Chapter 41 You should go back to yourself...
A few days later, Zhou Yue was able to avoid working overtime, which was rare. When he went downstairs, the neon lights on the street were just starting to light up. He originally planned to go straight home, but his hand unconsciously turned the steering wheel, and the car headed towards Columbia University.
Jiang Qiran's classes haven't officially started yet. He's taking advantage of the free time these past few days to slowly adapt to the pace of New York. He wanders around during the day to familiarize himself with the environment, and stays in his apartment at night to read. He even cooks some dishes and invites his brother over to eat together. Even Zhou Yue says he's a great cook.
Zhou Yue said fiercely, "Don't expect me to come and take care of you every day."
But when he has free time, he still habitually turns this way. He attributes this to "going the way," but he knows in his heart that he just wants to make sure that his younger brother is living a stable life in this city and that he can live well on his own.
He parked his car at the familiar street corner and sent a WeChat message: "Let's go downstairs."
Almost immediately, Jiang Qiran's reply appeared: [OK, give me two minutes.]
He was about to put his phone away when the screen vibrated again; a new message popped up: [Lu Zhiwei: Are you free? Let's grab a bite. I just got back from Shanghai.]
Zhou Yue's finger hovered over the screen, not in a hurry to reply. The neon lights outside the car window flowed across the glass, reflecting a layer of illusory colors, but his gaze was fixed on that line of text, as if he had been pulled back by a sudden thought.
He turned his head and looked through the car window at the apartment entrance not far away. On the steps, Jiang Qiran was walking down quickly, wearing a simple T-shirt and loose sweatpants. His hair was slightly messy in the night wind, and his eyebrows and eyes still had an undisguised youthful spirit and relaxed feeling.
Zhou Yue typed a few lines on the screen: "My younger brother just arrived in New York. Perfect timing, let's grab something to eat together."
He paused, then added, "Don't mention my medical treatment to my brother."
The moment the message was sent, his reflection appeared in the glass, his brows and eyes calm, as if a silence he had grown accustomed to over the years was being carefully concealed as a gentle yet distant defensiveness.
Lu Zhiwei quickly replied with a "I'm very tight-lipped" kitten emoji, her round eyes radiating playfulness, seemingly gently dispelling the silent oppression in the car.
They met at a Thai restaurant. The restaurant was small, with a transparent glass roof. Raindrops pattered down, forming streams that slid down the slope. On the wall hung several rows of yellowed black and white photographs: old Bangkok streets, flower vendors by their carts, dancers in long dresses, their smiles frozen in some distant moment.
Lu Zhiwei walked in with slightly hurried steps. The rain outside hadn't completely subsided, and the water droplets on her shoulders glistened for a moment under the warm yellow light. Her hair had finally been dyed a darker color this time, tied up neatly, and she wore a loose T-shirt and denim shorts, making her look crisp and refreshing.
She immediately spotted the table by the window, where two men sat opposite her. She paused slightly, a cryptic smile playing on her lips: "Your brother?"
As she spoke, she walked over there, her gaze landing on Jiang Qiran's face. The contours of his face did indeed resemble Zhou Yue's somewhat, but his expression was gentler, his eyes were clear, and his skin had a healthy wheat color; he looked like a young man who had not yet been worn down by the harshness of reality.
"Hello, I'm your brother..." She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, her eyes darting between the two brothers.
Zhou Yue leaned back in his chair, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips, and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly: "Take it easy with what you say."
“…Friend.” She finished slowly, her voice tinged with a hint of teasing, “Lu Zhiwei, you could say she’s your senior. I’m doing my PhD in psychology at Columbia University.”
Jiang Qiran stood up, her expression generous and composed: "Hello, senior, my name is Jiang Qiran."
"Oh, so well-behaved." Lu Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, pulled out a chair and sat down, her tone teasing. "Unlike your brother, who acts like everyone owes him eight hundred yuan."
Zhou Yue glanced at her, his movements unhurried and expressionless: "I don't owe you money, do I?"
“You owe me several meals,” she said, flipping through the menu and lightly tracing the names of the dishes spelled in Thai with her fingertips, without looking up. “If my brother hadn’t come today, I probably wouldn’t have been able to eat this meal.”
Zhou Yue didn't bother to reply and took a sip of water.
After ordering, Lu Zhiwei pushed the menu onto the table with a soft thud, then looked back at Jiang Qiran: "I heard you did your undergraduate studies at UNC? And then applied for the same major as your brother? Does your family really have to spend this much tuition at Columbia?"
Jiang Qiran was taken aback at first, as if she hadn't expected her to get straight to the point. Then she smiled and said in a gentle tone, "It's mainly because my brother set a good example. When I was little, I didn't know any better and wanted to be like him in everything I saw."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Zhou Yue, his eyes filled with genuine admiration and a touch of youthful stubbornness. He didn't feel ashamed of following his brother's path; on the contrary, he felt proud.
Zhou Yue glanced at him for a moment without saying a word, his lips twitching slightly as if he wanted to laugh but forced it back down.
"Do you still want to be like him now?" Lu Zhiwei leaned back lazily in her chair, her gaze fixed on Jiang Qiran.
“I’ll give it a try, but I’m not in a hurry.” Jiang Qiran smiled faintly, her tone calm and firm. “My brother is moving too fast, so I’ll just treat it as a slow walk behind him.”
These words were neither humble nor arrogant, neither timid nor deliberately flattering, as if he had thought of them beforehand. As Zhou Yue listened, an indescribable feeling suddenly welled up in his heart, an emotion mixed with weight and warmth, gently pressing down on his heart.
Lu Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, glanced at Zhou Yue, and smiled, "Your brother knows how to talk."
“That’s right,” Zhou Yue finally spoke, his tone casual, as if he were just picking up the thread of conversation, “He’s always had a sweet tongue since he was little.”
Before all the dishes were served, the three chatted casually, and the atmosphere became more relaxed.
The rain continued to fall outside the window, tapping softly on the glass roof and splashing up tiny droplets. Light shone through the water droplets, casting a soft, ambiguous glow on the three faces.
Lu Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, but instead of continuing the conversation, she suddenly turned to Zhou Yue and asked casually, "How have you been sleeping lately? How many hours do you get each day?"
She paused, then added seemingly casually, "Try to smoke and drink less; you can't rely on alcohol to cure insomnia."
His tone was relaxed, like a friendly banter, but his eyes were serious. The way he looked at her wasn't just casual concern, but rather as if he was quietly confirming something.
Zhou Yue was taken aback by the question, then forced a smile and said, "It's alright."
"What do you mean by 'okay'?" She smiled, her tone half-serious and half-joking. "We need to quantify it."
"I should be able to sleep until six in the morning by now," Zhou Yue said casually.
Jiang Qiran didn't speak, but lowered his head, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and his eyes darted between Zhou Yue and Lu Zhiwei, as if he was silently observing something.
As Zhou Yue looked at them, a strange emotion suddenly swept through his heart. He was never willing to explain or talk much, but in front of these two, he always felt that he couldn't hide anything. It was as if a single glance would reveal all his thoughts, and he didn't even have the chance to turn around and hide it.
"What's your zodiac sign again?" she suddenly asked, her tone light and cheerful.
"Libra," Jiang Qiran answered honestly, bowing his head to put down his water glass. His tone was flat but polite.
"Oh..." she drawled, her smile meaningful, "And what about MBTI? Have you had it tested?"
"I think I'm... INTP."
"INTP?" Her eyes lit up, like a hunter spotting its prey. "Your brother is a standard INTJ, I remember him clearly." Her tone trailed off with a hint of teasing, not explicitly stating it, but rather like she was intentionally or unintentionally provoking him, or digging a small pit for him to fall into.
Zhou Yue, who had been silent the whole time, finally moved. His fingers, resting on his knees, tightened slightly before relaxing. His voice was low and tired: "Are you really a psychology student? One minute it's astrology, the next it's MBTI..."
He looked up at her, a hint of barely suppressed annoyance in his eyes. "Can't you act like a senior student?"
Lu Zhiwei chuckled, laughing freely and unrestrainedly. She tapped her fingers on the back of the chair and made a face: "What do you know? When you first start chatting, these are the fastest ways to see someone's personality. Besides, what's wrong with senior? Maybe you two inherited your feelings for her."
As soon as she finished speaking, she winked at Jiang Qiran with a look of anticipation, and Jiang Qiran, who was about to pick up his chopsticks, paused, his fingertips hovering in mid-air, and froze slightly.
His gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, and for a fleeting second it lingered on Zhou Yue's face, the light in his eyes flickering slightly.
Zhou Yue's eyes twitched. He picked up the beer bottle on the table and refilled Lu Zhiwei's glass, his voice cold and deliberate: "Alright, drink your beer."
Jiang Qiran didn't speak, but his gaze slowly returned. He suddenly realized that Zhou Yue's past might be more complicated than he had imagined.
The conversation at the table didn't stop; in fact, it became even more lively. From Columbia University's curriculum design to the New York subway's nighttime shutdown, and then to the battle for elective spots on campus, Lu Zhiwei spoke with great enthusiasm, her words coming out at a machine gun speed, while she kept putting food on her plate.
Jiang Qiran doesn't talk much, but when he occasionally chimes in, he always hits the beat perfectly, changing the subject quickly and beautifully. Sometimes, even Lu Zhiwei is stunned for a second before she reacts.
Jiang Qiran answered a phone call, then got up and walked to the window.
Lu Zhiwei then turned to the side, getting closer, her fingers casually circling the rim of her wine glass, and she clicked her tongue softly: "Your younger brother is quite good."
Zhou Yue didn't answer, but glanced at her sideways, his voice low and restrained, carrying his usual sharpness and wariness: "Don't you dare try anything with my brother."
"Oh." She laughed, her eyes giving a meaningful look. "Now you're even going to meddle in how he makes friends?"
Zhou Yue lowered his eyes and took a sip of water, his movements slow and restrained: "I know what you're thinking. He just arrived in New York, don't try anything with me."
"Alright, good brother." She shook her head slightly, her tone both teasing and genuinely puzzled, "You're being too nosy."
"I won't stop him if he's willing." Zhou Yue put down his water glass, his tone still indifferent, but his eyes had subtly darkened. "But if you flirt with him and don't plan to take responsibility..."
He paused for a moment, then said in a calm but sharp tone, "Don't blame me for turning hostile."
Lu Zhiwei rested her chin on her hand, amused by his protective attitude, but her eyes suddenly became serious as she looked away from her laughter: "I genuinely find him interesting. I'm not just playing around." Her tone was calm, but her eyes held a rare restraint and sincerity.
Zhou Yue didn't reply, only stared at her for a second. "You have too many bad records to list." He finally spoke, his tone cool, "Have you ever been serious?"
Lu Zhiwei curled her lips into a smile, tinged with bitterness: "Who said I've never been serious?"
Her eyes flickered, a slightly blurry light flashing in them. "But it's no use being serious, you won't believe me anyway."
She raised her hand and downed the drink in one gulp, swallowing her emotions along with the wine. After setting down the glass, she chuckled softly, "Don't worry, I won't kidnap your brother."
Zhou Yue stared at her for a long time, seemingly pondering the truth of her words, before saying seriously, "There's one more thing."
Lu Zhiwei turned her head: "Hmm?"
"Don't tell my brother about my relationship with Xia Zhiyao." His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable coldness.
She paused slightly, then raised an eyebrow with a half-smile: "Does he know or not?"
“He knows Xia Zhiyao.” Zhou Yue took a sip of tea, rubbing his fingers on the rim of the cup as if trying to hide some unease. “She’s the older sister next door.”
"Then what are you afraid of?" she asked with a smile, resting her chin on her hand, a hint of mockery in her eyes. "Afraid that he'll find out about your past?"
“He doesn’t need to know,” Zhou Yue said calmly. “That’s my business.”
Lu Zhi narrowed his eyes, as if reading another version of his words: "You really think you can keep it a secret?"
Zhou Yue didn't say anything, but simply pushed the cup away a little.
“Your brother is much smarter than you think,” she said softly. “He’ll figure it out sooner or later.”
Before they could finish speaking, Jiang Qiran had already pushed the door open and returned.
Zhou Yue almost subconsciously composed himself, the sharpness in his eyes quickly disappearing, replaced by a nonchalant calm.
Jiang Qiran sat down again. His fingers had just touched his chopsticks when he suddenly looked up at the two of them, a hint of teasing in his eyes: "What are you two talking about? You two looked so... suspicious when I got back."
Zhou Yue smiled at him calmly: "We're talking about you."
Lu Zhiwei turned around and said with a smile, "He's praising you. Your brother just said you're smart, eloquent, and more reliable than him."
Jiang Qiran was taken aback, then laughed out loud, shaking his head and replying without hesitation: "It's fake, he never talks like that."
"Hey!" Lu Zhi smiled even wider, his eyes narrowing. "You're really Zhou Yue's younger brother?"
“Really.” He raised his hand to touch the tip of his nose, smiling somewhat helplessly, “but the genes may only have been passed down in half.”
The group burst into laughter again, and the atmosphere at the table instantly relaxed.
The neon lights outside the window flickered and reflected in the glass, casting soft halos that fell on the tableware and the faces of the three people, making the scene both warm and somewhat unreal.
Laughter filled the steaming table and the air filled with the aroma of wine and salt and pepper. It felt like a familiar, everyday occurrence, or a sense of life that was finally beginning to loosen up in this city—familiar, real, and with a touch of cautious restarting.
Outside the car window, the neon lights on the street blurred into clumps of color in the rain, and the streetlights cast long, thin beams of light onto the wet glass, as if time itself had slowed down.
Zhou Yue drove, his gaze focused and quiet. The windshield wipers swept across the window with a steady rhythm, like the beat of a heartbeat.
In the passenger seat, Jiang Qiran had just fastened his seatbelt. He didn't say anything, but simply leaned back against the seat, gazing at the city beyond the rain, remaining motionless.
They had just dropped Lu Zhiwei off at home when the girl turned back to tease them before getting out of the car, saying, "Your brother is much more interesting than you." She then waved with a smile and slammed the car door shut.
Zhou Yue didn't turn around. He just silently started the engine, stepped on the gas, and drove the car off the sidewalk. The return trip wasn't long, but the silence made time seem to stretch on endlessly.
The traffic lights flickered on and off in the rain, like a fuse stuck at some emotional breaking point, waiting to be touched by someone.
Finally, Jiang Qiran spoke.
“Brother,” his voice was soft, but unusually clear in the enclosed carriage, “Actually… you’ve already done a lot for me.”
Zhou Yue was taken aback by what he said, not expecting his younger brother to speak so directly.
“You should go live your own life.” Jiang Qiran looked at the rain curtain in front of her and said calmly, “You don’t need to shield me from everything, nor do you need to choose the direction or make decisions for me… I’ve grown up.”
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