Chapter 1342: THE MORNING AFTER
LUO YAN opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a moment. Then he got out of bed and started his morning routine like any other day. He did his usual set of exercises. After that, he washed his face and brushed his teeth. He changed into comfortable clothes and tried to keep his mind empty. No point in worrying about what would happen later.
But when he walked into the dining room for breakfast, the tension hit him right away. Nearly everyone at the table looked serious. The only exception was Bai Ye, who sat happily in his chair, probably because he was the only one who didnât know whatâs going on.
"Good morning!" he called out, putting as much cheer into his voice as he could manage.
His brothers and cousins greeted him back like normal. His father gave him a small, reassuring smile. Uncle Chen smiled too and said good morning, but Luo Yan could tell he was trying hard to act like everything was fine. Then there was Aunt Xiulan. She greeted him, but the awkwardness behind her smile was hard to miss. He just smiled back and took his usual seat.
As they started eating, his mind drifted back to what had happened after they returned from the party. Before he could even change his clothes, his father had told him to go to his uncleâs study first. His brothers had moved to follow, assuming they were included, but their father stopped them. He said there was no need. They would just be talking to Uncle Chen and Aunt Xiulan.
So Luo Yan had gone to the study with his father alone.
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Luo Yan sat on the sofa in Uncle Chenâs study, his fingers fidgeting in his lap. His father sat beside him. Uncle Chen was behind his desk, and Aunt Xiulan sat across from them on one chair. The room was quiet. No one spoke right away. Luo Yan kept his eyes down, waiting for someone to break the silence. Because he already knew what theyâre about to talk about.
"Xiao Yan, can you tell us what happened tonight?" his father asked. The look on his face was gentle, almost encouraging, like he was silently telling Luo Yan that he could say anything without fear of judgment.
Luo Yan took a deep breath. He looked at his father, then at his uncle and aunt. If he was going to explain what had happened with Shen Lin, he would have to tell his uncle and aunt about his relationship with Shen Ji Yun first. So he decided to just come out and say it.
"Um, before we get into all of that, I need to tell Uncle Chen and Aunt Xiulan something first," he said, meeting their eyes with a determined look. "Brother Ji Yun and I are in a relationship. Heâs my boyfriend."
Uncle Chen didnât look all that surprised by what Luo Yan had just said, though his eyes widened a little. Aunt Xiulanâs reaction was the complete opposite.
She shot up from her chair and nearly shouted, "What?"
She seemed to catch herself, realizing how her outburst might have looked. She took a breath, visibly calming down, and slowly sank back into her chair. "Iâm sorry. I was just... surprised."
Luo Yan gave her a small smile. From the mix of emotions flickering across her face, she was clearly processing a lot. That made sense. He had just dropped some pretty big news on them. It would have been stranger if she hadnât reacted at all. "Itâs okay, Aunt Xiulan."
"Ah, yes, um... Xiao Yan? Just to be clear, when you say boyfriend, you donât just mean a friend who happens to be a boy, right?" Aunt Xiulan asked, her tone careful and uncertain.
Luo Yan let out a small laugh. "No, Aunt Xiulan. Thatâs not it. I... I love Brother Ji Yun the same way you love Uncle Chen."
That clearly caught Aunt Xiulan and Uncle Chen off guard. Even his father looked surprised by what he had said. Aunt Xiulan stared at him, like she was trying to figure out what was going on in his head. Whatever she saw must have told her enough, because a helpless smile crossed her face.
She stood up and walked over to Luo Yan, then bent down a little and wrapped her arms around him. "I understand. Iâm sure your uncle does too." As if to prove her point, Uncle Chen gave a nod from where he sat. "If you truly love Xiao Yun, then you have our support." She pulled back and cupped Luo Yanâs face in her hands. "It doesnât matter to us if you love a boy or a girl. What matters is that theyâre a good person and that youâre happy with them. We already know Xiao Yun is a good kid. So the only question is, are you happy, Xiao Yan?"
Luo Yan nodded with no hesitation. "Yes. Very happy."
Aunt Xiulan smiled. "Then thatâs all that matters."
After that, Luo Yan told them about what happened with Shen Lin. He watched as Aunt Xiulanâs face turned red with anger. Her hands clenched together in her lap, and she let out a sharp breath.
"That young man has some nerve," she said in a tight voice.
Uncle Chenâs brow creased as he thought. "The Shen family is well known in political circles," he said slowly. "And theyâve always been on the conservative side. This could become a problem if they decide to push it." He glanced at Luo Yanâs face and must have seen the worry there because his expression softened. "But donât let that scare you, Xiao Yan. They canât touch our business. We have our own standing in this city, and weâve never been the type to bow to pressure from anyone."
His father nodded from beside him. "Same goes for us. Our business has a very solid foundation, no powerful political family could easily topple it. They canât do anything to us just because they donât approve of you two."
Aunt Xiulan was still fuming, but she tried her best to calm herself. "Weâll handle whatever comes. Donât worry about the gossip or the Shen family, just focus on yourself and Xiao Yun, okay?"
Luo Yan nodded, afraid that his voice might crack if he tried to speak. He looked down at his hands, and without realizing it, a small smile spread across his face.
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Their conversation last night had gone better than he expected. His uncle and aunt had taken the news well. But even so, the mood at the breakfast table still felt tense. Luo Yan knew it wasnât because anyone was upset with him. It was because of what would happen later. Shen Ji Yun and Uncle Yi Mu would be here soon to talk to them. No matter how well last night had gone, what would happen later probably still made them slightly nervous. And Luo Yan couldnât blame them. He was nervous too.
He took a deep breath and began to eat. After everything that had happened last night, with his uncle and aunt accepting him so easily, he felt a sense of hope that things would be okay. Yet, despite that reassurance, he couldnât shake the nervous feeling in his chest. The real test was his father. No matter how well last night had gone, this conversation would be the true challenge. Until it was over, he wouldnât be able to relax.