Lin Fengzhi's fingers were not as long and were a little fleshy, but they felt soft and supple.
Feeling that softness against his palm, Lin Fengyi felt a slight warmth in his chest. He tightened his hold on Lin Fengzhi's interlaced fingers.
"Let's go inside. It's windy out here." Lin Fengyi turned to look at Lin Fengzhi, his gaze instantly softening. "You haven't recovered yet. Don't let it get worse."
He deliberately ignored Yan Heqing, while also putting him in his place-
Having a little blood connection to Lin Fengzhi did not mean he could dream of climbing the social ladder.
Lin Fengzhi's feelings were terribly complicated. That was his biological older brother... yet he was a complete stranger to him.
He opened his mouth, unsure how to address Yan Heqing. After biting his lip several times, he settled for "you." "You should come inside. Dinner's almost ready."
Those few words left Lin Fengzhi unbearably embarrassed. He turned and hurried away, pulling Lin Fengyi along.
Worried Yan Heqing would feel awkward, Mother Lin patted his arm affectionately. "Come on, Xiao Yan. Don't be nervous."
Yan Heqing's eyes curved slightly. "Okay."
Lin Fengxian was not there. Hearing that Yan Heqing had arrived, Father Lin came out of his study.
Father Lin was just as welcoming. "Xiao Yan, being here is no different from being at home. Make yourself comfortable."
Yan Heqing nodded politely. "I will, Uncle."
Holding the flowers, Mother Lin beamed. "Look, dear. These are the carnations Xiao Yan brought me. Aren't they beautiful?" Rather than handing them to a servant, she went to arrange them in a vase herself.
Father Lin smiled warmly. "Your auntie loves flowers. She's planted so many, but none of them survived."
Mother Lin's voice carried over from a distance. "Who says none survived? That Royal Rouge from last month isn't dead yet!"
Yan Heqing smiled gently. "If you don't mind, Auntie, I could take a look at them for you later."
Mother Lin immediately came running over with the vase. "You know how to grow flowers?"
"A little," Yan Heqing replied. "I worked part-time at a flower nursery for a while and learned a bit. I don't know very much."
Mother Lin's face lit up. "Wonderful, wonderful! Not one of my sons likes tending flowers and plants, so I never have anyone to join me. Come over often from now on, Xiao Yan. We have such a big garden. You can grow anything."
Seeing how much Mother Lin liked Yan Heqing, Lin Fengzhi's pupils contracted slightly, and he quietly clenched his hand.
Lin Fengyi immediately spoke up on Lin Fengzhi's behalf. "Mom, you're the lady of the Lin household. Stop thinking about doing all that dirty, tiring work. That's what servants are for."
He deliberately stressed "servants."
Mother Lin shot him a glare. "What do you know? It's not about who should do something, but who wants to do it. This is my one hobby."
Then Mother Lin looked at Yan Heqing affectionately again. "Are you hungry? There's still a soup simmering. We'll eat when it's ready. I'll go hurry things along in the kitchen."
Yan Heqing smiled. "Take your time. I'm not hungry yet."
Mother Lin went to the kitchen, and Yan Heqing said modestly to Father Lin, "Uncle, I came in a hurry and didn't have time to buy you a gift. Would you like me to play a game of Go with you?"
Father Lin had been about to say there was no need to bring a gift, but the offer of a game of Go caught his interest. "How about a game before dinner, then?"
Yan Heqing lightly rolled up his cuffs. "As many as you like."
Once the subject of Go came up, the two chatted happily as they walked over to the board and sat down.
Yan Heqing took white, and Father Lin took black. After they had played for a while, Father Lin could not stop praising him. "Xiao Yan, that move was brilliant!"
"Where did you learn Go?"
Yan Heqing nodded. "I've never had lessons."
Father Lin was astonished. "Never had lessons?"
Yan Heqing's lips curved. "When I was little, I had nowhere to go, so I watched the neighbors play at the entrance to the residential complex every day. After a while, I picked up a little."
Father Lin was even more astonished. Holding a stone, he said with considerable regret, "What a shame. With your aptitude, if you'd received professional instruction earlier, you could have competed professionally without any trouble."
Father Lin lost. Even after dinner was ready, he wanted to pull Yan Heqing into a second game. Only when Mother Lin forcibly put the board away did he reluctantly say, "We'll play again after dinner."
At the dinner table, Father Lin asked Yan Heqing to sit beside him and enthusiastically discussed Go.
Mother Lin had to interrupt him. "Are you going to let Xiao Yan eat?" She placed a piece of pork rib in Yan Heqing's bowl. "It's your first time here, so I don't know your tastes. If the food isn't to your liking, don't force yourself. There are dumplings in the fridge. They cook quickly. It's no trouble."
Father Lin shook his head with a cheerful smile. "I got too excited. Eat first, Xiao Yan. Your auntie made these dishes. If you like them, help yourself. Don't be shy."
Yan Heqing's eyes curved. "I'm not a picky eater. I can eat anything." He picked up the rib and took a bite, then offered sincere praise. "If you opened a restaurant, Auntie, I'd definitely come."
Mother Lin was delighted. "Have more if you like it. There's still more in the kitchen."
The three of them were getting along so warmly that Lin Fengzhi felt even worse. He kept feeling that they seemed more like a family.
He lowered his head and poked at his rice over and over.
Lin Fengyi had been watching Lin Fengzhi the whole time. He immediately spoke up. "You and Zhizhi are twins, so you're eighteen this year too, right? Are you studying or working?"
Yan Heqing put down his chopsticks and smiled slightly. "Studying."
"Which university? What major?" Lin Fengyi placed a cola chicken wing in Lin Fengzhi's bowl. "Zhizhi goes to T University. Don't tell me you do too?"
He deliberately wanted to take Yan Heqing down a peg. Was knowing how to grow flowers and play Go so impressive?
Lin Fengzhi had gotten into a prestigious university ranked sixth in the country.
"No, I don't." Yan Heqing's voice was clear. "I go to Beijing University."
There was a moment of silence.
Beijing University was a world-class institution, ranked first in the country and twenty-second globally.
Lin Fengzhi nearly lost his grip on his chopsticks.
Lin Fengyi was equally shocked. Yan Heqing was actually a Beijing University student!
Mother Lin asked with a smile, "What's your major?"
"Software engineering at the moment," Yan Heqing answered each question. "I'm applying to transfer to biology next semester."
Biology was Beijing University's flagship program. Father Lin was full of admiration. "You have a promising future ahead of you, Xiao Yan!"
"I'm done eating." Lin Fengzhi abruptly set down his bowl and stood up. The chair legs scraped against the floor with a piercing noise. "Enjoy your meal."