He didn't know how to explain, that he was the one who brought him into being.I could only awkwardly steer the conversation away, saying "...Hmm."The little prince wasn't satisfied with the answer, an...Ning Shu made an appointment with Liu Heng for the weekend, when he could bring Xiao Che to stay for two days.

At dinner, he casually brought up the matter to Li Yan.

The man sat at the dining table, his hand clenching slightly, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty: "You're going to take my son to meet other men"

Ning Shu said calmly, "My relationship with Liu Ge isn't what you think it is."

Li Yan's obsidian eyes stared at the young man, his expression cold. "What if I don't agree" He wiped his hand and continued, "You've been inseparable from him these past few years, Ning Shu. Can I just assume there's something between you two"

Ning Shu didn't speak. His brow and eyes were tinged with weariness and boredom.

But because Xiao Che was also there, she controlled her emotions: “Li Yan, I don’t want to argue with you.”

Li Yan said indifferently, "So you really have something with him" His eyes looked at the young man, without a smile, but instead had a terrifying aura that seemed to bring on a storm. "Is that so"

Ning Shu felt that he was really becoming more and more strange. He controlled his emotions and suppressed the anger: "So what do you want to do this time" He also said in an emotionless tone: "Threaten me, or threaten Liu Heng"

"Isn't this something you're always able to do Li Yan, in your eyes, am I just your possession"

"Your need for control and possession is just to satisfy yourself."

Li Che stopped his cutlery, raising his jet-black eyes to look at them.

Ning Shu met her son's gaze and suddenly felt guilty. She whispered, "Li Yan, what else do you want I don't want to say these things in front of Xiao Che."

Li Yan suppressed the emotions in his chest, his expression looking a bit stiff.

He looked a bit enigmatic, but quickly regained his composure. Then he got up and walked out.

Li Che glanced at Li Yan, then at Ning Shu, and said, "Dad."

Ning Shu opened her mouth and said, "Dad was just talking to him. There wasn't an argument."

Li Che nodded, then lowered his head and ate quietly.

Ning Shu looked at his son, a pang of sympathy welling up in his heart. He thought, if Xiao Che was born into an ordinary family, everything he couldn't give him, others could.

He and Li Yan are destined to be unable to give Xiao Che what he wants.

....

"Young Master," the butler stepped forward and handed over Li Che's school bag.

Ning Shu nodded.

Holding his son's hand, the steward hesitated to speak.

He couldn't help but look over and ask, "Is there anything else, Uncle Liu"

"Mr. Ning, do you remember today's date" the steward asked hesitantly.

Ning Shu couldn't help but be startled, he thought for a long time. Then suddenly stopped, and said: "You mean, over at Li Yan's..."

The housekeeper said, "Mr. Li has been in a bad mood these days, all because of this reason. During Mr. Ning's absence, Mr. Li these past few years..." He continued tactfully: "...hasn't been doing well."

Ning Shu didn't know what was wrong with this. He thought about how every month on this day, Li Yan would become abnormal.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Is he still in the room"

The housekeeper nodded.

Ning Shu said: "I understand."

He sent Xiao Che back to his room, but his expression seemed a little dazed.

"Dad."

Li Che spoke up and looked over.

Ning Shu hummed softly, patted his head and said, "What's wrong"

Li Che asked a little awkwardly, "What's wrong with him"

Ning Shu didn't know how to answer, so she could only say, "Not really." She touched Xiao Che's face and felt a little strange: "Are you worried about him"

Li Che said coldly, "No."

Ning Shu saw through his insincerity and suddenly felt a little sad. Blood is thicker than water, after all. She gently said, "Dad, maybe he's just having a bad day. Can I go see him"

Li Che was slightly taken aback, then said: "Yes, but Dad needs to make it up to me."

Ning Shu nodded, he carried Xiao Che to bed. He brought him two books and then turned to leave. He walked to Li Yan's room door but could not hear any sound from inside.

He reached out and knocked on the door. But there was still no answer, so Ning Shu could only open her mouth, but just as she was about to say the first word.

The door swung open, and Li Yan stood tall in the doorway.

His tone was heavy and sullen: "Get out."

Ning Shu glanced at him, slowly withdrawing the emotions on his face, and he was about to turn around. But Li Yan grabbed him fiercely, holding him so tightly it felt like his bones were breaking: "You dare come back"

It was as if a storm of resentment, thick with hatred, charged through the air. Even Ning Shu's skin felt a shiver run down her spine. Li Yan lowered his head to look at him, a faint bloodshot gleam in his eyes: "What are you doing back here"

"I should have locked you up."

Li Yan reached out and pulled him inside forcefully.

Ning Shu sensed his unusual emotions, the man's breath was rapid and hot, falling on his neck. Li Yan's voice was both loving and hating: "Ning Shu, I really want to kill you...."

He raised his hand.

Li Yan's body froze, then he pushed him out with a shove. Breathing heavily, his eyes were bloodshot, and he said in an icy, extreme voice: "Get out."

Ning Shu almost laughed out loud.

He suspected that Li Yan was really sick. He just wanted to say something. But Li Yan's temples were bulging with veins, as if he was suppressing something with all his might. He shoved the young man out violently and slammed the door shut.

The door was shut, but something rolled to Ning Shu's feet.

He couldn't help but be stunned, then lowered his head. He saw a white medicine packet at his feet, scattered on the ground.

Ning Shu bent down and picked it up.

He couldn't understand the Chinese characters for the medicine, but he could see that the English words indicated ingredients that stabilized one's mental state.

Ning Shu's heart immediately became filled with surprise and uncertainty. Was Li Yan taking medicine

Why is he taking this medication

The more Ning Shu thought about it, the more suspicious she became. Unable to contain her curiosity, she picked up the medicine and asked the housekeeper about it.

The butler sighed and said, "Mr. Li has been taking this medicine all along. But ever since Mr. Ning arrived, Mr. Li rarely takes this kind of medicine anymore. After Mr. Ning left, Mr. Li increased the dosage again...."

He continued, “For several years that Mr. Ning was gone, every time it got to this point, Mr. Li would push himself to the brink.” He paused and added, “Last year, Mr. Li even had thoughts of suicide...”

Ning Shu was truly shocked now. How could Li Yan possibly have thoughts of suicide

"If even Mr. Ning can't cure it," the butler said worriedly, "then we'll have to call Dr. Zhao."

.....

Dr. Zhao arrived very quickly.

She's a doctor in her forties. As soon as she arrived, she calmly said, "At this time, I suggest Mr. Ning have a few words with Mr. Li."

Ning Shu stood there, a little lost: "What should I say"

"Mr. Ning," Dr. Zhao glanced at him and said, "I've always known about you. Mr. Li has a psychological illness, you should be aware of that. In the years you were gone, his condition worsened significantly. There was even a period where I suspected he had gone insane."

"Right now, the most important thing is to make Mr. Li realize that you have truly returned." Dr. Zhao said again: "He might be afraid of hurting you, so he pushed you out. But at this time, it's better if Mr. Ning stays by Mr. Li's side."

Ning Shu was a little at a loss. He had never known that Li Yan would have psychological problems.

He tried to calm himself down, then followed Dr. Zhao's instructions and knocked on Li Yan's door, saying, "Li Yan, I'll sing you a song..."

"That song from a few years ago."

Ning Shu thought about it, he had sung this song at the beginning. To stabilize Li Yan's emotions, the young man's voice was soft and clean.

I don't know how long it took.

Dr. Zhao said, "Mr. Li's emotions should be stable now, but I need to go in and give him a sedative."

Ning Shu stood outside the door, his mind truly in chaos. He didn't know how long he had been standing there, when Dr. Zhao walked out and glanced at the young man. "Mr. Ning," he said, "Can we talk"

Ning Shu came to her senses and nodded.

The two sat in the reception room. Dr. Zhao got straight to the point: "It seems Mr. Ning is unaware that Mr. Li has this condition." She paused, then continued, "Perhaps Mr. Li doesn't want you to see his vulnerable side, or he fears losing you."

Ning Shu didn't speak for a while, then said, "Has Li Yan had this psychological condition since childhood"

Doctor Zhao nodded and said, "Yes, I've been Mr. Li's psychiatrist for seven or eight years. When Mr. Li was a child, he went through some things. I don't know if he has ever told you about them"

Ning Shu paused for a moment and asked, "Is it...related to his mother"

Dr. Zhao said, "… There is a part of the reason that when Mr. Li was a child, he saw his father cheat with his own eyes, and then his mother was hit to death in front of him."

Ning Shu was stunned, he fell silent. Although he knew that Li Yan's mother had passed away a long time ago, he had never known this before. And Li Yan had never mentioned it either.

He couldn't quite imagine what it would be like to see his own mother die right in front of him.

Dr. Zhao, as if seeing his thoughts, opened her mouth and said, "There's also his father."

She whispered, "Mr. Li's father once locked him in the basement when he was a child for a long time. There was no light, only a group of animals for company...."

Dr. Zhao continued, "This is why when Mr. Li was having an episode, he would lock himself away. His psychological condition is very severe, but he has only ever exposed it to you..."

"Mr. Ning."

Ning Shu, after hearing these words, felt a shock and disbelief. He found it hard to believe as he stammered, "… Why would you lock your own son up… in such a place"about to leave the starship, but he was stopped by someone: "No one is allowed off the starship." 。Ning Shu's uneasiness grew, until— he saw people in Imperial Army uniforms boarding the starship. 。...