CH 45

This is a bonus chapter in dedication to Lenka. Thank you for your support on Ko-Fi.

The battery-operated car had leapt far away from the crowd within just a few seconds. Su Huanyi was pressed against Su Chi’s heart, and the arms wrapped around his back were firm.

The people around him regained their senses after the initial shock and turned their heads to see the two embracing each other.

Su Chi was tall and straight and was already conspicuous in the crowd. He had his arm around the fluffy and soft Su Huanyi. Within the scarf, the crowd could only see half of a handsome and bright face.

“Wow, look at…”

“These two are so affectionate!”

The faint voices reached his ears, and Su Huanyi pivoted up from Su Chi’s chest. He remembered that Su Chi said to be careful in public, so he pushed the person.

After the push, Su Huanyi looked up. Su Chi was looking down at him, his thin lips pursed into a straight line and his eyes were dark.

“Big brother?”

He assumed Su Chi was terrified and shielded his younger brother due to fear. Otherwise, why else would his heart be beating so rapidly?

The battery car had come out without warning. He would have flown out like a yo-yo with a broken string if he had been hit.

Su Huanyi reached out from under his armpit and patted Su Chi on the back, indicating that he could let go, “Brother, it’s alright now. But people will get the wrong idea if you don’t let go. ”

Su Chi then loosened a little and lifted him onto the small steps at the side of the street. “You’re afraid of being misunderstood?”

“…” His big brother’s behavior was so natural and smooth, so Su Huanyi said, “I was afraid that you’d be upset.”

Su Chu turned his head and walked forward, “Then you’re quite thoughtful.”

Su Huanyi followed behind, blushing at the compliment.

The newly built mall in the middle of the shopping street had five floors and exquisite decorations.

The first through third floors were for clothes and make-up, while the upper floors were for high-end luxury goods and daily necessities. Su Huanyi and Su Chi took the elevator straight up to the fourth floor and wandered around the heated mall.

Along the way, they found a jade shop, a porcelain shop, and a teaware shop with heavy colors lined up in a row. Under the illumination from the strong light of the shops, the place looked brilliant and the colors harmonious.

Su Huanyi walked in to take a look.

He had always wanted to choose a gift for Su Jitong and Yu Xinyan. The sales of the Kun wine had opened up after a period of online promotion. Within a month and a half, the sales had increased by 30%, and the first batch of money hit the account, though it was still just a few hundred thousand.

“Is there anything Mom and Dad, big brother?”

“What?”

“It’s New Year’s Eve. I want to give them a present.”

Su Chu followed his gaze and swept his eyes around the shop. “These are all fine.”

Su Huanyi dragged him around the shop.

In addition to the traditional finger bracelets, the jade pieces had also been made into different carvings. The jadeite cabbages, black ink pen holders, soft jade chessboards… were all exquisitely crafted and of the highest quality jade, and none of them was under six figures.

The shop assistant introduced them one by one, and Su Huanyi turned his head to ask for advice, “Big brother, do you think dad would like this jadeite cabbage or that kind of pen stand chessboard?”

Su Chi glanced at him, “A chessboard with a pen stand, I think.” The cabbage at home was enough.

Su Huanyi sighed in admiration, “So Dad likes to be attached to the elegant.”

The shop assistant next to him, “…”

Su Chi rubbed his head and said, “In the future, talk less in front of mum and dad.”

Su Huanyi finally chose a soft jade chessboard for Su Jitong and a set of carved jade boxes for Yu Xinyan to hold the perfume. He had them wrapped and agreed to have the things delivered to his door in the evening.

He swiped his card to settle the bill, with Su Chi standing beside him. Su Huanyi swiped 80% of the money in a calm and unrestrained manner. He saw that he was left with some change and suddenly remembered that he still owed Su Chi.

“Brother, do you have anything you want? I’ll buy it for you. ”

“No.” Su Chi looked at the fingers that were squeezing the card tightly and said, “I’ll let you know when I think of something.”

“Okay.” Su Huanyi sighed in relief and tucked the card with the small balance back into his pocket, “Don’t be polite to me when you think of it.”

“Yeah, I won’t.” Su Chi said, “Don’t worry.”

There was a famous teahouse near Commercial Street, and after strolling around the mall, Su Huanyi felt he had digested enough and was ready to eat again.

He said, “Big brother, I’m…”

Su Chi marvelled, “How can you still want to eat? It’s almost three o’clock. Will you eat at night?”

“I can skip dinner….and have a midnight snack.”

Su Chi took two deep breaths.

They ended up going to the tea house and ordering five or six plates of pastries and a pot of hot tea. The pastries were sweet and refreshing. It felt like they were melting in the mouth, and Su Huanyi packed six boxes to take home after eating his fill.

After having tea, Su Huanyi had dinner, and the whole process was seamless.

Su Chi’s healthy eating habits did not allow him to follow Su Huanyi’s lead, so he took him to a sushi bar while he waited.

By the end of their evening out, it was 7 or 8 pm and the streetlights were on.

Christmas lights were hung on both sides of the road, and the red and green decorations created a festive atmosphere.

Su Chi carried the pastries Su Huanyi had packed, and he was rather embarrassed, “Big brother, I should do it myself.”

Su Chi’s eyes fell on Su Huanyi’s tucked hands, looking like he had no intention of stretching them over. “Are you planning to hold it in your mouth?”

“…” Su Huanyi blushed, “I can take my hand out briefly for two seconds, and you can put the pastries there before I tuck it back.”

Su Chi declined lightly, “Don’t bother, I’ll hold them.”

It was nine o’clock by the time they returned home. Su Jitong and Yu Xinyan came to the door just as they entered, “Eldest and little Yi are back?”

Su Chi propped himself against the wall with one hand to change his shoes.

“We’re back!” Su Huanyi also changed his shoes in front of him. He was looking up when he suddenly leaned back with one foot unsteadily.

“Eh-eh!” said Su Jitong and his wife exclaimed.

Su Chi extended the crook of his arm and swept the person up. The two were so close that he could almost touch the top of Su Huanyi’s head with one side of his head.

With the person in his arms, he raised his eyes to look at Su Jitong and Yu Xinyan, who were an arm’s length away.

Su Jitong was pleased and said, “Good good, brothers should support each other!”

Su Chi: “….”

Su Huanyi stood up steadily and also followed suit, “Yes, yes, brothers should help each other!”

He tilted his head, “Thank you, brother, your arms are the shore for me to lean back strategically.”

Su Chi: “…..”

They changed shoes and walked into the living room, where they found two packages on the table. Yu Xinyan said, “Little Yi, these are your parcels, right? I saw your name signed as the buyer. ”

Su Huanyi ran over and held the parcels up to Su Jitong and his wife, “These are a New Year gift for mum and dad!”

“Ohh!” The couple took them in surprise, “Why did you buy gifts?”

They put it on the table and unwrapped it. The exquisite jade artefacts glistened and were translucent in the light. Su Huanyi explained, “I bought it with my own money. It’s a small token of my appreciation. ”

“You made your own money?”

Su Huanyi coyly hung his head, “From a small business with friends……”

Su Chi, who was standing on one side of the room, looked toward Su Huanyi.

Su Jitong and Yu Xinyan were touched, “Wow! Little Yi is so thoughtful.”

Su Huanyi felt Su Chi’s gaze and gave half the credit to him, “Big brother helped me to pick them out!”

Su Jitong and Yu Xinyan marvelled, “Wow, the eldest has worked hard too.”

The atmosphere in the living room was happy and full of laughter, and the bright lights reflected the warmth of the room. In this warm and sunny atmosphere, Su Huanyi suddenly noticed a line of sight.

He turned his head to the line of sight and was confronted by Su Jianchen at the foot of the staircase.

Su Jianchen was like an orange cat, half-hidden behind the stairs, clearly observing in the dark, but his gaze was substantial.

Su Huanyi: “….”

Once Christmas was done, New Year’s Day approached, and the Su family started preparing to leave for the south.

They were going to a prefecture-level city in southern Yunnan where the sunshine was abundant and the climate pleasant. It is very suitable for vacations and retirement. The Su family purchased a mansion and went there every winter.

Su Yu had the day off before New Year’s Day and would go straight there from school. Most of his luggage was at home, so he made a video call to Su Huanyi to help him sort it out.

It was the first time Su Huanyi had been in Su Yu’s room, and it was very different from what he had expected – Su Yi looked playful, but there was a special bookshelf in his room with all kinds of books.

Su Yu saw that his eyes were pinned to it, and he said in a leisurely tone, “If you like it, I will take you to have one made when I’m on vacation.”

“Okay…” Su Huanyi’s tone trailed off as he moved his eyes away.

Su Yu had a lot of things to get from the wardrobe to the bookcase. Su Huanyi had not finished collecting them even after twenty minutes. Halfway through, Su Chi came in and leaned to the side with his arms crossed.

Su Yu was guiding Su Yu through the video when the latter turned around and revealed Su Chi behind him.

Su Yu saw that Su Chi’s gaze was fixed on Su Huanyi, and his eyes narrowed.

Su Huanyi had collected most of the things and was about to turn around when Su Yu suddenly said, “There is a small box under my bed. Please help me get one of the medicine boxes inside. ”

Su Huanyi then bent down to get it. The neckline of the pyjamas he had changed into was a bit big, so the front part fell forward as he bent over.

Su Huanyi got up after getting the stuff, but Su Yu smiled and said, “Get another one.”

He bent down and took another one.

Su Yu, “Get another one.”

Su Huanyi got suspicious, “…… third brother, are you stuck?” He was bending over again when his arm was suddenly pulled.

Su Chi tugged him up from behind and put him to the side as the other hand took the phone. He looked at Su Yu in the video, his tone unhurried, “Third brother, what else do you want to get. You can tell me.”

Su Yu: “….”

With Su Chi as a replacement, the luggage was quickly collected within five minutes. They had a flight to catch tomorrow, so the video call was ended, and they went to their rooms for an early night’s rest.

The next morning, the plane rose high into the cool, crisp air.

Su Huanyi was seated next to Su Chi. The moment the plane took off, a pair of warm calloused hands reached out and clasped his hands.

Su Huanyi turned his head amidst the roar and vibrations, but Su Chi had leaned back in his seat and had his eyes closed.

The questioning words reached Su Huanyi’s lips, but he closed his eyes and leaned back.

His big brother must be tired…

Their last destination was not far from where they landed. They took a car and soon arrived at the mansion just before noon.

Su Jitong opened the door and called everyone in, “Put your luggage away. We’ll first go out to eat. ”

They had brought driver Lin, Wu Ma, and two maids with them on this visit. Driver Lin carried Su Yu’s luggage, and the whole Su family walked towards the courtyard.

The local temperature was above ten degrees, and a bit of greenery could be seen in the courtyard.

The structure of the mansion was similar to that of their main residence, with three floors and bedroom balconies opening up to the left and right.

Su Huanyi soon noticed two doors that shared a large balcony.

He didn’t know which room was his, so he had to wait for the others to go in first and then look for it among the remaining rooms.

Su Jitong walked ahead, “Little Lin, you remember Su Yu’s room, right? Don’t get it wrong. ”

Su Huanyi secretly pricked up his ears.

Driver Lin said, “I remember, it’s in the same location as the main residence; the one on the first floor to the left.”

Since it was like the main residence, his room had to be the room on the right-hand side.

Several people went into the rooms with their luggage.

The dusty smell hit Su Huanyi the moment he pushed the door in. He leaned his luggage against the door and walked to the balcony to push the glass door open.

Almost simultaneously, the same sound of the door opening came from the other end of the balcony.

Su Huanyi poked his head out just in time to see Su Chi walking to the balcony. He called out, “Big brother!”

Su Chi turned to look at him and then walked toward him. He stood in front of his door in three or two steps.

Su Huanyi found this connected structure refreshing, and he turned to the side to make an invitation, “Big brother, please enter.”

Su Chi: “….”

Su Chi stepped in and reached out to pinch the skin on the back of the man’s neck.

Su Huanyi craned his neck, “Big brother, what are you doing?”

Su Chi replied, “Catching a turtle in a jar.”

“….”

The two exchanged idioms for a while before they remembered that they had to go out for lunch. The temperature here was so high that the down jacket and scarf Su Huanyi had on when he arrived were useless. He pulled at the zipper of the down jacket and tried to twist the scarf off.

He didn’t dare remove them carelessly; the clothes he was wearing were not cheap. “Brother, this is twisted together. Can you help me with it?”

Su Chi stepped forward to work on the zip as his thin fingers gently tugged at the scarf as he tried to sort it out bit by bit, “I should pay you tuition.”

The two were so close that Su Chi’s breath puffed on Su Huanyi’s bangs, blowing the soft hair slightly.

Su Huanyi’s intuition told him that this was another road to mockery, but he couldn’t help himself, “Why?”

“Otherwise, I’m sorry for all the problems you’ve given me.”

“….”

The scarf was pulled off and the zip smoothly pulled open. Su Huanyi immediately put aside the battle of words they just had and spoke out in praise, “You are good at undressing, big brother.”

Su Chi was still tugging on the zipper when he heard this, and he raised his eyes, “Go back to using idioms indiscriminately.”