The main hall of the Fang family was exquisitely decorated. The two rows of chairs on either side were intricately carved with flora, delicate and ornate. From the lobby to the front door, everything in the hall was beautiful, a testament to the family's wealth and refined taste. From the entrance to the two front seats where the masters of the house would sit, there was a long, luxurious green decorative carpet. Master Fang sat in one seat, and Madam Fang sat in the other.
Ma Tong and the two servants brought the long bamboo basket inside, placing it carefully by the door.
"Ah Tong, how many paintings did you show him?" Master Fang asked, his voice stern, addressing Ma Tong.
"One, but young master had not looked at it yet," Ma Tong replied, his head bowed.
"Show him again," Master Fang commanded, impatiently.
"Yes, master," Ma Tong replied.
Fang Yaoting interrupted, his voice firm. "No need. I already decided to marry Dachin."
Master Fang hit the table fiercely, the loud bang echoing in the hall. "Absurd!" He glanced at Lee Dachin, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Childe Lee, are you related to the Lee clan?"
"No, we happen to share the same last name," Lee Dachin replied politely, his voice calm.
"What is your occupation?" Master Fang demanded, his tone dismissive.
"Master Fang, I am a teacher," Lee Dachin answered.
"How much money can you make a month?" Master Fang pressed, clearly judging his worth.
Madam Fang, who had been sitting quietly, became very angry. "Fang Chinmao, this is enough!" she snapped, using his given name. "This is why Yaoting doesn't want to come home. Why do you want to force him to do what he doesn't want to do? We as parents should be more supportive towards our children, not forcing them to do the thing we want them to do." She looked at Lee Dachin, a sympathetic glance. "If Yaoting wants to marry this man, then it is his decision, not ours."
"Furen, he can't marry him," Master Fang retorted, his voice filled with patriarchal authority.
Fang Yaoting stood up, his face grim, and grabbed Lee Dachin's hand. "Let's leave," he said, pulling him towards the door.
More than sixty guards, hidden until now, blocked the door, forming an impenetrable barrier.
"I don't believe you will find yourself hurting them," Master Fang said, confident that Fang Yaoting wouldn't harm his own family's guards.
"Trust me, I will," Fang Yaoting vowed, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. He drew his sword, its steel glinting.
Lee Dachin quickly held Fang Yaoting's left hand, stopping him. He begged, "Yaoting, don't." He turned to Master and Madam Fang, his voice calm despite the tension. "Master Fang, I will talk to him."
"Ah Tong, take the young master to his bedroom and guard him," Master Fang said calmly to Ma Tong, seizing the opportunity provided by Lee Dachin's intervention.
Madam Fang looked at Master Fang madly, her eyes blazing. "Fang Chinmao, if my son runs away from home again, I will cut ties with you!" She walked out furiously, leaving the room.
"Young master and Childe Lee," Ma Tong said, bowing, then gestured for them to follow.
Fang Yaoting's bedroom was bigger than Lee Dachin's school and his house combined, a stark reminder of their vastly different worlds. He knew that Fang Yaoting was angry, he can sense Fang Yaoting's frustration through Fang Yaoting's breathing. After the maids who had escorted them left, he walked into the bedroom. Fang Yaoting was already sitting at the desk, furiously writing a letter. He walked up to Fang Yaoting and realized it was a goodbye letter to Madame Fang. He without a word, took the paper from Fang Yaoting's hand and tore it in half.
"What are you doing?" Fang Yaoting demanded, stunned.
Lee Dachin folded the paper again and tore it in half once more. "Are you going to run away again?" he asked, his voice firm, echoing his own fears of abandonment.
"I will not marry anyone except you," Fang Yaoting vowed, his gaze intense.
"I know," Lee Dachin replied, a soft smile on his face. "Until death do us part."
Fang Yaoting got up and hugged Lee Dachin tightly, pulling him close. He lifted Lee Dachin onto the desk and kissed his lips, a deep, passionate kiss. He put his tongue into Lee Dachin's mouth and twisted it with Lee Dachin's tongue, a sensual dance. The two exchanged breaths, sucking each other's lips, lost in the moment.
Fang Yaoting then kissed Lee Dachin's neck and gently licked Lee Dachin's neck with his wet tongue. He untied Lee Dachin's belt, reached into Lee Dachin's pants, and slowly stroked Lee Dachin's member. Then a distant voice caused the couple to abruptly stop what they were doing.
"Big brother..!" Fang Chongling's voice echoed from outside.
Lee Dachin quickly stood up and dressed himself, regaining his composure.
Fang Chongling appeared at the door. "Brother! I am a good boy. I want to go to the market now! I want to go now! I want to go now!" he insisted, his voice impatient.
Fang Yaoting chuckled, his anger completely evaporated by his brother's innocence. "Okay. I'll take you to the market now." He turned to Lee Dachin, who blushed badly. "Let's go to the market."
"I'll stay here and you two go spend time together," Lee Dachin suggested, understanding the delicacy of the situation. "If we go together, then your father will send those guards after you."
"You are using yourself as collateral," Fang Yaoting observed, a knowing look.
"Please make sure you come back before dinner," Lee Dachin smiled, accepting the role.
"If father comes, don't talk to him," Fang Yaoting warned, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Lee Dachin smiled. "I'll use this time to edit the Guozhao Principles Manual, as I promised Baiyu."
A gentle smile touched his lips as he watched the two brothers, and their maids depart. He held onto that warmth, letting it fill him even as he turned, alone now, to face the impending confrontation.
When Master Fang and Ma Tong entered Fang Yaoting's bedroom chamber, Lee Dachin was calmly editing the Guozhao Principles of Philosophy, appearing unruffled. He stood up and greeted Master Fang and Ma Tong politely. He noticed that Ma Tong still carried the long bamboo basket on his right shoulder, its contents still relevant.
"I'm here to apologize," Master Fang said, his voice surprisingly subdued.
"The one apologizing should be me, not you," Lee Dachin replied, his voice steady, maintaining his composure despite the unspoken tension.
"Childe Lee, it's not that I don't understand my son. I understand him," Master Fang began, his voice softening. "I know he doesn't like women since he was a teenager. Yaoting, his character is very straightforward. What he says is what is in his mind; he never lies to me. I also know that he loves you very much. You see..." He frowned sadly, his gaze falling upon Lee Dachin. "If Chongling was not born with a disability, I would not stop Yaoting and you, but as you can see, Yaoting is my only capable son. I need someone to carry our family name."
Lee Dachin felt pain deep in his heart, a wave of empathy washing over him. Now he knew exactly how Ping'an felt when she decided to end her life, understanding the weight of such desperate choices.
Master Fang stood up to face Lee Dachin. Then, to his utter shock, Master Fang knelt on the ground in front of him. He quickly got up and tried to help Master Fang, but Master Fang refused, his resolve firm.
"Childe Lee, I beg you for your permission to allow Yaoting to get married and have children," Master Fang pleaded, his voice choked with emotion.
"Master Fang, please get up," Lee Dachin urged, desperately trying to help him. "You are my elder. If you kneel on the ground like this, my life will be shortened."
Master Fang continued to persuade, his eyes fixed on Lee Dachin. "Please promise me that you will let Yaoting get married and have children. I'm sorry, I have to force your hands like this, but this is the only way to ensure that the Fang family bloodline will continue to have offspring to carry our family name."
"Please get up. I will talk to him," Lee Dachin said, finally managing to help Master Fang to his feet.
"If you can have children, that would be great," Master Fang said sadly, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Please forgive my greed. If Yaoting has no children after his death, how should I face our ancestors?" Master Fang had tears in his eyes, truly distraught. "Our close family members know that Yaoting does not like women. They are like hungry wolves. When Yaoting is at his weakest, they will bite him. As a parent, I would never want Yaoting or Chongling to ever create such an opportunity for them. In order to ensure our wealth and their safety, I have no other choice than to reach out to you and ask you to step aside."
Lee Dachin smiled, a faint, resigned smile. "Master Fang, I assure you. As long as I'm still alive, Yaoting will get married and have children." He looked at Ma Tong, who was still holding the basket. "You can leave the basket there."