Chapter 21

021.

"Why does Brother Yu ask me if I've ever had a cat?"

The moment Bai Yu's tall, lean figure disappeared from view, Lu Yan, who had been holding back his question for a long time, eagerly scooted his tray over next to Lu Yuan's. Biting into the broccoli his brother had given him, he praised, "This broccoli is pretty tasty."

Lu Yuan stared at the broccoli for two seconds, clear suspicion in his eyes.

Tasty? Isn't it just ordinary broccoli?

He simply pushed all the broccoli Bai Yu had asked for over to Lu Yan and said enthusiastically, "If you like it, Third Brother, then eat up. I heard from Grandpa Wei that the fruits and vegetables here at Mr. Bai's place are airlifted from a farm down south—organic, eco-friendly, and healthy. Good for the body."

He also pinched Lu Yan's arm. Though he couldn't really tell if he'd lost weight, he still blatantly lied: "Filming must be tough. You've gotten thinner."

Lu Yan savored his brother's deep, heartfelt, tear-jerking love while genuinely marveling at Bai Yu's behavior: "So extravagant!"

Absolutely extravagant!

Even though he wasn't a big foodie, his style was extremely ostentatious—truly something to envy and hate!

Lu Yuan nodded in agreement enthusiastically.

Then asked, "So do you think we have a chance of poaching the two chefs Mr. Bai hired at a high salary?"

Lu Yan: "What? You want to poach Brother Yu's chefs?"

Lu Yan immediately felt that it must be because Brother Yu had been so easygoing over the past two days that his little brother had come up with such an audacious idea—

In the whole industry, who would dare touch Bai Yu's things? That's basically suicide, isn't it?

Lu Yan thought for a moment, rubbed his chin, and spoke with mock seriousness: "Let me put it this way—forget about poaching Brother Yu's people. Even the garbage Brother Yu throws away, nobody would dare touch it."

Lu Yuan: "The garbage dump would."

Lu Yan: "..."

Lu Yuan: "And even if they did, they wouldn't go bankrupt."

Lu Yan: "..."

Unable to listen any longer, Lu Yan speared a piece of beef and shoved it into Lu Yuan's mouth, then patted the boy's soft hair and said gently, "Sweetheart, let's skip the classic CEO talk about the dump going bankrupt in this cold weather, and let's get back to the original question. Based on your interactions with Brother Yu these past two days, why do you think he asked me if I've ever had a cat?"

Lu Yuan had no idea either.

From last night until now, Bai Yu hadn't brought up cats in front of him at all.

He ventured a guess: "Maybe he's thinking of getting a cat lately?"

Lu Yan was a bit doubtful: "Really? But I remember Brother Yu only ever liked dogs. When I was a kid, I'd run around screaming while tagging along after our eldest brother, and when I annoyed him, he'd sic the dog on me. You have no idea how terrifying that dog was to me as a little kid—huge, charging at me from far away, barking ferociously, leaving me with a pretty big emotional scar."

"Did it really bite you?"

"No, it just gave me a couple of licks." Thinking of the unpleasant memory, Lu Yan's voice turned as gloomy as a vengeful spirit. "It wouldn't have been a big deal, except that bastard Lu Zhuo turned to me and told me the dog had just eaten shit. I was so disgusted I threw up right then and there."

Lu Yuan's eyes went wide: "It ate shit?"

As those three words hung in the air with a big question mark, his eyes were full of shock. He then grabbed the armrests of his chair, and with the chair scraping against the floor with a loud screech, he scooted away, trying to put distance between himself and Lu Yan, who might have been licked by a dog that ate shit.

And when he remembered he'd just eaten a piece of beef that Lu Yan had shoved into his mouth, he squeezed his eyes shut in regret.

Lu Yan, who had seen the whole thing, was speechless: "..."

First of all, that was over twenty years ago. Even if the dog really had eaten shit, Lu Yuan's reaction shouldn't be this dramatic.

Besides—

The dog only licked him; it didn't kiss him.

Most importantly—

Lu Yan gritted his teeth and said through gritted teeth, "It didn't eat shit! Brother Yu's dog was pampered more than me—where would it find shit to eat! Lu Zhuo is just messed up, deliberately trying to gross me out!"

Lu Yuan was still a bit uneasy: "Did you ask Bai Yu if he cleaned up the dog's poop that day?"

Lu Yan: "?"

Lu Yuan: "So you're just relying on your understanding of Bai Yu to assume the dog never ate shit. That's not very scientific."

Lu Yan: "..."

Lu Yan: "So, should we go ask him now?"

It's been over twenty years; would Bai Yu even remember?

Lu Yuan didn't have much faith in Bai Yu's memory, nor did he want to go to the study and bring up old memories, so he firmly shook his head and only said, "You can ask when you go present your paper later."

Then, without making a sound, he stood up as quickly as possible with a hand on his waist, saying very politely, "I'm finished eating. Take your time, Third Brother."

Lu Yan was left speechless: "..."

Don't think I can't tell you're disgusted just because you're acting polite.

Lu Yan, who had been running around filming the variety show for most of the day and night and had sprinted to the airport at dawn, was indeed a bit hungry. Staring at Lu Yuan's retreating back, he angrily wolfed down a few pieces of beef, then pulled out his phone and opened Lu Zhuo's WeChat.

Family's #1 Handsome: You there?

Second Brother: ?

Family's #1 Handsome: Not in surgery right now?

Second Brother: Eating at the cafeteria. Out with it.

Lu Yan: "..."

What an attitude!

But knowing he'd need a favor later, he swallowed his pride and asked politely.

Family's #1 Handsome: So, do you remember when Brother Yu sicced the dog on me when I was a kid because I was annoying him? You said back then the dog had eaten shit—was that true or not?

Second Brother: ...Are you sick? Obsessing over whether a dog that's been dead long enough to be reborn twice ate shit over twenty years ago?

Second Brother: Also, Bai Yu never sicced the dog on you. You were the one who insisted on playing with the dog. Bai Yu didn't want to, so you started crying and screaming like the whole world needed to know how wronged you were. Bai Yu, at the end of his rope, had no choice but to let his beloved dog come play with you. But when the dog showed up, you started wailing again, being all dramatic, saying the dog was so scary and terrifying. You know that was the first time in my life I saw a dog with a look of hurt on its face?

Lu Yan: "..." Is... is that so?

Second Brother: If you get the chance, go light some incense for Neon. The poor thing died without ever getting your apology or any compensation for the emotional damage. It got a raw deal too.

Second Young Master Lu: I'm off for my afternoon nap. See you later.

Lu Yan: "..."

He stared at the phone screen as the light gradually dimmed, plunging into serious self-doubt.

Had Lu Zhuo been telling the truth?

It was completely different from how he remembered it!

Could it be that conniving Lu Zhuo was tricking him again?

Scowling for a good two minutes, Lu Yan stuffed another big chunk of beef into his mouth, then sent a message to his eldest brother to ask about what happened back then.

Third Young Master Lu's timing wasn't bad—it was noon in China, which happened to be early morning in Germany, and their dear eldest brother, an early riser for work, was already in the gym. After receiving the message, he glanced at it, then called back with an expressionless face.

Lu Yan: "Big bro?"

Lu Ke: "Congratulations. You've finally realized, after more than twenty years, that you once broke a dog's heart. When are you going to go apologize to Neon?"

Lu Yan: "..."

He was silent for a long moment, then couldn't help but ask: "Before I apologize to Neon, I just want to ask—did Neon actually eat shit or not?"

Lu Ke: "?"

The current CEO of the Lu family, known for his quick mind and stoic demeanor, moved the phone from his ear to look at it in disbelief, checked the time on the screen, then looked at the sky outside that hadn't fully brightened beyond the drawn curtains. Deciding his brother probably wasn't talking in his sleep, he sneered: "You'd eat shit before Neon ever would."

Slap.

Those words smacked Lu Yan's face like a hard slap, making him rejoice that he was still clean and untainted by shit-tainted saliva, while his eldest brother drove another knife straight into his heart.

In his brother's eyes, he wasn't even as smart as a dog.

"Hung up."

Lu Yan, whose heart had shattered into a million pieces, wiped away nonexistent tears and hung up the call sadly. Then he turned to Lu Yuan, who was sprawled on the sofa in an extremely arrogant posture, treating Bai Yu's home like his own, and said: "Big brother confirmed it—Neon never ate shit."

Lu Yuan grunted in acknowledgment.

His phone pinged.

He glanced down, and on the screen was a WeChat chat window, with the contact name at the top reading the capital letter Y.

Sesame Tangyuan: [cat peeking out.jpg]

Y: ?

Sesame Tangyuan: My third brother said you used to have a dog. Did that dog ever eat [shit]?

Y: Does he want to know, or do you?

Sesame Tangyuan: He's more eager to know [cat sitting obediently on the floor.jpg]

Y: Then let him keep wondering.

Lu Yuan: "..."

Cursing Bai Yu inwardly for being a bastard, he heard Lu Yan's relieved yet conflicted voice: "Big brother confirmed it—Neon never ate shit."

Lu Yuan sent Bai Yu another sticker: [I've seen through everything.jpg]

A chubby little kitten was sprawled on top of the fridge peering down, its two eyes glowing like lightbulbs in the darkness.

Without bothering to see what Bai Yu might reply, Lu Yuan turned around, satisfied: "Third brother, is there any steak left? I'm still hungry."

Lu Yan: "..."

Carrying over the plate of beef Lu Yuan hadn't finished and setting it on the coffee table, Lu Yan's voice was flat and his eyes were dark: "Your disgust was very obvious, and it was just as obvious when you took it back."

Lu Yuan pretended not to hear.

The two of them lingered over the meal for nearly an hour. Lu Yuan had eaten until he was stuffed, but was too lazy to get up and walk it off, so he lay flat on the sofa like a salted fish, squinting his eyes and letting his digestive system do its thing.

Lu Yan was also getting sleepy, but he didn't have the nerve to lie around in Bai Yu's house like he owned the place the way Lu Yuan did, so he squatted beside Lu Yuan and asked quietly: "Why don't you go home and lie down? Isn't your bed at home more comfortable than this sofa?"

Because Bai Yu was making amends.

...No, wait.

Lu Yuan propped himself up with one hand on the end of the sofa and slowly sat up.

His third brother had come back from out of town—why would Bai Yu still need to make amends by putting medicine on him and giving him cold compresses? Couldn't he just leave all that to his third brother?

So didn't that mean he could go home now?

The smile had just begun to spread across Lu Yuan's face when he saw his third brother notice something, reach into his pocket, pull out his phone, and glance at the screen: "Oh, Brother Yu is summoning me to recite my thesis."

The smile on Lu Yuan's face instantly froze.

No no no—he had tricked Lu Yan into coming back to face Bai Yu's wrath. If Lu Yan could walk out of Bai Yu's study intact, without missing any limbs, that would already be a miracle. And then he'd take care of Lu Yuan, give him cold compresses, massages, and medicated patches?

Lu Yuan tried hard to put himself in Lu Yan's shoes, and thought that if he were Lu Yan, he would definitely strike while the iron was hot—he'd have to teach that bratty little brother a good lesson while his waist was messed up and he could barely move!

Lu Yan might be the one who needed that kitchen knife more.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. Lu Yuan instinctively touched his poor, aching waist, then promptly put on an innocent expression, his big cat-like eyes looking even more innocent than before. He clenched his right fist and cheered Lu Yan on: "Bro, you have to believe you're the best. You'll definitely pass Bai Yu's test. Go!"

Lu Yan, who could already tell that Bai Yu was different today, waved his hand calmly: "Don't worry, don't worry."

His Brother Yu had been so thoughtful today that he'd even left early before finishing his meal, worried that his presence might affect everyone's appetite—leaving him and A Yuan some precious, natural, warm alone time. There was no way he'd make things difficult over reciting a thesis.

Putting away his phone, Lu Yan casually put his hands behind his back: "I'm heading up."

Lu Yuan nodded obediently: "Mm-hmm."

Watching Third Young Master Lu walk up the stairs step by step until his figure disappeared around the bend in the stairs, Lu Yuan winced in pain as he climbed off the sofa, sprinted into the elevator at top speed, and dove straight into the guest bedroom on the second floor.

—Taking refuge.

The study.

Although his fear of Bai Yu wasn't as intense as it used to be, standing in front of that study door that seemed to give off a faint, chilling aura, Lu Yan still spent quite a bit of time psyching himself up.

Knock knock knock.

Still the same three polite knocks. As that familiar voice from inside called out, Third Young Master Lu respectfully pushed the door open, stepped inside, then turned around and closed the door as gently as possible.

During all of this, the door didn't make a single sound.

"Brother Yu." Lu Yan walked up to face Bai Yu.

The man in charge of the Bai Group sat behind an expensive-looking desk, dressed in a simple sweater and slacks. Though his attention was clearly on the documents and he didn't spare Lu Yan a single glance, Lu Yan felt the air around him thicken. The suffocating pressure made him sigh inwardly once more—

This oppressive aura was way stronger than his old man's or his eldest brother's!

"Work done?" Bai Yu asked amidst the silence.

Third Young Master Lu appeared somewhat restrained; his earlier swaggering hands-behind-his-back stance had turned into a schoolkid's pose, hands clasped neatly in front of him. Upon hearing the question, he nodded right away: "Done, done. Though the task came rather suddenly, I did put effort into memorizing the essay. Brother Yu, if you happen to watch that variety show later, you might even see me studying during breaks!"

Bai Yu said nothing.

Lu Yan gave another awkward chuckle: "It's just that the results aren't great—I only managed to memorize the abstract."

Feeling Bai Yu's gaze land on him the second the words left his mouth, Lu Yan swallowed hard and quickly raised his hand as if swearing an oath: "But! But I've come to realize that pulling all-nighters, which pushes the human body to its limits, is wrong—especially dragging A Yuan into it, that's even worse! So, bro, cut me some slack. I swear I won't do it again."

"Fine."

"Huh?" Lu Yan froze. "What?"

Bai Yu: "I said fine."

Lu Yan: "!"

Holy crap!

His Brother Yu had really changed! He was being so lenient! He'd expected to have to beg and swear more, but in just sixty-four words, he'd gotten his brother to cave!

Lu Yan's eyes lit up with excitement—until a second later.

Bai Yu's voice was flat: "Two hundred times."

His fingers tapped on the desk, and recalling the dog that had died with a grudge, Bai Yu paused, then expressionlessly corrected himself: "Two hundred times, sixteen papers, each two hundred times."