Chapter 52

Chapter 52

From that point on, Lu Ge became a regular at the Xu household. He didn’t just drop by occasionally; he practically came over every evening, especially making sure to arrive right around Ji Mian’s dinner time.

Occasionally, when the entire Xu family gathered on weekends, he would hold back and stay away, leaving space for their family gatherings.

He visited so often that he nearly took Qin Yan’s place as the fifth member of the Xu family.

After a little over a month, Ji Mian finally regained the half pound he’d lost, and he even gained a few extra ounces on top of that.

Even though it was a slow process, he was indeed two pounds heavier than when he first arrived in this world three months ago.

Unfortunately, Xu Chiqiu was taller than average for a man, standing at 177 cm, so the slight weight gain was barely noticeable on him.

Only someone with Lu Ge’s unusually sharp eye could detect those subtle changes that were hard to see with the naked eye.

Around this time, Ji Mian also celebrated his birthday. Yi Lan and Xu Yujiang made a point of leaving work early to celebrate with him, and Qin Yan came over from the company in the evening.

Lu Ge, who was usually a constant presence, was notably absent.

Ji Mian wasn’t surprised. From their interactions during this time, he had realized that Lu Ge wasn’t a straightforward person.

Though he always called them “very good friends,” when it came to normal interactions between friends, Lu Ge would intentionally avoid them.

Qin Yan didn’t visit the Xu family often, so he rarely crossed paths with Lu Ge, but over time, coincidences were bound to happen.

After being away on a business trip for a few weeks, Qin Yan returned and knocked on the Xu family’s door with a gift in hand.

As the door opened, Qin Yan’s smile froze before his expression suddenly stretched long, like a piece of clay.

The man inside the door stood slouched, looking as relaxed as if he were at home.

"Why is Lu Ge here?"

Lu Ge didn’t answer but instead remarked with surprise, "Qin Yan, have you been digging coal on your business trip these past few weeks? Your face is so dark."

He really had a knack for sarcasm.

Qin Yan was almost speechless.

"Why are you the one opening the door? Where are Xu Zhixia and Chi Qiu?"

Lu Ge’s ears automatically filtered out everything else, only catching the words "Chi Qiu," so he answered irrelevantly, "He’s eating."

Qin Yan glanced at the time. It was three in the afternoon. What meal was he eating?

He walked past Lu Ge and stepped inside, just as Xu Zhixia happened to come out from within. Their eyes met, instantly understanding each other.

"Yan-ge."

After not seeing each other for weeks, Qin Yan could hardly hide his affection for Xu Zhixia.

He moved closer, his hand rising to gently touch Xu Zhixia’s cheek.

Lu Ge instinctively glanced toward the dining room. As expected, Ji Mian had turned his gaze toward the two in the living room, especially glued to Qin Yan, unable to tear his eyes away.

Ji Mian was already leaning on the table, about to get up and come over.

Lu Ge turned back, "Qin Yan, you sure you don’t want to wash your face? You look really dark."

"..."

Qin Yan's lips twitched, and his hand, which had been raised with difficulty, froze in mid-air.

Originally, he absolutely didn't believe it, but seeing Lu Ge's serious expression, Qin Yan actually doubted his own face for a moment.

Could he really have gotten something on it?

With a stern expression, he excused himself to the restroom to check his face.

Only then did Lu Ge see Ji Mian sit back down.

"You're very special to my brother," Xu Zhixia suddenly spoke up.

Lu Ge raised an eyebrow and said, "Master also treats Mr. Qin quite 'differently.' You don't care for Qin Yan, do you?"

"..."

"I don't know what kind of grudge there is between you two brothers, but Master Xu, why bother?" Lu Ge tugged at the corner of his mouth, "It's only been a few years, after all."

Xu Zhixia stiffened on the spot. "You know?"

"That time he had a fever on the cruise, that Dr. Huang mentioned it. He said he doesn't have long to live," Lu Ge said indifferently.

Xu Zhixia was silent for two seconds. "You know all this, and you still like him?"

"Who said I like him?" Lu Ge laughed, "I'm just being kind-hearted and doing a good deed."

"..." Xu Zhixia looked at him deeply, his black eyes, similar to Xu Chiqiu's, filled with complex emotions.

Lu Ge met his gaze and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Cut him some slack, Master."

"..."

'Give him a break.'

Xu Zhixia looked at Lu Ge without making a sound.

Ten years ago, when Yi Lan and Xu Yujiang rushed home as quickly as possible and took Xu Chiqiu, who had been pierced by shards of a vase, to the hospital, he stood outside the ward, bewildered and struggling to explain to his parents, "Brother stepped on it on his own."

"I... I saw it happen."

Yi Lan and Xu Yujiang exchanged glances, both looked astonished.

He was overwhelmed with fear and panic, asking them, "Mom, why did brother do that? It... it must hurt a lot."

His parents did not answer his question.

That night, Xu Yujiang and Yi Lan avoided him and talked in a corner of the hospital for several hours, finally calling him over.

Yi Lan hesitated for a long time before saying to him, "Brother is not in good health, Zhixia..."

"Remember to give in to your brother more in the future."

It was probably from then on that their parents' attention towards Xu Chiqiu noticeably increased.

...

Xu Zhixia did not give Lu Ge any answer.

When Lu Ge returned to the dining room, the Xu family’s white cat was brazenly rubbing against Ji Mian’s feet, while the latter, staying in character, ignored it.

Realizing that his caretaker was ignoring him again today, Xu Duoduo furiously clung to Ji Mian’s pants leg, but after climbing twice, it couldn’t climb up due to its weight.

It then abandoned this route and scrambled up onto a nearby cabinet, standing on top and surveying the area with sharp eyes, zeroing in on the back of Ji Mian’s head as its landing spot.

Just as the cat was about to leap onto Ji Mian, Lu Ge snatched it by the scruff of its neck.

"Meow!" Xu Duoduo flailed its paws in the air.

Lu Ge held it by the back of its neck and said seriously, "Do you think one swipe of your paw could kill him?"

Ji Mian: "...Cough."

He wasn’t that delicate.

In the living room, Qin Yan emerged from the bathroom with a grim expression and rejoined Xu Zhixia.

Ji Mian couldn’t help but steal a glance.

The two on the sofa were talking about something, but Qin Yan seemed quite happy.

Ji Mian meant to go over, but suddenly Lu Ge’s hand appeared in his view. Before he could react, Lu Ge’s warm palm cupped his cheek.

Lu Ge turned Ji Mian’s face back, ensuring those beautiful black eyes were facing him, before slowly letting go.

"Shouldn’t you pay attention when friends are talking, Young Master?"

"Affection Points +200 (100x2), courtesy of Lu Ge."

Friends talking, huh...

But he remembered that Lu Ge hadn’t said anything to him just now. Ji Mian asked, "What did you say?"

Lu Ge offhandedly replied, "It’s the weekend tomorrow. I was asking if you wanted to go out and take in the scenery."

Glancing at the two in the living room, he thought to himself: And by the way, keep you away from these two, so you don’t get excited and get sick again.

"Scenery?" It was already autumn, and Ji Mian couldn’t think of any scenery worth seeing.

"There’s a garden in the suburbs, famous for its autumn scenery. The chrysanthemums and osmanthus are blooming beautifully recently."

Hearing the word "osmanthus," the sweet scent of osmanthus seemed to linger.

Ji Mian’s throat moved slightly, but he didn’t speak. However, the image of golden ginkgo trees shimmering in the sunlight flashed in his mind.

...He really wanted to go.

From the time he arrived in this world until now, the only long trip he had taken was that cruise ship. And Ji Mian wasn’t interested in the various entertainments on the cruise ship; instead, the noisy parties annoyed him.

He had wanted to go out before, but Xu Chiqiu had no friends other than Qin Yan. Going out meant being accompanied by Uncle Lin, but Uncle Lin was too easily frightened by Ji Mian. If the wind blew on him, Uncle Lin would be worried all day.

"Is the Young Master interested?"

Ji Mian maintained his expression and said lightly, "Not bad."

Lu Ge smiled and said, "Not bad means you’re up for it, right?"

"..."

Ji Mian didn’t respond either way, but Lu Ge automatically took his silence as consent. "Please make sure to sleep early tonight and get up early tomorrow, Young Master Ji."

Ji Mian remained silent, looking like he couldn’t care less.

...

That night at eight o'clock, Ji Mian got into bed and fell asleep right away.