Disappointment was clear in Tao Zhi’s eyes, and Fu Zheng let out a heavy huff.
“Don’t think about him. Just think about me.” Fu Zheng told him.
Tao Zhi had a good temper and a soft personality; Fu Zheng liked him a lot.
Plus, he was shorter than Fu Zheng. Though they were the same age, in Fu Zheng’s eyes, he was just a little milky dumpling.
His favorite little milky dumpling could not always be thinking about his brother.
Fu Zheng told him: “Thanking me is the same.”
“Okay.” Tao Zhi did not argue with him and nodded: “Then thank you.”
“Why didn’t Big Brother come?”
Fu Zheng: “…”
It felt like punching cotton.
He had specially brought the German Shepherd by car, but Tao Zhi had not even glanced at it and only asked about Fu Si Heng.
Fu Zheng was furious.
But Tao Zhi was oblivious: “Fu Zheng?”
“I really want to bite you.” Fu Zheng said with a straight face.
Tao Zhi immediately covered his cheeks and looked at Fu Zheng in horror, even stepping back two paces.
Fu Zheng gritted his teeth and pulled him back over.
“He’s accompanying Dad abroad for treatment. Mom went too.”
“Treatment…?” Tao Zhi was slightly stunned: “What’s wrong with Uncle?”
“I’m not too clear either.” Speaking of it, Fu Zheng’s voice grew muffled too.
“They didn’t want to take me, so they sent me to your house.”
Actually, Xu Yujia’s original words were not like that.
Because it was urgent and they could not look after Fu Zheng, they had him come to the Tao house for summer vacation—anyway, he had been clamoring to come every day.
Tao Zhi nodded as if he understood.
“Let me tell you, I’ve learned archery. Let’s go up the mountain and hunt rabbits.” It was always like that on TV: grab a bow and arrow and go hunting in the mountains.
He had specially brought his compound bow and was eager to show it off to Tao Zhi.
“Before it gets dark, come on, let’s go now.”
“Got it, got it. Fu Zheng, your arm is so heavy.” Fu Zheng talked while deliberately pressing his arm on Tao Zhi’s shoulder.
They were the same age, but Fu Zheng was much stronger, pressing down so hard that Tao Zhi could barely hold up. Tao Zhi struggled out from under Fu Zheng’s arm.
That evening, they did not catch any rabbits, Fu Zheng’s bow broke, and only under Tao Zhi’s lead did the two finally make it down the mountain and home.
–
Originally, Fu Zheng had planned to stay the whole summer at Tao Zhi’s house.
This year was especially fun without Fu Si Heng there to make him work. Fu Zheng had Tao Zhi take him everywhere to play, enjoying himself for a full month.
After a month, he went back early, saying there was an emergency at home.
Tao Zhi helped him pack, and only more than a month later did he learn that Fu Zheng’s father was critically ill, which was why he had left in such a hurry.
Fortunately, he was saved.
But when Fu Zheng was in second year of junior high, his father still passed away.
That night, Tao Zhi comforted Fu Zheng over the phone for a long time.
With his father gone, Fu Zheng was sad, and so was Fu Si Heng.
Tao Zhi wanted to talk to Fu Si Heng, but Fu Zheng monopolized the phone. Half a month later, Tao Zhi finally got a call from Fu Si Heng.
Fu Si Heng’s voice sounded no different, just asking about his studies. After a brief chat, he hung up.
Tao Zhi had not even had time to comfort him.
That summer vacation, Fu Si Heng did not come.
The next time he saw him was during the summer after junior high graduation.
Fu Zheng invited Tao Zhi to come play at his house.
From far away, Fu Zheng specially went to pick him up and brought him home together.
This was not Tao Zhi’s first time at the Fu house.
He had come twice in elementary school. The Fu house was really super big… a manor on the hillside, and rumor had it the whole mountain belonged to them.
Tao Zhi and Fu Zheng sat in the back seat.
He was a bit carsick and leaned against the window, dozing off.
The reason it was dozing and not sleeping was because…
“Tao Zhi, share a room with me.” From the moment they got in the car, Fu Zheng had been nagging in Tao Zhi’s ear. Tao Zhi occasionally gave an “mm” as a response.
Fu Zheng pretended to say it casually, thinking Tao Zhi would agree like before, but Tao Zhi opened his eyes.
His head was full of question marks: “Don’t you have enough rooms at home?”
“We do.” Fu Zheng answered.
Tao Zhi: “Then why do we have to share one?”
“Because I like it.” Fu Zheng said righteously.
Tao Zhi: “…”
“No way.” Fu Zheng was too noisy.
He had never met anyone more talkative than Fu Zheng.
If they shared a room, he would not sleep at night; just listening to Fu Zheng talk would be enough.
Tao Zhi refused and closed his eyes again.
Soon, Fu Zheng leaned over.
Tao Zhi sensed the shadow looming but did not open his eyes.
Fu Zheng drew close, watching his eyelashes tremble.
“Tao Zhi, don’t you think your eyelashes are really long?”
The obedient long lashes rested on his eyelids; he looked so well-behaved in sleep.
“Your face is so white too.”
Fu Zheng muttered: “How are you so white?”
Tao Zhi: “…”
Fine, now he could not even doze.
Tao Zhi opened his eyes and sat up straight with a yawn.
Fu Zheng continued chatting with Tao Zhi.
About how awesome he was at school and all the earth-shattering things he had done that year.
Tao Zhi listened absentmindedly.
The car drove through the asphalt driveway and had just stopped when Tao Zhi heard Fu Zheng say: “Why is Fu Si Heng home?”
“?”
Hm?
Tao Zhi looked up.
The next second, Fu Zheng covered his eyes.
Fu Zheng was so bored.
Tao Zhi pulled his hand down, and the car door opened.
Fu Si Heng stood outside and pulled open the car door.
“Little Zhi.”
The low male voice sounded from above his head. Tao Zhi stopped tussling with Fu Zheng, tilted his head up, and looked at the person he had not seen in three years.
He was very different from the brother in his memory.
Tao Zhi’s impression had already grown fuzzy. The brother who always liked to carry him around had become hazy in his mind; instead, his relationship with Fu Zheng had gradually grown closer.
The man before him had sharp, upright features and a deep voice—nothing like the brother from his memory who always smiled lazily, with a casual expression, lightly stroking his head offhandedly…
It had only been three years.
“Bro…”
As soon as he spoke, Tao Zhi shut his mouth.
The word “brother” felt a bit sticky, not quite suiting his current age.
And after so long without seeing him…
Tao Zhi pursed his lips, changed the address, and gave a polite smile: “Fu Ge.”
“Fu Ge?”
The unfamiliar address brought to mind the image of little Tao Zhi from childhood, hugging his neck and softly calling him “Big Brother.”
