Zheng Yang lay on the sofa with one hand over his face, refusing to face reality.
He had actually only fainted for half a minute, his head buzzing with rage.
But Bai Yue shoved a candy into his mouth on the spot, reviving him before he fully passed out. Barely holding it together, he prevented himself from fainting outright—otherwise Bai Yue would tease him about it for at least three years.
Still, when he came to, his face was pale, lying there like a soul-less Lin Daiyu.
Ye Xi sat nearby, looking awkward, while Bai Yue clattered in the kitchen.
Since Zheng Yang, playing the invalid, turned his nose up at the European bread Bai Yue offered, he demanded a pan-fried beef burger instead.
As if saying: “My soul is traumatized—if you don’t feed me, I’ll starve myself to death.”
Bai Yue thought: You look more like the burger.
But seeing Zheng Yang had already fainted half from rage earlier, he pinched his nose bridge and told himself: Forget it. We’ve known each other eighteen years. Just think of him as a noisy beagle. A little tolerance, and it’ll pass.
He let out a deep breath, rubbed Ye Xi’s hair, and said softly, “Stay with him for a while. If he gets too annoying, it’s fine to hit him a couple of times. I’ll be back soon.”
Ye Xi nodded obediently and sat properly on the small round stool nearby, staring at Zheng Yang in silence.
Zheng Yang still hadn’t recovered from the shock. The reason he insisted on eating a beef burger was just to send Bai Yue away.
But when Bai Yue actually left, and he peeked at Ye Xi’s serious little face through his fingers, he suddenly felt a stomachache…
He really didn’t know what to say.
Though his relationship with Ye Xi wasn’t as stiff as before, it certainly wasn’t brotherly harmony and affection either.
With just the two of them left in the living room, only awkward silence remained.
Zheng Yang covered his face again, sulking.
Watching Zheng Yang’s expression change endlessly, Ye Xi actually wanted to laugh.
He hadn’t expected that his being with Bai Yue would make Zheng Yang faint from anger.
It wasn’t very kind, but it was really funny—so funny he almost wanted to secretly record it and send it to Li Rui.
Now, he didn’t really feel much resistance toward Zheng Yang anymore. Seeing Zheng Yang looking so frustrated, he thought for a moment and then softly asked, “Are you really that angry because I’m with Bai Yue?”
“Of course!”
Zheng Yang, finally finding a chance to speak, jumped up from the sofa immediately.
He sat cross-legged on the sofa, staring into Ye Xi’s eyes, practically burning with disappointment.
“Are you blind? You like Bai Yue, and you even said you were the one who liked him first, that you secretly loved him for three years…” Zheng Yang grew angrier as he spoke. “Do you have no self-respect? What’s so great about him that you were so easily fooled?”
Ye Xi pouted unhappily.
He thought to himself, Compared to you, he’s much better. My boyfriend is tall, handsome, treats me well, excels in his studies, is capable, and can even cook.
Next to him, you’re the trashy one.
But he swallowed it back, choosing not to say it.
After all, Bai Yue and Zheng Yang had been close friends for many years, just like his relationship with Li Rui.
He didn’t want to be the cause of any lasting rift between them.
Zheng Yang had always spoken highly of Bai Yue. Now, for his opinion to flip 180 degrees, it could only be because Bai Yue was with him.
“I think Bai Yue is great,” Ye Xi said slowly. “He’s always been kind to me. He remembers my birthday, tutors me, watches boring movies with me, and even takes care of me when I’m drunk. I’ve liked him for so long—being with him now makes me very happy.”
He paused, then looked at Zheng Yang’s stiff expression with confusion.
He was genuinely puzzled, tilting his head slightly. “I don’t really understand. You and Bai Yue are such good friends. I get that you’re mad I’m with him, but why are you only taking it out on Bai Yue? If you really want to be angry, shouldn’t it be at me, not dragging him into it?”
His last words were quiet, but he was looking at Zheng Yang seriously, without a trace of joking.
In fact, he was already prepared for Zheng Yang’s fury.
Though he regretted that, after their relationship had finally eased a bit since the snow mountain town, it might become strained again—he still wouldn’t give up Bai Yue because of that.
He added softly, “I know you probably disapprove, that you think I’m not suited for him. But I really did like him for a long time, and I was the one who went after him first. Even when he tutored me, I was the one with ulterior motives who asked him. So no matter what, I won’t give him up. I won’t force you to accept it, but I hope you won’t target him. If you’re angry, take it out on me. Even if you want to hit me, I won’t fight back.”
Then he whispered, almost as an afterthought, “Just… don’t let Bai Yue see it.”
He said it calmly, with no ripples inside. He wasn’t that kid anymore who, when bullied, would grit his teeth and plot revenge.
He could accept all of Zheng Yang’s anger.
He’d just count it as owing him.
But Zheng Yang was about to explode, his head buzzing.
Just from Ye Xi’s words.
For a moment, he really wanted to scold him—not only that, he wanted to crack Ye Xi’s head open and see what was inside.
Did he hand back all his IQ after the college entrance exam?
Had he ever actually scolded Ye Xi? The one he was furious at all along was Bai Yue!
“You…” Zheng Yang’s chest heaved, “How do I even have a brother like you?”
This time he couldn’t hold it in. He glared at Ye Xi, tried to endure, but failed.
“Why would I be mad at you? You’re my brother, don’t I know you? You’re just a silly, naïve kid—say a few sweet words and you’re dizzy. What bad intentions could you possibly have? Bai Yue is two years older, sly and cunning by nature. If anyone should take responsibility, it’s him.”
“And you, you just push everything onto yourself. Ulterior motives, bad intentions… Do you even know how long Bai Yue has been eyeing you?” Zheng Yang sneered. “And hit you? Fine, let’s say I am angry, say I feel excluded because my brother and my buddy are together. But who am I to hit you just because you’re in a relationship? And why the hell would you think it’s fine to say I can hit you just to vent?”
By the time he said the last part, his voice cracked, and he turned his face away.
The truth was, after the initial shock had passed, once he heard that Ye Xi and Bai Yue were in love mutually, his fury wasn’t so overwhelming anymore.
At most, he just felt annoyed—that Bai Yue, that pig, had snatched his family’s cabbage.
But Ye Xi’s words had stirred up all the emotions he’d been trying to calm down.
Zheng Yang clenched his teeth, trying to keep his composure, but the heaviness in his chest wouldn’t go away.
He knew exactly why Ye Xi would say something like that.
When they were kids, he always bullied Ye Xi. It wasn’t until Ye Xi grew up and could fight back that they started going at it evenly.
Later, he tried to keep things peaceful, but by then Ye Xi had already learned to avoid him. He always kept a cold face, like he was keeping everyone at a distance, and never really confronted him head-on.
Now, they were both grown up. But the shadow of the past was still there between them.
Even if their relationship looked calmer now.
In Ye Xi’s heart, he would always be the brother who sided with others instead of him.
Ye Xi stared at Zheng Yang in surprise.
He wasn’t deaf to Zheng Yang’s words—he could clearly hear the way he was defending him.
And because of that, his mind short-circuited…
Wasn’t Zheng Yang and Bai Yue’s friendship supposed to be unbreakable?
Why was Zheng Yang siding with him instead?
A vague guess floated up in Ye Xi’s mind, but it was hazy and hard to grasp.
Or maybe… he just didn’t dare believe it.
Silence filled the living room, heavy like glue flowing.
Maybe it was the sugar working, but Zheng Yang slowly calmed down.
He stared at the sofa’s pattern, a hint of regret surfacing.
Why was he even angry at Ye Xi? And why furious at Bai Yue?
His best friend and his brother ended up together. No matter how much he hated it, it wasn’t his place to interfere.
He glanced quickly at Ye Xi, wanting to say something to ease the tension—but the words stuck in his throat.
Ye Xi stayed quiet too, frowning slightly, lost in thought.
When Bai Yue walked back over carrying a tray, this was the scene he saw.
Anyway, making one portion or two was the same. He had grilled a burger for Ye Xi too, adding extra tomato and cheese.
He immediately noticed the stiff atmosphere between Ye Xi and Zheng Yang. Both of them sat there like wooden statues, obviously after some kind of clash.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked Ye Xi, “What happened? Did Zheng Yang scold you?”
Ye Xi froze, then realized a few seconds later Bai Yue was asking him. He quickly shook his head. “No.”
Only then did Bai Yue’s expression soften. He glanced at Zheng Yang, feeling that his unlucky buddy was annoying no matter how he looked at him.
Still, he lightly patted Zheng Yang’s head and said quietly, “Eat. Weren’t you demanding a beef burger just now?”
Zheng Yang curled his lips but didn’t argue with the burger. He grabbed it and bit into it.
He wasn’t eating so much as venting his anger at Bai Yue through the burger.
Bai Yue let out a cold laugh.
Meanwhile, Bai Yue and Ye Xi were much more refined. Neither of them really cared about the food. Ye Xi nibbled on the burger in tiny bites, and after ages, the burger only looked slightly “injured.”
Bai Yue didn’t touch his own at all, just poured himself a cup of coffee.
Taking a sip, he watched Zheng Yang finish most of the burger and start on the fries.
He said, “It’s been a while now. You should’ve calmed down, right?”
Zheng Yang kept his head down, eating fries, not answering.
Bai Yue didn’t mind and continued, “I know you reacted so strongly because you don’t trust me, because you’re afraid I’ll hurt Ye Xi. But I’m serious about him—I want to be with him long term. You know my family situation, and you know that with me, Ye Xi won’t be harmed. I don’t like saying empty words. Any promises are meaningless until they’re kept. But after all these years of friendship, you should know what kind of person I am. You should know I never go back on what I say. So I hope you won’t keep making a big fuss, as if me being with Ye Xi is something disgraceful.”
He paused, then added, “That would only make Ye Xi feel hurt.”
Hearing Bai Yue’s words, Ye Xi was clearly stunned.
He stared blankly at Bai Yue.
If Zheng Yang really, from the bottom of his heart, couldn’t accept him being with Bai Yue, then even if Zheng Yang didn’t actively try to stop them, he would still feel a little hurt.
But he hadn’t expected Bai Yue to notice.
That made Ye Xi press his lips together, feeling inexplicably embarrassed, and he simply lowered his head and pretended to chew on a tomato.
Meanwhile, Zheng Yang’s pace at eating fries also slowed. He quickly glanced at Ye Xi, but immediately pulled his gaze back, keeping silent.
After a long time, he finally said softly: “Got it.”
…..
After wolfing down the burger and fries, Zheng Yang practically drove Bai Yue and Ye Xi away with a wave of his hand, demanding to be left alone.
He took over the living room.
So Bai Yue brought Ye Xi into the kitchen to bake little cakes.
On the way back earlier, Ye Xi had said he wanted to eat orange cake. Bai Yue decided to make it for him and put it in the fridge for a late-night snack.
But the kitchen had a small transparent glass partition through which one could see into the living room.
With the sweet aroma of baking cake filling the air, Ye Xi gazed thoughtfully at Zheng Yang, who was sitting motionless on the sofa.
He looked up at Bai Yue and asked: “When Zheng Yang said just now that he ‘got it’… does that mean he accepted it?”
He sounded a bit incredulous.
But after dinner, Zheng Yang really hadn’t glared at them again.
When Ye Xi accidentally tripped over a chair and fell into Bai Yue’s arms, Zheng Yang’s cheek only twitched, but he forced himself to say nothing.
“Mm,” Bai Yue was bent over, checking the cake in the oven, and replied casually, “He was never going to stay mad for long. He might have a sharp tongue, but he’s never unreasonable. We’re both adults, in a relationship by choice. Even though he’s your brother, what grounds does he really have to interfere?”
At that, Bai Yue turned his head, smiled at Ye Xi, and said: “He’s just worried I’ll bully you, or that you’re too young to understand things and I tricked you. In his eyes, I’m the scheming wolf with ulterior motives, and you’re the rabbit who’ll jump into the trap.”
But Ye Xi only grew more confused.
Through that small glass panel, he looked into the living room. From here, he could see Zheng Yang sitting on the sofa with his head slightly lowered. Maybe because he’d only just recovered from low blood sugar, his face was still pale, lips lacking color, his long curled lashes casting shadows, his neck slender. He looked very different from his usual loud and fiery self.
Ye Xi had always thought that during that snowy mountain trip, it was only because Bai Yue was there, and Li Rui was joking around, that Zheng Yang softened toward him.
That made him feel that, although he’d missed out on a rare chance to spend time alone with Bai Yue, it hadn’t been a real loss.
But now, thinking about Zheng Yang’s earlier words of defense for him, and his anger at Bai Yue…
Ye Xi blinked, his gaze still lingering on Zheng Yang, his expression complicated.
He suddenly felt that maybe, even before that mountain trip, Zheng Yang hadn’t disliked him all that much anymore.
…….
When the first rays of sunset spilled in, Zheng Yang finally stood up after enough soul-searching and bid Bai Yue farewell.
In fact, when he came here, he’d been determined that no matter what, he was going to drag Ye Xi home.
But now, he’d abandoned that idea, not even bringing it up.
Standing at the doorway, he said to Bai Yue: “Since you and Ye Xi like each other, I don’t have an objection to you being together. Just now it was too much of a shock, and I couldn’t accept it right away.”
Here, he couldn’t help but frown.
Who could accept it?
In broad daylight, catching his little brother making out with his best friend—this image was enough to give him nightmares for ten years. The fact he hadn’t called the cops on the spot was already merciful to Bai Yue.
He shook his head hard, as if to drive the thought away, and went on: “But you’d better not bully Ye Xi, and don’t break up with him either. Given our relationships, if either of you dumps the other, I’ll be stuck in a very awkward position.”
After saying that, Zheng Yang opened the door and walked out.
But when he got to the elevator, he didn’t press the button right away. He stood there staring at it, lost in thought.
It was a long time before a faintly dejected look appeared on his face. He finally raised his hand, about to press the button.
But just then, he heard the door behind him softly click open.
He instinctively turned around, and under the warm light of the chandelier, Ye Xi stepped out quietly, looking straight at him.
