Third Brother

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By now, Song Jianli had already left the small courtyard of his own villa and arrived at the front gate of the villa where Lu Yu lived.

Through the iron gate, he looked up toward Lu Yu’s room; the light inside was still on.

Song Jianli’s tone was calm, but his deep eyes stared intently at the window of Lu Yu’s room.

The next moment, the window opened, and Lu Yu poked his head out, clutching his phone. He tiptoed and looked down, meeting Song Jianli’s gaze under the streetlamp.

The figure beneath the streetlight was tall and slender; the dim yellow glow stretched his shadow long, and the breeze tousled his hair.

“San San, don’t cry. Come down and tell me slowly,” Song Jianli beckoned him gently, his steady voice coming through the phone.

Lu Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He closed the window, and a second later, the room lights were turned off.

About a minute later, the iron gate slowly opened, and a clean-cut, frail-looking youth dashed out and immediately threw himself into Song Jianli’s arms.

The faint scent of fragrance, mixed with the smell of laundry detergent, was very pleasant.

Song Jianli ended the call and wrapped his arms around him.

“Jian Ge, Jian Ge... wuaaahhh—” Lu Yu’s tears and snot smeared all over Song Jianli’s clothes.

“Jian Ge, Jian Ge—” Lu Yu clutched at Song Jianli’s shirt tightly, crying so helplessly it was heart-wrenching.

After returning home, Song Jianli changed into a dark blue sweatshirt for lounging, still carrying the fresh scent of shower gel from just having bathed.

“Mm, I’m here,” Song Jianli said, his brow furrowed with concern.

Lu Yu was thinly dressed in a thin blue-and-white pajama set, the loose pants allowing the cold breeze to creep up his legs.

Worried he might catch a cold, Song Jianli gently patted Lu Yu’s back and said, “It’s cold outside. Let’s go home and talk slowly, okay?”

Lu Yu nodded quietly and let Song Jianli take his hand as they entered his home.

Everyone else in Song Jianli’s house had already gone to bed. He led Lu Yu to his room.

Song Jianli’s room was simple and sparsely decorated. The bed was black and white; the desk sat alone by the window, and the bookshelf was piled high with various books.

Beside the desk, a separate shelf held all of Song Jianli’s awards and honors, as well as the little gifts Lu Yu had given him over the years.

Even the paper cranes Lu Yu had folded for him in kindergarten were displayed there.

Song Jianli went to the bathroom to wash the flour residue off his hands, then returned with a towel soaked in hot water.

Lu Yu’s crying had eased, but tears still streamed down like beads slipping from a broken string, his eyes red and swollen.

He wiped his tears repeatedly with the back of his hand, sobbing quietly.

Song Jianli sat beside him, the soft bed sinking slightly beneath them.

“Wipe your tears,” Song Jianli said, spreading the towel and gently dabbing Lu Yu’s tear-streaked face. Lu Yu obediently tilted his head back to let him wipe.

His eyes were tightly shut, lips pressed together, the corners reddened from crying—he looked utterly heartbroken, and Song Jianli’s heart ached.

“Why do you look like a little crying kitten?” he teased softly.

Lu Yu touched his ear, a little embarrassed. After Song Jianli’s gentle wiping, no more tears fell.

Seeing Lu Yu stop crying, Song Jianli asked, “San San, do you want to tell me what happened?”

Lu Yu sniffled, feeling choked up. He sucked in a breath hard and tears spilled out again. “Jian Ge, I can’t breathe...”

Song Jianli chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle Lu Yu’s hair, wiping away the new tears with the towel. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’ll get better soon.”

He tore off a tissue and wiped Lu Yu’s runny nose.

Lu Yu nodded, trying hard to hold back more tears.

Song Jianli truly found him irresistibly adorable—oh heavens, why did fate make his weakness so endearing?

After a pause, Lu Yu finally spoke.

“Jian Ge...” His tone was heavy, “Can I be as clever as you?”

Song Jianli wiped the sweat from Lu Yu’s neck with the towel and said, “San San, you’re already very smart.”

“Today I only found out... that... my big brother thinks it’s very embarrassing to sign my report card,” Lu Yu said, choking on his words and starting to sob again.

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Song Jianli frowned and called softly, “San San.”

Lu Yu looked up at him, his eyes still glistening from tears, shining bright. “Yes?”

“Do you remember what I told you? Your big brother is a genius, but only a genius. Being at the top for so long has made him lose the ability to see things from another’s perspective or empathize with others—that’s what he lacks.”

He naturally took Lu Yu’s cold hand in his, and Lu Yu didn’t feel uncomfortable.

“Because he lacks these qualities, you’re easily affected by him. He’s your big brother, a genius, and you want his approval—really, you want approval from a genius.”

“Now let’s look at it differently. If Lu Linxing had said the same thing to you tonight, would you feel so hurt?”

“Probably not, because he’s not a genius, and you wouldn’t seek his approval, right?”

Only Song Jianli could, in a few words, grasp the heart of the matter so swiftly without Lu Yu saying much.

“Also, San San, next time give me your report card. I’ll mimic the handwriting and go over the mistakes with you,” Song Jianli said, implying he could forge Lu Jinlü’s signature for Lu Yu.

Lu Yu stared blankly at Song Jianli. He had been so upset, yet Song Jianli calmed him down so easily.

After a few seconds of silence, Lu Yu threw himself into Song Jianli’s arms, burying his face in his chest. “Jian Ge, you’re so good to me.”

The slight tremor in his voice made Song Jianli’s heart race.

In the end, Lu Yu stayed at Song Jianli’s place.

They had known each other since childhood; this wasn’t Lu Yu’s first time sleeping over at Song Jianli’s, but it was his first since entering his senior year of high school.

They lay on the large, soft bed, facing each other and lying on their sides with a small space between them. All the lights in the room were off except for a dim yellow bedside lamp.

Their breaths mingled, two faint fragrances blending, their heartbeats almost intertwined.

“Jian Ge,” Lu Yu said without closing his eyes, looking up at Song Jianli’s perfect jawline.

Song Jianli closed his eyes and responded softly.

Lu Yu asked, “Have you decided where to go to college? The teacher said you might have been admitted to Fudan University?”

“Yeah, but I’m not going to Fudan,” Song Jianli admitted, then added a sentence.

Lu Yu’s eyes shone with admiration, sparkling like stars. “Where are you going then? Tsinghua? Peking University? Or abroad?”

“Not decided yet. What about you, San San?” Song Jianli opened his eyes and saw Lu Yu’s starry gaze fixed on him, unblinking and unashamed.

Song Jianli’s Adam’s apple moved oddly.

Lu Yu, unaware, whispered, “I want to go to City C. I heard it’s spring all year round there.”

“Good.” Song Jianli closed his eyes again and replied lightly.

Lu Yu blinked, inhaling the fresh scent surrounding Song Jianli, then leaned closer to his neck. “Jian Ge, you smell so good.”

Lu Yu was very close to Song Jianli’s neck, his breath brushing against Song Jianli’s Adam’s apple.

Song Jianli almost instantly opened his eyes, lowering his head to look at Lu Yu with a complicated expression. Lu Yu thought he saw an unspoken fire deep in Song Jianli’s eyes—something he had never seen before.

Lu Yu instinctively shrank back a little.

But Song Jianli said nothing, seeming to be restraining himself.

Before Lu Yu could speak again, Song Jianli covered his beautiful eyes with one hand. “Sleep now, San San. We’ll talk tomorrow. Remember, you have a chemistry test in the afternoon.”

Lu Yu blinked, his long lashes brushing Song Jianli’s palm. Though he didn’t know how Song Jianli knew, he did have a test the next day and needed plenty of rest.

“Okay, good night, Jian Ge,” the boy said obediently, closing his eyes.

Song Jianli slowly withdrew his hand and looked down at Lu Yu’s delicate and slightly rebellious face, so soft and gentle in the dim light.

“Good night, San San,” Song Jianli replied.

Finally, the night fell silent.

After about half an hour, steady breathing came from the pillow beside him. Song Jianli slowly opened his eyes; under the dim lamp, his gaze was deep and shadowed.

He reached out and pulled the boy into his arms. Lu Yu made a soft whimpering sound; he was far too thin.

Song Jianli’s hand pressed against the delicate bones of his back, feeling almost sharp.

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His eyes carried an unclear emotion—perhaps pain, perhaps guilt.

——

At nightfall, the pale youth frowned deeply, sweat trickling down his temple. Tears slipped from the corner of his eyes, sticking to the wisps of hair by his temple. His thin lips parted slightly as he murmured softly.

Probably a nightmare.

A brightly lit window was slammed shut and locked. In an instant, the room plunged into pitch darkness. Countless chains wound around it tightly, secured by a giant lock connecting them all.

The chains were indestructible; no outside force could break them. Only the corresponding key could open them, and only the master who sealed this room possessed it.

But the master only took out the key when deciding to return to the room.

Something had been sealed away, never to see the light of day again.

Song Jianli sensed the person in his arms growing sweaty. He opened his tired eyes, bathed in the dim, unclear light of the bedside lamp.

He saw Lu Yu’s flushed face, sweat clinging the stray hair to his skin, sleeping restlessly.

So he tightened his embrace slightly.

His hand resting on Lu Yu’s back patted gently, soothing the restless boy.

Good, good. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.

——

With the first birdsong of dawn, the sounds of chirping filled the air outside.

The curtains weren’t fully drawn; a sliver of golden morning light slipped through the gap, spreading over the bed like a thin veil of light, bathing the delicate youth.

Cicadas grew louder, leaves rustled in the breeze, and wild cats fought in the backyard.

The boy struggled to open his eyes. Ugh, so sleepy.

Lu Yu lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. This wasn’t his room.

After a few seconds, he remembered that Song Jianli had brought him here last night.

Sensing the faint fragrance on his pillow, Lu Yu curled up slowly, burying himself deeper under the covers. How could Jian Ge’s bed smell so nice, like no one else’s?

The boy couldn’t help but inhale twice more.

At that moment, the door opened, and footsteps slowly approached the bedside. “San San, it’s time to get up.”

Lu Yu pulled back the covers, revealing a face flushed from the warmth of the bed.

Song Jianli looked at him, unaware his own heart had skipped a beat.

Lu Yu’s hair was tousled from sleep, loose strands framing his exquisite face. His eyes still held the dazed look of just waking up. Lu Yu was always beautiful.

His eyes were pure and clear, lashes thick and curled, features perfectly proportioned, amber-hued irises, and only a faint scar at his temple.

He probably kept his head down most of the time to hide this inconspicuous scar.

But when his head was lowered and his long hair fell down, it not only concealed his striking eyes but gave an impression of being aloof and unapproachable.

“Jian Ge,” Lu Yu whispered softly to the person by the bed.

Song Jianli hadn’t changed out of his pajamas yet, but judging by his expression, he’d been up for a while and already showered.

Strange—showering so early in the morning?

“Mm. Get up soon. I spoke with your big brother. You’ll have breakfast at my place today,” Song Jianli said, setting Lu Yu’s shoes neatly by the bed. “After breakfast, you can go home and change.”

Lu Yu sat up, looking at Song Jianli’s eyes with some confusion, repeating, “Big brother?”

Song Jianli didn’t understand but assumed Lu Yu was still upset about last night. “Don’t worry, he won’t say anything about you. He still owes me some face.”

Lu Yu paused, then climbed out of bed. “Oh, okay.”

But actually, he wasn’t upset—he just suddenly couldn’t remember who this “big brother” was.