Looking at the angry man before him, Zhou He’s hatred deepened. He coldly warned, “I’m not going on a blind date, so you’d better give up on that idea.”

“You’ve gone too far! Now that you’re grown up, with your wings spread, you can’t even listen to your father!” Mr. Zhou slammed the table in anger, pointing at Zhou He’s nose as he scolded him.

“If I could, I’d rather not have you as my father!” Zhou He threw out a harsh retort before turning and leaving without looking back.

Xia Zimu hurried to the Zhou family’s house but didn’t find Zhou He there. From the butler, he learned that Zhou He had quarreled with his father again, and this time the conflict was serious. The butler, with a worried expression, asked Xia Zimu to talk to Zhou He and not let their father-son relationship become as strained as that of enemies.

Without waiting for the butler to finish, Xia Zimu left. He drove while calling Zhou He, but the call couldn’t get through.

What’s going on? Brother, when did you become so fragile?

Xia Zimu looked at the unanswered call and thought for a moment before making a turn and driving towards Yujing Bay. It was already evening, and Zhou He was unlikely to be at the office. The only place he could be was his apartment.

Soon, Xia Zimu arrived at the entrance of Zhou He’s apartment.

With a hint of dissatisfaction, Xia Zimu muttered, “What’s taking you so long to open the door? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?” As he spoke, he skillfully bent down to grab slippers from the shoe rack and started changing shoes.

Zhou He looked at him in confusion and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Xia Zimu put an arm around his shoulder, “My good brother got scolded, so of course I’m here to check on you!” He patted Zhou He’s back as a form of comfort.

Zhou He helplessly explained, “I’m fine.”

“Then why couldn’t I get through to your phone?” Xia Zimu asked while sitting down on the sofa.

Zhou He’s face remained calm, as if nothing had happened, and he replied, “My phone ran out of battery.”

Xia Zimu stared at Zhou He’s calm face, trying to find a hint of emotion. “Tsk, can’t you say a few more words? What’s really going on?”

Zhou He turned and poured him a glass of water. “He wants me to go on a blind date.”

Without needing to ask, Xia Zimu knew that “he” referred to Zhou He’s father.

Upon hearing the words “blind date,” Xia Zimu looked at him in surprise, “And then? You don’t want to go?”

Although Zhou He didn’t answer directly, his displeased expression made the answer clear—he didn’t want to go.

“Then don’t go, what’s with that cold face? Your dad doesn’t really want to drag you along, does he?” Xia Zimu patted his shoulder, looking curiously at him.

Though his touch wasn’t hard, Zhou He still felt a slight sting in the shoulder where he’d been hit by the ashtray. After being patted, Zhou He’s face showed a painful expression.

“What’s wrong? I didn’t even use much force,” Xia Zimu asked, noticing his pained expression. He looked down at his hand, lost in self-doubt.

Remembering the argument from the phone call earlier, Xia Zimu quickly grabbed Zhou He’s collar and urgently asked, “Did he hit you?”

With a tearing sound, Zhou He’s shirt was ripped open by Xia Zimu. What caught his eye was a bruise. A surge of anger rose in Xia Zimu’s chest. “Zhou He, are you an idiot? You don’t even know how to avoid getting hit?”

Compared to Xia Zimu’s sudden anger, Zhou He appeared calmer. “It’s a minor injury, nothing serious.”

Xia Zimu hated seeing Zhou He trying to appear strong. He glared at him before punching the bruised spot. “Ugh, what the hell?” Zhou He sucked in a sharp breath of pain, looking at him in confusion.

Xia Zimu rolled his eyes and retorted, “Didn’t you say it’s nothing? Then another punch won’t matter, right?”

Zhou He: “…”

Seeing that Zhou He had quieted down, Xia Zimu went to get an ice pack and a towel for him.

“Sit down!”

Zhou He was confused but obediently sat down. Xia Zimu wrapped the ice pack in the towel and gently applied it to the injured area.

Zhou He’s gaze lowered, and Xia Zimu’s dark hair came into his view. He softly asked, “Why did you dye your hair black?”

Xia Zimu couldn’t help but scoff, replying with some displeasure, “You just noticed now? Your vision really sucks.”

Zhou He looked at him with a hint of nostalgia. “It looks good.”

His black hair vaguely reminded him of the Xia Zimu from high school—full of energy, like a little sun every day.

Hearing the compliment, Xia Zimu smiled proudly, “Of course, I’m better looking than you.”

Zhou He chuckled lightly, “You’re right.”

After a while, Xia Zimu touched his shoulder. “It’s still a bit swollen. I’ll go get some safflower oil to rub on it.”

Zhou He quickly grabbed his hand. “No need, it’s much better now.”

“That’s not okay,” Xia Zimu said, looking at him disapprovingly.

Zhou He, with an easy smile, patted his head. “It’s late. You probably haven’t eaten, right? Let’s eat first, okay?”

Hearing the word “eat,” Xia Zimu’s stomach betrayed him, growling loudly. Only then did he realize he was actually hungry. After a busy night, he hadn’t had a single bite to eat.

“Alright then, I want to eat Huangmen chicken,” Xia Zimu made his request.

“Okay, no problem,” Zhou He agreed readily.

After ordering the food, Xia Zimu comfortably lay on the couch, his eyes following Zhou He’s busy figure in the kitchen. He couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s so nice when someone else is cooking!”

Before long, Zhou He brought out a plate of fragrant Huangmen chicken, along with several other simple but tasty side dishes. The two of them sat at the dining table, enjoying a warm dinner.

Afterward, the time had already passed ten o’clock. Zhou He glanced outside at the still-drizzling rain and suggested, “The rain’s so heavy tonight. You shouldn’t go back. Stay here.”

“Alright,” Xia Zimu agreed without hesitation.

He thought to himself that he often stayed over at Zhou He’s place anyway, and he also remembered leaving a few changes of clothes here.

Seeing that Xia Zimu agreed, Zhou He stood up. “Then I’ll go get your room ready.”

“No need to go through all that trouble. We can just sleep in the same room,” Xia Zimu quickly stopped him.

Xia Zimu felt a bit puzzled. “We’ve slept in the same bed before, so why do we need to prepare another room?”

Zhou He paused for a moment, and his eyes darkened as he looked at him.

“What’s with that expression? You’re rejecting me?”

Seeing Zhou He standing there in a daze, Xia Zimu pushed him with dissatisfaction.

Zhou He’s expression tightened as he replied, “No,” before saying, “I’ll go get you some pajamas,” and entered the bedroom.