The Stranger’s Homeward Journey

Translator: Rin    Editor: shadowfox, Jadeite    

“Tear–“

The sound of the pen tip scratching through the paper resounded in the conference room. The sound was small but it cast a ripple in the quiet room. All the department chiefs present buried their heads into the materials in their hands nervously, pretending not to have heard anything. The manager reporting was sweating profusely, thinking that something had gone wrong with the report he made.

Shen Mucheng looked at the scratched part of the paper. He casually swept a glance at the people present before calmly withdrawing his pen and nodding to the person standing. The other party was secretly relieved and sat down, while the others’ nerves were still tense, fearing that they would be called next.

But they were overthinking. At this time Shen Mucheng’s mind was not on them at all. He slightly tilted his head to the side as Luo Shaoheng’s voice echoed from his bluetooth earpiece, “Why are you not talking? Are you frightened by me? Then I’ll be a little tactful, I want to chat with you.”

I don’t think you’re being tactful.

Shen Mucheng thought in his heart. But his former displeasure was slightly pacified by his words. He closed the document in his hold and handed it to Shen Yun next to him, then raised his hand to indicate the meeting was adjourned before he got up and left the conference room.

Looking at his retreating back, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and was grateful to the unknown person who suddenly called.

Shen Mucheng took the phone back to his office without uttering a single sentence on the way. Luo Shaoheng spoke a lot but didn’t get an answer for any of them, so he hesitated and asked tentatively, “Are you busy? Why don’t you work first, I’ll hang up–“

“I’m not busy.” Shen Mucheng then said slowly, slightly leaning against the back of his chair and waved his hand dismissively to Shen Yun who followed him in. Shen Yun nodded and left.

Hearing his answer, Luo Shaoheng breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed. “What were you doing just now?”

“Having a meeting.” Shen Mucheng was brief and concise.

“Hmm?” Luo Shaoheng sat up from his seat, “Did I disturb you? I’m sorry–“

“No need to apologise.” Shen Mucheng interrupted him. He found himself very uncomfortable hearing Luo Shaoheng apologise to himself. “It’s over.”

“Is that so? That’s good then.” Luo Shaoheng leaned back again and chatted with him.

Luo Shaoheng talked most of the time, while Shen Mucheng’s responses were very short; sometimes he would even just hum a simple “En”. But Luo Shaoheng wasn’t bothered by this, instead, he felt familiar. When he first met Shen Mucheng, he also had the same attitude; he wasn’t cold, but not particularly enthusiastic either. However, as long as Luo Shaoheng talked to him, he would answer.

Luo Shaoheng didn’t know what he was saying. It seemed that he had said a lot, but it also felt like he didn’t say much. The phone he was holding was slightly hot, even so, he was not willing to hang up. Even if he couldn’t see his face, it was still nice to hear his voice.

It was not until the phone gave a low battery notification that he gave up.

“Shen Mucheng.” Luo Shaoheng called out to him lightly.

“En.”

A deep voice came from the phone, as if the person speaking was just beside him. Luo Shaoheng asked in a low voice, “After the New Year, I’ll go find you, okay?”

I’ll go find you, okay? It’s too hard to live alone, I almost can’t live anymore.

The phone was quiet for a few seconds. The answer that came after was still a simple and concise word, but it instantly filled Luo Shaoheng’s heart which was hollow for ten long years with the oxygen that kept him alive.

Shen Mucheng agreed, “Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, Luo Shaoheng raised his arm and covered his eyes for a long time.

On New Year’s Eve, Luo Shaoheng decided to leave matters to Wang Xiaoquan and go home.

Before leaving, he looked at himself in front of the mirror for a long time. He used to think he hadn’t changed, but now he felt that there was something wrong as he looked at himself. Because of his illness, his face was a little haggard, and long-term insomnia had left a faint greenish tinge under his eyes.

“Why did I become like this?” Luo Shaoheng touched his chin strangely. He remembered that he used to look quite good, why did he feel that he had grown a lot older in a few years time?

“Forget it. A mother doesn’t mind her son’s ugliness.” He reassured himself and put on his jacket, then took the keys and left. 

Although his parents did not accept the relationship between him and Shen Mucheng, Luo Shaoheng had always wanted to be closer to his parents. Even if he couldn’t fulfil his duties as a son, he could at least know whether his parents were healthy. This was the reason why he set the location of the resort with Shen Mucheng in City A.

He had walked the road leading to the main residence of the Luo family countless times. Even in these years of going from place to place, he couldn’t help but come to visit when he returned, but he never got this close.

As the car got closer to the mansion, his original slightly anxious speed slowed down.

He parked the car opposite the entrance of the mansion, but didn’t get out of the car and just rolled down the window to look across.

The phrase “the shorter the distance to one’s hometown, the more anxious one will be” was true. After so many years, he still didn’t know how to face his parents.

Cold wind seeped in through the car window, making him sneeze. He rubbed his nose lightly, and when he looked up, he saw the gate of the yard open. A short, plump woman was carrying black garbage bags. She was heading straight in Luo Shaoheng’s direction. Luo Shaoheng knew she was coming to throw the garbage since there was a garbage bin not far from his car.

As she got closer and closer, the woman’s footsteps gradually came to a stop as she locked eyes with Luo Shaoheng. Her face went from incredulous to ecstatic, until Luo Shaoheng pushed open the car door and walked up to her, smiling as he called out, “Mother Wu.”

The woman was a maid of the Luo family, she looked at Luo Shaoheng with tears welling up: “…… Little Young Master.”

“Yes.” Luo Shaoheng smiled and responded, “What are you crying for on the New Year’s Day.”

“I’m too happy.” Mother Wu reached out and wiped her tears, then turned around and was about to walk back, “I’ll go tell Madam.”

“Wait.” Luo Shaoheng called out to her, took the bag in her hand then carried it to the garbage bin in front and threw it away. When he came back and saw her still standing there, wiping her tears , he couldn’t help but also feel heartbroken: “Don’t cry, it’s cold outside, let’s go back.”

“Okay okay.” Mother Wu walked back with him with teary eyes.

*

After twelve years, once again stepping into the family’s yard, Luo Shaoheng’s heart was not only heavy, but also excited. He had lived here for eighteen years and left twelve years ago. Everything around him was familiar, yet unfamiliar. Every grass and tree was like a lifetime ago.

As soon as the two reached the door of the main house, Mother Wu couldn’t help but jog in and say excitedly to the people inside, “Old Master! Madam! Little Young Master is back!”

Her words shocked the people in the living room. Mrs. Luo’s hand that was placing the teacup shook. The cup knocked on the edge of the table and fell on the carpet, but she didn’t care. She held the armrest next to her and stood up, taking a few hesitant steps forward and stopping again, “… Shaoheng?”

Next to her, Old Master Luo was also the same. He held on to Mrs. Luo and looked at the person walking towards them.

The moment he saw the two, the corners of Luo Shaoheng’s eyes instantly reddened, speeding up a few steps to go over and hold their hands. His voice was slightly hoarse as he called out, “Dad, Mom.”

This term of address made everyone present red-eyed. Mrs. Luo reached out with trembling hands and touched his hair. “It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back.” She was no longer the Mrs. Luo who valued the reputation of the Luo family more than anything else. The merciless years had left indelible scars on her face. Now she was just an ordinary mother whose youngest son had finally returned after waiting for years.

Tonight, after an entire 12 years, the Luo family was truly reunited.

At one o’clock in the morning, Luo Shaoheng finally put his mother, who wanted to stay up with him, to rest. He poured himself a cup of hot milk and stood on the balcony. The fireworks outside lit up the entire night sky, making it look surprisingly as bright as daylight.

He took out his cell phone from his pocket, adjusted the focus and took a picture of the fireworks exploding in the air, then sent it to Shen Mucheng through MMS.

When Shen Yun saw Shen Mucheng come out, he immediately got out of the car and greeted him, “Boss.”

Shen Mucheng nodded and walked towards the car. Shen Yun took a few steps forward to open the car’s door for him, then headed to the driver’s seat.

“Let’s go back.” Shen Mucheng said as he closed his eyes and leaned back to rest.

“Yes.” Shen Yun started the car and left.

As the car drove on the road, Shen Yun could see that Shen Mucheng looked a little tired through the rear view mirror. His brows were slightly furrowed, so he asked, “Boss, should we ask Dr. Tai Bo to come over?”

Shen Mucheng reached out and pressed between his eyebrows. The throbbing pain in his head made him tug his tie with slight irritation as he loosened his collar before saying, “No need.”

“But your condition ……”

“I’m fine.” Shen Mucheng interrupted him.

Shen Yun could only shut up and be quiet. He helplessly sighed in his heart before speeding up the car a little, in order to arrive as early as possible so that Shen Mucheng could rest.

Back home, Shen Mucheng took off his jacket, then took off his tie and threw it aside, preparing to take a shower, when the phone he had just placed on the desktop vibrated.

“Bzzt…”

Shen Mucheng casually took a glance. His gaze stopped at the name on the screen – Luo Shaoheng.

He picked up the phone and saw that Luo Shaoheng sent over a photo of fireworks. They were 

colourful, like huge flowers scattered in the air. There was a sentence below the photo in English – Miss you.

This reminded him of the previous sentence “Kiss You” that Luo Shaoheng said in the call. His voice was soft, and full of affection.

The scene of Luo Shaoheng pulling his hand with reddened eyes resurfaced in his mind again. From the day he returned, his deep and desperate eyes had been lingering in front of his eyes, and every time he thought of it, he felt uncomfortable in his heart.

–He should not be like this, he should…

How should it be? Shen Mucheng couldn’t pinpoint the exact word, he just instinctively felt that this person should not show such an expression.

“Bzzt–“

The phone vibrated again; Luo Shaoheng had sent another message .

–Happy New Year, good night.

He walked towards the balcony with his phone in hand. The cold wind outside made him sober up. He then swiped the screen and dialled Luo Shaoheng’s number.