Chapter 919: Childhood Sweetheart Years 13

After asking, Song Xu took the towel Jin Chen had draped over his shoulder and wiped his hair, his movements gentle and careful.

Jin Chen half-lidded his eyes, leaning against the sofa, his fingers intermittently pinching the back of the youth's neck in his arms.

「What were you just thinking about, Xiao Yu'er? Don't lie to Brother. 」

Song Xu's hair-wiping motion hesitated slightly; his fingertips traced down the strands and landed on his brother's shoulder.

「Will you always protect me in the future, Brother? 」

「Of course. 」 Jin Chen replied without hesitation, then found it strange: 「Xiao Yu'er, why are you suddenly asking this? 」

「Grandma said… When we grow up, Brother will have his own life; even as blood brothers, we'll each start our own families. 」

Song Xu lowered his head, leaning on Jin Chen's shoulder; damp eyelashes veiled the emotions in his eyes, a look of grievance gradually showing.

「But Brother promised you would always protect me. 」

As he said this, his heart faintly ached.

And what if… he had someone he liked?

Would his preferential favor be split in half, or even more?

Song Xu was lost in his random thoughts until warm hands cupped his cheeks, lifting his face to meet his brother's eyes.

In those eyes, he saw only his own reflection.

Since childhood, Song Xu had loved his brother's eyes, and loved seeing himself through them, as if that could prove their inseparable bond.

I've never failed to keep my promises to Xiao Yu'er.

Jin Chen's voice was pure and clear, like the summer breeze right now, easily soothing his inner resentment and wistfulness.

Don't worry about things that haven't happened.

Song Xu stared at his brother, voice soft: 「Brother won't abandon me, right? 」

「No, if Xiao Yu'er doesn't believe, you could… draw up a written pledge as proof? 」

Jin Chen teased with a smile, lightening the slightly melancholy atmosphere considerably: 「If Brother ever breaks his promise, fails to keep his word…」

Before he could finish, Song Xu covered his mouth with his hand: 「All right, I believe you. 」

Song Xu could consider such a supposition.

「There's one more question. 」

He pouted, eyes suspicious: 「When did you meet Mu Henian, Brother? How come I don't know. 」

From age six to now, he and Jin Chen had hardly ever been apart; in the first few years, his parents would occasionally take him to Jing Shi to play, but each time he hated to part from Jin Chen.

Later his parents grew busier, the intervals between their returns lengthening, yet Song Xu felt nothing amiss—he had his brother, grandmother, and godparents, and was not at all lonely.

Precisely for this reason, their social circles overlapped; even if Jin Chen had other friends, Song Xu knew them all.

Except for today's Mu Henian.

Song Xu was certain he had never seen him before, yet his brother was quite familiar with him, as if… there were still secrets between them that he didn't know.

This realization made Song Xu unhappy from the bottom of his heart.

Seeing Xiao Yu'er like this, Jin Chen knew he was again lost in chaotic thoughts.

「We just met briefly; he's not anyone important. 」

「Really? 」 Song Xu didn't quite believe it.

「Really! And…」 Jin Chen stroked his chin, deciding to betray the domineering CEO trope.

「And Mu Henian actually likes Cheng Huai. 」

Song Xu widened his eyes: 「Ah? 」

「Mu Henian likes… Ah Huai? But they're both guys. 」

「So what if they're guys? Love isn't a biology problem. 」

Jin Chen pinched Song Xu's nose tip, smiling: 「What do you think, Xiao Yu'er? 」

……Oh, it hurts.

Song Xu shook off his brother's hand, wrinkling his nose.

It's no wonder Song Xu feels that way; given the education in a small city and the influence of those around him, he had never seen a homosexual couple.

But Jin Chen now, it's no different from planting a seed in Song Xu's heart.

Song Xu repeatedly pondered the word 'like,' and felt a sweet sensation well up in his heart, an indescribable feeling.

But upon learning that Mu Henian liked Cheng Huai, that slight discomfort he'd felt earlier vanished just like that.

「All right, then Mu Henian will also be my friend from now on. 」

Song Xu was very magnanimous, no longer holding a grudge.

Ding-dong ding-dong.

Their phones rang in unison.

It was Cheng Huai sending a message in the group.

Xiao Huai Shan: @Jin Chengzi Uncle Jin is so awesome! He argued logically and got the Liu family to pay compensation.

Xiao Huai Shan: Moreover! Police in-depth investigation found Liu Xing and Zhong Yin repeatedly going to bars to drink and dodge the bill, and they're both high schoolers! He had Liu Xing and Zhong Yin detained for half a day, receiving education from the law and police uncles hahahaha!

Jin Chengzi: How did you know? Weren't you supposed to go back?

Xiao Huai Shan: Come on, I'm the melon king of Lihua Jie! How could I miss such a delicious melon!

Xiao Yu'er: Awesome~

「Xiao Chen, Xiao Xu! 」

From outside came Jin Shu's voice; Song Xu, not knowing what came over him, slipped out of Jin Chen's arms and obediently sat on the other side of the sofa.

Jin Shu rushed to his son's arm, picked up the plaster cast hanging there, examined it left and right, and clicked his tongue in sigh.

「It's fine! You're in good shape; I'd guess you'll be all right soon. 」

Jin Shu patted his chest, "Dad already took care of it; from now on you won't see their family on Lihua Jie."

Jin Chen exclaimed, "That's so overbearing?"

His dad is also a big boss!

Sigh, Liu Xing's dad cares about face more than heaven; after this, they moved out overnight to another city.

Jin Shu took a pear from the table to nibble, glanced at the wall clock—it was already quitting time, too late to head back to the company.

Tonight Dad's cooking, let's give you two a good scare‑relief meal; what do you want to eat?

Song Xu smiled sweetly, "Godfather, I want to eat little crispy meat!"

Jin Chen raised his healthy hand, "Manchu‑Han imperial feast!"

Jin Shu gave him a hard flick on the forehead.

Just then Granny Xu brought back some bones, the two families ate together; Jin Shu tied on his apron and headed to the kitchen, also showing Jin Chen the project draft proposal he had mentioned earlier.

Jin Chen hadn't expected his dad to move so fast; he happily lay on the sofa and started reading.

Song Xu also came over to look, but didn't understand: "How come you suddenly care about company matters?"

Before you kept saying as long as I have a godfather, I don't need to worry so much.

Jin Chen thought, "All this is so I can be worthy of you someday, my treasure!"

He replied aloud, "Accumulating experience, raising Xiao Yu'er."

Hearing that, Song Xu smiled with cheeks curling, leaned on Jin Chen reading his book, and even at mealtime his lips stayed upturned.

Three days later Ms. Liu Ou returned from a business trip, lugging a big pile of health supplements; she stepped into the house in high heels, it was already afternoon.

Jin Chen dazedly rose from the bamboo mat, and through the half‑open door saw Ms. Liu Ou.

In his daze he felt his mother was simply a heroic huntress returning, vigorous and spirited.

Quick, let me see that arm.

Ms. Liu Ou changed her shoes and rushed to Jin Chen's room, only to find Song Xu curled up asleep in Jin Chen's arms.