So What?

The question left Yu Nian stumped. For a moment, he had no idea how to answer.

But Qin Yuheng had already moved on. "Since the food's good, there's no need to find somewhere else. Let's eat here."

The server smiled as she led them to their seats and handed them two menus.

This meal was Yu Nian's treat. He told Qin Yuheng, "Brother Yu, you order first."

Qin Yuheng accepted without any polite fuss.

Once they had ordered, Yu Nian and Qin Yuheng fell into silence again.

He remembered what Qin Yuheng had just said and wondered whether he should explain himself.

But he didn't seem to know where to begin. Besides, Qin Yuheng might only have asked in passing and already forgotten about it.

Yu Nian decided to stop dwelling on it and turned to something that concerned him more. "Will eating here bother you?"

A rare flicker of surprise crossed Qin Yuheng's face. Yu Nian said awkwardly, "I didn't expect so many people. It might get a little noisy."

"You seem to have the wrong idea about me."

Yu Nian blinked. "What?"

Qin Yuheng sounded a little helpless. "When I studied abroad, I worked part-time too. I'm used to places like this."

Yu Nian found that hard to believe, but realizing that showing it might be rude, he quickly schooled his expression and tried to find something to talk about. "Then, what kinds of part-time jobs did you do abroad, Brother Yu?"

Watching his expressive face, Qin Yuheng's lips curved slightly as he recalled, "I waited tables, bartended, translated, coached at a fencing club, and worked as a photographer..."

"An elderly lady in the neighborhood even paid me to help fix up her garden."

He folded his hands on the table and leaned forward slightly, looking as though he were negotiating, yet somehow still relaxed. "Yu Nian, I'm not as delicate as you think."

It was the first time Yu Nian had heard him say his name. Perhaps it was because of the words that followed, but every syllable seemed to carry weight.

Embarrassed at having his thoughts seen through, Yu Nian nevertheless admired him sincerely. "You've done so many different things, Brother Yu."

He tightened his grip on his teacup and said sheepishly, "I had the wrong idea."

After all, he'd always imagined that someone like Qin Yuheng had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, waited on even at meals, and would never encounter the lives of ordinary people like them.

And Qin Yu's behavior had undoubtedly been what first gave him that impression.

But now Yu Nian realized once again that not everyone was Qin Yu.

Of course, not everyone could do what Qin Yuheng had done, either.

Qin Yuheng watched him quietly, then said after a while, "I thought telling you all this might help you feel less nervous around me."

Yu Nian started and hurriedly said, "I'm not. I'm not nervous."

But even he didn't believe himself.

A little frustrated with himself, he said, "Sorry."

In all honesty, Yu Nian didn't consider himself someone who tended to overthink, but he believed anyone confronted with Qin Yuheng's face would find it hard to remain composed.

Of course, there was also the unavoidable fact that he and Qin Yu were brothers. Whenever Yu Nian felt he was getting along well with Qin Yuheng, he immediately remembered who the man was and could only remind himself not to get too involved with him.

Qin Yuheng was about to offer a few reassuring words when Yu Nian added, "But Brother Yu, you can't put all the blame on me."

"Have you ever considered that your presence is too intimidating? You're always so stern. Anyone would feel pressured around you."

Yu Nian muttered, "If you smiled more, maybe I wouldn't be so nervous."

Qin Yuheng hesitated. "Haven't I smiled?"

Yu Nian: "..."

Just listen to him. How could he say that with such a cold, expressionless face?

"Heh..." Qin Yuheng actually laughed. The frost in his eyes melted, as though something adorable had softened him, and his whole presence became much gentler. "No one's ever said that to me. Most of the time, I don't find anything worth smiling about."

Yu Nian thought his smile was quite handsome. Knowing he wasn't angry, he continued, "How could there be nothing? Eating something delicious, seeing someone you want to see, hearing something funny-you can smile at all those things."

"And if you'd smiled like that before, I wouldn't have had to be scared."

Qin Yuheng's expression turned serious. "So you really are afraid of me."

Yu Nian: "..."

Embarrassing. So embarrassing again.

"But thank you," Qin Yuheng said. "No one's ever told me any of this."

Perhaps he was imagining it, but Yu Nian felt that his voice had softened considerably too. Deep and resonant, with a rare touch of tenderness, it was utterly captivating.

Yu Nian's ears tingled a little.

If Qin Yuheng became a radio host, he'd probably be a huge hit too.

"And I've never been angry with you."

On the contrary, he had enjoyed every moment.

Yu Nian wasn't entirely convinced. "Really? Never?"

Qin Yuheng lowered his eyes and chuckled. "Really. Never."

After clearing the air, Yu Nian felt much closer to Qin Yuheng and even grew a little cheeky.

"Then what about last time in the car? I accidentally fell asleep against you, and you looked so fierce. I apologized, but you wouldn't even answer me." Yu Nian spoke more freely now, with a trace of grievance.

Qin Yuheng's voice was low and gentle, almost coaxing. "No. I was angry with myself."

Angry with himself?

Puzzled, Yu Nian wanted to ask more, but the server had already begun bringing their dishes over one by one.

The sight of the spread and the rich aroma of food immediately whetted Yu Nian's appetite.

"People online say the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish here is really good." Yu Nian was about to pick up his chopsticks, but paused to ask, "Do you eat it, Brother Yu?"

Qin Yuheng said, "Yes, I do."

Yu Nian brightened again and used the serving chopsticks to place some fish on his plate. "Then try some."

Qin Yuheng was about to thank him when Yu Nian teased, "Check it for poison for me."

Qin Yuheng paused, then smiled knowingly. "All right."

Yu Nian was rather reserved around strangers and had a good sense of boundaries, but once people got to know him, they would discover how much he liked joking and laughing with his friends. He had a very lively personality.

Now that Qin Yuheng could chat and laugh with him, Yu Nian already considered him a friend.

Yu Nian had just figured it out too. Even if he became friends with Qin Yuheng, even if Qin Yuheng was Qin Yu's brother, so what?