After Lee Dachin sent Master Fang and Ma Tong out from Fang Yaoting's bedroom, he saw a pond full of white and pink lilies next to Fang Yaoting's bedroom. He walked over and stared at the lily, his gaze unfocused. He revisited Master Fang's words, replaying them in his mind. He understood everything Master Fang had mentioned. Master Fang and Madam Fang were not bad people. They had not treated him badly. As parents, they worried about the survival of their son and their family. He didn't want to be a reason for the entire Fang family to not have offspring to carry on their legacy. He didn't want to be the reason why Madam Fang would be angry with Master Fang. Most importantly, he didn't want Fang Yaoting to never be able to go home again, like Guo Baiyu. He reminded himself that he was a person of no entitlement, and that his place was to sacrifice for those he loved.
A pair of arms wrapped around Lee Dachin's waist, and lips gently kissed his left neck, warm and familiar.
"What are you doing here?" Fang Yaoting's voice murmured into his ear.
"Studying the lily," Lee Dachin replied, trying to sound casual. "Maybe I will ask Baiyu to paint it. It would be great to put a painting this beautiful in the classroom."
"If you want, I will hire a painter to paint for you," Fang Yaoting offered, sensing his distraction. "Let's go back inside, it's getting late."
As soon as they walked into the bedroom, Fang Yaoting spotted the tall bamboo basket of paintings that Ma Tong had left behind. He turned to Lee Dachin, his playful mood vanishing, replaced by a coldness. "Is father here?" he asked, his voice sharp.
Lee Dachin didn't deny it. "Yes, Master Fang was here."
"What did he say?" Fang Yaoting demanded, his gaze intense.
"We just talked casually," Lee Dachin prevaricated.
"Dachin... you are a bad liar," Fang Yaoting said, his eyes narrowing.
"I didn't lie. We just talked casually. He apologized for what happened this morning," Lee Dachin insisted, trying to maintain the facade.
"If you two just talked casually, then why is the painting basket there?" Fang Yaoting pressed, pointing to it.
"I told Elder Ma to put it there," Lee Dachin admitted, his voice quiet.
"Dachin!" Fang Yaoting yelled, anger finally erupting. He looked madly at Lee Dachin, grabbing his shoulders. "I have told you over and over again that I will not let anything come between us!"
"Prove it," Lee Dachin challenged, looking directly into his eyes.
"Prove? What proof do you need?" Fang Yaoting's voice was incredulous. "I have stayed by your side for so long, is that not enough proof? I told you before that I will love you until death do us part."
"Then prove to me that you can do it," Lee Dachin said, tears welling in his eyes. "Yaoting, I never told you: I always hoped that my parents were still alive. If they were, I would do everything I can to make them happy." He felt tears wetting his eyes, a profound sorrow. "Your father, he loves you very much. I want you to know that."
"If he loves me, he will not use force," Fang Yaoting retorted, his voice filled with bitterness. "If he loves me, he will not talk to you behind my back. What did he offer you?"
"Nothing," Lee Dachin insisted, shaking his head.
"If he doesn't give you anything or threaten you in some way, you won't say these things to me now," Fang Yaoting accused, unconvinced.
"Master Fang did not threaten me at all," Lee Dachin said, his voice firm. "He wants what is best for you, and I want it too."
Fang Yaoting turned around and grabbed Lee Dachin's front collar frantically. "You said this because you wanted to leave me!" He pulled Lee Dachin closer and gritted his teeth, his grip tight. "Remember this, no matter where you hide on this world, I will find you."
Lee Dachin smiled at him, tears dripping from the corners of his eyes, a heartbreaking sight. "I will never run away or hide from you, this is a promise." He kissed Fang Yaoting gently on the lips. "Yaoting, I really love you. Ping'an once told me that only those who truly love each other can truly understand the meaning of sacrifice."
"Dachin, listen to me. I don't want you to sacrifice anything, and I won't let anyone threaten you," Fang Yaoting pleaded, his voice cracking.
"Yaoting, I have a dream. Can you help me accomplish that dream?" Lee Dachin asked, his voice soft but resolute.
"What is it?" Fang Yaoting asked, though he knew what Lee Dachin would say next. He felt so deeply hurt, seeing the pain in Lee Dachin's eyes. He promised himself he would never let this beautiful man cry again. He failed miserably, watching the tears stream down lover's face.
"I have always dreamed that one day I can make my parents proud," Lee Dachin pleaded, his voice choked with emotion, "but since my parents no longer exist in this world and your parents are, can you make them proud?" With tears streaming down his eyes, Fang Yaoting shook his head angrily, resisting. "Please... I beg you... get married... have children. If you do it, that means I did too."
"Why do you say that?" Fang Yaoting asked, his own tears beginning to fall.
"This is my dream," Lee Dachin insisted, crying openly now. "I can't achieve it, please help me to achieve it. It will also prove that nothing can come between us until death do us part." He sobbed. "I can't stand it if you can never go home like Baiyu. Your parents love you very much. They want what is best for you. Your parents are not like Baiyu's parents. You are their only capable son."
Fang Yaoting wiped Lee Dachin's tears, his touch gentle. "Is this what you really want?"
Lee Dachin nodded, his gaze firm. "Yes."
Fang Yaoting hugged Lee Dachin tightly in his embrace. He knew that Lee Dachin had a heart of gold. If he still could, he would do anything for anyone. Lee Dachin was a rational person, not a hot-headed person like him. Before Lee Dachin even asked him, Lee Dachin had weighed the pros and cons of the situation, making a difficult, logical choice fueled by love.
"Okay," Fang Yaoting finally said, his voice thick with emotion. "I will help you achieve your dream."
Lee Dachin sobbed and said, "Please don't hate me." He heard what he had said, but to be honest, he wanted to say, 'Please don't leave me after you have a wife and children'. The unsaid words hung heavy in the air.
Fang Yaoting held back his own tears, his eyes filled with profound love. He said, "Hey beautiful." He kissed Lee Dachin's forehead tenderly. "How can I hate you? When you are most precious to me." He held him tightly, a desperate embrace.
At dinner, Fang Yaoting and Lee Dachin sat at the table, facing Master Fang and Madam Fang across the ornate dining table.
"Due to some stubborn people, we have not had a family dinner for two years," Madam Fang murmured, casting a pointed glance at Fang Yaoting. She frowned, then her expression softened. "But today is a special day. Yaoting returns home, we can sit down and enjoy a good meal. Come on, everyone, please drink."
"I have something to announce," Fang Yaoting said, his voice cutting through the forced pleasantries.
"Go ahead," Madam Fang encouraged, a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
"Father, I decided to get married as you requested," Fang Yaoting stated, looking directly at Master Fang.
"Yaoting," Madam Fang murmured, delighted, glancing at Lee Dachin.
Lee Dachin smiled faintly at Madam Fang, a polite but pained expression.
"Which of the fifty ladies do you like?" Master Fang asked, his voice filled with relief.
"Old Tong, bring me the basket," Fang Yaoting commanded.
Ma Tong put down the bamboo basket on the floor next to Fang Yaoting. Fang Yaoting pulled out a painting from the bamboo basket and handed it to Master Fang without even looking at the painting, showing his complete indifference to the women within it.
"I will marry her," Fang Yaoting stated.
"Are you sure you still want to marry this lady even if you don't look at the painting?" Master Fang asked, surprised by his casualness.
"It doesn't matter who I marry," Fang Yaoting replied, his voice flat. "As long as she can give you a grandson, that's enough." He drank his cup of wine, a bitter edge to his tone. "I agree to marry her under one condition."
"What?" Master Fang asked, intrigued.
"The day she gives birth to a son will be the day I marry Dachin," Fang Yaoting declared, his voice firm and unwavering. "The bigger the wedding between that woman and me, Dachin and my wedding will be no less grand."
"Yaoting, this is not what we agreed," Lee Dachin whispered, aghast.
"I helped you achieve your dream," Fang Yaoting said, holding onto Lee Dachin's hand and smiling at him, a fierce determination in his eyes. "You must help me achieve my dream too. My biggest dream is to marry you publicly."
Master Fang sighed, a long, drawn-out sound of resignation, but then nodded. "Agree."