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After parting ways with Feng Min at the entrance of the restaurant, Xie Rong drove away first.

He didn’t call for a driver; there was a property of his just two streets away, and it only took a few minutes to drive there.

Feng Min contacted his driver to come pick him up. Before the driver arrived, Feng Min sat in the car with the window slightly open. The cold night wind howled, and suddenly he felt a craving for a cigarette. He lit one, took a puff, then stared at the glowing ember. In the next moment, his expression turned blank as he pressed the cigarette butt against the inner side of his left wrist.

A sharp burning sensation rushed in, but there was a hint of a smile in Feng Min’s eyes.

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The next morning,

Chi Yan returned home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, thinking he would arrive first. However, when he opened the door, he found his sister, Chi Yang, sitting on the sofa eating something.

Both siblings took after their mother in appearance, and there were always people pursuing Chi Yang at school.

They also had something enviable about them: they both had big appetites and didn’t gain weight no matter how much they ate.

Especially Chi Yang, who particularly loved chocolate. Their family advised her to eat less, although she wouldn’t gain weight, eating too many sweets couldn’t be good.

Chi Yang pretended to listen and acted obediently, but when she returned to school, she bought a lot of boxes.

Those who pursued her knew about this habit and began to bribe her with sweets. Chi Yang rejected some outright, and some she simply tucked away under the table or had others take.

Chi Yang would eat them herself, and when she had more than enough, she occasionally sent some to Chi Yan.

Chi Yan didn’t really like chocolate, but Yu Xiaoqi did, so he passed it on to her.

Since Chi Yan was back for two days, and with clean clothes at home, he brought someone along.

For the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chi Yan didn’t buy mooncakes, since those bought from outside only looked good in packaging, but the taste was uncertain.

In previous years, when Chi Yan bought them, his parents said it was a waste of money and that he should save it to buy a house for his sister or support his nephew instead of spending frivolously.

However, when Chi Yang brought back treats, their parents were overjoyed and praised her for being sensible.

It was a clear case of favoritism.

Chi Yan once asked why he and his sister received different treatment.

His father replied: “How can the treatment be the same? You’re a duck that can’t lay eggs.”

This left Chi Yan speechless.

He was gay, something he couldn’t choose, unlike those who clearly are gay yet still marry.

Chi Yan would rather stay single his entire life than deceive or harm others.

As a “duck that can’t lay eggs,” it was clear Chi Yan understood his position in the family.

What could he do? He could only endure.

After all, these people were the closest to him in the world.

Chi Yan intended to sit on the sofa, but just as he was about to do so, someone walked out from the kitchen.

“Come help me wash the vegetables,” Chi Yan’s father ordered him.

Chi Yang, seated on the sofa, seemed to be completely ignored by their father.

Chi Yan glanced at his sister, who raised an eyebrow at him, conveying a look that urged him to hurry and help out instead of standing there blocking her view.

Their father turned back into the kitchen, and Chi Yan took the opportunity to give his sister a light tap on the head.

Then, with a serious expression, he quickly walked toward the kitchen.

Startled by the sudden hit, Chi Yang let out a small sound and stretched her neck to complain to their dad in the kitchen: “Dad, he hit me.”

Chi Yan reached the kitchen doorway and turned back to smile at Chi Yang, clearly mischievous.

Their dad, who was chopping vegetables, didn’t hear clearly and replied, “Then hit him back.”

Chi Yang, happily munching on chips, didn’t want to move and simply shot a furious look at her brother.

She kept this score in mind, planning to get back at him later.

In the kitchen, as Chi Yan picked vegetables, he asked his dad, “Is Mom not home?”

“She’s downstairs playing cards with some friends,” their dad replied without looking up from the cutting board.

“When did Chi Yang come back? She seems to have been back for a while.”

“Since this morning. And you call her Chi Yang, that’s your sister! Can’t you even greet her?”

The family particularly cherished this daughter.

“Dad, that’s unfair! I called her sister, but she didn’t respond at all!” Chi Yan protested, feeling wronged.

In front of his family, Chi Yan was a bit different from how he appeared in front of friends.

He would unconsciously act a bit spoiled with his family.

Their dad shot him a cold glance, disregarding Chi Yan’s grievances.

As a “duck that can’t lay eggs,” he wouldn’t receive any affection in this family.

After washing the vegetables, Chi Yan handed the bowl to his dad.

His dad took it and suddenly asked, “Still single?”

Chi Yan was momentarily taken aback, then looked down and replied, “Yes.”

“You’re not ugly; how have you been single for so many years? Don’t have your standards too high; as long as the person is of good character, it’s fine. You know, your mom liked me back then because of my good character. Otherwise, do you think you’d even exist?” Their dad glanced at Chi Yan, not only was he not ugly, but in fact, he was quite handsome.

As soon as their son or daughter came home, the neighbors were even happier than the parents themselves.

He wasn’t trying to introduce a girlfriend to his son; rather, he wanted to introduce a boyfriend to Chi Yang.

Even though both parents had accepted that their son liked men, they were well aware that many people outside wouldn’t understand.

Their dad didn’t want his precious son to be pointed at or judged by others.

It was better for people to think their son had a girlfriend, which would keep the gossip at bay.

Their dad could argue that Chi Yan’s girlfriend wouldn’t adapt to the climate of their small town.

Those overly spoiled girls could be brought home as if they were princesses—this was how some people viewed it.

If not as a princess, should they let others come to their house to serve them? Every child is a treasure!

With just a few words, their dad silenced those who had something to say.

And for Chi Yang, their dad said the kids were still young. Their daughter would probably take the postgraduate entrance exam after graduation, and she should wait until then to find a boyfriend.

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