C103.2 — I want you to go

[X] I don’t know.

 

[X] The Art Department and the Economics Department are far apart, so I don’t usually see him.

 

[X] What’s wrong?

 

[ET] Nothing. Have you been busy lately?

 

 

[X] It’s almost a holiday; nothing much.

 

 

Xie Chengfei’s grades had been outstanding from childhood to adulthood, so there was no need for anyone to worry about his studies. The final exam may have been tiring for other students, but for Xie Chengfei, it was as simple as eating.

 

 

[ET] Take me around the school sometime.

 

 

[X] I’m free these days; come and let me know when you’re here.

 

 

“If you want to know, go ask, you’re Xiao Ning’s brother, he’ll be happy that you care about him.”

 

 

Lu Wenxing responded to Xie Chengfei, then he put away his phone and continued to drink congee.

 

 

“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to C University for a stroll, so you can see my alma mater.”

 

 

“Okay.”

 

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Xie Chengfei was chatting with his classmates about their plans after graduation when he received a call from Lu Wenxing, and knowing that Xie Chengfei’s brother was coming, a few people were quite excited.

 

 

“Chengfei is so handsome; his brother must be handsome too.”

 

 

“Little Xie, bring us to meet your brother.”

 

 

“I want to meet him too!!!”

 

 

Xie Chengfei politely refused a few of his classmates; bringing them along would be noisy. Moreover, with Lu Wenxing’s identity, he definitely couldn’t introduce him to his classmates.

 

 

Xie Chengfei’s roommate asked with a bit of amusement.

 

 

“Chengfei’s brother is here to see Chengfei; why do you want to follow along?”

 

 

“To meet the parents.” A few girls replied half-jokingly.

 

 

“The handsome boys in the school are not enough for you to be obsessed with? Why don’t you take a look at us? We’re both handsome too.”

 

 

“That’s different.” One of the girls covered her face and said, “It’s said that older and younger brothers have opposite personalities; I’m just curious if Xiao Xie’s older brother will be a bit more lively.”

 

 

“Don’t think I don’t know; you just want to be Xiao Xie’s sister-in-law.”

 

 

“Laughing to death, don’t think about it. His brother has a partner.”

 

 

The one who spoke was Xie Chengfei’s roommate. Having been invited by Xie Chengfei to attend the Wen family banquet, several of his roommates knew that Xie Chengfei’s older brother was Lu Wenxing.

 

 

But the schoolmates didn’t know, and they naturally kept it a secret for Xie Chengfei.

 

 

If it were known that Lu Wenxing had arrived at C University, it would certainly cause a sensation.

 

 

Lu Wenxing and Xie Chengfei had an appointment at the south entrance, and of course Gu Yanshen, who was on leave, also came along.

 

 

The two of them were too eye-catching, wearing masks and hats, and Xie Chengfei recognized them at once. The two of them stood very close to each other, and he couldn’t hear what they were talking about.

 

 

“Brother, are you here to stroll around campus or to experience campus romance?”

 

 

“Tsk.” Lu Wenxing walked up to him and ruffled Xie Chengfei’s hair. “It’s different when you go to college; you’re much fresher than in high school.”

 

 

“Made a lot of friends?”

 

 

Xie Chengfei nodded.

 

 

High school was stressful, and his classmates had their own cliques. Xie Chengfei didn’t have an active nature and spent most of his time studying.

 

 

After going to college, Xie Chengfei understood what was called the value of the world; even if he didn’t take the initiative, there were a lot of boys and girls who took the initiative to make friends with him. Xie Chengfei was boring, but he wasn’t a cold person; he was just not good at taking the initiative.

 

 

But for those who actively socialized with him, Xie Chengfei didn’t refuse. Most of the time, in a group, everyone chatted enthusiastically, but Xie Chengfei just watched them make a scene and was occasionally teased, which also gave him a sense of participation.

 

 

Xie Chengfei glanced at Gu Yanshen and whispered to Lu Wenxing. “You asked me about Gu Yanning yesterday, and today you came to school with Brother Shen… What’s going on with Gu Yanning?”

 

 

“Nothing.” Lu Wenxing patted his head. “It’s just that it’s time for someone to go home and inherit the family business.”

 

 

Xie Chengfei: “……” He shouldn’t have asked.

 

 

“I’ll take you to Gu Yanning.”

 

 

 

“Okay.”

 

 

Xie Chengfei accompanied them to the art academy. “I’ve asked my classmates; Gu Yanning doesn’t have classes in the next two periods.”

 

 

 

“Okay.”

 

 

 

As they were talking, Gu Yanshen had already called Gu Yanning.

 

 

“Where?”

 

 

“I’m at your school, right in front of your department, with the fountain statue here.”

 

 

After Gu Yanshen hung up the phone, Lu Wenxing turned to him and said, “You can take your time and talk to Xiao Ning.”

 

 

He had no intention of participating in the chat between the two Gu brothers: “I’ll stroll around the school with Xiao Cheng.”

 

 

Gu Yanshen nodded and stood in place, waiting for Gu Yanning.

 

 

……

 

 

The sun wasn’t particularly strong today, and the morning was quite cool. Lu Wenxing and Xie Chengfei walked across the swan lake.

 

 

Two black swans were playing in the water in the middle of the lake. Many couples would go here for dates, and Lu Wenxing had also gone here with his roommate to feed the black swans a few times.

 

 

Looking at the familiar campus scenery, Lu Wenxing was in a pretty good mood and chatted with Xie Chengfei as they walked.

 

 

“I miss the cafeteria at school; I’ll use your meal card at noon.”

 

 

Xie Chengfei nodded. “OK, I’m full.”

 

 

“Are you tired of studying recently?”

 

 

Xie Chengfei shook his head. “I haven’t thanked you yet; you said a lot in front of my parents for me.”

 

 

Lu Wenxing didn’t deny it; Xie Chengfei had mentioned wanting to study abroad. Because his parents didn’t agree, Lu Wenxing purposely found time to return to B City just for this matter.

 

 

“Even if my parents are against it, I will still go abroad. But it would be better to have the support of my family.”

 

 

Lu Wenxing smiled. “Just do what you want to do; if you have someone you like, boldly go after them; I’ll support you in whatever you do.”

 

 

“Brother, thank you.”

 

 

 

“Thank me for what?” Lu Wenxing looked at him with amusement.

 

 

“Thank you for coming to our family and also accompanying me these many years.”

 

 

 

“What a silly thing to say.” Lu Wenxing placed an arm around his shoulder and rubbed Xie Chengfei’s hair.

 

 

It might seem to other people that Lu Wenxing’s experience as a child was a bit tragic, but he himself didn’t think so. Although it was a bit choppy, he had also met such a good family.

 

 

 

“Even if I went back to the Wen family, I will always be your brother. So feel free to come to me for anything; don’t feel like you’re bothering me. I like it when you rely on me, and I want to take good care of you.”

 

 

“You didn’t say it before, but I know.” Lu Wenxing pulled Xie Chengfei to sit on the bench. “Let’s sit for a while.”

 

 

“Xiao Cheng, do you think that I’m taking care of you as a responsibility? You want to grow up quickly because you don’t want to be a burden to me.”

 

 

Being told the heart of the matter, Xie Chengfei was a little embarrassed; he did think so in high school.

 

 

“I never thought of you as a responsibility or a burden. I was nice to you because you’re my brother, that’s all.”

 

 

Xie Chengfei knew from a very young age that Lu Wenxing wasn’t his parents’ biological child, and many times he thought that if only Lu Wenxing was his real brother, he could justifiably accept Lu Wenxing’s kindness to him.

 

 

But Lu Wenxing wasn’t his brother and had no obligation to take care of him. Later, it took Xie Chengfei a long time to figure out that blood ties couldn’t be used to measure kinship.

 

 

Looking at Xie Chengfei’s gradually serious expression, Lu Wenxing couldn’t help but pinch his cheeks. “You’ve gone to university; why is the baby fat still on your face?”

 

 

Xie Chengfei also wanted to know.

 

 

“It’s kinda cute.” Lu Wenxing smiled and brought up his childhood.

 

 

“When I was in primary school, you refused to go to kindergarten and were determined to follow me to primary school. They said you weren’t old enough to go, and you were still upset.”

 

 

“I then coaxed you; I said that you should behave well in kindergarten, and when you became smarter, you could go to primary school with me.”

 

 

Lu Wenxing also didn’t expect that the thoughtless words he used to coax a child actually lingered in Xie Chengfei’s mind. Xie Chengfei also loved playing, but he had been disciplined since childhood and had completed learning tasks before playing. He had been a top student since childhood.

 

 

Looking at the now increasingly outstanding Xie Chengfei, Lu Wenxing was quite proud.

 

 

“Look, the primary school top student has grown into a college top student.”

 

……

 

Lu Wenxing took his brother out of campus in the afternoon, Gu Yanshen had also taken Gu Yanning out of campus, and the four of them only met in the evening to have a dinner together.

 

 

Gu Yanshen drove the two back to school and watched Gu Yanning and Xie Chengfei leave.

 

 

“What did Xiao Ning say?” Lu Wenxing asked.

 

 

“He said that it wasn’t my dad who took the initiative, it was him who agreed to it.”

 

 

Gu Yanshen didn’t expect that after going to university Gu Yanning’s change would be so great, not in character, but in thought.

 

 

Once upon a time, he still muttered ‘life is your own, live it how you want’. But now ……

 

 

“As long as I don’t want to, no matter how strongly Dad forces me to take over the company, as long as I don’t manage it well, the management of the company won’t fall into my hands.”

 

 

“Dad didn’t force me this time; it was me who was willing.”

 

 

“He’s almost sixty years old, and I don’t know why I often remember how he spoiled me when I was a child; I know he just wanted to make up for his guilt towards me.”

 

 

“But even then, he wasn’t faking how good he was to me. Anyone has the right to say that Dad was bad, but I don’t. Dad was twice as good to me, and after taking away your share of fatherly love since I was a child, I had to give something back.”

 

 

“Brother, you don’t have to think so much. I’ve been spoiled since I was a child, so I can’t ignore my needs.”

 

 

“And I won’t give up my own pursuits; even if I take over the company, I can still paint the world I want to paint in my spare time.”

 

 

“In a few more years, the young hegemon on C City’s list will have me in addition to Big Brother Wen.”

 

 

……

 

Gu Yanning spoke playfully, but Gu Yanshen could sense from those jokes of his that Gu Yanning had really grown up.

 

 

Everyone had their own way of dealing with things; even if Gu Yanning was his younger brother, Gu Yanshen respected his decision, and if Gu Yanning wanted to grow up, Gu Yanshen certainly wouldn’t stop him.

 

 

“Uncle is indeed a bit dictatorial, so I was surprised that he hadn’t interfered with Xiao Ning going to C University.”

 

 

“When Xiao Ning was still in high school, my dad didn’t care much about his studies and let him do whatever he wanted; at that time, he had long since paved the way for Xiao Ning, regardless of whether or not Xiao Ning was willing to use it.”

 

“Actually, it’s quite a coincidence. Xiao Ning didn’t want to go into business, but uncle wanted him to go abroad for further studies. Xiao Cheng wanted to take the exam to study abroad, but his parents didn’t agree at first either.”

 

 

Gu Yanshen heard Lu Wenxing talk about this matter, and when he thought of Lu Wenxing’s adoptive parents, Gu Yanshen’s eyes softened a bit.

 

“Aunt Lu and Uncle Xie are both reasonable, Xiao Cheng explained properly, so they now support it. It’s just that they don’t feel comfortable with Xiao Cheng being out of the country alone.”

 

 

“My dad is always stubborn; in his opinion, his choice is always right.”

 

 

 

“What’s wrong with that? Didn’t you prove him wrong with practical actions?” Lu Wenxing hooked his lips and said, “You’re very handsome when you shine in the acting industry.”

 

……

 

 

The car drove into the underground garage, and the two of them took the lift upstairs.

 

 

Gu Yanning was willing to take over the company, so the Gu family’s banquet was definitely something to attend.

 

 

Gu Yanshen held Lu Wenxing’s hand and said, “You’re coming with me.”

 

 

“It’s your family’s banquet; I’m a person without an invitation.”

 

 

Gu Yanshen pulled Lu Wenxing’s hand and bit it.

 

 

“…Hiss.” Lu Wenxing glared at him: “Gu Yanshen.”

 

 

Gu Yanshen loosened his grip, he pulled Lu Wenxing’s hand and didn’t let go. The two of them walked to the door of the house. Gu Yanshen opened the door and pushed Lu Wenxing to go in.

 

 

–Bang.

 

The door was closed. Gu Yanshen pressed him against the door and asked again.

 

 

“Going?”

 

 

Perhaps feeling that it wasn’t straightforward enough, Gu Yanshen cupped Lu Wenxing’s chin and gazed earnestly at Lu Wenxing, the tenderness in his eyes like calm autumn water, rippling a little as the wind blew by.

 

 

“Xingxing, I want you to go.”

 

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