Hello, Jie Fen – CH51

Chapter 51: Why Does This Feel Like We’re Having a Secret Affair!!!

Chi Wang was sweating profusely.

He had never encountered such a situation before, but it inexplicably felt familiar.

Standing behind Xiao Fu, his mind wandered, and many scenes flashed through his head. Back when he worked part-time at a bar during high school, similar things happened quite often.

A guy two-timing got caught by two girls. The scene was tense, and soon the two girls started fighting. Eventually, it turned into both girls teaming up to beat up the guy.

Chi Wang: “…”

How eerily similar to the current situation!

First, he couldn’t let the fact that he was living with Xie Sichen be exposed. Otherwise, following the clues, it wouldn’t take long for the bizarre fact that he was pregnant to come to light.

Secondly, he needed to balance things carefully, not leaning toward either person, to prevent them from feeling alienated from him.

Chi Wang: “…”

His head began to ache.

Opposite Xiao Fu, Xie Sichen spoke in a cold voice, “He’s my junior. I usually look after him a bit. I didn’t know he was your brother.”

Chi Wang shot him a glance: Good job, Xie Sichen!

Xiao Fu sneered, “Are you the type to look after others? How come I’ve never heard of that?” Xie Sichen, caring for someone? Don’t make him laugh.

Unfazed, Xie continued in an even tone, “He’s excellent—the most outstanding junior in our cohort at H University. So I look after him. Is that a problem?”

Xiao Fu: “…”

Although Xie was praising Chi Wang, Xiao Fu couldn’t feel happy at all. In fact, he felt a bit nauseated.

Not only nauseated but also furious. He noticed that Chi Wang was holding Xie’s water bottle. He turned around, snatched the bottle from Chi Wang’s hand, and smashed it onto the ground.

Chi Wang exclaimed in dismay, “My water bottle!”

Xiao Fu’s mocking smile hadn’t fully formed before he had to suppress it. His face flushed as he asked Chi Wang, “…That was your water bottle?”

Chi Wang: “…”

He replied confidently, “Of course it’s my water bottle. I left it behind, and Senior saw it and brought it over to me, that’s all.”

He wasn’t lying; he just left out some details and didn’t fully explain.

Xiao Fu: “…”

He silently walked over, bent down to pick up the water bottle, and handed it back to Chi Wang. “You’re a grown-up now; you need to be more careful.”

Then he turned to Xie and said, “Who asked you to play the good guy? Stay away from him. He’s my biological brother. If you have any decency, keep your distance—”

Before he could finish, Chi Wang couldn’t help but interrupt, “Alright, brother, please stop. Harmony brings wealth; let’s not do this.”

Sensing Chi Wang’s embarrassment, Xiao Fu suppressed his urge to confront Xie and turned around. His tone softened immediately, “Chi Wang, how’s your leg? Does it still hurt?”

Chi Wang said, “You’re asking now? If you’d asked any later, the injury would have healed.”

Xiao Fu could tell that Chi Wang was teasing him. His face darkened slightly as he said, “I’ll massage it for you when we get home. You’re a respectable young man; don’t expose your legs in front of others, and don’t let others touch them casually. Don’t you know that in this society, not only women are unsafe, but men are at risk too? Many bad people like to deceive innocent people like you.”

His words were dripping with sarcasm, indirectly targeting Xie, but Xie didn’t even blink.

Feeling uncomfortable, Chi Wang closed his eyes briefly and said helplessly, “I’m not that naive. I worked part-time in a bar during high school. Do you think I’m a blank slate?” He turned to Xie and said, “Senior, I’m sorry. My brother has a bad temper. Please don’t mind him.”

Xie’s tone remained calm, “It’s okay. Your brother is just concerned about you.”

Xiao Fu was momentarily stunned, sensing something was off. In the past, they were always at each other’s throats. Why was Xie now either praising Chi Wang or speaking up for him? Just as he was about to say more, Chi Wang covered his mouth and pulled him forward by the arm, “Alright, stop it.”

After walking some distance, Chi Wang let go of Xiao Fu and said helplessly, “Brother, can you not be like this? I’m 19 years old, not a child. I need to socialize.”

A flash of malice appeared in Xiao Fu’s eyes, but when he faced Chi Wang, he held back. “I’m not stopping you from socializing.”

He lowered his eyes in thought. Chi Wang and Xie seemed to have a good relationship, both being at H University. They must have known each other for a while. As his brother, he couldn’t stop that.

Thinking of this, he said to Chi Wang, “You’re right. I won’t stop you from socializing. You can interact with him, but he and I don’t get along. Now that he knows you’re my brother, he might bully you in the future. He’s vengeful and ruthless. I don’t trust him with you.”

Chi Wang: “…”

The way he’s describing Xie seems like a completely different person.

Your adversarial filter is way too strong.

But Chi Wang was a bit surprised at Xiao Fu’s reasonable approach. He had thought Xiao Fu would act like a domineering elder and force him to stay away from Xie.

Chi Wang looked back at Xie from a distance. He was still standing there, his gaze calm and peaceful. Seeing Chi Wang look back, he even nodded slightly, as if saying everything was fine.

Chi Wang thought helplessly: Help! Why does this feel like we’re having a secret affair!!

He felt guilty; his previous assurances to Xie about handling Xiao Fu seemed like empty promises now, impossible to fulfill.

This was the first time Chi Wang had failed to keep his word.

He said to Xiao Fu, “I understand how you feel. I’ll be careful. Please don’t worry, okay? I’m already an adult and capable of handling things myself. I’ve experienced a lot and won’t be easily taken advantage of.”

Hearing this, Xiao Fu felt a bit distressed. He reached out to hold Chi Wang’s hand, and as he did, he felt the bead bracelet on his wrist.

Chi Wang gently pulled his hand away, “Don’t pull me around. Even brothers shouldn’t hold hands; it’s a bit odd.”

Xiao Fu was taken aback, then laughed, “You’re right. I won’t do it again.”

Chi Wang suddenly asked, “So were you really just passing by? I remember your company isn’t in this direction.”

Xiao Fu: “…”

He replied without changing his expression, “I was passing by. There’s a bar in this direction.”

Chi Wang looked at him skeptically, “Alright. I thought you were stalking me.”

Xiao Fu snorted, “How could that be?”

Chi Wang thought: Why not? I have a feeling you would do such a thing.

He said, “I’m heading to school. You should go back.”

Xiao Fu: “…Alright.”

Xiao Fu asked, “You’re wearing a bracelet too? Is it made from the same red sandalwood?”

He had only felt the bead bracelet under Chi Wang’s sleeve; he hadn’t seen it.

Chi Wang’s eyebrows twitched, and he answered evasively, “You have one; I have one. It’s like a father-son set, isn’t it?”

Xiao Fu laughed, his earlier irritation mostly dissipated. “Yes.”

He couldn’t prevent Chi Wang from interacting with Xie, but could he not deal with Xie himself? Since Xie was already someone he intended to target, he’d just continue his plans.

After Chi Wang went to school, Xiao Fu returned to his car, chewing on his unlit cigarette, staring in the direction Xie had come from. By now, Xie was long gone, but that didn’t stop him from gazing thoughtfully.

He hadn’t expected Chi Wang to know Xie.

*

That evening, after class, Chi Wang felt a bit paranoid, afraid that Xiao Fu would “pass by” again. So he walked among a group of people.

Xie moved silently, and Xiao Fu appeared unpredictably; dealing with both of them was too much.

When he reached Xie’s front door, he found it open. He heard Xie’s voice; he was on the phone, his tone still cool and emotionless, “No need to persuade me. I didn’t go back last year either; it’s no different. I’ll be better off alone. You and Dad can spend the New Year together.”

“I’ve been resting well lately, sleeping fine. Yes, the calming tea works well; you can send me more.”

“I know, don’t worry.”

After he finished speaking, Xie hung up the phone.

At that moment, Chi Wang entered the living room and firmly closed the door. “Why was the door open?”

Xie seemed to realize belatedly, stood up, walked over to the dog bed, and picked it up. Xiaomi wasn’t inside.

Chi Wang was startled and shouted, “Xiaomi!!!”

“Woof!” From outside came Xiaomi’s bark.

Chi Wang rushed out to open the door and saw Xiaomi emerging from beneath a scooter’s windscreen cover, wagging his tail as he happily ran back into the living room.

Chi Wang gave him a light smack on the rear, “You can open doors now?”

Xiaomi wagged his tail, grinning as if he was smiling.

Chi Wang looked up at Xie, “Did you see that? He can open doors.”

Xie said, “Yes.”

Chi Wang keenly sensed that Xie seemed to be in a bad mood, so he proactively started a conversation, “Who were you talking to on the phone just now?”

Xie paused and replied, “My mom.”

Chi Wang asked, “Auntie wants you to go home for the New Year? Aren’t you going home?”

Xie said, “I don’t like going back.”

Chi Wang asked, “Why? Didn’t you say your parents are both very nice?”

Xie said, “They are, but I prefer being alone.”

Chi Wang was about to say something when Xie added, “I also like being with you.”

Chi Wang: “…”

It sounded like an ordinary sentence, but paired with Xie’s focused gaze, it felt a bit… heart-fluttering.

Chi Wang didn’t respond, and Xie continued in a low voice, “I want to spend the New Year with you.”

Chi Wang couldn’t help scratching his head, “I don’t have a problem with that, but wouldn’t that be inappropriate? After all, the reunion dinner is the most important meal of the year; you should at least spend it with your family.”

Xie said softly, “My mom has my dad, and you have me.”

Chi Wang: “…”

Chi Wang said, “Actually, I have Xiaomi.”

Xie said, “Xiaomi isn’t human.”

Chi Wang said, “But Xiaomi is family.”

Xie: “…”