Chapter 77: Kid, Are You in a Relationship?

Chapter 77: Kid, Are You Seeing Someone?

His kid didn't like Lu Yu, and he didn't either.

"I don't mind," Fu Yan said, glancing at Du Yang with a gentle look, then added, "What about you, President Lu?"

"Let him be mad. He's full of bad intentions," Lu Jin'an said, crossing his legs and leaning back in the seat. His face showed disgust when mentioning Lu Yu. "He made my little brother angry plenty of times. Consider it payback."

He, Lu Jin'an, wouldn't indulge him.

Du Yang's gaze fell on the shifting shadows outside the window, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.

Payback indeed. There's still a lot to settle.

No wonder Fu Yan didn't like Lu Yu—with Lu Jin'an constantly stirring things up, how could he have a good impression?

The private kitchen Lu Jin'an chose was one Du Yang had heard of in his past life and knew was very expensive.

The dishes were exquisite and should have tasted good, but Du Yang couldn't really taste how good they were. Fu Yan put food on his plate, and he obediently ate it all.

He envied people who really craved food—people who wanted to eat this today and that tomorrow. He'd never felt that way.

Before the depression, he didn't dare to think about it; after, he just didn't want to.

Lu Jin'an watched in disbelief. His close friend of nearly thirty years—how had he become such a... simp.

He was used to Fu Yan's always expressionless, cold demeanor.

This gentle tone and look seriously made Lu Jin'an uncomfortable.

Seizing the moment, Lu Jin'an raised his glass, his tone sincere. "Du Yang, I shouldn't have said those things before. Can you forgive your big brother?"

When Lu Jin'an said those words, he was heartbroken, but Lu Jin'an's sincere apology moved him to forgive.

After all, this was his own biological brother.

What Lu Jin'an had said was for his own brother's sake—still, it was him.

Du Yang's eyes flickered as he looked at Lu Jin'an, then raised his glass of orange juice with a smile. "Brother Jin'an, I accept your apology. You said those things because you love your brother so much."

"I never thought about replacing your brother. Not even once."

"Thank you, Du Yang." Lu Jin'an was moved. He clinked his glass against Du Yang's and tossed back the red wine in one gulp.

Setting down his glass, Lu Jin'an started talking as if to himself.

"I love my brother, but I've also wronged him."

Fu Yan picked up the decanter and quietly refilled Lu Jin'an's glass. His old friend was about to start pouring his heart out again.

"When my little brother was born, our mother died from amniotic fluid embolism during childbirth. At that time, I resented my little brother," Lu Jin'an said, holding his head with one hand. "I thought that if my mother hadn't had him, she wouldn't have died. I wouldn't have lost her, and my father wouldn't have been so depressed."

Du Yang lowered his eyelids, his long lashes hiding his emotions, but his fingers gripping the glass turned slightly white.

His birth had killed his mother.

"In those early years, my father and I both disliked my little brother. Grandma raised him."

Lu Jin'an picked up his glass and took another sip, sinking into memories. "But my brother was so beautiful and adorable. A kid not even five—every time I came home from school, he'd follow me around calling out 'brother, brother,' and even bring me water. After all, the heart is made of flesh, especially when it's your own blood. That's when I realized I actually loved my little brother; I'd just been ignoring that feeling."

Du Yang looked up and quietly watched Lu Jin'an. Seeing he'd finished his wine, he poured him another glass.

Du Yang didn't remember any of what Lu Jin'an was saying, but it felt strangely familiar anyway.

"But my little brother was only five when he got lost. I'd only taken care of him for a few months before he was gone." Lu Jin'an's eyes glistened with tears, his voice choked. "It was my fault. Grandma was so busy. If I'd kept a better eye on him, he wouldn't have wandered off, and he wouldn't have died."

Lu Jin'an raised his glass and downed it in one gulp. "My little brother was the most precious gift my mother left me, and I lost him."

"Du Yang." Lu Jin'an grasped Du Yang's hand on the table, his eyes red and voice trembling. "If my little brother hadn't died, he'd be the same age as you. Maybe he'd be just as handsome and charming. My little brother was gorgeous as a kid!"

Lu Jin'an was a bit drunk and more emotional than usual. He held Du Yang's hand in both of his, his eyes seeming to see his own little brother in Du Yang.

"Brother Jin'an, don't blame yourself." Du Yang held Lu Jin'an's hand back, his voice a little hoarse. "Your little brother would be so happy to know how much you love him. He wouldn't blame you. He's lucky to have such a good brother who always remembers him."

Fu Yan's eyes fell on their clasped hands, irritation rising in his chest. He picked up Du Yang's glass of juice and drained it, keeping his face neutral, then refilled Du Yang's glass.

Comforting someone didn't require holding hands.

"Du Yang, wuwu." Lu Jin'an held the boy's warm, slender-boned hand, looking at this well-behaved, sensible kid. He suddenly understood his grandmother's fondness.

Now he saw why Grandma liked Du Yang—such a good-looking and considerate child, so much like his brother!

Had his brother grown up, would he look like this kid?

"Yangyang, let big brother hug you!"

Lu Jin'an pulled his hand away and wrapped his arms around Du Yang, tears streaming down.

"Talk properly—what's with the hugging?" Fu Yan frowned, pulling Lu Jin'an's hands apart and drawing Du Yang closer to himself, creating distance.

"Chairman Fu, it's okay. Brother Jin'an isn't a stranger."

Du Yang gently tugged at Fu Yan's shirt sleeve to comfort him, then turned to grab a tissue for Lu Jin'an to wipe his tears.

"You're so sweet, Yangyang." Lu Jin'an took the tissue, touched, and ruffled Du Yang's hair.

Lu Jin'an had forgotten that the person he was hugging was the one his best friend was chasing after. He was really drunk, completely blind to Fu Yan, his eyes locked on Du Yang.

Feeling ignored, Fu Yan silently took another sip of Du Yang's juice, but the other two still didn't notice him.

Lu Jin'an turned and picked up a small handbag from the chair beside him. Inside was a mid-range luxury watch from a brand young people love.

"Yangyang, this is a gift from me. Let me put it on you to see if it fits well." Lu Jin'an took out the watch to put it on Du Yang.

"Brother Jin'an, it'll fit. I'll put it on when I get home." Du Yang pulled his left hand back from the table, avoiding Lu Jin'an's touch.

A large, well-formed hand reached out and took the watch. Fu Yan examined it. "It looks good on Du Yang. I'll accept it for him."

Fu Yan put the watch back in its box and set it beside himself.

The kid didn't want anyone else seeing the scars on his wrist.

That was a secret between him and Du Yang—something Lu Jin'an didn't know about.

They couldn't keep eating; Lu Jin'an was already drunk and out of it. If he stayed any longer, he might do something even more inappropriate with his kid.

Fu Yan had also had some alcohol and couldn't drive, so he had Old Zhao come over in advance. Lu Jin'an had also called his assistant to pick him up.

Downstairs at the restaurant, just before getting into the cars, Lu Jin'an bear-hugged Du Yang again before Fu Yan could stop him.

He kept calling out "Yangyang, Yangyang" over and over.

"Get home now." Fu Yan grabbed Lu Jin'an by the back of his collar, shoved him into the car, and slammed the door shut with a bang, his movements swift and decisive.

After sending Lu Jin'an off, Du Yang followed Fu Yan into the Maybach. But Fu Yan was unusually silent the entire drive.

The mood was a bit tense, as if someone had upset him.

Du Yang did some serious reflecting; he didn't think he'd upset Fu Yan, so he kept quiet.

Back at the apartment, Fu Yan went into the bedroom without saying a word.

Du Yang returned to his own room and started on his homework for the day.

Over an hour later, Du Yang received a message from F, whom he hadn't heard from in a while.

"F: Kid, haven't seen you streaming lately. Are you dating someone?"

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