Chapter 104: Dislike Others Coveting What Is Mine

Although Song Chengyi had asked Luo Yixia to help him tidy up his things, he kept watching her from a distance.

Originally, he had wanted to ease the awkward atmosphere, but seeing Luo Yixia fuss endlessly over a few pieces of clothing in a suitcase, he couldn't bear it any longer and asked her for help. Yet when Luo Yixia swiftly stuffed one item into a drawer, he suddenly realized that he hadn't seen clearly what it was, but he certainly knew that drawer—it was where his underwear was kept.

Not only did Luo Yixia blush, her hand burned as if scorched, and Song Chengyi behind her was no less embarrassed. Uncertain and perhaps guilty, Luo Yixia instinctively turned her head to look at Song Chengyi.

Caught off guard, Song Chengyi hadn't expected her to turn around so suddenly, and their gazes met.

Afterwards, both quickly shifted their eyes elsewhere. Luo Yixia awkwardly continued tidying up the clothes, while Song Chengyi lowered his head to focus on his computer.

He ended up staring at the same page of his research topic the entire morning.

Once everything was hastily packed up, Luo Yixia spoke, "Um… I'm going to find Brother Zeming and talk to him for a bit."

"Okay." This time, Song Chengyi actually replied.

Luo Yixia darted out immediately.

Only once she left the room did she finally breathe out, feeling utterly suffocated—it was truly unbearable.

In truth, Luo Yixia had only made up an excuse; she had no intention of actually seeking out Song Zeming. After the mortifying incident last night, going to him now would only invite ridicule.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out, she bumped into Song Zeming, who was about to come out.

"Xia Xia," Song Zeming greeted her with a gentle smile.

"Brother Zeming," she replied, head lowered, still unable to meet his eyes. If she did, she'd recall last night's drunkenness and her shameful behavior.

"Shall we go out and talk?" Song Zeming asked kindly.

Helpless, she nodded.

The two descended the stairs; the living room was empty, but from the kitchen in the distance, they could hear Wenjing and Yunse chatting.

They walked out to the villa's garden.

The weather was gloomy, a cloudy day with occasional breezes. The sky was dark and threatened rain.

Luo Yixia clasped her hands behind her back, following beside Song Zeming, silent, waiting for him to speak.

Yet Song Zeming wasn't in a hurry, strolling slowly with her.

After a while, he smiled and asked, "Xia Xia, you seem to be getting along well with Chengyi now."

Luo Yixia bit her lower lip, unsure what to say.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?" Song Zeming perceptively sensed her mood.

"No, I'm happy… It's just that he's not," Luo Yixia admitted. She knew she had always been the one forcing things with Song Chengyi.

She was painfully aware that he didn't like her. He had clearly rejected her before, had even told her he disliked her, yet she kept pushing herself on him.

"Chengyi? I feel that since I returned, he's changed a lot. I think he's actually quite happy now," Song Zeming said.

Luo Yixia gave a helpless smile, "Brother Zeming, what are you saying? How could he be happy? He doesn't like me, yet he's with me, always forced to take care of me."

"Do you really think Chengyi is someone who can be forced?" Song Zeming stopped walking and smiled at her.

Luo Yixia wasn't sure. She thought she understood Song Chengyi well, but when it came to his emotions, she felt completely lost.

"I believe Chengyi is changing—he's slowly starting to like you," Song Zeming said, as he always had.

"Is that so," Luo Yixia replied, clearly skeptical.

Song Zeming didn't rush to explain further. Some things were best experienced firsthand.

"After all that drinking last night, is your head still hurting?" he changed the subject.

At once, Luo Yixia felt like exploding.

She reacted dramatically, "Brother Zeming, please don't mention last night. I was so embarrassing!" She covered her face, unable to look at him.

"It's all over," Song Zeming reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"I can't believe I got that drunk… it's humiliating… You don't know, this morning all my roommates laughed at me. I don't even want to go to school now, it's so embarrassing," Luo Yixia complained loudly.

Upstairs, Song Chengyi, who had tried to quietly focus on his research, was once again drawn to the noise from below.

Unable to restrain himself, he walked over to the balcony and saw the two in the garden.

Luo Yixia was covering her face, while Song Zeming stood beside her, tenderly ruffling her hair.

The sight left Song Chengyi feeling cold inside.

He had forgotten that Luo Yixia had once written a love letter to Song Zeming—he'd even caught her doing it.

Over the years, with Song Zeming away from home, Song Chengyi had gradually let this slip from his mind, believing Luo Yixia's affections were all for him. But seeing this now, a warning bell sounded in his heart.

Could he really end up as a love rival with his own brother?

Downstairs, the two had no further intimate gestures; Luo Yixia whined pitifully, and Song Zeming quickly withdrew his hand, only smiling at her.

Still, Song Chengyi felt uneasy, as if something precious of his was being coveted.

Soon, the two returned inside.

Song Chengyi sat back in his chair, but couldn't focus on his research.

Not long after, Song Zeming came upstairs, stopped at Song Chengyi's door, saw him staring at the computer, and knocked at the open door, "Chengyi, lunch is ready."

Song Chengyi was lost in thought, but snapped out of it.

He shut his laptop—what should have taken half an hour had taken him all morning, with no progress.

As Song Zeming turned to head downstairs, Song Chengyi called out.

"Brother."

Song Zeming turned, looking at him questioningly.

"I don't like others coveting what's mine. You know that, right?" Without preamble, Song Chengyi headed down.

Song Zeming shook his head in helpless amusement. Had he somehow offended this little ancestor again?

Lunch was bountiful.

Yun kept piling food into Luo Yixia's bowl, urging her to eat more to nourish herself.

Luo Yixia stared at her bowl, now piled like a small mountain, completely at a loss as to where to start.

Just then, Song Chengyi quietly got up, served her a bowl of soup, and placed it by her hand: "Drink the soup."

He then thoughtfully took an empty plate and moved the mountain of food from her bowl to the side.

Giving Luo Yixia space to eat.

Wenjing and Yun exchanged glances, sighing, "Feels like we're being fed dog food."

Luo Yixia smiled awkwardly.

She truly couldn't make sense of Song Chengyi—he seemed strange, as if they'd already reconciled, yet his gestures flowed so naturally.

In the afternoon, Yun and Wenjing discussed taking them shopping for clothes.

Luo Yixia really didn't want to go. She finally had some time off and just wanted to laze in bed with snacks and dramas.

But she couldn't resist the two mothers nagging at her from either side.

Song Chengyi hadn't planned to go, but upon hearing Song Zeming would, he immediately followed.

Song Zeming drove, Song Chengyi sat in the front passenger seat, Luo Yixia and the two mothers sat in the back.

"Mom, I have plenty of clothes, there's no need to buy more. I have enough," Luo Yixia pleaded, dreading Yun dragging her from one fitting room to another.

"A girl can never have too many clothes. Autumn's coming and you haven't bought anything for it yet. I know we're taking up your and Chengyi's alone time today, but the next few days, we won't disturb you," Yun explained.

"That's not it…" Luo Yixia glanced at Song Chengyi in the front seat, hesitating to explain.

How could she possibly feel comfortable now? She still didn't know how to get along with him.

Yet her bashful, hesitant expression was all too revealing.

"Xia Xia, I noticed you barely have any cosmetics—your room is so empty. How can a girl not love to dress up?" Yun remarked.

Before Luo Yixia could respond, Song Chengyi in the front became agitated, "Mom, you went into my room?"

"Why are you shouting? That's Xia Xia's room now. When did it become yours?" Yun shot her son a look.

"Don't go into my room from now on," Song Chengyi insisted.

But Yun ignored him, smiling at Luo Yixia, "Later, your mom and I will take you to pick out some cosmetics. Girls at your age need to pay attention to skincare."

Wenjing chimed in, "I've told her so many times, but she's lazy and never cares."

Wenjing was eternally worried about her rough-edged daughter.

"We'll help her pick some," Yun and Wenjing agreed.

Luo Yixia sat in the middle, sighing, feeling like a little lab rat.

She'd always found Wenjing's sweet nagging annoying, but Yun—who had always seemed so different from her mother—was now acting just the same.

They arrived at the mall.

This time, neither son escaped the terror of being dragged along.

Song Zeming rarely accompanied his mother shopping, and now with both sons at once, he was overwhelmed.

He had thought, with Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi present, he could just carry their bags and run errands.

He hadn't expected Yun and Wenjing to lavish attention on him, saying he'd been away so long and needed to make up for it.

Yun picked out a pile of clothes and handed them to him, ordering him to go try them on.

Song Zeming regretted it deeply. He'd spent years at military school, then in the army, never accompanying women shopping. Now he finally understood why his father always returned exhausted from outings with his mother.

It was truly draining.

Meanwhile, Song Chengyi seized the opportunity, grabbed Luo Yixia's hand, and sneaked away.

Luo Yixia glanced at their joined hands, asking, "What are we supposed to do, running off now?"

Song Chengyi looked back at her, "Unless you want to be dragged into the chaos?"

Luo Yixia shook her head vigorously, like a rattling bell.