A huge thanks to Katy for the Kofis. Enjoy the bonus chapters!

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As he grew older, his earlier memories began to fade. Qin Zhou could hardly recall anything from before he turned three.

Qin Zhou felt as though he had forgotten something important; vague memories would surface in his dreams, but upon waking, they felt incredibly distant.

Qin Zhou’s parents were deeply in love, and the family was very well-off. His father was the owner of a company, and his mother was an artist.

It could be said that Qin Zhou grew up surrounded by love.

No—his temperament was neither spoiled nor wayward or capricious. His emotions were so stable that people thought of him as a little adult.

Qin Zhou sometimes felt that perhaps it was because he had Lu Yi by his side as a contrast that he appeared so “well-behaved.”

Lu Yi, another young master from a wealthy family, was, however, notorious as a little terror. 

Moreover, Lu Yi’s mother and Qin Zhou’s mother were best friends.

So, even though there was a two-year age gap between them, Qin Zhou and Lu Yi inevitably grew up together.

When they started kindergarten, Lu Yi was the one who took Qin Zhou by the hand.

Qin Zhou was in the youngest class, while Lu Yi was in the oldest.

By the time Lu Yi had become the undisputed king of the kindergarten, Qin Zhou was covered head to toe in little red flowers.

When they started elementary school, Lu Yi was still the one taking Qin Zhou by the hand.

Qin Zhou was a first-grader, while Lu Yi was already a third-grade “school bully.”

Every day after school, little Lu Yi would personally go to Qin Zhou’s classroom to pick him up.

Of course, little Qin Zhou’s test papers were still always perfect.

Later on, things started to change a bit.

When Qin Zhou started middle school, Lu Yi was already in ninth grade. When Qin Zhou entered high school, Lu Yi was already in twelfth grade.

Once he hit his rebellious phase, Lu Yi stopped walking Qin Zhou to school.

The news Qin Zhou heard most often from others was that Lu Yi had gotten into a fight with so-and-so.

When Qin Zhou rushed to the scene, Lu Yi would always be wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, smiling like a victorious Buddha.

Of course, this didn’t mean they had grown distant.

Their families lived in the same neighborhood, and their mothers were best friends—which meant their relationship wouldn’t stop at mere estrangement.

Qin Zhou walked home with his backpack.

What he saw was his mom, looking heartbroken, rushing over to their house to tend to Lu Yi’s wounds while he played the victim.

Lu Yi covered his mouth, leaning on the sofa. When she saw him come in, she actually covered her mouth and laughed, “Qin Zhou, you’re back.”

Qin Zhou calmly set down his shoulder bag and gave a soft “Mm-hmm.”

“Xiao Zhou, come help your brother apply the ointment,” Mom said.

Qin Zhou obediently took the items, while Lu Yi applied the ointment.

Lu Yi leaned back and rested his head on Qin Zhou’s lap. 

Qin Zhou’s hand trembled as he pressed the ointment onto the corner of Lu Yi’s bruised lip.

Lu Yi let out a wail and nearly jumped up.

“… Don’t scream.” Qin Zhou applied the ointment in silence, noticing a pleasant scent of hair wafting from the head resting on his lap.

He was clearly a troublemaker who got into fights every day, yet he had a strikingly handsome face, and even his hair was always clean and neat. The terms “school bully” and “school heartthrob” could be perfectly applied to Lu Yi, blending together seamlessly.

“It hurts, you know? ” Lu Yi’s eyes widened in disbelief. It hurts, and I’m not even allowed to cry out?

“If it hurts, stop fighting.”

Lu Yi shut up.

Compared to his parents, who rarely scolded him, he actually feared his younger brother more.

“What am I supposed to do if I don’t fight… …Am I supposed to start dating early like everyone else?” Lu Yi thought for a moment, feeling too humiliated to back down, and muttered under his breath.

Qin Zhou pressed on his wound again.

Lu Yi yelped in pain and glared at Qin Zhou.

Qin Zhou pinched Lu Yi’s cheek.

The fact that his personality had become so steady was most likely due to the little troublemaker standing right in front of him.

“Lu Yi, you’re a senior now.”

“You have to call me ‘brother,’” Lu Yi insisted. “So what if I’m a senior?”

“College—where are you planning to apply?”

Lu Yi: “I don’t know. Maybe up north?”

Qin Zhou: “Up north? Do you even think you can get in?”

“You underestimate me,” Lu Yi scoffed. “Even though I fight every day, I wouldn’t dare let my grades slip. If I were really a good-for-nothing, my house would’ve been in chaos long ago.”

Of course, there was some exaggeration in those words. But Qin Zhou knew Lu Yi’s grades weren’t bad. All in all, having confidence was a good thing.

Qin Zhou: “Got it. Move over, I’m going to help in the kitchen.”

Lu Yi didn’t budge.

Qin Zhou wrapped his arms around Lu Yi’s knees and waist, effortlessly lifting him up and tossing him to the other side of the sofa.

Lu Yi: ?

Watching Qin Zhou’s receding back, Lu Yi snapped out of his daze.

Huh?

Qin Zhou could actually lift him up?

He’s a 6-foot-tall hunk, after all?

Lu Yi touched his chest—he was actually worried.

Lu Yi jumped to his feet and ran toward the kitchen—

“Auntie, what did Qin Zhou eat? How come he’s almost as tall as me now!”

“He just grows fast.” Qin Zhou’s mother smiled gently.

As Qin Zhou served himself rice, Lu Yi followed close behind, making a fuss, “That shouldn’t be happening!”

“Qin Zhou, give me a little extra—I can still grow taller.”

“Oh, once Xiao Yi goes off to college, we’ll have our hands full.” Aunt Qin looked at the two children, a hint of worry in her eyes.

A spoonful of rice, “He’s going to school, not leaving for good.”

“Exactly, Auntie. Come on, he’ll definitely come visit you. If not, you guys can always come see me at school.”

Well, she couldn’t argue with that.

“Xiao Yi, are you staying here tonight? I’ll have Aunt Liu clean up your room.”

“No need. I’ll sleep with Qin Zhou.” Lu Yi blinked. “Let’s not trouble Aunt Liu.”

“All right.” Qin’s mother smiled.

Qin Zhou silently served himself food and ate in silence.

So, the reason his mental state was stable most of the time was because of the carefree Lu Yi.

He’s the older brother, so he can do whatever he wants.

That night, when Qin Zhou came out of the shower, Lu Yi was already in bed, wearing pajamas.

They’d grown up together.

They’d shared a bed so many times, they’d lost count.

Qin Zhou lay down and calmly tucked the covers around himself. 

He could even reach out and tuck the corner of the blanket around Lu Yi for him.

Suddenly, a hand poked him from under the covers. Qin Zhou turned his head to see Lu Yi’s smiling face.

Looking a bit silly.

“Is there something you want to say?”

Lu Yi’s smile vanished. “No.”

So Qin Zhou calmly closed his eyes.

Lu Yi: “……”

“Sometimes you know me too well, and it really makes me hate you,” Lu Yi gritted his teeth.

Qin Zhou opened his eyes again. “If you have something to say, say it. If not, let’s go to sleep.”

“How old are you this year?”

“Sixteen.”

Lu Yi: “Why are you 1.8 meters tall at sixteen? I was only just over 5’7” when I was sixteen.”

Qin Zhou watched him silently.

“What good is being tall? You can’t fight as well as I can,” Lu Yi pouted.

“But being tall has one use—you can be a human shield,” Lu Yi chuckled. “Next time I get beaten up, you might just be able to protect me. Little Brother Qin Zhou.”

Qin Zhou: “Who’s going to beat you up?”

“My dad, of course.” Lu Yi rested his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling and sighing, “If my dad ever hits me in the future, I can hide behind you. Come to think of it, it’s good that you’re getting taller.”

Qin Zhou: “Why would he hit you?”

Lu Yi paused. “…I don’t know.”

Qin Zhou didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked, “What about what you wanted to say?”

“Forget it.” Lu Yi snorted. “I’ll tell you when you’re eighteen.”

Qin Zhou fell silent. Then, Lu Yi burrowed into his embrace. Lu Yi’s head rested perfectly on Qin Zhou’s arm.

“…My arm’s going to be numb tomorrow.” Even though they were both used to sleeping like this, Qin Zhou still said it.

“I’m the older brother—what’s wrong with giving me a little space?” Lu Yi mumbled, then closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. 

Qin Zhou tilted his head slightly downward and could see Lu Yi’s forehead, dotted with fine strands of hair. Mom and Dad didn’t know that his older brother was sleeping in his arms. It had been that way since they were little. Qin Zhou relaxed the muscles in his elbows. To let him sleep as soundly as possible. Eighteen years old, a university up north. It seemed a bit far, yet not that far anymore.