Chapter 45: Chapter 45 “Come to My House to Hide.”…

Chapter 45

"Come hide at my place."...

Lu Zhishi was terrible with money—as soon as his allowance increased, he donated it all to the Stray Animal Rescue Center over the weekend.

But he did keep a small portion for himself and Zhao Xiaoxing to buy snacks on Food Street.

On weekends, they always went back to his grandparents' house for meals. After returning from the Stray Animal Rescue Center, Lu Zhishi brought two bouquets of flowers with him.

For Grandma Song, he bought light purple tulips; for Grandma Lu, a black tea rose. As for the two grandfathers, each received a pot of succulents.

"At my age, why would I still keep succulents?"

Though Grandpa Lu complained, he loved them in secret and ended up buying a lot of plant food after carefully selecting them.

Lu Zhishi disagreed, "What 'at your age'? You're still young."

His sweet words made Grandpa Lu beam with joy, his eyes and face full of smiles.

Grandma Lu whispered to Lu Zhishi, "It's good that he’s keeping succulents—it keeps him from running outside all the time, exposed to wind and sun while fishing."

Lu Zhishi felt tempted, "When is Grandpa going fishing?"

Grandma Lu: "..." She forgot this kid was also a fishing enthusiast.

She then glanced at Lu Zhiyu nearby, "Make sure to keep an eye on your brother—he’s another fishing enthusiast, always out in the wind and sun. Don’t let him sneak off to fish."

Lu Zhiyu said with a helpless smile, "Got it, Grandma. I’ll keep an eye on him."

Grandpa Song, being a refined man, usually preferred raising delicate orchids. But since his beloved grandson gave him the gift, he naturally liked it too.

He casually asked Lu Zhishi, "I wonder how big Grandpa Lu’s succulent pot is and whether it’s easy to care for. I’ll have to ask him for tips later."

Lu Zhishi didn’t pick up on the hint and just thought for a moment before saying, "They’re the same size. The succulent you have is also easy to care for—just water it occasionally and let it get some sun. It’s very simple."

Getting the answer he wanted, Grandpa Song nodded in satisfaction.

After the weekend came the monthly exams, and after that, weekly exams. The weather grew hotter day by day.

Lu Zhishi couldn’t stand the heat—he wilted under the sun and was prone to heatstroke, so he usually stayed indoors to stay cool.

Song Qinian had taken him to see a doctor earlier and found that his constitution was too weak and he didn’t exercise enough.

Since he rarely went out in the sun, his body had trouble adapting when exposed to sunlight for too long.

"Now you’re complaining about the heat? What about all those times you went fishing under the blazing sun—why didn’t you say it was hot then?" Song Qinian said, annoyed.

Lu Zhishi retorted, "That’s different! When I’m fishing, my mind is at peace, so I naturally feel cool."

His hurried defense showed how afraid he was that Song Qinian would forbid him from fishing in the future.

He really took after his grandfather—a little fishing enthusiast.

Song Qinian snorted in amusement, "You sure have an answer for everything."

Lu Zhishi glanced around, scooted closer, and sat beside Lu Tingan.

"Alright, don’t upset your dad. Drink more herbal tea and mung bean soup regularly," Lu Tingan said, reaching out to pat the back of his head.

"Mm-hmm," Lu Zhishi tilted his head, leaning in to make it easier for him. "I want mung bean soup, not herbal tea."

Herbal tea was bitter and had a strange taste—Lu Zhishi didn’t like it.

Song Qinian said, "Good medicine tastes bitter."

Lu Zhishi scrunched his nose and didn’t reply, looking up at Lu Tingan with a begging look.

Seeing his own child looking so pitiful, Lu Tingan’s face stayed calm, but his heart softened.

He turned to Song Qinian, "Maybe let it go this time and just give him some mung bean soup."

As expected, though he seemed detached and uninvolved, he was actually the one who spoiled the child the most in the family.

Song Qinian rubbed his temples, "Fine, as you say."

Lu Zhishi leaned closer to his dad, secretly delighted. Lu Tingan tapped his nose, signaling him to hide his smile.

Song Qinian lightly smacked his head, "If you want mung bean soup, then drink it. After that, go upstairs and study."

Lu Zhishi rubbed his head, grabbing Lu Tingan’s sleeve, and wailed, "Ouch, that hurts, Dad!"

"Don’t fake it—I barely touched you."

Lu Zhishi cried even louder, and Song Qinian went to get a feather duster.

Lu Zhishi quickly jumped up from the sofa, grabbed the bowl of mung bean soup from the coffee table, and ran upstairs, "I’m taking this to my brother—"

Song Qinian: "...That bowl was for your dad! You little brat!"

But there was no trace of him—the little troublemaker had already run far away.

The commotion reached upstairs. Seeing him run like he was being chased, Lu Zhiyu knew the kid had been scolded again.

Lu Zhiyu took the bowl of mung bean soup from him and poured half into a separate bowl.

"Drink half, then go take a nap."

"Okay, you drink half too and take a nap afterward."

Lu Zhiyu nodded, "Got it. I’ll finish reading this document and then rest."

Back in his room, Lu Zhishi changed into pajamas and turned up the room temperature slightly.

Chi Chen wasn’t home—he had gone to the company with Chi Yuehang and wouldn’t be back until evening.

Lu Zhishi glanced out from the balcony—the Chi household was quiet, with no one home. All three family members were at work.

Cuddling his big plush rabbit, Lu Zhishi collapsed onto the bed, trying to drift off to sleep.

There were half a month left until the college entrance exam, a little over a month until the high school entrance exam, and a month and a half until final exams.

It wasn’t too long, but not too short either—time always seemed to fly by unnoticed.

Starting a week before the college entrance exam, Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen stopped going to school and gradually brought their belongings home.

Having promised Lu Zhishi earlier that they’d leave their materials and school supplies for him, Chi Chen brought everything to Lu Zhishi’s room.

"Everything’s here." "Great, I’ll make good use of it all." Lu Zhishi didn’t mess with it but placed it beside his desk to use later, to avoid making a mess.

Lu Zhiyu was moving his things in, working up a sweat in the heat. "You want my stuff, and Chi Chen's too? Can you even use it all?"

"I'll use it slowly, soaking up some of the academic genius vibes."

Lu Zhiyu loved hearing that. "Just let me know if you run out."

On the evening of the exam day, there was a graduation dinner. Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen left in the late afternoon, bringing along some graduation gifts.

Plus-ones were allowed at the dinner. Lu Zhiyu originally wanted to bring Lu Zhishi along, but Lu Zhishi declined.

"I don’t really know the seniors, so I’d rather not go."

Lu Zhishi tended to be socially anxious around people he didn’t know well—polite but distant and quiet.

"Alright, we’ll bring you something tasty when we get back," Lu Zhiyu said, not pushing further.

Lu Zhishi walked him and Chi Chen out, chattering away, "Don’t drink too much, or you’ll get a headache later."

Lu Zhiyu urged him, "Got it, head back inside. It’s still hot out."

Chi Chen added, "You should go back."

Watching the car drive away, Lu Zhishi went back inside to wash his hands and eat. He had a lot on his mind, and he didn’t have much of an appetite.

Song Qinian sighed. "We know you’re close with your brothers, but they’re just going out for a meal. They’ll be back tonight."

Lu Zhishi shook his head. "It’s not about them. I just don’t have much appetite."

His parents exchanged a glance. Lu Tingan reached out to check his forehead.

"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Lu Tingan was worried he might have heatstroke. The weather in City A had been extremely hot lately, making even short outings uncomfortable.

Song Qinian took out his phone. "Eat what you can for now. I’ll have someone bring over some hawthorn juice tomorrow to help with your appetite."

Lu Zhishi said, "Dad, some sour plum juice too, please."

"Sure, we’ll get some sour plum juice," Song Qinian nodded. It was good that the little one had something he wanted to eat or drink—better than having no appetite at all.

After barely managing half a bowl of rice, Lu Zhishi drank a bowl of bone broth but couldn’t eat anymore. He went to the living room to watch some TV.

As the temperature dropped after dark, Lu Zhishi fetched his watering can and small shovel to water the cabbages.

—Every day, he was the diligent little gardener Lu.

After watering, he stopped by the Chi family’s house. When he returned, he took a shower, dried his hair, and settled down to do homework.

He had class the next day.

But as he worked, his mind kept wandering. The thoughts swirling in his head made him uneasy, torn over a certain idea.

He couldn’t remember where he’d read it… Unrequited possessiveness, once spoken aloud, becomes nothing but awkwardness and trouble.

Lu Zhishi rested his chin in his hands, his brows furrowed, his eyes full of melancholy.

Is this what liking someone always feels like?

Did Dad feel like this before?

No wonder people in TV dramas go crazy over unrequited love.

...

At the balcony at the end of the hotel corridor, Chi Chen stepped out for some fresh air, looking at his phone as he sent a message.

Lu Zhishi usually went to bed between 9 and 10 p.m. Since he had class the next day, he’d likely go to bed earlier, around 9:30.

There weren’t many snacks suitable before bed, but peach yogurt was one. Chi Chen ordered two, planning to pick them up on the way home.

Lu Zhiyu had mentioned bringing back something tasty, but it was getting late. Lu Zhishi would probably have to wait until the next day to have it.

Putting his phone away, Chi Chen looked up at the distant night sky and the crescent moon.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw a sweet piece of cheesecake.

Small now, but who knew—if he wasn’t careful, someday when he least expected it, it might be taken away by someone else…

The mere thought made him feel restless and irritated. Chi Chen closed his eyes, his long lashes casting faint shadows.

With a curfew at home, Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen didn’t stay out too late. After three penalty drinks, they said their goodbyes and left.

Tipsy and uncomfortable, Chi Chen rubbed his temples.

Lu Zhiyu had drunk more than him. His alcohol tolerance was slightly better, and during dinner, he’d even covered for Chi Chen for a couple of drinks.

"I’m done for. With alcohol tolerance like this, how am I supposed to handle social events in the future?" Lu Zhiyu, drunk, was even chattier than usual.

Already a big talker, he became even more verbose—Lu Zhishi took after him in that way…

A little chatterbox.

Chi Chen chuckled softly, a smile tugging at his lips.

"My dear little brother, what will he do when I go off to school…"

"He’s such a crybaby too. When I leave for school, he’ll cry again…"

"Chi Chen, you have to help look after him. He’s still so childlike—I worry about him…"

"And my dads, they’re so far away. If anything happens, remember to call me…"

Chi Chen was the only brother he could truly rely on. Lu Zhiyu rambled on, perhaps overwhelmed by alcohol and emotion, tears welling in his eyes.

Watching Lu Zhiyu cry until a snot bubble formed, Chi Chen couldn’t hide his disgust. But what could he do? They’d grown up together as brothers…

Extremely reluctantly, he handed Lu Zhiyu a tissue to wipe the snot bubble. His crying only made Chi Chen’s headache worse as he guided him toward the car.

"Got it, don’t worry."

The drunk man was a handful. Chi Chen helped him into the car and told the driver to stop by to pick up the ordered yogurt.

Lu Zhiyu had wanted to buy something, but he was too drunk. Chi Chen bought snacks and milk for him.

Back in the car, Lu Zhiyu moaned and groaned, likely from a throbbing headache. Seeing Chi Chen return, he tried to speak again.

Chi Chen stopped him. "Just sleep. Don’t talk, or you’ll get dizzy."

Lu Zhiyu fell silent, leaning back in his seat with closed eyes, his breathing gradually steadying.

"I remember your alcohol tolerance wasn't that bad. You don’t usually act so careless."

Chi Chen thought for a moment before he figured it out.

The nap helped a little, but his head was still dizzy and aching. Lu Zhiyu rubbed his temples and said, "I don't know who it was, but they mixed red, white, and beer together. I didn’t notice and just drank it..."

Yeah, that explains it, he said.

The alcohol was hitting harder now, and Chi Chen also closed his eyes, no longer speaking.

From beside him, Lu Zhiyu muttered, "Don’t tell anyone about my embarrassing moment just now..."

Chi Chen couldn’t hold back a laugh. Now he’s embarrassed? Just a moment ago, he was crying and shouting, almost wiping his snot on Chi Chen, nearly ruining their bromance.

"Got it, I won’t say anything."

When they got home, Chi Chen helped Lu Zhiyu out of the car. After having a bowl of hangover soup at the Lu family’s house, he went home.

Chi Yuehang had also made hangover soup and was waiting for him in the living room. Chi Chen drank another bowl before going upstairs.

The first thing he did upon returning to his room was take a shower. After a cold shower, he felt much more clear-headed.

Holding the gift box on the bedside table, Chi Chen sat on the edge of the bed. Droplets from his damp hair fell onto the diamond watch inside the box, and he gently wiped them away.

It was a black watch, with scattered black diamonds on the face—simple yet luxurious, and it must’ve cost a fortune. He wondered how long Lu Zhishi had saved up for it.

"Silly..."

Sneezing repeatedly, Lu Zhishi rubbed his nose, wondering who was talking about him.

He wrung out a hot towel and gently wiped Lu Zhiyu’s face.

Lu Zhiyu whined, "Be gentle, be gentle, it hurts..."

Lu Zhishi snorted, "Good, it should hurt. Maybe you’ll learn your lesson—don’t drink just anything without knowing what it is."

Chi Chen had already explained the situation when he brought Lu Zhiyu back.

The mixed drinks were highly potent, and Lu Zhiyu had drunk them without even knowing what they were.

"Maybe it’s good practice. You’ll have to socialize and drink in the future anyway..."

Lu Zhishi slowed his movements as he wiped Lu Zhiyu’s face. "When I grow up, I’ll go out with you and be your designated driver."

Lu Zhiyu laughed. "You? No way. I can tell without even looking that your alcohol tolerance is terrible."

Lu Zhishi didn’t argue. His tolerance probably wasn’t great—in both his lives, he’d hardly drunk any alcohol.

After finishing with Lu Zhiyu’s face, there was no movement for a while. Lu Zhishi thought he had fallen asleep and was about to leave quietly when he heard Lu Zhiyu speak: "You’re not allowed to date before you turn 18, got it?"

Why bring this up out of the blue? Lu Zhishi was puzzled but nodded anyway. "I know, brother..."

Lu Zhiyu gave a soft "mm" and fell silent again.

Perhaps because something was on his mind, Lu Zhishi stuck around for a while instead of leaving. He sat on the edge of the bed and made small talk, beating around the bush before finally asking, "Did a lot of people hit on you today?"

"Yeah..."

"So, do you and Brother Chi Chen have significant others?" Lu Zhishi asked, pretending to be curious.

Lu Zhiyu opened his eyes. "No. It’s all about chemistry."

Lu Zhishi nodded.

"Like I said, you’re still young. All you need to do is eat well, sleep well, study hard, and be happy. Don’t worry about anything else."

Lu Zhiyu closed his eyes again but reached out to mess up Lu Zhishi’s curls.

"With me and Dad around, all you need to do is be happy. Don’t worry about anything."

"Mm..." Lu Zhishi nodded, leaning into Lu Zhiyu’s hand.

Though the two of them argued all the time, an older brother was still an older brother. His touch carried steadiness and ease, with a gentleness that seemed to come from deep down.

...

After the gaokao, Lu Zhishi continued with school, while Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen were made to get their driver’s licenses.

By the time they finished, Lu Zhishi was already on summer break.

Finally, their free time matched up, but Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen started their internships at the company, leaving Lu Zhishi home alone again.

Lu Zhiyu put on his suit and fixed his tie, glancing at Lu Zhishi in the mirror. "If you’re bored, come with us to the office."

Lu Zhishi’s body reacted faster than his words—he shook his head hard. "No, no, I’m not going."

"If you’re not going, stay home and be good. Don’t go out fishing, or Dad will tan your hide."

Lu Zhiyu put on his cufflinks, his gaze fixed warningly on the brat lounging on the sofa.

"Got it, got it. I won’t go alone."

Not daring to meet his eyes, Lu Zhishi stood up to get his watch for him.

He specifically chose the watch he’d given Lu Zhiyu as a graduation gift—a gray one with small diamonds, very elegant. He hoped his annoying brother would cut him some slack after receiving such a gift.

Taking the watch, Lu Zhiyu still flicked him on the head, annoyed.

"Don’t think I didn’t catch what you really meant. 'Not going alone'—so if you go with Grandpa, that’s two people, and it’s okay, right?"

"Hey!" Lu Zhishi clutched his head.

"Don’t be dramatic. I didn’t use much force." Even as he said it, Lu Zhiyu rubbed his head. "Does it really hurt?"

Lu Zhishi’s expression shifted, and he broke into a grin. "Just kidding."

Lu Zhiyu: "..."

Biting back a comeback, Lu Zhiyu added a few more warnings. "Don’t go out. It’s way too hot—you could get heatstroke."

"I know, I know."

It was almost time to leave for work, and he was still talking. Lu Zhishi was getting impatient for him.

"Come on, you’re gonna be late. Dad left already."

Lu Zhiyu started to say something else but stopped, letting Lu Zhishi push him out the door.

Lu Zhishi shut his car door for him and waved. "See ya, bro."

Lu Zhiyu was speechless.

Lu Zhishi then waved at Song Qinian and Lu Tingan in the other car. "Bye, Dad. See you this afternoon."

Lu Tingan nodded. Song Qinian got into the car and waved from the window. "Don’t go causing trouble at home."

Watching the two Maybachs drive away one after another until they were out of sight, Lu Zhishi trudged back inside.

It really was a bit boring at home.

He worked on his summer homework for a while, then went to the gym to work out, worked up a sweat, feeling all gross and sticky.

Lu Zhishi went back to his room to take a shower, then came downstairs to the living room to watch a movie while drinking strawberry milk and chewing on spicy-sour konjac snacks.

He wasn’t hungry for lunch. Not wanting to cook or have food delivered, he changed clothes and went out to the supermarket in the community to buy a pack of instant noodles.

Spicy beef flavor—he added the seasoning packet, poured hot water, and his mouth watered.

So freaking good!!

Song Qinian, after finishing work, was about to head to the Lu Corporation to have lunch with his wife and kid. While waiting for the elevator, he checked the home security cameras to see what his younger son was up to.

And then...

Song Qinian: "..."

The elevator doors opened and closed. The secretary next to him observed his boss’s expression. When the doors opened again, he asked, "Sir, are you still going down?"

"Yes, go ahead and grab lunch too."

Song Qinian put away his phone and hurried over to Lu Tingan’s side, eager to have lunch and rest.

That troublesome little rascal—as soon as the parents were away, he was up to something again at home.

But as long as he was just fooling around at home with the air conditioning on, it was fine. At least he wasn’t out roaming the streets.

After his nap, Lu Zhishi had a bit of a stomachache—probably from the combination of instant noodles, konjac snacks, and milk.

He took two pills and rested for a bit, then went out to the balcony to check the weather. It had turned from sunny to overcast.

Perfect!!

Lu Zhishi immediately excitedly packed up his things, slung his big fishing rod over his shoulder, and bounced out the door.

He hopped on his bicycle, swung by to get Zhao Xiaoxing at the Zhao residence, and the two excitedly made their way to the old villa district.

"Zhao Xiaoxing, dude, you’re getting heavy."

Lu Zhishi struggled to pedal, gritting his teeth as he stood up to push harder. The bicycle inched forward just half a meter.

A small scooter passed by, and the young rider turned back to look at them a few times, let out a laugh, and rode off slowly into the distance.

Lu Zhishi: "..."

He turned back to look at Zhao Xiaoxing. "What did he mean by that?"

Zhao Xiaoxing: "He was laughing at us."

Lu Zhishi was furious.

That did it. He gripped the handlebars tightly and pedaled with all his might—

The bicycle... barely moved another half-meter.

Lu Zhishi: "..."

Zhao Xiaoxing: "..."

Zhao Xiaoxing got off the bicycle and muttered awkwardly, "How about I ride?"

Lu Zhishi didn’t trust his skills, but he was too tired and willing to give him a chance.

Ten minutes later, the bicycle was moving forward, but wasn’t this swerving all over the place a bit dangerous?

"See, you should trust my skills," Zhao Xiaoxing said proudly. "Hold on tight, I’m speeding up—let’s go!!"

Hanging onto Zhao Xiaoxing’s waist with one hand, the other firmly gripping two fishing rods, with two buckets hanging from his arms and a backpack on his back, Lu Zhishi had a bad feeling.

Though the bike swayed, they managed to ride steadily to the old villa district. Lu Zhishi let out a sigh of relief.

Zhao Xiaoxing turned his head, let go of one hand, pointed his thumb at himself, and grinned. "See, my skills aren’t so bad—yikes!!"

Before he could finish the word "bad," the bicycle hit something and suddenly began to wobble violently.

In a blur, Lu Zhishi felt himself flying for a moment...

"..." Crawling out of the hedges, adjusting his helmet, Lu Zhishi wiped his face and felt his collar, plucking out a couple leaves.

"Zhao Qixing, I should’ve known better than to trust you..." He had relaxed too soon. Lu Zhishi was speechless.

Zhao Xiaoxing also emerged from the hedges nearby, straightening his crooked helmet and patting his clothes, dust falling off.

Sheepish, he said, "It wasn’t on purpose. I didn’t know what we hit."

Looking back, they found a large, inconspicuous chunk of rubble that was hard to notice.

The bicycle must have hit it and tipped over. Well, of all the luck—they had to run into that.

Exchanging a look, the two sorry buddies helped each other up, their clothes dirty and messy, looking utterly a complete mess.

The bicycle’s handlebars were bent and couldn’t be fixed, so they left it there for the security guard to pick up later.

Limping to the fishing lake, they found no one else around. Of course—who else would go fishing in such hot weather?

"Please, have a seat," Zhao Xiaoxing eagerly unfolded a small stool, set up a large umbrella, and laid out mung bean soup and a cooling fan.

Lu Zhishi didn’t hesitate and sat right down, assembling his fishing rod, baiting the hook, and casting the line.

Zhao Xiaoxing set up next to him, sat down, and started fishing as well.

It had been a long time since they’d been out. Lu Zhishi fished until almost dark before heading home. He didn’t catch many fish, but he netted quite a few with his net.

He dropped off a fish for each of his four grandparents’ homes, one for the Zhao and Lin family grandparents, and even the Chi and Bai family grandparents received their share.

Lu Zhishi packed up the remaining fish, carried a load of snacks given by the grandparents, and caught a ride home with Zhao Xiaoxing.

They parted ways at the intersection, each carrying a bag of fish back to their own homes.

Knowing he might get scolded, Lu Zhishi played it smart and went to the Chi family first to deliver the fish, while also trying to scope things out.

He had just arrived at the door when Chi Chen came out.

The little one’s clothes were messy, his hair disheveled—who knows where he’d been, but he looked a bit disheveled overall.

Yet his eyes were bright, and seeing Chi Chen come out, he said cheerfully, "Brother, I caught so many fish. I’ll make soup for you."

Chi Chen’s heart melted a little. He stepped down, took the bag from Lu Zhishi’s hand, and held his hand, leading him inside. "Come in and wash your hands."

With his hand held, Lu Zhishi’s heartbeat quickened. He changed the subject, asking, "My dad isn’t mad, is he?"

Chi Chen paused for a moment before saying, "Just lay low at my place."

"No need to hide."