Chapter 49: Chapter 49 “Welcome to S City.”…

Chapter 49

"Welcome to S City."

What is awkwardness?

It's exactly what Lu Zhishi was experiencing right now—face flushed bright red, head lowered, not daring to meet Chi Chen's gaze.

Just half an hour ago, he was lying about watching TV at home, only to be caught red-handed. And half an hour later, the very person he lied to was standing right in front of him.

Lu Zhishi just wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.

"What's wrong? Your Brother Xiao Chen came to see you, and you're not happy?"

Song Qinian sat on the nearby sofa reviewing documents, glancing up at Lu Zhishi, then at Chi Chen, who had rushed back through the light snow.

Finally, he glanced at Zhao Xiaoxing, who was secretly amused.

Lu Zhishi nodded, his cheeks turning even redder. "Happy, happy..."

Chi Chen lowered his gaze, quietly observing Lu Zhishi’s bowed head and reddened ears. Without a word, he pulled up a chair and sat down.

He said to Song Qinian, who was busy with work, "Uncle Song, please go back to your work. I’ll take them home."

After seeing Song Qinian off, Chi Chen returned to his chair and sat silently, waiting for their IVs to finish.

The ward was quiet. Zhao Xiaoxing quietly pulled the covers over himself, pretending to be asleep.

Noticing this out of the corner of his eye, Lu Zhishi also quietly slipped under the blankets. When feeling awkward, one always wants to hide—thankfully, there were covers to burrow into.

Seeing their furtive movements, Chi Chen merely raised his eyes briefly without saying a word, then turned up the room temperature a little.

Estimating they had fallen asleep, Chi Chen quietly stood up, took out two warm packs, and tucked them into their hands—the ones with IV needles still attached, exposed outside the blankets.

Lu Zhishi’s eyelashes fluttered. He cautiously cracked open one eye, only to unexpectedly meet Chi Chen’s dark, penetrating gaze.

Lu Zhishi: "..."

Lu Zhishi silently closed his eyes, stopped breathing, and pretended nothing had happened.

Chi Chen: "..."

Chi Chen raised his hand, gently covering Lu Zhishi’s eyes, and said softly, "Sleep."

His cheeks began to flush again. Lu Zhishi kept his eyes tightly shut, knowing without looking that his face and ears were completely red.

He faintly heard a soft chuckle, but it might have been his imagination. Too afraid to open his eyes again, Lu Zhishi avoided the risk of meeting Chi Chen’s gaze.

Lying under the covers for a while, drowsiness naturally set in. Lu Zhishi’s consciousness grew heavier, as if sinking into deep water, the faint sounds around him slowly fading away.

When someone woke him again, Lu Zhishi was still waking up. A sudden pain shot through the back of his right hand—a large hand was pressing down on his IV site.

"Awake?"

Lu Zhishi blinked, slowly sitting up. He held his own hand and looked around.

A doctor was nearby, giving instructions. Chi Chen stood beside him, listening quietly, a bag with medicine in his lowered hand.

Zhao Xiaoxing had woken earlier and was sitting on his bed looking dazed, left hand pressed over the back of his right hand, still groggy.

After packing up and returning home, Lu Zhishi and Zhao Xiaoxing sat facing each other at the dining table. In front of each was a bowl of vegetable and lean meat porridge and a bowl of chicken soup.

"Take your medicine after eating, then go upstairs for a nap," Chi Chen said, taking off his apron and sitting at the head of the table with a bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of him.

Neither had much appetite, but the pressure from the watchful gaze was too intense. Lu Zhishi and Zhao Xiaoxing forced themselves to finish the porridge, then slowly sipped the chicken soup.

After watching them take their medication, Chi Chen allowed them to go upstairs for their nap.

For the next two days, Chi Chen accompanied them to the hospital for IVs.

Zhao Xiaoxing recovered quickly. After the second day’s IV, he was almost back to normal. On the third day, only Lu Zhishi needed to go to the hospital for his final IV.

The routine was the same: get the IV inserted, wait, then wake up to have it removed.

As Lu Zhishi left the hospital after finishing his IV, he pulled down his mask and took a deep breath, only to cough again after inhaling the cold air.

"Cough, cough..."

Frowning, Chi Chen pulled a thermos from his coat pocket, unscrewed the cap, and gave him a few sips of warm water.

Once Lu Zhishi had recovered, Chi Chen adjusted his mask and guided him by the arm to the car.

"Brother, are we going to the supermarket later?"

"No."

Lu Zhishi sighed. "Alright. I kind of feel like eating something sour. My mouth tastes bland."

Chi Chen glanced at him in the passenger seat without replying. When the car reached the supermarket in their complex, he got out and returned with a pack of lemon-flavored throat lozenges.

"Lemon throat lozenges work too," Lu Zhishi said, a bit reluctantly accepting them. He popped two out and put them into his mouth.

He tilted his head to look at Chi Chen. "Brother, do you want some?"

Chi Chen initially wanted to say no, but seeing the outstretched hand, he opened his mouth and accepted one.

It was very sour. After the sourness faded, a light sweetness followed, with a refreshing minty coolness that soothed the throat.

Chi Chen cooked lunch—clear broth noodles for both of them.

The flavor was mild, but the portions were generous and filling. Lu Zhishi ate until full.

The weather had been fine when they returned, but now it was drizzling, pattering lightly against the large windows like a winter symphony.

Lu Zhishi held a cup of warm water, pulled up a small sofa, and settled into it by the window to watch the rain.

If Chi Chen hadn’t forbidden it, he would have gone to the small balcony on the first floor—there, without glass in the way, sitting under the eaves, he could clearly see the rain falling.

Chi Chen brought another sofa beside him. Chi Chen sat to his right, also holding a cup of hot tea.

Chi Chen was usually busy, either studying or working. It was rare to have time like this to sit together, drinking tea and watching the rain. Lu Zhishi’s happiness was evident on his face.

"Brother Xiao Chen, is it going to rain all day?"

"Yes."

"Will it rain for several days? I want to watch the rain tomorrow too."

"It will. It's going to rain for several days." "Brother, how do you know?"

"The weather forecast said so."

Lu Zhishi's eyes curved into a smile. He took a few sips of hot water, and though the cup hid his upturned lips, it couldn’t conceal the mirth in his eyes.

Chi Chen didn’t know what he was laughing about this time, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted into a slight curve.

As Chi Chen had said, the winter rain fell off and on for several days. Even on New Year’s Day, it was misty and drizzly. Lu Zhishi, still recovering from his cold, stayed home the whole time without going out.

When Monday came and it was time to return to school, Lu Zhishi and Zhao Xiaoxing got a lot of enthusiastic concern from their classmates. Besides that, they also received a mountain of exam papers.

Chi Chen had gone back to school a few days earlier. His studies kept him busy, as freshman year had many courses.

Especially as the end of the semester approached, there was not only a lot of homework waiting but also the need to make time to review for exams.

Despite this, he still drove home every Friday, worked during the day, tutored Lu Zhishi in the evenings, and then drove back to school on weekend nights.

University winter break started earlier than middle school. By the time Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen had started their winter break, Lu Zhishi was still taking weekly exams.

By the time he finished his finals and started his vacation, Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen had already been working at the company for half a month. Even Zhao Xiaoyun had returned from abroad to work.

"Hurry up and finish your winter break homework. Once we go to our uncle’s for New Year’s, you won’t want to do it anymore."

Lu Zhiyu urged him to take advantage of the free time at home during the break to finish his homework quickly. Otherwise, once they went to S City, he’d definitely go wild playing and end up rushing to finish his homework right before school started.

"The break just started, I’ll do it in a couple of days. Right now, I need to rest properly."

"You said the same thing last year." Lu Zhiyu didn’t believe him.

Lu Zhishi protested, "Last year, before New Year’s, I finished all my homework."

"Fine, then finish it before New Year’s."

Lu Zhishi promised, "Got it, I’ll definitely finish it."

He looked at the clock and urged Lu Zhiyu to head to work. "You’re going to be late, hurry up."

After seeing him off to the car, Lu Zhishi closed the door for him and watched as two black cars drove away one after the other.

Hearing the sound of a door closing behind him, Lu Zhishi turned around, his eyes lighting up.

"Brother Xiao Chen, you haven’t left yet?"

Chi Chen nodded. "Yeah, I woke up late today."

Lu Zhishi ran over and opened the car door for him. "Please get in."

The door was open, but Chi Chen didn’t get in. Instead, he bent down, grabbed Lu Zhishi’s hand, and held it. It was very cold.

"Go back inside. It’s cold out."

The warmth from Chi Chen's hand spread through his, right to his heart. Lu Zhishi answered absentmindedly, "I’m going back now…"

Watching him wander inside in a daze, Chi Chen finally got into the car and slowly drove out of the villa area.

Lu Zhishi excitedly jumped onto the bed and rolled around.

If Lu Zhiyu had been there, he would have seen his dear brother wriggling around on the quilt like a plump caterpillar in a cabbage.

After wriggling for a bit, he deflated. Lu Zhishi flipped over and lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Ugh, when will I finally grow up…"

Two days before New Year’s Eve, Lu Zhishi rushed to finish the pile of winter break homework.

This year, they were going to S City for New Year’s. All eight family members were going. Even though no one would be home for the New Year, they still had to thoroughly clean the house and hang up Spring Festival couplets and lanterns.

They had asked the housekeeper to clean in advance, so the house was spotless. Song Qinian and Lu Tingan had picked out many styles of Spring Festival couplets and lanterns online.

Noticing the novel designs, Chi Yuehang also asked for the links.

"A little more to the right, just a bit more…"

"Fat Cheese, I feel like it’s getting more and more crooked." Following his instructions, Lu Zhiyu held the Spring Festival couplets and moved them to the right, but the more he adjusted, the more off it felt.

Lu Zhishi took two steps back. "Brother, it’s just your imagination."

Lu Zhiyu secretly shifted a little to the left, then a bit more. "I still think it’s crooked."

"It’s not crooked." Lu Zhishi looked left and right, then spotted Chi Chen, who had come over from the Chi family to borrow tape. He grabbed his arm and asked for his opinion:

"Brother Xiao Chen, come take a look. Isn’t it straight?"

"…" Chi Chen looked at the top of the Spring Festival couplets, then shifted his gaze downward to the bottom.

After a moment, he said, "When you hang Spring Festival couplets, do you only care about the top and not the bottom?"

"Huh?"

Lu Zhishi moved closer to his side, tilted his head, and looked. It seemed, maybe, possibly…

The top and bottom really weren’t aligned.

"Sigh, it’s just my brother and me hanging the Spring Festival couplets. Someone needs to check from a distance to see if they’re straight, but no one’s at the bottom to straighten them out."

After saying this, Lu Zhishi glanced up at Chi Chen and let out an exaggerated sigh.

Chi Chen: "…"

Chi Chen: "Then, should I help you check?"

"Great, great!" Lu Zhishi immediately dropped his sighing act. "You hang them, and I’ll straighten them out from below. Let my brother check."

Lu Zhiyu turned around. "Wait, just like that, I’ve been assigned a new role?"

Lu Zhishi pretended not to hear, took the Spring Festival couplets from him, and waited with shining eyes for Chi Chen to step in.

Lu Zhiyu: "…"

Lu Zhiyu: "You little brat!!"

Grumbling, Lu Zhiyu walked over to where Chi Chen was standing, crossed his arms, and said, "Alright, let’s begin."

Chi Chen took the Spring Festival couplets from Lu Zhishi, his gaze lingering on the doorframe as he judged the distance.

Lu Zhishi crouched on the ground, holding the bottom of the couplets, adjusting them while listening to Lu Zhiyu’s instructions.

"A little to the left… too much, now a bit to the right, just a little!!"

"Okay, that’s it… Fat Cheese, now move just a tiny bit more to the left…"

After hanging the Spring Festival couplets, Lu Zhishi was sweating all over. He reached out to touch his back—it was radiating heat.

He unzipped his down jacket, letting some of the heat dissipate, but he still felt hot.

“Don’t take off your down jacket. Go back inside.” Chi Chen grabbed Lu Zhishi’s hand as he was about to remove his coat, held him by the collar, and dragged him inside before closing the door.

Song Qinian and Lu Tingan were hanging lanterns inside the house and had decorated the rooms with many Chinese knots. The bright red decorations created a really festive feeling for the New Year.

After borrowing the adhesive, Chi Chen went back home. In the evening, the two families had a meal together, an early New Year celebration, since the Lu family of eight would be leaving for S City the next day.

After dinner, Chi Yuehang and Bai Yansheng each took out two red envelopes and gave them to Lu Zhiyu and Lu Zhishi.

“Here are your red envelopes in advance. Happy New Year.”

“I’m already this old and still getting red envelopes?”

Though Lu Zhiyu said this, he couldn’t hide his joy. He carefully placed the envelopes in the pocket of his new clothes, patted it, and said, “Thank you, Uncle Chi, thank you, Uncle Bai! Happy New Year!”

Lu Zhishi was much more direct. Hugging the two red envelopes, he gave them a big kiss and said, “Love you, Uncle Chi, Uncle Bai!”

The four adults couldn’t help but laugh. No child could resist loving red envelopes.

Lu Tingan also took out two thick red envelopes and handed them to Chi Chen. Song Qinian said, “Since we won’t be here for the New Year, we’re giving Xiao Chen his red envelopes early.”

“Thank you, Uncle Song, Uncle Lu.”

Chi Chen pressed his lips together, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his usually calm and composed face.

He took the envelopes, looked them over carefully, and placed them in his coat pocket, patting it just like Lu Zhiyu had.

After dinner, the adults gathered in the living room to chat.

Lu Zhishi eagerly ran upstairs to place his red envelopes in his treasure box, storing them carefully just like the ones he’d received before.

The small treasure box had become a big treasure box, getting bigger and bigger. With so many gifts, the small box was no longer enough.

After finding out, Lu Tingan bought him an even bigger treasure box.

From the peace lock and ruyi plaque from his hundred-day celebration to the big red envelopes he received today, the treasure box was filled to the brim with Lu Zhishi’s most important treasures.

He closed the box, struggled to lift it, and placed it at the very bottom of his wardrobe.

Just as he climbed out from the wardrobe, he heard a knock behind him. Lu Zhishi turned around to look.

Chi Chen stood at the door, his knuckles still raised from knocking. He slowly lowered his hand and walked in.

“Why were you climbing into the wardrobe?”

“Because I was hiding my treasures.”

Perhaps amused by this, a hint of a smile appeared in Chi Chen’s composed eyes, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

“Then here’s one more treasure.” He took a red envelope from his pocket, reached out, and handed it to Lu Zhishi.

Lu Zhishi looked down at the big red envelope, his mouth slightly agape, then looked up into Chi Chen’s eyes. “For me?”

“Mm, Happy New Year.”

Lu Zhishi’s lips curled up uncontrollably. He took it with both hands, his eyes bright.

Resisting the urge to kiss the red envelope, he stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Chi Chen’s waist, buried his face in his chest, and nuzzled against him. His voice was clear and cheerful: “Thank you, Brother Xiao Chen! Happy New Year!”

“I’m going to put this treasure under my pillow!”

Pulling away from Chi Chen’s embrace, Lu Zhishi clutching the red envelope, eagerly ran to the bed. He lifted the pillow and carefully placed the envelope right in the middle under the pillow.

Watching Lu Zhishi pat the pillow with delight, Chi Chen suddenly remembered something he’d seen online:

‘Should I put my favorite thing under my pillow?’

‘Yes, because it’s the most important. I want it to accompany me in my dreams.’

“Brother Xiao Chen?”

Lu Zhishi tilted his head, looking into Chi Chen’s eyes. He called out twice but got no response, so he couldn’t help but wave a hand in front of his face.

Chi Chen instinctively grabbed the hand waving in front of him, then came back to his senses and let go.

“What’s wrong?”

“What were you thinking about?” Lu Zhishi invited him to sit on the sofa in the small living area.

Chi Chen glanced at his eyes, then lowered his gaze. “Nothing.”

Checking the time, Chi Chen turned down the offer and turned to leave the room.

“Xiao Chen, are you going home?”

“Mm, Happy New Year.”

“Do I have a red envelope too?”

Lu Zhiyu’s cheerful voice came from the hallway. Lu Zhishi leaned against the doorframe and poked his head out, only to see Chi Chen’s tall, slender back.

“You really are my bro, we’re on the same wavelength. I have a red envelope for you too.” Lu Zhiyu laughed, slung an arm around Chi Chen’s neck, and stuffed a red envelope from his pocket into Chi Chen’s hand.

“Happy New Year.”

From Lu Zhiyu’s angle, he couldn’t tell if Chi Chen was smiling, but he saw him lower his head slightly, his voice carrying a faint tone of laughter.

“Thanks, Happy New Year.”

Watching Chi Chen’s figure disappear down the stairs, Lu Zhishi remained leaning against the doorframe, his lips unconsciously puckering.

If nothing unexpected happened, their next meeting would be in two weeks—which, in the lunar calendar, would be “next year.”

“Still watching?” Lu Zhiyu imitated him, leaning over and poking his head out, resting his chin on Lu Zhishi’s fluffy head.

Their similar faces stacked one on top of the other, their identical peach-blossom eyes blinking. It was hard to say whether it was more amusing or adorable.

Like stacking cats.

“Next time we meet, it’ll be next year.” Lu Zhishi sighed.

“So it’s next year. It’s only a week away.” Lu Zhiyu pinched his soft cheek. “Your brother is here to give you a red envelope.”

Sure enough, Lu Zhishi immediately turned around and threw his arms around Lu Zhiyu’s waist, clinging to him.

“Love you! Stinky brother!”

Lu Zhiyu was totally at his mercy, struggling to hold him up with one hand while the other struggled to pull out a red envelope from his pocket.

"Happy New Year, Fat Cheese."

He said with a laugh, his peach blossom eyes full of tenderness.

Lu Zhishi gave the big red envelope a kiss, then tucked it into his pocket, hugging Lu Zhiyu and burrowing into his chest.

"Brother, I want you to piggyback me!"

Lu Zhiyu chuckled: "Do you think you're still three years old?"

"I don't care, piggyback me!" Lu Zhishi clung to Lu Zhiyu’s neck like a stubborn little bear, hanging onto his back.

"Alright, alright, you win."

Lu Zhiyu bent over, hoisting his clingy little brother onto his back, and walked around the room several times.

"Brother."

"What is it?"

"You’re so good to me."

"Oh, so now you’re not calling me 'Stinky Brother' anymore?" Lu Zhiyu tilted his head to look at him.

Lu Zhishi: "..."

The nice atmosphere was completely ruined!

He sucked his emotional tears right back in, Lu Zhishi jumped down from his back and gave his waist a pinch.

Before Lu Zhiyu could react, he ran off, sat by the bed,拿出红包亲一口, and tucked it under his pillow.

Lu Zhiyu rubbed his pinched waist and noticed another red envelope under the pillow: "Did Xiao Chen give you a red envelope too?"

"Yeah, Brother Xiao Chen gave it to me."

Since Chi Chen had gone home, Lu Zhishi took out his red envelope, gave it a big kiss, and put it back.

Lu Zhiyu: "...That’s gross, Stinky Cheese. You kiss every red envelope you get."

"It’s not gross, it smells nice!"

"Eww~~"

It was another rowdy, fun night, and they went to bed early to rise early.

The next morning, the Lu and Song families, eight people in total, loaded with New Year’s gifts, drove to the airport and made the grand trip to S City.

The Huo family, all six of them, also came out to meet them at the airport. When the two sides met, they didn't get teary-eyed, but the reunion was warm and familiar.

When Lu Zhiyu started school, the four elders from the Lu and Song families had already visited S City, staying for almost two weeks before returning.

Lu Zhiyu, of course, had spent plenty of time at the Huo family’s home for meals and stays while studying there.

Song Qinian and Lu Tingan had both been raised by Huo Rulan when they were young, and Ye Xi and Lu Tingan had also collaborated frequently. So when they met, they were already very familiar.

Lu Zhishi was the one who had visited the least, having only come a few times in his life.

Though he visited infrequently, he made up for it with phone calls.

He regularly called his maternal great-aunt, maternal great-uncle, big uncle, little uncle, older cousin, and younger cousin, one by one.

"Maternal Great-aunt! Maternal Great-uncle!" Lu Zhishi dashed over and hugged them.

"Good boy." Rong Lan hugged him and patted his back, taking a closer look at his face. "Your soft, chubby little face has grown into such a handsome one."

Lu Zhishi hugged her back and said sweetly, "Maternal Great-aunt, you haven’t changed at all. You’re still so beautiful."

This made the elderly lady beam with joy.

Lu Zhishi then went to hug his favorite little uncle: "Little uncle!"

Ye Xi gently patted his head, his warm eyes crinkling with a smile: "Fat Cheese, you’ve grown taller again."

"Now I’m a 168cm-tall Cheese!" Lu Zhishi puffed out his chest proudly.

Ye Xi chuckled. Lu Zhishi then hugged his tall, sturdy big uncle: "Big uncle, it’s been so long!"

"Yes, it’s been a month already." Huo Rulan patted his shoulder, pretending to scold him: "You usually only call your little uncle."

Lu Zhishi laughed: "Calling little uncle is the same as calling you!"

While he was still talking to Huo Rulan, a tall, handsome young man came over eagerly, asking, "Is it my turn yet? Is it my turn?"

Huo Rulan smiled and patted Lu Zhishi’s head, saying, "Your older cousin has been waiting for you for a long time, really looking forward to seeing you."

Lu Zhishi knew that ever since Lu Zhiyu started school, both of his cousins had wanted to see him.

The last time they met was back in third grade—it felt like ages ago.

"Cousin Jingxing!" Lu Zhishi spread his arms and hugged the young man in front of him.

Huo Jingxing hugged his dear younger cousin and swayed him gently, his eyes full of joy: "How did you recognize me?"

The twins looked exactly alike, even their height was the same. If they deliberately made the same expression, even those familiar with them might not be able to tell them apart.

Lu Zhishi giggled: "Because Older Cousin Chenan is very quiet and wouldn’t ask, 'Is it my turn yet?'"

This made the surrounding adults laugh, and Huo Jingxing’s ears turned slightly red. The young man next to him, who looked exactly the same, also smiled faintly.

Lu Zhishi laughed too, stepping forward to hug him and calling out, "Cousin Chenan!"

"Fat Cheese." Huo Chenan bent down to hug his long-lost younger cousin, chuckling softly: "Welcome to S City."