfully.
“I didn’t expect his old man to turn into a cat—and now he can too. So this thing is hereditary.”
He paused, then changed his tone.
“I won’t turn into one myself, will I?”
The man was already in his sixties or seventies. Logically speaking, if he were going to transform, it would have happened long ago—there was no reason it would wait until now.
Two years earlier, Lu Tingyan had inexplicably invested in a pharmaceutical company, claiming it was for vaccine research. Publicly, he said he was merely a shareholder—yet in truth, he was the real owner.
In recent years, the research had made breakthroughs, allowing this man—who should have been close to death—to remain active to this day. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so desperate to reclaim everything belonging to the Lu family.
Though he had once held power for several years, the business had never truly been his. What he wanted now was everything in Lu Heng’s hands—so he could pass it all on to his son.
The people opposite him suppressed their laughter, nearly breaking into smiles, yet not a single one dared to meet his gaze.
…
“Has Lu Heng still not changed back?” Ding Yue asked anxiously from the side.
When Ding Yue received the call, she had been in a neighboring state. The moment she heard something had happened, she arranged for a helicopter to bring her home immediately.
She had already experienced the loss of her beloved once before.
She did not want her son to disappear from her life again—especially without her ever knowing.
The moment she saw Lin Yan, the weight hanging in her heart finally eased.
Thank goodness—thank goodness Lu Heng had Lin Yan by his side the whole time.
“He’s changed back,” Lin Yan replied softly. “But he still hasn’t woken up.”
His hands wouldn’t stop trembling. Just a moment ago, the person who had been standing right in front of him had collapsed into his arms in the very next second.
He didn’t know why it had happened—why something like this could occur so suddenly.
He remembered that when Lu Heng fell, he had reached up and touched his own neck. At the time, Lin Yan hadn’t thought much of it. It wasn’t until they returned home that he noticed a tiny puncture mark on Lu Heng’s neck—so small it was almost invisible.
Following Ding Yue’s instructions, Lin Yan carried Lu Heng home.
Because Lu Heng’s sudden transformation into a cat could not be known by outsiders, they had no choice but to return directly.
People of status had to be cautious in everything they did—even in circumstances like this, it had to be handled discreetly.
Lin Yan left the restaurant.
Lu Yan was waiting at the entrance. Before arriving, he had already learned everything—including the truth that Lu Heng could turn into a cat.
No wonder Ding Yue had insisted on staying with the overseas branch of the company all these years.
In her heart, Lu Heng’s father’s death had always felt like an accident that didn’t make sense. During her time abroad, she had secretly investigated companies that once had conflicts with the Lu family.
But she had found no leads.
Until this time—when Lu Heng suddenly came here, without anyone knowing he had returned home—and something happened to him at such a critical moment.
It was impossible not to suspect those closest to them.
After Lu Heng’s father passed away, Ding Yue had reexamined everyone in the household, only to realize that the so-called accident back then may have been caused by someone within the family.
After all, Lu Heng’s father had hidden the fact that he could turn into a cat extremely well. Even those closest to him had never known.
That meant someone else had learned the truth before her—and had secretly set him up.
And this time, they had used the exact same method on Lu Heng.
Ding Yue had already lost the person she planned to spend her life with.
She could not accept losing Lu Heng as well.
“Xiao Yan… that must have frightened you,” Ding Yue murmured. Some matters were things she would have to handle herself.
As a mother, she already owed Lu Heng far too much. She could not allow him to be hurt again.
Lowering her gaze, she noticed the ring on Lin Yan’s hand and immediately understood.
In Lu Heng’s heart, Lin Yan’s place likely surpassed even her own as his mother.
But seeing her son loved by someone—her heart felt glad.
“Auntie… I just hope he can wake up,” Lin Yan said. His voice trembled despite himself.
His body still hadn’t recovered from the shock of what had happened. Panic gripped his chest tightly.
He was afraid—afraid Lu Heng would remain lying in that bed.
Just like his mother had.
Lying there… and never waking up again.
Sadness and unease flooded in all at once, yet Lin Yan didn’t cry. He knew he couldn’t.
He couldn’t decide the ending like this.
He would stay here—by his lover’s side—until he woke up.
He didn’t understand the power struggles of wealthy families, nor did he care about them.
All he wanted was for the person he loved to stay safely by his side.
“Mm. Me too,” Ding Yue said softly.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
A man in a white coat entered, wearing a mask and carrying a medical case.
“Doctor Luo?” Ding Yue hesitated.
The figure looked familiar, but she had never actually seen Doctor Luo’s face before—she could only match him to the image in her memory.
Doctor Luo nodded expressionlessly. His footsteps were light—so light they were almost inaudible—as he approached the unconscious Lu Heng lying on the bed, moving as quietly as a cat.
When the medical case opened, it let out a soft click. He took out a pair of gloves and put them on unhurriedly. His hands were steady, and a black mole at the base of his right thumb stood out clearly.
Lin Yan’s gaze had been fixed on Lu Heng’s pale face the entire time. It wasn’t until Doctor Luo bent down to examine him that Lin Yan suddenly caught sight of that mole.
A memory sliced through his mind like a blade.
Yesterday at the restaurant, Lin Yan had been unable to understand how—when there had been no one around—someone could have left a needle mark on Lu Heng’s neck.
In the shadows, the hand that had passed the flowers to Lu Heng…
That hand had the same mole.
Lin Yan’s breathing tightened abruptly. His nails dug into his palm as he forced down the shock and quickly glanced toward Ding Yue.
Ding Yue was frowning as she watched Doctor Luo’s movements. Sensing Lin Yan’s gaze, she turned to meet his eyes.
Lin Yan flicked his eyes toward Doctor Luo’s hand, then looked back at her steadily.
One second.
Two seconds.
Ding Yue’s pupils contracted slightly.
She suddenly spoke, deliberately keeping her voice calm.
“Doctor Luo, do you need any help?”
Doctor Luo shook his head. His hands never stopped moving—but he remained completely silent.
The silence was far too abnormal.
Suddenly, he reached toward the inner pocket of his white coat.
Every muscle in Lin Yan’s body tensed.
The next second, Doctor Luo spun around sharply, a silver spray can aimed straight at Ding Yue’s face.
“Watch out!” Lin Yan struck his wrist with a sharp blow.
The spray can clattered to the floor and rolled into the corner of the room.
Doctor Luo’s eyes narrowed with vicious intent. He immediately countered, swinging his arm horizontally toward Lin Yan’s neck.
Lin Yan leaned back to dodge. A metallic taste rose in his throat as time seemed to slow to an extreme.
He could see the cold killing intent in the man’s eyes.
He could hear his own heartbeat pounding like a drum.
At that moment—
The door burst open.
Lu Yan rushed in like a shadow, moving with blinding speed—grabbing, twisting, restraining. The sequence of actions was so fast it left only afterimages.
By the time Ding Yue caught her breath, “Doctor Luo” had already been pinned to the ground, his arms twisted behind his back, bound like a defeated dog.
“Stay still!” Lu Yan barked.
Then he turned to the others and walked over.
“Aunt Ding, we’ve confirmed it. It was Eldest Uncle—Lu Tingyan.”
The man on the floor continued struggling desperately to break free. Lu Yan glanced back at him, then said to Ding Yue,
“He’s Lu Tingyan’s illegitimate son.”
At those words, the struggling stopped. This man was good at observing and disguising himself—but if even his identity had been uncovered, it meant they already knew everything.
Or worse—He had been abandoned here as a disposable pawn.
“I never thought that old bastard actually had an illegitimate son,” Ding Yue said deliberately, noticing him freeze.
“He never brought him home all these years. I suppose he wasn’t that important after all.”
“Doctor Luo’s” eyelashes trembled.
In that moment, he understood exactly what position he now occupied. And he also realized—His father was not coming to save him.
“Yeah,” Lu Yan added calmly.
“If Eldest Uncle had had a legitimate child back then, he would’ve transferred the Lu family’s assets long ago. He wouldn’t have waited until my brother took over and ended up stuck in such a passive position.”
Ding Yue let out a sigh. She hadn’t expected that after investigating for so long, the one stirring trouble would turn out to be someone so close to her.
“Lu Yan, thank you for your hard work,” she said. “Give me a copy of the evidence. I’ll make sure Lu Tingyan goes to prison and pays for what he’s done.”
“Aunt Ding, I already contacted the police before I came,” Lu Yan replied. “They’re on their way.”
As he spoke, he lifted his gaze toward Lin Yan.
Lin Yan looked as if his soul had left his body. He stayed by Lu Heng’s side without saying a word, seeming unaware of anything else. His eyes were empty as they lingered on Lu Heng’s face.
“Will my brother be okay?”
At those words, Lin Yan finally looked up. He turned slightly toward Lu Yan, as though he too was waiting for the answer.
“Everything looks normal,” Ding Yue said.
But even as she spoke, she lacked confidence. After the chaos caused by that fake Doctor Luo, she still hadn’t been able to fully confirm Lu Heng’s condition.
Still, Lu Heng’s breathing was steady—like he was simply asleep. As a mother, her instincts told her he would be fine.
Not wanting Lin Yan to worry too much, Ding Yue could only say these words to reassure him.
Yet Lin Yan showed no sign of relaxing at all. He continued waiting—waiting for Lu Heng to open his eyes.
Even so, they needed a doctor to personally confirm it. Ding Yue arranged for another physician to come and had everyone wait.
Then she turned to look at the man lying on the floor.
He hadn’t said a word—but there was no need for him to anymore. Ding Yue summoned people to carry him out and deal with the matter properly.
After some time, the new doctor finally arrived. This time, he wasted no time and immediately stepped forward to examine Lu Heng.
He checked Lu Heng’s eyes, then pricked his fingertip with a needle. A bright red bead of blood quickly surfaced. The doctor collected a small sample and placed it onto the device he had brought.
While waiting for the results, Lin Yan found it unbearable. His legs felt weak and unsteady.
“Madam,” the doctor called.
Ding Yue walked over.
Lin Yan heard the voice, but his legs wouldn’t move. He could only focus on their conversation.
“Mr. Lu’s body is fine,” the doctor said. “Before I arrived, you mentioned that Mr. Lu was injected with an unknown substance, correct?”
“Yes,” Ding Yue nodded.
“However, all indicators here appear normal,” the doctor continued. “It’s likely that Mr. Lu has already metabolized it.”
“Then why hasn’t he woken up yet?” Ding Yue asked.
“When the body processes unknown substances, the immune system enters a state of resistance,” the doctor explained. “He may simply be exhausted and currently recovering, which is why he hasn’t awakened yet. I’ll give him some energy supplementation—he may wake up sooner.”
At last, Lin Yan relaxed. He let out a deep breath, the corners of his eyes turning red.
Thank goodness.
Thank goodness Lu Heng was all right.
“Little sister-in-law, don’t worry,” Lu Yan stepped forward to comfort him. “My brother will be fine. He just proposed to you—he wouldn’t leave his fiancé behind like this.”
Lin Yan turned his head, his mind suddenly snapping back to clarity.
“How do you know he proposed to me?” he asked.
“Because,” Lu Yan replied proudly, “I planned it.”
“Then yesterday… he was constantly messaging you?” Lin Yan asked.
“Yes.”
Lin Yan felt deeply remorseful. So that was why he’d been upset yesterday—while he hadn’t known a thing, Lu Heng had been planning and doing so much for him behind the scenes.
And he hadn’t even given a single reply.
He had even hesitated about accepting the proposal.
Lin Yan, honestly—why did you have to sulk at such a critical moment?
When Lu Heng must have wanted so badly to hear him say yes.
After giving a few instructions, the doctor left.
Lin Yan didn’t go anywhere. He stayed there the entire time—however long Lu Heng slept, that was how long he remained.
Lu Yan filled Ding Yue in on a few more details.
“Alright, I understand,” Ding Yue said, glancing back at Lu Heng. “I’ll handle the rest.”
After that, Lu Yan, who still had matters to deal with, said goodbye to Lin Yan and left.
Lin Yan stayed by the bed the whole time. Sitting beside it, he held Lu Heng’s hand and rested his head against the edge of the mattress, waiting for him to wake up.
“Xiao Yan,” Ding Yue said softly, unable to bear it. She walked over and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Go eat something.”
Lin Yan shook his head, his voice hoarse. “I can’t eat.”
Ding Yue sighed. “You still need to eat something to keep yourself going.”
Lin Yan continued to shake his head.
Seeing she couldn’t persuade him, Ding Yue didn’t force it. “I’ll ask the auntie to prepare some food. At least eat a little, alright?”
With that, she left the room, giving the two of them some space.
No one knew how much time passed. Lin Yan had fallen asleep with his head resting on the table, completely unaware that the person he had been waiting for had already woken up.
When Lu Heng opened his eyes, the room looked hazy. Perhaps he had been lying down too long—his eyes hadn’t adjusted yet.
He blinked and looked around, then noticed someone lying beside his bed. He lifted his hand and gently touched the person’s head.
The movement woke the one who had been sleeping. Lin Yan lifted his head and opened his eyes. The moment he saw that Lu Heng was awake, his eyelids suddenly squeezed shut.
After holding everything in for so long, the emotions finally broke loose.
“Mm…”
Lin Yan whimpered softly.
“Oh, baby.”
The first thing Lu Heng saw upon waking was Lin Yan crying. His heart clenched—he had made him suffer.
Lu Heng sat up, and Lin Yan immediately stood and hugged him without hesitation.
Held in warm arms, listening to Lin Yan’s sobs, Lu Heng felt his own heart ache. He lifted his hand, gently stroking Lin Yan’s hair and patting his back.
“It’s okay, baby,” he murmured softly. “Don’t cry. Don’t cry anymore.”
“I was scared to death,” Lin Yan said through tears. In that instant, all the worry he had been holding back finally burst out.
“I’m fine now, aren’t I?” Lu Heng said gently.
During the time he was unconscious, he could hear everything being said in the room. He already knew how everything had happened.
The only thing was—throughout that time, he barely heard Lin Yan’s voice. Occasionally there were fragments, but not much.
Trapped in the nightmare, Lu Heng worried about Lin Yan. Not hearing his voice only made him more anxious. He desperately wanted to wake up, yet his body refused to respond.
“Husband, I was worried about you.”
Lu Heng’s eyes suddenly lit up. He gently pulled Lin Yan forward and looked at his reddened eyes.
“What did you just call me?”
At a moment like this, he was still fixated on what Lin Yan had called him.
“Why are you focusing on that right now?” Lin Yan complained softly.
“Of course I care.” Lu Heng looked at him deeply. “So… that means you’ve agreed.”
“Agreed to what?” Lin Yan asked, pretending not to understand.
Lu Heng knew he was doing it on purpose, but this time, he was more than willing to ask again.
“Are you willing to stay with me for the rest of your life?”
“I am.”
Lin Yan broke into a smile through his tears.
How could he not be willing? Lu Heng was so good—always thinking of him, always putting him first. How could he possibly say no?
After hearing the answer, Lu Heng pulled him into his arms and placed a light kiss on his cheek—soft, yet filled with all his love. Then he tightened his embrace, holding him even closer.
My Mr. Lin, from this moment on, you no longer need to worry about me.
– [The End] –