Don't Be Afraid, I'll Get You Out

Zhong Sirui was grabbed by the collar and tossed aside, staring dumbfoundedly as his brother set out breakfast for Wen Chengze.

The latter looked as though it was only natural, then began eating breakfast with perfect elegance.

Zhong Sirui looked at Wen Chengze's breakfast.

"Bro, I'm hungry too!"

"There's food in the kitchen. Go get it yourself."

Zhong Sirui: ...

Am I really your brother?

Watching Zhong Sirui head for the kitchen with a resentful expression, Wen Chengze turned to Zhong Mohan. "Why is he here?"

"His home is downstairs. His manager probably told him I stayed here last night, so he came up to mooch a meal."

"Oh." Wen Chengze turned back and continued eating breakfast.

"Don't worry. I won't let him disturb your rest."

Wen Chengze was highly skeptical of Zhong Mohan's words, because ever since Zhong Sirui had brought his breakfast out of the kitchen, his mouth had not stopped moving.

To use an inappropriate comparison, Wen Chengze felt as though there was a fly constantly buzzing beside his ear.

Even Zhong Mohan's warning was completely ignored by Zhong Sirui today.

It couldn't be helped. He was just too shocked.

Zhong Sirui had grown up with Zhong Mohan, yet he had never seen any worldly desires in his brother.

Countless beauties had been delivered right in front of him, and his brother would not even bother lifting his eyelids. But now? His brother had actually brought someone home!

How could he not be shocked?

Under the table, Wen Chengze kicked Zhong Mohan and signaled with his eyes for him to make Zhong Sirui shut up already.

"Did your manager give you the day off today?"

Although the variety show Wen Chengze was filming had a day off, Zhong Sirui definitely had more than one program. As a top-tier popular idol, Zhong Sirui's schedule was packed.

Zhong Mohan's question immediately left Zhong Sirui speechless.

"Cousin, you can't be this ruthless!"

"Your manager should be downstairs right now. If you can't eat breakfast quietly, I'll have her come up immediately."

Zhong Sirui finally fell completely silent. He sat upright in his chair and ate without saying a word.

Wen Chengze raised an eyebrow. Zhong Sirui seemed quite afraid of his manager.

Still, Wen Chengze was not particularly curious about the reason. He only felt that the entire world had finally become quiet.

After breakfast, Zhong Sirui was chased off to wash the dishes, while Wen Chengze sat lazily on the sofa, basking in the sun.

"Are you going home today?"

Wen Chengze thought about it, then shook his head. "No. If I go back, they'll make a huge fuss again. I'll go back after the recording is over."

"Alright. The clothes will be delivered soon. Keep whichever ones you like."

Speak of the devil—just as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang.

The staff filing in one after another surprised Wen Chengze a little.

His family also had custom-made clothing, but it was definitely not this exaggerated.

Each staff member carried only one outfit, then hung it up. The clothes had not even been formally pressed yet, but thanks to the staff's careful handling, there was not a single wrinkle on them.

Wen Chengze looked at the clothes, then turned to Zhong Mohan. "When did you prepare these?"

Custom-made clothing took time. Even if this was Zhong Mohan's exclusive private tailor, there was no way they could have made so many clothes overnight.

"I had them preparing them earlier. I kept wondering when you would have a chance to come to my home. I didn't expect it to happen so soon."

Wen Chengze gave a soft snort. "Is that why you even had them make pajamas?"

Zhong Mohan answered righteously, "If you don't stay over, then either there's something wrong with you or something wrong with me. But I think we're both normal people."

Clicking his tongue lightly, Wen Chengze got up to choose some clothes.

When Zhong Sirui came out of the kitchen and saw such a grand display, tears of envy practically flowed from the corner of his mouth.

"Bro, you're way too biased. I begged you for so long to have your team make me a formal outfit for an event, but you refused. Now you've had your team make so many everyday outfits. Is that reasonable?"

"I never stopped you."

Zhong Sirui rubbed his fingers together. "Isn't it because I don't have the money?"

His brother's private team charged astronomical prices to outsiders, alright? Although he made quite a lot now, there was still quite a gap between him and his money-printing brother.

Despite Zhong Sirui's repeated hints, Zhong Mohan remained completely unaffected, his gaze following Wen Chengze the entire time.

After choosing several outfits, Wen Chengze went into the bedroom to change. By the time he came back out, Zhong Sirui had already left.

"He left?"

"Mm. His manager called him away."

Had Zhong Sirui really come just to mooch a meal? Wen Chengze fell thoughtful. From the looks of it, the brothers had a very good relationship.

After only a few encounters, Wen Chengze had already realized that Zhong Mohan had an extremely strong sense of territory. Yet he could let his cousin come to his home early in the morning, which said a great deal.

Seeing the curiosity in Wen Chengze's eyes, Zhong Mohan waited for him to ask. Only once Wen Chengze's curiosity was piqued could he guide him into getting to know him better.

Yet after waiting a long time, Wen Chengze showed no intention of asking.

"Aren't you curious about my relationship with him?"

"Mm, not really. How much were the clothes? I'll transfer the money to you."

Seeing Wen Chengze's attitude was completely different from this morning, Zhong Mohan helplessly pinched the bridge of his nose. He could tell now that this little ancestor did everything according to his mood.

For instance, right now, Wen Chengze simply did not seem to feel like dealing with him.

"What's wrong? What did I do to upset you this time?"

"What do you think?" Wen Chengze asked in return.

Zhong Mohan thought it over and over, deciding that the problem was probably still Zhong Sirui.

"Because of Zhong Sirui?"

Wen Chengze had merely felt a bit of temper rising up that he could not control. Usually, he either had little emotion or could not control himself at all. Yet faced with such a strange temper of his, Zhong Mohan did not find it irritating. Instead, he seriously considered the reason for his emotional change, and that strange feeling was soothed just like that by Zhong Mohan.

Wen Chengze looked at Zhong Mohan and slowly nodded. "Partly because of him." After a pause, he added, "I don't like feeling as though I'm being treated like some kind of rare animal."

After hearing Wen Chengze's words, Zhong Mohan frowned and immediately apologized. "Sorry. I didn't consider things carefully enough and caused you trouble."

That was true. Wen Chengze clearly liked peace and quiet. Zhong Sirui had come over early in the morning and been so noisy. It was already very good that Zeze had not lost his temper on the spot.

Zhong Mohan walked over to Wen Chengze and crouched down beside him. "You don't need to endure it like this in the future. If you feel uncomfortable or unhappy, you can tell me directly. I'm pursuing you, loving you, because I want to make you happy."

"Zhong Mohan, I..." Wen Chengze paused. He did not know how to say it.

He had never avoided the fact that he was ill, but for some reason, facing Zhong Mohan's concerned gaze now, he could not say it. He was a little afraid.

Afraid that once he said it aloud, he would see disgust in Zhong Mohan's eyes. Afraid that this wholehearted kindness would be taken back.

Wen Chengze clenched his hands. Let him be selfish, then. Let him enjoy this warmth for a little longer.

Seeing that Wen Chengze wanted to speak but hesitated, Zhong Mohan did not force him.

"There's nothing going on today. Is there anything you want to do?" He changed the subject at just the right moment, completely skipping over that unpleasant interruption.

Wen Chengze shook his head and looked at Zhong Mohan. "There's nothing I want to do. Most of the time, I prefer staying in bed and sleeping. I'm actually... a very boring person."

He had no particular hobbies. He did not like exercise, nor did he like gathering with friends. His life was truly very boring.

"No. You just haven't found something you're willing to do, or rather, you haven't met someone who truly wants to lead you out of your own world. Will you give me the chance to be that person today?"

Wen Chengze did not answer, but neither did he resist. Zhong Mohan naturally began arranging what they would do today.

Knowing Wen Chengze did not particularly like outdoor activities, and that it was not really suitable for people of their identities to go out, Zhong Mohan simply took Wen Chengze to play at home.

It was a game he had bought earlier.

"You have things like this at home?"

Wen Chengze held the controller and explored its buttons.

He had thought only teenagers liked these things. A mature, successful man like Zhong Mohan did not look like someone who would play games at all.

Zhong Mohan gave a light cough. "Actually, I bought it for you."

"For me?"

Earlier, Zhong Mohan had asked around about what twenty-year-old boys generally liked. It was nothing more than beautiful women, games, and figurines.

But sending beautiful women to Wen Chengze? Heh. Anyone who dared do that would be hanging themselves from a tree, tired of living. Before anyone else could act, Zhong Mohan would deal with that person first.

As for figurines, Zhong Mohan had looked into it. Wen Chengze had no interest in them either.

In the end, he decided games were the best option. If Wen Chengze liked them, it would be catering to his interests. If he did not, they could explore them together and deepen their relationship.

For a moment, Wen Chengze did not know what reaction Zhong Mohan's preparations should inspire.

Restrained affection, clothes prepared in advance, games to pass the time—Zhong Mohan was not treating him like a plaything. He was genuinely cherishing him as someone he wanted to be with.

Wen Chengze studied the controller's buttons, but his peripheral vision remained fixed on Zhong Mohan.

How many more surprises was this person going to give him?

The two chose a two-player horror escape-room game.

Both the art style and music were quite frightening. However, the ones controlling the game were two people with exceptionally high IQs, so their progress was not slow. Still, since they were beginners and unfamiliar with some of the controls, they died several times.

When they had to jump from a platform toward the exit, Wen Chengze could not get through no matter how he operated the controls. Every jump also meant facing a female corpse in red. Wen Chengze licked his lips, feeling a little flustered.

It was not that he was afraid of horror games. It was just that whenever he failed the jump, the red-clothed female corpse would suddenly leap right into his face, and each time came from a different angle. It was impossible not to be scared.

Just as Wen Chengze hesitated over whether to try again, an arm suddenly reached around his shoulder. That large hand held his right hand, and his other hand was held as well.

"Don't be afraid. I'll get you out." Warm, damp breath brushed against his left ear and went straight to his heart.