Because Chen Zhuo's bed wasn't spacious enough for two people to lie on.
However, whether Chen Zhuo didn't notice this or didn't care at all, he lifted the blanket and snuggled up to Chen Ke, feeling warm and cozy.
Chen Ke, who is used to being alone, was honestly stiff and uncomfortable for a moment.
Chen Zhuo, however, noticed it keenly. "Brother...do you not like me sleeping next to you?" Although Chen Zhuo was smiling when he asked this question, there was an unconcealable sense of loss and sadness in his eyes.
Chen Ke suddenly felt that he deserved to die.
So what if Chen Zhuo is almost 1.8 meters tall? So what if he's about to turn eighteen?
He was just a child who longed for his older brother's love!
So Chen Ke covered Chen Zhuo with the blanket and said, "What are you thinking about? You're my brother, of course I like it when you sleep next to me."
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhuo's eyes lit up immediately when he looked at Chen Ke, like the eyes of a puppy wagging its tail with delight upon seeing its owner.
Chen Ke's heart softened even more. This child... after he changed for the better, he really became quite endearing.
He patted Chen Zhuo's head, his voice carrying a gentleness he himself didn't realize, "Yes, really, go to sleep."
"Brother, you should go to sleep early too. Good night."
Chen Ke was indeed quite tired, and he fell asleep shortly after lying down on the bed.
The winter night was quiet outside the window, with a little moonlight shining through the glass window onto the floor. Chen Zhuo, who was "sound asleep," slowly opened his eyes.
He turned to look at Chen Ke, then quietly got up and sat on the chair by the bed.
The chair was next to the window, and moonlight poured down onto his feet, while he was hidden in the shadow of the wall.
He sat there quietly, his gaze fixed on Chen Ke, as if he were thinking or scrutinizing him, like a hunter in the dark who had shed his disguise and was admiring the prey that had fallen into his grasp.
······
The next day was New Year's Eve. Song Xiaowen and Zhou Shanhuai got up very early. Aunt Liu also wanted to go back to spend New Year's Eve with her family, so she bought the groceries early to prepare their New Year's Eve dinner.
Hearing the occasional thumping sounds of chopping meat and vegetables downstairs, Chen Ke opened his eyes.
"Brother, did I wake you up?"
Chen Ke looked over in the direction of the sound and saw that Chen Zhuo was already sitting at the desk by the window studying.
Seeing that Chen Ke didn't speak, he asked again, "Should I ask Aunt Liu to keep her voice down?"
Chen Ke propped himself up against the headboard. "No need, I'm already awake. When did you wake up?"
"I just woke up not long ago too."
"You started reading as soon as you got up?"
Chen Zhuo smiled and said, "My memory is better in the morning, so I'll memorize some English words."
No one dislikes a hardworking child, and Chen Ke is very pleased that his younger brother is becoming more and more sensible.
"Then you should study your book. I'll go downstairs and see if there's anything I can do to help them."
Just as Chen Ke was about to get up and open the door, Chen Zhuo suddenly called out to him, "Hey bro, have you been staying home all day without going out?"
Chen Ke turned around and said, "It's New Year's Eve today, so I'm staying home with you all. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, then I won't read anymore. It's rare for our family to be able to stay home all day, let's go downstairs and spend some time with Mom."
"Okay, let's go."
After washing up and going downstairs, the two found that Aunt Liu, Song Xiaowen, and Zhou Shanhuai had already started preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. After learning that Aunt Liu had to rush home to help her family prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, Chen Ke and Chen Zhuo volunteered to join in the help. Although they couldn't help with cooking, they could still lend a hand by picking and washing vegetables.
Seeing this, Song Xiaowen simply told Aunt Liu to go back now. Aunt Liu was still a little worried about Song Xiaowen's belly. "I'll cook the dishes before I go back. You can't tire yourself out now."
Song Xiaowen pointed to the three men behind her who were busy picking vegetables and said happily, "Don't worry, Aunt Liu, they won't let me even if I want to work myself out."
Zhou Shanhuai looked up and smiled, saying, "Yes, Aunt Liu, my Xiaowen will be directing from the side. I'll do the work, so she won't get tired."
"We'll help too!" Chen Zhuo quickly replied, having completely forgotten about the taste of that bowl of noodles from last night.
Chen Ke gave Chen Zhuo a meaningful look, and Chen Zhuo smiled guiltily.
"Aunt Liu, you should go back now. I'll find someone to help you later." After all, Li Guaizi is all alone, and we can't let him spend New Year's Eve alone.
Chen Zhuo asked in surprise, "Who is it?"
"You'll see when you get here."
Aunt Liu couldn't refuse their kindness after hearing what they said. After thanking them, she packed up and prepared to go home. As she was leaving, Song Xiaowen gave her a large red envelope.
"Aunt Liu, Happy New Year."
Aunt Liu was at a loss for words, holding the thick red envelope. "Oh dear, Xiaowen, this... this..."
"Alright, what's this? This is what you deserve. If you hadn't come to keep me company, I would have been so bored at home all day. Besides, you've been busy with everything around the house for the past few months. It's Chinese New Year, so it's only right that I give you a red envelope. You can't refuse!"
Aunt Liu was extremely grateful. "I should be the one saying that to you. This job is too easy for me, and you still pay me such a high salary... I don't know how to thank you."
"Alright, alright, hurry back and reunite with your family. If you keep talking, we won't have time to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner." Song Xiaowen smiled and waved to Aunt Liu.
"Then you should go inside quickly, it's snowing outside, be careful not to catch a cold."
"Okay, don't worry. Be careful on your way home."
Song Xiaowen watched Aunt Liu leave through the gate before returning to the house. Over the past few months, Song Xiaowen had come to regard Aunt Liu as a caring and talkative elder, and respected and loved her from the bottom of his heart.
Around noon, Li Guaizi braved the wind and snow, carrying gifts, to visit Chen Ke's family for the first time.
He was wearing a brand-new suit, his hair was slicked back and shiny, and you could no longer see the disheveled and pathetic look he had when he first came to Shanghai. If it weren't for his limping leg and the faint scar on his face, he would have the air of a refined gentleman at first glance.
Li Guaizi sat on the sofa somewhat awkwardly. If he hadn't already learned some things from Xu Manling, he was sure he would have made a fool of himself at Chen Ke's house.
He had always thought Chen Ke was from a poor family like him, but it turns out he'd been a young master since childhood! It seems his solo trip to Shaanxi was probably the kind of runaway he did after a fight with his family.
Later, after experiencing the hardships of life outside, he could only slink back home and become a pampered young master.
Seeing that Li Guaizi was a little uncomfortable, Song Xiaowen peeled some fruit for him. "Come on... Guai, Guai..." What was that called again? Song Xiaowen kept calling him Guaizi for a while.
"Auntie, you can just call me Guai Zi."
"Huh? Is this the nickname they gave you?" Song Xiaowen couldn't believe that any parents would give their child such an unlucky name as "kidnapper."
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