How long Zhou Leling had cried, Ji Chenai didn’t know. The only thing he did know was that by the time he wheeled himself out of the bedroom, Zhou Leling was no longer crying. Not only had she stopped crying, but she was laughing—laughing with such joy it was almost contagious.

Zhou Yaoyun sat beside her, his expression gentle, as if he were telling her jokes. The two seemed so absorbed in their conversation that they didn’t even notice Ji Chenai. Or perhaps they did notice him but chose to act as if they hadn’t.

It was one thing for Zhou Leling to ignore him—Ji Chenai was used to her moods—but Zhou Yaoyun’s sudden shift in attitude toward him after coming home baffled him. He racked his brain, combing through his memories for a reason, but came up with nothing.

Before Ji Chenai could dwell on it further, Wang Zhixiu and Zhou Yumian returned from grocery shopping. They greeted Zhou Leling warmly before heading straight into the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Because of his physical condition, Ji Chenai was never expected to help in the kitchen. Zhou Yaoyun, on the other hand, usually helped their parents with tasks like washing vegetables or, sometimes, even taking over the cooking entirely.

Today was no different. Despite just returning home, Zhou Yaoyun exchanged a few more words with Zhou Leling before heading into the kitchen. As he passed Ji Chenai, he hesitated, glancing at him with an expression that was hard to read, as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he said nothing and disappeared into the kitchen.

The moment Zhou Yaoyun was gone, Zhou Leling’s previously red eyes filled with mockery. She walked over to Ji Chenai, bent down, and whispered in his ear, “Brother Yaoyun said he doesn’t have a girlfriend. You lied to me.”

Ji Chenai’s expression remained unchanged. “How do you know it’s me lying to you and not him?”

Zhou Leling gritted her teeth and spat, “Brother Yaoyun isn’t like you. He’s not some sick pervert who likes his own brother.”

Hearing her words, Ji Chenai felt as though his entire world was crumbling.

Zhou Leling seemed to mistake Ji Chenai’s shock for embarrassment. She sneered coldly, “Brother Yaoyun likes women. Even if you cling to him, he’ll never like you.”

Ji Chenai remained silent for a moment before asking, “So… everyone in the family knows I like him?”

Zhou Leling scoffed. “What else? Hmph. If it weren’t for your legs… forget it. All you ever do is use your legs to play the pity card.”

Ji Chenai stared at Zhou Leling’s face, his sense of reality completely shattered. He felt like he needed to pick up the fragments of his worldview and piece them back together. What did she mean he liked Zhou Yaoyun? What did she mean the whole family knew he liked Zhou Yaoyun? And what did she mean they indulged him just because of his legs?

Ji Chenai sighed deeply and muttered, “Xiao Qi, do you have anything to explain here?”

Xiao Qi’s voice echoed in his mind, panicked, “…I’m just as clueless as you! Earth is terrifying!”

Seeing Ji Chenai fall silent, Zhou Leling smirked and added, “Don’t pester Brother Yaoyun anymore, or you’ll regret it!”

Ji Chenai slowly, very slowly, nodded. For a moment, he almost reached out to pat Zhou Leling on the shoulder and tell her: Brother Yaoyun is yours. The whole world is yours.

Thankfully, he restrained himself. Zhou Leling, satisfied with her apparent victory, returned to the sofa, humming a tune as she began watching TV.

This left Ji Chenai sitting there, alone, trying to digest the absurd melodrama he’d just been dragged into.

Ji Chenai had never encountered homosexuality in his life, nor did he know anyone who identified as such. To him, the term was utterly foreign. So, when Zhou Leling informed him that his predecessor not only identified as gay but also had feelings for his own younger brother, Ji Chenai was left completely speechless.

When Zhou Yaoyun emerged from the kitchen, the first thing he saw was Ji Chenai’s utterly lifeless expression. He paused, the dish in his hands trembling slightly, and glanced at Zhou Leling with a faint frown. Yet, in the end, he said nothing.

Since Zhou Yaoyun chose silence, the three of them collectively pretended as though nothing had happened.

Lunch was prepared quickly, and the family soon gathered around the table. Wang Zhixiu busied herself serving food to Ji Chenai while asking him questions about his daily life. Then, as if casually, she turned to Zhou Yaoyun and asked, “Has Xiaoqin been giving you any trouble? If so, why not move back home?”

Before Ji Chenai could respond, Zhou Yaoyun calmly replied, “Mom, it’s fine. Having someone around during school is actually kind of nice.”

Wang Zhixiu shot Ji Chenai a glance, her lips parting as if she wanted to say more, but in the end, she said nothing.

Still reeling from the bombshell Zhou Leling had dropped on him earlier, Ji Chenai missed the subtle expressions on Wang Zhixiu’s and Zhou Yaoyun’s faces entirely.

The only person thoroughly enjoying the meal was Zhou Leling. She was convinced Ji Chenai’s stunned demeanor was the result of her threats and found great satisfaction in it, eating an extra bowl of rice with glee.

Xiao Qi, on the other hand, completely understood Ji Chenai’s shock and mental paralysis. It sighed heavily and lamented, “Ah, I never expected Earth to be such a chaotic place. So terrifying!”

Ji Chenai deadpanned, “Your acting is over the top. Three points, no more.”

Xiao Qi: “…Fine. Even if I knew in advance, what could you do about it? Bite me?”

Ji Chenai: “I don’t eat trash.”

Xiao Qi: “…”

After lunch, Zhou Leling suggested that Zhou Yaoyun join her for an outing. Zhou Yaoyun, however, said, “Brother, why don’t you come with us too?”

Ji Chenai was about to refuse when Wang Zhixiu chimed in, “Xiaoqin, you should go out with Yaoyun and Leling. Don’t stay cooped up at home all day.”

^_^