Chapter 17: Bro, Your Face Is So Red

Chapter 17: Bro, Your Face Is So Red

The next day, the weather cleared.

When Lu Hechi woke up, Shen Lanxue was already gone from the bed, leaving only his scent lingering behind.

He lay there for a while longer, until the sun made it too bright to sleep, before throwing off the covers and getting up to wash up.

The paternity test results came back.

When Lu Hechi opened them, he already had a feeling—sure enough, that boy who looked sweet but acted wild was actually his younger brother.

Their personalities were totally different, and they looked even more different.

Lu Hechi couldn't quite describe what he felt. Blood ties are like a thin red thread wrapped around every wrist, making people naturally expect something from them.

He shoved his phone into his pocket.

Lu Hechi didn't want to walk, so he took the elevator down.

Shen Lanxue was wearing a black-and-red lounge set, legs crossed, reading a magazine downstairs.

He had his head down, long fingers adjusting his silver-framed glasses, exuding an effortlessly commanding presence.

Lu Hechi remembered those cheesy soap operas he used to watch with his sister.

None of those leading men were as handsome as his brother.

He plopped down right next to Shen Lanxue, eyes sparkling, and launched into a string of compliments.

He praised him from head to toe, not even missing the way he held his magazine.

Shen Lanxue kept a calm expression at first, but eventually, at a loss, he put down the magazine and called Butler Feng over to ask if lunch was ready in the kitchen.

After lunch, Shen Lanxue went with Lu Hechi to the hospital for a follow-up.

"Doctor, how's his recovery coming along?" Shen Lanxue asked, sitting on the chair.

The doctor tapped on the computer, reviewed Lu Hechi's medical records, asked about his recent diet and how he was feeling, and finally had him take another X-ray.

"He's recovering well. In about half a month, the cast on his arm can come off."

Lu Hechi was already pretty used to having one hand—even eating with chopsticks didn't need help anymore.

By Sunday afternoon, Lu Hechi went with Shen Lanxue back to the old mansion.

The old mansion was in a wealthy villa district halfway up the mountain in the southern part of the city. It was quiet there, nestled against the mountains and water, with birds chirping.

Only the old lady was there.

Shen Yixing, too young to sit still, was playing hide-and-seek in the courtyard with several bodyguards and maids.

When it was his turn to hide, he used the old lady as cover and boldly hid right behind her.

As a result, none of the dozen or so people dared to go catch him.

In the end, a three-year-old kid won by sheer stubbornness.

Shen Yixing raised his chin proudly, made everyone line up, and strutted over cockily to collect his prize.

— A single yuan coin.

After collecting them all, he ran over to the old lady and carefully counted them out loud—ten coins total.

He gave the old lady five.

"Daddy! Papa—"

After handing out the coins, Shen Yixing turned around and spotted them. Excitedly, he ran over on his little short legs, hugged Shen Lanxue's leg, and reached up to be picked up.

"Are you two here to pick me up?" he asked in his little kid voice.

"Yeah." Lu Hechi pinched his cheek and asked, "But why are you picking on the uncles and aunties?"

Shen Yixing had a look that said "you just don't get it" and said, "It's called strategy!"

The old lady had white hair and sat in a wheelchair, showing no signs of tiredness. Her gaze fixed on Lu Hechi, those eyes weathered by time seeming to see right through him.

Lu Hechi felt scared for no reason.

He and Shen Lanxue walked over and said, "Grandma."

"Mm." The old lady replied.

"How's the injury?"

Lu Hechi: "Almost fully healed."

"I heard you have amnesia?"

"Yes, I don't remember anything from after I turned eighteen."

The old lady didn't say much more. "Since you two already have a child together, settle down and make things work."

Lu Hechi said, "Grandma, don't worry. I'll take good care of Lan Xue and the kid."

The old lady nodded.

"Since you're here, stay for a meal before you go."

"Xiao Ying." The old lady said to the woman beside her, "Tell the kitchen to prepare dinner."

The woman wore the standard maid uniform of the villa, looked to be in her forties, with her hands folded in front of her. She nodded and bowed as she left.

While dinner was being prepared, Lu Hechi looked around the villa and asked Shen Lanxue, "Bro, did you grow up here?"

Shen Lanxue paused. "Yeah."

Lu Hechi asked curiously, "Bro, where's the room you stayed in as a kid? I want to see it."

"...There's nothing interesting about my room."

Lu Hechi whined, "Bro, I want to see it. Take me, please?"

Shen Lanxue couldn't say no. "Fine."

Shen Lanxue's room was very large, with white walls and a somewhat bare overall feel. Aside from the necessary furniture and decorations, there was nothing else extra.

"Big bro, were you this aloof as a kid too, never playing with toys?" Lu Hechi asked, somewhat surprised.

"...I packed them away."

Lu Hechi said regretfully, "Oh well."

He zeroed in on the spot on Shen Lanxue's big bed and lay flat on it, the sheets smelling faintly of laundry detergent.

"Bro, come lie down for a bit too."

Lu Hechi struck a flirty pose on the bed and gave a wink—something he'd just picked up from scrolling through short videos.

Shen Lanxue didn't move.

Lu Hechi pulled out his secret weapon: "Bro~ Bro~ Bro~"

Whenever he acted all cute, his brother would always cave.

Despite his cold expression, Shen Lanxue still walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Lu Hechi wriggled like a caterpillar, laying his head on Shen Lanxue's thigh, looking up at him.

"Bro, your eyelashes are so long."

Shen Lanxue ran his fingers over his face, "Don't call me 'bro'."

This whole thing had been his idea, but Lu Hechi always wore this innocent look and called him "bro" in every tone imaginable.

Lu Hechi blinked innocently, "Then what should I call you?"

"Lan Xue?"

Shen Lanxue's expression flickered, "Forget it, just keep calling me bro."

Seemed like either way was a little weird.

Lu Hechi's eyes darted back and forth, then suddenly sat up with an "I get it" look, deliberately leaning in close to Shen Lanxue's ear and blowing a soft breath.

"Oh, I get it now, bro."

He grinned slyly, "Are you trying to get me to call you—"

He deliberately stopped mid-sentence, waiting for Shen Lanxue to turn his head, then lowered his voice, whispering in his ear.

"Wifey~"

"You just want me to call you wifey, huh?"

Shen Lanxue's ears instantly turned red. He held back, but couldn't help it, shooting a glare at Lu Hechi, "Don't be ridiculous!"

"I'm not talking nonsense!"

"Bro, we've got our marriage certificate, you've given me a baby, we'll be together forever, the closest family to each other."

"No matter what I call you, in my heart, you're my wife."

"If you're shy, I can call you hubby, or sweetheart, or even my lady. Worst case, I'll call you my lord."

Shen Lanxue's face went hot, and he reached out to clamp his hand over Lu Hechi's mouth, "...Stop talking."

Lu Hechi didn't dodge, laughing muffledly behind the hand, his eyes crinkling into crescents.

Shen Lanxue looked down at him, and after a few seconds, slowly released his hand.

Lu Hechi's lips freed, he caught his breath and laughed, "My lord, your face is so red."

Shen Lanxue: "............"