Chapter 25 A-25

Chapter 25

"Sorry, my brother is into girls."

It was Yun Xiu who spoke. Ignoring Yun He's suddenly darkening gaze, he cheerfully deflected this romantic overture on behalf of his second brother.

Yun Qian was taken aback, clearly not expecting Yun Xiu to refuse for him. Yet, whether he preferred boys or girls, even he himself wasn't entirely sure.

To date, he hadn't met anyone who both caught his eye and made him want to pursue a relationship.

Therefore, Yun Qian nodded, playing along: "Sorry, I don't have any plans to date for now."

"My apologies for disturbing you."

The young man left, looking disappointed.

He had been dining at the adjacent table and overheard the youth call one person "second brother" and another "brother," assuming it was a family outing with the younger brother's boyfriend. Such a family dynamic suggested an openness to homosexuality, which emboldened him to approach.

Turns out he prefers girls after all—one can't force sexual orientation.

What a pity, though; this family was so exceptionally good-looking. Living with them would surely extend one's lifespan.

After the young man departed, Mother Yun propped her chin in her hand and asked, gossiping, "Xiao Qian, you like girls?"

She and her husband had been retired for many years but still maintained connections with old friends. They had heard all sorts of family secrets and rumors, giving them a general understanding of each family's children. If Yun Qian liked girls, they could certainly help with introductions.

Of course, everything depended on the child's wishes.

Yun Qian's face flushed crimson. Unaccustomed to discussing such matters with his parents, he quickly offered an excuse: "No, no, let's talk about it after I graduate."

After his undergraduate degree, he might pursue a master's, so the "after graduation" excuse could buy him five or six more years.

Having successfully fended off a romantic advance, the main mission finally advanced a small step. In an unusually good mood, Yun Xiu decided to take it easy for a few days—after all, "three years without business, but when business comes, it lasts three years." He planned to enjoy a break and resume tasks after the holiday.

One of the Yun family's properties in North City was nestled atop a mountain, far from the city center yet commanding an incredibly high price.

Both Yun Xiu and the original owner were visiting North City for the first time.

Unlike the modern decor of the Yun home in City A, the North City residence was a classical, traditional-style compound with red walls and gray tiles, featuring three courtyards. Inside and out, verdant pines and cypresses stood silently, while cloud-like white snow made the reds appear more vibrant and the blues deeper.

For room assignments, Father and Mother Yun occupied the main residence, the three brothers stayed in the east wing, and the west wing was reserved for guests.

Given the retro architecture, three people sharing one room would have been cramped. Yun Xiu initially thought they might have to squeeze in, but upon seeing the east wing, he realized it wasn't necessary—the east wing was a two-story pavilion, with one room each, perfectly accommodating them.

It was antique in style, yet not entirely so, retaining the conveniences of modern technology.

Yun He had visited North City before, and his clothes were still in a room on the second floor, so Yun Xiu and Yun Qian chose one of the rooms on the first floor.

Having traveled from City A to North City, even if not utterly exhausted, Mother Yun still sent all three brothers back to their rooms to rest, forbidding them from studying or working privately. Thus, they slept straight until dinner time.

After a dinner featuring North City's distinctive flavors, Yun Xiu was utterly captivated by the thought of soaking in a hot spring.

Thanks to North City's unique geographical location, it maintained temperatures around minus ten degrees Celsius even while much of the country was experiencing intense heat, making it a renowned tourist destination.

However, North City was famous not only for its climate but also for its hot springs—three of the country's top ten famous springs were located there.

Mother Yun was cutting fruit in the kitchen while Yun Xiu hovered around her: "Coming to North City without soaking in a hot spring is a trip wasted! I want to soak in a hot spring—Mom, do you know which hot spring resort is good?"

"Alright, alright, I know you want to soak in a hot spring!" Mother Yun was getting dizzy from his circling; they almost tripped over each other. She said, both amused and annoyed, "No need to go to a resort—we have a hot spring at home, right in the backyard. Didn't your big brother tell you?"

"Probably not." Yun Xiu had slept through most of the journey and couldn't recall what Yun He had said. After a moment of intense recollection, he declared firmly, "Definitely not. I'll go find him now."

Mother Yun watched his retreating figure as he hurried off along the corridor, smiling and shaking her head.

Previously, when Yun Xiu had been determined to marry Yun He, Mother Yun had actually been opposed and worried. It wasn't that she thought Yun He wasn't good enough for Yun Xiu, nor was it a matter of personality.

In her heart, all three sons were equally important. Not interfering in her eldest son's affairs didn't mean she didn't care; she knew better than anyone that Yun He, though appearing aloof, actually cared deeply.

Her reason for opposing their marriage was that the two children were completely incompatible. As brothers, they barely spoke; how could they quickly become close as lovers?

It would be an unhealthy, abnormal marital relationship.

Even after receiving their assurances at lunch, Mother Yun still wasn't at ease.

With Yun He's shrewd and steady personality, he would certainly not let himself be taken advantage of. Yun Xiu was just a college student who hadn't entered society, spoiled by them into being delicate and naive. If he were taken advantage of somewhere, they might not even know.

...

Little did she know, her "naive and delicate" youngest son had taken over his eldest brother's bed and was imperiously demanding that the latter prepare everything needed for the hot spring.

Yun He didn't even lift his eyelids. "Do it yourself."

Yun Xiu lay on the bed, spread out like a starfish, threatening playfully: "No! If you don't help me, I'll tell Mom and Dad you're bullying me!"

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yun Xiu gritted his teeth.

This jerk—aside from what he'd been taught before, he had zero initiative. Those who lack initiative deserve to stay single.

Without much hope, he added, "It's my first time in North City. I don't even know where the hot spring is at home, let alone find the things for it. If you don't help me, I'm sleeping here tonight!"

Yun He hated being threatened most. If it were just the first half, he probably wouldn't have budged. But after hearing the second half, he seemed to find it reasonable. He stood up, took two steps, noticed Yun Xiu wasn't following, and turned back to look down quietly.

Seeing him still frozen, Yun He asked, "Didn't you say you wanted me to take you to the hot spring? Are you coming or not?"

"Coming, coming!" Yun Xiu snapped out of it and leaped off the bed, afraid he'd miss this chance if he hesitated.

Yun He still didn't move, reminding him, "Put your shoes on properly."

Their home had wooden floors with heating, so it was relatively warmer than other places, but outside the room, there was no heating.

The corridor was exposed to the air, and going barefoot still carried a risk of catching a cold.

Yun Xiu had no choice but to return to the bedside and put on his slippers.

Halfway down the stairs, they ran into Yun Qian returning from a walk. Yun Xiu's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically invited, "Second Brother, want to join us for a hot spring?"

Yun Qian also didn't know they had a hot spring at home and thought they were going out. "Heading out now? It just started snowing heavily when I came back, and the forecast says it'll keep up for another hour or two."

Yun Xiu pointed at the man beside him and smiled. "Mom said we have a hot spring at home. Big Brother is taking us."

Yun Qian was tempted. "Then I'll go with you to see where it is, come back to shower, and then go."

Yun Xiu, afraid of the cold, had already showered after dinner. Yun Qian also didn't want to get into the water without showering first—it felt gross.

"No need for that trouble," Yun He said. "There's a bathroom and towels there. No need to go back to your room to shower."

Upon hearing this, Yun Qian's last bit of hesitation vanished, and he followed his elder brother to find the hot spring.

On the surface, this was referred to as a three-courtyard compound, but Yun Qian, having taken a stroll earlier, knew that "three courtyards" only referred to the residential area. Beyond that lay a large complex of buildings. Afraid of getting lost, he hadn’t ventured far before turning back.

He was right. Yun He led them along winding corridors, passing through a moon gate, and suddenly the view opened up. Lush bamboo replaced pine and cypress trees, becoming the main vegetation in this area.

Even without Yun He saying anything, Yun Xiu could already detect a faint sulfur scent. The hot spring had to be nearby.

Yun He stopped at a fork in the path. "The left leads to the outdoor hot spring, the right to the indoor one. Both have flowing water. Take your pick. Snacks and drinks are usually in the fridge—go ahead and grab whatever. I have work to attend to, so I won’t be joining you."

As soon as Yun He left, Yun Qian immediately threw an arm around his younger brother's shoulders and steered him toward the outdoor hot spring.

Yun Xiu was puzzled. "Didn’t you say it was snowing heavily? Why are we going to the outdoor hot spring?"

Yun Qian said with mock seriousness. "The hot spring water is so warm, even heavy snow won’t matter. Haven’t you ever tried soaking in a hot spring while enjoying the snow? Today, your brother will give you that experience."

Yun Xiu had indeed never tried it. Swayed by his second brother’s suggestion, he immediately agreed.

The National Day holiday was only seven days long, and this was the first day. At most, they would have to return by the sixth day. Since Yun Qian went to school out of town, heading back a day early to rest up at home was the smartest move to avoid exhaustion.

It snowed every day in Northern City, and Yun Xiu couldn’t guarantee whether Yun He would join him for a soak in the coming days. If he did, Yun He would surely say something like, "Soaking in a hot spring in the snow is a sure way to catch a cold." Taking advantage of Yun He’s absence tonight, Yun Xiu decided to make the most of it.

Yun Xiu stepped into the water first. His body, chilled from wearing only a towel, was soothed by the warm, nearly hot spring water, and he let out a sigh of contentment.

No wonder his parents stayed in Northern City for three months every year. If he could soak in a hot spring at home every day, he’d be happy to live here year-round!

About three minutes later, Yun Qian walked over briskly.

Yun Xiu glanced at him and counted six-pack abs.

His heart felt as cold as if he’d been killing fish at Da-Run-Fa for ten years—a mere six-pack couldn’t sway his resolve.

In the world of novels, unless specially written, male leads and important male supporting characters were standardly equipped with healthy, capable bodies. Cannon fodder characters like him were only given low-tier versions—scrawny, pale bodies and not a brain cell between them, with only their faces worth looking at.

So annoying.

Yun Qian’s hair was still damp. He dove into the hot spring and swam a couple of laps, and then surfaced, pushing his hair back. He pointed into the distance. "That area over there is the deep end. Be careful if you go there."

Yun Xiu had never heard of a hot spring having a deep end and wondered what the designer had been thinking.

If you’re going to soak in a hot spring, why create a deep end? Wouldn’t it be more convenient to build a swimming pool if you wanted to swim?

Staring at where Yun Qian was, Yun Xiu’s mind wandered, envisioning a pool deeper than the Mariana Trench. Suddenly, an idea struck him—he seemed to have figured out how to set up the male lead.

He looked at Yun Qian and unconsciously gave a sweet smile. Yun Qian, however, misinterpreted it. "Why the flattering smile? Want me to get you a drink? Call me ‘brother,’ and I’ll go."

When Yun Qian leaned in with his messy hair, he looked like a silly husky sticking out its tongue—dignified and cool when not smiling, but gullible and silly when he did.

Yun Xiu rolled his eyes. "You call me ‘brother,’ and I’ll get one for you."

Hearing this, Yun Qian leaned even closer, their shoulders almost touching. "That’s not fair. You call our eldest brother ‘brother,’ so why not me?"

Yun Xiu found it amusing. Wasn’t the difference between "second brother" and "brother" obvious?

His mouth moved faster than his brain. "Because you’re such a goofball!"

Yun Qian’s face instantly darkened. "…"

It was out there now, and there was no taking it back. Yun Xiu coughed lightly and awkwardly changed the subject. "Anyway, I’ll get you a drink. It’s in the fridge, right?"

"Stay put." Yun Qian pressed down on his younger brother’s shoulder to keep him from getting up. Half-scolding, half-resigned, he said, "I’ll go. If you go up and then come back down, you might catch a cold, and big brother would kill me."

The thought made Yun Xiu shudder. If he caught a cold, the one who’d be scolded the most wouldn’t be his second brother—it would be him.

So, he relaxed and enjoyed Yun Qian’s service.

Among the drinks, there was a green grape sparkling water that both he and Yun Qian agreed tasted great. After downing one bottle, they grabbed four more—two each, in blueberry and orange flavors.

That said, perhaps because they had soaked for too long, Yun Xiu began to feel dizzy, and his skin started to itch. "I think I’m feeling a bit lightheaded…"

Yun Qian nodded in agreement. "Me too. We should probably get out soon. If we end up fainting in the hot spring and getting hospitalized, how lame would that be?"

Despite saying this, he made no move to leave.

Just five more minutes!

Five minutes later, he’d take Yun Xiu back to sleep!

But before the five minutes were up, Yun Xiu’s itching intensified. He also felt chest tightness, nausea, and dizziness, overwhelming his urge to scratch. He slumped against the person next to him for support.

With his eyes closed, Yun Xiu tried to speak as loudly as possible. "Ge, I don’t feel well."

He thought he was speaking loudly, but his voice was softer than a kitten’s meow.

Fortunately, Yun Qian heard him. He made a noise in response and turned his head, only to be terrified by what he saw!

Hot spring water is warm, and it’s normal for skin to turn red after soaking for a long time.

Yun Xiu’s skin was delicate and thin. After entering the water, the heat made him blush like peach blossoms in spring—his features gorgeous, his eyes captivating, enough to make anyone’s heart race.

Yun Qian had avoided looking too closely, making a point to look elsewhere. But in the ten minutes he hadn’t paid attention, countless red dots had appeared beneath Yun Xiu’s fair, flushed skin. This was clearly an allergic reaction.

Immediately, Yun Qian didn't even stop for clothes. He swept Yun Xiu up into his arms, wrapped him in two towels, and hurried toward the front courtyard.

Yun Father and Yun Mother were sitting on the living room sofa watching TV when they heard the door burst open. They turned to see a shirtless Yun Qian, pale-faced, rushing in. "Mom, Dad, Xiao Zai seems to be allergic to alcohol! Do we have any medicine at home?!"

Yun Mother’s hand trembled, spilling tea, but she ignored it. Her voice rose in shock and anger. "Yun Qian, have you lost your mind? You know he’s allergic to alcohol, yet you gave him alcohol!"

"Shulan! Why he’s allergic can be asked later! I’ll get the first aid kit. You keep an eye on Xiao Zai, and get Qian a shirt!"

Yun Father gave his wife’s hand a sharp pat, stopping her from saying something hurtful in the heat of the moment.

Yun Mother realized what she had said, and her anger subsided. She almost couldn’t bear to meet Yun Qian’s eyes, afraid of seeing disappointment and hurt in them. "I’m sorry, Qian. I shouldn’t have blamed you outright. I was just so worried about Xiao Zai…"

But Yun Qian didn’t think his mother was wrong.

Although he hadn’t intentionally given his brother alcohol, he was the one who brought the drinks. He also knew about Yun Xiu’s alcohol allergy but had failed to check whether the drinks contained allergens before giving them to him. The fault lay entirely with him.

He had seen the long list of allergens—almost like a menu—and knew alcohol was a level-five allergen for Yun Xiu, causing severe reactions upon contact.

Seeing Yun Xiu lying on the sofa, struggling to breathe with purple lips, Yun Qian was swallowed by deep self-blame.

…

Yun He only found out about the incident when he went to see Yun Father at nine o’clock.

By then, Yun Xiu had taken medication and was much better compared to his initial allergic reaction.

The most dangerous aspect of alcohol allergy is throat edema, which in severe cases can lead to suffocation and subsequently, shock.

Yun He brought over the bottle they had left and placed it on the table. The soft clink of glass against glass drew the attention of everyone in the room.

"A drink with 14% alcohol content, and you two treated it like seltzer? Have you lost your sense of taste?" Yun He’s tone was calm, his eyes reflecting a hint of confusion.

He was simply stating his honest puzzlement, but to Yun Qian, it sounded like an accusation—questioning why he had given alcohol to Yun Xiu.

Without arguing, Yun Qian pressed his lips together and accepted all the responsibility: "This time it was my carelessness. Next time, I’ll double-check anything I give the kid to eat or drink."

Yun Xiu drifted awake, and the first thing he sensed was the tense atmosphere in the room.

His parents weren’t there. His eldest brother had a cold expression, looking somewhat irritated, his eyes almost full of suspicion. His second brother remained silent, seemingly troubled and hesitant to speak.

Yun Xiu felt a flicker of delight—had he accidentally moved the main quest forward?

His original plan was to find an opportunity to invite Yun Qian alone to the hot springs, pretend to accidentally fall into the deep end. Since Yun Qian didn’t know he couldn’t swim, his first reaction wouldn’t be to rescue him, thinking it was just play. By the time Yun Qian realized and tried to save him, it would already be too late—Yun Xiu would have drowned.

The downside of this plan was obvious: the timing had to be precise—too early or too late wouldn’t work. Since his acting wouldn’t fool Yun Qian, he couldn’t avoid the suffering of choking on water.

Then came a wave of sadness.

He and Yun Qian got along quite well. Advancing the main storyline would inevitably strain their relationship, and it seemed unlikely they could ever enjoy such easy camaraderie like last time again.

He sighed.

Yun He and Yun Qian noticed he was awake.

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Yun Xiu felt Yun He was being surprisingly gentle at that moment. "Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Would you like some water?"

Yun Xiu shook his head. "I’m much better now, but my skin is itchy—I really want to scratch it."

Yun He immediately warned him sternly: "Don’t! The itching is from the allergic reaction. Medicine and ointment will help. If you scratch, it might lead to other complications."

Yun Xiu: "..."

Alright, so the gentleness from his eldest brother was just an illusion after all.

As they spoke, Yun Xiu subtly observed Yun Qian’s expression. He noticed Yun Qian’s face growing increasingly gloomy, to the point where he seemed unwilling to even share the same air. Without a word, Yun Qian stood up and left, confirming Yun Xiu’s suspicions.

It seemed settled—no need to drown after all.

Yun Xiu’s tense nerves relaxed. Not wanting to move, he tried recruiting some help on the spot, his words unconsciously carrying a hint of a pleading tone. "Brother, could you carry me back to my room? I don’t have the strength to walk."

Judging by the decor, he was still in the Yun family home, but this room’s style was stark and stifling after a while. He preferred staying in his own room.

Yun He didn’t answer directly but stepped forward, bent down, and lifted him steadily.

Yun Xiu took the chance to wrap his arms around his brother’s neck. As the door opened, a chilly gust rushed in, so he buried his face in the other’s chest.

Yun He chuckled lightly: "Such a baby."

Yun Xiu pretended not to hear. So what if he was delicate?

His brother still dutifully obliged as his chauffeur.

Yun He placed him on the bed and felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Glancing at it, he saw it was an urgent document from Assistant Cen.

From this angle, and since he didn’t deliberately hide it, Yun Xiu—who hadn’t let go—could also see the message.

Yun He: "We’re here. Let go."

Only then did Yun Xiu leisurely release his hold.

Perhaps out of habit from their dynamic, he instinctively gave a criticism followed by a sweet reward, smiling with curved eyes: "Thank you, brother! You're the best! After you finish work, could you buy me some ointment?"

Yun He nodded and reminded him before leaving: "If it itches, just tap it lightly. Don’t use your nails to scratch."

Yun Xiu naturally agreed obediently.

Secretly, he thought: this time buying medicine, next time applying it—surely one day, Yun He would become an excellent nanny, and he could have everything handed to him!

As Yun Xiu lay in bed dreaming sweet dreams, Yun He left the room and closed the door behind him. Turning around, he saw Yun Qian, who had appeared at some point without him noticing, but he wasn’t surprised.

Yun He adjusted his collar, which had been messed up by Yun Xiu. "I thought you weren’t planning to come."

Yun Qian stood in the unlit part of the stairwell, pursed his lips. "I’m the one who caused the kid’s allergy. Right now, he probably doesn’t want to see me."

Yun He neither agreed nor disagreed, his unconsciously protective tone something even he didn’t fully notice. "The kid isn’t that petty. Besides, it wasn’t intentional. If you talk to him properly, he’ll forgive you."

Yun Qian hesitated for a moment but still shook his head. "I brought some anti-itch ointment. Could you apply it for the kid? I remember he had a large patch of red spots on his back. Don’t let him scratch, and don’t tell him the medicine came from me."

The power of genetics is strong—it not only gave Yun Qian strikingly handsome features and helped him find his birth parents, but also passed on the Yun family’s innate obstinacy and difficulty expressing emotions.

Yun He knew it was useless to persuade him, so he didn’t try. Taking the ointment, he reentered Yun Xiu’s room.

Yun Xiu was surprised by how quickly his eldest brother had returned, but he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he asked about Yun Qian and, as expected, got little information.

The second day of the break.

Yun Xiu woke up early for breakfast and walked past Yun Qian repeatedly, but the other never spoke, not even lifting his head to look at him.

Under Yun He’s watchful gaze, he silently returned to his seat and ate properly, sighing to himself with endless emotion.

In life, you can’t always have your cake and eat it too.

To complete the task, it was essential for the whole family to dislike him. Yun Qian was just the first; there were still Yun He, Father and Mother Yun, Grandfather Yun, and a bunch of cousins and siblings to go. He couldn’t abandon the mission for the sake of a little affection in this world—that doesn’t fit with his perfectionist ethos.

Yun Xiu knew he could be stubborn in some ways. Just as he had set up Yun Qian—always harming himself to indirectly implicate the other, never resorting to underhanded methods—he would rather devise convoluted schemes than compromise his conscience.

If any other employee from the Quick Transmigration Bureau had been sent here, the Yun family wouldn’t be so peaceful now.

Since the main task related to the male lead was temporarily complete, it was time to increase his efforts to win over Yun He.

He refused to believe that, after successfully winning Yun He over, if Yun He saw with his own eyes him being cheated on, he wouldn’t exile him. Putting himself in Yun He’s shoes, Yun Xiu felt even he would want to kill someone.

Because this method was so ruthless, Yun Xiu had jolted awake by guilt several times at midnight. But aside from this underhanded trick, he couldn’t think of any better way to make Yun He want to exile him without harming Yun Qian.

Once the task was over, he would spend his credits to exchange for a protective charm for Yun He as compensation.