Chapter 12

He exchanged a few words with President Xu, who wanted to take them out for a meal, but Fu Yuhe declined on the pretext that he had something else to do.

After President Xu left, Fu Yuhe turned and exchanged a glance with Shen Yi. Each understood what the other had meant just now.

Fu Yuhe was perfectly open and composed, while amusement danced in Shen Yi's eyes. Only Fu Cheng blinked, looking from one to the other and scratching his head in confusion.

Had something happened just now? Why did he feel a little left out of whatever was going on between his eldest brother and Shen Yi?

It was mealtime, and the restaurants near the school were packed, so Fu Yuhe took them to a restaurant downtown.

As soon as the three walked in, a server came over and greeted him as "President Fu." The restaurant had reserved a private room, and the server led them there. Once they were seated, Fu Cheng sat between Shen Yi and Fu Yuhe, holding the menu and recommending dishes to Shen Yi. He was clearly a regular.

Fu Yuhe took off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the smooth, understated lines of his forearm muscles. Beside him, the two teenagers had their heads together and looked very close. He waited a while, then asked, "Have you chosen?"

"Anything's fine with me," Shen Yi said. "You two order."

Fu Cheng handed the menu to Fu Yuhe. "You order, Brother."

Both pairs of eyes landed on him.

Fu Yuhe: "..."

Their wordless understanding annoyed him.

His jaw shifted. "Can you eat spicy food?"

Shen Yi knew the question was directed at him. "No problem."

Fu Yuhe placed their order with the server, who took the menu and left, gently closing the door behind them.

Shen Yi and Fu Cheng started chatting again. Fu Yuhe couldn't help wondering whether he had talked that much at their age.

Still, since Shen Yi had appeared, Fu Cheng had become more outgoing than before.

"I'm going to the restroom. Where is it?" Shen Yi asked.

Fu Cheng said, "I'll take..."

He was interrupted. "I'll take you," Fu Yuhe said in a steady voice.

He glanced at Shen Yi. "I'll have a cigarette while I'm at it."

Shen Yi paused, then readily agreed. "Sure. Sorry for the trouble, Brother Fu."

Fu Cheng had no choice but to sit down and wait obediently.

Shen Yi and Fu Yuhe arrived at the restroom, one after the other.

"Go on." Fu Yuhe stood at the entrance and lifted his chin.

"Aren't you going, Brother Fu?" Shen Yi asked.

Fu Yuhe took out his cigarette pack. "No."

"Oh." Shen Yi turned and went in.

The restroom was clean, with pristine white floor tiles and only the faint scent of air freshener in the air. Shen Yi quickly finished and went out to wash his hands at the sink outside.

He looked up and saw Fu Yuhe by the entrance in the mirror. The man had a cigarette between his lips, its tip glowing red. The smoke he exhaled blurred his face, but Shen Yi knew he was watching him.

He was watching Fu Yuhe too, his gaze sliding from his face down to his narrow, lean waist. Fu Yuhe had taken off his suit jacket in the private room and was now wearing only a white shirt, neatly tucked into his trousers. The well-fitting fabric traced his waist, two buttons at his collar were undone, and he had a cigarette between his lips. He looked casual, languid, and sexy.

Cool water slid over Shen Yi's long fingers. He lowered his eyes and withdrew his gaze, then dried his hands and said, "I'm done."

Fu Yuhe didn't move. "Mm."

After a long moment, he took the cigarette from his lips, stubbed it out, and tossed it into the trash, then walked over to wash his hands at the sink.

He had indeed been watching Shen Yi just now, so absorbed that it left him somewhat irritated.

In the mirror, Shen Yi's baseball jacket sleeves were pushed up to his forearms. There was a clean, youthful air about him, as though he were born to shine, drawing people's gazes without their realizing it.

Fu Yuhe finished washing his hands and straightened up. "Let's go," he said lightly.

"Are we going straight back like this?" Shen Yi tilted his head behind him and asked.

Fu Yuhe looked at him in the mirror, his eyes half-lidded.

Shen Yi's lips curved. "I thought you came with me because you wanted to talk to me alone about something, Brother Fu."

Fu Yuhe narrowed his eyes. He had noticed that Shen Yi liked to wear this kind of smile when he was up to mischief, deceptively innocent, like a naughty child who looked innocent on the outside but was wicked on the inside.

Still, Shen Yi was right about one thing. He had indeed come with that intention.

"Oh, like last time," Shen Yi added slowly.

There was no need to say which time he meant. They both knew.

"Brother Fu, I keep my word. I didn't mention a single word of it to Fu Cheng." He was like a child waiting to be praised.

"If you had, you wouldn't be here now," Fu Yuhe said.

Shen Yi pressed him. "So what about this time? What do you want to say, Brother Fu?"

Fu Yuhe didn't know if it was his imagination, but he thought Shen Yi seemed faintly expectant.

He looked at Shen Yi in the mirror and asked unhurriedly, "Shen Yi, did I give you the wrong impression? Did I make you think I'm easy to deal with?"

Shen Yi said, "I..."

"Keep your little tricks to yourself," Fu Yuhe said, his eyes dark and menacing. "Don't do anything strange to Fu Cheng."

"Anything strange..." Shen Yi murmured softly. "Brother Fu, you've misunderstood me."

Fu Yuhe said, "I hope it is a misunderstanding."

Shen Yi said, "If by 'anything strange' you mean..."

He raised a hand and rested it on Fu Yuhe's shoulder, saying softly, "Something like this-"

Fu Yuhe felt a faint warmth of breath against the sensitive skin behind his ear. It wasn't very distinct, but that almost-there sensation was the most enticing.

"Then you really have misunderstood, Brother Fu," Shen Yi said. "What's wrong with good friends putting their arms around each other's shoulders? Aren't you being a little overprotective of Fu Cheng, Brother Fu? If you won't even allow other people to have simple physical contact with him, a brother like that isn't very likable."