After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 26

Later, Ai Ziqing learned the truth—Luo Mu was the son of martyrs. After his parents sacrificed their lives, none of his remaining relatives were willing to take him in.

With no other options, he was sent to the welfare home.

That day, Ai Wenchuan had originally gone out to pick up Luo Mu. But on the way back, he came across an abandoned infant left at the gates of the welfare home—Shen Ran.

In those days, such things weren’t uncommon.

Ai Wenchuan, always soft-hearted and compassionate, believed that “if I can raise one, I can raise two.” So he brought both children back.

And just like that, Ai Ziqing’s quiet world was joined by two others.

One was loud and lively—once he could walk, he babbled and ran all over the place.

Shen Ran was an adorable child. Ai Ziqing had liked him from the moment they met. Eventually, he even took the initiative to help care for him.

Aside from being a little timid around strangers, Shen Ran was like a little sun—cheerful, talkative, and full of laughter.

Ai Ziqing’s recovery from autism was half due to medical treatment—and half due to Shen Ran’s endless chatter, which gradually opened his heart.

The other boy was Luo Mu—so quiet it was almost extreme. He barely spoke, but he was always there. Always by Ai Ziqing’s side, like a shadow that never left.

If Ai Ziqing was the one protecting the younger Shen Ran and taking him on adventures, then whenever the two of them got into trouble, it was always Luo Mu who stepped in to fix things.

One spring day, Ai Ziqing took Shen Ran up into the mountains to pick jujubes. The two of them were so excited, they lost track of time.

As the sky darkened, Ai Ziqing realized they’d gotten lost. In the panic, he even injured his leg in a fall.

Shen Ran was terrified. He burst into tears, sobbing as he called out for “Brother Xiao Ai,” while desperately trying to drag him along.

But Shen Ran was still far too small—how could he possibly move him?

Ai Ziqing wanted to comfort him, but it was still chilly in early spring. A gust of wind made him shiver, and he instinctively drew his neck in to keep warm.

Just then, Luo Mu appeared—no one knew from where. Without saying a word, he knelt down and lifted Ai Ziqing onto his back, then reached for Shen Ran’s hand.

He found the way down in the dark. Just a teenage boy himself, he stumbled step by step down the mountain with Ai Ziqing on his back.

When they finally saw the lights of the Qingshan Welfare Home in the distance, Ai Ziqing wrapped his arms tightly around Luo Mu’s neck—and let his silent tears fall against the boy’s skin.

“Thank you,” he remembered whispering.

Later, Shen Ran was adopted.

According to Ai Wenchuan, the family who adopted him also bore the surname Shen. They were wealthy and seemed kind-hearted.

Ai Ziqing knew that being taken in by such a family was a blessing for Shen Ran. Everyone should have been happy for him.

Even so… he couldn’t let go.

On the day Shen Ran left, Ai Ziqing cried as he followed the car for as long as he could. He stood by the roadside, eyes filled with tears, watching the vehicle fade into the distance.

And Luo Mu had been by his side the entire time.

When Ai Ziqing finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and sobbed aloud, it was Luo Mu who hugged him.

Just like that winter night long ago.

Time passed quickly. Ai Ziqing and Luo Mu grew up together.

In the long stretch of life, it seemed they gradually became each other’s whole world.

Ai Ziqing’s autism seemed to fade with the years. The boy who once showed no reaction to the outside world had shed his shell of silence and grown into someone warm and gentle.

Perhaps he had inherited his father’s nature. He held deep feelings for Qingshan Welfare Home.

Luo Mu, however, didn’t change much.

He grew taller than Ai Ziqing, but his personality remained much the same—quiet, withdrawn, and always at Ai Ziqing’s side.

They spent elementary school, middle school, and high school together.

Even for university, Luo Mu applied to the same school as him.

Four years later, on the day of their university graduation, Ai Ziqing planned a small camping trip.

Beside the pitched tent, Luo Mu sat quietly on the grass, while Ai Ziqing lay beside him. The two of them simply watched the night sky together.

The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight—but the stars were faint, barely visible.

Ai Ziqing suddenly remembered how, when they were younger, the stars used to shine so much brighter.

Then, Luo Mu—who rarely spoke—suddenly asked:

“Ziqing, what do you want to do after graduation?”

“What else is there to do? Of course I’m going back to the welfare home,” Ai Ziqing answered. “Dad’s getting old. He should’ve retired long ago. There are so many kids at the home… they’ll grow up, they’ll go out into the world, and they’ll need their own lives.”

When he spoke about the future, Ai Ziqing’s voice brimmed with quiet hope.
“By then, I’ll be Director Ai. As for you, well… I’ll reluctantly make you Deputy Director Luo. We’ll give the kids the best lives possible, together…”

He kept going, spinning countless dreams of a future with Luo Mu by his side. But Luo Mu remained silent throughout.

Noticing something was wrong, Ai Ziqing sat up and looked at him.
“…Luo Mu? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

But this time, Luo Mu avoided his gaze.

Ai Ziqing’s heart dropped.

“You’re coming back with me, aren’t you? You love that place too, right? You’ll… you’ll stay with me, won’t you?”

“Ziqing. I’m not going back.”

“…”

“I’ve already told Uncle Ai. He said he supports my decision.”

“…”

Maybe it was because Luo Mu had always been there.
Maybe it was because of that hug on a snowy night, years ago.

But Ai Ziqing had never once questioned that their futures were tied together.

He had never imagined a day would come when they’d part ways.

“Why won’t you come back with me? Do you not want me anymore? Not want Qingshan Welfare Home anymore?”

Ai Ziqing didn’t realize his voice had gone hoarse, trembling.

Luo Mu didn’t answer. He simply looked up at the vast, starless night sky.

His sigh nearly disappeared into the wind rolling down the mountainside.

“I need to earn money, Ziqing. If we go back, we won’t be able to make a living.”

“Money? Is money really that important to us? More important than me, you, and the home we built together?!”

“Money is essential.”

“Essential… essential…”

Ai Ziqing’s eyes turned red. He staggered to his feet, taking two steps back, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Luo Mu, listen to me. If you’re really going to leave for that—then don’t ever come back! You’re the one who left me. If you have the guts to walk away, don’t you dare look back!”

——

So many years had passed since then, and Ai Ziqing couldn’t even remember how he’d stumbled away that night.

He’d left in anger, vowing never to forgive.

One thing he remembered vividly: Luo Mu didn’t stop him.

He didn’t chase after him.

Since then, Ai Ziqing returned to F City to become Director Ai, while Luo Mu—as he wished—became President Luo.

The welfare home grew more crowded. The buildings aged. Everything needed money, and Ai Ziqing ran himself ragged every day to keep things running.

Then, strangely, a large anonymous donation began arriving every year—reliably, generously—easing some of his burdens.

While the welfare home steadily improved, Luo Mu had returned a few times.

But each time, Ai Ziqing greeted him with cold sarcasm and barbed words.

He abandoned me, Ai Ziqing told himself over and over.

It was Luo Mu who left.

And yet, every time he faced him with that cold front, his heart… ached.