Chapter 34

Su Wang, who had just reached the study door, turned back to grab his phone. Before leaving, he said, "Big Brother, don't do anything rash and freeze my account."

Su Tinghuai nearly lost his restraint and threw every document in his hand at him.

Afraid that he would flare up, Su Wang hurriedly slipped away. Just as he left the room, he ran into Su Hui. He rubbed Su Hui's head and asked, "What's wrong? Did you need to see Big Brother?"

Su Hui shook his head and asked what he was doing and why he was not accompanying him to practice the piano.

How could Su Wang understand piano? Every time he sat in the music room, he was practically about to fall asleep. But in order to support Su Hui, he could only sit there and listen. After all, he was the only one in the family with enough free time to keep Su Hui company. Su Tinghuai was busy with work, Mother Su had rarely returned since moving back to her parents' home, and Father Su went without saying—Su Wang had not seen him for several weeks now.

That was why Su Hui depended on him even more. He wanted Su Wang to accompany him in everything he did.

"I'm watching a livestream. Huihui, go practice first. I'll be there in a bit."

Su Hui frowned. Su Wang had always granted whatever he asked for. He had only turned him down two or three times before because he wanted to play games with someone, and now he was refusing him again for a livestream.

[I'm not asking you anymore. I won't ask you to listen again.]

After signing that, Su Hui turned to go find Su Tinghuai. Seeing that he was upset, Su Wang quickly turned off his tablet and chased after him. "Huihui, don't be mad, don't be mad. I'll go to the music room with you right now. I won't watch anymore."

As the youngest omega in the Su family, Su Hui had always been spoiled by everyone at home. He had grown used to being indulged, so it was perfectly normal for him to turn hostile whenever he was even slightly unhappy. He ignored Su Wang and entered Su Tinghuai's study on his own. He wanted to complain to Su Tinghuai.

After reading his younger brother's description, Su Tinghuai kept a straight face and scolded Su Wang a few times. Afraid of making Su Hui angry, Su Wang did not utter a word in rebuttal to his eldest brother and hurriedly admitted his mistake.

"Yes, yes, yes. I won't dare do it again. Next time, I'll answer every request and never delay. Whatever Huihui tells me to do, I'll do."

The only person in the family who could keep Su Wang in line was Su Hui, because Su Wang was an ultimate little-brother fanatic.

Taking advantage of the moment, Su Tinghuai deliberately added, "Then shouldn't you uninstall your games while you're at it?"

Su Yu looked up at his eldest brother. "Big Brother, that's not right, is it? Besides, I haven't been playing much lately."

Su Tinghuai gave a quiet hum. "Then unfollow that streamer you follow, so you don't get obsessed."

"You make it sound like I'm watching something unhealthy."

A little confused, Su Hui shifted his gaze to Su Wang's tablet. Su Tinghuai spoke for Su Wang. "Your second brother is acting like a complete sucker, sending gifts to someone. You two spend more time together, so help me keep an eye on him."

Su Hui asked what kind of streamer Su Wang was watching and said he wanted to see too.

"Yes, exactly. You're an omega too, so you might understand what omegas are thinking better. Help me analyze what this omega means."

As he spoke, Su Wang recounted his experience all over again. This time, Su Hui understood why Su Wang had kept refusing to go to the music room with him lately.

He looked at the person in the video. He was wearing a Green-Headed Fish mask, so his face could not be seen at all. He even used a voice changer when speaking. Like Su Tinghuai, Su Hui could not understand what was so appealing about him.

But he realized that Su Wang had diverted more than half his attention to that person.

Having had Su Wang revolve around him ever since he was little, Su Hui felt extremely unbalanced.

Su Wang was supposed to stay by his side all the time.

"Huihui, why aren't you reacting at all?"

Seeing him stare at the livestream without responding, Su Wang could not help waving his hand twice in front of him. Su Hui came back to his senses and told him: Give me his WeChat. I'll talk to him.

Su Wang did not think much of it. He immediately took out his phone and searched for Su Yu's WeChat as he said, "Sure, I'll forward it to you now."

Su Hui glanced at the screen again and silently memorized his livestream ID.

*

A little after nine that evening, Su Yu shut down his computer and removed his mask. He tidied up his equipment and the empty milk carton beside it, then curled up on the living room sofa with his phone. He had been busy livestreaming and had not had time to check his phone. When he opened WeChat now, there were more than a dozen new messages.

The newest one had been sent by Gu Lin ten minutes ago. He said he was bringing Yun Shang over to pick him up.

Su Yu scrolled down and saw that Lu Heyun and Young Aunt had also sent him messages.

[Lu Heyun: When I came back tonight, I rang the doorbell but no one answered. I hung the apples I owed you last time on the door handle. Remember to bring them inside after you see this message.]

He knew he was home again?

How was Lu Heyun so observant?

Su Yu did not even put on shoes before stepping across the floor to the door. When he opened it, there really was a bag of apples hanging from the handle. The matter of those apples was so long ago that he had almost forgotten it, yet Lu Heyun had such a good memory that he still remembered.

But he would be going back to live over there later, and the apples would definitely spoil if he left them here.

If he brought them back, Gu Lin would not confiscate his apples too, would he?

Su Yu curled back up on the sofa and suddenly remembered the plants on his windowsill. Only the two cactus balls were still alive. The narcissus, spider plants, and aloe he had originally grown were all wilted and lifeless.

Why not leave them with Lu Heyun for now?

Su Yu started messaging Lu Heyun to ask if he had rested yet. The other party replied very quickly.

[Lu Heyun: Not yet. I'm reading.]

[Lu Heyun: What's wrong?]

[Su Yu: I have two cactus balls here. I want you to help take care of them. Is that okay?]

[Lu Heyun: Of course. It would be an honor.]

[Su Yu: Then, are you free right now? I'll bring them over. I'll be leaving soon.]

[Lu Heyun: Just come over. I'll have someone open the door for you.]

Su Yu turned off his phone, then carried his two cactus balls out the door. The door across from him soon opened. The bodyguard Su Yu saw this time did not look quite like the one from last time. To be honest, he was not very good at remembering people's faces, but he could tell that the people around Lu Heyun were different every time he saw them.

Why did it always feel like Lu Heyun changed people so often? Or had he remembered wrong?

Though Su Yu was puzzled, he was not certain. He entered the apartment and saw Lu Heyun sitting by the living room window with a book in his hand. When he saw Su Yu arrive, he closed the book and placed it on his lap.

He smiled slightly, his curved eyes bright and clear like the moon.

Lu Heyun always gave off a gentle, harmless impression. Every movement he made seemed light, and his voice was soft and unhurried when he spoke.

"You're here."

Su Yu nodded and looked around. "Where should I put these?"

"Put them on the coffee table. I'll move them into my room later."

Su Yu placed the two cactus balls on the coffee table. In truth, one of them already seemed to be in rather bad shape.

"This one seems like it's about to die. If you can't keep it alive, just let it be."

"It's fine. It looks like it's still alive. I'll try raising it for a few days."

"Okay, then I'll treat you to a meal next time."

Lu Heyun looked up at the omega. "It seems like you've said that many times already."

But he had never followed through even once.

Su Yu did not understand what he meant and asked in confusion, "Then what should I do? Could it be that you... don't like eating?"

Lu Heyun shook his head. "No. Of course I'd be very happy to eat with you."

"Now that you mention it, I don't even know how many meals I owe you. When I come back, I'll invite you to eat at my place every day."

Hearing that, Lu Heyun felt slightly relieved. "Really? I'm looking forward to it."

"Of course it's true. It's just a matter of preparing an extra set of bowls and chopsticks. It's not troublesome."

When Lu Heyun had first moved in, he had eaten at Su Yu's place for a while. He was not a picky eater, his appetite was moderate, and he was easy to feed. Most importantly, he praised Su Yu's cooking, which made Su Yu quite happy.

Lu Heyun smiled. He wanted to say something else, but Su Yu's phone rang just then. Su Yu glanced at it and saw that Gu Lin was calling.

He answered it.

"Where are you? Why is the door open when no one's inside?"

The moment Su Yu heard that voice, he turned mute again.

He could not speak.

Su Yu glanced at Lu Heyun, signaling that he was leaving, then waved to him. Lu Heyun softly said, "See you next time," and Su Yu turned and left.

As soon as Su Yu stepped out of Lu Heyun's apartment, he ran into Gu Lin, who had happened to come out as well. After seeing him, Gu Lin cut off the call. His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression did not look very pleasant. Yun Shang came out behind him too. The moment he saw Su Yu, he hurried over and circled around him as though checking whether he had been hurt anywhere.

[Why is Gu Lin being so serious? I only visited the neighbor.]

[And why is Shang Shang so nervous? Don't tell me they thought something happened to me?]

When they had arrived, the lights in the apartment were on, the door was unlocked, and no one was inside after they searched around. They really had thought something had happened to him.

Gu Lin gave a cold snort and said nothing more than, "Pack up. We're leaving."

Su Yu had already packed everything he needed. Before leaving, he did not forget to bring the apples Lu Heyun had given him. At first, Gu Lin did not know what he was carrying. It was not until they were waiting at a red light and he heard the two people in the back crunching loudly that he looked back.

When Gu Lin looked at him, Su Yu froze. His fair cheeks were puffed out by food, making him look like a little squirrel.

[...I forgot I'm not supposed to eat in his car.]

Gu Lin was rather pleased with his self-awareness and had intended to forgive his ignorance. Then Su Yu's next thought was: So what? I'm already eating. What can he do? It's not like he can make me get out of the car, right?

Gu Lin's face darkened. "...If you eat in my car again next time, be prepared to walk back."

After being scolded like that, Su Yu lowered his eyes and bowed his head, looking quite wronged. Yun Shang, who was eating an apple beside him, frowned and looked unhappy at Gu Lin.

Gu Lin shot him a sidelong glance. "What? Do you want to stand up for him?"

Yun Shang said nothing. He glared at Gu Lin, looking a little fierce.

Gu Lin only felt that he was beyond saving, always taking someone else's side.

Suddenly, Su Yu's slightly excited voice rang in his ears.

[There's such a good thing?]

Gu Lin: "?"

What was he happy about?

[Why not just let me out now? I'll take a taxi back to my apartment. It'd be best if you don't bother with me for the next few days and let me stay outside.]

He would not walk home, but he could turn around and return to his apartment. He could even treat Lu Heyun to a meal tomorrow.

"Don't even think about it."

[You say don't even think about it and I won't... Wait, did I say that out loud? What is Gu Lin replying to?]

Only then did Gu Lin realize that he had replied to Su Yu's thoughts. He saw that the light had turned green, so he withdrew his gaze and added while gripping the steering wheel, "Don't even think about dirtying my car."

Fortunately, Su Yu did not notice anything strange. The moment Gu Lin turned around, he resumed gnawing on his apple. Out of spite, he even ate one more.