18 Don't move.

Chapter 18

“A couple of days ago, he said he was coming over. I told him in advance that you have long hair,” Gu Shi explained.

“Huh?” Gu Jian’s tea-colored eyes flickered slightly before curling into a smile. “Right!”

Xuan Congnan nodded in understanding. “Mm.”

Gu Jian and Gu Shi didn’t look alike at all—neither in hair color, eye color, nor facial features.

Gu Shi’s sharp, angular features and habit of rarely smiling often gave him a cold, unapproachable aura. In contrast, Gu Jian had a cute, smiling mouth with the corners of his lips curling up in a gentle arc. Underneath his chestnut, slightly wavy hair were eyes that seemed to sparkle with stars, bright and shiny.

Xuan Congnan complimented him as soon as they met. “You’re really adorable.”

“Right, big brother!” Gu Jian turned to Gu Shi. “Big brother said I’m adorable!”

Suddenly, Gu Shi let go of the collar at the back of Gu Jian’s shirt, causing him to lose his balance as he leaned forward. Just before bumping into Xuan Congnan, Gu Shi reached out and gently tugged his arm, pulling him away from the risk of collision.

“Hey,” Xuan Congnan reached out, worried Gu Jian might fall.

“Don’t mind him,” Gu Shi said, stretching out his hand as well—but this time to stop Xuan Congnan.

The warm touch of his palm briefly met the skin of Xuan Congnan’s wrist before pulling away, the heat unmistakable. Gu Shi rubbed his fingers together and said before turning to the kitchen, “He talks too much. Don’t listen to him.”

Gu Jian almost fell flat on his face and stood straight, arms crossed in frustration. “I don’t talk too much!”

“Are you okay?” Xuan Congnan asked.

Gu Jian brightened again, eyes unwilling to leave Xuan Congnan. “I’m fine! Just got a little targeted by big brother. A real man doesn’t sweat the small stuff!”

“I didn’t target him,” Gu Shi called from the kitchen without looking up. “Congnan, don’t listen.”

“You two brothers are quite amusing,” Xuan Congnan said.

“Right, right!” Gu Jian said excitedly. “Big brother, your hair is so long! Can I touch it?”

“No,” Gu Shi replied flatly, glancing at Gu Jian across half the living room.

Gu Jian shrank his neck. “Aw.”

He let his head droop. “Sigh...”

“You can touch it,” Xuan Congnan said, trying not to laugh at Gu Jian’s forlorn expression.

Like a puppy that had fallen into water.

Hearing this, the little pup’s ears perked up instantly. Without even asking “Really?” again, he reached out.

Gu Shi was chopping vegetables noisily in the kitchen.

Before Gu Jian came, Xuan Congnan had already thought he couldn’t keep living with Gu Shi as roommates like before. Now that the Gu family knew Gu Shi was married and his younger brother was here for a “check-in,” Xuan Congnan had to get closer to Gu Shi and play along.

This was the plan they had discussed two days ago.

But he simply couldn’t find a chance to get close to Gu Shi in front of Gu Jian. Gu Jian kept pulling him into endless, interesting conversations.

Xuan Congnan had never met anyone so engaging and listened attentively.

The steamed sea bass simmered in the pot as Gu Shi washed his hands, dried them, and sent a message on his phone.

“Take your son away.”

Ms. Meng: “Hahaha, with such a little chatterbox, are you ignoring him now?”

Gu Shi: “.”

Ms. Meng: “I have to pick up my brother and then go to your place. Should I go?”

Gu Shi: “I’ll figure out how to get him to leave myself.”

Ms. Meng: “Hahahahahaha [sunglasses emoji][sunglasses emoji]”

“What’s the happy news? Meng Xiao Zhu looks so cheerful,” two noble ladies said a few days ago, having arranged to have tea at the Gu family home. One noticed her radiant smile and asked.

Meng Xiao Zhu put down her phone. “Sorry, I was still on my phone when you arrived. My son needed something, so I just replied briefly.”

“It’s Gu Shi, right?” The two ladies exchanged glances, teasing, “Gu Jian is often at home, so you don’t need to contact him by phone.”

Meng Xiao Zhu beamed. “Yes, that’s right.”

On her wrist, she wore a bracelet utterly mismatched to her status—a string of small stones that looked like stars, something that could be bought for a few yuan at a street stall.

“Look at this bracelet my youngest son gave me. He made it himself. Isn’t it pretty?” Meng Xiao Zhu raised her fair wrist and shook it.

“Very pretty, very pretty,” the ladies smiled. “You always show off the gifts your children give you. It’s either the eldest or the youngest son. We’re so envious.”

Meng Xiao Zhu said, “I’m happy.”

“What did Gu Jian give you? What about Gu Shi?”

Meng Xiao Zhu adjusted her hair and said cryptically, “Maybe something for my daughter-in-law.”

—

“Big brother,” Gu Jian’s throat was dry and hoarse after talking so much.

Two water cups sat side by side on the coffee table. He wasn’t sure if he could use one and wanted to ask.

Xuan Congnan went to the studio to get his sketchbook, and Gu Jian wanted to see it.

After spending two or three hours in the kitchen, Gu Shi finally finished lunch.

When Gu Jian called out “big brother,” Xuan Congnan and Gu Shi both turned, and Gu Jian was a little confused.

He asked himself, “Who was I trying to call just now?”

Xuan Congnan was speechless.

“From now on, call him big brother,” Gu Shi said as he took off his apron. “Don’t call me that.”

Thinking he had been disowned as a “younger brother” after spending the whole morning talking with his new big brother, Gu Jian panicked. “No, big brother!”

Then he asked, “If not ‘big brother,’ what should I call you?”

Gu Shi’s eyes were expressionless. “Call me sister-in-law.”

Gu Jian: “?”

Xuan Congnan: “...?”

“Ahahaha hahahahahahahaha...”

Gu Jian’s wild laughter echoed through the living room. He nearly doubled over.

Whether it was because of Gu Jian’s laughter or Gu Shi’s remark, Xuan Congnan thought Gu Shi’s words were definitely hilarious. He couldn’t help but chuckle, recalling a phrase Zhang Que used when shocked: regardless of accuracy, just use it. With laughter barely contained, he said, “Inverted Heavenly Stem.”

High school students have a lot of pressure, but freshman year is still fun and playful.

Xuan Congnan had no experience spending long periods with outsiders. Before Gu Jian arrived, he thought: as long as they ate together nicely and said a few words, it would be fine.

He hadn’t expected Gu Jian to be so lively that the day flew by.

By evening, Gu Jian showed no sign he wanted to go home.

Gu Shi peeled an orange and handed it to Xuan Congnan. “Finished your homework?”

Gu Jian’s face fell in the middle of a lively conversation. He pouted. “Not yet.”

“That’s good,” Gu Shi said. “Go home and do it.”

Gu Jian said, “I can do it tomorrow. I want to stay here today.”

Gu Shi’s expression visibly grew colder.

“Please, sister-in-law, I really like big brother,” Gu Jian clasped his hands together, begging Gu Shi, “Let me stay here one night and I’ll go back tomorrow. I already checked—there are three rooms at home where someone can stay. You and big brother can have one; I won’t disturb you. Just let me stay one night.”

“No.”

Gu Shi stood up and, like at noon, grabbed Gu Jian by the collar, lifting him like a little chick to the door.

He opened the door coldly, shoved him out, and immediately locked it.

“Sister-in-law!” Gu Jian pounded on the door, shouting loudly, “Big brother, do something about my big brother!”

When Gu Jian was carried out and thrown outside, Xuan Congnan was already following them, trying to stop Gu Shi. “Gu Shi, don’t—”

Suddenly, a large palm pressed down on Xuan Congnan’s head, applying a bit of force to stop him from opening the door. The warmth of another person’s body heat passed through countless strands of hair to Xuan Congnan, who froze.

“What’s... wrong?” Xuan Congnan didn’t move his head but looked up, meeting Gu Shi’s gaze.

From this angle, he looked innocent and pure, almost asking to be teased mercilessly.

Gu Shi lowered his eyes, his gaze settling into Xuan Congnan’s. “Touch my hair.”

Xuan Congnan was puzzled. “Huh?”

Gu Shi said, “Gu Jian touched my hair. I want to touch yours too.”

“...Oh.” Xuan Congnan was bewildered, a little unaccustomed.

Gu Shi’s fingers curled slightly as he moved his hand to stroke the top of Xuan Congnan’s head, speaking softly. “Stand still and don’t move. Let me touch it.”