"No," Song Jing'an said succinctly.
Xia Shule thought it over. Of course, he couldn't rule out the possibility that a stranger just happened to have exactly the same eyes and brows, but he still leaned toward a real-heir, fake-heir situation.
First, Song Dimu was the original novel's male lead, so no matter how melodramatic his life got, it made sense. Second, they looked too alike-not the sort of resemblance between strangers.
Xia Shule had seen plenty of strangers who looked alike, but this felt different.
There would be no melodramatic misunderstandings over real and fake heirs on Xia Shule's watch.
Better to be direct. There was no need for agonizing misunderstandings over something like this. "Jing'an, I have a friend who... looks a lot like you. If you're willing to meet him, you'll understand why I asked that question just now."
Song Jing'an didn't take it to heart. Whatever it meant, whatever the outcome, he didn't care.
It didn't matter who his younger brother was.
"Sure. When I have time."
Xia Shule knew he was just giving him a perfunctory answer, but it didn't matter. The wedding was tomorrow; they were bound to meet. Xia Shule wouldn't even have to arrange it. They would naturally see each other.
"Hey," Lu Mingwen finally managed to get a word in. "Not even going to say hello?"
Xia Shule said, "I've already graduated. Why should I? What a small world. What are you doing here? Just seeing you is making me sleepy."
Lai Jiangtian craned his neck and asked Yan Zhiyi, "They know each other?"
Two other pairs of eyes beside him were equally curious.
Yan Zhiyi explained, "Mingwen was Lele's university teacher."
"Holy shit?!"
"It really is a small world."
Lu Mingwen smiled, apparently enjoying this feeling. Yes, nothing had changed. Same as ever.
With one hand in his pocket, he squeezed into the empty spot beside Xia Shule and sat down next to him. Song Jing'an silently shifted aside, puzzled but incurious.
"You promised you'd come see me when you got back. Why haven't I seen hide nor hair of you? Forgot all about me as soon as you returned to the country? Hmm? And now the first news I get is that you're getting married. How old are you, anyway? Have you really thought about spending your whole life with someone, or are you just blundering into marriage?"
Lai Jiangtian pulled Yin Xian's ear toward him and offered running commentary like a live chat feed, wherever and whenever he pleased. "Why does Lu Mingwen seem off too? Since when has he... cared this much about someone else?"
Yin Xian said, "Exactly. All that fussing and nagging and rambling..."
Song Jing'an: "..." Not interested.
Confusion appeared on Xia Shule's face. "When did I say I'd come see you? Oh, come on. Obviously I thought it through before deciding to get married~"
Lu Mingwen frowned. Heartless little thing. He clearly promised... He studied Xia Shule's expression and found that he was genuinely confused, not pretending or joking.
Had he really forgotten?
With a blank look in his eyes, Xia Shule kept going over Lu Mingwen's words, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember ever saying he would come see him.
But Lu Mingwen was a teacher. How could he have remembered wrong? Yet Xia Shule had absolutely no memory of it.
Looking grave, Yin Xian put down his teacup, unable to drink the tea that had reached his lips. Xia Shule's body was tense and stiff, his head lowered and shoulders slumped. His expression was troubled, his brows drawn tightly together, anxious and uneasy.
He wasn't sure whether Xia Shule had an anxiety disorder, but this behavior was a clear anxiety response.
Though everyone's psychological presentation differed, the general patterns were much the same.
Yin Xian pressed his lips together. Better not draw conclusions about something he wasn't sure of.
Lu Mingwen looked crestfallen. Apparently, he really didn't remember. How heartless-he'd forgotten all about him.
"You heartless little brat. You've broken your teacher's heart." Lu Mingwen jokingly clutched his chest.
"What do you mean, heartless? I'll give you my wedding bouquet tomorrow, all right? Here's hoping I'll soon have a teacher's wife."
Hearing that, Yan Zhiyi wrapped an arm around Xia Shule and leaned close. "You already promised the bouquet to Xiang Lin. Forgot?"
"Oh, right, right! I forgot! Can't give it to you, then."
"..."
Yin Xian thought, Memory loss. All right, all right, another symptom noted.
Xia Shule leaned straight into the crook of Yan Zhiyi's arm and murmured intimately, "I'm a little hungry~"
"It'll be here soon. I already asked them to serve the food."
"Okay!"
Bean Paste Crispy Roast Chicken, Hellish North African Eggs, Spanish-Style Baby Squid, Mint-Fried Pork Ribs, Spicy Pork Ribs, Umami Shrimp Paste Youtiao, Dragon-Style Tiger Grouper, and Clay-Pot-Braised Peach Gum and Mountain Delicacies.
Yan Zhiyi had also ordered a steamed egg custard just for Xia Shule.
Once all the dishes arrived, Xia Shule's appetite came out in full force. Chopsticks in hand and the tip of his tongue peeking out, he wanted this, and this, and that too.
"All done? Everything's here? I'm digging in!"
Xia Shule picked up his chopsticks. He wanted to try every dish, but he only had one pair.
Beside him, Yan Zhiyi and his friends began discussing business matters. Xia Shule didn't understand any of it, so he focused on eating.
Until... two pairs of chopsticks appeared over his plate. One held Mint-Fried Pork Ribs, the other Spicy Pork Ribs. Xia Shule turned to look at each of them in turn.
Lu Mingwen and Yan Zhiyi exchanged a glance across Xia Shule.
Then both withdrew their chopsticks as though nothing had happened. Fortunately, Xia Shule liked both dishes, and he polished them off in two or three bites, leaving his plate empty again.
Xia Shule's cheeks were stuffed full when Lai Jiangtian suddenly asked him, "What did you two go off to do when Yan left with you that day? How did you meet? That guy can barely squeeze out a word. I'll ask you instead. Lele will give me all the details, won't he? Hehehe."
Yin Xian elbowed him. "Hey, what a sleazy laugh."
Xia Shule hadn't swallowed yet, but he wanted to answer, so he mumbled indistinctly, "I fough' he wash a florish'!"
Yan Zhiyi gazed fondly at this adorable little hamster, affection practically overflowing in his heart as a smile unconsciously curved his lips.
"Slow down. Don't choke."
Lai Jiangtian couldn't help himself. This time, instead of whispering to Yin Xian, he said loudly, "Yan, you seriously look like you've been possessed."
The others nodded in agreement.
Xia Shule finally swallowed his food, then leaned toward Yan Zhiyi, carrying the aroma of the meal with him, and whispered a question.
"Should I tell the truth or make up a grand love story?"
"I'd like you to make up a grand love story. Would that be okay?" Yan Zhiyi asked as though coaxing a child.
Xia Shule looked smug. "Leave it to me. Easy as pie."
He turned back. "Jiang Tian, it's a long story. Let me tell it from the beginning!"
He looked like a storyteller from ancient times, swaying his head with an utterly serious expression. Everyone laughed, and even those who rarely smiled had smiles on their faces. The whole room was filled with warmth and cheer.
"Go on! Jiang Tian's ready! Your brother Yin Xian is ready too, and so is your brother Jing'an, and so is your teacher Lu!"
"It was a bright, breezy afternoon... evening..."