The younger brother had just served one dish and was preparing another.
Lu Mingzhe walked over, took a piece, and put it in his mouth. It tasted good.
The younger brother turned to look at him, his face full of smiles.
"Is it good?"
"Not bad. You're quite capable, young man."
"So-so. You seem quite familiar with my sister. This is the first time I've seen her have someone over for dinner."
Lu Mingzhe found it a little hard to believe.
"Don't you come around too often? Impossible, with your sister's social circle, how could it only be me she invites?"
"I live here every day. I've been living here for over a year. Uh, are you my sister's boyfriend?"
Lu Mingzhe retorted, "You've lived here for over a year and don't know if your sister has a boyfriend?"
"She's never brought anyone home, how would I know?"
"Every time I ask her, she says no. My grandmother is getting impatient."
The younger brother skillfully poured the ingredients into the wok and began to stir-fry.
"She's 30, and will be 31 in half a year. At her age, in my hometown, she wouldn't be able to find anyone unless they were divorced. Yet she isn't worried at all."
Lu Mingzhe didn't expect to be so special.
She never brought men home, and he was the first?
Could it be that she really had no other men besides him?
But this self-important thought was quickly dismissed.
Xiang Wan was video chatting in the living room about her shop, and the voices on the other end were all young men.
"You said your sister doesn't have a boyfriend. Listen, how many men are in her phone?"
"Those are her studio colleagues. I've met them. They're all younger than her and call her 'sister.' My sister wouldn't take them seriously."
The younger brother immediately debunked the idea.
"What's your name? What do you do? How long have you known my sister?"
He felt like this kid was really starting to see him as his brother-in-law.
Lu Mingzhe, afraid of being misunderstood, patted his shoulder.
"Keep cooking, I'm going out. It's a bit smoky."
The younger brother cooked three dishes and one soup, and served them. They looked and smelled delicious.
Lu Mingzhe couldn't help but sigh as he ate.
"At such a young age, your cooking skills are quite good. Normally, the older sister takes care of the younger brother, but why is it the other way around here?"
Xiang Wan shot him a look and said nothing.
The younger brother picked up the conversation.
"I'm just more idle, and my sister is busy. Besides, cooking isn't that difficult. It's what I should do."
So sensible.
Lu Mingzhe thought, if only Lu Qingxu were half as good.
"You're talking a lot today, I almost don't recognize you."
Xiang Wan put a piece of food into his bowl and urged him.
"Eat quickly, and leave after you're done."
"I'm very tired. I have things to do tomorrow, so I need to rest early."
What a coincidence. He didn't want to be alone today, but she had things to do.
She had tried to get rid of him multiple times.
If they were just sitting there coldly, Lu Mingzhe might have left.
But now, with such a warm atmosphere, and a table full of delicious food, and a sensible, well-behaved younger brother.
He shamelessly asked,
"After not seeing each other for so long, don't you miss me at all? Can't I stay tonight?"
As expected, Xiang Wan rolled her eyes again.
"Don't force me to kick you out."
Lu Mingzhe winked at the younger brother.
"Look at your sister, what man would dare to marry her? It's only me who doesn't mind her being so fierce."
It was almost like flirting.
However, the younger brother was quite enjoying the display of affection from across the table.
After dinner, the younger brother cleared the dishes.
Xiang Wan continued to deal with her work.
Lu Mingzhe, feeling awkward with nothing to do, followed the younger brother around.
After the work was done, Xiang Wan yawned and headed for her room. Lu Mingzhe followed her in.
At the doorway, she turned back and was stunned.
"Why haven't you left yet? Don't you understand me? How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Can't you see I'm in a special situation? I don't want to be alone."
"Don't worry, I won't disturb your sleep. I won't touch you, okay?"
Speaking so carelessly, Xiang Wan quickly pinched him.
"Your brother is here, be careful what you say!"
Then, she pushed him out without mercy.
"No. If you don't want to be alone, go find your friends. We agreed beforehand that you wouldn't stay overnight."
Lu Mingzhe clutched his arm, pretending to be pitiful.
"Why are you so heartless?"
"Isn't this what you've always wanted? If I were too affectionate with you, I'm afraid I would have scared you away long ago."
"...Fine, fine. I'll sleep with your brother. You do your work, you busy person."
The younger brother's guest room had a smaller bed than Xiang Wan's.
Both were over 1.8 meters tall.
On the 1.5-meter bed, they lay close together.
The younger brother, as the host, didn't say anything.
Lu Mingzhe, however, became fussy.
He had lived alone in a spacious room since childhood and had never shared a bed with another man.
He felt strange and tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Even after the younger brother's gentle breathing filled the room, he was still wide awake.
The various scenes of the day replayed in his mind.
Chen Jiaojiao's heartless face and cruel words echoed in his mind again and again.
If he continued to lie there, he would start feeling melancholic in the dead of night. Unable to bear it any longer, Lu Mingzhe got out of bed.
Xiang Wan's door was unlocked, and he easily entered.
A small lump was visible on the bed. Lu Mingzhe, using the faint moonlight outside, felt his way over and lay down beside her.
Just as he pulled her into his arms, ready to sleep like this.
Xiang Wan was startled awake by him.
Turning to see him, she gritted her teeth.
"You really are a scoundrel. I knew you wouldn't be honest. What time is it? Are you letting me sleep or not?"
"Yes, yes, yes. You sleep. I'll just hold you, won't I speak?"
"Get lost. I don't like you holding me. It's uncomfortable after a while."
"Nonsense. You slept for several hours during the day, clinging to me like an octopus, and you didn't seem uncomfortable then."
"You..."
"Don't move around. Otherwise, if things get heated, we won't be able to sleep."
Xiang Wan had no choice but to obediently let him hold her.
With their own thoughts, they lay there with their eyes open, listening to each other's heartbeats.
Several minutes passed, and they remained motionless. Xiang Wan's whole body stiffened.
She couldn't help but look up at him.
She found his eyes wide open.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Aren't you awake too?"
"Isn't it all your fault?"
Before going to sleep, she had taken a bath and smelled fragrant all over.
Now, speaking in a hushed voice, like a thief, revealing a soft and cute side, Lu Mingzhe found her incredibly endearing and felt a tickle in his heart.
"How about I apologize? Let me get some exercise, and I'll be tired enough to sleep."
"...How dare you! I really have things to do tomorrow, don't bother me!"
"It's precisely because you have things to do that you need sufficient sleep. Alright, don't waste time."
A flurry of activity ensued.
Exhausted, she actually fell asleep.
She slept until the younger brother made breakfast and called them to wake up.
Xiang Wan heard the sound, opened her eyes, and grabbed her phone.
With a "slap," she hit Lu Mingzhe on the shoulder.
"It's all your fault. You made me late. Hurry up and get up, it's time to go to work!"