Chapter 24
Su Yu returned, brimming with a sense of freedom.
"Hey, welcome to the Su family's courtyard, African brothers!" Dad took the suitcase from my hands, his tone teasing.
A few wispy clouds drifted across the clear sky, and people were rushing in different directions all around us, creating a powerful atmosphere similar to the one we felt when we arrived at the airport.
The car's air conditioning was set low, and Mom, sitting in the passenger seat, started her live broadcast again.
After driving home, Su Yu and I made plans to go out with Xiao Xing in the afternoon. We didn't stay at home for long before we had to get back to our schedules.
"Brother, I love you so much, I love you so much."
Nothing exciting happened; they simply walked side by side on the road with Su Yu.
"What's gotten into you again?"
"I love you, wind."
He couldn't stand my smooth talk and tried to let go of my hand, but our fingertips lingered on each other, making it seem like we were flirting.
Xiao Xing invited us to a coffee shop. When we arrived, it was just in time for afternoon tea. Xiao Xing and the guy in black ordered a table full of food, and Su Yu and I were the only ones waiting to sit down.
"Here you are, my darlings, sit down quickly, the cake is about to melt."
Su Yu and Xiao Xing hadn't really gotten to know each other properly before, and I was worried that Su Yu would be shy during this meeting. But to my surprise, they smiled at each other and nodded.
The man in black was dressed in clothes that tightly hugged his massive muscles, and his bulging chest looked frightening. I noticed that his left hand was covered in tattoos that extended down to his neck, and they were so dark that I couldn't understand them.
There's only a horizontal line tattooed on the upper part of my right forearm, with a small heart on top of it.
I took out two large boxes from my side, and when I opened them, they were divided into two smaller ones.
Su Yu held the box in her hand and shook it; there seemed to be something else under the box making a clattering sound.
"Your brother is better off, but you probably didn't think to buy these things, so I've prepared them for you too."
The small, square bottle, with its varying shades of gray adorned with cursive English lettering, reveals the gifter's refined taste.
"What brand is this?"
Xiao Xing tapped his forehead with his fingertip, which could poke someone to death without consequence. "What do you care what brand it is?"
"Thank you. I'm so happy for Su Yu that he made a friend like you during his three years of high school."
"What more can I say? It's a real treat to meet you all."
During the meal, the two of them displayed the air of seasoned and shrewd business elites, but after repeatedly analyzing their conversation, I concluded that they were still talking about childish things.
When the guy in black was halfway through his meal, he went outside and bought a plate of braised pork knuckle rice. I have to admit that he knows how to eat better than Xiao Xing in this regard.
Afterwards, the man in black drove us home. We stood at the entrance of the residential area, and they rolled down their car window, waved to us, and then turned around and left.
Only then did I realize that high school had officially come to an end. The sun was setting, and the sky was ablaze with orange light. Su Yu and I stood downstairs, watching their car drive away until the last trace of exhaust fumes dissipated.
My parents went out again.
What is that?
Su Yuzhan pushed open the door and stood frozen as if he had seen a ghost. I looked in the direction he was pointing.
A security camera stands on the table facing the door, its flashing red light indicating how long it has been watching this house.
"When was it installed?" I asked Su Yu.
"have no idea."
A chill ran to the bone.
There's no time to worry about that now, because something more important is about to happen: checking the scores.
The day before the results were released, neither Su Yu nor I slept well. I even dreamed that I failed the exam and that Su Yu and I would part ways. He went to a new city and was with someone else, while I could only silently wish him well from the remote suburbs of my hometown.
I opened my eyes on the pillow in the supermarket and was met with Su Yu's peaceful sleeping face. I moved a little closer to him. Holding onto the corner of his pajamas, I felt his hair tickling my face before I fell asleep again.
"I'll count to one, are you ready...?"
The whole family gathered around the computer, holding their breath and concentrating. Su Yu's hand rested on the mouse, ready to reveal the result as soon as she clicked the button.
"Who messaged me... Holy crap!"
I didn't want to think about who would send a message to disturb me at such a crucial moment for a Chinese family, but I still took a look.
My college entrance exam results...
Holy crap...
Su pressed the button, and the results came out.
That evening, my dad arranged for the best restaurant in our city to celebrate the birth of two college students in our family.
My mom was still in charge of filming, recording our joyful moments.
Su Yu offered the biggest smile of his life so far, tears welling up, which he then wiped back. After seeing his, Mom wanted to check mine, and the same process would start all over again. Dad was so excited that he wanted to print out my report card and burn it at the ancestral grave across the street.
Although I didn't perform as well as Su Yu, I still gave it my best.
After our family finished our joyful celebration, it was time to fill out college applications.
A day or two later, the school called us back to pick up the "Application Guide" and some other miscellaneous things.
Returning to school can be so relaxing and enjoyable. Sitting on the bus, the wind outside the window no longer makes me feel stuffy; instead, it carries a pleasant fragrance.
Su Yu was in a great mood and chatted and laughed with me the whole way.
As we chatted, time flew by. If Su Yu hadn't suddenly realized and glanced at the screen, we would have missed our stop.
When we got off the bus, we bought some desserts and ate them as we walked. Knowing that it was the last time we would come to the school, our steps became lighter.
School was still on holiday, and Su Yu and I weren't wearing our school uniforms, which naturally attracted their attention.
“We’re seniors now,” I said, tugging at my collar.
"You..."
When we got to the office, we went to Su Yu's homeroom teacher's office first. The teacher turned on the computer and showed Su Yu's grades.
"You did well on the exam. It's a testament to your hard work over the past three years."
"Hmm, it's alright."
Is there anywhere you'd like to go?
"I'd like to go to Haishi or Chuandu."
"That's great, it's good to have an idea."
...
"What about your younger brother? What are you thinking?"
Why is this even related to me?
"Wherever my brother goes, I'll go."
After receiving our diplomas and books, we wandered around the school, chatting idly about whatever came to mind. Looking at the empty classrooms, a feeling of parting welled up in our hearts.
"Brother, we've really graduated."
"After finishing my exams, I was thinking about going back to study..."
"Brother, thank you."
When I went downstairs, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class. The second-year high school students all stared at my brother, their eyes wide. It was one thing for the girls, but what did it mean for the boys to be staring at Su Yu so intently?
Su Yu would just smile or nod at them as a greeting. When we passed the teachers' offices, Su Yu grabbed me and rushed inside.
"Hey, the academic superstar is here!"
The most lively English teacher's shout drew the attention of many teachers, who all looked towards Su Yu.
They gathered around Su Yu, talking about her grades, the college entrance exam, and where to go after the exam.
He left me outside the crowd.
A wave of low mood and frustration washed over me as I stood so far away from my brother.
"Alright, alright, you'll all know what it feels like when that day comes."
I kept my head down, and Su Yu came over and pushed me out.
"Hey, what are you doing..."
He pulled me upstairs to an empty classroom, closed the door, leaned me against the wall, pinched my face, and kissed me.
He forcefully pried open my teeth and charged in with an invincible attitude.
"I can't take it anymore..."
I gasped for breath through the gap, trying to catch my breath, when Su Yu flicked her tongue and pulled the sticky strands back together.
"Su Yu, as long as you're in my heart, there's no one else in my eyes..."
"From the moment you took the surname Su, I was destined to love you, and I still love you now. Even when I'm eighty, I will still love you."
This confession caught me completely off guard. If this were an anime, my eyes would be spinning like simple line drawings, and I'd be steaming from my head.
Su Yu took my hand and placed it on his heart; his pounding heartbeat seemed to say he loved me every second.
I burst into laughter through my tears, sniffled, and looked at Su Yu seriously.
"I do."
"What are you willing to do?"
When we got home from school, Mom had already prepared dinner and was waiting for us. After we talked about what happened at school, she sighed that we had grown up.
"Mom, when were security cameras installed in the house?"
"You wouldn't believe it, when I was buying groceries, the lady selling fruit told me that recently strangers had been knocking on her door, and her son even opened it for her. Luckily, there were people home at the time, otherwise, I don't even want to think what might have happened."
"So I quickly bought a security camera and installed it at home. For the first two months, it was fine to check on the house occasionally."
“The first two months…” I murmured.
“You guys came home one time, and there was nothing in particular, but I just happened to see you guys and that’s when I realized this camera could talk.”
God knows, Su Yu and I were so scared when Mom said that that we felt a chill run down our spines.
Unexpectedly, the biggest challenge after the college entrance examination was filling out college applications. Based on advice from various people, we almost ended up being sent abroad to study. In the end, it was my eldest cousin who helped us fill out the applications.
Su Yu still chose Haishi, and so did I. He was going for the safest option, and I was going for the best.
I will never forget the uproar at home during that time. Su Yu and I practically wore out our books, and we were constantly looking up all sorts of information and receiving a lot of information online, which made us feel completely overwhelmed.
What I need most is a thoroughly relaxing experience.
One evening, stealing a moment from my busy schedule, Su Yu asked me if I wanted to go for a drink.
"I'm not an adult yet."
"You were an adult when you were in your second year of high school?"
"..."
The pub had a dim atmosphere, and melodious English songs flowed out like a spring.
There are private rooms separated from the outside by curtains, as well as small round tables in the main hall.
Su Yu lifted the coarse cloth curtain in the far corner and let me in.
We ordered ten cocktails and a small bucket of fruit wine. I waved my hand and said I didn't want any food; it was just a drinking party tonight. Su Yu thought I was already drunk, but after confirming several times that I didn't want any food, she ended the party there.
"It's a little... it tastes bad."
The bright red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple liquids in front of me were quite eye-catching, but when I picked it up and took a big gulp, it was surprisingly unpalatable.
The stemmed glass, filled with cream powder, had a ring of crushed rose petals around its rim. Su wanted to sip it through a straw, so she tapped the table to call me over.
Then he fed me the wine mouth-to-mouth.
"This tastes good."
"It's so delicious..."
He always has a way of making me unable to resist. If I weren't so busy lately, I really would love to!!
"Brother, let's order some snacks."
"Didn't you say you wanted to drink it plain?"
"That wasn't because I was young and ignorant."
The fried chicken smelled so good. I poked two pieces and let them cool down before giving them to Su Yu. He took a bite of one half and said, "Okay, then."
Halfway through the process, the alcohol took effect, but Su Yu was completely oblivious. He sat down next to me and patted my face.
———
I am Su Yu.
So that's how this brat got drunk.
His face was flushed, and he was muttering incoherent nonsense. When I asked him who I was, he tried to open his eyes wide, as if he wanted to stare me through.
"My dear brother~"
My little sweetheart~
It's a bit disgusting.
So I set up my phone like my mom did and pointed the camera at this little drunkard.
Do you love me?
"I love you the most in the whole world... No, that's not right, I also love Dad and Mom, Dad and Mom love you too."
"Then there are three people in this world who love you the most~"
That's a bit cheesy.
Later, he downed two large glasses of strong liquor. I was really impressed. I told him long ago that he shouldn't drink just because it looks good.
It's nice to see him being so noisy and disruptive. After starting high school, he became less and less childish and started clinging to me every day, as if he were still the same as before.
"Xiao Xing? What brings you here?"
I turned around thinking Xiaoxing had really arrived, but I didn't see anyone else. It turned out he was talking about me.
That's right, when I first met Xiaoxing, I also thought he looked a lot like me.
Although I didn't have a good impression of him at first, I'm glad I was wrong; he's actually a good person.
Sigh... This kid is muttering again about wanting me to go to university with him, and he even started crying as he was talking.
"Then, then, what if I don't get registered... You can't ask someone else..."
I could only patiently hold him and let him smear his snot and tears all over my clothes.
How did we get home again? I dragged him to the door. It wasn't realistic to go home reeking of alcohol, and we're both underage, so we couldn't book a hotel room.
The boss said we could stay overnight, which was perfect. We went back to the small cubicle, and Su Yu fell into a deep sleep. I stayed with him.
I woke up in the middle of the night...
He opened his eyes, saw the unfamiliar ceiling, and burst into tears. I comforted him, my head still spinning.
How could someone cry so hard their tears looked like chicken droppings exploding?
Finally, we took a taxi home as dawn was breaking. We tiptoed into our room and told our parents that we might be staying at a classmate's house that night, but we don't know if they believed us.
I'm the only one awake at home right now.
I don't know how deep Su Yu's sleep is, but the other two are definitely in a deep sleep.
Then I'm going to have the "buffet".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
