Chapter 40: New Year’s Eve Part 1

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Tao Zhi finally started putting up the Spring Festival couplets.

At their home’s entrance, Tao Zhi sat on the A-frame ladder, adjusting the position of the couplets, while Tao Tao held the glue and occasionally offered pointers, chatting all the while.

They were talking about that doll from before.

Tao Zhi had brought it home during the holiday but left it in his backpack without taking it out. He only remembered it yesterday and gave it to Tao Tao that morning.

Tao Tao had been nagging about it for a long time and still couldn’t quite believe it. “Bro, you’re really giving it to me, not just lending it for me to play with? Did you say it wrong?”

“Really giving it?”

“For real.” Tao Zhi patiently answered the little chatterbox. “It’s for you.”

After Tao Zhi confirmed it over and over, Tao Tao was thrilled.

But her joy didn’t last long before she suddenly thought of something. “If you give it to me without permission, won’t the boss get mad?”

Tao Tao steadied the ladder for Tao Zhi and looked up at him. “This is a gift from the boss. Is it really okay to pass it on? Maybe take it back when the winter break ends.”

Though Tao Tao really liked it, she figured working under a rich second-gen boss wasn’t easy for her brother and worried the boss might hold it against him. “Forget it. I’ll just take a photo and play with it for a few days.”

After a pause, she probed again. “Or did you ask the boss?”

Tao Zhi: “…”

Of course he had asked.

Not only had he asked, but he’d even agreed to a date as a condition.

Tao Tao wouldn’t have brought it up otherwise, but now it made him recall that day at the movie theater—the public setting, how Fu Si Heng had kissed him.

The kiss had been so erotic.

The sticky, wet sounds by his ear, the deliberately lowered voice, the rough palm rubbing incessantly on his knee, leaving red marks.

When Tao Zhi got home and saw his knee while showering, even he blushed.

Doing that in public was truly shameful and disrespectful to the theater staff and other viewers.

He’d looked it up later and learned that though the auditorium was pitch black with no lights on, the surveillance cameras saw everything as clear as day.

Thinking back on it made Tao Zhi’s hand tremble slightly.

“Bro, it’s crooked.” Tao Tao reminded him.

“…Oh.” Tao Zhi responded and repositioned it.

After steadying his hand and finishing, he finally answered her. “I asked. Big Boss Brother knows, and he won’t be mad. He’s a really nice guy.”

“Really?” Tao Tao’s eyes lit up at Tao Zhi’s words.

She’d wanted it deep down but feared troubling her brother.

After confirming repeatedly that it was fine, Tao Tao was over the moon. “Great! Thanks, Boss.”

…

“It’s Big Boss Brother.” Tao Zhi corrected her.

Tao Tao mumbled in response.

Such a complicated relationship—she couldn’t wrap her head around it. In her eyes, the boss’s brother and the boss were basically the same, all family anyway.

Thanking either worked.

Tao Tao started praising them, amusing Tao Zhi enough that he almost laughed, though he didn’t interrupt.

A moment later, Tao Tao abruptly stopped.

Very suddenly.

Tao Zhi finished the couplets and climbed down the ladder. “What’s up?”

“Bro.” Tao Tao pursed her lips. “Wouldn’t it be better to sell the doll?”

“It’d sell really well—my classmates would buy it.”

The doll Tao Zhi gave her was an anniversary limited edition, worth several thousand yuan.

To a rich second-gen boss, it might be a casual trinket, but for a middle schooler, it was way too extravagant, especially given their family’s situation.

Tao Tao looked at Tao Zhi with a conflicted expression.

Tao Zhi sighed.

“It’s fine.” He ruffled her little head. “That’s not for you to worry about. Just keep it.”

“Your teacher said you talk too much, and I didn’t believe her.”

Tao Zhi deliberately changed the subject. “Seriously, stop chatting with your desk mate in class. Your homeroom teacher has talked to me about it several times.”

Tao Tao: “…”

Tao Tao: “Bro…”

QAQ

How could he say that about her?

“Alright, alright, that’s enough.” Tao Zhi flicked her forehead. “No more mentioning the doll.”

It didn’t hurt.

Even if it did, it was sweet.

Tao Tao clutched her forehead and grinned.

The siblings looked alike, and both had shallow dimples on their cheeks when they smiled.

“Alright, go inside and help with dinner.” Tao Zhi folded the ladder. “Dad can’t handle the kitchen alone.”

“Got it!” Tao Tao eagerly replied, snatching the ladder from Tao Zhi and dashing off.

She was full of energy now.

Tao Zhi watched her back with a smile, then slowly pulled out his phone from his pocket after a bit.

It was New Year’s Eve, so propriety demanded he send New Year’s greetings to both bosses.

He’d planned to do it first thing that morning.

But… Tao Zhi had put it off until now.

Because he’d had a little spat with Fu Si Heng yesterday.

He’d refused Fu Si Heng’s suggestion.

Returning a week early was too soon; Tao Zhi hadn’t wanted to agree and vaguely mentioned having nowhere to stay since dorms wouldn’t open until school started. Fu Si Heng immediately offered his place.

Tao Zhi at the time: “…”

How could he possibly stay at his house?

Even three straight days of cross-dressing at the villa had made him anxious enough—what about a full week?

Plus, being alone with Fu Si Heng meant inevitable kisses.

Tao Zhi feared things might escalate, that Fu Si Heng might disregard his promise and want to sleep with him.

A mature man was so dominant, especially with their size difference—he could pin Tao Zhi down single-handedly, rendering resistance futile. Fu Si Heng might even tease, Baby, stop acting up.

Then lift his clothes—

Tao Zhi covered his face at the thought.

He’d frantically shaken his head, stammered in panic, rejected Fu Si Heng incoherently, and hastily ended the video call.

Reflecting later, he realized he’d overreacted.

So he’d unilaterally decided they’d had a minor conflict.

It left him fidgety now, drafting and deleting New Year’s messages several times.

Finally, his high school class monitor sent a group message that seemed perfect, so Tao Zhi forwarded it to both Fu brothers.

Fu Si Heng: [Group forward?]

Fu Zheng: [You’re brushing me off with this crap?]

Identical questioning tones.

Brothers through and through, so alike in many ways.

Tao Zhi: [Didn’t know how to word a greeting, but this one felt sincere, so I forwarded it to you.]