Shen Lingyu ended her business trip a day early because of Song Lang's fight, and is now in the kitchen preparing dinner for her two sons.
Hearing the noise at the door, she peeked in and saw Song Lang enter with an angry expression. She couldn't help but worry: "What's wrong? You've been so irritable lately."
"It's okay, there was bird poop on the bike seat, it was disgusting." Song Lang threw his schoolbag next to the shoe cabinet, changed into slippers, and strode towards the balcony.
Through the window, he saw Shen Zhifei downstairs holding the handlebars of his car with both hands, slowly walking towards the entrance of the building. Song Xianji did not follow.
His complexion improved after that.
Turning back to the living room sofa and turning on the TV, just as he switched to the sports channel, Shen Zhifei entered the room, shivering with cold.
Song Lang didn't look at him, but his ears perked up.
Shen Zhifei changed into slippers after entering the room, picked up Song Lang's schoolbag, greeted Shen Lingyu at the kitchen door first, and then came to the sofa to put the two matching schoolbags together.
"elder brother."
Song Lang pretended not to hear and started randomly pressing buttons on the remote control to change channels.
"I'm sorry," Shen Zhifei said, standing next to him. Her 1.84-meter height blocked most of the light, making him appear particularly imposing. "I just wanted to take your car home so that I wouldn't let any strangers touch it again."
Song Lang gripped the remote control tightly and let out a cold snort that was hard to decipher.
Shen Zhifei clenched and unclenched his fists behind his back, but in the end he couldn't hold back. He squatted down, knelt on one knee, and took Song Lang's injured hand. "Does it still hurt? Let me see."
Song Lang finally turned his gaze over, and upon seeing Shen Zhifei's furrowed brows and uneasy eyes, the pent-up frustration in his heart instantly dissipated.
"It's alright, it doesn't hurt." Song Lang curled a finger and pressed it against Shen Zhifei's nail, saying, "Why did you come back today?"
Shen Zhifei said, "Our school finished its exams a day earlier than yours, and we're on holiday now."
"Oh." Song Lang nodded.
He felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Lately, he didn't know why, but the two of them always seemed to be inexplicably at odds, even though it was always him who was getting angry, Fei Fei had never really shown any anger towards him.
But he just felt awkward.
They used to be so close. Even though Shen Zhifei was taciturn, Song Lang could feel his dependence on him.
But now—
“You,” Song Lang’s throat tightened, he coughed lightly before continuing, “No wonder he brought you back, it turns out you won’t see each other for the entire winter break. If you’re not close, take this opportunity to break up, you two aren’t a good match.”
Shen Zhifei paused in his hand as he unwrapped the bandages, then continued to loosen them without saying a word.
Seeing that the wound had begun to heal, he picked up the medicine from the coffee table, dipped a cotton swab in it, and gently applied it around the wound, asking, "Where's the bandage?"
Song Lang reached out and opened the drawer, handing over the bandage. Shen Zhifei continued to bandage him, showing no intention of responding.
Song Lang got a little anxious again, "Did you hear that?"
Shen Zhifei carefully wrapped the bandage around his neck, making sure the knot was neither too loose nor too tight, before looking up at him and asking, "Are you against me dating him, or against me having a boyfriend?"
"Is there a difference?" Song Lang asked, puzzled.
Shen Zhifei's eyes were firm: "Yes."
Song Lang wasn't in the mood to delve too deeply. "You're still young. Don't rush into dating. What do kids know about love? Can a relationship last? In the end, you'll be the one who's heartbroken and hurt."
“But you also date.” Shen Zhifei retorted.
“I broke up,” Song Lang said, his neck stiff. “Besides, can our situations be the same? Don’t you know that you two are of the same sex…” He suddenly stopped, realizing that continuing might be a bit harsh. He carefully considered his words before lowering his voice and earnestly advising, “When two men have sex, not only will it hurt, but they can also get HIV. Do I need to remind you of that?”
Shen Zhifei corrected, "The method is correct and the measures are appropriate; the situation you described will not occur."
Song Lang was exasperated: "Absolutely not! I don't agree! You can't do *that* with him, and you can't hug or kiss him! If you're determined to date, I'll tell Mom everything in a bit and she'll persuade you!"
Shen Zhifei looked at him intently and asked, "Are you so worried about my relationship just because you're concerned about my health?"
Song Lang added, "It will also affect your studies."
Shen Zhifei shook his head: "I can get full marks in all subjects except Chinese this semester."
Song Lang was sweating profusely: "Okay, okay, you're amazing. I know you're a top student, so break up with him right away. He's not good enough for you."
Shen Zhifei suddenly smiled.
His usually calm face becomes so beautiful when it's tinged with a smile that it's impossible to look away.
Song Lang felt a tingling sensation in his heart, and his voice was a little hoarse: "What are you laughing at?"
“Your reaction,” Shen Zhifei stood up, placed one hand on Song Lang’s head, and lingered on a strand of hair between her fingers, “is like you’re jealous.”
After saying that, he let go of her hand and went to the kitchen to help Shen Lingyu.
Song Lang stood frozen in the living room, clutching his hair as he fell into deep thought.
Although Mr. Song was still away on a business trip, this was a rare opportunity for the family to gather at the dinner table for a meal in nearly a year. Song Lang and Shen Zhifei sat side by side opposite Shen Lingyu, taking turns putting food into their mother's bowl, a tacit understanding between them.
"Alright, alright, I'm on a diet," Shen Lingyu pushed the dishes towards her two sons and said, "You two eat more, you're both growing taller."
She put down her chopsticks, called out Song Lang by name, and said, "Especially you, eat more, so you'll have more energy to beat someone up, right?"
Song Lang choked, spraying rice onto the table, and coughed incessantly.
Shen Zhifei reached out and patted his back. Once he caught his breath, Song Lang, with a face red from coughing, said, "Mom, isn't this all settled? We agreed not to mention it again."
Shen Lingyu sighed and said, "My goodness, when will you be able to control your temper? You and Feifei are both my children, how come you have such different personalities? Do you think this matter is really over? Now the Gu family is still contacting me on WeChat every day, asking me to take responsibility for their son."