HRCMF Chapter 28

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🍋‍🟩 Completed Chapter

Shen Yan thought his brother was probably the most laid-back groom in the world.

He still worked overtime, cooked at home, and happily watched anime.

There was a Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in between, and Shen Yan thought his brother would finally get busy with wedding stuff, but instead, his brother beautifully lazed around at home, not leaving the house for three days, only making a few phone calls to Fang Fei.

Every time his brother answered Fang Fei's calls, he went to the balcony, and Shen Yan noticed his expression was quite serious, not particularly sweet, more like he was discussing business.

But getting married was indeed a serious matter.

"Getting married is troublesome," Shen Shen said, flopping onto the sofa, peeling an orange while watching a variety show. "You kids don't understand the suffering of adults."

Shen Yan was speechless for a long while, then went over and "smacked" the sole of his brother's foot.

His brother let out an "owoo" sound. "Don't forget to remind Linsu to pack his luggage, he needs to go over early on the 8th."

"Got it."

Shen Yan looked at his paralyzed-looking older brother with disappointment. How was he going to get married and start a family like this?

Shen Yan was full of worries, so much so that he lost his appetite throughout the Mid-Autumn Festival. In contrast, his brother ate with gusto and didn't neglect his frequent changes of "wives" in his anime. Shen Yan worried and worried, suddenly realizing that he was the legendary "the eunuch is more anxious than the emperor." So, he decisively let it go and stopped worrying.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shen Yan, as usual, rode to school in Zhao Linsu's car. He no longer used silly polite phrases like "Is it okay?" Just a direct 9 o'clock meeting was enough.

As soon as he got in the car, Zhao Linsu leaned over from the back seat and handed him a paper bag.

"What's this?"

The paper bag contained a box of red paper-wrapped pastries that smelled strangely fragrant.

"Mooncakes."

"Why did you think of bringing me mooncakes?" Shen Yan said. "I'm about to throw up from eating mooncakes these past two days."

His brother's company had given out a huge box of mooncakes, with eighteen small ones surrounding a large one the size of a head. When Shen Yan saw that large mooncake, he immediately thought of the fable about the silly person who put the cake around his neck and ate it for several days. He was racking his brains about what to do with this box of mooncakes when his brother participated in the company's Mid-Autumn Festival lottery and won another identical box!

After some enthusiastic socializing, Shen Yan gave most of the two boxes of mooncakes to the neighbors, leaving two "silly big mooncakes" for the brothers to each take care of.

It wasn't that Shen Yan hadn't thought of Zhao Linsu, but people of their generation weren't very interested in traditional food during traditional festivals, especially Zhao Linsu, who wasn't very interested in eating in the first place.

He never expected that Zhao Linsu would bring him a box of mooncakes after going home.

Shen Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Looks like the two professors received a lot of mooncakes, can't finish them all?"

"Don't eat them if you don't want to," Zhao Linsu said lazily.

"Eat them, don't waste them," Shen Yan said. "Thanks, and thank the two professors for me too."

"No need, they're just too many to finish anyway."

"Even if you can't finish them, you were thinking of me."

Shen Yan wandered around carrying the oiled paper bag, which emitted a fragrance of butter. He sniffed it. "What kind of mooncakes are these? They smell quite good."

Glancing at someone who had clearly lost their memory, Zhao Linsu shook his head slightly in his heart.

"Wow, I remember!"

"These are Suzhou-style mooncakes from your hometown, right?"

"I even mentioned them to my brother the day before yesterday during the festival. You know what, I really wanted to eat them."

Shen Yan was happy. "Still that old brand?"

"Don't know."

Shen Yan flipped it over to look at the bottom. "It's that one! You brought it for me once when I was in eighth grade, and I've always wanted to eat it again, but I was too embarrassed to say."

Zhao Linsu chuckled softly. "Is there anything you're embarrassed about?"

"I'm very thin-skinned."

Shen Yan sniffed the fragrance from outside the paper bag again, beaming. "This is the taste."

In Shen Yan's memory, the best part of these mooncakes was the flaky crust, layer upon layer, crumbling at the slightest touch. He carefully put the mooncakes away and offered his breakfast in return. "Grilled toast, please."

Having completed the food exchange, Shen Yan reminded him as his brother had instructed, "The flight is early on the 8th, pack your luggage in advance. You'll be gone for two days, back on Sunday night."

"Mm-hmm."

Shen Yan sighed.

"What are you sighing about?"

"Nothing."

"Reluctant to part with your brother?"

Shen Yan laughed. "Do you really think I'm that kind of vicious younger brother from a TV drama? Of course I'm happy for my brother getting married, what's there to be reluctant about? Even if he gets married, he'll still be my brother." Shen Yan crossed his arms. "I'm sighing because I feel like my brother doesn't seem ready for marriage."

Zhao Linsu glanced at him, a half-smile on his face. "How so?"

"My brother isn't nervous at all, really. Fei-jie is taking care of everything. You saw my brother's attitude when we went to try on clothes the other day. He doesn't look like he's getting married at all."

"You think he doesn't value this marriage enough."

"Exactly!"

Shen Yan clapped his hands. "That's exactly what I mean!"

Zhao Linsu nodded. "It is a bit."

Finally finding a kindred spirit, Shen Yan poured out all the things he found strange. Zhao Linsu listened thoughtfully and asked, "What's your sister-in-law's attitude?"

"My sister-in-law..." Shen Yan was a bit unaccustomed to calling Fang Fei that. "She seems... okay."

"Then that settles it. One is willing to hit, the other is willing to be hit."

Shen Yan was immediately speechless.

His brother's upbringing had made him unable to understand his brother's frivolous attitude towards marriage, which was completely contrary to what he had imagined marriage to be.

But even if it was his own brother, he couldn't interfere too much in such a major life event as marriage.

In the end, Shen Yan made a good man declaration, "If I ever get married, I will definitely not be like my brother, too irresponsible."

Zhao Linsu didn't say anything.

Upon hearing that Shen Yan's brother was getting married, Zhu Ningbo specially sent a wedding gift, a pair of wine glasses. Shen Yan accepted them and casually said, "Bo'er, you seem to be in a pretty good mood lately."

Zhu Ningbo smiled shyly. "Not bad."

Shen Yan thought this person had probably finally moved on.

That was good. One had to give up some unsuitable people to find the right one.

"Do you want to come to Bali with us for a couple of days?"

"No, I... I have other things to do."

"Oh, then you go ahead and get busy."

Zhu Ningbo left. Shen Yan said to Zhao Linsu, "Bo'er seems quite busy lately. He disappears right after class and we haven't eaten together for a long time."

"He has his own things to take care of."

"That's true," Shen Yan pulled on his backpack strap. "Is he really going to pursue postgraduate studies?"

Zhao Linsu's gaze drifted into the distance. "Maybe."

Busy looking for a "supervisor" every day, he probably really wanted to "pursue postgraduate studies."

"That's good too. I think Bo'er is fine. He's actually quite capable, just sometimes a bit lacking in confidence."

"Mm-hmm."

Shen Yan said, "What about you? Are you also planning to pursue postgraduate studies?"

Zhao Linsu looked at him. "What do you think?"

Feigning coolness about such an obvious question, Shen Yan scoffed. "Whether you do or not, it's your business."

On the morning of the 8th, Shen Yan and his brother left home. He was quite nervous, it was his first time going abroad.

Actually, their family's financial situation was okay. Although their parents had passed away early, they had left a large sum of insurance money. They already owned a house, and the two brothers didn't have any major financial burdens. It was just that Shen Shen was usually too busy, and Shen Yan couldn't bear to drag his brother out for a vacation during his rare days off. Several times Shen Shen had offered to take him abroad, but he had politely declined.

"Didn't sleep well last night?" Shen Shen teased.

Shen Yan took his suitcase out of the taxi trunk. "Woke up a bit early this morning."

"Haha, just right for a two-day trip abroad."

Shen Yan couldn't help but say, "Brother, are we going out to play?"

Shen Shen seemed to particularly enjoy Shen Yan's serious and worried look, and kept smiling at him. As he smiled, he waved his hand. "Linsu is here."

Zhao Linsu and Fang Fei arrived almost at the same time.

Fang Fei collected everyone's passports and ID cards to get the plane tickets.

Shen Yan couldn't help but blush when he handed over his documents.

He really couldn't stand his brother, even the plane tickets were bought by Fang Fei.

And his brother still acted as if it was perfectly natural.

Shen Yan couldn't take it anymore and lightly nudged Zhao Linsu's arm, giving him a helpless look.

Zhao Linsu, however, was very calm. "Brother Shen, sorry I didn't prepare any gifts."

"What are you talking about? Your presence is enough. Is this your first time being a best man?"

"Yes."

"Haha, then I'm very honored."

Fang Fei had bought first-class tickets. Shen Yan almost bowed ninety degrees when he received his ticket, his face red to the roots of his ears.

Upon landing in Bali, a hotel car came to pick them up. Fang Fei handled all the arrangements, while Shen Shen yawned beside her. Shen Yan crossed his arms and stood two meters away from his brother, pretending not to know him.

"Let's go," Fang Fei said to the group. "Everything is prepared at the hotel, let's go rest first."

The hotel was very close to the sea and had a large private beach. Shen Yan only realized after arriving that Fang Fei had booked the entire hotel.

"Room keys."

Fang Fei handed three room keys to the three of them, keeping one for herself.

Shen Yan wondered if Fang Fei wasn't going to share a room with his brother.

"We don't need that many rooms."

His brother spoke, and Shen Yan felt slightly relieved.

"I can just share a room with my brother."

Shen Yan: "..."

"Anyway, it's not fully booked, it's more comfortable for everyone to have their own room," Fang Fei said generously.

"Okay then."

Shen Yan understood even less. When his brother pulled him upstairs, he said, "Aren't there many people at the wedding?"

"Probably," Shen Shen said, acting like a hands-off boss. "Your Fei-jie is in charge of the guest list."

Shen Yan was speechless. "Then if it's not fully booked, why book the entire hotel?"

Shen Shen looked at Shen Yan meaningfully. "Guess?"

Shen Yan guessed his brother was a gold digger living off a rich woman.

Shen Yan's room was next to his brother's, and across the hall from Zhao Linsu's.

Getting married was originally a sacred and solemn affair, but his brother had made it seem so strange and out of place. Shen Yan felt a bit sorry for Zhao Linsu.

A perfectly good weekend, making someone take an eight-hour flight from afar to be the best man for his unreliable groom of a brother, especially on such a special day as today.

Shen Yan took a shower in his room, freshened up, and then knocked on Zhao Linsu's door.

The door opened, and Zhao Linsu, like him, had changed clothes and had a faint scent of soap after showering.

Guessing they wanted to go out together, Shen Yan smiled. "Go for a walk?"

"Let's go."

Bali in November was still quite hot. Shen Yan glanced at Zhao Linsu. "Do you not have any other clothes in your closet besides shirts?"

Zhao Linsu was wearing a light beige short-sleeved shirt, which looked quite good and made his figure appear very neat.

Zhao Linsu also looked at Shen Yan. "Since when did you start caring about what I wear?"

Shen Yan: "..."

That's right, why did he care what Zhao Linsu wore?

Shen Yan cleared his throat lightly. "Just asking."

Feeling Zhao Linsu's gaze lingering around him subtly, Shen Yan pointed forward, changing the subject. "Let's go take a look at the beach."

This private beach area of the hotel was surrounded by tall, dense tropical trees. Since Fang Fei had booked the entire hotel, she had also effectively booked this stretch of beach. The four of them were the first to arrive, and the beach was completely deserted, eerily quiet, with only the sound of waves and wind.

Shen Yan had been worrying about his brother for this whole time. Under the sea breeze, his mood finally relaxed involuntarily. Having stayed in the city for too long, all he saw were tall buildings, and the world seemed naturally organized into orderly blocks, which was a bit oppressive. Suddenly arriving on this island in the sea, his vision broadened, the sky was high and the sea was deep, and humans seemed so small.

Shen Yan sat down on the beach, facing the setting sun, quietly watching the sun sink. The vast expanse of purplish-red and rosy sunset clouds was so beautiful it left him speechless.

The waves gently rolled, the seawater licked the sand, a soft rustling sound, as peaceful and comfortable as being in the womb.

Shen Yan watched the entire sunset, only coming back to his senses after the sun had plunged into the sea. As if he had undergone a sudden spiritual baptism, Shen Yan turned his face, a smile on his lips, wanting to say how beautiful the sunset was. Unexpectedly, he met Zhao Linsu's gaze. Those clear phoenix eyes still held the afterglow of the sunset. Shen Yan paused slightly, then lowered his head to avoid his gaze, grabbing a handful of sand and tossing it in his palm. "Are you hungry?"

Zhao Linsu quietly looked at his profile, then looked at the sunset he hadn't had time to appreciate, and said calmly,

"Are you a rice bucket?"

"..."

"Didn't you have a meal before getting off the plane?"

"...I fell asleep and didn't eat!"

"Then you're a pig."

Shen Yan directly threw the sand in his hand at Zhao Linsu. Zhao Linsu tilted his head back to dodge. "Rebellion?"

"I'm rebelling against you!"

The two chased and played on the beach. Shen Yan threw sand at him, and Zhao Linsu dodged and ran, still provoking him.

"Did you get any after-effects from being a flying man? Why are you running so slowly?"

"Go to hell—"

Shen Yan felt like he had returned to his childhood, to the time when he first met Zhao Linsu and they would have chaotic fights in the park sandbox with "Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms" and "Pegasus Meteor Fist."

That kind of simple and pure happiness that came from doing anything idiotic with a good friend.

Tired from running, the two leaned against a rock by the sea. The sky had turned a deep blue-purple, not yet completely dark, and the wind had picked up. Shen Yan suddenly had an impulse. Facing the sea breeze, he shouted loudly, "Zhao Linsu—idiot—"

A soft chuckle came from beside him.

Shen Yan ignored it and continued, "Idiot—happy birthday—"

The sea breeze scattered his voice. Shen Yan felt a sense of relief and smiled into the wind for a while before turning his head to look at Zhao Linsu. "Did you think I forgot?"

It was getting dark, and Zhao Linsu's face was also tinged with a faint, ambiguous night color. He quietly looked at this face he had seen for more than a decade.

The waves rustled, the wind slightly ruffled Shen Yan's hair, and the smile on his face was wide and carefree, his eyes seemed to be glowing.

He wanted to kiss him.

Zhao Linsu thought in his heart.

Kiss him like in every dream.

The palm hanging by his side trembled slightly. Using all his strength to suppress the emotions that were about to surge, Zhao Linsu turned his face, looked at the distant, blurry horizon, and smiled. "Yeah, I thought you forgot."

"How could I?" Shen Yan thought, finally getting to tease this person once, smiling especially happily. "Son's birthday, Dad won't forget. I ordered a cake for you. Let's go back and eat cake."

Lightly nudging Zhao Linsu's shoulder, Shen Yan had already turned around, not giving Zhao Linsu a chance to retort.

The shadows that were originally intertwined and overlapping on the beach flowed, one leaving the other, and then quickly, one followed the other, the distance neither too close nor too far, vaguely touching.