Chapter 44: Testing

Li Determined Flower Bloomed: "Ji Mian, what do you mean by asking this?"

Ji Mian seemed to come to his senses, realizing that he had said too much, and kept silent.

No matter how much Li Jue asked, he refused to say a word.

Ji Mian didn't give him a good look, and Li Jue left angrily.

Winter vacation officially began, and on the day before the New Year, Ji Yao returned home from Hai City.

Since Ji Yao returned home last time, it seemed that he had resolved the estrangement that had plagued him for many years. Ji Mian really liked his brother to come home so that he could get two red envelopes.

However, just because Hong Bao was looking forward to Ji Yao coming home, Ji Mian felt a little embarrassed.

After Ji Yao came back, the house became much more lively.

Xiao Liu, the nanny their family hired, was not going home this year. She and Lin Minzhi were preparing the New Year's Eve dinner in the kitchen and chatting.

Ji Mian was sitting in the living room cutting paper-cuts. Ji Yao didn't know how to do it, so Ji Mian patiently taught him.

After all, the two brothers are related by blood. Even if they have little contact, their relationship is deep. Ji Yao talks less, while Ji Mian talks more. The living room is filled with the two brothers' casual conversations.

"Ding Dong——" the doorbell in the yard rang.

Ji Mian put down the window grille: "I'll go open the door."

The courier outside the yard yelled, "Courier! Is anyone home?"

"Yes." Ji Mian opened the door: "Whose delivery is this?"

"Is Ji Yao yours?" The courier looked down at the name.

"It's my brother."

"Then please sign for it."

Ji Mian took a look at the heavy package, which was about the size of a shoe box, and felt a little curious.

The shipping address is Haishi, and the shipper's note is "Dashuaibi", which looks quite funny.

"Brother, your delivery." Ji Mian put it on the coffee table. "I'm from Hai City. Did you buy anything?"

Ji Yao's handsome brows frowned slightly, and when he saw the name of the shipper, he had a bad feeling in his heart.

His intuition told him not to open it in front of Ji Mian, otherwise he would lose face.

Ji Mian picked up the scissors and continued to pick up the window paper-cuts. He asked curiously, "What is it?"

Ji Yao hesitated for a moment before opening the package. Inside was a large crystal heart wrapped in white bubble wrap, along with a small card that read, "The best gift for your girlfriend on New Year's and Valentine's Day—she'll cry!" There was also a tray underneath. The switch was touch-sensitive, and Ji Yao didn't know where to touch it before the vulgar, earthy heart began to spin, emitting beautiful lighting effects in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, while a cheerful song played: "Happy New Year~Happy New Year~"

After singing this song, the next Tuhai song will automatically play: "Wife, wife, I love you, Amitabha bless you, may you have a good mood, be healthy and beautiful~"

In front of the coffee table, the two brothers had the same blank expression.

The next second, Ji Yao violently removed the switch of the crystal heart with a cold face.

Ji Mian was petrified for a moment, then came to his senses: "Brother...what is this?"

Ji Yao exhaled: "Nothing."

After a while, Ji Yao silently stroked Ji Mian's forehead and looked at him earnestly: "Mian Mian, you must study hard."

Ji Mian nodded obediently: "I know, brother."

Ji Yao added the second half of the sentence and closed his eyes: "Otherwise, you will become such an idiot when you grow up."

Needless to say, "such an idiot" refers to the "handsome guy" who gave the gift.

Ji Mian lowered his head and continued to cut paper-cuts. He secretly looked at Ji Yao and found that Ji Yao had not thrown away the tacky crystal heart.

His brother looked at it for a while, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth without him noticing, and then he placed the crystal heart in the room with great care.

Ji Mian found this thing offensive. He really didn't know why his brother, who was so cold and aloof, liked it.

He seemed to understand something, but also seemed to understand nothing.

He was troubled and thoughtful.

During the New Year's Eve dinner, Lin Minzhi saw a tacky crystal heart in the living room that looked out of place. She exclaimed in surprise, "What the hell is that? It's so ugly."

Ji Yao took a bite of the food and said, "The leader sent it to me."

Lin Minzhi said, "Your big boss?"

Ji Yao: "Yeah."

Lin Minzhi was a little disgusted: "The last time I saw his photo, I thought your boss was very handsome. Such a handsome guy, how come his taste is so..."

"Lower your head." Ji Yao answered for her.

After dinner, Ji Mian went into the house and called Fu Chenyu to wish him a happy new year.

Fu Chenyu's New Year's Eve dinner was very lively. Lin Jianyi's career took another step forward. People who visited their house during the New Year were almost everywhere.

Ji Mian watched the local news in Tongcheng in the morning and saw Lin Jianyi advocating poverty alleviation on TV. Ji Mian didn't have much to say to Fu Chenyu, he just wanted to hear his voice.

"I'll come see you tomorrow." Ji Mian said reluctantly on the phone, "Hang up now."

"Yeah." Fu Chenyu didn't hang up.

Ji Mian waited for a while: "Why don't you hang up the phone?"

Fu Chenyu: "I don't want to hang up. I'll wait for you to hang up."

Ji Mian was stunned for a moment, that strange feeling spreading in his heart again, frightened to the point of burning his face. He said quickly, "Then I'm hanging up."

He hung up the phone and covered the phone in his hand, comforting himself that the phone was too hot.

It's definitely not blushing.

Lin Minzhi was too old to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year, and she fell asleep while watching the Spring Festival Gala. Ji Yao persuaded her to go upstairs to sleep.

Only Ji Mian and Ji Yao were left in the living room. Ji Mian was holding a pillow in his arms, and was laughing at the skit.

In between playing GG, Ji Mian chatted with his brother. Thinking about what happened in the afternoon, he asked, "Brother. Was it your boss who sent you a package this afternoon?"

"Yeah." Ji Yao did not deny it.

Ji Mian rested her chin on the pillow and asked cautiously, "Does he like you?"

Ji Yao looked ahead for a long time before replying, "Probably."

Ji Mian: "Aren't you together?"

Ji Yao: “No.”

Ji Mian said, "It's a boy, right?"

Ji Yao: "Yeah. A man."

The living room suddenly became silent except for the sound of the TV.

Ji Mian repeated the words he had organized several times before saying, "Brother...how did you realize you like men?"

After he said this, he lowered his head, not daring to look at Ji Yao's expression at all.

Fortunately, Ji Yao did not ask why he asked this question, and patiently explained: "It was born with me. I knew it when I graduated from elementary school."

Ji Mian was surprised: "So early!"

Ji Yao: "Yeah. Generally, if someone doesn't like the opposite sex, you can tell that in elementary school."

Ji Mian thought of Fu Chenyu and couldn't help but wonder: When did that boss know that I like men?

He had heard Fu Chenyu say last time that he had someone he liked, and Ji Mian felt a little blocked in his heart. Fu Chenyu didn't intend to tell him who it was.

Ji Mian said "Oh" and didn't ask any further questions. He focused on watching the Spring Festival Gala.

After the Spring Festival Gala ended, Ji Yao turned off the TV.

Ji Mian was sleepy, so she said goodnight to her brother and prepared to go back to her room. Ji Yao stopped and suddenly said, "Mian Mian, being a homosexual is not a easy path to take."

Ji Mian paused, and Ji Yao came over, rubbed his head and said, "But I respect your decision."

Ji Mian clearly didn't say anything, but now it felt like his true feelings were exposed.

His heart was pounding like thunder, and he didn't even understand what was going on, but Ji Yao made his attitude clear, which relieved Ji Mian of a lot of pressure.

On New Year's Eve, he stayed awake until dawn before taking a quick nap.

When I woke up, it was already afternoon.

Ji Mian ate lunch in a hurry, then remembered that he had said last night that he would go play with Fu Chenyu today. He put on his coat, said goodbye to Lin Minzhi, and ran away.

Lin Minzhi knew that Ji Mian and Fu Chenyu had a good relationship. Every year he would spend the New Year at home and then go to see Fu Chenyu on the first day of the New Year, so she readily agreed.

But Ji Yao looked at Ji Mian's back and fell into deep thought.

As soon as she arrived at the door of Fu Chenyu's house, Lin Yun saw that he was not as lively as usual, but a little sad.

Ji Mian walked over and stuffed a red envelope into Lin Yun's pocket, then asked, "Who made my sister unhappy?"

Lin Yun hesitated for a moment and said, "Brother Mianmian, it's not me, it's my second brother who's unhappy."

Ji Mian was stunned for a moment: "What happened to Fu Chenyu?"

Lin Yun's eyes turned red: "Second brother's rabbit seems to be dying."

After listening to this, Ji Mian's mind went blank for a moment.

Fu Chenyu bought his rabbit the year he graduated from kindergarten, and it stayed with him for eleven years. That rabbit was the only thing he took with him from Lingang County, and it also ended Fu Chenyu's extremely dark childhood.

It means a lot to him.

"I'll go up and take a look." Ji Mian had mixed feelings.

Lin Yun said: "Second brother is in the room, I dare not go in."

"It's okay. Xiaoyun, go and play. I'll go and accompany your brother." Ji Mian rubbed Lin Yun's little head.

Lin Yun nodded, worriedly saying, "Brother Mianmian, please comfort my second brother. He looks really sad."

Ji Mian came to the second floor quietly. Fu Chenyu's room was the innermost one, and it had a balcony in order to raise rabbits.

He knocked on the door, but didn't hear Fu Chenyu's reply, so he took the initiative to speak: "Fu Chenyu, I pushed the door open and came in?"

With a "click", Ji Mian opened the door.

Fu Chenyu sat in front of the bed, holding the dying rabbit in his arms.

Mianmian Rabbit was still alive and could feel someone entering the room. His ears moved weakly and he looked at Ji Mian.

Ji Mian felt a little heavy-hearted.

He sat next to Fu Chenyu: "Fu Chenyu, I heard from Xiaoyun that Mianmian is leaving?"

When Ji Mian was called "Mian Mian", he felt a little awkward, as it sounded like he was being called by his own nickname.

Fu Chenyu's bangs had grown longer, hiding his emotions. Ji Mian could only see his bony hands gently stroking the soft fur of the Mianmian rabbit.

Cotton Rabbit's breathing became so weak that only a few tiny fluctuations could be seen.

Ji Mian comforted him: "Fu Chenyu, you did very well."

He put his arm around Fu Chenyu's shoulders and said, "A rabbit's age is only one-tenth of a human's. It's time for it to go. You have to let it go."

Ji Mian said, "I'll be with you. Don't be afraid."

Many years ago, Ji Mian, who was only in the fourth grade of elementary school, also leaned on the window like this and said to him: Fu Chenyu, I am with you, don't be afraid.

Later, when Ning Qian passed away, it was Ji Mian who was with him, dripping wet, telling him that winter would soon pass and spring would be here.

Fu Chenyu's voice trembled a little: "Ji Mian, I don't want it to die."

Ji Mian rarely saw Fu Chenyu so vulnerable. The last time was when Ning Qian passed away.

A warm current surged in his heart, and he promised in a mysterious way: "Then I will be your rabbit."

Fu Chenyu turned his head to look at him.

Ji Mian's Adam's apple slid up and down, and he seemed to swallow nervously. He looked at Fu Chenyu very seriously, grabbed his hand, and repeated: "I will be your rabbit from now on. I am also a police officer among rabbits, you are not wronged."

He knew it sounded like coaxing a child, but Fu Chenyu now looked like a child who had lost his most precious toy.

Dispirited, yet pitiful and adorable.

Fu Chenyu just stared at him straight, his eyes filled with emotions as hot as magma.

Ji Mian mustered up the courage to not look away. He whispered, "Don't be sad, okay? I feel sad when I see you feeling bad."

He struggled for a long time, then opened his arms and hugged Fu Chenyu, resting his chin on his shoulder, as if to give Fu Chenyu some courage: "I'll accompany you, and we'll send Mianmian Rabbit away together."

Cotton Rabbit stopped breathing before nightfall. Ji Mian had fed it grass and had feelings for it. At that moment, his eyes turned red and his nose felt sore.

Ji Mian accompanied Fu Chenyu to dig a hole in the yard and erected a small tombstone for Mianmian Rabbit. It was inscribed with "Fu Chenyu's Beloved Rabbit's Tomb", which looked very formal.

He was worried that Fu Chenyu would feel uncomfortable at night, so he called Lin Minzhi and told her that he would not be going back that night. He also told her the whole story.

On the evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the light snow turned into heavy snow. Fu Chenyu's mood had improved a lot. After having dinner with Ji Mian in the evening, they both felt it was too cold outside, so they went to bed early after washing up.

Ji Mian used to sleep in the same bed with Fu Chenyu without any distractions.

Now when I go to bed, my mind is a little confused. I feel that no posture is suitable, so I sleep against the wall, leaving a large empty space in the middle and letting in air.

Ji Mian spent half the semester in a daze, and now he realized that his attitude towards Fu Chenyu had changed.

I used to think he was my good friend, but recently he's been acting rebellious and seems to have developed some inappropriate thoughts about my good friend...

Is it because there are too many gays around me, so I am also influenced?

Ji Mian was so dizzy that she couldn't tell whether her feelings towards Fu Chenyu were the possessiveness of a friend or the affection of a lover.

Moreover, Fu Chenyu already has someone in his heart. Ji Mian thought, if she really likes him, it would be miserable.

For a moment, the plot of the original novel emerged in his mind. Ji Mian reflexively broke out in a cold sweat, and his calf seemed to be throbbing again.

"Jimian."

Feeling nervous and guilty, Fu Chenyu suddenly called out to him, "Aren't you cold when you're so far away from me?"

"Ah?" Ji Mian came back to his senses: "Is it far? I'm afraid I'll squeeze you if I sleep poorly."

"It's not the first time I've slept with you." Fu Chenyu said calmly, "When have I ever been afraid of you?"

In the darkness of the night, Ji Mian's ears felt hot.

Why is this statement so ambiguous...

"Thinking about something?" Fu Chenyu's voice was beautiful, like a cello, which made Ji Mian's heart tremble.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about the skits on the Spring Festival Gala." Ji Mian babbled nonsense.

Fu Chenyu decided to chat with him and asked, "What skit?"

Ji Mian's mind was a mess, and he spoke nonsense: "It's about the police officer's wife. Have you seen it? The husband is a police officer. He has to carry out an important mission on New Year's Eve, so he can't accompany his wife home for the New Year. The wife had a conflict with her husband at first, but later the neighbors came to persuade her, and she understood her husband's work, and finally they became a harmonious family..." The more Ji Mian spoke, the more incoherent he became. "What... do you think?"

In the darkness, Fu Chenyu was silent for a while.

Ji Mian's eyes went dark, and when he came to his senses he didn't know what nonsense he was talking about.

He nearly bit his tongue off.

Then, he heard Fu Chenyu say, "I think she is quite ignorant."

Ji Mian felt dizzy and his face was hot: "Huh?"

Fu Chenyu said slowly, "If I were a police officer's wife—" He hinted, "I would definitely understand my husband's work very well."

Ji Mian felt as if he had been suddenly drunk a bowl of magic potion. His eyes were blank and he could not see anything. He spoke in a state of confusion, answering the question irrelevantly: "Fu Chenyu!"

Fu Chenyu said "hmm" gently.

Ji Mian couldn't hold it in any longer and whispered quietly, "Just now, I felt like I had someone I liked."

In the darkness, only Fu Chenyu's long breathing could be heard. After a long time, he asked very calmly, "Can I know who it is?"