In a Relationship With the Rugged Guy Next Door - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: “Brother, I was always a man…”

Chen Jingming originally wanted to explain himself, but then he remembered he was currently living “under Chu Feng’s wing.” He had no idea what the future held.

Better to listen to his brother for now and just live.

Chu Feng turned to glance at Chen Jingming. Seeing that the younger man wasn’t sad or resistant—but was instead looking back at him with a smile—Chu Feng smiled too. “Good boy.”

That evening, Chen Lang came over for dinner. He didn’t know how to cook; not only was he unskilled in the kitchen, but he was also quite a picky eater. Chen Lang’s parents were excellent cooks, and his sister ran a restaurant in the city. Growing up in a family of foodies had given him a very demanding palate.

“This chicken isn’t suitable for Spicy Diced Chicken (Laziji). It’s an old bird; it should have been used for stew,” Chen Lang critiqued.

The Laziji was fragrant, spicy, and tender. Chen Jingming wasn’t listening to a word of Chen Lang’s criticism. Shoveling food into his mouth, he chirped, “Mm-mm, so good, so good!”

Chen Lang continued, “The Ciba chili isn’t fresh, and you skimped on the garlic.”

Chen Jingming replied, “Not too spicy at all, delicious!”

Chen Lang: “…”

Chu Feng laughed, giving Chen Lang a triumphant look.

The purpose of dinner tonight was to discuss how to receive General Manager Fu of the Crescent Hotel. He was scheduled to arrive in Changxi City at 10:00 AM on Saturday. The plan was to tour the pasture in the afternoon and host a dinner that evening. Fu had other arrangements for Sunday.

“Apparently, he wants to visit a few local coffee shop owners,” Chen Lang noted. “While doing research, I found out this Manager Fu used to be a chef in Paris. He even won some significant coffee competitions.”

Chen Jingming asked, “Didn’t you say he’s the youngest son of the group’s owner? Rich kids become chefs too?”

Chen Lang replied, “I’m not entirely sure. But he has an older brother and sister handling the family business, so maybe he didn’t feel as much pressure?”

“Then why is he the General Manager of the family company now?” Chu Feng asked.

Gossip about wealthy families is everywhere. Chen Lang had done his homework, but he couldn’t tell fact from fiction; he just tried to piece together various reports into a coherent narrative.

However, that specific question remained unanswered.

“I don’t know,” Chen Lang admitted.

Chu Feng picked out a piece of drumstick meat from the pot and placed it in Chen Jingming’s bowl.

Chen Jingming ate heartily, mumbling, “I bet I know. Maybe he’s an illegitimate son fighting for the inheritance, or maybe his siblings got cancer and he had to step up to shoulder the family burden.”

Chen Lang: “Are you serious?”

With cheeks puffed out, Chen Jingming said, “That’s how it’s written in all the novels I read.”

Chu Feng doted on him blindly. “It’s not impossible.”

Chen Lang sighed, “Can’t there be a positive reason? It’s either illegitimate kids or cancer with you.”

Chen Jingming laughed. “Brother Lang, is this Manager Fu handsome?”

Chen Lang: “There are no photos; he’s quite mysterious. But the elder Manager Fu is already fifty, so this guy must be in his forties. He used to be a cook—how handsome could he be?”

“Let’s arrange dinner at Dagu Village,” Chen Lang suggested. “His assistant said he wants to experience the local culture. It just so happens there’s a market and a Nuo opera performance that day.”

Chu Feng picked the chilies out of the dry-fried beans to make it easier for Chen Jingming to grab the vegetables. “Xiao Lang, you’ll come with me then.”

Chen Jingming blinked. “Brother, I want to go too.”

Chen Lang teased, “I thought you didn’t want to go before?”

Chen Jingming replied, “Well, I want to now.”

“Alright, alright, we’ll go together.” Chen Lang found Chen Jingming’s soft, slightly coquettish tone very endearing. The kid was truly cute; Chen Lang almost couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch his cheek.

…

When Chen Jingming first returned, Chu Feng practically kept him attached to his belt, taking him everywhere.

But tomorrow, Jingming was going to meet the Editor-in-Chief. If it went well, he’d have a job. He wasn’t actually the helpless “baby” Chu Feng imagined him to be.

On the contrary, after arriving at his adoptive home years ago, Chen Jingming had been quite sensible and independent. At eleven years old, he already remembered too much. Because of the barrier in his heart, he had never truly integrated. He had performed the role of a “good boy” to please the adults, never being rebellious or making them angry.

For the once-pampered Chen Jingming, this hadn’t been easy, but he had endured it.

His adoptive parents weren’t blind to this emotional distance. When they called out for “A-Ming,” they weren’t even sure if they were calling for Chen Jingming or their lost son, Chen Jiaming.

Chen Jingming knew that Chen Jiaming liked wearing red scarves, loved Coca-Cola chicken wings, liked being carried on his father’s back, and loved computer games—he always said he wanted to be a programmer when he grew up.

But the adoptive parents didn’t know what Chen Jingming liked. Perhaps they didn’t want to know; as long as he was the same as “A-Ming,” that was enough.

Both sides were aware of this unspoken dynamic, and the distance grew even greater once Chen Jingming went to college.

Later, when Chen Jingming decided to pursue a career in writing, the rift with his adoptive parents deepened. He worked part-time jobs during holidays, found his own housing, and moved between different cities following film crews.

Chen Jingming could do anything.

Though he might shed tears, he always wiped them away quickly.

During the thirteen years they were apart, Chu Feng had grown so much; Chen Jingming was determined not to fall behind.

…

It turned out the pasture’s full name was Xishan Pasture. Chen Jingming only learned this after glancing at the documents Chen Lang had brought. Moreover, Chu Feng was busier than he had imagined.

Chu Feng’s primary role was the owner of the pasture. Secondly, he owned an orchard that mainly grew kiwifruit. Simultaneously, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Changling Town Livestock Committee, was a shareholder in the town’s wax printing workshop, and was the admin of the “Lovelorn Changling Town” WeChat group.

“Brother, you’re amazing,” Chen Jingming said, lying on his side with one leg propped against the wall.

Chu Feng had just finished showering. As usual, he was wearing only his underwear. As he moved about, his “large equipment” swung back and forth. Chen Jingming was almost used to it.

—Used to habitually not looking there.

Chu Feng was putting away his heavy clothes to clear space in the wardrobe for Chen Jingming.

He smiled and asked, “Why do you say that?”

Chen Jingming: “You do so many things. Brother, you never told me where you went to school or how you started raising cattle.”

“I went to military school in Xi’an. After graduating, I came back and served as a physical education instructor at the Police Academy for two years,” Chu Feng said while folding clothes. “At the time, an out-of-town boss came here to lease land for a large cattle farm. After a while, he ran off, leaving behind massive debts for construction and rent. The pasture was already built and the calves were ordered. If no one took over, the whole thing would have rotted away in Changling Town. I thought, this is our home, I can’t let it rot.”

“And then you took over?” Chen Jingming shifted positions, hugging his pillow and listening intently.

Chu Feng: “I didn’t have the funds or the knowledge to take over back then. It just so happened that Li Yongjing had just taken office. He helped me pull some strings to secure an investment. Later, once things improved, I took out loans and slowly built it up to what it is today.”

Chen Jingming: “What about the orchard?”

Chu Feng: “Those are our local specialty kiwis—the long ones. I had made some money then, and the orchard was close to the pasture with a stable sales channel, so I took it on.”

Chen Jingming nodded. “And the Livestock Committee Vice Chairman?”

Chu Feng laughed. “Li Yongjing forced that one on me. But it’s good; it means I have the keys to the house next door and can go in to clean it up once in a while.”

So his brother had been the one cleaning the old house. Chen Jingming swung his legs happily. “And the wax printing workshop?”

Chu Feng: “That? That’s a collaborative project with Changxi University. It’s a local ethnic specialty. Once I settled down at home, people started coming to me for everything. I couldn’t just stand by and watch the craft die out.”

Turning around, Chu Feng added, “I’ll ask Sister Chen to make you a set of wax-printed clothes later. Do you want one?”

Chen Jingming said he did.

“Okay.” Chu Feng finished tidying and lay down on the bed. Chen Jingming’s questions made him feel at peace. The younger man was talking more and more, and Chu Feng loved that.

Chu Feng raised his arm, signaling for Chen Jingming to rest his head on his shoulder. “Baby, this is our home. Back then, I just thought I had to guard this place. Otherwise, if you came back, what would you do if you couldn’t find home?”

Like a soft bun, Chen Jingming had grown used to Chu Feng’s occasional assertiveness. He nudged himself closer into Chu Feng’s embrace.

“Thank you, brother.”

“Good boy. Go to sleep.”

…

The meeting with Teacher Du Li and the Editor-in-Chief at the Convergence Media Center was set for 2:00 PM. Chen Jingming had even dressed up, wearing a button-down shirt and styling his hair. The “Old Cow” was stunned.

“Is it weird?” Chen Jingming asked anxiously.

“No,” Chu Feng’s lips curled upward. “You’re too handsome. You look like a man now.”

Chen Jingming snapped: “Brother, I was always a man!”

Chu Feng burst out laughing. He knew that. He explained, “You used to be so fragrant and soft, like a girl.”

“That was when I was a kid,” Chen Jingming pouted, clearly displeased.

Chu Feng hurried to apologize. “My mistake, I shouldn’t have said that. Our baby is a tall, sturdy, grown man.”

It sounded a bit sarcastic, but Chu Feng wasn’t the type of person to be snide, so Chen Jingming couldn’t quite tell.

He could only emphasize: “I am a man!”

Chu Feng couldn’t stop smiling as he grabbed the car keys and they headed out together.

The Convergence Media Center was affiliated with the Municipal Radio and Television Station. This small office was located next to the old district government building. Most departments had already moved to the new district, but a few remained.

The old government building sat along the river. The nearby old street had become a popular tourist spot, adjacent to Nanxi Park, the largest park in Changxi City.

Chen Jingming looked at the scenery outside the window, marveling at how much it had changed and how beautiful it was.

If only he had grown up here.

“I’ll wait for you in the parking lot. There aren’t many people around, and the office is hard to find,” Du Li said over the phone.

Chen Jingming thanked her and straightened his printed resume and portfolio.

“Don’t be nervous later. I’ll be waiting right outside for you,” Chu Feng instructed.

Chen Jingming hummed. “Okay.”

Chu Feng added, “If the Editor-in-Chief is mean, call me immediately.”

Chen Jingming: “…”

Chu Feng continued, “I asked Du Li, but she isn’t very close with the Editor either. People who stay in government institutions for a long time can be ‘old foxes.’ I’m just afraid you’ll be nervous.”

“Brother,” Chen Jingming turned his head slowly. “Is it you who’s nervous?”

Chen Jingming had dealt with plenty of difficult people in the entertainment industry; he wasn’t nervous at all.

Chu Feng pursed his lips sheepishly.

In the parking lot, they met Teacher Du Li. Chen Jingming greeted her politely and thanked her for the introduction, inviting her to dinner afterward.

When Chu Feng tried to follow them to the office door to wait, Chen Jingming refused.

“I’m worried.”

“That’s still a no. If people see you, they’ll think I’m immature,” Chen Jingming said firmly.

Chu Feng compromised: “Then I’ll wait downstairs in your building.”

“Oh, Brother Feng,” Du Li said, exasperated. “You’re being a bit ridiculous.”

Chu Feng: “How am I being ridiculous?”

Du Li: “Your ‘baby’ is a full-grown adult, okay? Look at him—he’s handsome and has all these impressive works to his name. You’re the only one who still thinks he’s five years old.”

“…” Chu Feng paused, then muttered stubbornly, “You wouldn’t understand our situation.”