This chapter is brought to you by Fatima, thanks for the ko-fi! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･
Chapter 83 – Fireworks.
Displaying text on the public screen of the Citibank Tower costs hundreds of thousands per minute, and on holidays, it’s even more expensive. Yet, Sang Ye had the message scroll for a full ten minutes.
With such a grand confession, the whole world must have known by now. Within minutes, it had already trended on social media, with netizens eagerly discussing who had bought the screen time for Tan Mo.
However, both the fan club and the official esports organization denied any involvement.
[Oh my god, whoever did this must be truly in love.]
[Rich people really have their own way of being fans.]
[If someone went to this extent to confess to me, I’d marry them on the spot.]
The WLG team’s group chat was just as lively, with constant mentions of Tan Mo.
3.1415926: [[Image]]
3.1415926: [@T. Brother! Have you seen the news? Someone made a high-profile confession to you at the Bund!]
NotChangingMyNameUntilILose10kg: [@T. You really should’ve gone to the Bund to watch the fireworks tonight. Witnessing that in person would’ve been a total surprise.]
Jin Cao: [I was there in person. Even though I wasn’t the main character, I was still blown away.]
Ji Feng: [@T. @S. Tan Shen and Song, are you two hanging out together? I’m near the Bund, and while waiting at a red light, I swear I saw you guys.]
3.1415926: [??? @T. @S.]
3.1415926: [Did you guys go out to eat without me again? Just give me a call, and I’ll be there in no time!]
Ji Feng: [But maybe not. I was too far away, though their height and hair color looked similar. Plus, the couple I saw kissed while walking.]
3.1415926: [Then it definitely wasn’t them. I knew it—how could you guys go out and not bring me along?]
Yet, no matter how heated their discussion became, neither Tan Mo nor Sang Ye participated.
As they walked out of the restaurant toward the elevator, Tan Mo reached to press the button for the ground floor, but Sang Ye grabbed his wrist.
Glancing behind to confirm no one was around, Sang Ye stepped closer, lowered his head slightly, and pulled a card from his pocket, handing it to Tan Mo.
But just as the card was about to reach Tan Mo’s hand, he suddenly pulled it back, raised his gaze, and double-checked, “You won’t be mad, right?”
Tan Mo glanced down—it was a room key for this very hotel.
Sang Ye had come even more prepared than he had imagined.
Tan Mo suppressed his emotions, lifted his gaze, and calmly asked in return, “Why would I be angry?”
Sang Ye felt uneasy under Tan Mo’s intense stare and lowered his eyes. “Xiao Pai said that back when you were competing in Korea, a high-ranking official slipped you a room key, and you beat him up.”
Tan Mo was silent for a moment before stepping forward. “When did Xiao Pai tell you that?”
“During the summer season,” Sang Ye replied.
“Before I answer your question, I want to clarify something first.” Tan Mo reached out, wrapping an arm around Sang Ye’s lower back. He tilted his head closer to Sang Ye’s increasingly flushed face, tightening his grip slightly as he kneaded Sang Ye’s waist. He lowered his voice, “You haven’t been pretending to be straight for over two months because of this, have you?”
Sang Ye braced both hands against Tan Mo’s shoulders, standing on tiptoe slightly, his breath unsteady. “It’s not exactly pretending… I just didn’t want you to dislike me.”
“I hope you understand—what happened in Korea was s*xual harassment. And when it comes to harassers, regardless of gender, how else would you expect me to react?” Tan Mo pulled the room key from Sang Ye’s hand and slipped it into his own pocket. Then he added, “But you’re different… I’ve already been imagining what you’d look like stripped bare…”
Sang Ye’s face flushed crimson. Outwardly, he put on a chaste act, “You’re not allowed to think that!”—yet his hand was already reaching out to press the button for the upper floors.
The room was on the top floor.
But before he could act on his restless impulse, Tan Mo grabbed his hand.
“Staying out tonight instead of going back?”
“Yeah.”
Tan Mo asked, “Just to sleep?”
Sang Ye bit his lip, frustrated that Tan Mo insisted on making him say it out loud. Defeated, he lowered himself from tiptoe and muttered, “Just to sleep!”
Tan Mo pulled his hand back.
The elevator was about to stop when Sang Ye panicked. “What’s wrong with staying out? You—”
As the doors opened, Tan Mo wrapped an arm around Sang Ye’s shoulder, guiding him inside. He pressed the button for the first floor and asked, “Did you buy the necessary tools for the crime?”
Sang Ye froze, taking a moment to process.
Right. He forgot.
Silence finally settled between them. His face flushed red, so much so that he could hardly lift his head.
After a long pause, he mumbled, “You can go buy them yourself… I can wait upstairs…”
“Oh? So I’m the one putting in all the effort tonight, and now I have to run errands too?” Tan Mo shot him a cool glance. “Even the most ruthless bosses wouldn’t exploit their workers like this.”
Sang Ye completely shut up.
…
Tan Mo and Sang Ye passed through a bustling intersection, where a crowd of people gathered by the roadside, waiting for the traffic light to change.
Tonight, the city was bathed in dazzling lights, with vibrant hues illuminating the streets and shopping centers. On the pedestrian walkway, people’s faces carried a sense of ease and joy, filled with anticipation for the new year ahead.
Sang Ye absorbed the festive atmosphere, feeling a warmth of happiness and contentment. But above all else, the real source of his joy was the person walking beside him.
Once an idol he admired from afar, now his boyfriend—the person he had fallen for, and who had fallen for him in return.
Perhaps both were eager to reach their destination, as their pace was noticeably brisk.
As they walked, Tan Mo casually draped an arm over Sang Ye’s shoulder. Then, as they passed a street corner, he suddenly leaned down, curved his back, and tilted his head—capturing Sang Ye’s lips in a kiss.
…
As Tan Mo waited at the convenience store counter for the cashier to scan his items, Sang Ye stood far away, near the magazine rack by the door. With his back turned toward Tan Mo, he pretended to flip through a magazine, acting as if he had nothing to do with him.
Tan Mo walked over, wrapped an arm around Sang Ye’s neck, and dragged him back to the counter.
“What are you doing…” Sang Ye weakly slapped at the arm restraining him, his face completely flushed. He didn’t dare make too much of a fuss, afraid of attracting attention.
Even Tan Mo’s usually composed face carried a faint blush—it was clear he wasn’t entirely comfortable either. After all, this was his first time buying adult products, and he didn’t want to face it alone.
He pulled out his phone to scan the payment code. The young female cashier had already glanced back and forth between the two of them no fewer than ten times.
She tore off the receipt, held it out with both hands, and suddenly said, “God Tan, Fortune, Happy New Year.”
“…………”
Both Tan Mo and Sang Ye looked up at her at the same time.
Aside from her flushed face, the young girl’s expression remained relatively composed.
Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, all three of them turned their eyes toward the counter, where the yet-to-be-bagged items sat: purple-packaged condoms and a bottle of lubricant.
The scene fell into an indescribable silence.
Sang Ye rubbed his face, feeling like he might just pass out. His breath was unsteady as he weakly muttered, “Happy New Year…” before turning to flee.
But Tan Mo grabbed the back of Sang Ye’s backpack, unhurriedly unzipped it, and carefully placed the purchased items inside one by one before zipping it back up.
Then he turned to the cashier, winked, and lowered his voice. “Keep this a secret, okay?”
The girl took a deep breath, held it, then nodded seriously, “Understood.”
After watching the man and the boy walk out of the convenience store, she turned around, tilted her head back, and fanned at her eyes, unable to suppress her excitement.
IT’S REAL. It’s absolutely, undeniably, 100% REAL!!!
She just witnessed Rap buying condoms and lube together.
Which, if you round up, basically means she just witnessed them having s*x!!!
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Dreams really do come true, family!!! Best New Year’s gift ever!!!
After leaving the store, Sang Ye squatted in a corner of the street for quite a while. Only after Tan Mo coaxed him did he finally grumble and continue walking toward the hotel.
Sang Ye had booked the most luxurious suite on the top floor. As they stepped inside, rose petals were scattered all over the floor, covering the bed as well. The bathroom was already prepared—warm bathwater filled the tub, which was automatically heating at a constant temperature. A tray nearby held champagne and scented candles.
Whenever Tan Mo saw scenes like this on TV, he found them cliché. But now that he was experiencing it himself, he couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
He recalled how Sang Ye had mentioned being broke during Christmas. Only now did he realize that Sang Ye had purchased the ring by acquiring a slot from another buyer, meaning it had cost far more than just seven million. Including the expenses for the public screen confession, the total likely neared eighteen million. He had practically emptied his entire fortune.
Tan Mo also suddenly remembered who [Qing Feng] was—the client manager of that luxury jewelry brand. Back when Tan Mo bought a ring, he had received a business card from him. He knew both the man’s English and Chinese names but hadn’t noticed that his corporate alias, printed on the back, was [Qing Feng.]
Thinking about how Sang Ye had spent two months planning everything, going to great lengths to keep it a secret, and sacrificing everything just to give him the best—Tan Mo didn’t know how to properly cherish him. At the same time, Sang Ye’s determination to make the confession a grand spectacle, as if he were a lovestruck boy craving dramatic surprises, made Tan Mo unable to hold back a laugh.
Still upset about being caught by a fan while buying condoms, Sang Ye was sulking, his mood dampened. Now, seeing Tan Mo laughing, he mistakenly thought Tan Mo was mocking the overly extravagant room decoration. Annoyed, he huffed, “What’s so funny? I’m not playing with you anymore. You can sleep on the couch!”
“I wasn’t laughing at you.” Tan Mo pulled Sang Ye back, pressing him against the wall. He kissed his flushed face repeatedly and whispered, “You put a lot of thought into this. I really like it… Let’s take a bath first. Together.”
Sang Ye’s backpack slipped to the floor. Half protesting, half yielding, he was pulled into the bathroom by Tan Mo. The door closed behind them.
The bath lasted for more than an hour. Tan Mo stepped out first, while Sang Ye, thoroughly exhausted, dragged himself out of the tub. He slipped into a black bathrobe, dried his hair until it was about 80% dry, and walked out.
In the bedroom, Tan Mo was also wearing a black bathrobe, sitting at the edge of the bed with one leg folded up as he tore open a package.
Back when they were in Berlin, they had messed around while sharing a room, but now that it was actually happening for real, Sang Ye suddenly felt like a shy newlywed bride. He perched on the edge of the bed, pulling at the hem of his bathrobe.
“Did we forget anything?” He spoke just to fill the silence.
“Yes.” Tan Mo didn’t control the strength well and his hands were full of oil. He had a strange expression for a moment and took a tissue to wipe his hands.
“What?”
“The camera.”
“…”
Sang Ye rolled up his belt and ignored him. But then, he noticed that Tan Mo had already put on the ring.
A surge of joy filled Sang Ye’s heart. Forgetting his usual restraint, he climbed onto the bed, reached for Tan Mo’s left hand, and took a closer look.
Just as he had imagined, the ring suited Tan Mo perfectly. The jade-green hue of the emerald, tinged with a hint of blue, complemented his slender, porcelain-white fingers—just looking at it was a visual delight.
As Sang Ye admired Tan Mo’s hand, Tan Mo was also admiring him.
Fresh out of the bath, the little beauty’s face was flushed red. His black bathrobe contrasted starkly against his fair skin, and the slightly open collar revealed the faint shadows above his collarbone, making the sight all the more alluring.
Tan Mo was just about to press him down.
But suddenly, Sang Ye looked up, as if remembering something. “Why did you return the ring to me at the restaurant earlier? You scared me to death—I thought you were going to take back your promise and break up with me.”
Hearing this, Tan Mo lowered his eyes, cleared his throat, and softened slightly at the thought that his moment of stubbornness had made Sang Ye uneasy. He admitted, “I didn’t get a clear look at it… just a little misunderstanding.”
Leaning in, Tan Mo intentionally pushed Sang Ye toward the bed.
But Sang Ye wasn’t going to let him brush it off so easily. He placed a hand against Tan Mo’s chest, staring at him intently.
What had Tan Mo said back then?
—“If it’s for you, then it’s yours.”
—“No need to return it.”
There was only one possibility: Tan Mo had given him a ring before. And it must have looked so similar that, at first glance, he had mistaken one for the other.
Sang Ye flipped their positions, pinning Tan Mo beneath him, his dark eyes bright and sharp. “Was it you?”
Tan Mo feigned ignorance. “What?”
“Oh, I see how it is.” Sang Ye reached out to pinch Tan Mo, his expression a mix of amusement and annoyance. But the light, barely-there force of his grip gave away his true emotions. “What if it got lost in the mail? What if the manager tried to return it but couldn’t find you?”
Tan Mo pressed a large hand against Sang Ye’s back, pulling him down. With a slight tilt of his head, he brought his lips right to Sang Ye’s ear. “At the time, I thought if it got lost, so be it. It’s not like I ever got a response anyway.”
A realization struck Sang Ye all at once. His face, already red, deepened in color as he turned from Tan Mo’s shoulder to meet his gaze up close. His voice softened. “You eavesdropped on me talking to Xiao Pai.”
Tan Mo smirked. “How is that eavesdropping? I was standing right at the door, plain as day… You just didn’t notice.”
It was pure sophistry.
Sang Ye scrunched up his face, thinking about how Tan Mo had liked him for so, so long—how much disappointment he must have felt when he sent the ring, and how back then, he had stubbornly pretended not to like Tan Mo. For a long time, he had been clueless and immature. The thought made his eyes well up with a slight redness as he leaned in closer.
For a while, the room fell into silence, until the faint creak of the bed yielding under weight broke it.
“The curtains…”
“No one can see.”
…
At midnight, the second round of fireworks lit up the Bund, set off especially for the crowds staying to celebrate the New Year.
As silver fireworks illuminated the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the cheers of the people below drifted upwards. Tan Mo suddenly paused, reached out, and turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness. But the bursts of fireworks painted Sang Ye’s flushed, restrained expression in stark detail.
Tan Mo ran his fingers through Sang Ye’s damp bangs, pushing them back. “Happy New Year.”
Sang Ye squinted, struggling. “Happy New Year… Don’t stop…”
Tan Mo chuckled lowly.
And did as he was told.
…
By the time they woke up, it was already New Year’s Day. They only went downstairs at noon.
Tan Mo stepped out of the elevator, radiating satisfaction. One hand held Sang Ye’s backpack, while the other casually twirled his car keys. “There’s a family gathering today. Come home with me for dinner.”
Sang Ye walked a little awkwardly, like a small dog tucking its tail, looking utterly drained. “Not going.”
Tan Mo stopped in place and looked back at him. “You want me to leave you alone at the base?”
Sang Ye, from the bottom of his heart, replied, “Sounds great.”
Tan Mo waited for him to catch up and said, “I want to take you home.”
Sang Ye raised a hand to rub his eyelid, avoiding Tan Mo’s gaze as a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. “I just… don’t have the energy to deal with it.”
Tan Mo’s expression shifted as he looked at him, his voice softening. “Did I drain you dry?”
“…!” Sang Ye shoved him and strode ahead.
Tan Mo caught up and said, “Coming home with me doesn’t require any effort. Just leave everything to me.”
Sang Ye didn’t respond. After getting in the car, he curled up in his seat, tucking his hands into his sleeves.
Tan Mo reached out to feel Sang Ye’s forehead—thankfully, there was no sign of a fever.
The car started.
Tan Mo was just thinking about how to get out of the family gathering when Sang Ye mumbled, “I can’t just show up at your house empty-handed…”
Tan Mo paused for a moment before saying, “Leave it to me.”
And so, Sang Ye really did leave everything to Tan Mo. As a result, when he woke up from a nap, the car had stopped in front of an upscale residential community. Tan Mo got back in and handed him a bag of oranges—at that moment, Sang Ye realized he had been utterly deceived.
Opening the bag, he saw that the oranges were indeed fresh and plump, but—
“You’re seriously making me bring these?”
Sang Ye frowned, feeling that it wasn’t enough to show sincerity.
“My family is pretty casual,” Tan Mo said nonchalantly as he buckled his seatbelt. “If you bring something too expensive, my parents will probably hand you a cash gift of 88,888 yuan on the spot.”
“You better not be lying to me.” Sang Ye wasn’t sure if he was serious, but he couldn’t argue with him. The rest of the way, he kept looking around at the scenery in the community.
The car pulled up in front of a pair of semi-detached villas with an English-style design.
As Sang Ye walked through the yard, he noticed the swimming pool, still filled with water despite the winter, and an actual working fountain. That was when he realized Tan Mo’s family might be even wealthier than he had imagined.
At the door, Tan Mo rang the doorbell.
Sang Ye instinctively moved behind his shoulder and lowered his voice. “You don’t have a key?”
“I do.” Tan Mo turned to look at him, a little confused. “Isn’t it normal for the parents to open the door when you’re meeting them?”
“…” Sang Ye thought about it and realized it made sense.
Bringing him inside so openly like this did feel a bit abrupt.
Just then, footsteps sounded from inside the house.
Sang Ye grew nervous.
The door opened, revealing a handsome middle-aged man. Time had left its depth on him but no visible marks.
He first saw Tan Mo, then shifted his gaze to the young man standing behind him, momentarily stunned.
Tan Mo raised a hand to rub the back of his neck, stepping aside to introduce them.
“Dad, this is Sang Ye, my teammate. Also, my boyfriend. He’s not going home for New Year’s, so I brought him here to celebrate with us.”
The introduction was so natural and fluent that Sang Ye, standing beside him, felt his face heat up.
“This is my dad.” Tan Mo then looked at Sang Ye, his tone relaxed. “You can call him Uncle, or Dad—whichever you prefer.”
“…” Sang Ye’s face turned completely red, convinced that Tan Mo was messing with him.
But with a parent present, he couldn’t make any small retaliatory moves against Tan Mo.
Tan Zhengfeng punched Tan Mo on the shoulder and scolded him with a stern expression, “Watch how you talk.”
Tan Mo licked the corner of his lips and didn’t push his luck further.
Sang Ye knew Tan Zhengfeng was trying to ease the tension for him, which helped calm his nerves a little.
“Xiao Ye, don’t listen to him.” Tan Zhengfeng put on a warm smile and extended his hand to Sang Ye. “Just call me Dad.”
Sang Ye: “…………”
After entering the house, Tan Zhengfeng accepted the bag of oranges from Sang Ye, expressed his gratitude, invited him to sit on the sofa, and poured him some tea.
Tan Zhengfeng was the open-minded type of parent. His conversations didn’t feel distant or formal—he barely asked about family matters and instead focused on discussing the recent global tournament, openly praising Sang Ye.
Aside from a bit of initial shyness around an unfamiliar elder and feeling a little embarrassed from all the compliments, Sang Ye gradually relaxed. He answered every question honestly and sincerely, showing his straightforward nature.
At some point, Tan Mo found an opportunity to interject. “I’ll take him upstairs to rest. We stayed up late last night for New Year’s.”
Sang Ye quickly lowered his eyes and took a sip of tea.
“Young people shouldn’t stay up too late,” Tan Zhengfeng said disapprovingly, casting a glance at Tan Mo.
Just then, the housekeeper passed by. Tan Zhengfeng called out to her, “Prepare a guest room upstairs.”
“No need.” Tan Mo immediately turned to the housekeeper and then looked back at Tan Zhengfeng. “He’ll stay in my room.”
Tan Zhengfeng’s lips twitched slightly as he shrugged. “Alright.”
Tan Mo led Sang Ye upstairs.
It was Sang Ye’s first time in Tan Mo’s bedroom. The room was filled with books and miscellaneous items, but it didn’t feel messy at all. Instead, it carried a strong sense of a young man’s everyday life. The bed, in particular, was piled with pillows—various shapes and sizes, probably more than ten in total.
The central heating was on, but Tan Mo adjusted the temperature a few degrees higher. Then, he pulled a T-shirt from the wardrobe for Sang Ye to change into before sleeping.
As Sang Ye was about to change clothes, Tan Mo drew the curtains.
“Aunt Lu is going home this afternoon, and I need to stop by the base to pick up Tan Chunshan.” Tan Mo leaned against the windowsill and added, “I can bring you a few sets of clothes while I’m there. Just tell me where they are—anything else you need?”
Sang Ye had just lifted his sweater but lowered his arms again. “I’ll go with you.”
“Just take a nap. I might be back before you even wake up.” Tan Mo walked over and tossed the extra pillows onto a fur-covered bench. “No one will disturb you while I’m gone.”
Sang Ye was indeed exhausted, so he didn’t insist. He pulled off his sweater.
Tan Mo quickly tidied up the bed, then walked over and helped unbutton Sang Ye’s shirt. As the fabric lifted, it revealed a trail of scattered dark red marks from his collarbone down to his chest, waist, and sides—some from last night, some freshly made that morning.
Sang Ye touched one of the faint bite marks with his fingertip and muttered, “Look what you did…”
Tan Mo’s breath faltered for a second. He grabbed the T-shirt and pulled it over Sang Ye’s head. “Learn your lesson.”
Always teasing without a care.
Sang Ye let out a soft “mmph” as he struggled to free his small face from the loose collar, allowing Tan Mo to help him dress.
After that, he took off his pants and slipped under the covers.
Just as Tan Mo was about to leave, Sang Ye grabbed his hand, gently rubbing the ring on his finger before looking up and saying, “Bring mine over too. It’s in the third compartment of the left bedside table, inside the middle box at the very back.”
“You sure know how to hide things,” Tan Mo remarked. “Does it have a lock?”
“No.”
“…”
Sang Ye thought that being in an unfamiliar environment, he’d need to play on his phone for a while before falling asleep. But the moment he lay down, sinking into the soft mattress, his eyelids grew heavy, and within half a minute, he was fast asleep.
When he woke up again, the sky outside had darkened. He reached out for a switch and turned on a soft, warm wall lamp.
Feeling thirsty after his nap, he turned his head, only to find a ceramic cup and a thermos on the bedside table—placed there at some point without him noticing.
No need to guess—it was definitely Tan Mo who left them for him before heading out.
The ceramic cup was already filled with a third of cold water. Sang Ye mixed in some hot water and drank it in big gulps.
He then grabbed his phone to check the time—it was almost 5 PM. A low battery notification popped up right after.
“Ugh.”
That was when he realized he had forgotten to bring his charger. He should have asked Tan Mo to grab it for him.
But Tan Mo’s room should have one.
Sang Ye pulled open the bedside drawer. There weren’t many things inside, making it easy to scan. He picked up a photo frame that was lying face-down to check underneath—nothing.
Just as he was about to put it back, he caught a glimpse of a woman’s figure in the photo.
Pausing for a moment, he turned the frame over.
The photo had slightly yellowed with age, carrying the distinct texture of an old film print. It showed a woman dressed in a vintage teal-yellow skirt suit, her long hair neatly tied back in soft, voluminous waves. Her delicate chin was slightly lifted as she smiled at the camera, exuding the elegance of a 90s Hong Kong movie star.
Beside her, holding her hand, was a little boy around six or seven years old. Even at that time, he was dressed stylishly and had an air of sophistication, his doll-like features almost an exact replica of his mother’s.
Sang Ye stared at the photo for a long time, his fingers brushing over the little boy’s face through the glass. Then, he placed the frame back face down, closed the drawer, and stopped rummaging. With only 10% battery left, he focused on replying to his messages.
After a while, he heard the sound of light, eager paws tapping against the wooden stairs outside.
Lying on his side, Sang Ye turned his head just in time to see the door being pushed open. A creamy-white golden retriever had risen onto its hind legs, placing its front paws on the door handle. The next moment, with its tongue hanging out, it leaped forward, landing on the bed in a playful pounce.
Sang Ye let out a pained grunt as the dog’s paws landed heavily on his chest, nearly knocking the air out of his lungs. In retaliation, he smacked the golden retriever’s plump backside. “You little rascal, get down!”
But Tan Chunshan didn’t care in the slightest. It nudged Sang Ye with its cool, wet nose and happily licked his hand in greeting.
Tan Mo followed the dog inside, placing a travel bag on the floor—the one containing the clothes he had brought for Sang Ye.
Walking to the bed, he asked, “Did you sleep well?”
Sang Ye’s gaze flickered for a moment before he softly hummed in response.
Tan Mo patted Tan Chunshan’s head, signaling for it to get off the bed.
He couldn’t stand having dog fur all over it.
Tan Chunshan sulked, pacing around the bedside as if trying to stall for time. But after realizing it wouldn’t get away with it, it finally hopped down.
Tan Mo, on the other hand, climbed into bed himself, wrapping an arm around Sang Ye from behind. He pulled out a jewelry box, opened it, and slipped a ring onto Sang Ye’s index finger.
Now, when their fingers intertwined, the matching jade rings clicked gently against each other.
Sang Ye lowered his gaze, playing with Tan Mo’s hand as he admitted, “I was looking for a charger and saw the photo in your drawer.”
Tan Mo blinked before reaching for the photo frame in the bedside cabinet. He set it in front of them so they could look at it together. “This one?”
“Mm.”
Tan Mo was quiet for a moment before he said, “She was my mother. When I was eight, we went on a trip together and got kidnapped. They took us to a remote border area, waiting for ransom. She found an opportunity to help me escape, but while covering for me, she was shot…”
His voice abruptly cut off, and he didn’t continue.
Sang Ye’s grip on Tan Mo’s hand tightened.
Tan Mo’s family had already been incredibly wealthy since the early 90s. When wealth reaches a certain level, it becomes possible to disappear from the internet entirely—no reports, no traces. People like Tan Zhengfeng, true giants in the industry, always stayed behind the scenes, never giving the media a chance to expose them.
Yet back then, Tan Zhengfeng would receive threatening letters and ransom notes almost every month. Most were hoaxes—just another tactic to extort money from the rich. Since he had assigned security personnel to protect his wife and child, over time, he came to believe that kidnapping was something that could never truly happen to them. But in the end, it did happen—and at a devastating cost.
Sang Ye looked at the woman in the photo and said, “She’s beautiful.”
“Yes,” Tan Mo said softly. “In my memory, she’ll always be 27 years old… I miss her a lot.”
Sang Ye pressed a light kiss to the back of Tan Mo’s hand.
Tan Mo placed the photo frame back where it belonged.
Down on the floor, Tan Chunshan was restless, lying down one moment and getting up the next, circling the bed with its mouth slightly open, waiting for its two ‘fathers’ to call it up.
But no one did.
Sang Ye looked at the ring on his finger, then suddenly asked, “When do we make it public?”
Tan Mo raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“I’m ready,” Sang Ye said.
“Then post a Weibo.” Tan Mo reached for his phone.
“…No.” Sang Ye immediately stopped him, turning around in exasperation. “There’s still the awards gala after New Year’s. How about after that?”
He didn’t care about online comments, but he also didn’t want to be bombarded with questions by the media at the annual event.
Tan Mo thought for a moment, then set his phone down. “Alright.”
From downstairs, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway reached them.
Tan Mo glanced at Sang Ye’s watch to check the time, then gave him a light smack on the rear through the blanket before getting up. “They’re almost here. Get dressed.”
Sang Ye, knowing that tonight was a family gathering and Tan Mo’s relatives would be coming over, quickly scrambled out of bed.
“How many people?” he asked.
Tan Mo grabbed a set of clothes for Sang Ye and roughly estimated, “Including my grandparents, plus my cousins… about thirty people.”
“…”
“What are you nervous about? Just follow my lead and greet them when the time comes.”
Kneeling on the bed, Sang Ye buried his head under the blanket, already struggling to breathe.