How could Yu Qingchuan be so adorable?

Lu Shiming froze for a moment, his expression gradually cooling. "Why would you say that?"

Yu Qingluo hadn't expected him not to agree immediately. He had heard his coworkers joke about how Yu Qingchuan had pressured Lu Shiming, while Lu Shiming had kept dodging him and firmly refusing.

He hadn't taken it to heart at first, merely listening in passing, until he met Lu Shiming that evening.

The tall, handsome young man stood in stark contrast to his ugly, overweight older brother. They looked utterly mismatched, and anyone who saw them would feel indignant on Lu Shiming's behalf.

Yu Qingluo had always been softhearted, which was why he had offered to help Lu Shiming.

His feelings toward Yu Qingchuan were actually rather complicated. Since childhood, he had known Yu Qingchuan wasn't his full brother. His mother had told him that he and Yu Qingchuan were rivals, and that he had to be exceptionally accomplished for his father to like him and give him more.

So Yu Qingluo had always held himself to strict standards. He had to attend all sorts of extracurricular classes, learn piano, calligraphy, and painting, and keep up with his schoolwork. He had to place in the top three in the entire school on every exam.

Yu Qingchuan, however, didn't have to do any of that. If he thought an extracurricular class wasn't fun, he could cry and throw a tantrum, and he wouldn't have to go anymore. He didn't need good exam results either. No one cared even if he came dead last.

At first, Yu Qingluo had been envious. Later, he gradually came to think that Yu Qingchuan wasted his life on frivolous pursuits and was thoroughly unlikable.

With Yu Qingchuan being so awful, Lu Shiming must really want to get away from him, right?

He must have been threatened into going along with it.

Lu Shiming hadn't immediately contradicted Yu Qingluo. His brother had always taught him not to be rash, and not to dismiss something just because it didn't align with his own thinking. He should first figure out the other person's intentions, which was why he had asked that question.

Yu Qingluo chose his words carefully and said gently, "My brother doesn't really mean any harm. Our family has just always spoiled him, so he's grown used to getting whatever he wants. Let me apologize on his behalf first. If you want to get away from him, I can try talking him around, or think of another way."

Yu Qingluo was also exceptionally good-looking, with gentle, refined features and a pleasant voice.

If Lu Shiming had heard this before getting to know his sister-in-law, he might have happily agreed on the spot.

But after spending a few days with his sister-in-law, he had long since become his biggest fan. His sister-in-law was amazing, okay?

And what did he mean, spoiled? He had seen perfectly clearly how practiced his sister-in-law was at taking care of his brother. Obviously, he had been polite and good at looking after others since childhood. Besides, his sister-in-law was going to make him a feast!

What was wrong with the Yu family? Why would they bad-mouth one of their own?

Although his brother had beaten him up a few times when they were kids, and he had always wanted a chance to get him back, if anyone dared say anything bad about his brother, he would roll up his sleeves and teach them a lesson on the spot.

Lu Shiming frowned inwardly, his opinion of Yu Qingluo dropping somewhat. Even though he could tell the offer was well-intentioned, he didn't need that kindness. "Thank you, but my sister-in... Qingchuan and I get along very well. You don't need to worry."

Taken aback by the rebuff, Yu Qingluo didn't know what to say for a moment. He could only reply, somewhat awkwardly, "Then I overstepped. I'm sorry."

"If there's nothing else, I'll get going." Lu Shiming thought this had been a complete waste of time.

But how good was his sister-in-law's cooking? He couldn't wait. Ah, he wanted to get off work right now!

Watching Lu Shiming walk away, Yu Qingluo bit his lip, then went to find Yu Chenyi and told him that Lu Shiming and his brother were getting along very well, so there was no need to worry.

Upon hearing that, Yu Chenyi dropped the matter and waved him back to work.

He didn't give any more thought to what Yu Qingchuan had wanted to tell him, either.

Yu Qingchuan knew nothing about the aftermath of his phone call. He sat on the sofa, focused on drawing character designs, and by half past three, he had finished two line drawings. After he checked with the author who had commissioned them, they showered him with praise, saying no changes were needed and he could go straight to coloring.

Relieved, Yu Qingchuan replied with an "Okay."

But now he had to head back to cook first. Lu Shiming would probably get here around half past six, so leaving now would give him just enough time. He also needed to take his medicine half an hour before dinner.

Yu Qingchuan saved the line drawings, turned off the Pen Display, and went over to the hospital bed to touch Lu Shiyi's arm again. "Brother Yi, I'm heading back to cook for Shiming. I'll come back once I'm done."

At that, Lu Shiyi sneered inwardly. Good. Another reason to beat up his little brother.

How dare he make his sister-in-law cook for him?

Yu Qingchuan took a taxi back to Lu Shiyi's place again, stopping at the supermarket downstairs to buy a large food carrier.

Yu Qingchuan quite enjoyed cooking. Watching ingredients turn into dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful gave him the same sense of accomplishment as finishing a painting he was very pleased with.

But for someone trying to lose weight, smelling all that delicious food without being able to eat it was a bit of torture.

Yu Qingchuan took another deep breath. Just smell it and pretend he'd eaten it.

The red-braised pork had simmered to a glossy finish. He had left a little sauce in it; paired with rice, it would be absolutely irresistible.

The oil-braised shrimp had turned out well too, filling the whole place with the distinctive aroma of seafood.

Yu Qingchuan also stir-fried some greens for his own dinner.

He had already warmed up his medicinal decoction, so now was the perfect time to drink it first.

But the moment it entered his mouth, Yu Qingchuan's face scrunched up. Oh God, how could it taste so strange?

It was sour and astringent, with a bitter edge. It tasted so awful it nearly brought tears to his eyes.

Holding a mouthful of medicine, Yu Qingchuan forced himself to swallow, his eyes brimming with tears. By the time he finished, he felt half-dead.

And he had to drink this awful medicine for at least three courses of treatment.

This medicine alone was bad enough to hold a grudge over, Yu Qingchuan thought. He and Su Ningyue were sworn enemies!

When he carried the food to the hospital, Lu Shiming hadn't arrived yet, though he had sent a message saying he was almost there. Yu Qingchuan held Lu Shiyi's hand and complained quietly, "Brother Yi, Chinese medicine tastes so awful. But I have to put up with it to get better. I really wish someone would comfort me, though."

As he spoke, he nestled his head into Lu Shiyi's broad palm and nuzzled it like a kitten, then said contentedly, "There. I'll count that as you comforting me. I'm not upset anymore."

Lu Shiyi's heart felt as if a kitten had scratched it, leaving it tingling uncontrollably.

How could Yu Qingchuan be so adorable?

He desperately wanted to pull him into his arms and give him a few vigorous squeezes.

Just then, someone arrived to ruin the mood. "Sister-in-law, I'm here! I'm starving!"

Lu Shiming pushed the door open with a grin. The first thing he saw was the food carrier on the coffee table, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Yu Qingchuan smiled. "Try it and see if it's to your taste."

"Okay!" Lu Shiming opened the food carrier, and a rich, powerful aroma instantly wafted out, making his mouth water. He couldn't wait to take a bite, and it won him over completely. "Sister-in-law, tell me the truth. You won my brother over with your character, talent, and cooking, didn't you?"

Lu Shiyi: "..."

Good. A third beating. Noted.

Once he recovered, he was going to eat Yu Qingchuan's cooking too.

And he would never let Lu Shiming have another bite.