Chapter 33 Let’s Not Keep the Big Bro

Chapter 33: Let's Ditch Big Brother

The call connected before Yang Yun had figured out what to say. A questioning voice came through the receiver:

"Yang Yun?"

"Why's it you? Where's my Gege?"

"......"

Getting no response, Yang Yun snorted, "Fine then," fidgeted with his phone, and hesitated before saying:

"Big Brother, I'm not sure if I should participate in this event."

"Want to go?"

"A little of both, so I don't know whether to go or not."

"Your choice."

Hearing this, Yang Yun's underlying irritation grew stronger, his voice turning heavier:

"But I don't want to decide for myself."

"......"

"I knew talking to you would be like this. I want my Gege!"

This person needed to have every twist and turn in his heart slowly drawn out, let alone quickly understanding Yang Yun's little thoughts.

Shi Zai repeatedly said, "Gege's right here," softening his voice:

"Our Little Yunbao has never traveled far alone. Are you scared? If you really can't overcome it, then don't go. There will be many opportunities. When Yun Bao is older and braver, you can make up for it then. Not everyone is going to this event, right?"

"...Mm, but only two people aren't going."

Hearing the word "but," Shi Zai understood and laughed:

"Compared to pottery class or an art outing, Yun Bao is the most important. If going would make you scared or unhappy, it's better not to go. Your Big Brother and I would worry too. Yun Bao, don't pay too much attention to external things. Think more about yourself. Yun Bao's happiness is more important than anything."

"I... I'm just a little scared."

"If you want to give it a try, that's fine too. Your Big Brother and I can take you to the dormitory tomorrow, and I can even stay overnight with you. If that still doesn't work, Gege will come to stay with you every evening. It's not too far anyway."

After a moment of silence on the other end, an even softer voice followed:

"Gege gets me best. Gege is the best. Big Brother is so annoying. Let's ditch him and let him be fierce all by himself."

"...Hahahaha, don't say that. Your Big Brother would cry."

"Hmph, don't want to bother with that annoying jerk. Gege, I'll sign up then. I don't need you to stay with me; others would laugh at me. Hehe."

Hanging up, Yang Yun breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much more comfortable. He raised his hand and signed up. Just as he sat down, a boy from across the aisle tossed a small note over. Yang Yun looked at the words "Don't be afraid, I'll keep you company," scribbled over them, and still turned to sit facing the other side.

So annoying. How could there be so many annoying pests?

Looking at the man whose face had darkened at the words "annoying pest," Shi Zai felt like laughing but held back. Oh, this really was something—Shu Yangkuo had just emerged from his self-abandoning mood, only to be disliked like this by his younger brother. Though he didn't show it on his face, Shi Zai knew he was overthinking again.

Shi Zai swung playfully onto his neck, swaying slightly, and blinked:

"Bro, don't sweat it. It's his first time going out and having to stay alone. It's normal for him to be scared. Good thing he told us. Shouldn't we be happy about that? Bro wouldn't want to see him afraid and secretly shedding tears by himself, right?"

"...Mm."

"I feel like Yun Bao is slowly growing up, going through a huge personal growth. It's actually really good. It was heartbreaking to see him always being so obedient and reading people's moods. Bro is the Big Brother. When we get home later, don't refuse to talk to Yun Bao, okay?"

Full of words he wanted to retort with, Shu Yangkuo ultimately only said, "It's always him who ignores people." His heart felt a bit sour—being young meant being unconditionally pitied. Hadn't he always watched others' expressions too?

The person in his arms suddenly laughed. Shu Yangkuo's heart trembled, warm and fuzzy. He lowered his head to touch those big, bright eyes, his own brows and eyes lifting into a smile.

Shi Zai could easily imagine scenes from their past—pink dumpling, angry but not daring to show it like now, ignoring people, avoiding them everywhere. Shu Yangkuo could only tell he was upset but didn't think it was a big deal, still trying to talk to him, only to be ignored repeatedly, leaving himself depressed and overthinking. It wasn't until he found pink dumpling crying that the older one finally softened and said, "Don't be angry," and the two made up awkwardly.

It was kind of amusing. He wondered if he could dream about their past selves—he'd definitely have fun teasing both Bro and the younger brother.

Just as they entered the residential area, a familiar series of bicycle bell sounds came from behind. Shi Zai abruptly turned and ran back. Far away, just as he had imagined, pink dumpling had grown a bit older, taller, with his backpack slung over his shoulder, his hair blown by the wind. His fair, pinkish face carried a vibe more bold than a teenager's—less cute and soft, with gradually sharper features between his brows. Riding a cool bike, beaming as he came toward him, made Shi Zai suddenly feel a bit dazed. The grown-up Yang Yun would surely carry Shu Yangkuo's presence.

He grabbed the bicycle with both hands, bringing it to a stop. Yang Yun started whining and protesting, becoming the cute, soft pink dumpling again.

Shi Zai lifted him onto the back seat and rode himself. The two laughed loudly, circling around Big Brother, all the way home laughing and joking around. After entering the house, while changing into comfy clothes, Shi Zai pulled Shu Yangkuo aside and asked why he hadn't said anything. Shu Yangkuo wondered, "Isn't he fine now?" Shi Zai laughed inwardly—Yang Yun had been talking to him; had this Big Brother not seen the younger brother or had he ignored him?

Hearing the door open outside, Shi Zai smiled and told Yang Yun to first figure out what to pack and what was still needed, while he went to cook.

Five minutes later, Shu Yangkuo came in from outside and handed over what he was holding. Yang Yun pouted and took it:

"I'm not a kid anymore."

"...Don't be angry."

"Who's angry? You don't understand anything, just love making up stuff about me!"

"...Do you really want a whooping?!"

The man's already deep voice turned two degrees colder. Yang Yun couldn't help but swallow, a bit scared, but this time he dug in his heels:

"Go ahead and whoop me then! Who are you trying to scare all day long?! Let Gege see you like this—you're just mean and tough. When your true colors show, see if Gege still... Wahh Big Brother I was wrong, I didn't mean it..."

Shi Zai, who had been busy in the kitchen to give them space to talk, was instantly shocked. How had they started arguing and making a scene? It was the first time he'd seen the two like this. He rushed out to find the younger one already crouched on the ground, crying hysterically, his small shoulders shaking.

The older one stood in place, frowning slightly. At his feet was the juice box Yang Yun had thrown aside. It rolled twice before Shu Yangkuo picked it up.

No need to ask more; Shi Zai already understood what Yang Yun meant by "true colors"—it referred to Shu Yangkuo's slight but deeply shocking confession from the morning. The so-called "fierceness" was directed at the man himself. What Yang Yun feared was this—the fear of being abandoned by the one who raised him.

Now that he had said the wrong thing, he was scared to death, shaking violently all over, collapsing to sit on the ground. He lifted his tear-streaked face:

"Wahh Gege don't listen to my nonsense, Big Brother... Big Brother is really good... hic... he's not... not fierce..."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Your Big Brother and I are both here."

Saying this, Shi Zai picked him up from the ground, his heart just broke, pressing Yang Yun's head against him and trying to calm him down nonstop.

Yang Yun's fear about leaving home had gradually transformed into the fear from the past, of his Big Brother's occasional intense moods.

At its core, it was still the fear of being abandoned.

This was a panic response.

His heart ached for the younger brother, and it ached for the Big Brother too. What kind of hard times had the two been living in before?

Shi Zai was holding Yang Yun and comforting him when Shu Yangkuo's large hands reached over, nodding at him. Hesitating, Shi Zai handed the still-sobbing Pink Dumpling over and watched as the older and younger man entered Yang Yun's bedroom.

Perhaps it was for the best—some things needed to be talked out between them. Shi Zai took a few deep breaths and went back to cooking.

Still, he kept an ear out for any movement from the bedroom, feeling a bit worried. That stubborn man had probably never comforted a child before.

In the bedroom.

Shu Yangkuo placed the person on the edge of the bed and sat down on a chair nearby, looking down at Yang Yun:

"In the past, Big Brother was at fault. I didn't mean to frighten you—sometimes I just couldn’t control myself. But now, I won’t be like that anymore. I never once thought about abandoning you, not back then and not now. Yang Yun, you’re like my own flesh and blood."

"...Waa, Big Brother, I understand everything. I don’t know what came over me today—I was suddenly so unreasonable. I’ll be good from now on, waa..."

"Don’t cry. I understand."

Yang Yun was guided by a large hand cupping the back of his head, and the moment he buried his face into his big brother’s shoulder, he couldn’t hold back his tears again. The truth was, he hadn’t just been unreasonable today—in the past, he’d often relied on being young to say hurtful, inappropriate things to his big brother, driving him crazy while still expecting to be comforted.

And in the end, he’d even blame his brother.

The fear was real, but so was the respect and love.

It was all in the past now, and Big Brother had changed so much.

Yang Yun gradually stopped crying, rubbing his reddened eyes:

"Big Brother, from now on, I’ll show you proper love and never say things that hurt you again. And as for Xiao Zai, I’ll tell him what a good person you are—no matter what, don't you dare be harsh with him. Don’t be foolish."

"...No need for you to worry about that."

"Hmph! If I didn’t worry, you wouldn’t even get to kiss him right now!"

Shu Yangkuo balled his fist briefly before relaxing it. Whatever—this wasn’t the first time.

The little rascal was full of sly tricks; only Shi Zai thought he was well-behaved.

Sneaking a peek, Yang Yun noticed his big brother’s calm expression and smiled secretly:

"But from now on, Big Brother, you have to be gentler with me. You can’t just put on a stern face every time I misbehave."

"..."

"Did you hear me? I’m still young! Kids need to be pampered to grow up well—quit playing the big brother role so hard."

"...If you really test limits, should I still indulge you?"

"Who’s pushing it?! I can’t even climb a tree—are you going to hold that against me forever?"

As he spoke, Yang Yun kicked out, his foot connecting with his big brother’s chest. His own foot hurt from the impact, but Shu Yangkuo didn’t budge an inch. Yang Yun pouted, snatched the Wahaha from his big brother’s hand, glanced at it, and tossed out, "No wonder Xiao Zai says you’re stingy!" before running out.

?

Shu Yangkuo really felt he needed to change jobs—at least that way he could spend more time with Shi Zai and keep him from being influenced by bad influences.

Sure enough.

"He’s just stingy and petty—won’t let me see, won’t let me eat, and there’s only one drink to share between us!"

"...Hahaha, Xiao Zai, can you not mix all these things together?"

"Hmph, if you didn’t overthink it, it’d be fine!"

"Hahaha..."

While the two were laughing, a tall figure quietly appeared at the kitchen door in their peripheral vision:

"Xiao Zai, I only had one dollar earlier."

"Wow, that's so pitiful. Then how come you didn’t ask for money this morning or last night?"

"...I forgot."

That incorrigible man—still not telling the truth. Shi Zai didn’t feel like calling him out; he had to save face for the head of the household.

This morning and last night, he’d been too busy sulking.

Just then, the door opened again. Before Shi Zai could even pull back his curious gaze, he saw Shu Yangkuo entering with something in his hand... Why was he getting shy again?