“Fu…” Fu Ge or Mr. Fu? Tao Zhi’s mind blanked.
“Hm? A Heng, you know him?” Xu Yujia turned around too and saw Tao Zhi.
“Fu Zheng’s roommate.”
The tone was cold and distant. Tao Zhi snapped back and hurried over to them: “Mr. Fu, hello.”
Fu Si Heng: “I said last time, just call me Fu Ge.”
“Oh oh oh!” Xu Yujia made an expression of sudden realization: “Hello, young classmate. I’m Fu Zheng’s mom.”
“Auntie, hello.” Tao Zhi opened the door for them: “Are you here for Fu Zheng? He’s not in the dorm right now.”
“Hm?” Xu Yujia looked around after entering: “Where did he go?”
Tao Zhi: “He’s in class.”
“Ai?” Xu Yujia blinked.
“Have a seat first.” Tao Zhi and Fu Zheng’s beds were adjacent. After entering, he first texted Fu Zheng that someone was looking for him in the dorm, then pulled out chairs for himself and Fu Zheng: “He’s already finished class and on his way back.”
“Water?”
Xu Yujia: “Sure.”
Tao Zhi grabbed two bottles of mineral water from Fu Zheng’s desk and gave them to the two.
“Thank you, young classmate.” Xu Yujia glanced around the dorm and pointed to the nearest bed: “Is this Fu Zheng’s bed?”
“Yes.” Tao Zhi nodded.
“It’s pretty tidy.” Xu Yujia smiled: “I thought it’d be a mess and his roommates would complain.”
“He even makes his bed.”
“It’s all proper-like; he’s grown up.”
Fu Si Heng snorted.
A very mocking laugh. Xu Yujia turned to him: “What’s that for? Give your little brother some encouragement.”
“Encourage my ass; he’s nineteen, not nine.”
“Instead of sighing that your youngest has grown up, why not thank this young classmate?” Fu Si Heng gave Fu Zheng no face at all, nodding toward Tao Zhi: “Your youngest son spends money to hire someone to take care of him—laundry, bed-making, shoe-cleaning, buying meals. The only thing missing is chewing the food and feeding it to him.”
Xu Yujia let out an “ah” and looked at Tao Zhi: “Really? Young classmate, you’ve worked hard. Very tiring, right? Has Fu Zheng withheld your wages? He’s been poor lately.”
“No, no.” Tao Zhi’s face flushed as he hurriedly denied: “Fu Zheng does most things himself now. I haven’t helped much, really.”
That was why he had time for flyer distribution part-time.
Two hours for 50 bucks—200,000 felt impossibly far.
Tao Zhi sneaked a glance at Fu Si Heng.
Xu Yujia’s gaze darted between Fu Si Heng and Tao Zhi.
“Really?” Xu Yujia asked.
“Really, really.” Tao Zhi nodded vigorously again.
Xu Yujia: “Then he has improved.”
“If you really want to send him to the countryside to farm for training, I won’t worry anymore.”
Fu Si Heng: “I’m looking into it.”
Tao Zhi: “…”
Such a cruel brother.
Tao Zhi scratched his nose and returned to his bedside.
Xu Yujia sat in Fu Zheng’s chair, flipping through his things.
For a moment, no one spoke.
…But Fu Si Heng was looking at him.
Probably because Fu Si Heng stood opposite him, Tao Zhi felt his gaze land on him several times.
He wasn’t used to it and prayed for Fu Zheng to return soon, sending him several messages.
Twenty minutes later, Fu Zheng returned.
The dorm door was flung open forcefully, startling Xu Yujia.
Before she could recover, a loud “Mom!” made her heart pound.
“What are you doing here!” Fu Zheng’s tone was accusatory.
“You scared Mom to death.” Xu Yujia patted her chest: “Mom thought since you just started school, I’d come help with registration, but it seems school’s been going for days.”
Fu Zheng: “.”
“Thanks, but school’s been in session for three days.” Fu Zheng gritted his teeth.
Tao Zhi: “…”
With Fu Zheng back, the small dorm felt cramped with four adults.
Tao Zhi yielded the space to the family of three and went to the balcony, closing the balcony door tight.
But the dorm’s soundproofing was poor; Tao Zhi occasionally heard voices from inside.
“Mom has no plans this first half of the year and plans to stay in S City longer, plus check out your girlfriend.”
“? Where would I get a girlfriend? Are you hallucinating?”
“You definitely have one. You’ve been off lately—like you’re in heat.”
“In… cough cough cough!” Fu Zheng nearly choked on his water.
He sneaked a glance at Tao Zhi on the balcony and growled lowly: “I don’t! Don’t talk nonsense!”
…
“Xiao Zheng, I won’t leave until I see your girlfriend.”
“I don’t have one!”
“Mom doesn’t believe you. What’s wrong with showing me?”
“I said I don’t have one!”
…
“So you haven’t won her over yet? Crushing from afar? I get it, I get it. You should show me even more then; Mom can help.”
“Don’t mess things up, Mom!”
“How is it messing up?”
“Xiao Zheng, you have to trust Mom. With your brain, it’d take ten years to catch her.”
“Or you’ll miss out, and when the goddess shows her pregnancy, you still won’t be over it. I’m serious, Xiao Zheng. Think about it. I’m only in S City this month; no more help after.”
“You see how I meddle in your brother’s love life?”
“Your brother is smarter than you, so I never interfere.”
“You’re different, Xiao Zheng.”
“Mommy’s worried about you.”
Fu Zheng: “…”
Damn, was this something a real mom would say?
Fu Zheng was furious.
He completely rejected his mom’s belittling words.
…
Fu Si Heng found their bickering annoying. After listening to the nutrientless dialogue for a bit, he sat down at Tao Zhi’s chair.
The desk was clean and tidy, with only a few books and nothing else.
None of the dolls, figurines, or souvenirs he’d bought for Tao Zhi were on the desk.
Fu Si Heng tugged at his lips.
Ten minutes later, the argument ended, and Fu Zheng came to the balcony.
“Tao Zhi.” Fu Zheng called him awkwardly: “Help me out, yeah?”
“…Hm?” Tao Zhi turned innocently.
“It’s just… my mom thinks I’ve got a girlfriend.” Fu Zheng stammered awkwardly: “You know I don’t, but she…”
“She won’t leave without seeing her.”
Fu Zheng stared at him, tone frustrated and annoyed: “Help me out.”
“Pretend to be the one I’m crushing on, trick my mom into leaving. Okay?”
Tao Zhi: “…?”
Ah?
Tao Zhi’s mouth fell open.
He instinctively looked toward Fu Si Heng inside the dorm, who was talking with Xu Yujia head down.
Tao Zhi withdrew his gaze and looked back at Fu Zheng, his lashes trembling in disbelief.
…Me again?
