Shen Yanming sighed, "I don't want to lose you as a brother one day."
At that moment, Zhang Heping seemed to understand the desolation in Ji Kangyong's eyes, a sense of helplessness in the face of fate.
He nodded, "I understand. I will get up early every day to exercise, and when I have time to rest, I will learn martial arts from Lao Ji."
Shen Yanming smiled with satisfaction, "Okay. If he's busy, just come find me, and I'll take you to spar with the experts in the guard team."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Heping's newly formed resolve nearly crumbled. His legs went weak, and he stammered, "No, is that alright?"
"Let's see how you do!" After saying that, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, and Ji Kangyong and Bi Qiaoan also covered their mouths and chuckled.
Zhang Heping knew he was just making everyone laugh. He glanced at everyone and then laughed too.
Brothers, who hasn't joked around with each other? This kind of hearty laughter without sarcasm is also a way to strengthen the bond.
After they had finished laughing and joking, Shen Yanming said, "Please sit down first, I'll go prepare lunch."
"Let me help you." Zhang Heping got up and prepared to go into the kitchen.
Shen Yanming shook his head and refused, "No need, we didn't prepare many ingredients this time. We'll just stir-fry a few dishes to make a point."
Seeing this, Zhang Heping stopped insisting. He sat in the living room, turned on the TV, and chatted with Bi Qiaoan while watching.
Of course, most of the conversation revolved around Bi Qiaoan's belly.
"How about we go to the hospital for another check-up in the next couple of days? Twins are more likely to be born prematurely, so we need to prepare in advance," Zhang Heping advised.
Bi Qiaoan nodded, "It's too late today, let's wait until next week, Lao Shen and I will go."
"Yes, if you go into labor early, remember to call me before you come to the hospital. I'll make the arrangements for you in advance, which will save you a lot of time."
"Thank you, it's so different to have someone on your side." Bi Qiaoan smiled gently, her maternal glow beginning to shine through.
After she finished speaking, she suddenly turned to Ji Kangyong, who was intently watching the news, and asked, "How are things going between you and Li Yueya?"
Ji Kangyong paused for a moment, then told the truth: "That's how it is. We keep to ourselves, occasionally talking on the phone or chatting, but there's no further interaction."
Bi Qiaoan frowned, thinking, "Is this a relationship, or not? If you say they're dating, they're no different from ordinary friends. If you say they're not dating, then they interact in that kind of way."
This lukewarm relationship is really troublesome. No wonder Li Yueya seemed hesitant to speak when they met on Friday.
However, she declined to comment on matters of the heart. Whether it works out or not is entirely up to fate. Asking this question was merely to satisfy her own curiosity.
Ji Kangyong was waiting for Bi Qiaoan to stand up for her best friend, but to his surprise, she only asked one question and then fell silent.
This made his heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, gently settle back down.
He didn't know why, but he always felt something was missing in his interactions with Li Yueya. It wasn't that the girl was bad, but rather that she was very much a lady from a well-to-do family.
It's precisely because he's too good-natured that he always feels the other person is weak and indecisive. Those gentleness, thoughtfulness, and generosity are all admirable qualities, but they just lack something.
So every date left him feeling exhausted. His date was like a porcelain doll, needing his careful protection, but he didn't feel that way.
Several times I wanted to break up and let each other cool off, but I always succumbed to the other person's tears and things never came to a head.
And so it has evolved into what it is now, dragging on.
Therefore, he was genuinely afraid that Bi Qiaoan would question him about why he wasn't treating her sisters better.
Fortunately, she kept her promise and didn't meddle in other people's business.
Bi Qiaoan had no idea that beneath that cold, aloof face, a myriad of thoughts were swirling within her.
After getting the answer she wanted, she heard Zhang Heping nagging, "Qiao An, why don't you care about your brother Zhang's love life?"
"Huh?" Bi Qiaoan was surprised, then smiled and said, "I'm not concerned because I have faith in you. Judging from your beaming face, you must have some good news, right?"
Zhang Heping nodded, "Although it's hard to say when we can get our marriage certificate and hold a wedding banquet, at least we've established our relationship and are getting along well!"
"Really? Congratulations!" Bi Qiaoan was genuinely surprised. She hadn't heard this good news when she went for her prenatal checkup with Shen Yanming last time. It had only been ten days, and their relationship had progressed to a higher level.
Zhang Heping smiled sheepishly and said somewhat embarrassedly, "We haven't been together for long, and we're still getting to know each other."
He actually wanted to brag about it to his brothers, but they wouldn't give him the chance. It was only when Joan brought it up that he finally got to show off.
However, the effect seems to be mediocre. Look, Old Ji still has that icy face, while Old Shen and Old Li aren't even around.
"When you two get married, Yanming and I will give you a gift that we guarantee you'll both like," Bi Qiaoan said with a mischievous smile.
Although Zhang Heping didn't know what she would give him, he was still quite looking forward to married life.
"Okay, then I'll thank you in advance," he said with a smile.
Bi Qiaoan smiled and nodded, then started watching TV.
Not long after, the doorbell rang. Zhang Heping got up to open the door and welcomed in a familiar figure he hadn't seen in a long time.
As soon as Li Zhaozhao walked in, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "You guys are really something, not even notifying us of the gathering beforehand. So I'm just here to make up the numbers!"
Zhang Heping laughed and put his arm around his buddy's shoulder, "You knew we were just there to make up the numbers, but you still came anyway? Don't worry, we're all just here to make up the numbers today."
Li Zhaozhao bluntly asked, "What, were you two also notified at the last minute?"
"Of course, Lao Shen called me and Lao Ji just an hour ago. It's lucky he called early, otherwise we wouldn't know where we'd be having fun."
"Ha, according to you, it's Old Shen who doesn't know the rules, he should be punished." Li Zhaozhao stood at the door and shouted into the living room.
When he went inside, he found that Old Shen was in the kitchen.
So all that hard work just now was for nothing?
He was feeling a bit stifled, but his eyes lit up instantly when he saw Bi Qiaoan.
He stepped forward, almost excitedly placing his hand on Bi Qiaoan's protruding belly, but Zhang Heping stopped him.
"Well, I just... I just wanted to feel the baby's movements." Li Zhaozhao touched his nose sheepishly.
Zhang Heping scoffed, "Old Li, that's enough. If you want to feel the baby's movements, go find your own wife. What's with you touching Old Shen's wife?"
"It's only because everyone here is a close friend that I trust you and Qiao An. Otherwise, if a stranger came, they'd immediately suspect something was going on between you two, believe me?"
Li Zhaozhao realized he had acted rashly and quickly bowed to apologize. Bi Qiaoan smiled and waved her hand, not taking it to heart.
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