Yu Wanlai was nudged a couple of times and turned to see Yu Qingyue’s ears, red from the cold wind. His gaze fell on the black long coat Yu Qingyue was wearing.

Yu Wanlai: … He looked ahead again, noticing that both Yu Cheng and Qin Shuang were wearing wool coats. Finally, he looked down at his own puffed-up down jacket, which made him look like a loaf of bread. This was his way of respecting winter, being from the north, a place where water freezes in the winter.

Yu Wanlai: … What a family of tough ones, he thought. He felt a little out of place.

He reached up and tightened his hat, his hand rolled into his sleeve. He raised his arm and placed it around Yu Qingyue’s shoulder, pulling him closer to block the wind.

Yu Qingyue, who had just been focusing on his embarrassment, worried that his parents might want to talk to him and not knowing what to say, had shifted to the side without noticing that Yu Wanlai was next to him. It wasn’t until the warm touch reached his ear and cheek that he turned and looked, seeing the arm resting on him.

Coldly, he said, “Take it off quickly, don’t you know your arm is heavy?”

Feeling that Yu Qingyue was about to struggle, Yu Wanlai exerted a bit more strength. If he spoke now, he felt it would just invite more wind, and he figured there was no point in explaining—Yu Qingyue would likely just scold him for being hypocritical or tell him not to worry about him. So, he simply didn’t explain. After all, Yu Qingyue wouldn’t be able to fight back, especially with his wounds still not fully healed, and he couldn’t afford to make any big movements.

Yu Qingyue slapped Yu Wanlai’s arm away, but Yu Wanlai put it back. After a few rounds of this, he grew tired of the struggle and just kept his hand in the warm pocket, unable to bear the alternating heat and cold.

The wind came in gusts, stirring up the light snow from the night before, as if clearing a path for the group. Yu Cheng and Qin Shuang walked ahead, while Yu Qingyue and Yu Wanlai followed behind, heading toward the parking lot. To an outsider, this must have looked like a happy family, if you ignored the two people in the back who were secretly competing with each other.

Today, they didn’t have the driver take the car. Since Yu Qingyue was injured and couldn’t drive, and Yu Wanlai didn’t have a license yet, it was the same as when they arrived, with Yu Cheng driving. The difference this time was that Yu Qingyue was also in the back seat.

When they reached the car, Yu Wanlai quickly withdrew his arm from around Yu Qingyue’s neck. Immediately, a biting cold wind swept in, and the area that had been warmed up quickly turned cold. Yu Qingyue stepped into the car right away.

Seeing that Yu Qingyue was about to sit on the side of the door, Yu Wanlai stretched out his hand and slapped Yu Qingyue on the backside, pushing him toward the other side. “Go, sit in that spot,” he said.

Yu Qingyue quickly covered his backside with both hands, turning to glare at Yu Wanlai, “Can’t you just get in from the other side?”

Yu Wanlai squeezed into the car, closed the door, and realized that if they didn’t hurry, the heat they had built up in the car would dissipate.

“Otherwise, we’d have to open the car door. Cold! If both doors are open, all the heat from inside will escape!”

Yu Qingyue, squeezed by Yu Wanlai’s urgency to get in, turned around and sat on the other side of the seat, finally feeling he could breathe a little easier. He smiled sarcastically, “In such a hurry, how come you haven’t frozen to death?”

Yu Wanlai smirked, glancing at his clothes. “The first one to freeze won’t be me.”

Yu Qingyue looked down at his clothes. What was wrong with his clothes? He felt like Yu Wanlai was the one with the issue, wrapped up like a sponge.

He didn’t bother responding to Yu Wanlai anymore. He reclined his seat, rested his head on the backrest, and intended to close his eyes for a while.

The child who had moved into the room next to his the previous day had been incredibly noisy, and he hadn’t slept well. So, not long after getting in the car, Yu Qingyue fell asleep.

When they arrived home, it was just around noon. As they opened the door, Yu Wanlai immediately smelled the aroma of food. He hung his down jacket on the coat rack by the entrance and went straight to the dining room.

Wang Ma heard the noise and came out to greet them. “Oh, perfect timing, the meal is just ready. Do you want to eat now?”

Yu Wanlai sat down at the table, glanced toward the door, and said from a distance, “Eat! Of course, eat!” Today was Saturday, and he had been so busy lately that he hadn’t had time to rest. He had even thought he could go back to sleep after breakfast but had forgotten that Yu Qingyue was getting discharged today. He was reminded only when Qin Shuang and Yu Cheng mentioned it while they were downstairs eating breakfast. Yu Cheng had assumed Yu Wanlai didn’t plan to go, since it was just a discharge, and hadn’t specifically mentioned it.

Yu Wanlai had just sat down and picked up his chopsticks when he heard that the others were leaving, so he quickly shoved a fried egg into his mouth and followed them out. By now, the fried egg had already been digested.

Yu Cheng frowned slightly, and since he couldn’t see Yu Wanlai behind a half-wall, he didn’t want to start an argument and simply said, “Let’s eat now, then.”

Yu Wanlai had been with him recently, and Yu Cheng had noticed that lately, his son was most eager when it came to eating, though he didn’t care much for using clever tricks anymore. However, when it came to reviewing plans, Yu Wanlai’s face contorted in pain, as if he were being sentenced to the guillotine.

Yu Qingyue was still wearing the clothes from the hospital. Not wanting to eat while smelling the disinfectant, he excused himself to his parents and went upstairs to wash up and change clothes.

When Yu Wanlai saw Wang Ma bring out the egg custard, a lightbulb seemed to go off in his mind, and he let out a soft laugh. Suddenly, he thought of someone and looked toward the door, but Yu Qingyue wasn’t there.

Yu Cheng and Qin Shuang sat at the table, and when Qin Shuang noticed Yu Wanlai’s gaze, she explained, “Yue Yue said he’s going upstairs to take a shower first. If you’re hungry, you can eat now, no need to wait for him.”

Yu Wanlai withdrew his gaze, saying “Oh” and, though he thought Yu Qingyue might be a little obsessive about cleanliness, he still unconsciously slowed down his eating to wait for him.

After their conversation, Yu Qingyue had actually not seen Yu Wanlai for several days. While showering upstairs, he thought about the arm Yu Wanlai had placed on his shoulder earlier. At first, he thought Yu Wanlai was just teasing him, but when the cold wind blew as they got in the car, he realized that Yu Wanlai had probably been trying to shield him from the wind.

His hair, wet from the shower, curled slightly and stuck to his forehead, obscuring his vision. Yu Qingyue lifted his hand to brush his hair back, exposing his smooth, full forehead. He thought maybe Yu Wanlai was really changing, and perhaps, they could get along better in the future. Living under the same roof but constantly needing to be on guard against someone wasn’t exactly comfortable.

After what felt like the Nth time Yu Wanlai glanced away from the table and looked at the door, he finally saw Yu Qingyue, looking refreshed. His eyes lit up, and he smiled at him, waving, “Little brother, you’re here! Come eat.”

Qin Shuang gave Yu Wanlai a puzzled look. She hadn’t expected him to still treat them this way after learning about Yu Qingyue’s background. It was surprising. Maybe people really could change. A more harmonious home would make things less worrying for her and Yu Cheng, which was always a good thing.

Yu Qingyue glanced at Yu Wanlai, recalling what had just happened. He opened his mouth, but in the end, the word “thank you” didn’t come out. He just gave a light “Mm” and then sat down next to Qin Shuang.

Yu Wanlai pushed the plate of egg custard closer to Yu Qingyue, saying, “Eat more of this, it’s smooth and nutritious. I’ve already eaten, and Wang Ma didn’t put soy sauce in it, so it won’t leave a scar.”

Every time Yu Wanlai saw egg custard, he thought of the sensation of it on Yu Qingyue’s face. For a guy, his skin was too good.

Qin Shuang, sitting nearby, naturally overheard the exchange, and she could tell her son’s attitude toward Yu Qingyue had changed a lot. In the past, Yu Qingyue always ignored Yu Wanlai’s attempts at small talk.

Yu Qingyue looked down at the egg custard in front of him, thinking that Yu Wanlai was mocking him for loving egg tarts. He raised his head and glared at Yu Wanlai, “Are you sick?”

Yu Wanlai was confused. What was wrong with him this time? Why was he being scolded again? Didn’t he just greet him earlier?

Qin Shuang turned away, speechless. She thought maybe she had overthought it. These two hadn’t changed at all.

Since Yu Qingyue’s wounds were almost healed and the family was gathered, Yu Wanlai took the opportunity to speak to Yu Cheng, “Dad, I think we should let little brother continue running the main company. He’s been in charge for so long, and suddenly changing it might confuse the staff.”

This inheritance wasn’t really his. He was only filling in temporarily for the male lead, and he didn’t want to be stuck in the company for long. Just thinking about it was stressful.

Yu Cheng was about to put down his chopsticks when he heard this. After considering it for a moment, he thought that since Yu Qingyue had been injured, he could rest for a while, and it would be a good opportunity for Yu Wanlai to step in and gain some experience.

But Yu Wanlai wasn’t really taking over the company; he had just started handling some tasks with Yu Cheng’s guidance, and his official position hadn’t been announced yet. With Yu Qingyue back now, it would be convenient for him to return.

Yu Cheng looked at Yu Qingyue, “Qingyue, what do you think? Do you want to go back?”

Just as Yu Qingyue was about to pick up a piece of pork rib to eat, he heard the question and put down his chopsticks. “I’m fine with whatever, it’s up to you, Dad.”

Yu Wanlai almost clapped his hands in excitement. He picked up a few pieces of meat for Yu Qingyue before eagerly speaking, “Then it’s settled! I won’t go to the headquarters starting tomorrow.”

Yu Qingyue: ………

Yu Cheng turned his gaze to Yu Wanlai again, his tone stern and eyes unyielding, “If you’re not going to the headquarters, then where are you going? What are you up to this time?”

Yu Wanlai pouted and instantly deflated, “What do you mean by that? I just don’t want to go to work at the company…”

Yu Cheng grew even angrier upon hearing this, interrupting Yu Wanlai’s unfinished words, “Everyone else in the family is working, and you’re the only one slacking off like a parasite?”

“I just don’t want to go to work at the company, that doesn’t mean I’m not earning money!”

Yu Cheng’s chest rose and fell rapidly, and his hand on the table trembled slightly. Yu Qingyue shot a look at Yu Wanlai, as if thinking this person might actually be a fool.

“Then what, are you planning to go out and play that broken guitar of yours again? I’ve told you before, don’t even think about it!”