CH 7

When Song Li heard the door open and looked over, Gu Yansheng walked in alone.

***

By the time they finished their meal together and Gu Yansheng sent his mother away, Shen Kanyu was still not home. Even when he dialed Shen Kanyu’s number his phone was switched off; it had probably run out of battery.

After coaxing his daughter to sleep, the hour hand was already pointing at the 11th hour. Gu Yansheng went out again to find him. 

This time when he went downstairs, circled and searched the area, he found Shen Kanyu on a bench in the public square with a bag of things in his arms, head down, looking dazed.

“Shen Kanyu.” Gu Yansheng called out as he made his way over.

Shen Kanyu was visibly taken aback. Looking stunned as he turned and faced him, the moment he saw Gu Yansheng’s face, his lips curved into a smile. With those downturned eyes and full lower eyelids, he very much resembled a harmless, newborn cub.

From out of nowhere, Gu Yansheng paused and he stumbled. 

Shen Kanyu swiftly reached out to help him sit down, between laughter and tears as he teased, “Are you a kid A-Sheng? You can even trip on even ground?” 

Rather embarrassed, Gu Yansheng straightened the hem of his jacket, sat upright, and asked, “Why are you just sitting down here, are you not going home?” 

A sheepish grin appeared on Shen Kanyu’s face. “I’m afraid that if I go back before Auntie leaves, I’d upset her. I wanted to go back after you guys fell asleep.”

Gu Yansheng slightly furrowed his brows and didn’t speak. 

***

For some time recently, Gu Yansheng was often home and didn’t go to the studio. Every time Shen Kanyu pushed open his bedroom door to the sight of him playing with Tiantian in the living room, he’d feel like he had won the lottery. 

I really want to buy a lottery ticket ah, Shen Kanyu thought as he scratched the door frame.

He was really afraid of annoying both father and daughter, rarely approached them and basically watched them from afar, but he already felt extremely satisfied just watching them. His entire chest was filled to the brim with something warm. 

He watched silently against the door frame for a while, then went around to the other side of the living room to get to the door, took out his key, and left. During the entire process, he was so quiet it was as if he was air. Gu Yansheng and Gu Yutian were completely unaware of his presence.

***

Gu Yansheng heard the sound of a door creaking as he played with Gu Yutian. Once he raised his head to look, he found that the wind was swaying Shen Kanyu’s bedroom door, causing it to make sounds.

When he walked over to close the door, he discovered that there was nobody inside. Shen Kanyu had left at some point.

As his gaze swept around the room, Gu Yansheng found that this room could only be described as empty.

A bed, a bedside cabinet, a computer desk simply placed with live-streaming equipment, and nothing more – not even a wardrobe.