Chapter 54 Speaking of Which, Will Your Brother and Your Fiancée Fight?

Chapter 54: Speaking of Which, Will Your Brother Get into a Fight with Your Fiancée?

That day, Chi Luoxi didn't realize it until his roommate Zhou He, while scrolling through the confession wall on his phone, nudged his arm, prompting him to belatedly open the post his roommates were talking about.

Reading through the lines, he himself was genuinely quite bewildered.

So this over-the-top "sister-in-law," who was so territorial she sounded snarky, turned out to be his?

Chi Luoxi had initially thought that his and He Angxiao's little secret affair had been exposed. He hadn't really tried to hide his closeness with He Angxiao, because he felt it was just their life, and no one would pay particular attention.

Besides, he and He Angxiao weren't celebrities. Although He Angxiao was well-known in the business world, that was for legitimate business reputation, not the kind that courts attention with private life.

Chi Luoxi now understood that humans often take pleasure in prying into, even exploiting, others' privacy.

After reading that post, he realized that so many people had been secretly paying attention to him. His looks, his luxury car, his relationship status.

Chi Luoxi's idol mindset instantly kicked in. Now it seemed he had to set a good example for these classmates watching him. He'd need to study even harder.

He couldn't let people think he was all flash and no substance.

Chi Luoxi had three roommates in total. Besides Zhou He, there were Zheng Wenbo and Lin Xiao. Zhou He was a straightforward and kind-hearted guy.

Zhou He was puzzled: "Xiao Chi, do you really have a fiancée?"

Chi Luoxi was shocked and at a loss for words: "This person is lying. I don't have any fiancée."

He did, however, have a fiancé.

Zhou He figured it out: "That's true. You talk the most with your brother every day, nonstop voice calls, and we've never seen you chatting with any girl. So how could a fiancée just pop up out of nowhere?"

Looking at Chi Luoxi's sheepish and somewhat awkward expression, Zhou He became indignant: "This person's got to be nuts. Xiao Chi, you should DM that account, or post a clarification! It's affecting your reputation. That's totally unfair."

Chi Luoxi thought for a moment and nodded: "...Alright."

He couldn't let He Angxiao find out about this.

Otherwise, he'd blow it way out of proportion.

When Chi Luoxi got home, he dropped his bag and was about to send a clarification post to the confessions page when he heard the sound of keys turning at the entrance.

He Angxiao was back.

He didn't look too happy. Even when Ququ rushed up to rub against his pant legs, a fawning welcome, he completely ignored it. Ququ was still young. Seeing He Angxiao ignore him, he vented his displeasure by hopping around and stomping his little paws on He Angxiao's shiny leather shoes.

He Angxiao picked Ququ up and said, "Shoo, shoo, shoo."

Ququ had recently, shortly after arriving home, peed all over He Angxiao's shoes. Back then, He Angxiao's face had turned black as a thundercloud, and he was about to hand out a family punishment on the spot, scaring Chi Luoxi so much that he quickly hugged Ququ protectively, apologizing and making promises.

Besides, he still didn't know what their family punishment was.

Many of the rules He Angxiao had set were made up on the spot, entirely based on his mood at the time and his need to discipline Chi Luoxi and the pets.

Chi Luoxi offered to take the punishment for the dog.

Chi Luoxi looked at He Angxiao with a pleading look and said, "Honey, it's also my fault for not being strict enough. I share the blame. The pets at home spend the most time with me, and I haven't been a good role model for them."

He Angxiao assumed the stern authority of a traditional family head: "You really haven't taught them well. I originally left the entire household to you to manage, but who knew they would have no respect for me, the head of the family?"

His gaze swept over Ququ, who was pretending to sleep, curled up at Chi Luoxi's feet: "The family punishment is to be whipped twenty times."

Chi Luoxi was shocked when he heard this. "Twenty strokes?"

He looked at He Angxiao in disbelief, then down at Ququ, who was barely bigger than a mouse at his feet—how could he endure twenty strokes? This man was truly ruthless.

He Angxiao watched Chi Luoxi's shocked and angry look, a slight gleam in his eyes. "That's right. Only a lesson will teach him not to do it again. But since you want to take the punishment in his place, that's fine. Someone has to bear the consequences."

Chi Luoxi listened, and he felt a secret delight. He thought He Angxiao couldn't bear to actually hurt him—this guy was all talk, soft-hearted and just putting on a tough act.

This would surely blow over.

However, that very night, He Angxiao rummaged through the storage cabinet and actually found a small whip with a strange design, made of black patent leather and thin metal chains—it was a gift that came with the daring patent leather outfit he had bought online.

Clearly, that wasn't something you'd use on a dog.

He Angxiao had once tried to coax Chi Luoxi into using it on him.

At the time, Chi Luoxi had been too shy, so he refused.

He Angxiao took the small whip, which looked intimidating despite its size, and walked up to Chi Luoxi. His eyes darkened as he said in a low tone, "Since you want to take the dog's punishment, use this. Don't worry, it won't hurt. Just a gentle flick, just for show..."

Chi Luoxi was so embarrassed he could barely speak. "No, no... Honey, this... this can't be..."

In the end, the process of Chi Luoxi taking the punishment for the dog was far more humiliating than he had ever imagined.

The next day, Chi Luoxi, rubbing his butt, looked serious as he gathered Ququ and Tiger in the living room. With unprecedented seriousness and heartfelt regret, he gave the cat and dog a thorough lecture on proper behavior: "You two listen up. From now on, absolutely, definitely do not piss off He Angxiao! Otherwise, all three of us will be kicked out. Then you won't have any more premium dog or cat food, no toys to play with, and we'll have to beg under the overpass."

Ququ wagged his tail as if he half understood, while Tiger looked aloof.

But after that, Ququ indeed didn't dare to pee on He Angxiao's shoes again.

He Angxiao strolled into Chi Luoxi's study and saw him biting the end of a pen, looking completely frustrated.

He Angxiao walked over. "What are you doing? Sneaking a look at something?"

Chi Luoxi was startled and quickly shielded the screen with his body, but He Angxiao pushed in to see anyway.

So Chi Luoxi whispered about the annoying post on the confession page today and his roommate's suggestion to clarify the situation. "...I was planning to write a clarification and send it over. That person is so malicious. How could he slander me like that? Saying I have a fiancée."

He Angxiao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Oh? So you want to maintain a single persona to the outside world?"

Chi Luoxi looked innocent. "No, I just want to clarify that I don't have a fiancée. A lot of people are misunderstanding me now."

He Angxiao: "Then why are you looking at those celebrity clarification statements?"

Chi Luoxi had been looking at "Statement from XX Star's Studio" and "Serious Statement from XX Artist."

Chi Luoxi defended himself, "...I-I was just referencing them, you know, to see how they handle things gently and artfully without hurting others or sparking a war of words. Honey, why are you home so early today?"

He changed the subject while also voicing his curiosity.

He Angxiao certainly wouldn't admit he came home early because of his guilty conscience. "You're looking in the wrong direction entirely. Those are meant to stir up conflict. What are you clarifying? You're not single. Take this opportunity to let those who are interested in you give up. It'll stop people from constantly pining after you."

Chi Luoxi frowned, still feeling the original post was too outrageous. "But that person is talking nonsense, falsely claiming I have a fiancée. Aren't you angry?"

He Angxiao looked at him, magnanimous. "Darling, in this world, sometimes the more you say, the more mistakes you make. Ignoring it is the smartest move. Ignore it. You just need to focus on your studies and improve yourself. As for those irrelevant people and things, ignoring them is the best way to fight back."

He Angxiao's acting like a caring older brother made Chi Luoxi feel that his reaction was... strange.

It was just way too out of character.

Knowing him as long as they've been together, He Angxiao, upon learning that someone was impersonating his fiancée, would first feel his status threatened, blow up, and go on a long rant about the malice behind it, maybe even seriously consider consulting a lawyer to sue for defamation.

There’s no way he would be so calm, with the time to talk about letting things cool off and even try to comfort him.

Unless…

That person was himself.

Chi Luoxi pursed his lips and decided to take the easy way out: “…Alright, then I won’t clarify.”

A flicker of triumph flashed in He Angxiao’s eyes, though his face remained composed as he gave a satisfied hum.

They had dinner, and as usual, they went to the yard to walk the dog, one in front and one behind, looking like a perfect family.

When they came back, He Angxiao went to take a shower. Once the shower started running, Chi Luoxi immediately sprang into action.

He deftly grabbed He Angxiao’s phone, which had been casually tossed on the sofa. He Angxiao, wanting Chi Luoxi to have no secrets from him, had left his phone password and payment code completely open to him.

Sure enough, on He Angxiao’s alt account, Chi Luoxi found the account that posted the fake fiancée story.

Under that post, because it had been questioned for being too dramatic and sounding fake, the confession wall admin DMed He Angxiao’s alt account, asking for proof.

Admin: Since the repost count is quite high, to verify the information, can you provide some proof of your relationship with the person you posted about?

He Angxiao’s reply was cold and arrogant: I can't show who I am.

The admin seemed somewhat helpless: …If you can’t provide valid proof, we’ll have to take down this post to avoid misleading others.

He Angxiao hesitated. He scrolled through his photo album, which was mostly filled with candid shots of Chi Luoxi—all intimate photos.

He thought about sending them, but then realized he was walking into a trap of having to prove himself. Besides, these photos were his precious keepsakes; no way he'd share them with outsiders.

So, he finally replied with just one line: We’re a couple. That’s the truth.

And then, very proudly, he stopped responding.

Chi Luoxi stared at the conversation on the screen.

So it really was He Angxiao.

Who else could write something so passive-aggressive?

Chi Luoxi didn't get how He Angxiao had so much free time. With so much going on at the company, how could he still find time to compete with a bunch of college students?

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

He Angxiao walked out, drying his hair, loosely wrapped in a bathrobe with the belt tied casually, revealing a stretch of firm chest and collarbone. He looked up and saw Chi Luoxi holding his phone, staring at him without moving.

He Angxiao tugged at his robe collar, his gaze deep as he looked at Chi Luoxi, his voice low and playful: “Looking at me like that makes me want you again. Come here, baby.”

Chi Luoxi shut down Horny He Angxiao and shoved the evidence right in his face.

For a moment, He Angxiao had no defense.

This time, Chi Luoxi had the absolute moral high ground. His eyes carried a hint of accusation: “…You lied, you know that? I was wondering where that fiancée came from. Turns out it was all your doing. What are my classmates supposed to think of me?”

Caught red-handed, He Angxiao clearly didn’t think he was wrong. He sat down next to Chi Luoxi, pulled him into his arms, and argued without a shred of shame: “I was just preventing anyone else from bothering you. What would you do if you couldn’t handle it? Better safe than sorry.”

Chi Luoxi struggled in his arms but couldn’t break free, so he muttered sullenly: “Nobody's bothering me. College students are all very polite. At most they just glance; they don't do anything crazy.”

He Angxiao snorted, “But what if someone confesses to you? What if they hand you a love letter, blush, and say, ‘Chi Luoxi, I really like you. I want you to be my boyfriend’? What would you do?” He even mimicked the tone perfectly.

Chi Luoxi felt awkward right away at that hypothetical.

He imagined the scene, his face going red as he mumbled: “…I don’t know how to reject people. And if it’s a girl, I definitely couldn't be too harsh…”

He really didn’t know how to firmly reject someone’s affection.

Weighing the possibilities, thinking about how he'd probably choke in that situation and his own softness, Chi Luoxi finally relented: “…Fine, then I won’t clarify.”

He had to just let that bratty fake fiancée continue to exist in campus gossip.

The next day, during class, Zhou He scrolled through the confession wall and didn’t see any clarification post. He leaned in, curious: “Xiao Chi, why haven’t you clarified yet? That fiancée post is still up.”

Chi Luoxi sighed, resigned: “…That is my fiancée.”

Zhou He: “???”

His eyes widened in disbelief: “Didn’t you say yesterday that there wasn’t one? That it was just someone making things up? That's so sudden.”

Chi Luoxi avoided his gaze, lowering his head to take a book from his backpack: “…Well, now there is. Let it be.”

Zhou He looked at him, seeing his hesitant expression like he had a secret he couldn't share. Thinking about Chi Luoxi’s overly controlling brother and this suddenly emerging fiancée, he instantly pictured a whole rich-family drama, a possessive brother and a spoiled girlfriend.

Zhou He gave Chi Luoxi a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, his tone heavy: “Xiao Chi, take care. With a brother who's got a thing for you ahead and a pain-in-the-neck girlfriend behind—and who knows if your brother will fight with your fiancée over you? Your life really is walking on thin ice.”

Chi Luoxi: “…………”

-----------------------

Author’s note: Little Radish: Do I look that easy to mess with?

He Angxiao: Exactly.