Chapter 87 Even He Fan felt a little sorry for him.
"There's no hot water left in the house," Mu Yan said as the two were on the verge of a fight. He poured He Fan a glass of warm water. "We need to boil water again, so it might take a while. Xiao Fan, have some warm water first."
"It's okay, I'll just drink plain water," He Fan said with a smile, looking up. His tone was as relaxed as ever, as if he wasn't the one who had just been at odds with Lu Chong. "I just dropped you off at home and stopped by to sit for a bit. It's fine if I don't drink anything."
His eyes curved slightly, and when he looked at Mu Yan, his eyes were full of smiles.
Even Lu Chong, who already had some understanding of his cunning, did not expect him to change his attitude so quickly.
Hypocritical, disgusting, like a seemingly harmless venomous snake lurking in the jungle.
Lu Chong disliked many people, but no one had ever made him feel as disgusted as He Fan. He stood up from the sofa, as if even breathing the same air as He Fan was dirty.
"I'll go wash the fruit and keep an eye on the boiling water. Yan Yan, why don't you chat with your friend?"
Mu Yan was completely unaware of what had just happened, and was even somewhat surprised by Lu Chong's change in attitude towards He Fan. (Yoge)
People change, don't they...? I've been with him for so long and he hasn't matured. But six months after I broke up with him, he changed in the direction Mu Yan had hoped for.
He Fan watched Lu Chong walk into the kitchen, acting like a hospitable host, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Washing fruit to entertain him? Even though Lu Chong acted like a host, no one believed he had truly entered the house.
Back when he still had a title, he was petty and would make a big fuss over the smallest things. Now that Mu Yan doesn't acknowledge him anymore, he's putting on an act of magnanimity and tolerance, like an empress. Who is he trying to fool?
Mu Yan felt a little awkward. When He Fan asked him about Lu Chong before, he told He Fan that he had broken up with Lu Chong. Now that He Fan found out that Lu Chong had a key to his house, he felt a little uncomfortable.
They were in a four-person dorm. Apart from He Fan, the other three were all betas two years ahead of him. Before meeting Lu Chong, Mu Yan spent his days either working or in the library, which goes without saying. Yao Zhiyuan had planned to study abroad based on his GPA from the start, and like Mu Yan, he was always busy studying. Even when he had free time, he would play his shooting games and watch black and white movies. He could count the number of girls he met on one hand during his four years of university.
Another roommate, Han Xiao, was different. He had a girlfriend he brought with him from high school. The two broke up and got back together more than ten times. It seemed like they had a big fight every three days and a small fight every two days. He was either threatening to break up or trying to coax his girlfriend all the time.
Mu Yan never interfered in other people's love lives. When Han Xiao complained to him, Mu Yan chimed in, saying that she had indeed gone a bit too far this time. When Han Xiao said they should make up, Mu Yan also said that it really wasn't a big deal, considering that the two of them had been together for so many years.
However, He Fan and Yao Zhiyuan tried to persuade him many times, but the more they tried, the angrier he became. They were exhausted from trying to persuade him, and later they would get angry whenever they heard Han Xiao's girlfriend's name.
He Fan sat not far from him. After Lu Chong left, he hadn't said much, which made Mu Yan even more worried.
Mu Yan knew that He Fan was doing this for her own good and was worried that he would be unhappy, so she gritted her teeth and took the initiative to explain to him: "I... recently encountered some trouble, which Lu Chong helped me resolve. I haven't gotten back together with him; I'm just staying here temporarily. We are... just friends now."
He Fan did not respond immediately.
Mu Yan always seemed to have plenty to talk about with He Fan, and there were few times when they were silent. Mu Yan looked at him with concern. He Fan's fingers, which were holding the cup, tightened slightly, and his knuckles turned slightly white.
He didn't answer, nor did he look at Mu Yan. He just lowered his head and lowered his eyes, his gaze unfocused.
After a long while, he slowly raised his head, glanced in the direction of the kitchen, and spoke in a voice so low that it was almost inaudible.
"Is it true that as long as he's around... my brother will never even glance in my direction?"
He Fan spoke very softly, but Mu Yan still heard every word clearly.
Mu Yan was stunned.
He wasn't stupid. After hearing those words, he couldn't possibly fail to realize that He Fan's attitude towards his relationship with Lu Chong wasn't simply one of disappointment and frustration.
No matter how many times Han Xiao and his ex-girlfriend broke up and got back together, she would never say such a thing to Han Xiao.
The living room was quiet. Mu Yan could feel his heartbeat gradually quickening. He vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Just then, the kitchen door opened, and Lu Chong came out carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit.
"Mr. He, please have some fruit. The water has boiled; I'll go brew some tea first."
He Fan smiled and nodded, reverting to his usual gentle and smiling demeanor, which made Mu Yan feel a sense of relief.
Lu Chong returned after leaving, bringing back a water bottle and several airline cups.
With a polite smile and a gentle tone, he said, "This is a newly renovated house. It seems we haven't bought tea sets yet, so we'll have to use airline cups. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality. But the tea is excellent."
His words were pointed, and He Fan looked up and smiled as if nothing had happened, replying, "It's alright, we've already troubled you by coming to visit so late."
The tea had already been steeped. Lu Chong walked to the coffee table, put down the airline cup containing the tea leaves, picked up the kettle, and He Fan considerately reached out to hold the cup.
Boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius poured down the side of the aviation cup without leaving any extra splashes.
Steam rose instantly, and the temperature of the cup wall rose rapidly. Lu Chong continued to pour the kettle steadily, the water stream smooth and straight.
The water jet was too close to He Fan's knuckles—if it had been slightly off, the scalding hot water would have splashed onto his hand.
Mu Yan was too far away to see the details of the water column clearly. He only felt that the atmosphere was tense, as if there were undercurrents, but he didn't know what was going on.
He Fan remained motionless, not even trembling his fingers, as if he were completely unafraid that Lu Chong might "accidentally" pour boiling water onto his hand. The same smile remained on his lips, though it did not reach his eyes.
Lu Chong dared not.
If he dares to pour out even a single drop of hot water now, the good image he has painstakingly built up with Mu Yan over the past few days will vanish overnight.
After pouring the water, Lu Chong looked up and his eyes met He Fan's in mid-air.
Neither of them looked away first. He Fan looked at him with a smile and said, "Thank you for your trouble. The tea smells wonderful."
"These are Baihao Yinzhen tea cakes from the last century, bought at an auction." Lu Chong gave a brief introduction, then turned to pour Mu Yan a cup as well. "If Yan Yan doesn't like it, she can just have a few sips. It's getting late, she might not be able to sleep. If she likes it, I can make it for her tomorrow."
Even if a child is not recognized as an illegitimate child, he is still a member of the Xie family. No matter how rustic or uncouth He Fan may be, he could not possibly be unfamiliar with Baihao Yinzhen (a type of traditional Chinese medicine).
Lu Chong quietly sat back down next to Mu Yan, picked up a mangosteen that hadn't been peeled yet and a small plate, and skillfully used a knife to gently carve an arc on the mangosteen shell. With a flick of his fingertip, the thick, purplish-black outer shell cracked open, revealing the soft, white flesh inside.
“You’re Yan Yan’s college roommate. It’s so nice to meet an old friend in a foreign land. Why don’t you sit down, have some tea, and chat for a while?” He said to He Fan slowly while peeling a mangosteen. After peeling one, he pushed the small white porcelain plate in front of Mu Yan. “This mangosteen is very fresh. Didn’t you say you wanted something sweet and sour but not too sour? Try this. It should be alright.”
Lu Chong said that old friends should chat a little longer after reuniting, but he didn't considerately leave space for his guests and friends like a proper host. Instead, he continued to sit in the living room, accepting He Fan's gaze, which seemed to say, "If you know what's good for you, leave now. Nobody wants to see you." He didn't seem to realize it at all.
After peeling three mangosteens for Mu Yan, he noticed that Mu Yan was eating slowly and there were still many on the plate. So he picked up a fourth mangosteen and peeled it even more slowly this time. After peeling it, he didn't hand it to Mu Yan, but instead stood up and walked towards the glutinous rice balls.
Tangyuan was fascinated by the unfamiliar fruit. It had also grown familiar with Lu Chong over the past few days. For the time being, it forgot its grudge against Lu Chong and excitedly raised its head.
"You want some too?" Lu Chong smiled and carefully squeezed the fruit pulp into the small bowl of glutinous rice balls.
Tangyuan swallowed several pieces of fruit in one gulp, sticking out her tongue excitedly to indicate that she wanted more.
"Can puppies eat a lot of mangosteens?" Mu Yan asked with some concern. "Don't peel the glutinous rice ball for it. It's still small, and it's best not to feed it too much of anything."
Lu Chong was already peeling the fifth one when he heard this. He paused for a moment, recalling what the vet had said when he consulted him earlier. Actually, two shouldn't be a problem.
"Hmm, Yan Yan is right. Let's eat less then."
He Fan lowered his eyes, and the tea in his cup had already cooled down after only a few sips, missing its best flavor.
“Mr. He, would you like some?” Lu Chong smiled politely at He Fanwen. “However, the mangosteen flavor is strong and may affect the taste of the Baihao Yinzhen tea.”
He spoke so succinctly, as if he genuinely meant well and was afraid of disturbing He Fan's tea tasting.
However, in the brief moment when Mu Yan looked at Tangyuan, the contempt and hostility in his eyes were impossible to hide.
He Fan sneered inwardly. This was mocking him, implying he was worse than a dog. Lu Chong really knew how to nitpick over such trivial matters.
What's the point of using such underhanded tactics to insult him? Will it make Mu Yan even glance at him?
Young Master is indeed Young Master; even his cursing is so elegant. If this trick were used on Shang Qiyue, it might actually be quite effective. However, he was facing He Fan, and the casual curses from his brothers and sisters who looked down on him, as well as Xie Chengjun's concubines, were a hundred times more offensive than Lu Chong's carefully crafted remark.
The thought of Lu Chong eavesdropping in the kitchen while boiling water, trying to figure out what he and Mu Yan were saying, racking his brains for ways to retaliate and get revenge, and finally coming up with the idea of peeling mangosteens for him, made He Fan feel a little sorry for him.
"It's nothing. Seeing Brother Xiaoyan eating made me want to eat some too. Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Lu."
Lu Chong paused, probably a little surprised by his composure, but he probably still felt that he had won the round. He smiled politely and began to peel mangosteens for He Fan.
[Author's Note]
You and he are still entangled~[Angry] Ignoring the tears streaming down my face~[Crying] I don't want to be deceived by you again and again~[Heartbroken] This time I really have to say goodbye to you [Clown] (Actually, no, He Fan will wash my underwear with a cold face)
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