Chapter 86
During the second week of Zhuo Zhi’s stay at the Cloud Peak apartment, the doorbell rang.
The housekeeper and the doctor now came at scheduled times, they had the elevator code, and would always notify Zhuo Zhi in advance.
So this was a first.
After much persuasion from Zhuo Zhi, Li Qinyue had been going to the office every day to handle necessary business. Zhuo Zhi, alone at home, was busy memorizing vocabulary when the doorbell startled her.
She instinctively rolled the book in her hand into a tube and hurried to the door, where she saw an unfamiliar face on the intercom screen.
The face was slightly distorted by the camera lens, but still handsome, with large, bright eyes.
Zhuo Zhi thought for a moment, she didn’t recognize him.
She ignored the call, waiting for the ringing to stop. Just as she was about to turn away, the screen lit up again.
This person was persistent, he wasn’t giving up.
Zhuo Zhi answered the call, “Who are you looking for?”
“Huh?” The large eyes blinked, “Is Li Qinyue not home? Are you Zhuo Zhi?”
He knew her name. Zhuo Zhi coughed, “Yes, I’m Zhuo Zhi.”
The person on the screen said cheerfully, “I’m looking for you.”
“But I don’t know you,” Zhuo Zhi said.
“Hold on,” the person with the large eyes lowered his head, grabbed his backpack, rummaged through it, and pulled out a document, holding it up to the camera, “This is my passport, wait a second…”
He rummaged again, “And this is my ID card, can you see it clearly?”
Zhuo Zhi could see it clearly. She had a knack for recognizing faces. The photo on the ID matched the person on the screen. The name was Li Hanyang.
Li Hanyang moved his ID card away from the camera, holding it beside his face, “See? My name is Li Hanyang.”
“Hmm,” Zhuo Zhi said, “What do you want?”
Li Hanyang paused, “You don’t know who I am?”
“You’re Li Hanyang.”
“I’m Li Qinyue’s younger brother,” Li Hanyang pointed at his face, “Her biological brother!”
Zhuo Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. She knew Li Qinyue had a younger brother, but she didn’t know his name or what he looked like.
“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi hesitated, then said, “Hello, what do you want?”
“I…” Li Hanyang seemed to be at a loss for words. After a long silence, he took a step back and said, “Sister Zhuo Zhi, I just got off the plane, I haven’t been home yet, this is my luggage, can I go home?”
The two “homes” he mentioned clearly referred to different places. There was nothing wrong with him wanting to go to his sister’s apartment.
Zhuo Zhi felt a little flustered, “Okay, come on up.”
The lock finally clicked open. Li Hanyang breathed a sigh of relief and said, before disappearing from the screen, “You’re very cautious, Sister Zhuo Zhi.”
Zhuo Zhi looked down at her clothes. Nothing wrong with them, quite presentable.
She looked around the apartment. The housekeeper had cleaned it thoroughly, quite presentable.
Zhuo Zhi went to the mirror and looked at herself. Although she wasn’t as beautiful as the Li family, she wasn’t unattractive either.
Perhaps because of the embarrassing incident at the Li family banquet, Zhuo Zhi was so nervous she didn’t know what to do with her one good hand.
Right, she should prepare some drinks.
The elevator doors opened, and Li Hanyang entered, changing his shoes with familiarity.
There was a row of colorful cups on the coffee table in the living room, some with steam still rising.
The person who had caused her sister’s dramatic coming out rushed out of the kitchen, carrying a tray with two more drinks.
Seeing him, she paused, then forced a smile, “You’re here.”
Li Hanyang looked at her for a moment, then said with a smile, “Yes, I didn’t tell you beforehand, sorry if I startled you.”
“No, it’s fine,” Zhuo Zhi put the tray on the table, “I didn’t know what you liked, so… just choose whichever you want.”
Li Hanyang chuckled, looking at the cups, “If Sister Zhuo Zhi made it for me, I’ll drink anything.”
“There’s no need for that,” Zhuo Zhi said, standing beside the sofa.
Li Hanyang picked up a cup and drank half of it in one gulp, making Zhuo Zhi wince, “There’s really no need…”
“No, it’s fine,” Li Hanyang put down the cup, “I was just thirsty.”
“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi gestured, “Then drink more.”
Li Hanyang smiled, his eyes crinkling, “I shouldn’t be calling you ‘Sister’, should I? You’re younger than me.”
“It’s fine, whatever you prefer,” Zhuo Zhi said.
Li Hanyang’s smile widened, “But, considering your relationship with my sister, I don’t know how to address you properly.”
“Just call me by my name,” Zhuo Zhi said.
“Okay, Zhuo Zhi…” Li Hanyang pointed at the sofa, “Sit down, you must be tired from standing.”
Zhuo Zhi didn’t want to sit down, she felt awkward, more awkward than when she had met Li Qinyue’s father.
She didn’t know where this intense awkwardness came from, perhaps it was Li Hanyang’s acknowledgment of their relationship, or perhaps it was simply because he didn’t seem awkward at all.
Zhuo Zhi turned towards the kitchen, “You must be hungry, I’ll make you something to eat.”
Li Hanyang immediately stood up, “Your arm is injured, how can you cook? My sister will kill me!”
“Then I’ll call…”
“I’ll order takeout,” Li Hanyang took out his phone, “What do you like to eat, Zhuo Zhi?”
Zhuo Zhi: “I like the food our housekeeper makes.”
Li Hanyang put down his phone, “Oh, okay.”
Zhuo Zhi sent a message to the housekeeper, then another one to Li Qinyue: Your brother is here.
Just a few seconds after sending the message, before Li Qinyue could even reply, Li Hanyang’s phone rang.
Zhuo Zhi saw him flinch at the caller ID.
But he answered the call quickly, his voice overly enthusiastic, “Hey, Sis! Yeah, I’m at home, I just got back. Of course I was going to look for you. Since you weren’t here, I was just chatting with Zhuo Zhi. Oh, okay, okay, I didn’t order takeout. Yes, yes, of course, of course. Okay, I’ll leave now. Hey, okay, you can ask… Wait, how should I address her? Okay, okay, I understand, bye.”
After hanging up, Zhuo Zhi glanced at Li Hanyang, feeling a little guilty for telling on him so quickly.
Li Hanyang slumped back on the sofa, his previously energetic demeanor deflating like a balloon.
“Sister Zhuo Zhi…” he groaned, staring at the ceiling, “My sister told me not to talk to you.”
“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi thought for a moment, “Then… let’s not talk…”
“But you’re my sister’s girlfriend, we’ll have to talk eventually, won’t we? I’m not going to hurt you.” Li Hanyang raised his hand, “I swear, I support you two.”
“Huh?” This surprised Zhuo Zhi. She took a couple of steps closer, “Really?”
Li Hanyang looked at her, “Of course, I’m not old-fashioned.”
“But… shouldn’t we talk first, or…” Zhuo Zhi frowned, “Get to know each other a little?”
Wasn’t that how families showed they cared?
“No need, my sister is a good judge of character,” Li Hanyang said with a smile, “I trust her judgment.”
His words were so direct and sincere that Zhuo Zhi blushed.
“Okay,” Li Hanyang sat up, picked up another cup, and drank it in one gulp, “I’m going to the hotel downstairs now, I can’t stay here.”
“The hotel downstairs?” Zhuo Zhi was surprised.
“Yeah, I can’t go home now,” Li Hanyang whispered, “I’ll tell you a secret, I skipped school to come here, they’re having exams right now.”
“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi, who was studying hard for her own exams, said instinctively, “That’s not good, isn’t that throwing away all your hard work?”
“I can catch up later,” Li Hanyang stretched, “You might not believe this, but I came back because of you two. Li Qinyue even yelled at me…”
He pouted, looking aggrieved.
He didn’t really look like Li Qinyue, but his expressions and mannerisms sometimes revealed their shared genes, making Zhuo Zhi see glimpses of Li Qinyue in him.
Her awkwardness suddenly vanished, “Don’t go to the hotel, the guest room is empty, and the housekeeper will be here soon to make dinner.”
“But my sister…” Li Hanyang’s expression became even more pitiful.
“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her,” Zhuo Zhi said confidently.
“Ah, Sister Zhuo Zhi,” Li Hanyang smiled, “You’re so nice.”
Zhuo Zhi raised her chin, also thinking she was quite nice, feeling like the lady of the house.
Li Qinyue’s message finally arrived, short and to the point:
-
Don’t mind him, I’ll be back soon.
Zhuo Zhi typed:
-
He hasn’t eaten yet, and I’m hungry too, we’re having hot and sour fish soup for dinner.
Li Qinyue’s call came immediately. Li Hanyang stared at her, his eyes wide with anxiety.
Zhuo Zhi mouthed the words “don’t worry” to him, then walked aside to answer the call.
Li Qinyue’s temper, initially fiery and explosive, could be easily calmed with a few gentle words and some coaxing.
Zhuo Zhi soothed her with soft words, and Li Qinyue’s tone gradually softened, finally agreeing to let Li Hanyang stay.
Zhuo Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and gave Li Hanyang an “OK” sign behind her back, then chatted with Li Qinyue for a few more minutes before hanging up.
Li Hanyang leaned back on the sofa, looking like a happy puppy, his eyes shining, “My sister agreed to let me stay?”
“Yes,” Zhuo Zhi said, “She’s your sister, it’s not a big deal.”
“No, it is a big deal, definitely a big deal!” Li Hanyang protested, “It’s not about whether or not she lets me stay, it’s about her attitude. She’s very stubborn, she never compromises, no amount of pleading or acting pitiful will work…”
“It doesn’t work?” Zhuo Zhi paused, “It works… quite well…”
“Oh,” Li Hanyang waved his hand dismissively, humming softly, “Lemons surround me, for reasons unknown…”
Zhuo Zhi burst out laughing, “You must be doing it wrong.”
“It’s my identity that’s wrong,” Li Hanyang looked at Zhuo Zhi with a mixture of flattery and admiration, “Sister Zhuo Zhi, I think I’ll be fine as long as I’m on your good side.”
“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi sat down on the sofa opposite him, blinking, “It’s not that powerful, but I can stop your sister from beating you up.”
“Hey, that’s great!” Li Hanyang was overjoyed.
“Wait,” Zhuo Zhi was surprised, “She actually beats you up?!”
“She does! She’s been beating me up since we were kids!” Li Hanyang held out his hand, “Look, this scar, she bit me! Blood everywhere!”
“Ah…” She even bites? Zhuo Zhi was even more shocked. She leaned closer to examine his hand, “I don’t see a scar…”
“Here, here…” Li Hanyang pointed, “It’s not very obvious now, because my skin heals quickly…”
“Oh,” Zhuo Zhi looked at the faint pink mark and leaned back on the sofa.
“Sister…” Li Hanyang looked at her intently, “To repay your kindness for letting me stay, I’ll tell you a secret.”
“No!” Zhuo Zhi instinctively protested, “I don’t like hearing secrets, it’s dangerous.”
“It’s about you two,” Li Hanyang said.
“Me…” Zhuo Zhi pointed at herself, “Two?”
“Yes,” Li Hanyang nodded, “Do you know why my dad was so angry after my sister came out?”
Actually, Zhuo Zhi thought Li Qinyue’s father had been quite calm, but judging from Li Hanyang’s words, he had probably just hidden his anger from her.
“Why?” Zhuo Zhi was interested in this topic.
“Because…” Li Hanyang paused, raising an eyebrow, just like Li Qinyue, “Around this time last year, I told my dad that I’m gay.”
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