Chapter Text
After seven rejected proposals, Shen Wenlang had accepted that there was a possibility him and Gao Tu would never get together. Three years lost to misunderstandings, lies, and broken trust with over a decade of secrets and insecurities to back it up wouldn’t be solved by just deciding to get married. And he had come to realise that maybe it was for the best. It didn’t mean he loved Gao Tu any less, it just meant that maybe he could understand Gao Tu’s reasoning of not wanting to move to fast.
What they had right now was fragile, tied together by the child they shared. They were still trying to learn to trust each other without the presence of secrets keeping them from baring themselves to each other. It wasn’t easy. Shen Wenalng still said things without thinking sometimes, making things awkward and Gao Tu sometimes was still in the mindset of a single parent, forgetting that Wenlang was there to help when needed. So to say they were on the edge most of the time was an understatement. But regardless, they kept trying to be better. If not for each other, than for Lele.
The child was an innocent ray of sunshine, making all their problems go away temporarily when he was around. Though confused at first by the presence of the man his mama claimed to be his father, he quickly adjusted and grew attached to Wenlang. Wether because the absence of another parent made him unknowingly crave for a father or the fact that Wenlang gave him what he wanted most of them time in contrast to Gao Tu, he grew to adore the man that was his father and was always asking for him when he wasn’t around.
Though he would have liked to be around Lele all the time, him and Gao Tu had agreed that moving into together would be moving way too fast and that letting Lele get to know him better first would be for the best. And even though he understood, not being able to be around the child you’ve been absent from for three years was hard. At times he would randomly call Gao Tu and ask to take Lele out or visit him outside from his assigned days because the gap between them was too much to handle at times. And for the most part, Gao Tu allowed it. He understood that being so close yet so far from someone, especially your child, was difficult. They’re situation and past only made it worst.
They adjusted to routine and were trying to build the gap these three years had left, little by little at their own pace. It was hard at times, especially when he babysat little Peanut and could only think of his own child and what it would’ve been like to raise him. But he knew he had dug his own grave from the get go and deserved everything that fell upon him. So he pushed through and kept going. For his sake and for Lele’s.
And that’s what his mind had been lingering on for the past thirty minutes. Ever since the two had come back into his life, it was hard to focus on most things, especially his company. Don’t get him wrong, he never slacked, he couldn’t afford to do that. But it was hard to get things done sometimes when all he could think about was little Lele’s childish laugh and Gao Tu’ s tired yet endearing smile when looking at their child. It was an image he never wanted to get out of his head. An image that he wanted to protect wholeheartedly.
Knock Knock.
He looked up from the computer he had been staring at, glancing at the door then himself to make sure he looked presentable before telling whoever knocked to enter. His new secretary entered, caring some folders he assumed held the new merger documents he needed to sign. Correct he was when the secretary spoke, placing the folders on his desk and pointing to where he needed to sign. He read over the contracts before signing his signature. The secretary was about to take their exit before stopping and turning back to their CEO.
“Also sir, there was a call left for you.” He frowned.
“A call? From who? And why wasn’t I aware of this call?”
“Well I don’t know sir. I tried asking for their name but they never gave it. All they left was an address.”
The secretary pulled out a piece of paper placing it on his desk. He nodded with a frown of confusion before dismissing them. Once the sound of the door closing resonated throughout the room, he carefully took the piece of paper and unfolded it with caution. Once opened, he stared at the words on the paper, the whole address barely registering in his mind before he was flying out of his seat, the paper clutched in his hand as he swung the door to his office opened and stormed down the hallway.
The confused murmurs of his employees barely mattered as he practically ran downstairs, getting in his car and driving off without leaving so much of a clue as to where he was going. He sped out from the garage of the company, speeding through the city as he made his way to the address, having no need to double check where he was going. He barely stopped himself from running the red lights, not wanting to get any unnecessary ticket that would just further prevent him from getting to the location faster.
He made his way halfway across the city, pulling into a quiet, unassuming neighbourhood. He quickly got out of the car, running up three flights of steps, somehow managing to not run into anybody. He made his way to an apartment door that read the number 365 on the door, knocking impatiently on it. After a few moments, the door creaked open, a fifty year old woman answering. She had a kind smile on her face, seeming to have expected his arrival.
She smiled tenderly, taking in his heaving chest and tense posture before stepping aside and speaking lowly. “He’s in his room.” She said softly, gesturing a hand for him to come inside. He crossed slowly into the apartment, seeming to have calmed down a little. He nodded gratefully at her, not needing to ask where he needed to go before making his way through a connected living room and kitchen and down a hallway.
He walked down the hallway, his lips pressing together as he stopped in front of a cracked bedroom door. He took a deep breath, feeling tears pool in his eyes that he knew would soon fall. He slowly pushed opened the door, stepping into the room quietly.
There a boy stood, going through a closet of clothes but looking up upon hearing the opening of the door. They stared at each other for a moment before the boy dropped the clothes, turning to Wenlang with an overwhelmed expression.
“Mama…” he whispered, stepping closer step by step. Before he could fully close the gap, Wenlang stormed forward, enveloping the boy in a crushing embrace as tears fell down his face. He buried his nose in the boys neck, attempting to scent mark him. Seeing what his mother was trying to do, the boy ripped off the scent patches that adorned both their necks, their scents filling the room quickly. They stood there, locked in an embrace for what seemed like hours, their scents and touch conveying more than their words ever could.
After what seemed like an eternity, Wenlang pulled back, only enough to look at his face properly. He moved his hands to cup the boys face, taking in his features as the boy nuzzled into his hands.
“Mama… I missed you.” The boy stated, opening his eyes to look properly at Wenlang. Wenlang himself seemed to be at a loss for words. After a couple more moments, he finally spoke.
“Oh A-Yi… I missed you too. I-“ his words were cut off as more tears spilled from his eyes, a sob building in his throat. Seeing his mama overwhelmed with emotions, the boy brung a hand to Wenlang’s face, wiping the tears as they fell. After a few more moments of them trapped in this bubble, a quiet knock on the door broke apart the moment.
“When you two are ready, I have some hot tea and cookies ready.” The woman from earlier said, gazing upon them with a sad smile. The boy nodded at her and she took one last look at them before going back into the other room.
It was going to be a long day. A long one indeed.
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HS Group
“Excuse me. I have a four o clock with Shen Wenlang.” Hua Yong said with a polite smile to the check in lady. Truly, sometimes it was annoying that he had to act like this to get in, like he isn’t the reason the company and half of these employees were here. But he had to play the part he put himself in for Mr. Sheng. So it really never mattered in the end.
”Oh! I’m sorry, but Mr. Shen isn’t in at the moment. Would you like to wait?” The lady asked with an apologetic smile of on her face. His eye twitched. He wasn’t here? Why the hell wasn’t he here? He had actually made the effort to make an appointment this time after all of Wenlang’s complaining about him always showing up randomly and he wasn’t even here. Truly that man tested him sometimes.
“Oh? He isn’t? May I know why?” He said with a tone polite as can be. The lady smiled hesitantly before speaking.
”Uhh well I wish I could tell you. He rushed out of here about thirty minutes ago. He didn’t tell anywhere where he was going, not even his secretary.” Though he didn’t outwardly show it, he was frowning internally. Wenlang rushed out? Without notifying anyone? This was interesting.
“Though I don’t know when he’ll be back, you can wait if you want to.” She said, gesturing to the lounge area. He glanced at it before nodding at her with a smile. He took a seat, pulling out his phone to scroll through pictures of Mr. Sheng in the meantime.
Wenlang better be lucky he was in a good mood today, he thought, smiling at a picture of his sleeping mate.
He’d wait for him this time. Just for a bit.