Kevin's Unconventional Love

Han turned away, took a sip of his drink, and responded with a faint "mm," saying nothing more.

"I'll drop by your place to see Xiao one of these days. It's been years since I last saw her. I really miss her," Kevin sighed, sounding nostalgic.

It was as if he hadn't seen Han in ages; his longing for Han was like a kite string, stretching farther and farther, the kite soaring ever higher—waiting only for that day when the string would snap and the kite would fly free. Perhaps, that day wasn't so far off now. Han didn't reply, which was tacit approval of Kevin's intentions.

Kevin forced a wry smile. "How come you have time to come by today? Don’t you have files to deal with?" He casually changed the subject, his gaze shifting restlessly.

"They're taken care of. I just came by to see you," Han replied coolly, but his tone toward this friend was still polite.

After all, Kevin could be considered his only friend, so as long as it didn't threaten Xiao's safety, Han wouldn't object.

"It's rare for you to remember me. Come on, let's not leave until we're drunk tonight!" With that, he asked for more drinks, and the two of them started drinking at the bar.

The entire place seemed to glow, transformed simply by Han's presence.

Surrounded by the heat of the music, they savored the joy of this long-awaited reunion.

Elsewhere, at the Ouyang residence, the sun had only just risen. Ouyang Xianyu had already gotten up for his morning exercise and left the house for a run.

After he left, Ouyang Xianyi woke up as well. He walked to the window and watched his brother head out, silently hoping that one day he too could join him for morning exercise.

But when would that day come? Alone, he wandered downstairs and out into the yard, lost in thought.

When Yu returned from his run, he saw Yi standing there looking dazed and assumed he was feeling unwell. He approached and asked, "What's wrong? Don't feel well?"

Yi stared at him in a trance, his eyes wide and unblinking. Had he really just heard his brother speak to him? Was it a hallucination?

Yi could hardly believe it. Seeing his continued silence, Yu grew anxious.

This younger brother, two years his junior, had been frail since birth; the hospital had almost become his second home.

Yu watched him, worried there was something wrong with his health. He was about to call for a doctor when Yi finally responded.

"Brother! Wait!" Yu turned back, giving him a puzzled look. Yi was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear.

Stammering, he managed, "I... I'm fine! Thank you for worrying about me."

Yu looked him over seriously and, seeing that he truly was all right, turned and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. They'd gotten up early today, so their mother was still asleep.

Yi followed him in, watching his brother's actions with curiosity. "Brother, you can cook?"

Yu didn't answer, but his actions spoke for themselves.

Yi had always been in poor health. Though their parents had cared for him meticulously since childhood, there had been little improvement.

He had spent much of his life recuperating in hospitals. It was only three years ago, after their parents brought Yu home, that Yi was able to come home too and be cared for directly by their mother.

Now, he was much better. While he still couldn't exercise, at least he could attend school like a normal person, and for that, he was deeply grateful.

All the lessons he had missed were made up with Yu's help. Yet whenever the two brothers were together, Yu seemed to approach their time as a duty—after explaining how to solve the problems, he would leave Yi to work alone. This saddened Yi.

When breakfast was ready, their mother and father woke up as well. Their mother looked at the meal in surprise.

"Big brother made all this!" Yi said happily, delighted by her astonishment.

—End of chapter—