I Fell In Love With My Friend's Younger Brother Who Has A Low Sense Of Presence. - Chapter 24:
Chapter 24: Painting
After leaving the scenic area, the two of them went straight to the restaurant for dinner and then to the bar. Chen Xi, Mo Yueqin, and the others were there, along with a few friends Su Shixiao didn’t know.
Nan Yanzhou pulled Su Shixiao into a corner of the private room and sat him down. He leaned in close and said, “Xiao Xiao, thank you for taking me back to the hotel later.”
Su Shixiao nodded gently, “Yeah.”
Nan Yanzhou had already had several drinks with the others since arriving. Now they were playing drinking games, and he was being dragged along.
During this time, many people invited Su Shixiao to join them for drinks, but he only took a token sip and didn’t drink much.
He wasn’t used to being in bars, especially with all the crowds and noise, but seeing Nan Yanzhou, he silently accepted the offer.
Nan Yanzhou had lost miserably and had drunk quite a bit. When he sat back down next to Su Shixiao, he could smell the alcohol on him.
Nan Yanzhou took out his cigarette. When he saw Su Shixiao, he thought for a moment and stood up, hiding in the smoking area outside.
Su Shixiao, concerned that he’d had quite a bit to drink, followed him. Seeing Nan Yanzhou leaning against the wall, smoking, he slowly walked up to him and asked, “Brother Yanzhou, are you going home?”
Nan Yanzhou turned to look at him and exhaled a puff of smoke at him. He thought to himself that Su Shixiao was a good kid and couldn’t lead him astray, or else Su Shixiao would punish him. “Okay, wait until I finish this cigarette.”
After he said this, the air fell silent, leaving only the chaotic sounds of music and other voices. The two of them remained silent, a touch of intimacy building in the dim light. A few minutes later, the ringing of a phone shattered the silence.
Su Shixiao looked down and saw it was his brother calling. He answered the call with a cold, “Hello, brother.”
“Xiaoxiao, where have you been?” Su Shizhi was standing at the door of his room. He hadn’t seen Su Shixiao in three days. He’d been home almost every day since his internship, but he hadn’t seen him for three days straight. He’d gone to his room and couldn’t find him, so he couldn’t help but feel a little worried.
“I haven’t seen you in three days. Why aren’t you in your room so late?”
Su Shixiao said, “I’m out on a business trip.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you tell my family?” Su Shizhi said, a little worried and angry. “And didn’t you say you were a concept artist at Nan Yanzhou Company? Why would you go on a business trip?”
Su Shixiao: “I…”
Hasn’t it always been like this?
Seeing him silent for a long time, Su Shizhi stopped pressing him. Then, hearing the noisy sounds coming from his side, his handsome brows furrowed slightly. “Where are you now? Why is it so noisy?”
“The bar.”
“Xiaoxiao, you hardly ever go to bars. Are you on a business trip?”
“Yes, but it’s a bit noisy out there right now?”
Su Shizhi was helpless with his younger brother. He sighed and said, “Xiaoxiao, remember to tell your family next time you have something to worry about.”
Su Shixiao lowered his eyes. He had become accustomed to keeping everything to himself, never sharing any of his problems, no matter how difficult. He had never been favored since childhood, and already he was like this. How could he have the courage to tell them? Perhaps he no longer needed them.
Nan Yanzhou saw his darkening eyes and reached out to snatch the phone away. “I brought him out. Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back safely.”
Su Shizhi’s ire intensified at the sound of Nan Yanzhou’s voice. “Xiaoxiao has always been well-behaved. Don’t lead him astray.”
“Okay,” Nan Yanzhou continued perfunctorily. “Your brother is my brother. How could I possibly lead him astray? Okay, hanging up.”
“Wait, when will you be back?”
“Tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll bring him back safe and sound.”
After hanging up, he handed the phone to Su Shixiao. “Are you always like this? If you’re away on a business trip for a month, won’t you tell them?”
Su Shixiao took the phone and looked at him, answering firmly, “Yes.”
“So, you won’t tell your family anything?” Nan Yanzhou asked, staring at him.
Su Shixiao nodded slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment.
Nan Yanzhou simply stared at him without saying anything else. He sensed something was wrong with Su Shixiao.
The two stood face to face, waiting to finish their cigarette. Nan Yanzhou tossed the butt into the trash can and took a final puff. “Let’s go.”
Arriving in the lobby, they were overcrowded. Nan Yanzhou simply grabbed Su Shixiao’s wrist and made his way through the crowd. Several people approached, but Nan Yanzhou coldly rebuffed them.
Su Shixiao’s eyes widened slightly as he took her wrist, her skin warming under his touch.
Finally leaving the bar, Su Shixiao felt the air freshen considerably. Nan Yanzhou took a taxi back to the hotel.
Su Shixiao walked Nan Yanzhou back to his room. “Brother Yanzhou, go to bed early. We’ll be back to City B tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Nan Yanzhou, lying in bed, recalled what happened today at the scenic spot and raised his eyelids to look at him. “Remember to send me your drawing of that tree when you’re done.”
“Yeah?” Su Shixiao was shocked and confused.
He had always assumed Nan Yanzhou wasn’t interested in such things. Besides, this was his own drawing, not a game manuscript from the company.
Seeing his reaction, Nan Yanzhou raised his head with his palm, smiled at him, and asked slowly, “Why can’t I see it?”
“No,” Su Shixiao responded with a faint smile. “I’ll send it to you when I’m done.”
Satisfied with the answer, Nan Yanzhou’s smile deepened. “Okay, good boy, go back to your room, take a shower, and go to bed.”
“Okay, good night, Brother Yanzhou.”
After getting off the plane, Nan Yanzhou gave Su Shixiao half a day off. He went straight home and went to his room to work on the painting he had finished the previous day.
He also included the two of them in the painting, along with five or six passersby. By the time he finished, more than three hours had passed. He went downstairs when it was time for dinner.
“Xiaoxiao, come over and sit for a while. Dinner will be here soon.” Yan Jiaxin missed her second son after not seeing him for a few days.
“Okay.” Su Shixiao sat down next to her.
Yan Jiaxin patted his head. “I haven’t seen you home in a few days. What have you been up to?”
“I went to work. On a business trip with my boss.”
“Is work tough? If so, come home.”
Su Shixiao wasn’t used to her patting his head like that. He’d only seen her do it to Xiaobei, and now his mother’s touch made him a little stiff.
“Not tough.”
Nan Yanzhou went home, took a shower, and came out with a drawing and a message from Su Shixiao.
Su Shixiao: I’ve finished it.
Su Shixiao: [File] jpeg.
Nan Yanzhou hadn’t expected him to be so obedient, actually sending him a drawing. A smile crossed his lips at the thought.
He clicked on his drawing. It featured a large tree, surrounded by other trees, with one or two squirrels perched on top. There was also a pavilion where they were resting, with two people sitting inside and many tourists outside. The painting was done in a way that moved from near to far, and it was quite beautiful, so he saved it.