What future brother-in-law?

He didn’t recognize it.

“Let’s go. They’re probably waiting for us.”

Jiang Siyu walked ahead, but Qi Zeyu called after him.

“Was he seriously hurt?”

“Just a mild concussion.” Jiang Siyu’s tone didn’t ease Qi Zeyu’s worry—concussions weren’t minor injuries.

“Oh, and he doesn’t remember his past. So don’t ask him about it.”

Jiang Siyu left the last sentence hanging as he walked through the door.

Standing in the cold night air, Qi Zeyu felt his mood sink. Who pushed Qingqing down the stairs? What was their motive?

Unsettled, Qi Zeyu sent his assistant a text.

[Q] Hire ten bodyguards tomorrow.

[Assistant]

The assistant retracted a message.

[Assistant] Got it, boss.

[Assistant] Can I just have one uninterrupted evening with my girlfriend?

The assistant retracted another message.

[Assistant] Understood. I’ll handle it.

Qi Zeyu: “…” Romance makes people foolish.

He didn’t reply and instead transferred 9,999 yuan to the assistant—a token of good wishes for a lasting relationship.

[Assistant] Thanks, boss! My girlfriend says you’re welcome to bother us anytime. We’re at your service 24/7.

Qi Zeyu: “…”

He didn’t respond further. Once seated at the table, Grandma Qi asked, “What’s keeping you so busy?”

“Nothing much. My assistant couldn’t handle a minor issue and kept pestering me. It’s resolved now.”

…

Later that evening, Lu Zeqing knocked on Jiang Siyu’s door.

Jiang Siyu, already showered and in a bathrobe, opened the door. “Come in?”

Lu Zeqing nodded.

“I brought you some milk.”

Lu Zeqing didn’t like drinking milk, but since the housekeeper suggested it, he didn’t want to refuse. “Do you want it?”

“Who sent it to you?”

Jiang Siyu already had a guess.

It was Qingqing’s first night staying here. Although he was trying to adapt, it was clear he wouldn’t wander around or fetch milk on his own.

“The housekeeper.”

Jiang Siyu nodded and drank the milk in a few gulps. He’d always known Qingqing didn’t like milk. Back then, he had been so skinny and undernourished that Jiang Siyu had to coax him into drinking it.

During filming breaks, Jiang Siyu would always prepare milk, snacks, and fruit for Lu Zeqing.

One time, Qingqing asked if he could stay with Jiang Siyu for a while, even offering to sleep in the crew’s studio.

Jiang Siyu brought him to a hotel instead.

At first, Qingqing refused to stay in a hotel room, saying it was too expensive. Even though Jiang Siyu lied and said the production team paid for it, Qingqing remained adamant.

“I’m not part of the crew. I can’t use their money.”

“Then what, are you planning to sleep on the streets?”

“…Can I stay in your room? I won’t sleep on your bed, just the floor. I won’t bother you.”

Jiang Siyu booked a two-bedroom suite, giving Qingqing his own room. Since Jiang Siyu often stayed up late reading scripts, sharing a room would have disrupted Qingqing’s sleep.

“The crew assigned me a double room,” Jiang Siyu lied again. Qingqing seemed to believe him and didn’t question it further.

During that period, Jiang Siyu managed to help Qingqing gain some weight and even grow taller. It gave him an odd sense of achievement.

One day, Jiang Siyu discovered that Qingqing didn’t like milk. Whenever he drank it, he looked as though he was being forced to take medicine.

“Don’t drink it if you don’t like it.”

“I don’t want to waste it.”

Exasperated, Jiang Siyu handed the milk to a hotel staff member. “I’m not letting you have any more.”

He thought Qingqing would be angry, but instead, the boy just looked at him silently, his expression so pitiful that it was even more upsetting than if he had thrown a tantrum.

“I’ll buy you something else.”

“You don’t need milk to grow taller. I was lying.”

…

When summer break came, Qingqing visited him again. This time, he brought a bundle of money—over a thousand yuan—and handed it to Jiang Siyu.

“I don’t know if it’s enough, but I can’t stay here for free.”

Jiang Siyu was both angry and heartbroken.

“I told you, the crew paid for it.”

“I asked Sister Yu. You changed the room yourself.” Qingqing had calculated everything down to the last penny. “You’ve been very kind to me, but I can’t take advantage of you.”

“Lu Zeqing, must you draw such clear lines between us?”

“Yes.” Qingqing’s earnest expression left no room for negotiation.

“Fine. Then I’ll tell you—the money you brought isn’t enough. What are you going to do about it?”

He thought Qingqing would panic, but the boy remained calm, thanking him sincerely and saying, “Just give me some time, and I’ll…”

“You’re really planning to pay me back?” Jiang Siyu felt utterly defeated. “I told you, I’m rich. The cost of this room is less than what I spend on a meal.”

“Your money is yours. I can’t take advantage of it,” Qingqing insisted firmly.

“I don’t care. I’m rich, and I decide where my money goes. Take it back, or I’ll get angry.”

Reluctantly, Qingqing pocketed the money. “Then let me buy you something you like as a thank-you.”

“Fine.”

Qingqing didn’t expect Jiang Siyu to agree so quickly and brightened up. “What do you want?”

“I haven’t decided. Since you’re offering, why don’t you come shopping with me?”

“Okay.”

Afterward…

Jiang Siyu glanced at the red string bracelet on his wrist.

It led to this bracelet.

“Mr. Jiang.”

“Hm? Do you need something?”

Lu Zeqing nodded.

“Would you consider us friends?”

“Otherwise? Teacher-student? That works, too.”

Lu Zeqing laughed at his joke.

“There’s something I can’t figure out.”

“Actually, don’t call me ‘teacher’ anymore.”

Lu Zeqing thought about it. “Then what should I call you?”

Besides “Mr. Jiang,” the other common nickname was “Brother Yu.” But he wasn’t comfortable calling Jiang Siyu that—it just didn’t feel right. For him, “Mr. Jiang” held a unique significance, a title only he had the right to use.

“…”

Jiang Siyu couldn’t come up with a new name either. Lu Zeqing had once called him “brother,” but with his real brother now in the picture, it didn’t seem fitting anymore.

“Call me whatever you want. What’s on your mind?”

“What if… What if I can’t get along with Qi Nan?” Lu Zeqing had thought he could ignore the issue, but he found that he couldn’t help caring.

If Qi Nan were kind to him like his brother was, he would naturally return the gesture. But it was clear that they couldn’t get along peacefully.

He could promise not to provoke Qi Nan, but if Qi Nan kept pushing, he wouldn’t hold back forever.

Jiang Siyu found it amusing. “And yet, you had no qualms about treating me the way you did?”

“What did I do to you?”

“What do you think?”

Reflecting on their first meeting, Lu Zeqing realized he had indeed been a bit biased against Jiang Siyu. It was his fault for acting like a peacock, never speaking plainly.

He’d even mistakenly thought Jiang Siyu was trying to keep him around as some kind of… arrangement.

Who would greet someone they thought wanted to “sponsor” them with a smile?

“Didn’t I already apologize?”

“Yes, you misunderstood me, and you apologized. But,” Jiang Siyu trailed off, and Lu Zeqing grasped his meaning without further explanation.

He didn’t owe Qi Nan any apologies, nor did he need to pretend to be friends with him.

“Grandma Qi seems to like Qi Nan a lot.” Lu Zeqing cared about his family’s feelings, but he wasn’t planning on reconciling with Qi Nan.

That’s why he had come to Jiang Siyu.

“First of all, I’m glad you’d come to me with a problem.” Jiang Siyu’s gaze softened. “And second, maybe what you’re worrying about isn’t really a problem.”

“Don’t make things difficult for yourself because of someone else’s issues.” Jiang Siyu knew that comforting words wouldn’t fully ease Lu Zeqing’s concern, as his focus was on the Qi family’s perspective.

“You should try to trust them a little more.” Jiang Siyu smiled, a warm smile that melted away the tension. “Besides, I’ll always be on your side.”

Lu Zeqing’s eyes flickered.

Jiang Siyu smiled, his expression tender, like the first thaw of spring snow. For some reason, his words washed away the negative feelings in Lu Zeqing’s heart.

“Mr. Jiang…”

Lu Zeqing hesitated, unsure what to say. Jiang Siyu’s words touched him deeply in a way he couldn’t quite describe.

It felt like someone was holding him in their heart, cherishing him.

Something inside him seemed to be blossoming.

“Thank you.”

Jiang Siyu interrupted him, feigning hurt. “I feel your gratitude, but… could you take me off your ‘good guy’ list?”

Lu Zeqing burst into laughter.

“There isn’t anyone else on it.”

Jiang Siyu: “?”

“The list only has you. If I remove you, there won’t be anyone left.” Lu Zeqing explained earnestly, “It’s not a criticism; it’s my highest form of praise.”

“Tsk.”

The words were maddeningly endearing.

Jiang Siyu found that he didn’t mind being the only recipient of Lu Zeqing’s “good guy” card.

“Really? No one else?”

“No one.”

“Alright, then. You’ll only be giving it to me from now on.”

Lu Zeqing didn’t see anything wrong with that.

“Okay.”

“Then, I’m off to bed.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Jiang.”

“Goodnight.”

Back in his room, Lu Zeqing’s earlier concerns about Qi Nan felt distant. What Qi Nan did or didn’t do had nothing to do with him. He hadn’t returned to the Qi family because of Qi Nan—he was back for his parents, his brother, and Grandma Qi.

Unexpectedly, Lu Zeqing fell asleep quickly on the Qi family bed.

He had become accustomed to dreams lately. In them, he always found himself back in his childhood. Sometimes he wondered if the fictional Lu Zeqing he read about could actually be him, and if so, that wouldn’t be so bad.

He had a family that loved him.

“Qiqi, do you want Mommy to sleep with you tonight?”

“No need, I’m a big boy now.” A child’s voice replied sweetly, “I’m already four and a half! I can sleep with my little brother.”

His mother laughed at his response. “But you can’t sleep with him.”

“Why not?”

“Your little brother’s stitches haven’t healed yet, and you tend to kick in your sleep. If you hit his injury, it’ll hurt a lot.”

Qiqi lowered his lashes in disappointment. Today was his little brother’s first night back from the hospital, and he’d promised to tell him a bedtime story.

“It’s okay,” his little brother looked up at their mom, “Mommy, I…”

“No, we’re not risking your stitches.” Her tone was firm.

“Then I won’t sleep in his bed. I’ll just tell him a story. Is that okay?”

Grandma Qi, overhearing, chuckled. “What stories can you tell? Do you even know enough words?”

“I do!”

In the end, Qiqi was allowed to sit beside his little brother’s bed. He carefully tucked him in, then shooed everyone else away. Out of curiosity, his mom secretly switched on a recorder at the bedside.

“Close your eyes. Big brother’s going to tell you a story.”

He opened to the first page… but didn’t know most of the words.

“Once upon a time, there were three little pigs… a little white pig, a little black pig, and a little spotted pig.” Qiqi began crafting a tale from the illustrations, “They wanted to build a house together.”

“But they didn’t have money, so they went to the big bad wolf in the forest. The little pig asked, ‘Could you lend us some money?’”

“The big bad wolf was furious and refused.”

His little brother couldn’t help but open his eyes and softly corrected, “I don’t think the story goes like that.”

“It does. Now, close your eyes and don’t talk.”

His little brother: “…”

“The big bad wolf chased the pig away, so they had to ask another animal for money.”

“Next, they went to the bunny’s house.”

“The little bunny welcomed them warmly, but when she heard they wanted to borrow money, she immediately got nervous. ‘I don’t have any money. Try asking someone else,’ she said.”

“The little pigs left, feeling sad, and went to…”

Which unlucky animal would they approach next? The illustrations didn’t seem to match up.

“They went to…”

His little brother waited patiently for the next part, but when there was no follow-up, he opened his eyes. Qiqi had fallen asleep on top of the storybook, snoring softly.

His little brother: “…”

—

Author’s Note:

The next day, the Qi family played the recording on loop on the TV.

Qiqi is about to meet the real Nannan—hang tight!