I Fell In Love With My Friend's Younger Brother Who Has A Low Sense Of Presence. - Chapter 34:
Chapter 34: Are You Serious About Me and the Rumors?
“Brother, that’s fine.” Su Shixiao grabbed his wrist, his tone flat. “I can drink this milk, too. No need to bother. Sit down and have breakfast.”
Su Shizhi sat down, silently eating breakfast with his brother.
Nan Yanzhou noticed the brothers seemed a bit down as he approached. He brought breakfast over to join them. “Xiaoxiao, why are you up so early? Why don’t you get some more sleep?”
“I woke up and got up.” Su Shixiao saw his eyes light up slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
“Yeah, eat more breakfast.” Nan Yanzhou pinched the back of his neck.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Su Shizhi gritted his teeth at their intimate interaction, secretly glaring at Nan Yanzhou.
After everyone got up, ate breakfast, returned all the borrowed items to the owner, and cleared away all the trash, they began their descent.
After returning home, Su Shixiao, taking advantage of a moment of inspiration, immediately rushed into his small studio to start sketching and thinking of a theme name.
Suddenly, he remembered that he hadn’t finished the first draft of his graduation project, and a headache hit him.
Having worked so late the previous night, not getting to sleep until 2:30 AM, Su Shixiao was five minutes late when he arrived at the office. However, there were still a lot of people crammed at the elevator door, and since he didn’t like to squeeze in, he stood outside and waited for them to get on while he waited for the next elevator.
Nan Yanzhou saw him standing in line when he entered the company lobby. He walked over and pulled him toward the executive elevator.
“Didn’t I tell you you could take this elevator?”
Su Shixiao felt his skin burning where his wrist was gripped. “Forget it, I’m on my own. It’s too conspicuous.”
Nan Yanzhou pulled him into the elevator, released his hand, and raised an eyebrow at him, his tone playful. “What? Are you bothered by rumors about me?”
“Ah…” Su Shixiao was unsure how to respond. “Not really, it’s just a little annoying.”
“You’re annoying? Others want to have rumors about me, but they haven’t had the chance yet,” Nan Yanzhou said nonchalantly, arms folded.
“Yeah,” Su Shixiao couldn’t help but smile, agreeing with him. “Yes.”
That night, Su Shixiao received a wedding invitation from his childhood neighbor, Chen Jiu. He’d only gotten along with Chen Jiu as a kid, mainly because Chen Jiu was the kind of playful person who could get along with anyone. He’d become close to him simply out of annoyance. Every few days, he’d come to play with his brothers and tease them.
Tomorrow was Chen Jiu’s wedding. He’d asked his boss for a day off in advance, bought some gifts, and given a red envelope worth over 30,000 yuan.
The wedding started at 10 a.m. Su Shixiao woke up, had breakfast, and went to his room to change. He played with his phone for a while before leaving.
Nan Yanzhou and Chen Jiu had been close friends since childhood. He arrived at the event half an hour early. Chen Jiu, after receiving his call, came out with his wife. “Yanzhou, here.”
Nan Yanzhou handed the gift and red envelope to the registration staff when he heard his friend’s voice. He deliberately looked him up and down, teasing him, “It’s been a few years since we last met. You’ve just returned to China and we’re already attending your wedding. Pretty quick.”
“Of course,” Chen Jiu said, taking his wife’s hand and introducing her. “This is my wife, Yu Qinqing. Wife, this is my good brother, Nan Yanzhou. You can just call him Yanzhou.”
“Hello, sister-in-law,” Nan Yanzhou said with a polite smile. “Sister-in-law is truly stunning. I didn’t believe it when Brother Jiu told me.”
“Ignore him. He’s exaggerating,” Yu Qinqing said with a smile.
They chatted for a while before Su Shizhi arrived. Chen Jiu saw him and walked over to give him a hug. “Shizhi, long time no see.”
Su Shizhi patted him on the back and smiled, “It’s been a while indeed.”
“Where are your brother and the others?” Chen Jiu asked.
“Xiaobei will be here later.” Su Shizhi had assumed he wasn’t familiar with Su Shixiao and hadn’t known she would be attending, assuming he was only asking about Xiaobei.
The three of them chatted briefly, and then Chen Jiu took Yu Qinqing to prepare for the wedding.
Nan Yanzhou and Su Shizhi took their seats, and Chen Jiu arranged all his childhood friends at the same table.
“Shizhi, I’m a little curious. What’s the atmosphere like in your home?” Nan Yanzhou poured himself a glass of water and glanced at him, seemingly casually chatting.
“It’s fine, very harmonious. The parents are loving, and the three brothers have a good relationship.” Su Shizhi looked at him strangely. “Why are you asking this all of a sudden? You’re not usually so talkative.”
“I was just bored, so I asked casually.” He put down his water glass and continued, “So, how do Su Shixiao get along with you guys at home?”
Su Shizhi stared at him suspiciously. “Why are you asking this?”
“I’m just curious about how he gets along with his family. Don’t worry, just tell me,” Nan Yanzhou urged.
“He’s fine. He’s very well-behaved, never gives us any worries, and he’s very close to us.” In his mind, his second brother was really close to them.
Nan Yanzhou frowned suspiciously. “Are you sure? Don’t tell me you don’t feel Su Shixiao’s distance from everyone, including you. It’s just a subtle feeling.”
“Yeah.” Su Shizhi could sense it. Ever since his second brother started high school, his distance from them had grown stronger, and they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Clearly, there was nothing wrong with their family dynamic, and they loved him very much.
Having said that, Nan Yanzhou reminded him, “Pay more attention to him. Show some favoritism, even to your parents and grandparents.”
He didn’t understand everything, so it was hard to say anything. Was that all he could say?
“What do you mean?” Su Shizhi asked, frowning.
“Nothing. You’ll find out if you pay more attention.”
Su Shixiao arrived at the wedding venue to see the bride and groom welcoming guests at the door. Chen Jiu had become much more handsome and taller after not seeing him for a few years.
He handed the gift and red envelope to the staff registering the gifts and walked over to them. “Brother Jiu, it’s been a long time since we last met. I wish you and your sister-in-law a happy marriage, a happy family, and a life together.”
“Xiaoxiao.” Chen Jiu took a few glances before recognizing Su Shixiao, as he had been quite young when he left the country. He hugged him. “Thank you.”
He introduced his wife to Su Shixiao. Yu Qinqing smiled and said, “Hello. Chen Jiu once told me about you. He said you were a cute boy next door, but a bit dull and precocious.”
“Sister-in-law…” “Hello, my dear.” Su Shixiao had a good impression of her. “No, Brother Jiu is exaggerating.”
“How am I exaggerating?” Chen Jiu said, “Xiaoxiao was really precocious when she was little, like a little adult, much more composed than Xiaobei.”
Wedding preparations were about to begin, and everyone had gradually arrived. Su Shixiao was talking to Chen Jiu, and when Su Shizhi saw him, he exclaimed in surprise, “Xiaoxiao!”
Nan Yanzhou was also a little surprised. Chen Jiu had played with them almost all the time when he was little, and he had no idea that he and Su Shixiao were actually familiar with each other.