Chapter 18

“I didn’t say anything!” 

Su Xi looked up at the sky with a face that seemed innocent as if she had missed out on the beautiful moonlight tonight.

But what kind of person is Xi Yannan? Not to mention his ability to read people’s expressions from childhood, not to mention his years of experience in the military, he had developed a keen insight.

“Is that so?” Xi Yannan’s tone remained unchanged, mirroring Su Xi, who turned his head to gaze at the starry sky.

“Yes!” Su Xi breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that her brother didn’t delve too deep.

“Tomorrow, Wang Kun will be fully recovered, and you should go back to school. Taking too much leave is not good, and we all understand the basics of nursing an injured person.” Xi Yannan changed the topic.

“Okay.” Su Xi’s tone was slightly tense.

“By the way, do you still have peach wine here? If you do, bring some for me,” Xi Yannan added.

“Okay,” Su Xi said with a slightly tense tone.

“Sure, I’ve stored it in the cellar. There are two barrels; feel free to take as much as you want.” Su Xi relaxed when talking about something she was familiar with, and a desire to show off to her family emerged.

“When did you find out about my feelings for Big Brother?” Xi Yannan looked up at the night sky, his jawline tensed, revealing charming contours. He didn’t look at Su Xi. He spoke casually as if discussing mundane family matters.

“I’ve known for a long time,” Su Xi said these words and belatedly realized that she had spilled the beans. Her head stiffened like a millennia-old mummy, slowly turning to gaze up at the man under the starry sky.

Oh no!

She let it slip!

Brother is too cunning!

“When did you find out?” Xi Yannan lowered his head and looked at his sister, whose features were wrinkled like a little bun, with a look of disbelief on her face. His lips curled slightly, a mix of emotions flooding his heart. He casually inquired again, trying to act as if nothing had happened.

Could Su Xi say that she knew from the beginning? Clearly not!

But she didn’t want to deceive him either!

Deep in her heart, she had already considered the Su family as her own.

Perhaps this was a chance to break the ice.

With that in mind, Su Xi took a deep breath. “I’m not sure, I just had a feeling. Does Brother like Big Brother? Was it in a romantic way?”

“Yes, very much!” His voice was not loud but firm.

“Oh! That’s good.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Why would I mind? As long as you and Big Brother are happy.” Su Xi, feeling a bit tired of standing, sat cross-legged on a wooden chair near the window.

Xi Yannan had known for years that his sister was open-minded about the idea of two men being in love. However, back then, she was still young and naive, perhaps not fully understanding what it meant for two men to be together.

So, after that, he never asked her about it again, not wanting to and not daring to.

However, what he never expected was that in the year his sister was about to turn 20, a year when she had already gained a deeper understanding of the world, she still chose to accept his unconventional feelings that were frowned upon by society.

At this moment, Xi Yannan felt a strange sensation in his throat, as if there was something stuck in his throat. A sour feeling arose, and his chest felt both numb and tingling—a mixture of sorrow and joy.

He dared not look into his sister’s eyes and raised his chin stubbornly, not wanting to be determined not to let tears flow freely. Incoherently, he blurted out, “You know, if I’m with Big Brother, everyone will think we’re disgusting, playing rogue, or even that we won’t have children. Moreover, if what happens between us is known by others, you all will be implicated, and I…”

“So what?” Su Xi interrupted him, raising her small face the size of a palm and moving to Xi Yannan’s side. “Would you like other men, like Xie Zhen, Wang Kun, or maybe…”

“Of course not!” His usually deep and magnetic voice carried a rare trace of displeasure at the insult.

“Then, do you love Big Brother?”

“Of course!”

“Well, that settles it. You both just happen to love someone who is a man. It doesn’t harm anyone.” Su Xi suddenly reached out and embraced Xi Yannan, patting his back soothingly. She smiled and said, “Brother, there’s nothing wrong with liking someone. As long as you and your big brother are happy, your little sister will also be happy.”

It had been a long time since Xi Yannan had been hugged like this by his sister after growing up. 

He vividly remembered that when Su Dong brought him back, the little girl was only 2 years old and as cute as a sticky rice dumpling. 

Besides following Su Dong, he also liked staying with this little girl. From the moment he was called “brother” by the 2-year-old sticky rice dumpling, he knew she was his responsibility.

Apart from his big brother, she’s the most important family member.

As they grew older, such intimate gestures became rare. 

In this era, emotional expressions were mostly reserved, so Xi Yannan, feeling a bit awkward, raised two fingers, a smile spreading in his eyes. He playfully poked the little girl’s head and said, “Hurry up and let go. How old are you? And you still dare to act cute? It’s embarrassing.”

Su Xi stepped back and choked. “Okay, okay, I get it. Brother’s embrace is reserved for Big Brother from now on. I’m all alone and pitiful. Sob, sob, sob.”

“Little brat, stop pretending!” Xi Yannan chuckled and scolded, but his mood was unusually relaxed.

He was always rebellious, caring little about others’ opinions. As long as his most important family members (his sister and grandmother) approved, he didn’t care what others thought.

He has always been lucky, but now he is full of gratitude. How fortunate he is to have such a family!!!
“Brother, you haven’t said anything yet, how long have you been with Big Brother?” Su Xi inquired with a gossiping face.

“Why are you asking so much?” Xi Yannan pushed away the little girl’s approaching head, clearly not intending to share anything with her.

“Just curious, brother, come on, just tell me!”

“Not telling.” Xi Yannan had already gathered his emotions, no longer feeling as uneasy as before. In fact, he was now quite excited, the curve of his lips never dropping.

“Forget it if you won’t tell. When I find someone, I won’t tell you either.”

“You dare!”

“What’s there for me to be afraid of!”

“How old are you? You’re talking about finding someone already. I won’t allow it.” Xi Yannan’s steps towards the exit immediately halted, and when he turned around, the curve of his lips had flattened.

Su Xi giggled, passing by her Brother and swiftly heading towards the spiral staircase. “I’m already 19, an adult. What’s wrong with finding someone? You’re in a relationship too, aren’t you?”

“How could you and I be the same?” 

Su Xi pretended to be indignant. As she descended the stairs, she turned around and complained to her brother, who was about to catch up, “What’s so different?”

In reality, Su Xi was just teasing her brother, especially since his mood had been quite bad just a moment ago.

She had no intention of finding a partner, after all, she was still young. Besides, in her previous life, she had been a tomboy all her life and had long passed the age of wanting to date unless she found someone suitable; otherwise, why bother getting married?

“Anyway, I don’t agree. Walk properly, don’t fall.” Xi Yannan watched her sister go down the stairs while still talking to him. Ignoring the surroundings, he hurriedly took big strides to catch up.

“Okay, okay, you’re overbearing. I… ah!” On the last few steps of the stairs, Su Xi stepped into thin air, and her body, tilting, fell down.

The stairs were too wide. When she fell, Su Xi’s flailing hands couldn’t grab the handrail, and she tumbled down in a prone position.

In her heart, Su Xi wailed, thinking that this time she would surely fall miserably, face down, and her fairy-like face would be gone!

Ah, it must hurt so much!!!

But, to her surprise, the pain didn’t come. Instead, her face was buried in a broad embrace that carried the cool scent of grass.

Was she saved? 

Brother Nanan!

Brother truly lives up to being the chosen soldier, a proper successor to the title of the ‘Military King.’ He was able to catch her even in such a situation.”

Su Xi’s little face didn’t hit the ground. Playing the spoiled child, she nestled in the broad embrace, rubbed against it gently, and hummed, “Brother is really amazing. Since you’ve performed well, I can temporarily refrain from dating.”

“Who are you calling ‘Brother’?” 

Just as Su Xi was curious about how Brother’s body became as stiff as a stone, someone grabbed her from behind.

Su Xi turned around, somewhat bewildered, to look at the person holding the back of her collar. 

When she met Brother’s almost pitch-black, ink-like face, she exploded!

Then she craned her head, turning it little by little, like a robot: “Click, click, click.” 

She looked up at the savior, who had just been molested by her.

She locked eyes with Xie Zhen’s handsome face. The man was undoubtedly good-looking, with clear features, a tall nose, and thin lips tightly pressed together. When his gaze met Su Xi’s, the already deep black pupils became even more profound, like the most brilliant obsidian, reflecting Su Xi’s figure.

At that moment, time seemed to hit the pause button for them.

It wasn’t until the man, who was being stared at by Su Xi, gradually blushed that Su Xi barely came back to her senses!

Thinking about her reckless behavior just now, Su Xi felt terrible.

Did she just hug that big guy?

His waist is really slender! No, no! Su Xi, what kind of messy movie are you imagining?

It seems like she even rubbed against his chest.

Su Xi was freaking out!!!

Ah, ah, ah… Help!!!