“It’s fine,” Fan Xing replied honestly.
“Really? Did they give you a gift when you met them? In our culture, it’s customary to bring gifts when meeting your future in-laws for the first time,” Fan Meixi asked.
“Yeah, they did,” Fan Xing answered.
“How much?” Fan Meixi’s eyes lit up, and she seemed different from her usual gentle and dignified self.
Fan Xing hadn’t expected her to ask so directly. He smiled shyly and said, “I didn’t…”
Fan Meixi immediately understood that Fan Xing didn’t want to say. She interrupted him with a smile, “Mom doesn’t mean anything else, just happy for you. I was a bit worried before because the He family is quite complex, and you’re so kind and simple. I was afraid you might be taken advantage of. But now, I’m relieved. Come on, are you hungry? Let’s eat while we talk.”
The food had just arrived, so Fan Meixi smoothly changed the topic. She took care of Fan Xing during the meal, pouring him water, wiping the sauce from the corners of his mouth with a smile. It seemed as though she wasn’t there to eat but to watch Fan Xing eat.
Fan Xing didn’t have much of an appetite with Fan Meixi’s constant attention, so he ate a few bites and then put down his utensils. He thanked her, saying, “Thank you, Mom. I’m full now.”
Fan Meixi didn’t really care if he was full or not. She hadn’t paid much attention to how much he ate and just asked out of habit, “Is this all you’re going to eat? Should we order something else? How about dessert? Mingyu always eats very little during meals, but he loves desserts. Should we order some dessert?”
“No, thank you. I’m not a big fan of sweets. Mom, do you have something else to do?”
Fan Xing realized that he couldn’t handle being with Fan Meixi for an extended period. He felt too uncomfortable and was tempted to make up an excuse to escape. Just then, his phone rang, and it was a call from He Qingmo. Fan Xing saw it as a lifeline and quickly answered.
“Brother,” he said with a cheerful and joyful tone.
The man on the other end of the phone chuckled. “You’re so happy to receive my call?”
Fan Xing suddenly realized that he had been too enthusiastic. He blushed slightly and smiled, “Did you need something?”
The man didn’t tease him further and asked, “Where are you?”
“I’m at a restaurant near Tsinghua University. I was just…”
“Give me the address; I’ll come pick you up.”
Fan Xing didn’t ask what he wanted to do and quickly provided his location to He Qingmo.
In his view, being with He Qingmo was much better than being with Fan Meixi.
After ending the call, he apologized to Fan Meixi, “I’m sorry, Mom. It seems my brother needs me for something. I might have to leave early.”
Fan Meixi didn’t mind at all; in fact, she was quite happy. “No problem. We can have a meal together anytime. Since Mr. He is so busy, and it’s rare for you two to have some free time, you should spend some quality time together. Is Mr. He coming to pick you up? Perfect, I’ll treat you to this meal, and I’ll go downstairs with you to wait.”
Fan Xing didn’t have a chance to refuse. Fan Meixi had already paid the bill and was pulling him downstairs.
While they waited for He Qingmo, Fan Meixi finally got to the point.
“Fan Xing, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with today. I didn’t want to bring it up at first, worried that Mr. He might misunderstand, especially since you two just got married. But now, the situation is a bit urgent, and I don’t want to hide it from you. It’s about your younger brother, Mingyu. He’s decided to participate in a talent show to become a star. The show is sponsored by Mr. He’s company, and with Mr. He’s support, Mingyu’s chances of success will be much higher. Can you talk to Mr. He and ask for his help?”
Fan Xing had been puzzled earlier. If He Qingmo had already helped the Gu family as promised, why had his mother come to have dinner with him? Now, he understood that there was something else.
He smiled somewhat apologetically and said, “Mom, I might not be able to help with this. Actually, I and Mr. He…”
“Fan Xing!” Fan Meixi grabbed his hand and interrupted him. “I know you didn’t grow up with Mingyu and don’t have a close relationship, but he’s your younger brother. Blood is thicker than water. Please help him. Now, he’s relying on you as his brother. I’m begging you. It’s just a small favor to ask Mr. He, and it would mean the world to Mingyu.”
Fan Xing looked at her and suddenly remembered the scene from a few days ago when she had held his hand and begged him on the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau. She had said that only he could help the Gu family.
Now, just a few days later, she was back, and once again, only he could help Gu Mingyu.
For the past eighteen years, Fan Xing had never realized how important he was. Without him, it seemed like the world would stop turning.
A rare sense of irritation welled up in him. He gently pulled away from Fan Meixi and, with a soft but determined voice, said, “I’m sorry, Mom, but I don’t think I can help with this.”
Fan Meixi was about to say something more when He Qingmo’s car pulled up beside them. The car window slowly rolled down, and the man nodded at Fan Meixi, then turned his gaze to Fan Xing. “Ready to go?”
Fan Xing didn’t want to stay for another moment. After saying goodbye to Fan Meixi, he quickly got into the passenger seat.
Fan Meixi looked reluctant to see him leave, as if she wanted to say more. However, the car window was gradually rolling up, and the car was starting to move away.
After a moment’s thought, she picked up her phone and sent a text message to Fan Xing: “Fan Xing, I’m begging you. Please help Mingyu just this once, as a favor between brothers, okay?”
In the car, Fan Xing saw the message and couldn’t help but furrow his brow. He then deleted the message.
It’s not that he didn’t want to help Gu Mingyu. If it were truly a simple request, he wouldn’t mind.
But why should he ask He Qingmo for help? Just because they had obtained their marriage certificate, did that mean they were one family now, with no distinction between him and He Qingmo?
In reality, so far, they were nothing more than two people living under the same roof.
Of course, for He Qingmo, this would probably be a simple favor. If Fan Xing asked, He Qingmo might agree. But why should he burden himself with a favor for someone unrelated?
Gu Mingyu was just a distant relative to him.
In fact, even when Fan Meixi had asked him to marry He Qingmo to help the Gu family through a difficult time, he had refused. Why should he marry a stranger for the sake of the Gu family?
Because his mother had begged him, did that mean he had to agree?
No, he had agreed in the end because his mother had offered him a substantial sum of money. He had agreed for the money!
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