Qi Mingyu no longer asked Qi Ji questions like “How does he treat you?” or pried into Pei Yusheng’s behavior. He had been observing everything on his own.
There was also a reason Mingyu didn’t like to admit—even to himself—he knew his brother’s personality too well: if Qi Ji’s guarded heart had opened, it could only have been because he had truly met someone sincere.
So when Qi Ji confirmed it himself, Mingyu didn’t say anything further.
“Fine, as long as he makes my brother happy.”
After tidying up the mess from chopping the ribs, Mingyu spent another hour or so in the kitchen before the dinner was finally ready.
Carrying a full bowl of stir-fried ribs out, the living room was already filled with a rich, savory aroma. Tonight’s meal had two main dishes: a golden, fragrant chicken soup that made mouths water, and crispy stir-fried ribs with tender bone and a spicy fragrance that hit the senses. On the table were also lightly stir-fried flat beans and a cold cucumber salad. Four dishes and bowls, fully laid out, enough to make anyone salivate at the sight.
Mingyu sat at the table and rotated the bowl of ribs so that the half with chili faced him. “This half isn’t cooked with chili,” he told Qi Ji.
Muffled while eating a drumstick, Qi Ji replied, “Mm.”
He was eating so contentedly, he didn’t even want to speak.
Mingyu picked up his own rice and began eating as well.
Although they were brothers, their tastes were completely different. Qi Ji liked sweet foods and couldn’t handle much spice; Mingyu preferred spicy dishes. So when cooking, Mingyu would set aside a portion first, then add chili to the remainder.
Still, Qi Ji couldn’t resist sneaking a taste of the spicy ribs. By the time Mingyu came back with the soup, he noticed Qi Ji’s eyes and nose were already flushed red.
“….”
Mingyu didn’t know what to say.
“You can’t handle spice, yet you sneak some—drink your soup quickly.”
Qi Ji drank more than half a bowl, finally suppressing the spiciness. “Hiss… it’s really spicy…”
Mingyu glanced at him sideways. “You made yourself crave it.”
Then, taking the ladle, he refilled Qi Ji’s soup bowl.
“It’s just… the spicy ribs are really good too,” Qi Ji mumbled.
Mingyu didn’t comment verbally, but inwardly he appreciated this indirect compliment.
After Qi Ji nearly finished the large bowl of ribs, Mingyu finally asked, “Brother, did you sleep well last night?”
“Huh? Pretty well,” Qi Ji answered automatically.
But as soon as he said it, a pang of realization hit him—he had told Mingyu he was working overnight.
Mingyu didn’t press, only followed with: “So tonight, are you going to Pei Yusheng’s?”
Qi Ji hesitated, then shook his head. “No, I’ll sleep at home.”
Surprised by the question, he studied his brother’s expression—but couldn’t quite read it.
Mingyu finished the last spoonful of soup, looked up, and said: “Go then.”
“…Huh?”
Qi Ji froze, thinking Mingyu was angry or being sarcastic.
Mingyu wasn’t angry. He explained: “I’m meeting a classmate for basketball tomorrow morning. We agreed I’d stay at his place tonight. If you want to go, you should—better than sneaking calls and not sleeping well.”
Qi Ji was stunned.
How did Mingyu even know that?
Before Qi Ji could respond, Mingyu shoved the fruit tray into his arms, sending him to sit on the sofa.
Once the dishes were cleared, they left the house, going to separate places.
By the time Qi Ji arrived at Tan Palace villa, he was still in a daze.
Using his fingerprint to unlock the door, he stepped inside and saw Pei Yusheng coming down the stairs, surprise written across his face.
“Qi Qi?” Pei Yusheng asked. “You’re back? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Qi Ji realized he had been thinking about Mingyu the whole way and completely forgot to tell Pei Yusheng he was coming back.
He opened his mouth to explain, but Pei Yusheng had already closed the distance in two strides, enveloping him in a tight hug.
“What’s wrong?” the man asked softly, pressing Qi Ji’s head to his chest, hand cradling the back of his head. “Tell me, don’t cry, okay?”
Qi Ji was baffled. “Ah…??”
He tilted his head up to look at Pei Yusheng. “Sir? I’m not crying.”
Pei Yusheng paused, seeing no tears, and slightly loosened his grip.
He traced Qi Ji’s eye corner gently with a fingertip. “Why are your eyes so red? And your nose… I thought you were crying.”
Qi Ji remembered the reason: “No, it’s the chili from dinner… I really didn’t cry.”
His fair, thin skin had flushed red from the spice.
The man bent down and kissed the corner of his eye.
A warm breeze seemed to pass over him.
“Good, then,” Pei Yusheng murmured.
Qi Ji’s eye corners turned even redder, blending with the flushed skin near his ears.
Inside the house, Qi Ji recounted Mingyu’s reaction and explained why he came back tonight.
Pei Yusheng smiled and asked: “Do you know which team Mingyu likes?”
Qi Ji wasn’t sure why, but thought for a moment. “I think… the Staples?”
Pei Yusheng nodded. “I’ll get him a basketball signed by the entire Staples team another day.”
Qi Ji: “…Eh?”
No matter what, Qi Ji finally cleared things up with Mingyu. He no longer needed to rack his brain for excuses about staying out overnight.
Not long after, Mingyu received several tasks from visiting Eric and Old Master Xue, preparing to assist at academic lectures. This trip alone would take over a month.
Qi Ji, surprised, asked: “That long?”
While packing his things, Qi Mingyu said, “I’ll be coming back a few times in between.”
“Won’t that be too tiring?” Qi Ji asked, worried. Mingyu shook his head, reassuring him. “Then take care of yourself,” Qi Ji said.
Mingyu chuckled. “That’s what you should be saying to me.”
He didn’t tell Qi Ji that his long trips were partly because the professors were paying well, in addition to the learning opportunity. Though he hadn’t opposed Qi Ji’s relationship with Pei Yusheng, Mingyu hadn’t forgotten the disparity between their family backgrounds. To prevent Qi Ji from being taken advantage of in the future, Mingyu decided to start earning well right away.
With Mingyu away, Qi Ji no longer had to run back and forth constantly. Since his brother’s exams ended, Qi Ji had been splitting his time between home and Tan Palace villa almost equally. Though Pei Yusheng still shuttled him around every day, he felt Qi Ji was overexerting himself.
Pei Yusheng had once asked if Qi Mingyu should move in with them, but Qi Ji thought it might be inconvenient since it was Pei Yusheng’s house. Mingyu himself had firmly refused. So the plan was put on hold.
Once Mingyu left, Qi Ji finally stayed full-time at Tan Palace villa, only returning home when his brother came back.
After clearing things up with Mingyu, Qi Ji started thinking about telling others about his relationship. Though the process was nerve-wracking, passing the Mingyu hurdle made him feel much lighter. For now, besides his brother, there weren’t many people he needed to explain things to.
Just as he was thinking this, he received a message: He Xiu’s vacation had started, and he planned to come visit.
Qi Ji happily replied but then hesitated. How was he going to tell He Xiu about his relationship?
Pei Yusheng was present when Qi Ji received the message and could guess his thoughts. He reached out and stroked Qi Ji’s hair. “Is it hard to say?”
“Not exactly… it’s just…” Qi Ji hesitated. “He’s always thought you liked Wen.”
Pei Yusheng sighed, a little helpless at the old misunderstanding. He bent down and kissed Qi Ji’s hair.
“It’s fine, as long as you don’t think that way.”
“No, no, I understand now,” Qi Ji quickly said. “It was a misunderstanding. I need to explain it to him, but I don’t know what he’ll think…”
Pei Yusheng smiled, pressing a kiss to Qi Ji’s nose. “Don’t worry. I’m ready…”
There was a comforting certainty in his voice.
“I’m ready for anything.”
He Xiu arrived in late July, with S City in the height of summer. The flight was on time, and Qi Ji’s lips curved into a smile the moment he saw him.
He Xiu, equally thrilled, practically lifted Qi Ji off the ground in a one-armed hug.
“How’s it going?” He Xiu laughed. “Did you miss your brother?”
Qi Ji held onto his shoulders, laughing. “Brother, you’re darker again.”
He Xiu feigned offense. “Oh? Learning to tease your brother now?”
Because of this, Qi Ji didn’t hit the ground for quite a while.
Since Pei Yusheng had a meeting, he didn’t follow to pick up He Xiu. Qi Ji wanted to ease into telling him about Pei Yusheng after He Xiu had rested.
Though it was a personal trip, He Xiu had a few colleagues with him, and his safety still required precautions. After the airport, they got into pre-arranged cars and headed to the hotel first.
Qi Ji and He Xiu sat in the back, separated from the front seats by soundproof glass, which didn’t interfere with conversation.
Unexpectedly, they quickly started talking about Pei Yusheng.
“Qi Qi, I investigated again. Remember Wen Chuming’s psychological assessment?” He Xiu said. “The military doctor later confirmed the results—Wen isn’t gay. There was a procedural error in the assessment.”
“So I double-checked Pei Yusheng and Wen’s situation. They didn’t… have that kind of relationship. They were just close colleagues,” He Xiu explained carefully, choosing his words to avoid hurting Qi Ji.
Qi Ji, however, felt more uneasy. He whispered, “I know about that, brother.”
He Xiu looked puzzled. “You know?”
Qi Ji, though unprepared, couldn’t keep it hidden any longer. After a moment of silence, he said, “It’s because… Pei and I are… in that kind of relationship now.”
He Xiu almost didn’t understand what Qi Ji meant by “that kind of relationship.”
When he realized, shock hit him harder than before.
He Xiu had meant to comfort Qi Ji, telling him not to lose hope, that there might still be a chance.
But he hadn’t expected Qi Ji had already realized the opportunity so quickly.
“Give me… a moment,” He Xiu said, overwhelmed.
Still reeling, he blurted out what he was thinking: “When did this happen? How… how did it happen? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”