Chapter 426 (4262 combined)
426:
"Anything is fine," Ye Qingxi said. "A private museum is fine, going to the movies is fine, I'm fine with anything."
"Shall we go to the private museum first, and then see a movie?" Qin Cheng suggested. "Okay?"
Ye Qingxi nodded, "Okay."
Qin Cheng looked at him and couldn't help but laugh.
"Then I'll take you there after lunch tomorrow?"
"Okay," Ye Qingxi replied.
Qin Cheng stood in front of him, feeling as if he should say something, but what could he say?
At that moment, he suddenly realized that he wasn't so smart after all.
Otherwise, why would he want to continue talking to Ye Qingxi but not know what to say?
"Then... I'll be going now?" Qin Cheng said.
He said he was leaving first, but his eyes were still fixed on Ye Qingxi, as if to say that he didn't want to leave.
Feeling him staring at her like that, Ye Qingxi couldn't help but ask, "Would you... like to work here?"
"Is that okay?" Qin Cheng asked in surprise.
Ye Qingxi nodded, then remembered that he might not have some of the documents he needed, so she changed her mind and said, "Never mind, let's go to your study instead."
Qin Cheng's newly risen joy crashed down with a "thud".
Before he could ask Ye Qingxi why, he heard her say gently, "Perfect timing, I'll go see what new books you've bought recently, and see if there are any that interest me."
"Okay." Qin Cheng became happy again.
He looked at Ye Qingxi, and Ye Qingxi looked at him.
For a moment, they didn't say anything more, just gazed at each other tenderly.
Cotton Candy raised her head, looked left at Ye Qingxi and right at Qin Cheng, wondering why the two of them were not talking.
Does that mean it can play with them?
So it went to Ye Qingxi's leg and rubbed its head against his leg affectionately.
Ye Qingxi quickly averted her gaze, feeling rather shy and unwilling to look at Qin Cheng any longer.
He lowered his head, bent down and ruffled Cotton Candy's fluffy head, and said gently, "Cotton Candy, come along too."
"Okay," Qin Cheng said.
After he finished speaking, he added with some regret that Donut was too old, and cats of that age were no longer suitable for a change of environment.
So when he came to stay with his grandfather, he didn't bring it with him.
Otherwise, it could have seen its younger brother.
I wonder if it still remembers its little brother in its tiny brain, or if it misses its little brother.
Thinking of this, Qin Cheng bent down and patted Cotton Candy's head.
The marshmallow was very sweet, and she rubbed it against his palm.
Qin Cheng missed his kitten even more.
"We'll go back to your house in a few days." Ye Qingxi was clearly thinking of his kitten too. "I haven't seen Donuts in a while."
"Mm," Qin Cheng replied.
"Then you can go down first," Ye Qingxi said. "I'll be down in a bit."
"Okay," Qin Cheng replied.
He turned and went out the door.
I breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the house.
Qin Cheng stepped towards the stairs. As he went down, he felt as if he were floating. Although he was walking on stairs, it felt like he was climbing a ladder to heaven, like the clouds in the sky, like a fine wine.
It was like a grand, magnificent, and intoxicating dream.
But he seemed to have never dreamed of anything so wonderful.
He dreamed that he kissed Ye Qingxi.
I dreamt that I was embracing him.
He dreamt that Ye Qingxi was lying in his arms.
I dreamt of their childhood, their growth, and their future.
But he never dared to dream that he would confess his love to Ye Qingxi, nor did he dare to dream that Ye Qingxi would accept his confession.
He walked alone on the road of unrequited love, silent yet open.
He remained silent, saying nothing, yet openly and unreservedly loved Ye Qingxi.
He thought he would carry this love with him and live a lonely life.
He thought he would take this love to his coffin, to his grave, to the thick soil, to accompany him in death, to take root in his body, and to grow into a tree by his grave when the following spring arrives.
When the morning sun shines and the branches are lush and verdant, he will continue to love him and continue to bless his descendants with his shade.
However, no one, absolutely no one, knew of his affection for him.
Only a gentle breeze blows, scattering the green leaves from its branches.
And each fallen green leaf, bathed in the morning light, became a symbol of his unspoken affection.
It fell to the ground, turned into the soil, and returned to his love.
Qin Cheng walked to his bedroom door and pushed it open.
If this was a dream, he hoped he could wake up immediately, because outside the dream, his younger brother was still waiting for him.
If this wasn't a dream, he hoped he could be with Ye Qingxi forever, through sunrise and sunset, for eternity.
Qin Cheng walked in and began tidying up his study.
He put the books he had casually placed back on the bookshelf and rearranged the documents neatly.
He brought in some snacks, went downstairs to wash some fruit, and also took some desserts from the freezer, carefully preparing to welcome Ye Qingxi's arrival.
Ye Qingxi sat on the sofa, holding a cotton candy, and made a video call to Zhong Yan and the others.
Zhong Yan answered the phone and asked him, "You told him?!"
Ye Qingxi nodded somewhat shyly.
"So, what did he say?" Zhong Yan asked excitedly.
Kang Cong felt there was no need to ask this question. "What else could he do? He was probably shocked at first, then delighted, and then he took the opportunity to confess!"
“Really?” Zhong Yan asked.
"More or less," Ye Qingxi said.
"So, you two are now in the trial dating phase?"
Ye Qingxi nodded. "He invited me to a private museum tomorrow."
"A private museum?" Zhong Yan said "Oh~" "A date~"
Ye Qingxi smiled, her meaning clear without a word.
"Alright, go on your date then," Zhong Yan said. "It really feels like just yesterday you were dating, and now you're the only single one among us!"
After Zhong Yan finished speaking, she looked at Kang Cong with pity.
Kang Cong: ...
Kang Cong: !!!
Kang Cong angrily retorted, "You've all cheated!"
"Like me, dating someone I didn't know before, that's what dating is all about. But you guys, you all date people you already know, and you get two girlfriends at once. It's like taking shortcuts, cheating!"
Zhong Yan: ? ? ?
Zhong Yan felt he was just being angry out of embarrassment. "Then you should do it too! Why aren't you doing it? Is it because you don't want to?"
“Of course it’s because I’m straight!” Kang Cong said. “Unlike you guys, Schrödinger’s straight men!”
Ye Qingxi: ...
Zhong Yan: ...
The two Schrödinger-like straight men fell into a subtle silence.
The next second, Zhong Yan picked up a cushion from the sofa and hit him.
Kang Cong blocked their way while shouting, "What? You're getting angry because I hit the nail on the head? Looks like Schrödinger has more than just cats, he also has geese!"
Ye Qingxi: ...
Zhong Yan: !!!
Zhong Yan immediately hit even harder.
When Pei Liang came out after washing the fruit, she saw her boyfriend beating up her friend with a pillow.
Pei Liang walked over with great righteousness and picked up an even bigger and more bulging pillow.
"Here you go." He handed the cushion to Zhong Yan. "That one is too small, use this one to fight."
Kang Cong: ? ? ?
Enraged, Kang Cong grabbed a cushion and threw it at Pei Liang, yelling, "Are you crazy?!"
The next second, the two-person battle turned into a three-person battle.
Ye Qingxi: ...
Ye Qingxi looked at the kitten in her arms, "You're the best."
"Then you guys go first, I'm going to my brother's place," Ye Qingxi said.
Zhong Yan immediately stopped what she was doing. "You're going to his place? What are you going there for?"
Kang Cong immediately poked his head out from under the pillow and said, "You don't even understand? Of course it's because you're lovey-dovey~ That's how it is when you're in a relationship, all lovey-dovey~ What, you're not lovey-dovey? Then your relationship with Pei Liang isn't working out!"
The next second, Kang Cong began to scream in agony.
Pei Liang pinched his arm and smiled, "What did you just say? Say it again~"
Ye Qingxi: ...
If you don't court death, you won't die. Sometimes, Kang Cong, you really deserve a beating!
"It's nothing," Ye Qingxi said. "I'm just going to find a book."
Zhong Yan smiled and asked, "What book?"
Pei Liang also laughed: "What book?"
Kang Cong yelled, "Book~"
Ye Qingxi: !!!
Ye Qingxi felt embarrassed by their tone.
He was enraged, shouting, "A General History of Ancient and Modern Literature!"
After saying that, he quickly hung up the video call.
Zhong Yan clicked her tongue, "Someone's shy~"
Pei Liang nodded, "That's right~"
Kang Cong: "Qin Cheng really got off easy!"
Pei Liang and Zhong Yan looked at him instantly, their eyes full of affirmation.
Ye Qingxi carried the cotton candy downstairs and entered Qin Cheng's study, only to find that Qin Cheng had already filled another small round table in the study with food.
"Look," Qin Cheng turned to look at the bookshelf behind him, "these are all recently purchased."
Ye Qingxi nodded and began selecting books.
Marshmallow chose a sunny spot, lay down, and started licking her fur.
In the end, Ye Qingxi chose a Russian literary classic that he had never read before.
He took the book and walked to the small round table.
"Then I'll watch it from here."
Qin Cheng nodded. "Mm."
Ye Qingxi opened the book and began to read.
Qin Cheng then got busy with his own work.
Ye Qingxi listened to the sound of him typing, then quietly raised her eyes and glanced at him. She saw that his eyes were fixed on the computer, looking very serious.
He gently looked away and continued reading.
Qin Cheng, however, unconsciously looked over.
Looking at Ye Qingxi's beautiful profile, he still felt that everything that had happened today was like a bubble in the sunlight.
It was so beautiful that it felt like it would vanish in the next second.
Qin Cheng didn't dare to look for too long and forced himself to shift his gaze to the computer screen.
But not long after, he couldn't help but look at Ye Qingxi again.
Just then, Ye Qingxi was also about to peek at him.
Their eyes met, and both felt a little embarrassed. They subconsciously looked away, but then couldn't help looking at each other again.
Ye Qingxi saw Qin Cheng looking at her again.
He couldn't help but laugh.
Qin Cheng then smiled.
"Why aren't you eating?" Qin Cheng asked. "Don't you like it?"
Ye Qingxi shook her head.
To prove he didn't dislike it, he picked up an egg tart and started eating it.
"Do you want some?" Ye Qingxi asked him.
Qin Cheng didn't actually really want to eat it, but he nodded when Ye Qingxi asked.
Ye Qingxi took another egg tart, walked over, and handed it to him.
Qin Cheng took it and took a bite.
It's very sweet.
“It’s delicious,” he said.
Ye Qingxi thought it tasted pretty good too.
He went back to his seat and continued eating the half-eaten egg tart.
The two of them spent their first day together quietly, one working and the other reading.
That evening, before Ye Qingxi went to sleep, Qin Cheng confirmed the itinerary with him again.
After confirming with him, Ye Qingxi said, "Then I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."
"good evening."
As Ye Qingxi watched his retreating figure, she suddenly remembered what Qin Cheng had said that night: he wanted to sleep with her.
Ye Qingxi opened her mouth, but then closed it without saying anything.
"It's a bit too fast," Ye Qingxi thought. They had just agreed to start dating at noon, and now they were sleeping together that night. It all seemed too fast.
Although they used to sleep in the same bed, back then he only regarded Qin Cheng as his older brother, and their relationship was completely innocent.
But now...
Now, they've all started dating, and when they sleep together again, although it's the same as before—just covering each other with a blanket and embracing—but…
But Ye Qingxi always felt that something had changed.
So let's wait and see.
Ye Qingxi thought it wasn't that he was unwilling, but things always have to go through a gradual process. You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to do things one step at a time.
It would be more reasonable for them to sleep together again in a few days or after some time.
Ye Qingxi made up her mind, closed the door, went into the bathroom, and prepared to take a shower and go to bed.
To ensure the success of their first date tomorrow, Qin Cheng specifically contacted Li Wen to learn more about this private museum.
Li Wen sighed, "If you had put even half the effort, no, even a quarter, into me as you do into your brother, I can't imagine how gratified I would be."
Qin Cheng: ? ? ?
Qin Cheng: ...
Let alone that he wouldn't dare to even think about it.
He couldn't even imagine a quarter of it!
Qin Cheng: "Anything can happen in a dream."
Li Wen: ...
Goodbye! I'm going to dream now!
After Li Wen finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
Qin Cheng then searched for restaurants near the private museum, wondering what he could take Ye Qingxi to eat after visiting the museum.
The next day, Ye Qingxi woke up, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and went downstairs to eat.
As he passed by Qin Cheng's floor, he curiously walked up to his bedroom, knocked on the door, and wanted to see if he was there.
I didn't expect it to actually be there.
Ye Qingxi was surprised, "I thought you had already gone downstairs."
Qin Cheng: ...
Qin Cheng spent the entire last night searching for restaurant reviews near the museum.
I finally fell asleep at four in the morning.
But before eight o'clock, he woke up again and started searching for reviews of movies released in the past few days.
After searching, she then searched for restaurants near the cinema, noting which ones were good and which ones Ye Qingxi would like.
Just now, Qin Cheng was comparing prices at three different restaurants, trying to figure out which grilled fish was the best.
"I was just getting ready when I heard your knock," Qin Cheng said gently.
Ye Qingxi didn't suspect anything. "Let's go."
Qin Cheng nodded, closed the door, and went downstairs with him.
The two encountered Mu Feng, who was on his way to the dining room, in the downstairs living room.
Mu Feng glanced at the two of them.
Qin Cheng: !!!
Ye Qingxi: !!!
The two of them instantly became extremely tense, as if something was amiss.
"I'm going to your aunt's place in a bit, are you coming?" Mu Feng asked.
Qin Cheng: ...
Ye Qingxi: ...Oh...this is so awkward?
Ye Qingxi glanced at Qin Cheng without making it obvious.
Qin Cheng: ...
“Go,” Qin Cheng said.
Ye Qingxi nodded, "Okay, I'll go."
Mu Feng: "Okay, let's go over after we finish eating."
Ye Qingxi: "...Okay."
Qin Cheng: "...Hmm."
The three of them, each with their own feelings, entered the restaurant and began to eat lunch.
As Ye Qingxi ate, she thought to herself, "Sure enough, dating under my grandfather's nose is a real test of my physical and mental strength."
Look, even a casual glance from his grandfather can terrify him.
Ye Qingxi sighed silently in her heart, lamenting that their first date, which hadn't even begun, was already going to end.
Qin Cheng also joined him in observing a moment of silence.
There was no other way; Ye Qingxi clearly didn't want her grandfather to know yet.
Qin Cheng had no choice but to keep it from him.
Of course, in a sense, he also felt it was better not to tell his grandfather now.
His relationship with Ye Qingxi has only just begun and is not yet stable.
Although he was certain he wouldn't do anything to betray Ye Qingxi, she had never been in a relationship before. Qin Cheng was afraid that after dating him for a few days or months, she would feel that this wasn't the kind of relationship he wanted, and that she would still prefer to see him as a brother rather than a lover.
He wanted to wait until their relationship was more stable before making any decisions.
He also wanted to give Ye Qingxi a way out, a way out that he could leave at any time.
After finishing their meal, the three of them walked together toward Mu Shaoting's house.
Mu Ge had just finished eating and was playing when he saw Ye Qingxi coming over. He happily ran towards her.
Ye Qingxi picked him up, spun him around, and then pulled him into her arms.
"Does Coco miss her brother?" he asked.
Mu Ge nodded quickly, put her arms around his neck, and said sweetly, "Yes~"
"Really?" Ye Qingxi teased him.
Mu Ge nodded again and generously kissed him on the cheek, making a loud "mua" sound.
Ye Qingxi smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Mu Ge kissed his face again, and after the kiss, his eyes sparkled as he waited for Mu Ge to kiss him again.
Mu Feng looked at it and couldn't help but laugh.
Qin Cheng then smiled.
Li Jing joked, "I think Xiao Xi should live with us from now on. That way, when you're not around, he won't ask me every day, 'Where's my brother? Why didn't he come to see me today?' I doubt he'll even ask if I'm not home."
"I did ask," Mu Ge retorted, "I asked the day before yesterday!"
Mu Shaoting translated for him, "You came back late the day before yesterday, so he asked me why you hadn't come back yet."
Upon hearing this, Li Jing smiled with fatherly relief, "She truly is our little Coco, so well-behaved."
Mu Ge nodded, a proud look on his face. He was indeed very well-behaved!
Looking at his proud little face, Ye Qingxi found him adorable.
He patiently played with Mu Ge for a while, but his mind was still preoccupied with his date with Qin Cheng.
We can't just abandon the project right after it's been finalized, can we?
Although he didn't say it, he was actually quite looking forward to it.
He glanced at Mu Feng and saw that Mu Feng was talking to Mu Shaoting.
Seeing him look at Mu Feng, Mu Ge asked in confusion, "Brother?"
Ye Qingxi pinched his cheek and said to him, "Go give Grandpa a kiss~"
Mu Ge nodded obediently, then walked up to Mu Feng and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.
Mu Feng unconsciously revealed a hint of tenderness.
He obediently lowered his head, allowing Mu Ge to kiss him, and then pulled him onto his lap.
Ye Qingxi walked over to Qin Cheng, who had just finished talking with Li Jing.
He suggested, "Let's slip away for a bit."
Qin Cheng: ? ? ?
Qin Cheng: !!!
Qin Cheng felt like he was hallucinating.
"slip?"
"How about we don't go to the museum today?" Ye Qingxi said.
Qin Cheng: ...
He thought Ye Qingxi must really want to spend more time with his aunt and Mu Ge.
"What about my aunt and the others?"
"You'll go to work tomorrow, and I'll come back to keep my aunt and Coco company," Ye Qingxi said, clearly having planned ahead.
Although Mu Ge has a team of postpartum caregivers to help take care of the baby, Mu Shaoting still works from home when she is not busy and spends time with her child.
Ye Qingxi had just found out from Mu Ge that Mu Shaoting was planning to work from home tomorrow.
Qin Cheng readily agreed to his suggestion.
"When are we leaving?" Qin Cheng asked.
"In half an hour," Ye Qingxi said.
"Okay," Qin Cheng replied.
The two looked at each other, and for some reason, they felt a strange excitement.
Ye Qingxi glanced at her watch and silently calculated the time.
Seeing him check his watch, Mu Shaoting asked, "Xiao Xi, is something the matter?"
Ye Qingxi: !!
Ye Qingxi: ...
Ye Qingxi looked at her aunt and said, "How can I tell you, my dear aunt, that I'm planning to sneak away and go on a date with your nephew?"
"Yes, there's something I need to do," Ye Qingxi replied. "My brother and I made an appointment at a private museum today."
"Then what are you still doing here? Hurry up and go!" Mu Shaoting said.
Ye Qingxi smiled and said, "No rush."
"No rush, why aren't you looking at your watch?" Mu Shaoting laughed. "Alright, go on, your grandpa and I are right here, we can't possibly run away, can we? Come back after you've checked your watch, and we'll have dinner together~"
Ye Qingxi: But I plan to eat alone with my brother, Auntie!
I wasn't planning on eating with you guys!
Ye Qingxi: ...
"We don't know when we'll finish watching this, Auntie, you and Grandpa should eat first, don't wait for us," Qin Cheng said.
Upon hearing this, Mu Shaoting nodded and said, "That's true."
"Then we won't wait for you."
Ye Qingxi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Mu Feng looking at him.
Ye Qingxi: !!
Ye Qingxi immediately became anxious again.
Why...why are you looking at him?
It's perfectly normal to go to a museum together or have a meal out together, right?
They seem like just ordinary brothers... right?
"What are you still standing there for? Aren't we going to some museum? Aren't we going?" Mu Feng said.
Ye Qingxi nodded quickly, "Then we'll be going now, goodbye Coco~"
"Huh?" Why are they leaving already?
Mu Ge was a little reluctant to part with him, but she still obediently said, "Goodbye."
"I'll come see you again tomorrow," Ye Qingxi said. "And my aunt, I'll bring you a small cake tomorrow too."
"Okay," Mu Shaoting replied.
Mu Ge nodded happily.
Seeing this, Qin Cheng also said goodbye to Mu Feng and Mu Shaoting, and followed Ye Qingxi out.
Mu Feng watched their departing figures and shook his head.
These two kids probably made plans in advance. He just casually asked before dinner, and Qin Cheng probably figured Ye Qingxi might want to come, so he agreed.
"The two of them have a good relationship," Mu Shaoting remarked. "I think they're even closer than my eldest and second brothers."
“Your eldest brother, second brother, and you and Shao Yan grew up together. They only have each other, so naturally their relationship is even better.”
"I wonder if their relationship will remain this good after they get married?"
"Why not?" Mu Feng said, "Their judgment wouldn't be that bad."
"That would be the best, of course." Mu Shaoting smiled and rested his chin on his hand. "To be honest, I'm actually quite curious about Xiaoxi's future partner."
"I don't even know what kind of girl Xiaoxi likes. You have no idea. Many people around me have asked me to ask their nieces, nephews, and sisters if they want to go on blind dates with Xiaoxi, but I'm afraid Xiaoxi won't like them, so I haven't agreed to any of them."
Mu Feng frowned, "Xiao Xi is only twenty-two years old, there's no rush, why go on blind dates?!"
Mu Shaoting thought so too.
"Besides, our Xiaoxi is good-looking, has a good personality, and is outstanding in his career. Why would he have trouble finding a partner? If you ask me, he could stay single for the rest of his life without any problems."
“That still has problems,” Mu Feng said. “He definitely wants to get married and have a lover and children.”
"What if Xiaoxi likes boys?"
Mu Feng: !!!
Mu Feng looked at his daughter and said without hesitation, "That's impossible!"
Mu Shaoting: ...
Mu Shaoting thought it might not be so simple. Of the four children in his generation, two were heterosexual and two were homosexual, a 50/50 split.
Who knows what percentage of their next generation will be?
However, for the sake of her father's heart, it would be best if her little nephew liked someone of the opposite sex.
Of course, if her little nephew insists on liking someone of the same sex, that's fine too. After all, her little nephew is so well-behaved and adorable, he can like whoever he wants.
As elders, what we want most is for the younger generation to be happy.
That's her second brother...
Mu Shaoting shook her head and wished her second brother good luck.
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