ARBRMW : Chapter 6

“Old Chen, what are you looking at?”  

Ke Xinghao noticed Chen Xu zoning out and gave his shoulder a push.  

Chen Xu frowned slightly.  

He thought he had just seen Si Ye’s car.  

“It’s nothing.” Chen Xu turned his head back. “What were you guys just talking about?”  

“Old Chen, be honest with us. Did you just see a beautiful woman?”  

Ke Xinghao bumped his shoulder against Chen Xu’s and wiggled his eyebrows at him.  

Chen Xu could not stand him. “No.”  

“Ha! Ke Xinghao, do you really think Chen Xu is like you? Unable to move at the sight of a pretty girl?”  

Wang Chengyi rolled his eyes, causing the whole group to burst into laughter.  

“Old Wang, you just do not get it.”  

Ke Xinghao puffed out his chest proudly. “I call this *appreciation*. Everyone loves beauty, after all.”  

“Wow, Ke Xinghao, I am impressed. You actually used a refined phrase like ‘everyone loves beauty’?”  

A ponytailed girl teased.  

Ke Xinghao reached out to hook an arm around Chen Xu’s shoulder and tilted his chin up. “This is what they call ‘you become who you surround yourself with,’ right, Old Chen?”  

Chen Xu gave him a half-smile, looked at him sideways, and mercilessly shrugged his arm off.  

“Not bad, not bad. Looks like Ke Xinghao has really absorbed some wisdom from our academic genius.”  

Wang Chengyi walked over and playfully smacked Ke Xinghao on the back of the head before turning to Chen Xu.  

“Chen Xu, could it be that you blessed his brain with enlightenment?”  

Chen Xu curled his lips slightly but said nothing.  

“Just now, we were talking about going to the beach. What do you guys think?”  

Guan Qingqing quickly pulled the topic back on track before they got too far off course.  

“I have no problem with it. You guys have no idea—ever since the exams ended, my mom has been sick of me being at home. It is tragic.”  

Wang Chengyi shrugged dramatically.  

“Same here! Same world, same mom! Right after the exams, I was her precious baby. Now, I feel like I was just a freebie she got from recharging her phone plan—and not even a useful one!”  

The group of boys and girls began chatting enthusiastically, planning their beach trip while also complaining about their decreasing status at home.  

“We do not have to go too far. The neighboring province has a beach. It only takes two hours by train.”  

“I am in! How long are we staying?”  

“At least a week! I heard that beach has barbecue at night, and you can watch the stars. It is super romantic.”  

As they continued planning, some offered to bring snacks, while others mentioned having connections to rent tents at a discount.  

“I will buy the train tickets!”  

Ke Xinghao raised his hand eagerly.  

The group arrived at the barbecue stall. Some went to order food, while others found a place to sit.  

“Chen Xu, what do you want to drink?”  

Guan Qingqing asked.  

“Soy milk. Thank you.”  

As soon as Chen Xu finished speaking, Ke Xinghao smacked his thigh.  

“Old Chen! You are actually drinking soy milk? That is so *not* manly! Let us get a crate of beer first!”  

Chen Xu indifferently removed Ke Xinghao’s hand from his leg and turned back to Guan Qingqing.  

“Soy milk. Thank you.”  

Guan Qingqing could not hold back her laughter. “Alright.”  

“Old Chen, this is embarrassing. Drinking soy milk in front of the girls? That is so lame.”  

Ke Xinghao pouted.  

Chen Xu gave him a cold look, making Ke Xinghao shudder and immediately shut up.  

“Hahahaha! Ke Xinghao, are you asking for a beating? It has only been three days, and you are already acting up again, daring to call Chen Xu *lame*?”  

Wang Chengyi tossed a roasted soybean at Ke Xinghao’s head.  

“Old Wang, can you not say that? You just have to bring up the worst topics.”  

Ke Xinghao glared at Wang Chengyi and grabbed a handful of soybeans to shove into his mouth.  

“What? Did Chen Xu actually beat up Ke Xinghao?”  

The ponytailed girl’s eyes lit up with curiosity.  

The boys felt a little embarrassed remembering the incident, but Wang Chengyi was holding back laughter, his whole body shaking.  

Ke Xinghao sighed in regret.  

“I was blind back then. I failed to recognize my own brother’s greatness.”  

Chen Xu had almost forgotten about that, but now that Ke Xinghao mentioned it, he remembered that during their first year of high school, Ke Xinghao had tried to pick a fight with him.  

The girls eagerly leaned in—gossip about the school heartthrob was the best kind.  

“Tell us, tell us!”  

They urged.  

Ke Xinghao was too embarrassed to talk about it in front of the girls, but Wang Chengyi, that traitor, sold him out completely.  

“When we first started high school, Chen Xu immediately caught the attention of all the girls.”  

“Of course! Our school heartthrob’s looks speak for themselves. We had good taste.”  

The girls giggled.  

“So, the middle school boys, led by Ke Xinghao, got jealous. I remember he even called Chen Xu a *pretty boy* back then.”  

Ke Xinghao quickly turned to Chen Xu and apologized.  

“Brother! Brother! I was blind back then. Please do not hold it against me!”  

Chen Xu took the soy milk from Guan Qingqing. “Thanks.”  

Seeing that Chen Xu was not actually angry, Ke Xinghao patted his chest in relief.  

The girls, however, became even more curious.  

How had Chen Xu managed to turn Ke Xinghao, who originally disliked him, into such a devoted follower?  

Since they had been in different classes before, they had no idea about this past conflict.  

Now that Wang Chengyi was telling the story, their curiosity grew.  

“At the time, Ke Xinghao could not stand Chen Xu. He thought he was putting on airs. So after school one day, he gathered some guys to block Chen Xu’s way.”  

“Ke Xinghao, you actually ganged up on the school heartthrob?”  

The girls were outraged.  

The person they had adored was actually cornered by this idiot?!  

“Please, have mercy, my goddesses! I was just a dumb kid back then. I have already repented!”  

Ke Xinghao pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture.  

“And then? Chen Xu did not get hurt, right?”  

The girls turned to Wang Chengyi with concern.  

Wang Chengyi snorted.  

“Then, this group of idiots got their asses handed to them by Chen Xu.”  

“Enough! My face is burning just hearing this. Chen Xu and I bonded through fists!”  

Ke Xinghao slung an arm around Chen Xu’s shoulder.  

“Right, Old Chen?”  

Chen Xu coldly knocked his arm away.  

“No, I just single-handedly beat you up.”  

“Hahahahahaha!”  

Chen Xu’s blunt reply made everyone laugh.  

“Brother! I beg you, please do not say that. I still have some dignity left!”  

Ke Xinghao groaned.  

Back then, even though Chen Xu had looked like a delicate and scholarly boy, he had the strength to make people kneel and call him “Daddy” in a fight.  

After finishing their barbecue, they moved to a KTV and partied until after 9 PM before heading home.  

“Haozi, I will transfer the money to you.”  Chen Xu called out to him.  

“What are you saying? Are you crazy? Are we still brothers?”  

“What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind? Are we still brothers?” Ke Xinghao had always known that Chen Xu’s family wasn’t rich—his wardrobe consisted of only a few outfits, none of which were from a famous brand (or maybe he bought three or four dozen pieces from a street stall), and Chen Xu had been working part-time since his first year of high school—sometimes even skipping class to work. As one of Chen Xu’s good friends, Ke Xinghao had observed all of this. He knew that Chen Xu had a very strong sense of pride, so he dared not give him money directly; instead, he always found excuses to treat him, hoping that Chen Xu would always have enough to eat and wear.

At first, Ke Xinghao worried that Chen Xu’s skipping classes to work might cause his grades to fall behind. Fortunately, Guan Qingqing, kind-hearted and enthusiastic as the class monitor, had offered to tutor Chen Xu—but was unceremoniously rejected by Chen Xu. They both thought Chen Xu was just a self-destructive slacker and tried everything to save him. As one of the class’s second-to-last ranked students, Ke Xinghao’s attempt to rescue another underachiever was quite touching.

It wasn’t until the monthly exam results came out that Ke Xinghao and Guan Qingqing saw Chen Xu’s name at the top of the grade. Both of them blushed with embarrassment, especially Ke Xinghao—a slacker who felt so mortified that he didn’t dare speak to Chen Xu for several days afterward.

“Let’s settle accounts like real brothers. Your family’s money wasn’t blown in by the wind,” Chen Xu said as he pulled out his phone to transfer money to Ke Xinghao.

Ke Xinghao’s face darkened. “Old Chen, if you dare transfer money today, it means you’re distancing yourself from me as a brother.”

“Alright then, next time I’ll treat you all,” Chen Xu replied. Having lived two lifetimes, he knew that even though Ke Xinghao was a bit foolish, he sincerely regarded him as a friend. Chen Xu didn’t want to jeopardize that.

“Okay, next time I’ll treat you to a big feast,” Ke Xinghao instantly grinned.

Although he said that, every time Chen Xu treated them, Ke Xinghao and the others ate very sparingly and chose very inexpensive places. Even when Chen Xu told them he had money, they still acted the same way.

Qingtian: Chen Xu, my sister just got a new batch in. When are you free to come over?

Just as Chen Xu got on his bicycle, he saw a message from Guan Qingqing. He parked his bike by the roadside and lowered his head to type.

Chen Xu: I’m available anytime.

Qingtian: Alright, I’ll have my sister schedule a time and let you know.

Chen Xu: Mm.

After tucking his phone into his pocket and preparing to pedal away, he suddenly heard a car horn.

He turned his head and saw a black car slowly pulling up next to him.

The window was lowered, and under the dim streetlight, a stern, chiseled face appeared.

“Uncle Si?” Chen Xu was quite surprised. How could Si Ye be here?

“Get in,” Si Ye said quietly, his gaze fixed on him—there was no room for refusal.

“But I have my bike,” Chen Xu protested; he couldn’t just leave his bicycle on the roadside.

“Put it in the trunk,” Si Ye ordered. No sooner had he spoken than the driver got out, respectfully approached Chen Xu, and said, “Young Master Xu, please give me your car.”

Well, what choice did Chen Xu have? He obediently handed over his “BMW” to the driver, opened the rear door, and sat inside.

Inside the car, a cool breeze welcomed him, carrying with it the lingering aroma of barbecue from his clothes; in the enclosed space, his scent—perhaps mixed with a hint of sweat—permeated the air with an overwhelming, dominating presence.

Si Ye sat beside him, impeccably dressed in a suit, a watch on his wrist, his posture straight and exuding an untouchable nobility.

“I… I’d rather get off,” Chen Xu said awkwardly, scratching his face as if to make his escape.

Si Ye grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. Startled, Chen Xu tumbled into Si Ye’s embrace. The crisp, pure scent enveloped him suddenly.

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