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墨書 Inktalez
The father stood at the door, turning the handle to open the wooden door.
"Creek." The room behind it was revealed.
A slightly large desk was filled with paper books lining the walls, adorned with wooden hollowed-out decorations, and there was a leather sofa by the window for conversation and relaxation.
This was a forbidden place that Gu Yan had never dared to enter in his childhood. Due to his father's authority, he never dared to act recklessly; he only occasionally caught glimpses of unfamiliar guests talking with his father through the crack of the door when servants brought tea. However, such instances were rare, as he was always unsure when he might be discovered by those inside, making each time feel like a theft.
Thinking back, this was indeed his first time entering this study.
Once Gu Yan stepped inside, there was a "click" as his father locked the study door, creating a quiet and private space.
Gu Yan gradually became serious. He realized that for the next while, his father would engage him in a conversation meant solely for the two of them.
A serious conversation.
His father calmly walked to the desk carved from sandalwood, closed the scattered documents on its surface, and placed them into the drawer below.
He tidied up the desk slightly. Even with someone waiting nearby, he showed no signs of panic, exuding an air of authority.
Gu Yan stood quietly not far away, waiting until his father sat down.
Then he heard his father speak.
"Gu Yan. My child," his father said. "I am very happy that you have returned."
Gu Yan did not respond because he knew his father had not finished speaking; based on his understanding of his father, it was impossible for him to call him in just to express such brief joy.
However, Gu Yan found himself waiting for further words that never came.
The room fell into silence.
He looked at his father with some confusion and met his father's gaze, noticing a tenderness he had never seen before, mixed with another complex emotion.
It felt like a battle of souls was taking place.
Finally unable to hold back, Gu Yan voiced the question that had been troubling him: "Father, I think you didn't call me back just because you missed me, right? Is there something else?"
"You are my only son." His father did not directly answer Gu Yan's question but instead said this statement.
"I actually regret not having a brother or sister," Gu Yan replied with a smile.
Seemingly amused by this remark, his father's expression softened somewhat: "Since we last met a month ago until now, I have realized how much my child has grown up. During your time away from home, I have thought about many things."
"Ten years ago, you said you wanted to travel around the world; after leaving home, our father-son relationship has become quite distant," his father continued while staring at Gu Yan's face.
The midday sun was somewhat blinding, and the air felt a bit dry due to the distance from the deep ocean. Surrounded by lush green plants, the vibrant grass enveloped the earth.
Unlike the deep blue of the sea, the dominant color here was a lively green.
The long journey had left Gu Yan feeling quite fatigued. Additionally, he had lost count of how many times he had slipped into a muddled sleep, half-awake yet unable to move. It felt similar to sleep paralysis, which nearly drove him to a nervous breakdown.
As he moved further away from the ocean, this sensation intensified. Fortunately, he had gotten ample sleep the day before departure; otherwise, Gu Yan wasn't sure if he would have had the energy to meet his father.
When he was awakened by the driver, the car had already arrived at the house where he had lived since childhood.
Gu Yan stepped onto the stone steps at the entrance, feeling as if he had stepped into another world. Although it had only been a month since his last visit, the ivy on the exterior walls had grown denser, and the plants in the courtyard were lush and green. The carefully arranged garden was adorned with patches of greenery, creating an overall comfortable atmosphere.
A servant waiting nearby helped Gu Yan push open the heavy carved door. He adjusted his sleeves and then calmly followed behind.
As soon as he ascended the stairs and turned a corner, he saw his father approaching him.
In just a month, his father had gained quite a few gray hairs, and the lines around his eyes were more pronounced. The marks of time were clearly etched on this man who had passed fifty.
"You're back," his father said without calling Gu Yan's name but rather naturally stating this unremarkable statement. His tone held little inflection; despite having maintained a stern demeanor in the past, he now seemed as easygoing as an old friend of Gu Yan's.
"I'm back," Gu Yan replied softly.
He found it somewhat strange; his father's appearance did not seem well despite being neatly dressed. The heavy dark circles under his eyes were impossible to conceal, suggesting sleepless nights spent tossing and turning over something troubling.
A hint of worry flickered in Gu Yan's eyes. However, his father merely patted his hand reassuringly.
"Come on, let's go to the study first."
Gu Yan nodded and took a step back to walk behind his father.
As they walked along the corridor, he observed that not much had changed; even the decorative paintings hanging on the walls were those few from his childhood. Ten years ago, he hadn't been very tall, so viewing them now felt quite different.
His thoughts drifted away as he recalled some mischievous things he had done as a child. Everyone goes through a phase of being a troublemaker; during that time, he enjoyed drawing mustaches on characters in framed pictures. Of course, this earned him plenty of scoldings from teachers.
A smile crept onto Gu Yan's lips.
He realized that despite being away for so long, deep down inside, he still yearned for this place. After all, this old house held all of his childhood memories—most of which were dull and boring.
Perhaps one can travel through all four seasons, but most people will always choose to return to that safe harbor in winter.
Gu Yan pulled his gaze back as he noticed that the figure ahead had stopped moving.
"Although you occasionally came back a few times during that period and mentioned that you learned a lot, you ultimately did not grow up under the watchful eyes of your mother and me. Looking back now, I feel a bit regretful that the relationship between father and son has become so distant."
"Your grandfather, on the other hand, has a close relationship with you. I remember it was he who suggested the idea of traveling around the world."
Gu Yan's eyes were calm, merely listening to his father's rambling words.
Perhaps his father was indeed getting old and had become somewhat talkative, but there was a warmth in his tone.
"Actually, a month ago, when you suddenly came home and said you wanted to go to the beach for a vacation, I realized that my child seemed to have already grown into a man capable of making decisions for himself."
"At that time, we agreed that when you returned from vacation, you would help this old man of mine stay at home and learn to take over some family business."
"After playing for so many years, isn't it time to be tired of it?"
His father looked into Gu Yan's eyes, where his pure black pupils clearly reflected the face of this man, who was no longer young, with traces of hardship etched around his brows and eyes.
Listening to his father's words, it seemed that some doubts in Gu Yan's heart began to dissolve. His muddled mind became much clearer.
He started to vividly recall the scene from a month ago, but perhaps due to the passage of time, some details were not precise.
It seemed he had indeed made such a promise to his father: after a month of recuperation, he would officially take over his father's business and temporarily stop traveling. This promise seemed to have been made one afternoon or evening while his father sat like this, and he stood beside him, as if in this very room.
"What do you think of my taste? That seaside villa has a nice view, right?" his father asked as he got up and walked over to Gu Yan, patting him on the shoulder in an affectionate manner.
"Um, not bad," Gu Yan replied vaguely. He felt somewhat sluggish due to lack of rest and didn't know how to respond to his father at that moment.
What followed were some pleasantries and business discussions. His father spoke in detail as if teaching a child; fortunately, Gu Yan had prior exposure and grasped things quickly.
"Bang."
"Bang."
"Bang."
Three chimes sounded from the old Western Antique Clock in the room, its echoes resonating in their ears.
"It's getting late; let's go check on your mother," his father indicated with his eyes that Gu Yan could leave.
Gu Yan nodded obediently. As he closed the study door behind him, he seemed to notice that his father had taken out documents from the drawer again to continue reading.
What a tiring day.
Perhaps it was time he should help share some of the burden. Gu Yan thought.
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