Chapter 28: Discussion Part 1

“Didn’t you hear me?” Fu Zheng found Tao Zhi’s reaction inexplicably strange.

Why was he lowering his head like that, as if he wanted to hide? Fu Zheng didn’t like seeing him like this. The hand he had propped on the side of Tao Zhi’s body lifted, intending to hook his chin.

His fingers were just about to touch when a cold voice came from behind, interrupting Fu Zheng’s movement.

“What are you two doing?”

“?”

Fu Zheng paused. He turned around to look back and discovered Fu Si Heng standing at the door.

Why was he here too? Fu Zheng frowned.

At this time and place, combined with his current bad mood, seeing someone he disliked made Fu Zheng extremely unhappy. He was momentarily distracted, and Tao Zhi glanced at him before sneaking away.

His movements were faster than anyone’s. Taking advantage of no one noticing him, he quickly dodged to the side and shifted to the far right of the counter.

That was bad enough.

But he even greeted Fu Si Heng.

After moving away, Tao Zhi looked up and called out “Fu-ge,” then gave him an obedient smile. The corners of his lips curved upward, revealing his little tiger teeth on both sides.

—It was as fake as it could get.

Fu Si Heng saw right through it, but Fu Zheng was completely oblivious. Watching the two of them ignore him ignited an inexplicable nameless fire in his heart, and a competitive instinct surged up. He deliberately bumped the bowl next to him with his hand, making a “clink” sound to interrupt them.

Tao Zhi and Fu Si Heng both turned their heads toward him. Fu Zheng spoke in a very unpleasant tone: “Didn’t you go to the ski resort?”

“No.” Fu Si Heng was also annoyed with Fu Zheng. He gave a simple two-word reply without any explanation, his tone so cold and perfunctory that anyone could tell he was impatient.

“…” The atmosphere between these two brothers was so off… It couldn’t be because of him, right?

Tao Zhi stood obediently to the side, his breathing even lighter.

It definitely wasn’t because of him. Things like husbands catching each other were just his wild imagination—it wasn’t real.

Tao Zhi comforted himself.

“Cooking noodles?” After answering Fu Zheng, Fu Si Heng turned to Tao Zhi.

He really didn’t like this dress-plus-sweater combo. On Tao Zhi, nothing was visible except his fingers and a small section of ankle.

Fu Zheng, that idiot.

If he couldn’t buy clothes, he shouldn’t interfere with Tao Zhi’s affairs.

Fu Si Heng was equally displeased with Fu Zheng.

“Mm-hmm.” Tao Zhi had also replied to Fu Si Heng on WeChat earlier.

He had thought at the time that Fu Si Heng had already eaten, so his responses to both were the same: he had just woken up and would handle lunch himself.

Wait.

Could it be that Fu Si Heng hadn’t eaten either, so he came to the kitchen after seeing the message?

The thought had just occurred when Fu Si Heng spoke: “Perfect timing, I haven’t eaten either.”

Tao Zhi: “…?”

Tao Zhi’s expression was now dazed, both confused and bewildered. He didn’t quite understand why they both had to wait for him to eat…

It was so strange.

“What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.” Fu Si Heng said as he walked further into the kitchen. He glanced at the boiling water in the pot and the noodles and eggs on the cutting board nearby, roughly understanding.

“I’ll do it.” Fu Si Heng said.

He didn’t know how to cook, but he could boil noodles.

“No need—” Tao Zhi wanted to refuse and say he’d do it himself, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he saw Fu Si Heng rolling up his sleeves. Tao Zhi swallowed his words.

Tao Zhi was now extremely fearful of muscular lines. Just seeing them made him recall the feeling of being pinned down, unable to move.

He hurriedly shifted his gaze away, mumbling randomly: “Okay, okay.”

“Please go ahead…”

Fu Zheng: “…”

Why was he being so polite to Fu Si Heng?

“Mm.” Fu Si Heng acknowledged, then lifted his eyelids and said to Fu Zheng, “Aren’t you going to move?”

“I’m not eating what you make.” Fu Zheng refused coldly.

He could stay here to eat noodles he didn’t like just to try Tao Zhi’s cooking, but Fu Si Heng barging in like this—what was that about?

So damn annoying.

Fu Zheng didn’t hide his emotions at all.

Unfortunately.

Fu Zheng didn’t hide them, and Fu Si Heng didn’t care.

He didn’t indulge Fu Zheng at all, speaking bluntly: “If you’re not eating, then get lost. Do you think I want to make any for you?”

“…” Why were they arguing again?

Tao Zhi, who had been obedient just moments ago, quietly turned his eyes back.

“You’re the one who should get lost.” Fu Zheng couldn’t hold back his temper—it ignited at the slightest spark. He even forgot his grand revenge plan that required enduring humiliation, reverting to his usual nature, full of gunpowder: “Tao… My female classmate and I are eating. What’s it got to do with you? Who are you, suddenly barging in?”

Hearing “female classmate,” Tao Zhi’s eyelashes trembled.

Don’t drag me into this.

Did they have to drag others into their brotherly spat?

Tao Zhi’s heart raced up and down, and he couldn’t help shifting sideways again.

Slowly, in small increments, trying not to attract attention—

“Who am I?” Fu Si Heng glanced sideways.

Tao Zhi immediately straightened up, not daring to move.