Read Novel Full Chapter 1288 1288: BE MY FAMILY
Chapter 1288 1288: BE MY FAMILY
LUO YAN had heard enough. At first, he had just stayed quiet and listened to the conversation between Shen Ji Yun and the other guy. It was obvious from the start that they knew each other. So he listened, trying to figure out who the guy was and what his relationship to Shen Ji Yun was. What Luo Yan pieced together was that the two were cousins. The guy was most likely the son of Shen Ji Yun's other uncle. And from the tense way they spoke to each other, it was very clear the two did not get along at all.
He knew Shen Ji Yun didn't have a good relationship with the Shen family, excluding Uncle Yi Mu and his grandmother, of course. But actually seeing Shen Ji Yun's expression grow colder and more closed off the longer he talked to this cousin made something twist in Luo Yan's chest. And a strong, sudden surge of protectiveness rose inside him.
After Shen Ji Yun's father died, his mother didn't take it well. She let herself get lost in her own grief and sadness. She neglected her own son, who should have been a reason for her to have at least a little hope to keep living. But from what Shen Ji Yun had shared with him, Luo Yan knew his mother had most likely suffered from some kind of serious mental illness. And even though Shen Ji Yun never said it directly, Luo Yan could still figure out that his boyfriend had suffered during that time, and not just from emotional pain, but likely from physical one as well.
Instead of protecting him, Shen Ji Yun's mother's family didn't do a single thing to help. It was a very good thing that Uncle Yi Mu showed up when he did. He was able to get Shen Ji Yun out of that bad situation before anything worse could happen. The young Shen Ji Yun must have been full of hope that the rest of the Shen family would welcome him with open arms, just like Uncle Yi Mu had. Luo Yan could only imagine the deep disappointment in his young heart when the exact opposite happened.
Luo Yan saw that disappointment flash across Shen Ji Yun's face again while he was talking to his cousin. He didn't want the other to keep feeling that way. So, he reached out and took Shen Ji Yun's hand, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
Shen Ji Yun looked down at him, his tense expression softening just a little. Luo Yan smiled up at him, his eyes warm. "Come on, let's get out of here, Brother Ji Yun?"
Shen Ji Yun blinked. All the anger and old resentment he was feeling slowly faded away, pushed out by the steady warmth from Luo Yan's hand in his. Yes, they should just go. Why was he even still standing here having this pointless conversation with Shen Xin when he could just leave with Luo Yan instead?
"Yes," Shen Ji Yun said, his voice much calmer now. He gave Luo Yan's hand a small squeeze in return. "Let's go."
As they turned to leave, Shen Xin called out after them, his voice sharp with disbelief. "What, you're just going to walk away like nothing happened?"
Shen Ji Yun was about to turn and give a sharp retort, but he felt Luo Yan's hand press gently against his chest, stopping him.
Luo Yan turned to face Shen Xin with a calm expression. "Yes, we are. There's nothing more to talk about, so we're leaving now. Just like Brother Ji Yun told you, you can tell the Shen patriarch about our relationship. If he's worried about your family's reputation, he can just disown Brother Ji Yun. It's not like it would be any real hardship, since you people were never a real family to him, anyway. Your loss, by the way. Because you will never get to know just how amazing of a person he really is. Which is fine, because it's my gain. I will stay by his side no matter what happens. So, you can tell your grandfather he can give it his worst. I will be right here with Brother Ji Yun to face it all."
Shen Xin looked completely stunned by Luo Yan's words. Shen Ji Yun couldn't even blame him for that, because he felt the same way. But more than surprise, he felt a strong, warm rush of emotion welling up in his chest. It was the feeling of being completely accepted and defended with no hesitation. For a long moment, he couldn't even find his voice to speak.
He was so caught up in that feeling that the next thing he knew, Luo Yan was already tugging gently on his hand, pulling him firmly away from the lane and leading him out of the shooting range.
He only found his voice again once they were outside in the parking lot. He stopped walking and turned to face Luo Yan. "Thank you, Yan Yan."
Luo Yan raised his head. "There's no need to thank me. I only said the truth," he said softly. He gently put his hand on Shen Ji Yun's cheek. "You are an amazing person, Brother Ji Yun. Anyone would be lucky to have you as family."
Shen Ji Yun leaned into the touch, resting his head against Luo Yan's palm. He closed his eyes for a moment, just enjoying the feeling of the other's soft skin against his cheek. When he opened them again, a playful, hopeful light shone in their blue depths. "Then, can you be my family?"
Luo Yan's smile widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He gently stroked his thumb over Shen Ji Yun's cheekbone. "Aren't I already your family?"
Hearing that, a profound sense of peace and happiness washed through Shen Ji Yun, so strong it almost felt like a physical hug.
"Yes," he said, his voice a little thick with emotion. "You are."
He leaned in, resting his forehead lightly against Luo Yan's. A quiet, solid wish settled in his heart. A wish that one day he could stand with this man in front of everyone and call him his husband.