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That evening, the two of them did their homework and ate dinner. Fu Cheng took a shower, put on the pants he had lent Shen Yi last time, and pulled on another of Shen Yi's school uniforms. He stayed in Shen Yi's room for an intimate late-night chat, "boys' dorm" style.

As they talked, the subject turned to Xu Fanchao.

Shen Yi asked, "Is Xu Fanchao's dad close to your brother?"

Fu Cheng said, "No. I don't know much about my brother's business, but I heard Xu Fanchao's dad used to be involved in the underworld."

"Who told you that?"

"My brother," Fu Cheng said.

Then the information was probably true.

Shen Yi sat cross-legged at the head of the bed, reading an English novel and waiting to get sleepy. Fu Cheng lay on his stomach on the bed, reading a comic book. When he had seen all the comics in Shen Yi's room that day, he had fallen in love with the place at once.

"Xu Fanchao hasn't come to school these past few days," Shen Yi said.

"He's probably skipping class," Fu Cheng said.

Shen Yi glanced at the top of Fu Cheng's head and felt it wasn't that simple. Xu Fanchao had stopped coming to school right after the parents' meeting, and at the meeting that day, Fu Yuhe had said all those things to Xu Fanchao's dad.

From the way Xu Fanchao's dad had acted, he wanted to make connections with Fu Yuhe, but his good son happened to have a grudge against the younger brother of the very man he wanted to befriend. Shen Yi wasn't the only one who knew how much Fu Yuhe treasured his younger brother; Xu Fanchao's dad probably knew it too. Even if it was just for show, he would have to do something to appease Fu Yuhe.

This was only Shen Yi's guess. It was also possible that, as Fu Cheng thought, Xu Fanchao was simply skipping class.

"Shen Yi, can I come over and hang out often from now on?" Fu Cheng asked.

"Sure," Shen Yi said. "Come whenever you want. You're always welcome."

He turned a page. "But don't you need to tell your brother you're not going home? He'll worry about you, won't he?"

"It's fine. He's away on a business trip and won't be back until the day after tomorrow," Fu Cheng said unconcernedly. "His birthday's next Sunday. I asked his assistant, and my brother won't be away on business that day or have any work that evening, so we can celebrate properly. Shen Yi, come join us."

"Hm?" Shen Yi raised his eyes. "Me? Wouldn't that be a little inconvenient?"

"We'll just have dinner together. It won't be inconvenient. Once I go to college, I might not be able to celebrate my brother's birthday with him every year," Fu Cheng said.

"Sure, either way is fine with me," Shen Yi said.

Hmm... I should get him a present, right? What should I get him?

His birthday will definitely be fun. I wonder what expression Fu Yuhe will make.

I can't wait.

Chapter 7: Misunderstanding

It was late, and darkness had fallen outside the window. Only a few scattered windows in the apartment building still had their lights on. Everything was silent. The light in the guest room was off, leaving the room dark. Fu Cheng lay spread-eagled on the guest bed, staring at the ceiling with his eyes open.

He remembered that no one from Shen Yi's family had come to the parents' meeting, and that when he came to Shen Yi's home this time, Shen Yi had said he lived alone.

Some of the details Shen Yi had revealed actually gave Fu Cheng enough to make some guesses about his family situation.

At times, the careless and slow-witted Fu Cheng showed extraordinary sensitivity.

Shen Yi... must be lonely all by himself, right?

Oblivious to Fu Cheng's imaginings, Shen Yi slept soundly. With pleasant anticipation in his heart, he slept straight through until daybreak.

Over the next two days, Fu Cheng made several trips to the cattery by the square, with Shen Yi accompanying him every time. Shen Yi had plenty of free time, and he wasn't having much trouble keeping up with his studies.

For him, systematic study wasn't difficult, and high school material was easy to master.

He and Fu Cheng went to and from school together and spent nearly all their time together over those few days. So when Fu Yuhe returned home from his business trip and passed Fu Cheng's bedroom, he abruptly stopped in his tracks at the faint sounds of conversation and laughter coming from inside.

It was already seven in the evening.

The man had just come home, and his handsome face showed a trace of fatigue. He did something he would never have done before-he eavesdropped on his younger brother.

Fu Yuhe stood tall and straight in the doorway, his right shoulder resting against the wall, his whole bearing relaxed and composed. His eyes were half closed, his eyelashes casting shadows over his lower eyelids.

As for Shen Yi's presence, after they parted last time and Fu Yuhe had sorted out his thoughts, he no longer showed such obvious resistance, rejection, and wariness as he had at first, just as a lion did not fear an animal weaker than itself.

Everything was still calm, and Fu Yuhe would not stir up a storm. But if Shen Yi had ulterior motives toward Fu Cheng and insisted on playing this game despite his warning, Fu Yuhe would see it through to the end. It was just that things might not end so prettily then.

Before, Shen Yi's sudden appearance, the fact that Fu Cheng hadn't trusted anyone this much in two or three years, and the fact that Shen Yi was clearly not as simple as he appeared had caused Fu Yuhe's warning system to flash red in an instant.

The bedroom door was not fully closed. Warm light streamed through the crack, forming a band of light and shadow. Fu Yuhe stood in the shadows on the other side, listening to the two boys' conversation.

"Will my brother get angry if I do this?" Fu Cheng's voice was somewhat soft, and the uncertainty in his tone made him sound anxious, guilty, and gentle.

"No, he won't." Shen Yi's clear voice held a coaxing note. "In any case, you can't let your brother notice anything wrong. Understand?"

"But..." Fu Cheng was still a little hesitant.

"If you don't tell him, he won't know," Shen Yi urged.

Fu Yuhe clenched his fist, his calm facade cracking.

Shen Yi really was no good. It was bad enough that he had spouted nonsense and used sweet words to deceive him to his face, but now he was even making a move on his innocent younger brother.

What did they want to do behind his back?

He held his temper in check and continued listening.

"What if my brother gets angry?" Fu Cheng asked.

Shen Yi seemed to lower his voice, his youthful voice sounding gentle. "Then I'll leave it all up to you. Whatever you want to do, I can do it with you."