As Lin Zhiyu and his family were settling into their new life, Father Lin was full of energy, and determined to make the move smooth and efficient. “We’ll use the best, environmentally friendly materials. We can move in after just a few months,” he said enthusiastically.
However, Lin Zhiyu had a simpler approach. “Dad, let’s just bring our old furniture. It’s healthier and more comfortable than new stuff,” he suggested, smiling. “We’ll get new sofa covers and curtains, but we can move in within the week. The facilities here are perfect, and most importantly, it’s safe.”
Father Lin thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “Alright, leave it to me. We’ll move in three days.”
Lin Zhaoqiu, his younger sister, beamed with excitement, thrilled about their new home. “We’ll be all set soon, and everything’s perfect here! Life is getting better,” she thought, reflecting on how fortunate they were after overcoming past challenges.
Meanwhile, the trio sent by Hortez to keep tabs on Lin Zhiyu’s family was growing restless. Yan Po, an old, calculating woman, led the group. Despite her frail appearance, she was sharp and ruthless, usually handling large transactions, not small jobs like this. But Hortez had insisted, so she had been sent.
“The information can’t be wrong,” Yan Po rasped. “They’re here.”
Her two companions, a thin man, and a young, silent boy, followed her lead. After a day of surveillance, they discovered that the family was planning to move.
“Not safe here, huh?” Yan Po muttered, puffing on a cigarette. She wasn’t too concerned. “Follow them, see where they go. No need to rush.”
However, upon discovering the new community was almost military-grade secure, Yan Po realized this job would take longer than expected. It wouldn’t be easy to slip in, but she wasn’t too rattled. Difficulties were part of the game.
As Yan Po’s crew plotted in the shadows, Lin Zhiyu’s family thrived. Within three days, their new home was fully set up. Old furniture made the place feel cozy and familiar, and the family’s spirits were high.
“You’re right, Ge. The old furniture makes it feel like home,” Lin Zhaoqiu said, spreading her arms across the dining table and soaking in the sunlight that streamed through the windows.
Father Lin smiled fondly at his daughter. “Are you hungry? Should we go to the cafeteria or should Dad cook for you?”
“The cafeteria!” she chirped, sitting up straight with excitement. “There’s so much good food there!”
In the cafeteria, the community buzzed with activity. Though most residents were busy professionals, some neighbors were friendly and curious about the newcomers. One older man greeted Father Lin with a smile. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before?”
“We just moved here,” Father Lin replied with a warm smile.
“Oh, I heard about a new family moving into District 6. Must be you!”
“Yes, we’re in Building Three.”
The conversation attracted others in the cafeteria. One elderly woman, holding her grandson, joined in, asking, “Are you a family member or here on your own?”
“I’m a family member. My son was assigned a place here,” Father Lin explained.
“What does your son study?” the woman asked, her curiosity piqued.
“My son works in biochemistry, specifically paclitaxel research.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Paclitaxel? Then you must know Lin Zhiyu!”
“That’s my brother!” Lin Zhaoqiu chimed in proudly, her mouth full of food. “Lin Zhiyu is my brother.”
The woman gasped. “Really?!”
The old lady was momentarily stunned when she heard this, then a sincere smile spread across her face. “I like him! He is outstanding and selfless. He donated invaluable patents to the country. He truly cares for the people.”
People around her, upon realizing that Lin Zhaoqiu was Lin Zhiyu’s family member, couldn’t help but look over. It was clear they recognized Lin Zhiyu; many people knew him.
A young daughter-in-law also chimed in, clearly having been online a lot before: “Yes, yes, he is awesome! After suffering so much slander, he’s still willing to help everyone…”
He could be called a noble person or even a saint, because neither she nor could her husband, who was a researcher.
Not to mention, he looked quite attractive!
The atmosphere around them gradually became lively as people chatted with one another, and two particularly enthusiastic grandfathers and grandmothers volunteered to help Father Lin clean up the house.
Finally, the young daughter-in-law sent a WeChat message to Lin Zhaoqiu.
She wondered if Lin Zhiyu had a girlfriend. Her sister was still single. They would make a good match!
…
Lin Zhiyu was unaware that his family had already made many friends in the community.
He intended to invite Xie Youzhou to his house for a “warming the pot” dinner—a housewarming meal.
It just so happened that Xie’s mother had a half-day off that day, so she could come over too.
On that day, Father Lin specifically bought a lot of vegetables and cooked them himself, making nine dishes and one soup. Xie Youzhou showered him with praise all the time, making Father Lin beam with joy.
Lin Zhiyu wanted to laugh. He felt that this brat was like a puppy trying to please its master, asking for meat and bones.
Little did he know that this “meat and bones” was himself.
Mother Xie noticed. She felt that her youngest son’s behavior was a bit too attentive and inappropriate for the dinner party in Jingcheng Xiaozhu. Now, she understood everything.
This look was the same as when Lao Xie went to her house to have dinner with her father!
However, her youngest son was too shy. He could only please his father-in-law and brother-in-law, while not saying much to Lin Zhaoqiu.
After returning home that evening, Xie’s mother advised her youngest son: “You have to take the initiative when facing the person you like. How can you pursue someone when you are so shy?”
Xie Youzhou was about to head to the bedroom to make a WeChat call with his Gege when he heard his mother’s voice from behind and paused.
He wasn’t afraid of his mother finding out, because in his last life, he had guarded his Gege for the rest of his life, and the outside gossip didn’t affect him…
“Mom, did you… see it?” Xie Youzhou turned around.
“Others may not see it, but I am your mother! You looked just like when your father saw your grandpa.” Mother Xie, not surprised by his affirmation, said with a smile, “Qiuqiu is quite a kid. Well, isn’t she twenty-one? She’s only three years older than you.”
Xie Youzhou frowned upon hearing this.
Xie’s mother assumed Xie Youzhou was embarrassed, so she smiled and added, “The Lin family has a very upright family tradition. This girl, Lin Zhaoqiu, is wonderful. Mom supports you. Her brother Lin Zhiyu is even more popular. It’s a good thing to have such a brother-in-law. If you can win her over, I’ll contribute to the wedding costs. But you’re still young, so you have to wait a few years; don’t get married too late, and don’t end up like your elder brother, who’s still single at thirty-two …”
“Mom,” Xie Youzhou suddenly interrupted, cutting off his mother.
“What?” Mother Xie smiled. “Are you embarrassed? You’re an adult, and Mom is very open-minded.”
“Mom, there is someone in the Lin family that I like—no, someone I love deeply.”
Upon hearing this, Mother Xie’s smile grew even larger. Her child was so serious; he was telling her he loved someone so earnestly…
Wait, suddenly Xie’s mother felt something was off.
Before she could fully process it, she heard Xie Youzhou say very seriously, “But I love Lin Zhiyu, not Lin Zhaoqiu.”
Xie’s mother was stunned, replaying the sentence in her mind, unable to react.
Her son liked Lin Zhiyu, not Lin Zhaoqiu?!
Seeing his mother’s dumbfounded expression, Xie Youzhou sighed and sat down on the sofa.
“Mom, I’m serious. I never wanted to hide it from you, because I wanted to stand tall with my Gege and accept everyone’s blessings. I didn’t want to say it so soon.”
Xie Youzhou poured a cup of tea. “Mom, drink some water. I can answer whatever you want to ask.”
Xie’s mother finally recovered from her shocked state. She looked at her youngest son, momentarily unsure of what to say.
It wasn’t that she didn’t understand that sexual orientation is innate, nor did she believe that liking someone of the same sex was wrong or a disease.
But she never imagined that her son liked men…
Mother Xie frowned, and after a long pause, she asked, “Do you only like men? When did you realize that you liked men?”
“I like my brother, but I don’t like other men,” Xie Youzhou replied with a slight smile.
“If my brother were a girl, then I would be heterosexual. In short, I only like my brother, no matter what he looks like or whether he wants to be with me or not.”
Mother Xie fell silent again. What did this mean? Did it mean her youngest son was still harboring unrequited love?
“So, you’ve been secretly in love for a long time,” Xie’s mother remarked, unsure whether she felt relieved or disappointed.
“…Isn’t it normal to have a secret crush?” Xie Youzhou coughed lightly. “My eldest brother has a crush on someone in the army.”
“What?!”
Mother Xie was completely shocked, her mind reeling. Her eldest son, who devoted himself to training and firearms, actually had a secret crush?. Was he enlightened?!
“If you don’t believe it, you can ask him during the New Year.”
Xie Youzhou only learned about this much later in his previous life.
His eldest brother, whom he saw only once a year, was fourteen years older than him. They had hardly shared any moments, so the sense of brotherhood… was weak.
Sure enough, when Xie’s mother heard this, she immediately stopped focusing on Xie Youzhou and quickly called Xie’s father’s personal phone number to inquire about it. She saw her eldest son often; how could she not have noticed any signs?
Unfortunately, the call didn’t go through.
It was common for phone calls to fail, so Xie’s mother ultimately opted to send a message. After typing out a lengthy paragraph and pressing “send,” she turned to look at Xie Youzhou.
“Are you sure? Do you want to be with Lin Zhiyu? You’re still young, only eighteen. Do you know what love is?”
“I am very sure, and I hope that you can support me, Mom,” Xie Youzhou replied, still seated and smiling.
Xie’s mother looked at her youngest son, who appeared serious and composed, and let out a long sigh.
If Xie Youzhou had been emotional or showed any signs of childishness, she might have been able to persuade him. That would mean that he hadn’t thought it through completely and wasn’t mature.
But from the beginning, from the moment she asked him if he liked anyone in the Lin family until now, her youngest son had remained incredibly calm.
This calm, indifferent, breezy, and resolute demeanor made it impossible for her to argue against him.
She realized that nothing she said would change his mind.
Her youngest son’s behavior clearly showed he had fully considered and prepared for this for many years. He was firm and at ease, unwavering in his decision.
“When did you fall in love with Lin Zhiyu?”
“I’ve liked him for… a long time, so long that I can’t even remember when it started.”
Xie Youzhou suddenly recalled the first time he saw his brother, the uncontrollable love shining in his eyes.
It began in his previous life and would never end.
Seeing Xie Youzhou like this, Mother Xie completely abandoned her thoughts of trying to stop him. She knew…it would be useless.
Lin Zhiyu was indeed a remarkable person. If he were a girl, she might feel that her son didn’t deserve him. If he could win her over, it would be a significant achievement.
But he was a boy…
Never mind; the boy was quite good, and besides, besides, he hadn’t taken a fancy to her son yet.
Mother Xie couldn’t help but ask, “What if Lin Zhiyu doesn’t like you back?”
“Then I will always love him and wait for him to notice me.”
He loved his brother more with each passing day. It was something he couldn’t control, let alone stop.
But he couldn’t bear the thought of his brother falling in love with someone else, getting married, and starting a family with another person. If that day ever came…he didn’t know what he would do.
