Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Today is the 24th day of the lunar year, and Grandma was taking Yuan Xiao and Yuanting back to their hometown. Originally, Yuan Qingguang was supposed to drive them, but Cheng Nanyi came in his car, so he ended up taking over the task.

Grandma gets carsick, so Yuanting let her sit in the passenger seat, while he and Yuan Xiao sat in the back.

Cheng Nanyi’s car was stocked with various snacks. Yuanting, knowing where they were, handed some to Yuan Xiao and then opened a bag of chips for himself. He munched while leaning over the seat to feed Cheng Nanyi.

Cheng Nanyi turned his head away: “Sit properly.” He knew that mischievous kid was doing it on purpose, feeding him things he didn’t like to eat.

Yuanting huffed and sat back: “You despise me.”

Cheng Nanyi nodded: “Yes, I do despise you.”

Grandma laughed, patting Yuanting on the head: “Stop it now, Nanyi is driving.”

Yuan Xiao felt a pang of sorrow. Truthful words were spoken as jokes; Cheng Nanyi really did despise his brother.

“What’s wrong with you?” Yuanting casually noticed Yuan Xiao’s troubled face, “Do you need to use the restroom? Your face is all scrunched up.”

“No, I just feel bad…” Yuan Xiao rested his head against the car window, thinking that Cheng Nanyi was just accommodating Yuanting because of their childhood connection. What if Cheng Nanyi got fed up and Yuanting really did something drastic out of heartbreak?

He wanted to ask but was afraid to, not wanting to upset him... He was still unsure about his brother’s mental state and didn’t dare to act rashly...

Cheng Nanyi glanced through the rearview mirror, seeing Yuan Xiao’s head lowered in gloom.

Meanwhile, Yuanting, oblivious, was sprawled out asleep next to his brother, exhausted from the previous night's excitement.

Yuan Xiao looked at Yuanting’s sleeping face, sighing. How could such a handsome face be troubled by a preference for men?

His years of studying abroad had broadened his horizons. Though he didn’t personally know any gay people, he was aware of it. It was a difficult path. What could he do for Yuanting?

Yuan Xiao was worried sick.

Upon reaching their ancestral home and unloading their things, their aunt busied herself preparing food. Yuan Xiao went to pour hot water into a cup for Cheng Nanyi.

Yuanting’s eyes nearly popped out: “Bro, what are you doing?”

“I, I…” Yuan Xiao coughed lightly, “Cheng Nanyi is a guest, we should treat him well.” Handing the cup to Cheng Nanyi, he added, “I scalded it with hot water, it’s very clean, don’t worry... If you’re not comfortable, I can buy a sterilizer for our house.”

？？？

Yuanting was completely surrounded by question marks. Had his brother gone mad?

“What’s wrong with you?” Yuanting straightened Yuan Xiao's posture, glaring at him, “Bro, are you traumatized?”

Traumatized?

Yuan Xiao’s head was buzzing. It wasn’t just trauma; he was overwhelmingly troubled.

“Xiao Ting, I’ve decided not to pursue my master’s degree,” Yuan Xiao said solemnly.

“Are you sick?” Yuanting reached out to touch Yuan Xiao’s forehead, “Did you dunk your head in an ice hole last night?”

“I…” Yuan Xiao grasped his hand, “I need to earn money, a lot of money. I have to support our family, take care of you, and also...” he coughed lightly, his gaze evasive and voice quieter, “support your... wife…”

Before Yuanting could react, Cheng Nanyi started coughing violently from choking on water.

Yuanting looked at him: “What’s wrong with you? Choking on water, are you uncoordinated?”

“How can you say that about him?” Yuan Xiao said discontentedly, “Xiao Ting, that’s not right. You should do this…” He guided Yuanting’s hand to Cheng Nanyi's back, “Choking can be serious or minor, you should pat his back.”

Yuanting: “????”

Had the world gone mad, or was it just Yuan Xiao?

Cheng Nanyi suppressed his laughter and moved away from Yuanting’s hand, shaking his head expressionlessly: “No need, I can’t bear it.”

Yuan Xiao: “…” It was over; he was still despising Xiao Ting. His face was a picture of restrained suffering.

Yuanting glared at Cheng Nanyi, as if challenging him to repeat what he said.

Cheng Nanyi just bowed his head, unable to raise it for quite some time, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Yuan Xiao often had these intermittent bouts of madness. Yuanting was used to it, so he didn’t pay much attention, assuming it was due to the stress of pending postgraduate entrance exam results. He figured Yuan Xiao would change his mind once the results were out.

Yuanting, no longer concerned with someone overwhelmed by exam anxiety, headed to the kitchen: “Auntie, what’s for dinner tonight…?”

Auntie: “Take a look, it’s all your favorites. Stay a few more days at home, and I’ll make sure you leave here chubbier.”

“Then I won’t eat,” Yuanting said, grabbing a fried ball and biting into it, “I need to maintain my perfect figure.”

Auntie laughed heartily: “You’re as thin as a chick, talking about a perfect figure… hahaha…”

Yuanting, with a dark expression, came out and stuffed the whole fried ball he was holding in his left hand into Yuan Xiao's mouth, then shoved the half-eaten one from his right hand into Cheng Nanyi’s mouth.

Cheng Nanyi dodged his hand, struggling: “Don’t do this…”

“Don’t do what?” Yuanting stared at Cheng Nanyi, “Repeat what you just said. Have you lost your mind?”

“Ah, forget it…” Cheng Nanyi sighed, opening his mouth to eat the ball, looking reluctant and resigned.

“You despise me?” Yuanting's brows furrowed in realization, “Fine, Cheng Nanyi, you’re tough.” Just this morning he didn’t mind him not brushing his teeth, and now he’s fussing over a bitten snack, what a hypocrite!!!

Yuan Xiao, witnessing this scene: “…”

Cheng Nanyi really was a good person, enduring all this to prevent his brother from taking drastic actions.

Yuan Xiao sighed. But what could he do? His brother loved him, and whatever his brother loved, he should have. After all, his brother had had a tough past.

Abandoned by his mother after his parents divorced at the age of two or three, then living at the mercy of others, and later utterly abandoned by his mother, now choosing a unique path… No, a path less traveled. He must stand by his brother’s side, being his strong support.

As for Cheng Nanyi...

Yuan Xiao resolved to treat him even better.

He went to the kitchen and brought a plate of fried balls, quietly placing them next to Cheng Nanyi: “My mom made these, they’re delicious, all yours.”

Yuanting’s eyes popped out in shock. His brother had truly lost it…

Cheng Nanyi looked at the plate of fried balls and then at Yuan Xiao’s determined gaze, feeling the situation was awkward to handle.

Cheng Nanyi didn’t stay overnight. He left after a short while as he had an early flight the next day with his grandpa. They had planned to take Yuanting along for the trip planned before winter break, but given the current circumstances, it wasn’t wise to bring Yuanting in front of his grandpa, so they had to part ways for now.

Yuanting saw Cheng Nanyi off. The winter days got dark early, and it was only a bit past four, yet it was already dim.

As Cheng Nanyi got into the car, Yuanting stood beside it, reluctant to part.

“I’ll be back in a few days. Don’t go wild at home. Remember to message me and video call.”

“Got it.” Yuanting leaned on the car window, watching him, “Be good with grandpa, don’t upset him.”

“I know.” Cheng Nanyi flicked Yuanting’s chin, teasing, “Are you going to miss me?”

Yuanting made a face of disgust, quickly glanced around, then leaned in to give Cheng Nanyi a quick kiss. Not satisfied, he reached in to grab Cheng Nanyi’s back.

Yuanting was daring, but Cheng Nanyi, seeing someone approaching from the end of the path, pushed the little rascal away.

Yuanting sighed, “Alright, go. Be safe on the road.” He had never been this clingy before… Well, he admitted, after being able to kiss and touch, he indeed felt a greater need for Cheng Nanyi than before.

Watching Cheng Nanyi’s car drive away, Yuanting wandered back towards the house, only to see Yuan Xiao climbing down from a ladder leaning against the wall.

“Were you on the roof?” Yuanting estimated the distance, wondering if Yuan Xiao had just seen him and Cheng Nanyi being affectionate.

Yuan Xiao entered the house in a daze. He had seen it clearly: it was Yuanting who initiated it, and Cheng Nanyi initially refused! But ultimately, he gave in.

This state of mind persisted for Yuan Xiao until bedtime. Both brothers lay on their beds, each clutching a phone, fingers tapping incessantly on the screens.

While chatting with Cheng Nanyi, Yuanting kept an eye on Yuan Xiao, who seemed off today, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.

Moreover, Yuan Xiao usually didn’t pay much attention to his phone, but now he seemed almost glued to it.

“Bro…” Yuanting called out, but Yuan Xiao didn’t seem to hear.

Just as Yuanting was about to go and talk to him, a chat notification popped up.

Sister Shi Ya.

The last time they had chatted was four years ago. They had added each other on WeChat, greeted each other, but never really talked.

Yuanting opened the message.

——Yuanting.

——Does your brother like men?

——So, did he reject me because I confessed to him?

——I was too embarrassed to ask him after being rejected, so I’m asking you.

Yuanting’s mind was blown. What in the world was this all about?

He quickly replied: ?????

Before he could inquire further, a message from Mo Yikai popped up: Yuan Xiao likes men? That's shocking. Never saw that coming. The little scholar seemed quite the charmer…

Duan Wenze: What's with your family, a legacy of homosexuality? Your brother isn't into me, is he?

Yuanting: ??????

Yuanting abruptly looked up at Yuan Xiao: “Bro, what have you done?”

Yuan Xiao looked up dazedly: “What's wrong?”

“I…” Yuanting felt like he was going insane, “I wanted to ask you the same thing.”

Author’s note:

This novel doesn’t focus on secondary couples, they’re mostly mentioned in passing.

Thank you to the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions from 2023-10-11 12:48:13 to 2023-10-12 21:59:40~

Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: ⌒．One Clear Thought 10 bottles; Yi Ai 6 bottles; Happy Heart 5 bottles; Yin Jie Yi, Can You Not 4 bottles; Mu Qing, Man Mi, Bitter Brother Sweet 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!