A perfectly good meal had devolved into chaos, with emotions running so high it seemed like the table might be overturned at any moment.

You Zhe arrived in a whirlwind, driven by a fierce determination to protect his family and punish what he saw as a betrayal. Qi Shi'an stared at the DNA report in disbelief, his mind a torrent of thoughts. The atmosphere was tense as everyone present tried to make sense of the situation.

Grandpa Huo was the first to grab the report, followed closely by Huo Xin and Qi Jingtang. Even though they had always trusted Qi Shi'an’s character, the stark evidence on the report made them hesitate.

Shen Duoyi stood rooted in place, not looking at anyone but staring blankly in Qi Shi'an’s direction, his gaze unfocused.

“Duoyi.” Qi Shi'an closed his eyes tightly, the veins at his temples faintly visible. He stepped in front of Shen Duoyi, speaking without hesitation. “I didn’t do it.”

Shen Duoyi’s phone rang, interrupting the moment. He stepped back and answered. It was Grandpa Shen on the line: “The weather’s bad—windy and rainy. Come home early after dinner.”

Gripping his phone tightly as if it were a lifeline, Shen Duoyi replied, “I know. I’m just about to head back.”

Ending the call, he turned to Grandpa Huo and Qi Shi'an’s parents, still polite despite the tension. “Grandpa, Uncle, Auntie, my grandpa’s alone at home. I need to leave now.”

“Duoyi!” Qi Shi'an grabbed Shen Duoyi’s arm, his voice full of anguish and pleading. “Please talk to me. Look at me, won’t you?”

Staring at the carpet’s pattern, Shen Duoyi said, “Whether you did it or not, it needs to be explained clearly. But first, you should reassure your elders. I didn’t say I don’t believe you, but none of us can refute that report right now. I need to go home and take care of my grandpa. Don’t overthink this.”

Shen Duoyi drove off, the rain outside alternating between heavy and light as his wipers swung back and forth. His heart, however, felt weighed down, sinking deeper and deeper.

He thought about You Si’s feelings for Qi Shi'an. According to You Zhe, something must have happened after the celebration years ago. Between two adults, especially in a moment of intoxication or emotional vulnerability, a lapse in judgment wasn’t unimaginable. If that had happened, You Si’s decision to leave for Sydney and have the child alone made sense—her pride and upbringing would never allow her to use a child as leverage.

But what if Qi Shi'an wasn’t the father? How could the report be explained?

Given how often Qi Shi'an visited Zhesi for meetings, a used cup or any trace could easily have been tested. Moreover, You Zhe had held onto the report for a month, which suggested there wasn’t any malice or intentional framing.

Shen Duoyi’s thoughts went in circles, with no clear escape. He wanted to hold Qi Shi'an and trust him, but the fear of a devastating truth restrained him.

By the time he reached his apartment, his mind was still muddled. He parked directly outside instead of going to the underground lot—dark and cold, it was a space he couldn’t face at the moment.

The housekeeper had already left for the day. Grandpa Shen was dozing on the sofa, his cane lying by his feet and a corner of the blanket trailing on the floor. Closing the door behind him, Shen Duoyi dropped the weight of his exhaustion and frustration, forcing a faint smile as he approached.

“Grandpa, I’m back.” He crouched by Grandpa Shen’s knees, gently patting them. “Let me carry you to bed. It’s cold here.”

Grandpa Shen, half-asleep, raised his hand before letting it drop again. “Did you have fun at Xiao Qi’s place today?”

“I did,” Shen Duoyi said slowly. “I had fun.”

After settling Grandpa Shen in bed, he didn’t leave. Sitting quietly in the dark room, he listened to the rain growing louder against the window.

His phone lit up. It was a message from Qi Shi'an: “I’m outside your house. Are you resting?” Shen Duoyi turned off the screen and stared out at the darkness beyond the window.

“Hmm…” Grandpa Shen murmured, his voice weak. “Why are you sitting here? Go take a shower and sleep.”

Shen Duoyi nodded but didn’t move. Grandpa Shen’s frail hand emerged from under the blanket, patting his arm lightly. “What happened?” he asked, his tone slow but certain.

“It’s… complicated,” Shen Duoyi began hesitantly. “I don’t know the truth yet. It might be a misunderstanding, or Shi'an might have made a terrible mistake.”

Grandpa Shen swallowed with difficulty, his breathing labored. Yet his expression remained calm, free of urgency or doubt. “Duoyi, if you don’t trust someone, use the problem to see through them. If you trust someone, face the problem together.”

Shen Duoyi stood and walked to the window. Through the rain, he could just make out a jeep parked on the street. His phone lit up again—it was a call from the property manager.

“Mr. Shen, there’s a Mr. Qi here insisting on seeing you. We couldn’t stop him. Do you know him?”

“Yes, I do. Sorry for the trouble.” Ending the call, Shen Duoyi grabbed his keys and an umbrella, heading out. As the elevator doors opened to the lobby, he immediately saw Qi Shi'an, drenched to the bone.

Approaching him, Shen Duoyi said, “You’ve never looked this pathetic before.”

Water dripped from Qi Shi'an’s hair and face. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want me anymore.”

Grandpa Shen was already asleep, so despite being soaked, Qi Shi'an refused to go upstairs to change. With his cold, wet hand holding Shen Duoyi’s warm one, they shared an umbrella as they walked to the jeep.

Sitting side by side in the back seat, Qi Shi'an took off his shirt, his damp muscles gleaming in the dim light. Shen Duoyi grabbed a throw blanket from the back, clumsily drying him before draping it over him.

Unbothered by the cold, Qi Shi'an placed the blanket on his soaked pants instead, then pulled Shen Duoyi into his lap, holding him tightly. The embrace was almost painful, and Shen Duoyi raised a hand to wipe the water from Qi Shi'an’s face.

“What’s the situation?” he asked softly.

“I can’t reach You Si, and Zhang Yiming’s phone is also off. The weather’s bad, so You Zhe went home to check. He left in a rush but still managed to throw a few threats my way,” Qi Shi'an replied.

“Is it possible…” Shen Duoyi hesitated, “that you were drunk back then?”

“No,” Qi Shi'an said firmly, forcing Shen Duoyi to meet his gaze. “I have no desire for women, and you know how disciplined I am. The DNA report has to be a mistake. I didn’t do it.”

Shen Duoyi pressed his forehead against Qi Shi'an’s. “Shi'an, I choose to believe you. But if Shutiao is truly your child, I don’t want to know why. I just want to know if you’ll acknowledge it.”

Qi Shi'an’s heart twisted painfully. “If I acknowledge it, you’ll leave. If I don’t, you’ll look down on me. But I didn’t do it. You can’t condemn me.”

Shen Duoyi wrapped his arms around Qi Shi'an’s shoulders, his cold skin warming under his touch. Qi Shi'an buried his head in the crook of Shen Duoyi’s neck, kissing his throat and collarbone. What was supposed to be a joyous family dinner had spiraled into this unimaginable mess.

“Duoyi, when you left the house earlier, I was terrified you wouldn’t come back to me.”

The heat of Qi Shi'an’s breath and tears mixed with the cold rain lingering on his skin. Shen Duoyi, caught between despair and hope, murmured, “I don’t know either. If it came down to my principles and you, I don’t know if I could let you go.”

Qi Shi'an lifted his head and picked up Shen Duoyi’s phone. “Do you want to know the truth? Delete every message I’ve ever sent you.”

Taking the phone, Shen Duoyi began deleting the messages one by one. Each deletion brought back memories—small, cherished moments from their days together.

'I have to work late.'

'I envy you so much.'

'I’m outside your house. Are you resting?'

'Why do you keep smiling at me during meetings?'

The rain subsided, and the world grew silent around them, save for the sound of their breathing as they leaned into each other.

Only one message remained—the first one Qi Shi'an ever sent to Shen Duoyi. His finger hovered mid-air as he hesitated, fist pressed against his lips. Qi Shi'an held him tighter and asked in a voice like a haunting whisper, “Are you going to delete this one?”

With a dull thud, the phone was thrown onto the floor mat. Shen Duoyi leaned his head against Qi Shi'an’s shoulder, as though resigning to fate, and shook his head almost imperceptibly.

“I knew you couldn’t bear to,” Qi Shi'an said hoarsely.

The phone screen stayed lit, displaying the first message Qi Shi'an had ever sent to Shen Duoyi: "I want to watch the moon set and rise with you under its light."

By the latter half of the night, the rain finally stopped. Shen Duoyi walked through the night wind back home, his heart finally settling somewhat. His clothes were damp and clammy from being with Qi Shi'an, but he had no energy to change or shower.

He climbed into bed next to Grandpa Shen, lightly holding his arm. It was past three in the morning, a time when Grandpa Shen would normally be awake, but his frail body made it seem as though he were still sleeping.

Meanwhile, Qi Shi'an returned to his apartment at Yamenting. His frozen body came alive the moment hot water poured over him in the shower. Afterward, he collapsed into bed, setting his phone’s ringer to maximum, prepared to be awakened by any call.

That night, a holiday meant for rest turned into torment. Hydrangeas wilted, and the sensitive plants were battered nearly lifeless by the wind and rain. Qi Shi'an slept fitfully and awoke almost immediately when his phone rang.

The screen flashed “You Zhe”. He answered quickly.

“Hello? Did you get in touch with Zhang Yiming and You Si? Are they okay?” His first question was not about You Si’s involvement but a desperate confirmation of their safety, showcasing his clear conscience.

You Zhe, though only thirty-five, sounded as worn as an elderly man. “I found them. During the heaviest rain, they got into an accident on the highway. The emergency rescue just finished.”

Qi Shi'an shot up in bed. “How are they?! Are they in danger?!”

Breathing heavily, You Zhe replied, “You Si is out of danger, but Zhang Yiming is still in the ICU.”

The call ended, and Qi Shi'an got ready in five minutes, moving with the urgency he had during his military school days. He sped to the military district hospital, arriving in record time.

“Mr. Qi, Mr. You is in the ward. You can go in,” a nurse said.

Two of You Zhe’s assistants were in the hallway, communicating with the traffic police. Qi Shi'an pushed open the door to the ward and saw You Zhe sitting by the bedside, next to a motionless You Si.

Drained and dispirited, You Zhe glanced at Qi Shi'an, then lowered his head again. Qi Shi'an walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.