Married to My Bro 25-26

Chapter 25

Time seemed to rewind as Lu Xun’s mind raced, past memories flashing before his eyes: spending time in Liang Xusheng’s dorm room, becoming friends with his roommates, bringing him breakfast every day, attending his classes, his constant annoyance at seeing him with other girls, the way his anger would dissipate when Liang Xusheng sought him out, their inseparable bond…

And more recent memories: agreeing to the fake marriage without hesitation, the kisses at home, looking at menus together, visiting the new apartment, the wedding, the kiss under the fireworks, the sudden realization of his feelings…

He finally understood. Everything he had done, past and present, was because he loved Liang Xusheng. He had always loved him.

A sense of clarity washed over him, a warmth spreading through his chest. He looked at Liang Xusheng, his usual impassive expression softening with emotion.

Liang Xusheng, oblivious, continued scrolling through the photo album on his phone, a carefree smile on his face. “I even took pictures of Lao Zhang and the others. Wow, look at this one. This one’s good.”

Lu Xun watched him, his gaze unwavering.

That night, he went to his parents’ house. In his old room, he found traces of Liang Xusheng everywhere: a framed photo of them in their school uniforms, metal boxes labeled with their names, bookshelves with books marked with colored labels to differentiate his books from Liang Xusheng’s. He hadn’t noticed before, but now, the evidence of his love was clear.

I love him, he thought, closing a drawer and looking around the room. I really do.

He went to the balcony for a cigarette, his expression calm, the smoke curling around him. He had never understood what love was. His understanding had been based on observing others’ happiness. But now, experiencing it himself…

He thought about all the moments that confirmed his love for Liang Xusheng, the bitterness of the smoke replaced by a strange sweetness.

“Why are you smoking again?” Liang Xusheng asked, sitting down beside him.

Lu Xun turned, seeing not just the Liang Xusheng of the present, but all the Liang Xushengs of the past superimposed on each other. He looked at him, his heart full, unable to look away.

“Hey, I’m talking to you. What are you staring at?” Liang Xusheng asked, finally noticing his unusual silence.

Lu Xun snapped out of his trance and put out his cigarette. He looked at Liang Xusheng, his expression and tone calm, but Liang Xusheng sensed his good mood and continued talking.

Lu Xun listened, a smile playing on his lips. He wasn’t paying attention to the words; he was simply enjoying the sight and sound of Liang Xusheng talking.

“I don’t know what you’re babbling about,” he said, chuckling.

“Dude!” Liang Xusheng exclaimed. “I was telling you about the game I’m playing! Weren’t you listening?”

“Nope,” Lu Xun replied, grinning.

Liang Xusheng rolled his eyes.

Lu Xun laughed. I love him. I love Liang Xusheng. How did I not realize this sooner? But it didn’t matter. They were married. He was living the dream.

He couldn’t stop smiling. He ended their conversation with a smile and even walked Liang Xusheng to the door, still smiling.

“Did you eat something funny?” Liang Xusheng asked, looking at him with a mixture of concern and disgust.

Lu Xun burst out laughing.

“Seriously? Where did you get it? Is it because you ate too many oysters?”

Lu Xun continued laughing, his shoulders shaking.

He smiled as he brushed his teeth, smiled as he got into bed, and smiled as he messaged Liang Xusheng: [Dinner tomorrow?]

Liang Xusheng: [I won’t be awake in time for breakfast. Don’t wait for me. Are you still smiling?]

Lu Xun chuckled, reading his message.

The next morning, Lu Xun was still at home when Liang Xusheng woke up at 10:30.

“You didn’t go to work?” Liang Xusheng asked, surprised.

Lu Xun smiled. “Waiting for you.”

On their way to the restaurant, Liang Xusheng asked, “Are you still high?”

“Thai food?” Lu Xun asked, ignoring his question.

“Sure,” Liang Xusheng replied. “You seem happy. You’ve been smiling since yesterday.”

“Mm,” Lu Xun said. “I figured some things out.”

“What things?”

“Why did you stop seeing An An?” Lu Xun asked, changing the subject.

“Because you didn’t like her,” Liang Xusheng replied instantly, then paused. “Why are you asking?”

“Quick answer,” Lu Xun said. “You haven’t forgotten about her, have you?”

“You’re the one who brought her up!” Liang Xusheng said, exasperated.

Lu Xun smiled.

“What?” Liang Xusheng asked, confused. “Did you win the lottery?”

“I’m already rich. Winning the lottery wouldn’t make me this happy,” Lu Xun replied.

“Then what are you so happy about? Did the company’s revenue explode again?”

At the restaurant, Liang Xusheng messaged Liu Mo: [What’s going on at the company?]

Liu Mo: [?]

Liang Xusheng: [Lu Xun is in such a good mood today.]

Liu Mo: [You ask when he’s in a bad mood, you ask when he’s in a good mood… are you showing off?]

Liang Xusheng: [I’m his wife! I can ask whatever I want!]

Lu Xun, meanwhile, was ordering all of Liang Xusheng’s favorite dishes.

Liang Xusheng, happily eating, forgot all about his earlier concerns.

After lunch, as they were leaving, Liang Xusheng was about to head home when Lu Xun asked, “Want to watch a movie? There are a couple of good ones out.”

Liang Xusheng almost said, Go back to work, Mr. CEO, but then he nodded. “Sure.”

As they rode the escalator up, Liang Xusheng said, “The last time we watched a movie together was in college, right?”

“Mm,” Lu Xun replied. “You brought another girl.”

“Did I?” Liang Xusheng couldn’t remember. “I probably wanted to introduce her to you. Even though I had a lot of female friends, I never watched movies with them alone, to avoid misunderstandings.”

“You remember that clearly,” Lu Xun commented. “You wanted to introduce her to me, and you made me sit next to her. I wasn’t happy, so I left.”

“And you took the popcorn!” Liang Xusheng exclaimed. “I was so mad!”

Lu Xun smiled faintly. He now understood why he had been so easily annoyed back then. Liang Xusheng was always surrounded by girls.

At the cinema, Lu Xun went to buy tickets while Liang Xusheng browsed the arcade games.

“You bought popcorn?” Liang Xusheng asked, surprised, as Lu Xun returned. “Aren’t you on a diet?”

“Why not?” Lu Xun said, looking at the tickets. His phone rang. He checked the caller ID, silenced it, and replied to Liu Mo: [Busy right now.]

Liu Mo: [Oh. Something came up. What time are you coming to the office?]

Lu Xun: [Not sure.]

Liu Mo: [?]

Lu Xun: [On a date with my wife.]

Liu Mo: […]

Liang Xusheng received a message from Liu Mo: [Your husband is on a date with you, and you’re asking me about his mood? Are you serious?]

Liang Xusheng: “…” He looked at Lu Xun. A date? What date? We’re just watching a movie.

“Let’s go, wifey,” Lu Xun said, putting his arm around Liang Xusheng’s shoulder. “It’s time.”

Chapter 26

Liang Xusheng didn’t consider having dinner and watching a movie with Lu Xun a date. Dates were for romantic interests. This was just hanging out with a friend.

The cinema was almost empty, likely because it was a weekday. They sat together, eating popcorn and chatting about the movie, a lighthearted Chinese comedy. Liang Xusheng enjoyed it, laughing frequently. Lu Xun, however, barely watched the film, his attention on Liang Xusheng. He watched his expressions, the way his eyelashes fluttered when he leaned closer to whisper a comment. Their arms touched on the armrest.

After the movie, Liang Xusheng shared his thoughts, still laughing. “That ending was ridiculous! I knew they couldn’t pull it off. It’s a remake, after all.”

Lu Xun, following him down the steps, looked up at him, the cinema lights illuminating his handsome features.

“So, that’s it. You should go back to work…” Liang Xusheng started to say.

“Want to walk around?” Lu Xun asked.

Liang Xusheng looked at him, surprised. “Don’t you have work? Are you free today?”

“We’re already here,” Lu Xun said casually.

“Let’s not. Go back to work,” Liang Xusheng said. “It’s getting late. I should go home too.”

Lu Xun didn’t insist.

But as they were about to enter the elevator, he stopped at a snack shop and bought some dried fruit. Liang Xusheng, about to buy some for himself, was surprised when Lu Xun handed him the bag.

“For me?”

“You like them, don’t you?” Lu Xun replied.

Liang Xusheng smiled. “I thought you forgot.” He had eaten them often in college, and Lu Xun had often bought them for him. After graduation, with their busy lives, many of their college habits had faded.

“How could I forget?” Lu Xun said, pressing the elevator button.

“Thanks,” Liang Xusheng said, holding up the bag. “I haven’t bought these in a while.”

In the car, Lu Xun suddenly suggested, “Let’s go to the office.”

“Why?” Liang Xusheng asked. “Is there a new card or storyline?”

“Just need your help with something,” Lu Xun said vaguely.

“Sure,” Liang Xusheng agreed readily.

Lu Xun smiled.

At the office, watching Liang Xusheng animatedly discussing game storylines and characters with his colleagues, Lu Xun’s smile didn’t waver.

“I’m buying afternoon tea,” Liang Xusheng announced generously.

“No need, it’s on the company,” Lu Xun said.

“Oooooh!” their colleagues teased.

Liang Xusheng chuckled, dismissing their reaction. Lu Xun, watching them, smiled, the picture of a loving husband.

“So many single people in your company,” Liang Xusheng commented as they walked back to Lu Xun’s office. “Why are they so excited over nothing?”

“What do you mean ‘nothing’?” Lu Xun asked.

“There’s nothing between us,” Liang Xusheng said. “We’re like an old married couple. There’s nothing to be excited about.”

Lu Xun smiled at the “old married couple” comment.

“What are you smiling about?” Liang Xusheng asked, turning to him.

Lu Xun just smiled without answering.

“Tell me,” Liang Xusheng insisted.

That day, they left the office together.

“It’s been a while since we’ve done this,” Liang Xusheng said, stretching his neck in the elevator. “Feels like college.” He sighed. “I’m really not suited for office work.”

“No one’s asking you to work here full-time,” Lu Xun replied, looking at him.

“Please, I don’t even want to sit in your CEO chair,” Liang Xusheng said.

“Coming tomorrow?” Lu Xun asked.

“Do you want me to?”

“Yes,” Lu Xun said firmly.

Liang Xusheng laughed. “In your dreams. Depends on my mood.”

As they stepped into the elevator, Zhao Bin and Liu Mo watched them.

“They seem so close,” Zhao Bin commented. “I know other childhood sweethearts who got married, but they’re not like this. Shouldn’t they have run out of things to talk about by now?”

“I’ve known them since college, and they were always together,” Liu Mo replied. “Liang Xusheng put in a lot of effort into the company in the early days. Anyone else would have demanded equity, but he didn’t want anything. He gave all the credit to Lu Xun.” He added, “Do you know what ‘Xunsheng’ means? ‘Searching for sound.’ That ‘searching’ refers to Liang Xusheng. He gave everything to Lu Xun. But if he ever asked for anything, Lu Xun would give him everything he owns, without hesitation.”

Zhao Bin raised his eyebrows, surprised.

“That’s what true love is like,” Liu Mo said calmly.

Lu Xun was driving when he suddenly pulled over and unbuckled his seatbelt.

“What are you doing?” Liang Xusheng asked.

“Wait here,” Lu Xun said, getting out of the car.

Liang Xusheng rolled down the window and saw him walking towards a flower shop. Buying flowers?, he thought, unbuckling his seatbelt.

“Welcome back!” the florist greeted Lu Xun, who was already a regular. “What are you looking for today?”

Lu Xun, without needing any recommendations, picked up a bouquet of roses.

As he was about to pay, Liang Xusheng walked in. He stopped, surprised, seeing the roses in Lu Xun’s hand.

Lu Xun handed him the bouquet, a smile playing on his lips.

Liang Xusheng, still surprised, took the flowers. “You always buy flowers here?” he asked, looking down at the roses.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Xun asked, after paying.

“Nothing,” Liang Xusheng said, turning and walking out of the shop, the bouquet in his arms.

Back in the car, he looked at Lu Xun. “These are red roses,” he said.

“Mm,” Lu Xun replied, starting the car.

“You’re giving me red roses?” Liang Xusheng paused, then said, “Isn’t this a bit… romantic for ‘bros’?”

Lu Xun chuckled.

“You’re laughing?” Liang Xusheng said. “This is the first time I’ve ever received red roses.” Even their wedding decorations hadn’t included red roses.

“There’s a first time for everything,” Lu Xun said calmly. “You’re my wife. It’s normal for me to give you roses.”

“Okay,” Liang Xusheng said, accepting his explanation.

That night, at home, after his shower, he sat at his desk, staring at the roses, a strange feeling in his chest. Lu Xun gave me red roses…

His phone buzzed. It was Lu Xun: [Coming to the office tomorrow?]

Liang Xusheng: [Is something up?]

Lu Xun: [Can’t I just want to be with you?]

The next morning, Lu Xun was still at home when Liang Xusheng woke up. They had breakfast together, prepared by Lu Xun.

“Just like in college,” Liang Xusheng commented. “You always brought me breakfast.”

Lu Xun looked at him, his gaze intense.

They went to the office together, buying coffee for themselves and their colleagues on the way.

“This feels like old times,” Liang Xusheng said in the elevator. “Remember when I couldn’t wake up in the mornings, but I still wanted to go to the office with you? We’d always buy coffee downstairs. I even remember the name of the coffee shop. A cup was only 8.9 yuan with a coupon.”

“You’d buy three cups. One for me, two for yourself,” Lu Xun said.

“I was so sleepy,” Liang Xusheng chuckled. “Two cups weren’t even enough.”

“Boss’s wife is here again!” a colleague teased as they walked down the hallway.

“Here to supervise,” Liang Xusheng replied.

“Supervising whom? Us? Or your husband?”

“You guessed it,” Liang Xusheng said, holding up his coffee.

Lu Xun, walking beside him, smiled, glancing at him affectionately.

Love blossomed in his heart.