Chapter 35
After watching the parade floats, the group continued having fun around the park, planning to buy some souvenirs to take home.
Yu Chen was still immersed in the excitement from earlier. His steps were light and quick as he dragged He Zhen along and rushed into a Mickey-themed gift shop.
Inside, there was a huge variety of Mickey dolls. Yu Chen picked things up and fiddled with them as he browsed. Xiao Yu grabbed a Mickey headband and waved it at Yu Chen. “Want to try this on? I think it suits you pretty well.”
Although Yu Chen thought it looked nice, he still refused. “Look, the people wearing headbands are all little girls. What boy wears something like that?”
Xiao Yu gave him a you just don’t get it look. “This kind of blue chenille headband is for boys too.”
Yu Chen leaned closer for a look and found that there really was a boys’ style. He took the headband and had just put it on in front of the mirror when some girls nearby immediately began whispering and giggling, and a few of them even took out their phones to secretly snap pictures of him.
To be fair, the headband really did suit Yu Chen.
He had not fully matured yet. His face was still small and round, his dark eyes bright and lively, and he had that cute pretty-boy look about him. Even the shop assistant could not help coming over to invite him to take a photo for the visitor display wall.
The headband was not expensive. After being praised so much, Yu Chen planned to go squeeze some gold coins out of He Zhen. Beside him, Xiao Yu stirred the pot. “Chubby Chenchen, do you think your Boss would wear something like this?”
Yu Chen answered seriously, “He doesn’t like cute things like this.”
Xiao Yu kept egging him on. “Why don’t you have He Zhen try it too? He’s handsome. It would definitely look good on him.”
Yu Chen did not think much of it. “Okay, I’ll ask.”
Keeping his eyes on Yu Chen, Xiao Yu sneakily took out his phone. Honest Fang Jingrao asked him, “What are you messing with now?”
Xiao Yu shushed him.
They were all middle school boys. When it came to seeing a friend embarrass himself, everyone loved it. He planned to capture the dark history of He Zhen wearing Mickey ears and, in the future, play it on loop at He Zhen’s wedding.
“Boss, do you want to wear it?” He Zhen was picking out keychains. When he saw Yu Chen walk over wearing that childish Mickey headband, a trace of gentleness flashed through his otherwise cool gaze. “Wear that?”
Yu Chen held it up. “Mm. Do I look good in it?”
He Zhen lifted his eyes slightly, a hidden smile in them. “So-so.”
“Tch.” Standing on tiptoe, Yu Chen reached hard for He Zhen’s head. “Lower your head. Let me put it on you and see.”
He Zhen curved his lips, still standing perfectly straight, deliberately going against him.
“Boss, bend down a little!” Yu Chen complained softly. “I can’t reach.”
He Zhen let out a low laugh. “If you can’t reach, then forget it.”
“Just try it!” Pulling on He Zhen’s arm, Yu Chen raised his own arm high. “We’ll each have one. I’m giving it to you.”
“You don’t even have a single coin in your pocket. Where would you get the money to buy me something?” He Zhen lowered his eyes and laughed softly. Just to tease Yu Chen, he refused to lower his head.
“At worst, I’ll put it on credit.” Yu Chen spoke very quickly. “When I graduate from university and get a job, I’ll make it up to you.”
“You hand out empty promises every day.” He Zhen’s hand landed lightly on Yu Chen’s fluffy hair and rubbed it once. “Will you really make good on it?”
“I will!” Yu Chen kept pleading, eager to try. “Come on, just try it.”
He Zhen had long since noticed Xiao Yu lurking across from them with his phone in hand. He did not even need to think to know he was secretly trying to take pictures of them.
“Buy it, and I’ll wear it at home.” His eyes narrowed slightly, and in the end he gave in to Yu Chen.
Yu Chen held out his hand. “Boss, cough up the gold coins.”
A faint smile hooked at He Zhen’s lips. “Shameless.”
Yu Chen grinned with crescent eyes, then picked out a whole pile of doll merchandise and handed it all to He Zhen to pay for. Xiao Yu, who had been acting suspiciously the whole time, was still puzzled. Yu Chen had clearly bought two Mickey ear headbands, so why had He Zhen not put one on?
At checkout, the cashier could not help praising Yu Chen. “You’re the cutest boy we’ve ever had wearing our headband.”
Yu Chen secretly laughed, dimples faintly appearing.
Then the cashier looked at He Zhen. “What grade is your little brother in this year?”
The smile froze at the corner of Yu Chen’s lips, and his face visibly darkened.
He Zhen raised a hand and ruffled Yu Chen, who had instantly wilted, and explained, “We’re in seventh grade.”
The cashier quickly apologized and gave Yu Chen an embarrassed smile.
Yu Chen puffed out his cheeks and stomped off angrily.
Even after playing all day, everyone was still full of energy. After going back to shower, they gathered on the terrace outside He Zhen and Yu Chen’s room to eat and chat together.
Dinner was all food Yu Chen liked—starch sausages, grilled cold noodles, fried chicken, roujiamo. Ever since he had been tormented by gastroenteritis for a week last time, He Zhen almost never let him eat heavy, oily, spicy street food anymore.
With a small towel draped over his head and short hair still dripping wet, Yu Chen could not wait to rush over and grabbed a starch sausage, stuffing the whole thing into his mouth in two or three bites.
He Zhen glanced at him. “Dry your hair first. It’s chilly at night.”
“Okay.” Yu Chen answered indistinctly. But the moment his greasy hand touched his hair, He Zhen clicked his tongue in disgust.
“Come here.” He beckoned Yu Chen over.
Yu Chen obediently shuffled closer. He Zhen raised a hand and efficiently dried his hair with quick, practiced movements.
Yu Chen’s hair shook in a messy tangle, making him look like a scruffy little dog. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he quickly stole another lamb skewer. His mouth simply could not stay idle, and his cheeks bulged as he chewed away.
He Zhen frowned slightly. “That’s enough. Go dry your hair properly.”
“No need. I’m eating first.” Sesame seeds were smeared all around Yu Chen’s mouth, and his eyes seemed glued to the grilled sausage, completely unable to leave it.
They were eating out on the terrace, and the mornings and evenings in autumn were cool. For someone like Yu Chen, who did not like exercise, it was very easy for him to get sick. He Zhen did not even discuss it with him and directly dragged him into the bathroom. Not long after, the vibrating hum of the hairdryer came from inside.
Standing in front of the mirror, Yu Chen folded his arms like a little leader, his face full of stubbornness.
He Zhen stood behind him drying his hair, making Yu Chen look even shorter by comparison.
Yu Chen seriously suspected that in the future He Zhen might grow to two meters tall.
“Yu Chenchen, tilt your head.”
“Turn your head.”
“Yu Chenchen.”
“What exactly are you pretending to be cool for?”
He Zhen had a bit of a headache. He had the vague feeling Yu Chen had entered a rebellious phase. It was not that he disobeyed—he was just a little too cheeky.
Yu Chen broke character in one second and obediently rubbed his shoulder against He Zhen. “Thank you, Boss, for drying my hair. You are the most considerate Boss in the world.”
Outwardly, He Zhen did not seem to buy it, but the movements of his hands clearly became gentler.
“There, done. Go eat.”
After finishing, He Zhen casually tidied up the washroom.
Yu Chen had originally intended to run off, but seeing He Zhen working, he trotted back and tried to curry favor. “Boss, I’ll clean with you.”
He Zhen lowered his eyes and mocked him. “You’re drooling from greed already.”
Yu Chen’s eyes shifted slightly. “Boss, you are the most—”
“Get lost.” He Zhen interrupted him with a laughing scold.
Yu Chen stole a proud little laugh and turned around to run back out onto the terrace to continue stuffing himself.
The breeze of early autumn was pleasant and comfortable.
Several teenage boys sat on little stools, and it seemed like they would never run out of interesting topics to talk about.
Xiao Yu loved stirring up trouble. Holding a cup of juice, he asked He Zhi’an with great seriousness, “I heard you’re dating the class beauty from next door. So, tell us—how far has it gotten?”
At this age, boys were curious and uncertain about love. Since He Zhi’an was the first among them to be in a relationship, of course everyone wanted gossip.
He Zhi’an was thin-skinned and avoided their eyes. “We’ve only been together for nine days. Usually we just chat, and walk home together after school.”
Yu Chen was sucking down sweet noodles like crazy, his mouth nimble as a squirrel’s. A single noodle would wobble twice and be gone into his mouth in two seconds.
He Zhen turned his head, looked at Yu Chen, and handed him a napkin.
Fang Jingrao asked curiously, “Brother An, then what do you two talk about at night?”
“Just school stuff, TV dramas, or thinking about where to go on a date on the weekend.” He Zhi’an smiled faintly, looking completely immersed in first love.
With food still in his mouth, Yu Chen’s words came out unclear. “What do you usually eat?”
He Zhi’an muttered, “Grilled fish, barbecue, skewers, things like that.”
Yu Chen asked, “Is it good?”
He Zhi’an’s mind was entirely elsewhere, so his reply was perfunctory. “It’s okay.”
Yu Chen asked again, “What flavor is grilled fish?”
He Zhi’an said, “Mm… savory sauce flavor. You know, girls get acne easily if they eat spicy food.”
Seeing that He Zhi’an had been completely led off course by Yu Chen, Xiao Yu quickly cut in. “Yu Chen, can you stop caring only about food? Ask something else.”
Yu Chen gulped down milk tea, his beautiful dark eyes lifting slightly. “Like what?”
Xiao Yu said, “Like, has the class beauty ever said ‘I love you’ to you?”
The moment those three words came up, He Zhi’an’s face turned red. He stammered, “No, we haven’t said that.”
Xiao Yu curved his lips and kept pressing like he was enjoying a good show. “If you haven’t said that, then how did you two even confirm the relationship?”
He Zhi’an looked somewhat awkward. “We go to Olympiad math class together. She had a problem she didn’t know how to solve, so I taught her, and then…”
“Ohhh! So that’s what happened!”
Yu Chen, Fang Jingrao, and Xiao Yu all chimed in together, teasing him, while He Zhi’an kept his eyes lowered, not daring to look at them at all.
He Zhen drank his lemon juice, apparently uninterested in the topic. His light brown eyes lifted slightly, and every now and then his gaze paused briefly on Yu Chen, carrying a faint gentleness.
Yu Chen liked eating pomegranate, but he was impatient and too lazy to peel it himself. Following tips he had found online, He Zhen had peeled a whole small bowl of pomegranate seeds for him.
“Oh right! I heard the class beauty’s best friend likes He Zhen.” Xiao Yu was an information hub—there was almost nothing he did not know. “He Zhen, who wrote the love letter you got that day?”
Yu Chen immediately turned to look at He Zhen.
Over the past two years, He Zhen had received quite a few love letters. About half of them had been passed along through Yu Chen. With his approachable baby face, everyone liked getting close to Yu Chen, and the girls who liked He Zhen were all willing to stay on good terms with him so they could fish for information.
In everyone’s eyes, Yu Chen was the younger brother He Zhen doted on the most. Staying friendly with Yu Chen was equivalent to staying friendly with He Zhen.
“So nosy.” He Zhen did not want to talk about the subject. He handed the pomegranate to Yu Chen. “They’re the soft-seed kind. You can eat them directly.”
Yu Chen grinned, his voice soft and sweet. “My Boss is so good.”
Everyone had long gotten used to the way the two of them interacted, so it did not feel especially mushy to them. After hearing what Xiao Yu said, He Zhi’an also had some gossip of his own to share and deliberately knocked on the table. “Brother Zhen, my girlfriend’s best friend really likes you. She’s super pretty.”
He Zhen gave him a look full of speechless exasperation and did not respond.
The moment they heard there was a pretty girl involved, all the boys present crowded around He Zhi’an. “Do you have a photo?”
He Zhi’an nodded. “Yeah. We went to the art museum together last week and took a group photo.”
Compared to the others, Yu Chen was the most excited. Leaning over He Zhi’an’s shoulder, he hurriedly shoved his face closer.
“She’s really pretty! She looks like a movie star.”
With an arm around He Zhi’an’s shoulder, Xiao Yu lifted a brow at He Zhen. “He Zhen, wanna take a look?”
Yu Chen eagerly chimed in, “Boss, do you want to see?”
Staring at Yu Chen’s delighted expression, He Zhen’s distinct eyelashes lowered indifferently. “No.”
Yu Chen was still praising the girl. “Who does she look like again? That actress who played the female lead in Vow of True Love.”
He Zhi’an grinned proudly. “What about my girlfriend? Is she pretty too?”
Yu Chen gave him a thumbs-up. “She’s super pretty too.”
Fang Jingrao was deeply envious of boys like He Zhi’an who had girlfriends. From childhood until now, he had never once been favored by any girl. Even back in kindergarten when they played games, he was always the one left over at the end.
Other than Xiao Yu, no one liked being friends with him.
Back in his seat, Yu Chen reached for the pomegranate He Zhen had peeled for him, ready to eat it.
But unexpectedly—
He Zhen suddenly took the pomegranate away and began eating it himself with a spoon.
Yu Chen resentfully licked the remaining pomegranate juice from his fingertips and stretched a hand toward He Zhen with a grin. “Boss, is it sweet?”
He Zhen blocked his hand and moved the bowl aside. “Mm.”
Yu Chen pulled his hand back and stared at He Zhen with wide, longing eyes.
Hadn’t this pomegranate been peeled for him?
Now he was not being allowed to eat it anymore?
“Boss, I want some pomegranate too.” Yu Chen rubbed his shoulder against He Zhen and wheedled endlessly. “I want some, I want some.”
He Zhen glanced at him coolly. “Peel it yourself.”
Yu Chen frowned and sucked hard on his milk tea with angry little slurping sounds.
The subtle change between the two of them at the dinner table left the other three completely baffled. Everything had been perfectly fine—how had He Zhen suddenly gotten angry?
By around ten o’clock, He Zhi’an received a call from his girlfriend and returned to his room early. Fang Jingrao had a quiet personality and did not like talking. Usually Yu Chen was the one who chattered nonstop, but now he had turned into a silent little gourd, sulking at He Zhen. Xiao Yu found it utterly boring and dragged Fang Jingrao back to their room too.
Only He Zhen and Yu Chen were left on the terrace.
Yu Chen lay sprawled across the table, unable to understand what had happened to He Zhen. He no longer had any mood to keep stuffing himself. His face scrunched up like a little bun, and he felt so wronged he could die.
“Go back inside. It’s cold out here now.” He Zhen stood and pulled open the terrace door. “You go first.”
Head hanging low, Yu Chen drooped past He Zhen listlessly.
While He Zhen was taking a shower, Yu Chen wandered back and forth in front of the bathroom door. Based on his understanding of his Boss, He Zhen was definitely angry. As for the reason, Yu Chen rubbed his chin and decided that once He Zhen came out, he would just ask directly.
Suddenly—
The bathroom door opened.
He Zhen pushed back the stray hair at his forehead. Water droplets slid down the side of his face, and he was clearly startled.
“So you’re out here pacing around.”
Looking at Yu Chen’s deflated expression, He Zhen tied his bathrobe tighter. “Go to bed already. Otherwise you’ll be impossible to get up tomorrow again.”
Yu Chen was the type who could never hold anything in. He followed after He Zhen like a little tail. “Boss, did I make you angry today?” His dark eyes were moist like rippling water, full of unease.
“I’m not angry.” He Zhen lowered his eyes and quietly dried his hair.
“Then why didn’t you let me eat the pomegranate you peeled?” Yu Chen was as clingy as ever. “Did you stop loving me?”
At the mention of the word love, something in He Zhen’s heartstring quivered.
He tossed the towel aside, turned around, and stared fixedly at Yu Chen.
“Yu Chenchen, let me ask you something. The way you were so interested in that girl today—does that mean you want me to hurry up and start dating?”
Yu Chen’s little head did not turn fast enough. After a long pause, he finally explained, “No. Someone who admires you is very pretty. I just wanted to share that with you.”
Half of He Zhen’s fair, refined face was hidden in shadow and light.
After a moment, he lowered his eyes and asked, “Then do you want me to date? Do you think that once I get a girlfriend, I’ll be like He Zhi’an, too busy chatting with her to bother with you anymore? And then you’ll finally be free?”
“Ah… no, I don’t…”
Yu Chen protested in grievance, “Boss, you’re overthinking.”
He Zhen said nothing. He turned away again and continued quietly drying his hair.
“Of course I don’t want you to date. If you get a girlfriend, then the two of us won’t be number one in the world anymore.” Yu Chen’s soft black eyes drooped slightly. He was oddly stubborn about this matter.
“But if you want to date, I won’t stop you. Because I want you to be happy every day. Just look at He Zhi’an—ever since he started dating, he’s happy all the time. If getting a girlfriend would make you like that too, then why would I stop you?”
“Boss, I just want you to be happy, that’s all.”
The corners of Yu Chen’s eyes turned faintly red, and his damp lashes hid the grievance in his gaze as he sniffled softly.
Actually, all that had happened was that He Zhen did not let him eat the pomegranate.
But somehow, he still felt terribly upset.
He Zhen’s right hand hanging at his side slowly clenched, his knuckles turning white. “I’m sorry. I misunderstood you. So that’s what you were thinking.”
Yu Chen’s childish face still looked pitiful beyond words. “Of course I don’t want anyone to share my Boss with me. If you start dating, then there definitely won’t be any room left for me in the bedroom. When that happens, you’ll definitely kick me out!”
Lately he had watched too many idol dramas, and his head was now full of melodramatic plots. “Then I won’t have anywhere to live, and I guess there won’t be room for Uncle and me in the family quarters either. Boss, could you maybe leave me a spot in the guard booth? I won’t ask for much—just being able to see you and your girlfriend once a day would be enough. I’ll open the door for you two and protect your safety.”
Blinking with watery eyes, the more Yu Chen thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. His round dark eyes were full of accusation toward He Zhen.
“Yu Chenchen, I’m sorry.” Though He Zhen felt bad for him, seeing Yu Chen look all thunder and no rain, he still could not stop the smile from creeping into his voice. He opened his arms toward him. “Come here.”
Yu Chen gave a little huff and dove into He Zhen’s arms, thoroughly spoiled and willful.
“Don’t worry. I won’t make you live in the guard booth.” Resting his chin on Yu Chen’s soft hair, He Zhen rubbed against it. “At the very least, I’ll leave you a place under the bed.”
“I’m not sleeping under the bed!” Yu Chen bared his teeth and rejected the idea fiercely. “At minimum, I get the sofa.”
He Zhen curved his lips in satisfaction. “Mm. The sofa is yours.”
Ever since starting middle school, the two of them had not had such an honest conversation in a long time. Before bed, Yu Chen made He Zhen put on the Mickey ears and pestered him into taking lots of photos together. Although He Zhen looked unwilling, he still cooperated by striking all sorts of poses.
Yu Chen said he would print them out and put them in their bedroom. He Zhen could not afford to lose face like that, so he refused.
Before sleeping, Yu Chen poured all kinds of sweet nonsense into He Zhen’s ears.
Things like In the whole world, the only people I love are Boss and Dad.
And When I make money, I’ll spend it all on Boss and Dad.
Although He Zhen had heard these lines so many times his ears were nearly growing calluses, he still found them very satisfying.
“Yu Chenchen, can you say something I haven’t heard before?”
Yu Chen’s expression turned solemn. He silently reminded himself that his quote database needed updating in time—his Boss was already tired of the old lines.
Racking his brains, he obediently said, “You are my first Boss, and you’ll also be my last Boss. Other than you, I don’t want anyone else.
“Not only do I want to be your little follower in this life—I want to be your little follower in the next life and the one after that too!”
That finally satisfied He Zhen. Smiling in his eyes, he asked, “Really?”
“Of course it’s true.” Yu Chen sounded utterly certain.
“Yu Chenchen, if you lie, your nose will grow long.”
“Boss, I’m already in seventh grade. That only tricks little kids.”
And so they chatted back and forth like that, slowly falling asleep in each other’s arms in the deep of night.
In early autumn, mornings and evenings were cool. Yu Chen liked thrashing around in his sleep and kicking off the blanket. Sometimes if he got cold in the middle of the night, he would curl into He Zhen’s arms and mutter in his sleep. He Zhen slept lightly, so if he woke up and patted him once, Yu Chen would settle down obediently.
Monday at school should have been the day He Zhi’an looked forward to the most. After not seeing each other for two whole days, the little couple surely had plenty to say. But early that morning, He Zhi’an sat there with a long face, as though the sky had fallen.
Since Yu Chen sat closest to him, he bit into the egg He Zhen had peeled for him and asked nosily, “An’an, what’s wrong?”
He Zhi’an looked somewhat upset. “My girlfriend is angry.”
“Ah?” With absolutely no dating experience, Yu Chen still tried to give advice. “Buy her a little cake. Or maybe a roujiamo? If that doesn’t work, lamb skewers are good too.”
He Zhen handed Yu Chen a red grape. “Open your mouth.”
Yu Chen obediently opened with an “ah,” and finally remembered to ask the important question.
“Why is she angry?”
He Zhi’an replied, “Because I played games last night and didn’t have time to chat with her.”
“Oh.” Yu Chen anxiously propped his chin on his hand, not knowing how to coax a girl, so he turned to He Zhen. “Boss, how do you think An’an should make his girlfriend happy again?”
A faint unruly smile lingered at He Zhen’s lips. “Buy her a starch sausage.”
Yu Chen clicked his tongue. “I think that could work.”
He Zhi’an already had a headache, and now it hurt even more. If he apologized to his girlfriend with a starch sausage, tomorrow he would be single again, okay?
“Go ask Xiao Yu. He has a lot of ideas.” Yu Chen threw him an extremely sympathetic look, then quietly muttered to He Zhen, “Good thing you’re not dating. Love always comes with both bitterness and sweetness.”
Breathing in the faint scent of green mandarin body wash from Yu Chen, He Zhen asked, “Did you switch body wash?”
Yu Chen nodded repeatedly. “Mm-hmm! Does it smell good?”
“So-so.” He Zhen fed him another peeled grape. “But it smells better than the last bottle.”
Yu Chen’s lips curved. “I’ll lend it to you for a few days.”
“So vain.” Wiping his hands clean, He Zhen helped tidy Yu Chen’s desk. “I have fencing class this afternoon. I already told the driver to pick you up early, so go home first by yourself.”
“I’ll wait for you.” Yu Chen obediently spoke sweet words. “There’s nothing to do at home anyway. I’ll do my homework while I wait, and then we can go home together.”
He Zhen hesitated slightly. “Will you be bored waiting in class?”
“No. How could waiting for Boss be boring? And there are so many boarding students who stay here for evening study anyway.”
Hongwen Middle School had both day students and boarders. Since He Zhen’s home was not considered close, and with middle school requiring students to arrive earlier, the two of them had no choice but to consider boarding. But neither of them was used to sleeping away from home, and they would rather wake up earlier and keep commuting.
“Alright. Then don’t run around—just wait for me in class.” After instructing him properly, He Zhen asked again, “Do you want to eat dinner at home tonight or in the cafeteria?”
Yu Chen said, “I’ll think about it.”
Seeing how He Zhen was carefully instructing Yu Chen in every tiny detail, He Zhi’an felt a deep wave of sourness.
His own real brother—
Oh, no, wait. His real older brother—was nowhere near as important in He Zhen’s heart as Yu Chen was.
And thinking that only made his already rocky love life feel even more miserable.
After He Zhen left for fencing class, Yu Chen hummed a little tune and got ready to do homework by himself. Seeing that Yu Chen still was not going home, Xiao Yu asked, “What’s up with you today? Why aren’t you heading back yet?”
Yu Chen muttered, “Boss has fencing class. I’m waiting for him.”
He Zhen’s fencing class was a special school-based course. Students who excelled at fencing were specially selected and trained together to participate in national fencing competitions.
Xiao Yu suddenly lowered his voice. “Since you don’t have to go home, want to come with us to the arcade for a bit?”
“The arcade?” Yu Chen’s eyes lit up instantly, but then he said timidly, “But Boss told me to wait for him in class.”
Xiao Yu clicked his tongue. “Just tell him to come find you at the arcade after fencing. It’s right across the street in the mall. It just opened, and the machines inside are insanely cool.”
Fang Jingrao immediately chimed in. “Yeah! I got a membership card. A lot of the AR games in there are really fun. Students from our school and from Number One High next door are regulars.”
“Okay then, I’ll message Boss.” Yu Chen had just taken out his phone when he remembered one objective fact—he was completely broke. He did not have even a single cent on him.
Seeing his embarrassment, Xiao Yu generously declared, “I bought an annual card. I’ll treat you.”
Yu Chen nodded on the spot. “Thank you, Xiao Yu!”
Yu Chen, experiencing the arcade for the first time, looked like some clueless little country puppy. The moment he stepped into the dazzling, brightly lit hall, he stared left and right, clutching his schoolbag nervously and following close behind Xiao Yu.
“Boss, three people, two hours.”
After getting the magnetic card, Xiao Yu handed it to Yu Chen. “Whatever you want to play, just swipe the card. After two hours, it stops working.”
Yu Chen happily nodded and then stopped in front of a time machine game.
The game description on the machine was very enticing. Two high school boys were sitting on it playing. Judging by their uniforms, they seemed to be third-year students from their school. Both were tall and handsome, and because they were so skilled, a crowd had gathered to watch.
Yu Chen wanted to play, so he prepared to queue and wait for a bit.
“Cousin, Brother Qi.” Xiao Yu came over to find Yu Chen and greeted the two boys on the machine.
The boy Xiao Yu called cousin removed his VR goggles and greeted them. “What a coincidence. Why’d you come here to play today?”
Xiao Yu said, “Homework’s done. Came over with friends to hang out.”
“This your classmate?” With one long step, Xiao Sui hopped off the machine. “This little brother is pretty cute.”
Yu Chen nodded politely. “Hello, senior.”
“And what about me? Why aren’t you greeting me?” Xiao Sui’s friend removed his goggles too, leaned against the seat, and crossed one leg over the other. “My name’s Chen Zhao. Hello, junior.”
Yu Chen waved. “Hello.”
“Xiao Yu, this classmate of yours is way cuter than you. His voice sounds nice too.” Xiao Sui smiled as he observed Yu Chen. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Yu Chen.” Yu Chen had never been afraid of socializing and replied brightly, “Xiao Yu is cute too. We’re both cute.”
That line made Xiao Sui and Chen Zhao smile at the same time, and they became more and more interested in this pretty little junior.
“Chenchen, do you want to play this?” Xiao Sui signaled for his friend to move over. “This machine is pretty complicated. Want me to teach you?”
Yu Chen answered generously, “As long as it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all.” Watching Yu Chen, Xiao Sui teased, “Since when did Xiao Yu have a classmate this cute? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
Xiao Yu rolled his eyes. “The two of you are really too much.”
He understood perfectly well that Yu Chen was indeed strikingly pretty and handsome, but that did not mean these two needed to keep calling him cute nonstop.
“Get up here. Big brother will teach you.” Xiao Sui stepped onto the machine with one foot and held a hand out to Yu Chen. “Come on, I’ll pull you up.”
Yu Chen did not take Xiao Sui’s hand. Instead, too stubborn to admit defeat, he copied Xiao Sui’s move and climbed up by himself.
Chen Zhao teased him, “Oh ho, little brother’s pretty capable.”
Yu Chen proudly lifted his little chin. “Of course.”
The seats on the machine were lined up in a row and could fit up to three people. Yu Chen was slim enough that even sitting between Xiao Sui and Chen Zhao, there was still plenty of room.
Meanwhile, He Zhen finished fencing class and hurried to the arcade after receiving Yu Chen’s WeChat message. He did not know why he was in such a rush. Maybe subconsciously he just felt that an arcade was a crowded, chaotic place and worried that Yu Chen might get bullied.
The moment he stepped in through the entrance, he ran into Fang Jingrao. Fang Jingrao pointed for him and told him that Yu Chen was playing games with Xiao Yu.
Following the direction indicated, He Zhen walked farther in and saw Xiao Yu standing beneath a machine not far away, with quite a crowd gathered around.
He stepped closer again and immediately caught sight of Yu Chen sitting between two third-year boys.
Yu Chen was wearing VR goggles and smiling so happily it was obvious he was having a blast. The two boys beside him were clearly taking very good care of him.
“Chenchen, there’s one more advanced move I haven’t taught you yet.” Xiao Sui teased, “If you acknowledge me as your big brother, I’ll pass on my secret technique. How about it?”
Ever since they started playing together just now, Yu Chen had always called them senior. No matter how Xiao Sui guided him, he simply would not call him brother.
Hearing every word crystal clear from across the way, He Zhen’s face turned pale. His hand hanging at his side slowly curled into a fist.
Yu Chen had a sweet mouth. When it came to coaxing people, he had never once struggled with it. That much He Zhen had always believed.
The things Yu Chen had said that night at the hotel… those should still count, right?
He forced down his emotions and made himself keep a natural expression as he looked at Yu Chen.
What answer would Yu Chen give other people when He Zhen was not around?
“Acknowledge you as big brother?” While manipulating the game controller, Yu Chen hesitated. “Will you let me eat roadside snacks?”
Xiao Sui lifted a brow. “Of course.”
Yu Chen asked, “Will you buy me hamburgers every day?”
Xiao Sui said, “Sure.”
Yu Chen continued, “What about grilled cold noodles, little barbecue skewers, and hot-and-sour noodles?”
Xiao Sui found Yu Chen far too amusing. He really was still like some elementary school child at heart, with his whole mind fixed on food.
“Fine. I’ll buy you all of it.”
He Zhen could barely hold his expression together anymore. His tightly drawn face deliberately suppressed everything, but in the end he loosened his fist and closed his eyes with a lonely look.
All the foods Yu Chen had just listed were things He Zhen normally never allowed him to eat often.
Had he been controlling him too much?
Maybe Yu Chen actually did not want to be managed at all.
“Mm… then teach me first.” Yu Chen’s tone was bright and cheerful, his eyes fixed on the game screen, his attention completely absorbed there. “After you teach me, then we can talk about that, okay?”
Xiao Sui nodded. “Okay.”
Very quickly, Yu Chen learned the final technique.
He was smart, and both his operating ability and analytical ability were very strong. With only the lightest bit of guidance, it was as though he had divine help. He cleared the level in no time.
“Nice!” Xiao Sui and Chen Zhao cried out in unison, especially Xiao Sui. The admiration in his eyes only deepened, and he became even more eager to befriend Yu Chen.
Remembering Yu Chen’s promise just now, Xiao Sui quickly continued teasing him. “Alright, from now on you’re my little brother. Let me hear you call me brother.”
Yu Chen really was very pretty, and his personality was cute and outgoing too. Xiao Sui would honestly be very happy to have a little brother like this.
Yu Chen was a lot more interesting than those younger cousins in his own family.
“I won’t just buy you all that food. I’ll buy you any snacks you want.”
“Thank you so much. But I can’t call you brother just yet.” Yu Chen’s palm-sized little face was full of guilt. “I’ll have to wait until my next-next-next life before I can call you that.”
“Huh?” Xiao Sui smiled and frowned, as though he had just heard something absolutely explosive. Unable to believe it, he confirmed again, “What did you say? Your next-next-next life?”
“Mm.” Yu Chen’s tone was extraordinarily serious, his fingers gripping the controller nervously. “I already have the best brother in the whole world. And I already promised my three lifetimes to him as his little follower. If I acknowledge you as brother, then I can only start considering it from the fourth life onward. Of course, if in the fourth life he still wants me to be his little follower, then you’ll have to wait until the fifth life… and if in the fifth life he…”
Watching Yu Chen chatter on and on, Xiao Sui’s brain suddenly stopped working. He genuinely could not process it.
A promise for three lifetimes?
Was this some ancient idol drama right in front of him?
Was Yu Chen sure he was not messing with him?
He Zhen’s eyes suddenly widened, and he stared straight at Yu Chen. The joy in his eyes was no longer hidden in the slightest.
