After all, Jiang Siyu was after his younger brother. And compared to him, his little brother was still more important. He had just brought him home—it was better to keep a close watch on him.

If… if they didn’t end up together in the future, he could help Jiang Siyu find someone more suitable.

He definitely wouldn’t let Jiang Siyu grow old alone.

“Mm.” Qi Zeyu thought to himself, this should be good enough for Jiang Siyu.

Qi Zeyu didn’t take Lu Zeqing straight home. Instead, he drove him to the mall. “Come with me to buy some clothes.”

“Alright, but didn’t you say someone would bring new clothes tomorrow…?”

“Those are fall clothes. I noticed you don’t have many summer clothes, so let’s get a few more.”

Lu Zeqing didn’t refuse.

Since he had decided to return home, that meant accepting and responding to their kindness. Likewise, he would also be good to his family. Whether it was family or friendship, it should always be equal and mutual.

In the past two days, Lu Zeqing had contacted the eldest young master of the Shen family, but the other party still insisted on meeting on Sunday.

Since the meeting couldn’t be moved up, Lu Zeqing could only stick to his original plan and reread the novel multiple times. During that time, he also sent Jiang Siyu a WeChat message, asking when their lessons would resume and whether he had been busy lately.

【Y】: Tomorrow, I’ll come to see you.

【Coke with Ice】: Okay.

【Coke with Ice】: Let me know in advance when you’re coming.

【Coke with Ice】: How about coming over for dinner?

【Coke with Ice】: I’ll ask Auntie to make some of your favorite dishes.

After sending out multiple messages, Lu Zeqing realized how many texts he had sent. Looking back, it was usually Jiang Siyu who sent him WeChat messages—sometimes a few, sometimes several in a row.

Lu Zeqing would read them all and reply in one go. Sometimes, even if Jiang Siyu was inviting him to a meal, his response would just be a simple “okay.”

Had he always been this indifferent?

Lu Zeqing reflected deeply on this. Mainly, he just wasn’t the type to chat on WeChat unless it was necessary.

【Y】: No need.

Seeing this message, Lu Zeqing felt a strange…

Emotion. A very odd one. It wasn’t quite disappointment, but it still made him care.

Soon, Jiang Siyu sent another message.

【Y】: Let’s eat out. It’s been a while since we had a meal together.

【Coke with Ice】: Okay.

After replying, Lu Zeqing realized that his usual responses were always short, just one or two words—it seemed a bit cold. So, he went to find a sticker.

【Coke with Ice】: Craving.jpg

After sending it, he exited WeChat.

He opened Qiao Anran’s chat and sent him a message.

【Coke with Ice】: Can you send me some cute stickers?

Qiao Anran loved using stickers on WeChat, saying they were the best way to express his emotions.

A moment later, the internet-addicted youth, Qiao Anran, bombarded him with messages. Lu Zeqing had to put his phone down and wait for the vibration to stop before checking.

And then—99+ messages.

Lu Zeqing: “…”

He figured that Qiao Anran must have a lot of friends because he was incredibly enthusiastic—not in an annoying way, but in a way that was infectious.

Like a little sun.

【Coke with Ice】: Taking them! Thanks.

【Qiao Anran】: You’re welcome. But you have to treat me to a meal! When are you live-streaming another food tour? I thought it was really fun, plus we got to eat great food.

Reminded by Qiao Anran, Lu Zeqing suddenly had an idea.

【Coke with Ice】: Are you in City A? Free this afternoon?

【Qiao Anran】: Yes, yes, yes!

【Qiao Anran】: Absolutely free!

【Qiao Anran】: What are we eating?

【Coke with Ice】: Ice cream.

【Qiao Anran】: Give me the address! I’ll head there right now!

【Qiao Anran】: I haven’t eaten lunch yet. Can you make me a bowl of noodles first? I love your cooking.

The two happily finalized their plan.

Lu Zeqing also got ready to leave—he needed to prepare a few things.

“Zeqing, are you heading out?”

“Yeah.” Lu Zeqing walked over to Lu Nianchu. “I need to go buy some things. A friend is coming over later.”

Lu Nianchu was pleased. Qiqi bringing friends over meant he was slowly seeing this place as his home.

“I’ll have Auntie prepare some fruits and desserts then.”

“That works. Thanks, Mom.”

“What do you need to buy? I’ll have the driver take you.”

“Alright.”

Lu Zeqing didn’t refuse. He wasn’t too familiar with the area anyway.

After buying his things, he saw that Qiao Anran was almost there, so he had the driver pick him up on the way.

“I don’t see you.”

“Walk back a little. I’m at the temporary stop with the hazard lights on.”

Qiao Anran turned around. “Nope, the only thing parked there is… Holy cow! A Rolls-Royce Phantom, limited edition!”

“Wait a sec! Ahhh! I need to take a picture! This is a worldwide limited edition—only 20 exist, and I actually ran into one!”

Lu Zeqing: “…”

Before Lu Zeqing could say anything, Qiao Anran continued rambling excitedly.

“I want to take a selfie with it, but the hazard lights are on, and someone’s inside—” Qiao Anran suddenly stopped mid-sentence, staring in horror at Lu Zeqing sitting in the car.

His face was filled with shock. He opened his mouth but couldn’t get a single word out for a long time.

“Get in first, we’ll talk inside.”

Worried that Qiao Anran’s brain had completely crashed, Lu Zeqing helpfully opened the car door for him. It wasn’t until the car drove onto a tree-lined road that Qiao Anran snapped out of his daze.

“Are we going to a place that requires a Rolls-Royce to get in?”

“No.”

Lu Zeqing wanted to explain, but Qiao Anran spoke again.

“You even hired a driver? That must be expensive! You should’ve told me earlier, I could’ve had my family’s driver come instead.”

“If I ever managed to rent a Rolls-Royce, I’d show it off everywhere just to make sure everyone noticed. Wait… Can you even rent a limited edition?”

The more Qiao Anran thought about it, the more something felt off.

“No, seriously, Qingqing, tell me the truth. Where did this car come from?”

“It’s… my brother’s.”

“Your brother?” Qiao Anran was confused. “Since when do you have a brother?”

“Wait, Qingqing. You, you’re not… Ugh, what am I even saying?”

“There’s something I haven’t had the chance to tell you yet.”

Qiao Anran: “?”

“Do you remember the gossip you were following last time?”

Qiao Anran tilted his head back, trying to recall the most recent gossip he had heard.

A certain celebrity cheated on their partner.

A rich second-generation heir had a mistress who gave birth to three kids, but none of whom were actually his.

The eldest young master of the Shen family returned to City A, but no one recognized him, so they mistook him for a nouveau riche.

Or was it…

“The Qi family.” Lu Zeqing prompted.

Qiao Anran paused. “The Qi family’s real and fake young master scandal? What does that have to do with you riding in a Rolls-Royce?”

“I’m the real young master of the Qi family who hasn’t been revealed yet.”

Qiao Anran: “!”

“What did you just say?”

“You… No, wait. Weren’t you kidnapped…?”

“Dang.”

Qiao Anran suddenly realized—the real young master of the Qi family hadn’t been kept hidden for privacy. He had been kidnapped by human traffickers.

After processing this, Qiao Anran’s first reaction wasn’t joy for Lu Zeqing, but pure anger.

“That’s outrageous.”

“You should’ve been living in luxury, pampered by your parents, riding in a Rolls-Royce every day. But because of those traffickers, you had to suffer so much!”

“How did something like this happen to you?”

“It’s all in the past. I’m back home now, and things are good.”

“Stop thinking about it. Didn’t you say you wanted my homemade noodles?”

“Mhm, mhm, mhm!”

“Hand it over, thanks.” Lu Zeqing took the foam box from the driver.

“What’s inside?”

“Ice cream.”

“That much?” Qiao Anran blinked. “We won’t be able to finish it all.”

Lu Zeqing told Qiao Anran about how he had bought overpriced popsicles a few days ago, only to find out they tasted terrible.

“I saw people on Weibo complaining about this recently too. They call it ‘Popsicle Assassins’. They look completely normal, but they stab your wallet when you check out.”

“Mn. I ended up buying every kind of popsicle from that freezer at the supermarket.”

“Are you going to review them?”

“Mn, I uploaded a new video last week. This time, I want to do something different as a thank-you for my followers. I’ll help them avoid wasting money.”

“Qingqing, you’re finally learning how to ride trends. Not bad, not bad!”

Qiao Anran was really interested in this video idea. “I’ll help you with it.”

“That’s exactly why I invited you.”

“Great! But first, I want my noodles.”

“No problem.”

As soon as Qiao Anran stepped inside, he saw Lu Nianchu arranging a fruit platter.

“Mom, I brought a friend over.”

“You’re back.” Lu Nianchu smiled warmly at Lu Zeqing before turning to Qiao Anran. “Hello, welcome to our home.”

“Hello, Auntie.”

“Have some fruit.”

“Okay, thank you, Auntie.”

Lu Nianchu didn’t stay long. She figured the two wouldn’t be able to relax with her around. After a few words, she left to visit the other ladies living in the villa community.

“This is really good.”

Qiao Anran sprawled on the couch, feeling too lazy to move. “Qingqing, I really want to live at your house.”

“Go ahead. Mr. Jiang stayed over once too.”

“What?!” Qiao Anran shot up from the couch. “You’re already at the meet-the-parents stage? Don’t tell me you’re getting engaged!”

Lu Zeqing: “…No.”

“He just had dinner here and stayed over for one night.”

“So, Mr. Jiang was the first person you told about your identity? I got it right this time, didn’t I?”

Lu Zeqing nodded.

Qiao Anran felt like he had just stumbled upon a great ship. “Then what number am I?”

“Second.”

Qiao Anran: “!”

“Really? I’m the second person to know?”

“Mm.”

“Ahhh, this is amazing!” The thought that he might be Qingqing’s second most important friend made Qiao Anran incredibly happy.

Wait, no. Jiang Siyu was the boyfriend.

That meant he was the number one most important friend!

“You didn’t tell Ming Fei?”

“I reached out a few times, but he’s been busy, so I haven’t told him yet.”

After being moved, Qiao Anran decided he had to do something to express their deep friendship.

“Alright, let’s start the review. I’ll help you finish these popsicles.”

Lu Zeqing decided to live stream this time. It was his first time doing a review in this format. It didn’t matter if there weren’t many viewers, people could always watch the replay later.

“I turned on the voice changer.” Lu Zeqing set up the equipment, choosing a top-down view focused on the table, so he didn’t have to worry about accidentally showing his face.

It was just a spontaneous live stream, so he didn’t expect many viewers. But before long, quite a crowd had gathered.

[No way, am I seeing this right? A live stream?!]

[Ahhh! Never thought I’d live to see my precious streamer go live!]

It was Lu Zeqing’s first time live streaming, so he wasn’t too familiar with some of the features. But that didn’t matter—the main focus was the review.

“I bought some overpriced and bad-tasting popsicles at the supermarket yesterday, so today, we’re doing an ice cream review.”

With a short introduction, Lu Zeqing randomly took a popsicle from the ice bag.

He held the popsicle up to the camera, showing it from every angle before tearing open the packaging. Suddenly, the screen was flooded with notifications…

【LingeringLove99】 sent 100 Diving Bombs.

【QingTuan1111】 sent 200 Diving Bombs.

【QingTuan2222】 sent 300 Diving Bombs.

【Q123456】赠送100个深水鱼雷。

【Q123456】 sent 100 Deepwater Torpedoes.

【LingeringLove99】 sent 200 Deepwater Torpedoes.

【QingTuan1111】 sent 300 Deepwater Torpedoes.

【QingTuan2222】 sent 400 Deepwater Torpedoes.

【Q123456】赠送500个深水鱼雷。

【Q123456】 sent 500 Deepwater Torpedoes.

【Yu Qing Wei Liao 99】 sent 600 Deepwater Torpedoes.

Lu Zeqing: “…?”

[These accounts look unfamiliar… Are they new fans?]

[Qing Tuan? Sounds like a fan account for Lu Zeqing.]

[That LingeringLove account is definitely a shipper.]

[My baby managed to attract Lu Zeqing’s fans? And they’re all rich?!]

---

Author’s Note:

It’s not hard to guess who these four accounts belong to, right? They’re all familiar faces pulling the same trick (just kidding).

Hint: The most shameless yet openly obvious one is Xiao Jiang.