Chapter 422 Of all his peers, what he cared about most...

422:

Around nine o'clock, Ye Qingxi took Grandpa Feng back to his home and then gave Mu Shaoting the half portion of pastries that had been given to her.

Only then did he return to Mu Feng's villa with Qin Cheng.

Qin Cheng had to go about his own business, so Ye Qingxi naturally prepared to return to her bedroom.

He waved to Qin Cheng as if nothing had happened, went upstairs, and entered his bedroom.

Then, Ye Qingxi began to scream silently: Ahhhhhh, how could his brother like him?!

What on earth is going on?!

How could this happen?!

Cotton Candy, who followed him in, watched him collapse weakly on the sofa with a complicated expression. Curious, she tilted her fluffy little head and then jumped onto his lap.

Holding it, Ye Qingxi felt utterly hopeless.

"Donuts definitely wouldn't like you," he whispered. "Then why does my brother like me?"

Cotton Candy didn't know either; it meowed and started licking Ye Qingxi's hand.

Ye Qingxi stroked its head, her heart filled with surprise and doubt.

When exactly did this begin?

Why didn't Qin Cheng show any of this?

So, is he secretly in love with him now?

Ye Qingxi: ...

Goodness, he truly lives up to his parents' reputation as a son!

He also has a crush!

This really is a family of three, all together!

Why...why does he have a crush on him?!

But he can't openly express his feelings, Ye Qingxi pondered again. If he were to openly express his feelings...

Ye Qingxi simply couldn't bear to think about it anymore.

In a sense, Ye Qingxi felt that her brother should also win a Nobel Prize!

One person's unrequited love brings harmony to the whole family.

It's just... his brother must be suffering a lot inside, right?

Ye Qingxi leaned back on the sofa, feeling that she could now understand Zhong Yan back then.

Friends turning into lovers is such a troublesome thing.

Even more troublesome is when brothers turn into lovers.

Although they are not blood brothers, or even cousins.

But it's not a loss, is it?! Otherwise, his brother would really be finished!

His grandfather will definitely not let him get away with this!

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi sighed, put down the cotton candy, and went to the bathroom.

After Qin Cheng arrived home, Li Wen, concerned, sent him a WeChat message asking: "Your brother probably didn't hear me, right?"

Qin Chengdao: [No.]

This is no small matter. Even if Ye Qingxi is a good actor, once he knows his thoughts, even if his reason tells him to hide them, his body language or eyes will reveal his shock and... disgust.

Yes, I find it offensive.

Qin Cheng thought, how could he not feel disgusted by being liked by someone who was nominally his brother?

It's already extremely rare that he doesn't dislike him.

Qin Cheng dared not make the request, and Ye Qingxi did not even feel any resentment after hearing it.

Because once he is not averse to or rejects it, in a sense, it means that he can accept it.

Can Ye Qingxi accept his affection?

What a beautiful dream!

Qin Cheng was never a dreamer.

Therefore, he never has such beautiful dreams that would make him laugh in his sleep.

Therefore, he guessed that Ye Qingxi really didn't hear it.

He put down his phone. He should have felt relieved, but for some reason, he felt a little lost.

Qin Cheng thought: Perhaps sometimes, he really wanted to know what Ye Qingxi would think if she knew.

Could it be...?

Qin Cheng shook his head and chuckled self-deprecatingly.

What kind of dream are you having?

How could someone like him even dream?

It's clear that liking someone can sometimes make you lose your head.

That night, Ye Qingxi had a rare bout of insomnia.

His mind was filled with Qin Cheng's affection for him. He couldn't understand it, and he kept recalling their past, trying to find out when Qin Cheng started to like him and why.

Was it when he gave Qin Cheng that bracelet?

Was it when they slept in the same bed in high school?

Or perhaps it was when they lived together during college?

It certainly couldn't be when they had already broken up, with one of them in the far south and the other in the far north, right?

Ye Qingxi wondered, did Qin Cheng really insist on studying abroad just because he wanted to go to a foreign university?

Is it really none of his business?

Was it around that time that he realized he liked her, and he wanted to suppress his feelings, which is why he chose to leave?

But even after he left, they didn't lose contact. They continued to chat on WeChat every day and maintained a close relationship.

Even after he graduated from university, Qin Cheng didn't say goodbye and rushed back from afar just to give him a surprise.

When he thought back to Qin Cheng's sudden appearance, he realized that he hadn't even gone home or seen his parents, but had only seen him and spent time with him.

Ye Qingxi didn't understand at the time.

He thought he was overthinking things, that he was too dependent on Mu Shaowu. In ordinary father-son or mother-son relationships, children don't usually depend on their parents this much.

But now he understands that in ordinary father-son or mother-son relationships, children may not actually be so dependent on their parents.

But by that time, Qin Cheng's feelings for him were definitely no longer simply those of a younger brother.

So he came to see him, wanting to spend every second with him.

He came not only to see his brother, but also to see the person he loves.

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi pulled the cup over her head, feeling a headache coming on.

What should we do?

What should he do?!

He tossed and turned for what seemed like an eternity before finally falling asleep.

In a daze, Ye Qingxi felt as if she were having a dream.

In his dream, Qin Cheng confessed his love to him.

He stood in front of him and said gently, "I like you, Xiaoxi. Will you be my boyfriend?"

Ye Qingxi: !!

Ye Qingxi woke up instantly from her dream.

Thankfully, it was just a dream.

etc!

Ye Qingxi suddenly remembered something. It wasn't a dream; it was real. His brother really liked him!

Yesterday, when they were having dinner together, he overheard that his brother liked him.

Ye Qingxi: Ahhhhhh, how could this happen?!

Ye Qingxi regained consciousness.

He glanced at his watch; it was already past eleven.

Ye Qingxi opened WeChat, feeling annoyed, and asked Zhong Yan: "Do you have time? I'll come find you in a bit."

Zhong Yan replied quickly: 【That's possible.】

Ye Qingxi sat up: [See you then.]

He threw back the covers, got out of bed, and went to the bathroom.

During the meal, Ye Qingxi calmly reported to Mu Feng, "Zhong Yan is looking for me; I'm going to see him in a bit."

Mu Feng hummed in agreement, showing no objection.

Ye Qingxi turned to Qin Cheng, "What about you? Are you going?"

"No, thank you," Qin Cheng said.

When Zhong Yan made a private meeting with Ye Qingxi, he would watch them talk the whole time, and sometimes his presence would even prevent them from having a proper conversation.

So it would be better if he didn't go.

"I'll take you there in a bit," Qin Cheng said. "Perfect timing, I have some things to take care of."

“Okay.” Ye Qingxi did not refuse.

After finishing his meal, he went out with Qin Cheng.

Qin Cheng took him to Zhong Yan's house and said to him, "Let me know when you're leaving."

"I'll take a taxi myself," Ye Qingxi said. "You must be tired too."

"It's nothing," Qin Cheng said calmly.

Ye Qingxi didn't refuse anymore.

He bid farewell to Qin Cheng and then slowly walked towards Zhong Yan's house.

Zhong Yan was already waiting for him at home. When she saw him arrive, she asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"I'm in big trouble," Ye Qingxi said with a worried expression.

Zhong Yan looked at his expression and asked curiously, "What's bothering you like this?"

Pei Liang also asked curiously, "Yes, what could possibly stump our genius Ye Qingxi?"

Ye Qingxi: ? ? ? !!!

"No, what are you doing here?"

Pei Liang: ? ? ?

"Why can't I be here?"

If he remembers correctly, this is the home he and Zhong Yan share, right?

Ye Qingxi: ...That's true. Since Zhong Yan didn't go out, Pei Liang will most likely stay home with him.

Ye Qingxi sighed, "I thought you weren't here."

Zhong Yan said magnanimously, "It's alright, we can leave him alone."

Pei Liang: ? ? ?

"What does this mean? Am I not allowed to listen?"

He retorted, dissatisfied, "Ye Qingxi, I'm your best friend!"

Ye Qingxi looked up at Zhong Yan and said, "He said he is my best friend."

Zhong Yan: ...

Zhong Yan silently looked at Pei Liang.

Pei Liang immediately slid to his knees, "Except for Xiao Yan."

"You should go make your fried chicken," Zhong Yan instructed.

Ye Qingxi was surprised, "He can even make fried chicken now?"

“He can also fry fish and chips!” Zhong Yan said. “Let him fry some more chips, and we can talk while we eat.”

Ye Qingxi nodded.

Pei Liang: ...

Pei Liang could only diligently fry French fries.

Once the fries and fried chicken were ready, Zhong Yan thoughtfully brought out three bottles of cola and asked Ye Qingxi, "So, what's wrong with you?"

Pei Liang also said, "Yeah, why did you have such a long face when you came in?"

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi looked at the two of them, unsure of what to say.

Seeing his hesitant expression, Pei Liang pondered, "How about I leave, and you two talk alone?"

“No need for that,” Ye Qingxi said.

He sighed again and said, "My brother likes me."

Zhong Yan didn't react for a moment and asked in confusion, "So what if your brother likes you? It's not like he hates you."

Pei Liang understood immediately.

"He wants to date you?!"

Ye Qingxi nodded, her face showing even more worry.

Zhong Yan: !!!

Zhong Yan: ? ? ?

Zhong Yan: ...

Zhong Yan couldn't understand, "Isn't he your brother?!"

"Are they related by blood?" Pei Liang asked.

"So Xiaoxi calls him brother too?"

"If you're willing, Xiaoxi can call you brother too."

Zhong Yan: ...

"And you?" Pei Liang looked at Ye Qingxi. "What do you think?"

Zhong Yan also asked with concern, "Yes, what do you think?"

Ye Qingxi: ...

Isn't that the crux of the problem?!

Ye Qingxi looked helpless and said, "I don't know what I'm thinking either?"

"I've been shocked ever since I found out yesterday. I have no idea what to think."

"Why would he like me?" Ye Qingxi asked, puzzled. "When did it start?"

Zhong Yan: ...

“He is special to you from the start,” Pei Liang said. “If you two were brothers or blood brothers, that would be fine, but the problem is that you two have no relationship at all, and you both knew about this when you met as children.”

“In this situation, although you may seem to be brothers in name, you are essentially no different from us friends. Before Qin Cheng realized he liked someone, he didn’t care. But when he entered puberty, he experienced the confusion of feelings. So at this time, you, who have always been special to him and whom he has always cherished, will naturally transform from one identity to another in your interactions.”

"If you ask for specifics, he probably can't explain it clearly. He can only say that by the time he realized it, he had already fallen in love with you."

Zhong Yan looked at him in shock: "You're so experienced!"

Pei Liang: ...Aren't they all pretty much the same?

"So what you need to consider now is not why he likes you, or when he started liking you. What you should consider is whether you like him and whether you want to be with him."

“Yes,” Zhong Yan said. “Have you forgotten what you taught me back then?”

Ye Qingxi certainly hadn't forgotten that he was blinded by his own involvement. When he was an observer, he spoke eloquently, but when he was involved, he only wanted to ask why.

"And," Pei Liang said, somewhat puzzled, "how did you know? Did he confess his feelings to you?"

Zhong Yan: Wow!

"No," Ye Qingxi said, "I overheard it by accident."

Ye Qingxi could only briefly recount what had happened yesterday to them.

Zhong Yan looked at him and asked, "Are you sure your brother likes you?"

"If you ask me, he hasn't admitted it at all."

“You’ve seen him deny things before,” Ye Qingxi said, looking at him. “If he didn’t like it, he definitely wouldn’t act like this. He didn’t even dare to use a clear word of denial from beginning to end, only daring to say ‘nonsense,’ which already speaks volumes.”

Pei Liang agreed, "I also think what his friend said is true. At least judging from your brother's attitude, it doesn't seem like he would act like he doesn't like you."

“Right?” Ye Qingxi said.

"So, do you want to be with him?" Pei Liang asked him.

Ye Qingxi: ...

"Or rather, would you be willing to give it a try with him?" Pei Liang changed her approach.

Ye Qingxi: ...

"Then are you willing for Qin Cheng to live a lonely life until the end?" Pei Liang asked abruptly.

Ye Qingxi: !!

Zhong Yan: !!!

Zhong Yan covered Pei Liang's mouth and lifted him up, saying, "Do you even know how to ask questions? If you don't, get out of my way."

He pushed Pei Liang into their bedroom and raised his hand to close the door.

Pei Liang was both amused and exasperated, and braced herself against the door.

His voice was soft, "Given Qin Cheng's personality, if Xiao Xi doesn't agree, would he like someone else? Or force himself to be with someone he doesn't like?"

How could that be?

He and Qin Cheng had known each other since childhood, growing up together. Qin Cheng was the kind of person who would never compromise himself when making friends, and would rather be alone than force himself to be friends with someone he didn't like.

If he gets married, he will only be less likely to force himself to do so.

Over the years, among so many men and women, Qin Cheng has only ever cared about Ye Qingxi.

During his most innocent and naive youth, he had no feelings for anyone else.

Can we really expect him to suddenly fall in love with someone he just met when he's middle-aged?

How is that possible?!

Therefore, either Ye Qingxi and Qin Cheng will be together.

Either Qin Cheng will live out his days alone in solitude.

For Qin Cheng, there are only these two paths.

“Then you can’t say it,” Zhong Yan said. “If you say it, it will affect Xiao Xi’s judgment.”

He said firmly, "I am Xiaoxi's good friend, and I only think about him. Qin Cheng's affairs are his good friends' concern. It's not our place. If we take Qin Cheng's side at this time, then who will care about Xiaoxi?"

“I’m not on Qin Cheng’s side.” Pei Liang sighed, looking at her lover. “Do you think he wouldn’t have guessed it if we didn’t say anything?”

"You know, don't you think about it? From childhood to adulthood, he's rejected so many people, and every time he was decisive and efficient. But what about now?"

"From the moment he walked in until now, although he hasn't made any statement, he hasn't uttered a single word of dissent."

"How could he not have thought of it? He had thought of it long ago. He just didn't want to stand alone at the crossroads of his life, so he came to us to face it with him."

Does someone as intelligent as Ye Qingxi really need their help to enlighten and analyze him?

Of course not.

All he needs is for them to be by his side.

They gave him a push, enabling him to take a step forward and make his own decision.

This is what Ye Qingxi wanted.

That's why he asked that question just now.

He could choose not to ask this question, but Ye Qingxi had already asked herself it a thousand times in her heart.

Zhong Yan: ...

Zhong Yan snorted and closed the door. "Anyway, don't come out."

Pei Liang: ...

Pei Liang obediently sat down in the bedroom.

Zhong Yan sat down next to Ye Qingxi again and said to him, "Don't listen to him."

"What Qin Cheng does is none of your business. Just because he likes you doesn't mean you have to like him back. There are plenty of people who like you; you should have mass-produced them by now."

Ye Qingxi smiled.

Zhong Yan added, "Xiao Xi, matters of the heart are very complicated."

“Take Pei Liang and me for example. When I agreed to date him, I didn’t think too much about it. But after we actually tried being together, I realized that friends and boyfriends are really different.”

"If we sit like this, I might say something and suddenly put my arm around your shoulder, but that's all I'll do, maybe hug you for a bit, there won't be any more intimate contact."

"But boyfriends are different. Boyfriends will kiss you, want to do private things with you. Are you sure you can accept that?"

"If you couldn't accept it at that time, would you refuse or not refuse?"

"If you refuse, it will definitely be awkward between you two."

"If you don't refuse, you're just making yourself suffer."

"Once Qin Cheng discovers that you are suppressing your feelings, he will definitely blame himself, feel guilty, and think that he has driven you to this point. At that time, even the current situation, where he doesn't know you know and you can pretend not to know, will no longer be possible."

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi looked at him for a long time before saying, "But... if you can accept closer contact with Pei Liang, then I..."

“You can’t make that analogy,” Zhong Yan interrupted him. “I can eat savory rice dumplings, can you?”

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi couldn't; he was a staunch supporter of sweet rice dumplings.

“Pei Liang and I were lucky,” Zhong Yan said. “But not everyone who decides to give it a try is so lucky. Many times, the one being pursued decides to give it a try, but in the end, the one being pursued still can’t accept it, while the pursuer has already changed his mindset.”

"He no longer feels that you agreed to give it a try because it was for his own good. He starts to resent you, condemn you, and feel that you were toying with his feelings, wasting his time, giving him hope, and then leaving him in despair. Qin Cheng certainly won't resent you, but perhaps he also felt hope when you agreed to give it a try, and felt despair when you told him that you felt you were still not suitable for each other. What should you do then?"

"Xiao Xi, I don't want you to be unhappy then."

"I don't want you to regret your decision later."

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi thought about the nights he and Qin Cheng slept in each other's arms and felt that it might not be so bad.

"...It should be alright, I guess," he said.

Zhong Yan: ? ? ?

Zhong Yan: ...

"So you've already decided to give it a try with him?"

"No, not exactly," Ye Qingxi said.

"You're not yet? You've already started to say 'it's alright'!"

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi said earnestly, "I thought about a lot of things while I was lying in bed last night."

"I was thinking about why he liked me, what I should do, and how we should get along in the future. As I was thinking, I remembered the 'three questions' you asked me back then."

Zhong Yan: !!!

Zhong Yan felt as if she had already seen his answer.

He said with a headache, "Those were just three questions for me, not for you."

Ye Qingxi looked at him and thought to herself: It's about the same.

He said, "My first question is, can I really stay far away from him and try my best to avoid seeing him and ignoring him in the future?"

“I don’t think it’s very likely. The main reason is that if I do this, it will be too obvious. He will definitely realize that I know, and it will be awkward when we meet again. So I asked myself a different question: Do I want to never see him again and want to get along with him like a stranger or a casual brother? My answer is no.”

Zhong Yan: ...

"My second question is, what kind of person do I think Qin Cheng is? Is he fickle or sentimental? Is it someone who can treat me as a friend again in three to five years? Or someone who might not be able to completely let go of me even in thirty to fifty years? Is he the kind of person who would keep his unrequited love, never marry, and only be my nominal good brother?"

“I know very well that he is the second type.” Ye Qingxi smiled, her tone filled with a helpless gentleness. “He is quite cold-hearted to most people, but he is very devoted to me. He cares about me a lot, I know that very well. I can’t pretend that I don’t know anything and then fantasize that one day he will suddenly become less and less affectionate towards me and eventually forget me and fall in love with someone else.”

“That’s impossible, so Pei Liang’s question was actually correct: Can I accept him growing old alone? I can’t,” Ye Qingxi said calmly.

“But…” Zhong Yan was about to say something when Ye Qingxi interrupted her.

"One last question: If I only need to make a little effort, take just one step forward, and he can stop suffering, or even be happy, would I be willing?"

Zhong Yan looked at him and saw her former self reflected in his eyes.

Ye Qingxi said calmly, "I'm willing."

"But……"

“No, but Xiaoyan, I know very well what I’m doing and what I’m thinking. I’m not willing to do this for everyone. If I had found out yesterday that the person who liked me was Huo Zinan or Chen Xiang, I wouldn’t have thought about it. Even though I would have felt a headache, I would only treat them as friends—that’s all I can do.”

Because he could bear the pain of losing them, because they were his friends, but only friends.

“But Qin Cheng is different,” he said. “From the moment I came into this world, “from the moment I came to the Mu family, I have been with Qin Cheng.”

“We grew up together, learned together, and did things we liked together. In fact, the first pair of slippers I wore when I entered the Mu family home belonged to Qin Cheng.”

"I don't want to lose him, and I can't lose him."

He didn't want to bear the pain of losing Qin Cheng, nor did he want to wake up one day to find Qin Cheng no longer in his world.

He cared a lot about Qin Cheng; among all his peers, Qin Cheng was the one he cared about the most.

Ye Qingxi understood this very well, which is why he was so determined.

"If I didn't know these things today, it would be fine, but now that I know, I can't pretend I don't know and continue to enjoy his care and love while letting him secretly love me."

"What's the difference between this and fishing for him?"

“I definitely have to make a decision, and as long as I don’t want to lose him, I won’t choose to reject him. I can only—I also want to—give him a try.”