To Raise a Soul 13

“Still missing a little.” Yin Yan released their clasped hands and looked at his own palm. “At least there was an effect.”

“What?”

Yu Zhen did not hear him clearly. He inspected his own body, looking for any changes.

Looking at his silly actions, Yin Yan couldn’t resist stepping forward and touching his head.

Briefly, Yu Zhen froze at his touch then looked up at him.

From his outward appearance, it was impossible to identify Yu Zhen as a twenty-two-year-old. He looked like he had just entered adulthood and still had some baby fat.

He dressed maturely and rather old-fashioned, but if Yu Zhen was compared to Yin Le, his face would appear younger. 

But, what was abnormal was that Yin Le was seventeen, and Yu Zhen was twenty-two.

Yin Yan experienced a rare moment of absent-mindedness, but his appearance remained calm as per usual. He did not have a blank look in his eyes, so no one detected his shift in attention.  

Yu Zhen noticed his quietness. He probed, “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”

Yu Zhen’s hair brushed against his palm, creating a wave of gentle aching in him.

As he returned to his senses, Yin Yan visually estimated his height and asked, “How tall are you?”

Struggling to follow his thoughts, Yu Zhen’s mind whirled. He guessed the hand on his head was to measure his height. Unable to resist temptation, Yu Zhen looked straight ahead and discovered his gaze only reached Yin Yan’s chin and lips. Feeling a sense of embarrassment, he stepped backward and replied, “175 cm…I-I can still grow!”

Men can still grow into their early twenties. I-I still have a chance!

In truth, he stopped growing when he hit eighteen. His hope of continuing to grow was a distant one, but he still held hope. What if it really happened!?

“Indeed, you will grow taller. You’ll grow to roughly here.” Not only would he continue to grow, but the youthfulness would fade from his face, and he would grow into a mature, dazzling appearance.

Yin Yan’s words were certain. His hand was raised to his eyebrows.

Yu Zhen, expecting Yin Yan to poke fun at him, was surprised by his seriousness. His eyes lit up. He looked at Yin Yan and estimated his height. Expectantly, he asked, “I’ll really grow this tall? Up to here?” As he spoke, he raised his hand to Yin Yan’s eyebrows.

His overwhelming excitement was conveyed through his heart. Unable to resist the nearly overflowing emotions, Yin Yan reached up to hold Yu Zhen’s hand. With patience he replied, “Yes. This tall. You’ll grow up until here after your soul has grown strong.”

“…Huh???”

The lifted corners of his mouth flattened. He tentatively asked, “People’s heights are related to their soul?”

The question was ridiculous, but Yin Yan replied patiently.

“It’s related. Your height is set by heaven the moment you are born. However, you haven’t achieved your potential because your soul is badly damaged. It’s only able to support your life, and has no strength for anything else.”

“…”

Turns out there was such a reason.

The joy in Yu Zhen’s heart faded as he realized something.

“…”

Yin Yan held his hand and led him back into the restaurant. “Don’t worry. I will help you.”　

No. This isn’t an issue of whether you are or aren’t helping me, but the issue of…forget it.

Yu Zhen looked back at the alley. He remembered the old woman as she wandered around looking lost. Pursing his lips, he turned back and said, “Thank you. I’ll work hard.”  

The two men were out for a long time. When they returned, Yu Zhen’s spirits were low, his hair messy, and his clothes covered in dust from falling over. It conveyed the image of a person who had just experienced “domestic violence.”

When Qiu Feiqian saw him, her heart stuttered, and her palms began to sweat.

I heard patients with mental issues, eight or nine out of ten will have violent tendencies. Xiao Yan, this…

Yin Le, unable to hold back, glanced at Yin Yan and asked Yu Zhen with feigned casualness, “Yu Ge, what were you doing with Brother? Why do you have dust everywhere?”

“Ah, sorry. I’m being rude.”

Yu Zhen quickly stood up from the table, turned around, and patted at the dirt on his clothing. Embarrassed, he said, “Yin Yan took me out for a walk. I accidentally fell.”

And here it is. Alarm bells rang in Yin Le’s mind.

This is how things play out on TV. The partner who is abused covers up the problem for all sorts of reasons, and the most common excuse is falling over!

Everyone here is an adult, and the road outside is flat. How could you fall over so easily! And the way Ge took you outside is very suspicious!

Could it be, Ge was unsatisfied with the way Yu Ge reacted to our parents, so he took him out for a “lesson”?　　

An analysis of ethics played out in Yin Le’s mind. Qiu Feiqian’s heart was pricked by that sentence. Worried and angered, she could not suppress the resurgence of hatred for Han Ya who caused Yin Yan to be in that state. A feeling of sorrow for Yu Zhen also welled up within her. 

“Um, Xiao Yan, about the property notarization, I’ve discussed it with your father. We’ve decided to respect your and Yu Zhen’s wishes, but we feel this wrongs Yu Zhen too much. So, we’ve decided to put a small portion of shares from the subsidiary company you manage under Yu Zhen’s name. This means he will get some dividends every year. What do you think?”

With the Yin family’s properties, it was extremely stingy to give the daughter-in-law such a small portion of shares for a subsidiary company. However, due to the unclear circumstances between Yin Yan and Yu Zhen, Qiu Feiqian decided to act “stingy” while she observed the situation. 

“You can make the decision.”

Yin Yan did not refuse her gesture of goodwill. As dividends were distributed yearly, they would not receive any money for a period of time. It wasn’t necessary to refute his elders.

Yu Zhen swallowed the words of refusal he had intended to say. With a nudge from Yin Yan, he thanked Qui Feiqian. 

Qiu Feiqian shifted to sit more upright. She moved onto the main issue. With implied meaning, she said, “There’s one more thing. Your father and I feel it is non-negotiable. It’s your premarital check-up. Where you go for the check-up is for you both to decide. But since no one is busy now, why don’t we all go to the hospital tomorrow? We can make use of the timing and have the whole family treat it as a routine check-up. What do you think? ”

The issue was also mentioned by staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Yu Zhen was not opposed to the suggestion. Easing the mind of Mother and Father Yin was a good thing. He turned to look at Yin Yan. 

Yin Yan saw through the meaning and guilty conscience hidden behind Qiu Feiqian’s words. Stroking the ring on his finger, he nodded. 

“Ok, Mother can arrange it.”

Qiu Feiqian breathed a sigh of relief.

He’s willing to go for a check-up; it looks like there’s no domestic violence. There’s still hope for him.

As it was getting late, a waiter was called over, and they ordered dishes. They had a lively dinner.

As they ate, Qiu Feiqian gained some understanding of Yu Zhen’s circumstances. When she learned he was the only one left in his family, her sympathy and motherly love overflowed. From time to time, she added food to his plate. The more she spoke with him, the more she liked him.

Though Yu Zhen was timid, spoke little, and wasn’t a charming talker, he was steadfast, sincere, and a filial child. His respect and care for his seniors came from the bottom of his heart. Qiu Feiqian, used to seeing sham displays of politeness, thoroughly enjoyed his sincerity. 

Very good.

After finishing their meal, Qiu Feiqian, who had been tormented by Han Ya for many years, was moved and almost overwhelmed with emotion.

Comparing Yu Zhen and Han Ya, she thought if her son snagged this daughter-in-law by going insane, it would be fine if he had gone insane! It would be better if he stayed insane! She wouldn’t even worry about it!

“Stay at the hotel with me. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to a shopping mall. Men also need to dress warm. Don’t learn from Xiao Yan and wear only a jacket in the middle of winter.” 

At the restaurant’s doorway, Qiu Feiqian tugged on Yu Zhen’s arm. She guided him towards the car as she spoke.

Yin Yan caught on quickly and stopped her. Calmly, he said, “Mom, Yu Zhen and I will return to the temple.”

Qiu Feiqian paused for a moment and glared at him. She reached out to Yu Zhen again and reasoned, “You’ve already ripped down the door, why do you want to live there! You really don’t understand how to do things!”

Yin Yan did not give way. Not only did he pull Yu Zhen back, but he even stepped in front of him. “It was only the courtyard door. The building’s door is perfectly fine. It’s habitable.”

“…”

Is this shameful son a fool, or is he pretending to be a fool! He doesn’t understand the door issue is only an excuse? He’ll really frustrate me to death!　

She heard from Yin Le about temple’s worn-out state. There wasn’t even a decent bathroom. The weather is so cold. There’s a nice, warm hotel, but he’s dragging his recently married partner to suffer in the cold. Is his brain damaged?! 

“How about… I send you an-and Father to the hotel first? Then I’ll head to the temple by myself.” Yu Zhen peeked his head out from behind Yin Yan’s shoulder and spoke quietly, but implicitly expressed his own thoughts. 

He didn’t want to go to the hotel. Whether if it was a golden nest or a silver one, it couldn’t compare to his own bird nest. And, he still needed to light joss sticks for his grandfather.

The leading man of the day had spoken. Qiu Feiqian couldn’t ruthlessly deny him the way she might deny her own sons. Yin Yan turned to Yu Zhen and asked, “Do you know how to drive?”

Yu Zhen dumbly nodded, “I have a driving license, but…”

“Uncle Weng, pass me the car keys.”

Yin Yan took Yu Zhen’s hand then nodded to Qui Feiqian and Yin Hexiang. “Mom, Dad, goodnight. It’s dark now. Yu Zhen and I won’t send you back to the hotel. See you tomorrow at the hospital.”

As he finished speaking, he took the keys Wneg Xiping brought over. He held Yu Zhen’s hand, pulled him to the driver’s side, and stuffed him into the car. He tossed the keys towards Yu Zhen. Then, he naturally moved to the passenger side and got in the car.

“Let’s go.”

Having become accustomed to following his orders that day, Yu Zhen obeyed. He started the car and began driving before realizing he should have said goodbye to his seniors. However, the car was already on the road. It wasn’t convenient to turn back. He could only apologize in his heart and brace himself for driving.

The black car quickly merged into the traffic. Too quick for the Yin family to respond in time. 

“Ah! My hare meat!” Yin Le suddenly exclaimed.

Qiu Feiqian patted him before turning to glare at Weng Xiping. “Why did you give him the key so quickly?!”

Weng Xiping looked straight ahead and calmly replied, “Madam, according to my observations, Mr. Yu’s family temple only has one bed.”

Silence descended. Weng Xiping added, “Madam seemed to like Mr. Yu very much… this is a good opportunity.”

The silence continued. Yin Hexiang patted his arm and said, “Well done! Sure enough, it’s Weng Xiping who knows what to do.”

Weng Xiping’s smile was reserved.

Fu…ck….

Yin Le quietly sighed. He was stunned by his own parents’ and family butler’s vulgarity.