Deeply Affectionate Male Supporting Character Topped the Protagonist 31

Chapter 31: Stray Kitten

Xi Leng, having lived alone for years, was proficient in various life skills, except cooking.

It wasn’t so much that he was bad at it, but rather that he didn’t care. Eating, in his opinion, was just a task to fill his stomach, no need for anything fancy, as long as it was edible.

Rong Xingyi ate the noodles with a look of resentment, muttering to himself: “Is Min Zhi-gege really living next door? I wonder what he’s eating for dinner… I want to eat with him. I still can’t believe it, am I dreaming?”

Xi Leng said coldly: “You are dreaming.”

Rong Xingyi complained while eating: “How can there be such disgusting food in a dream?”

Xi Leng: “If you think it’s disgusting, then make it yourself.”

“…”

Rong Xingyi frowned, but he still obediently finished everything, not even leaving a drop of soup.

…This kid was really hungry. Xi Leng, aware of his own cooking skills, was naturally shocked.

Rong Xingyi frowned, his expression puzzled: “You’ve been eating this kind of food all these years? To save money and live in this kind of big apartment?”

Xi Leng didn’t respond, only saying: “You’ll be living with me from now on, don’t worry about money. But you have to do the chores, like cleaning and washing dishes.”

Rong Xingyi scoffed, although he didn’t believe his brother had actually become rich, he still obediently took the bowl to wash it.

Good news, just like bad news, always came in succession. Having moved to a safe and comfortable new apartment during the day and kidnapped his still lively and kicking younger brother, Xi Leng received a message from Sheng Jiao in the evening.

Sheng Jiao first informed him that “Unlimited Escape Room” would be officially announced tomorrow night. Since he was an amateur, with no experience in the public eye, he was worried that Xi Leng might be affected by online public opinion and called to give him a heads-up.

The internet was a mixed bag, with all kinds of people. Even though the show hadn’t aired yet, there would inevitably be people commenting on his photos, speculating and digging into his background.

Xi Leng didn’t mind, he had already died once.

Sheng Jiao then brought up the second matter.

“It’s like this,” Sheng Jiao said. “This episode turned out much better than I expected, especially the part where you explained the piano staircase riddle to Feifei, several of my colleagues were moved to tears. So, we want to film a VCR of Feifei and Xiaoya’s past, when they were in school together, drawing, and insert it here. I’d like to commission you to paint an oil painting of the two girls, to be used as a background on the wall. You can decide how to paint it, no specific requirements, just that the deadline is a bit tight, within two weeks…”

Then he added uncertainly: “You do accept commissions, right? The price is negotiable, and you’ll be credited as the artist, your name in bold.”

Xi Leng had picked up his paintbrushes again for a while now.

But painting according to someone else’s request, he had never done that in either lifetime.

However, Sheng Jiao gave him complete freedom, only requiring him to paint two girls, with no other restrictions on size or angle.

After considering for a moment, Xi Leng agreed and stayed up all night, creating two initial drafts.

As the faint morning light streamed in through the skylight, tiny dust particles danced in the air, surrounded by halos.

Xi Leng opened his slightly bloodshot eyes, curled up on the leather sofa, silently studying the paintings not far away.

The studio was now spacious and bright, with more than enough room for two easels.

On one easel was a large canvas, but he had only sketched two small figures from behind, slightly below the center of the canvas.

The other was a portrait of Min Zhi, only showing his left ear and his sharp profile. This one was also on a canvas, much more formal than the previous sketch.

Zhu Minglang had asked him to paint more of Min Zhi, preferably to post on his main account. With the show about to air, this should be put on the agenda.

He rolled over on the sofa and picked up his phone, switching between several apps before finally arriving at his photo album and scrolling through it.

The photo with Min Zhi at the hotel came into view.

Min Zhi had suddenly pulled him close, he wasn’t prepared, but Min Zhi wasn’t looking at the camera either, their intimate pose, the slightly blurry image, the red and gold hotel background, it looked like a paparazzi photo from the old Hong Kong entertainment scene.

Min Zhi’s music echoed in his ears all night. Following the rhythm, he zoomed in on the photo, looking at Min Zhi, then at himself.

Perhaps his mind wasn’t clear early in the morning, but he felt that he wasn’t inferior to the protagonist gong?

He suddenly felt that he could be greedier.

Not just living peacefully.

Perhaps he could hope for more…

Bang, bang, bang!

The frantic banging on the door, thanks to the good quality of the new apartment, didn’t break it down.

Xi Leng went downstairs to open the door.

Rong Xingyi stood at the door with a sullen face: “I need to go to tutoring! Give me back my phone!”

Xi Leng nonchalantly returned his phone: “Come back immediately after class, you can take a taxi, I’ll reimburse you. No motorcycles.”

Right, and the motorcycle key!

But Rong Xingyi knew his brother’s stubbornness and didn’t dare to argue, clicking his tongue, picking up his backpack downstairs and leaving.

He heard the name “Xi Leng” again at lunch.

Rong Xingyi looked at his bespectacled friend in disbelief, stunned for a moment: “Huh? What? Wait, how do you know his name is Xi Leng now?”

The bespectacled friend showed him his phone: “The show’s official announcement is out, isn’t this photo him? Some people say it’s heavily photoshopped, haha, but I think he looks even better in person!”

“Haha, look, someone said he and Min-shen have CP potential… Handsome guys always look good together.”

Rong Xingyi scoffed, but his hand honestly reached for the phone, then almost threw the innocent phone across the room.

His bespectacled friend let out a series of alarmed “hey”s.

Rong Xingyi muttered and switched back to his own phone.

“Holy shit?”

Rong Xingyi was stunned.

He had seen the news a few months ago, saying that Min Zhi would be participating in a reality show called “Unlimited Escape Room.” He was incredibly excited about it, and the official announcement had finally arrived.

@UnlimitedEscapeRoomOfficial: #UnlimitedEscapeRoomFullCastAnnouncement# Bring your confidence and courage, and face unknown challenges together! The full cast of Unlimited Escape Room is officially announced! @MinZhi @JiangSongnanSong @LuoJiayanSalt @XiLengXL @QiaoqiaoIsQiaoqiao Check out the “resumes” of the five members~

Below were individual photos of the five guests, along with their names, ages, special skills, and other personal information.

Xi Leng had changed his legal name, so few people in real life knew it. He directly used his real name and also changed his main Weibo account name. Qiaoqiao still cautiously used a memorable and catchy stage name.

Rong Xingyi’s face crumpled as he stared at his phone screen, zooming in again and again.

Seeing his brother from this perspective for the first time felt strange and indescribable.

Especially since there were a few questions on the resume, such as their motivation for joining the show. Xi Leng’s answer was two simple words: Chasing stars.

Min Zhi’s fans in the comments section were practically going crazy with envy.

Rong Xingyi’s head was filled with question marks: “Huh?”

Even though he hadn’t seen his brother much these past few years, they weren’t strangers, were they??

Then he opened Xi Leng’s Weibo. So this guy used Weibo? Rong Xingyi scrolled through it curiously, finding that Xi Leng had claimed a post from the airport pickup.

The person in the photo was indeed Xi Leng, fans were saying he was incredibly handsome, but he thought it was just alright, he was a bit handsome but that wasn’t the point… the point was the Min Zhi light-up headband on his head???

With solid evidence, Rong Xingyi still pouted: “How is he Min Zhi-gege’s fan?”

His bespectacled friend leaned over and asked: “What did you say?”

Rong Xingyi pursed his lips and put away his phone: “Nothing, let’s go back.”

Despite the mountain of curiosity in his heart, and the fact that his beloved idol lived next door to Xi Leng, after class that day, he still took the subway and then the bus, traveling all the way back to the suburban apartment he rented with his mother.

The next day was the weekend. Rong Xingyi was comfortably playing games at home when Xi Leng called, and his mother, Ye Nan, decisively sided with his brother, personally escorting him to the entrance of the Cloudtop One complex.

“Don’t think I don’t know you always skip class. Your brother is earning money now and is willing to take care of you, from today onwards, you’ll be living with your brother.” Ye Nan had no other way to deal with this son, she could only patiently persuade him again and again.

“Why!?” Rong Xingyi looked indignant. “He left without saying anything, and now he’s back without saying anything, what does he think I am? Am I some kind of pushover?? He even lectures me, what right does he have… I…”

“Slap!”

Ye Nan hardened her heart and slapped him.

Rong Xingyi’s face turned to the side, his eyes instantly reddening.

“Do you know how ungrateful you sound…” Ye Nan said, losing control of her emotions, “More and more like your father!?”

The mother and son parted on bad terms.

Xi Leng received a message from his stepmother, saying that she had sent Rong Xingyi over. Xi Leng, focused on painting, didn’t pay much attention, but until nine o’clock that night, there was still no sound from downstairs.

His stepmother’s message was from three hours ago, the house was silent, Rong Xingyi hadn’t come back.

The sound of rain pattered outside the window, summer rain always came suddenly.

Xi Leng brushed his hair back, pursed his lips, and called his stepmother.

“You’re home? Mm-hmm… Xiao Yi is fine. Okay. Don’t worry.”

After hanging up, the worry that he had suppressed finally surfaced.

He first went to knock on Min Zhi’s door next door, composing his expression while he waited.

“Min Zhi-ge.” Xi Leng tried to remain calm. “Is Xiao Yi with you?”

…Xiao Yi?

Such an intimate form of address.

Min Zhi frowned: “No, I haven’t seen him. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Xi Leng smiled. “Sorry to bother you.”

He always appeared polite and courteous, but Min Zhi sensed something unusual today, that clearly forced smile.

The duplex had a huge floor-to-ceiling window, extending from the first floor to the second. The tall man standing there looked small against it.

Min Zhi frowned and looked out the window. After a while, he saw Xi Leng running out into the rain, clearly searching anxiously for something.

He returned after about ten minutes.

Min Zhi opened his door a crack. A drenched figure, like a wandering soul, walked past, carrying the smell of rain, silently opening his door and entering his apartment. A while later, he came out again, changed into a dry white T-shirt, holding an umbrella and an empty cardboard box.

The mystery surrounding him deepened.

Min Zhi’s curiosity was piqued, but he was also afraid of startling the lonely soul and getting another “sorry to bother you.”

Outside the window, Xi Leng went downstairs again into the rain, his white figure standing out in the night. He held a transparent umbrella, walking towards a definite destination.

His earlier return to change clothes seemed calm and collected, but Min Zhi noticed that he had forgotten to wear his scarf this time.

A first in all their encounters.

Rong Xingyi squatted in a corner, his head lowered.

The drenched teenager looked incredibly pitiful, like an abandoned kitten.

Xi Leng easily found him.

His urge to immediately approach was held back by reason. The lesson of their broken brotherly bond in his past life made him hesitate.

He was afraid of repeating his past mistakes, of being controlled by Rong Haigao’s violent genes and resorting to violence, or saying cold and harsh words that would only push his family further away.

So, Xi Leng silently returned to his apartment, changed into clean clothes, and brought an umbrella and a cardboard box before slowly approaching.

Rong Xingyi immediately looked up when he heard the sound.

This wasn’t the first person to pass by, but it was his brother.

After finally waiting for him, he simply stared, warily hugging his knees, not moving.

Xi Leng silently walked past him.

…Didn’t he see me?

Rong Xingyi was stunned, slowly standing up, hesitating to speak until the opportunity passed.

Xi Leng left.

What the hell.

He felt a little angry and a little hurt, immediately following Xi Leng, splashing through the puddles, making loud noises.

Xi Leng didn’t turn back, as if deaf.

Rong Xingyi’s competitive spirit was roused, and he continued to follow, despite the heavy rain.

One holding an umbrella, the other drenched, they walked halfway across the complex, arriving at a small pavilion.

Xi Leng closed his umbrella, placed the cardboard box on the dry ground, and spoke to the side.

“What are you doing?” Rong Xingyi’s curious voice came from behind him.

“I found a stray cat the day before yesterday.” Xi Leng didn’t turn around, focusing on setting up the box. “I don’t know if it can survive this storm.”

Rong Xingyi, incredibly curious, could only go over to look.

Xi Leng placed some food and water inside the cardboard box, along with a dry cotton scarf.

After doing this, he stood up and left. Rong Xingyi hurriedly followed: “If you don’t stay here, how are you going to catch it?”

Xi Leng was indifferent: “Let’s see if it survives first.”

“…”

The young man and the teenager, one after the other, maintaining a certain distance, moved through the rain strangely.

Finally, they both returned to the shelter of their apartment building.

Min Zhi finally let go of the curtains he had been clutching.

At midnight, Xi Leng went downstairs to check on Rong Xingyi. This check made him stop in his tracks.

He didn’t think the unlocked door meant their brotherly bond was being repaired. He sensed something was wrong and decisively went in.

The teenager on the bed was sound asleep, his eyes closed, but his brows were furrowed, and a few strands of hair on his forehead were damp with sweat.

Rong Xingyi was a few years younger than him. If the sky fell, his older brother would hold it up. And his mother, despite her timidity, could still protect him somewhat.

In comparison, Rong Xingyi was a healthy child.

At least, he could normally express his dissatisfaction, dislike, and anger, his joy and affection. He could be excited and enthusiastic, he could also sulk and get angry.

So Xi Leng found his current state even more unusual, too calm, and not even locking the door.

After thinking for a moment, Xi Leng quietly reached out two fingers.

Then his palm, carefully feeling his forehead.

…He had a fever.

Having been drenched in the rain for who knows how long, even a healthy fifteen-year-old couldn’t withstand it.

Xi Leng frowned, about to withdraw his hand and go get his phone, there was a 24-hour pharmacy nearby…

Rong Xingyi, half-asleep, suddenly grabbed his arm.

Xi Leng was slightly startled, his brows furrowing even deeper. He didn’t want to argue with Rong Xingyi at this time.

The high fever clouded Rong Xingyi’s mind, melting away his defensive thorns.

He clung to Xi Leng like a vine wrapping around a tree, unusually soft and pliant.

“…Are you going to abandon me again?”

The teenager hugged Xi Leng’s arm, his voice thick with a nasal tone.

Years ago, on a similar rainy night, he woke up to find himself alone, facing their cruel and violent father.

As if transcending time, he reproached the 17-year-old who left without saying goodbye, the boy he relied on and trusted most.

And called him, his voice choked with sobs.

“Gege.”