Chapter 4

Gu Mingyu reluctantly stood up and followed, asking Fan Meixi, “What should I call him?” But his eyes remained glued to his phone.

This was indeed a dilemma.

While same-sex marriage was no longer a novelty, addressing the situation was a bit awkward. Should he call him “sister-in-law” or “brother-in-law”? Neither seemed quite right.

“Are you a fool, child? Of course, you should call him ‘brother.’ Now that Mr. He and Fan Xing are married, we are all family. Fan Xing is your brother, and naturally, Mr. He is your brother too,” Fan Meixi said with a sly smile, teaching him while discreetly pinching his arm where others couldn’t see.

Feeling the pain from the pinch, Gu Mingyu muttered something under his breath and put away his phone before calling someone.

He happened to call out just as He Qingmo took something out of the refrigerator and placed it on the table. He casually replied, “Call me by name if you want. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

In other words, calling him “brother” was optional.

Gu Mingyu’s face turned green as the words almost left his mouth but were held back. He glared fiercely at He Qingmo’s back.

Fan Meixi, on the other hand, reacted quickly, diverting the conversation with a charming smile. “Mr. He, haven’t you had lunch yet? I’m afraid these noodles have been sitting for a while, and the texture might not be great. Since we haven’t eaten either, how about we go out for a meal together?”

Fan Xing, who was still sitting on the couch, finally stood up when he heard the word “noodles.” He was surprised to see the cold noodles that He Qingmo had ignored last night now being served, and He Qingmo was even mixing them seriously.

Was he planning to eat them?

Fan Xing quickly moved past Fan Meixi and joined the others at the dining table. He picked up the noodles and said, “Don’t eat these.”

He Qingmo looked up at him and asked, “Aren’t they for me?”

“They were, but they’ve been sitting for too long and don’t taste good now. I’ll make fresh ones quickly,” Fan Xing replied, pouring the noodles into the trash can.

With nothing to eat, He Qingmo reluctantly put down his chopsticks and leaned back in his chair. He looked at the discarded noodles, a faint smile on his lips. “You knew they wouldn’t taste good after sitting for a while, so why did you keep them?”

In his mind, Fan Xing added, “I kept them for myself, okay?” He ignored the man’s question and went to the kitchen.

However, he realized in the kitchen that he had used up all the remaining ingredients last night.

He sighed and slapped his own forehead in frustration, then turned and went back outside, looking at He Qingmo with an apologetic expression. “Brother, I’m sorry, but we’re out of ingredients at home. I’ll go buy some, and I’ll be back soon.”

He still couldn’t bring himself to say “husband,” so he took the liberty of calling He Qingmo “brother” to avoid any further complications.

As he passed by the man, He Qingmo grabbed his wrist. Fan Xing’s heart skipped a beat, thinking, “Is he going to confront me at a time like this? And with others around!”

He instinctively turned to look at He Qingmo, his eyes pleading and vulnerable, resembling a rabbit seeking forgiveness.

To his surprise, He Qingmo said, “I’ll starve while waiting for you.” He then picked up his phone and called his assistant, asking Fan Xing, “What do you need?”

Fan Xing was momentarily stunned and quickly replied, “What would you like to eat, brother? If you want cold noodles, just get some noodles and a few vegetables. It’s best to buy alkaline noodles for better texture. And… if possible, get some other things too. We have nothing at home.”

He Qingmo had put the call on speaker, so his assistant could hear Fan Xing’s instructions.

Therefore, when Fan Xing finished speaking, He Qingmo simply said, “Got it? Buy everything he mentioned.”

After He Qingmo finished his call, he didn’t release his grip on Fan Xing’s wrist. The young man’s soft and delicate skin felt exquisite in his hand, and he gently stroked it as he looked at Fan Xing. He asked, “Are you good at cooking?”

Before Fan Xing could respond, Fan Meixi, who had been left aside for a while, chimed in with a smile, “Of course! Our Fan Xing has loved cooking since he was a child and is very skilled in the kitchen. I’m not just boasting as his mother, but the meals he makes can rival those of Michelin chefs. From now on, Mr. He, you can focus on your work, and Fan Xing will take care of everything at home. This child…”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Fan Xing interrupted her, “Mom, hasn’t Mingyu and you eaten yet? Why don’t you stay and have lunch with us?”

Fan Meixi hesitated for a moment and then shook her head, “No need, dear. You go ahead and enjoy your meal. Mom is here just to bring you some things. You didn’t bring many clothes when you came back, so Mom bought some for you. If you need anything in the future, just let Mom know. Take care of yourself and Mr. He after I leave.” With that, she pulled Gu Mingyu, who had been playing with his phone all along, out of the door.

Fan Xing gently freed himself from He Qingmo’s grip and escorted them out.

At the door, Fan Meixi initially said she didn’t need to be escorted out, but she immediately pulled Fan Xing out and confirmed that He Qingmo hadn’t followed them. She couldn’t conceal her excitement and whispered to Fan Xing, “So, Mr. He treats you well, doesn’t he? I saw that he didn’t want to let go of your hand earlier. What about last night…”

“Mom,” Fan Xing quickly interrupted her.

Fan Meixi realized she had been too forward and, with a soft and gentle tone, said, “Fan Xing, Mom is happy because she sees that Mr. He treats you well. As a mother, how could I not wish for the best for my child, right?”

Fan Xing nodded softly, “Yes, I understand.”

Fan Meixi affectionately arranged his hair and praised, “Our Fan Xing is truly wonderful—handsome, kind, and so obedient. If only your younger brother could be half as good as you, I’d wake up from my dreams with a smile.”

She then turned to glare at the impatient Gu Mingyu nearby and said, “You, come over and say hello to your brother!”

Gu Mingyu rolled his eyes and practically snorted his response, “I don’t have a shameless brother like him.” With that, he turned and walked away.

Fan Meixi’s face darkened, “Stop right there! Apologize to your brother!”

Clearly, Gu Mingyu wasn’t afraid of Fan Meixi. He didn’t respond at all and just walked out of the garden.

“You see, he really doesn’t have any manners! Fan Xing, don’t be upset. Mom will definitely teach him a lesson when I get back. Actually, he’s just a bit stubborn. It’s not that he doesn’t like you. Today, he insisted on coming with me because he said his brother was getting married, and as his younger brother, he had to come and see his brother’s new home. But when he saw you, he felt awkward saying those things. He’s still young; don’t take it to heart,” Fan Meixi explained.

“It’s okay,” Fan Xing replied with a smile, not bothered by it.

There wasn’t much to be concerned about in the first place. Although he and Gu Mingyu were related by blood, they didn’t share a close brotherly bond. Whether Gu Mingyu liked him or not didn’t matter much to him.

What puzzled him more was Fan Meixi’s attitude.

Throughout their lives, Fan Meixi had never actively encouraged them to interact as brothers. Now, she was suddenly trying to matchmake the two of them.

Hmm… Strange!

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