30
Li Xiangze came to the Xiao family's old house for the first time and quietly observed this manor that combined Chinese and Western styles.
Whether it is the garden decoration or the villa appearance, it is as beautiful as a tourist attraction.
This was the first time he had a real understanding of Xiao Mingyang's family background.
Xiao Mingyang put his arm around his neck and grinned, "Isn't it beautiful? My grandmother designed it herself." He led Li Xiangze towards the door, "This was my grandfather's wedding room. It's been renovated over the years to keep its original appearance."
Li Xiangze looked around: "It is indeed beautiful."
"That's right, my grandma is a famous designer." Xiao Mingyang pinched his earlobe and leaned close to his ear: "Don't lock the door at night."
Li Xiangze raised his eyebrows: "Why don't you just stay quiet in the old house?"
"It's okay," Xiao Mingyang licked his lips, "They can go to bed early."
"Let's talk about it later."
Two or three steps away from the villa door, the door opened from the inside, and the housekeeper smiled kindly: "Yangyang is back, this must be classmate Li Xiangze."
Li Xiangze nodded: "Hello."
The housekeeper stepped aside and said, "Come into the house first."
Two pairs of slippers were already placed in the room, and the two of them sat on the chairs nearby to change.
"Grandpa Zhu, you go and get busy first." Xiao Mingyang said.
The housekeeper smiled and said, "Boss Xiao has instructed me to bring Xiaoze to see him."
Xiao Mingyang turned his head to look at Li Xiangze, who happened to be looking at him as well. Li Xiangze frowned slightly, looking nervous. Xiao Mingyang gave him a reassuring look and smiled at the housekeeper: "Is Grandpa in the tea room? I'll take him there."
The housekeeper smiled and said, "Then I'll go get busy first."
Li Xiangze finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Are there any rules with your grandfather?"
"There are no rules. Just play chess and drink tea with him," Xiao Mingyang said happily. "Is it because the housekeeper is too oppressive?"
Li Xiangze looked at the butler's back and nodded, "That's scary."
"He just looks serious," Xiao Mingyang stood up, "Come on, I'll take you to see grandpa."
Li Xiangze pursed his lips and stood up as if facing a formidable enemy.
If you stick your head out, you will get a knife; if you keep your head down, you will get a knife.
"Walk."
In front of the tea room.
Xiao Mingyang didn't rush to knock on the door. Instead, he whispered to Li Xiangze, "If Grandpa asks you how you discovered the document, make it up."
Li Xiangze frowned and looked at him: "I found the literature?"
"It's hard for me to explain it without you," Xiao Mingyang patted his shoulder. "Look at my English level, can I understand English literature?"
"I'm a genius?" Li Xiangze laughed.
Xiao Mingyang raised his eyebrows: "There are so many geniuses, what's wrong with having one more of you?"
Li Xiangze's mouth twitched: "..."
Xiao Mingyang knocked on the door and heard his grandfather's response. He pushed the door open and said, "Grandpa, this is my dear deskmate Li Xiangze."
Li Xiangze forced a polite smile: "Hello, Grandpa."
Grandpa sat in front of the chessboard, his smile as friendly as ever: "Come, sit down."
Li Xiangze didn't move. Xiao Mingyang pinched his shoulder and whispered in his ear: "I'll wait for you outside."
"Yeah." Li Xiangze walked over and the door behind him slowly closed.
"Can you play Go?" Grandpa poured him a cup of tea.
Li Xiangze took the teacup with both hands: "No."
"What about Gobang?"
Li Xiangze looked at his grandfather.
It was very different from what he imagined.
"meeting."
"Come on!" Grandpa picked up a white chess piece and placed it in the middle of the chessboard.
"I heard that you saw the paper first?"
Li Xiangze's hand trembled as he made his move: "Yes."
Grandpa's face was full of admiration: "Your English is pretty good."
"generally."
"You're truly modest," Grandpa said, looking at the chessboard. "Medical papers contain so many technical terms, and I really admire your ability to not only understand them but also offer suggestions."
Li Xiangze had cold sweat on his forehead. He smiled but said nothing.
Grandpa suddenly laughed: "Don't be so nervous, I can't ask you any professional questions."
"Yeah." Li Xiangze took a sip of tea to calm himself down.
"One of the reasons I asked you to come here today is to see the future medical pillars of our country."
Li Xiangze spat out a mouthful of tea: "I don't deserve it."
"It's good to be humble," Grandpa patted him on the shoulder. "Secondly, I have a message for you."
Li Xiangze put down his teacup, wiped his mouth, and sat up straight.
"Before Lucas Carter left, he told me to tell you that if you're interested in studying abroad, you can email him anytime. He'll write you a letter of recommendation and pay for all your tuition and living expenses."
Li Xiangze said: "I have no plans to go abroad."
"Don't rush to reply," Grandpa said. "People have different ideas at different ages. Just give it a try. If you change your mind someday, you won't regret it."
Li Xiangze pursed his lips and made a move: "I win."
"Huh?" Grandpa rolled up his sleeves, "Come again!"
＊
"Xiao Mingyang, what are you doing squatting at the door of the tea room?" Xiao Xiran leaned over the handrail of the stairs, looking down at Xiao Mingyang, "And you're still wearing your school uniform."
Xiao Mingyang put his index finger on his lips and made a hushing gesture, lowering his voice: "Children, don't meddle in adult matters!"
"That's your mentality? And you're still an adult?" Xiao Xiran came skipping down the stairs. Before he even reached him, his eyebrows were twisted like a knot. "Why do you smell so much like Brother Xiaoze?"
"Why?" Xiao Mingyang raised his chin proudly, "Are you jealous?"
"What's there to envy?" the child snorted. "Ozawa-san is going to marry a girl, and I just happen to be a girl!"
"Are you an old-fashioned person?" Xiao Mingyang poked the little girl's head. "How many years has same-sex marriage been legal?"
"Just because same-sex marriage is legal doesn't mean everyone is gay!" Xiao Xiran stood on tiptoe.
"That doesn't mean that your brother Xiaoze definitely likes girls." Xiao Mingyang smiled.
"Even if he likes boys, he won't like you!" Xiao Xiran folded his arms, "Brother Xiaoze is so handsome, he definitely won't like an ugly guy like you!"
"I'm ugly?" Xiao Mingyang reached out and pinched his sister's face. "Open your dog eyes and take a good look! Am I ugly?!"
Little Xiao Xiran vowed to never give in: "It's so ugly——"
The tea room door opened, and Li Xiangze's calm voice came from behind: "You're blocking the way."
Xiao Mingyang let go immediately upon hearing this voice, pouting and hanging on his wife with a face full of grievance: "Brother Aze, Xiao Xiran said I'm ugly! Oh, oh, oh!"
Li Xiangze sighed helplessly and pinched the back of his neck: "You are not ugly, you are the most handsome."
Xiao Mingyang secretly gave his sister a triumphant look.
The little girl stomped her feet and said, "You green tea!"
Xiao Mingyang continued to hug his wife and howl: "She scolded me! Wuuwuwu!"
Li Xiangze was overwhelmed. He patted the person in his arms on the back and said softly, "You are not a green tea."
Xiao Xiran became even angrier, with tears in his eyes: "Brother Xiaoze, why are you so nice to him? Do you like him too?"
"Also?!" Xiao Mingyang was so angry that he broke his voice. He broke free from his wife's arms, his face full of disbelief, "Also?!"
Li Xiangze's temples were throbbing from the noise they made. He rubbed his head and turned to look at his grandfather.
Grandpa had a smile on his face and drank his tea slowly as if joining in the fun, looking like he was used to it.
Although Xiao Xiran used to come to Xiao Mingyang's house every week for tutoring, and the two siblings did quarrel, it never came to this topic...
He couldn't split his head into two parts.
"I like them all." Li Xiangze sighed.
The brother and sister said in unison: "No!"
Li Xiangze's mouth twitched, and he cleared his throat: "I love China."
The brother and sister were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter together.
"Is it you? You made my brother Xiaoze seem so abstract!" Xiao Xiran glared at his brother.
"How is that possible? I'm such a serious person, your brother."
Now it was Li Xiangze's turn to laugh.
＊
Li Xiangze's bedroom was arranged to be opposite Xiao Mingyang.
As soon as 12 o'clock arrived, Xiao Mingyang immediately got up from the bed, tiptoed to open the door, and slipped into the bedroom opposite.
Li Xiangze hadn't slept yet. He was doing homework at his desk with headphones on. He was so engrossed that he didn't even hear the door close when he came in.
Xiao Mingyang didn't disturb him. He moved a chair next to his desk and sat down. He lay on the table and watched him do the questions quietly.
"The last one." Li Xiangze said.
Xiao Mingyang smiled happily: "Well, it's okay, you take your time to write, I'll look at my wife's beautiful face for a while."
As expected, he was hit on the forehead by a pen.
Xiao Mingyang rubbed his forehead, still smiling: "Then look at my husband's magnificent beauty."
Li Xiangze glanced at him and said, "If you make any more noise, go back to your room."
Xiao Mingyang zipped up his mouth and made an OK gesture.
After finishing a set of questions perfectly, Li Xiangze put down his pen, but before he could come up with the answers, the desk lamp was turned off by Xiao Mingyang.
He had always only used the desk lamp to do his homework at night. When the only lamp went out, everything around him was plunged into darkness.
Only two spots of light remained, one was the moonlight squeezing in through the gap in the curtains, and the other was the light in the eyes of the person in front of him.
Xiao Mingyang stared at him: "Also?"
Li Xiangze suddenly smiled and held his face: "No."
"ha?"
Li Xiangze pinched the back of his neck: "I love you."
Xiao Mingyang's brain froze: "You, you, I..."
"Yes, I love you." Li Xiangze repeated in a serious tone and with a cherishing look in his eyes.
"I love you too," Xiao Mingyang kissed her. He had already kissed her so many times, but he still had no idea how to do it. His voice was vague. "Baby, I love you too. I love you so much..."
"Yeah...I know..."
From the chair to the bed to the sink, they forgot about time and created a world with only the two of them.
"Little lamb, bite me." Li Xiangze pulled the other person's hair, and their eyes met. There was the beast's instinctive desire and madness in his eyes.
Xiao Mingyang rubbed his ear gently: "Where do you want me to bite?"
Li Xiangze took his hand and placed it on his chest: "Here."
Xiao Mingyang buried his head and sucked hard.
Li Xiangze pulled his hair again, frowning in dissatisfaction: "Why don't you bite it?"
Xiao Mingyang kissed the mole on the corner of his mouth: "I can't bear to..."
Li Xiangze lifted up his clothes: "Then I'll just give you a mark."
The pain in his heart spread to his limbs. The veins on Xiao Mingyang's forehead bulged, but his hand caressed his earlobe gently, "I will keep this mark."
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