The Big Shot and His Brothers All Love Me - Chapter 5

When Meng Fang received Lian Yuan’s message, he truly wasn’t asleep.

The private room was a blur of neon lights and wine, contrasting with the clumsiness of Lian Yuan’s text. Meng Fang took one look and couldn’t help but smile.

Leaning back against the sofa, he replied: “Just like last night is fine.”

This was the best possible outcome Lian Yuan had envisioned. His apprehensive mood instantly settled.

Only after searching carefully online did he realize how unsafe it was to do this and that with a stranger so casually, and even accept money for it.

Fortunately, Meng Fang was exceptionally good both in and out of bed.

Lian Yuan patiently picked out an emoji to send—a cute little character squatting and nodding “mhm, mhm.”

Meng Fang’s chat history was usually orderly and crisp. Seeing the charmingly naive emoji, he found it quite interesting and added it to his favorites.

He recalled the way Lian Yuan had looked at him expectantly while huddled in the quilt before he left.

Since the boy was his now, and based on last night’s performance, there was an 80% chance it was his first time. He asked him: “Feeling better?”

Lian Yuan: “Much better.”

Then he politely added: “How about you?”

Meng Fang’s mental and physical state could be described as entirely refreshed, as if his Ren and Du meridians had been cleared. Everything he looked at seemed pleasing to the eye.

This was also why he still had the mood to attend a friend’s gathering after handling a mountain of accumulated official business.

But the little pitiable one asking this made it seem as though one didn’t… very much want to fish him out and do it a few more times.

Thinking this, several dirty thoughts popped into his head.

But after all, they weren’t very familiar, he hadn’t acted like a rogue yet. Furthermore, he was naturally careful with text messages, ensuring he didn’t leave any evidence behind.

He replied that he was doing quite well.

Then he asked if the boy had eaten yet.

Later, as Meng Fang learned more related knowledge, he realized his behavior yesterday had been far too much.

Lian Yuan crawled out of the quilt and took a photo. On the light blue tabletop were three palm-sized circular delivery boxes. One bowl of porridge still had some left, while the other two—braised chicken feet and shredded seaweed—were finished.

They weren’t actually finished; half was still in the fridge. He could eat another meal tomorrow morning.

He had no energy left after eating and hadn’t tidied up, wanting to lie down for a bit and clean before bed.

There were also eggplant boxes and shrimp dumplings in the fridge. Lian Yuan couldn’t eat any more, but thinking about having these two favorite foods tomorrow made him feel very good.

Meng Fang zoomed in on the picture and saw the meter-high pale yellow wallpaper on the wall behind the square table. The color was likely originally cream-white.

They chatted a bit more about nothing in particular.

Lian Yuan got sleepy, so he said goodnight.

After Meng Fang replied with an “Mhm,” Lian Yuan sent another emoji of a little penguin sleeping. After waiting a few minutes and seeing the phone didn’t ring again, he fell asleep peacefully.

It was Lian Yuan’s habit to ensure he was the one to send the last message in every chat.

It felt as though he didn’t owe anything that way.

The same went for phone calls, it was best if the other party hung up first.

On Meng Fang’s end, the penguin emoji wasn’t that cute, so he didn’t favorite it.

He looked up and saw his childhood friend, Zhou Zongnan, sitting diagonally across from him, watching him with great interest. Meng Fang gave him an inquiring look.

Zhou Zongnan had been watching Meng Fang for a while. Late-night chatting, and chatting with such enthusiasm and rich expressions—there was definitely a situation.

He asked: “Who is it that won’t let my Brother Meng rest even late at night? They’re even checking up on you.”

There were quite a few people in the private room, but in terms of power and status, Meng Fang and Zhou Zongnan were at the top.

Many people came to these gatherings not just to play, but to overhear a sentence or two about the business world or to make new connections. Especially if they could strike up a better relationship with Meng Fang or Zhou Zongnan, it would be almost like ascending to heaven.

Zhou Zongnan’s voice wasn’t quiet. Many people, whose attention was intentionally or unintentionally focused on the two, looked over.

They knew Zhou Zongnan was a playboy.

But Meng Fang was very self-disciplined, with a tough and crisp style. He was practically beyond reproach.

Many people speculated if he was impotent.

After all, for a grown man who was wealthy, powerful, and respected to be without a partner—it wasn’t for lack of opportunity, yet he insisted on living like a monk.

But impotent?

That physique, the bridge of his nose, his fingers—many covetous gazes had analyzed him eight hundred times over. This man looked very capable at a glance—highly capable, the kind that would make one’s legs go weak.

Meng Fang straightened up, took his glass, and clinked it against Zhou Zongnan’s on the table: “Cheers!”

Seeing Meng Fang drink decisively, Zhou Zongnan followed suit. He didn’t ask further; not denying it meant there was a situation.

He was quite curious about who could take Meng Fang down.

Growing up together, Zhou Zongnan didn’t even respect his own father much, but he respected Meng Fang.

From childhood to adulthood, it was a minor thing that Meng Fang was energetic and topped everything he did; the key was that whatever he wanted to do, he could achieve.

Take the past, for example. When they were young boys, who didn’t have a dream of being a soldier?

Back then, Meng Fang also said he wanted to be a soldier, and he wanted to fly planes. Not the family’s private jets—that was boring—he wanted to fly fighter jets.

Everyone said their piece.

Zhou Zongnan remembered saying he wanted to be a sniper. There were others who wanted to be special forces, tank drivers, and so on.

When they grew up, no one mentioned it anymore.

Studies, family business, arranged marriages, families going bankrupt and emigrating halfway—they scattered and withered away.

Presumably, few remembered the grand words they had spoken while huddled together.

But they weren’t exactly grand words, because after graduation, Meng Fang joined the army directly, just as he had said in the past.

His family didn’t agree. He was the only offspring of the direct line, and the family lacked nothing; why go through such hardship and danger?

But he went anyway and actually ended up flying planes—bombers.

Everyone thought he wouldn’t come back, but while he was still in the military, he returned for a home visit and told his father—who was beaming with pride because of his son’s meritorious service—that he would come back in two years to help him.

At that time, Father Meng had been diagnosed with myocardial infarction, and Mother Meng had a gastric ulcer.

A gastric ulcer can be caused by bacterial infection, but it’s also inseparable from emotions.

Zhou Zongnan estimated that Mother Meng’s poor stomach was partly due to worrying about Meng Fang.

Two years later, Meng Fang returned exactly when he said he would. He took over the company, expanded the territory, and even found time to complete a part-time postgraduate degree.

In both the group and the family, his word was law. Everyone from top to bottom respected him.

For such a person who always meant what he said, he had previously stated he wouldn’t date before the age of twenty-five. Zhou Zongnan knew he truly wouldn’t.

He remembered now. Meng Fang was twenty-six, his birthday having passed just the month before last.

Fast enough.

Unfortunately, Meng Fang didn’t want to say anything, and Zhou Zongnan was helpless. He could only use the sticky tactic, refusing to believe he wouldn’t run into the one Meng Fang was hiding.

He had seen it just now: Meng Fang had two tooth marks on his finger. It seemed the one he was hiding was a little tiger.

Meng Fang wasn’t actually hiding anyone, he was just embarrassed.

Having broken his fast for the first time and giving someone that kind of money for the first time—he was afraid his brothers would laugh if he spoke out.

Especially since Zhou Zongnan’s personality was the type that feared the world wouldn’t be in chaos.

He had to take it slow.

Lian Yuan didn’t know how wealthy Meng Fang’s family was or how powerful Meng Fang himself was.

Actually, that wasn’t quite right.

Lian Yuan had personally experienced exactly how powerful Meng Fang was.

For the next three days, he stayed in bed recovering. Even when writing, he used his phone to tap out every single word because he truly couldn’t sit down.

During this period, Brother Qing invited him over for dinner.

Lian Yuan lied, saying he had gone traveling elsewhere, to prevent Brother Qing from coming to his house to find him. Otherwise, he would have to hold his waist while talking to him, which would be too embarrassing.

An City was a major tourist city, as was the neighboring city—especially with plenty of delicious food.

Wu Lianqing believed him and was quite happy, encouraging Lian Yuan to go out more and soak up some human atmosphere, rather than staying home all day and developing some illness.

Lian Yuan agreed to everything and didn’t argue.

In fact, he liked being alone. Although he would sometimes be exceptionally lonely, eight days out of ten he was very comfortable, feeling satisfied and at ease.

Crowded places were actually uncomfortable for him.

Even when eating with Wu Lianqing, talking too much made him feel as though his energy and spirit were being drained away.

Lian Yuan knew Wu Lianqing was an extrovert. Social interaction actually made him more and more energetic. People felt differently, there was no need to force an explanation—just accepting the care was enough.

Five days later, Lian Yuan was moving freely. He wore a turtleneck sweater and went to Wu Lianqing’s home to visit.

Previously, when the man was hospitalized, Lian Yuan had helped care for him. After his discharge, Lian Yuan hadn’t been over yet, and since the man had invited him for dinner, no matter how socially inept he was, he knew he had to keep those who were good to him in mind.

Lian Yuan truly cherished this friendship.

He bought some fruit downstairs, picked up a box of milk, and took a taxi over.

Wu Lianqing’s daughter, Xuan Xuan, loved drinking milk.

Xuan Xuan was a very quiet and sensible little girl, like a little adult.

Lian Yuan didn’t like children, but he was partial to ones like Xuan Xuan. Children who were too sensible lived very hard lives, but he didn’t know how to correct Xuan Xuan’s personality, so he could only try to show her as much care as possible.

Reaching Wu Lianqing’s door, he heard an argument inside.

The old building had very poor soundproofing.

Wu Lianqing’s wife, Sister-in-law Zhang, had a very loud voice and plenty of energy: “You know what Xuan Xuan’s school is like. It wasn’t easy to get them to let go of a spot, ten thousand yuan could change her life. But you—you’re great! Borrowing money here and there, ‘brothers this’ and ‘brothers that’! Now that you have a problem, which of these brothers of yours is willing to help you out? Everything else is negotiable, but if my daughter can’t change to a better school, I’m not finished with you!”

In fact, this money had been lent out long ago, and Sister-in-law Zhang knew about it then.

It was just that she hadn’t expected the news about the school transfer to come through so suddenly.

On this end, those brothers Wu Lianqing was usually close with were all middle-aged and had their own difficulties; for a moment, the money wasn’t available.

Lian Yuan didn’t listen any further and hurried downstairs.

Today was Friday, and it was evening. He had come straight over, thinking the whole family would be there, so he hadn’t called.

He circled the building twice before calling Wu Lianqing, saying he missed Xuan Xuan and wanted to come see her, asking if anyone was home and if it was convenient.

Wu Lianqing’s voice sounded the same as always, telling Lian Yuan to come straight over: “I’ll have your sister-in-law stir-fry a good dish for you!”

After hanging up, he turned to see his daughter standing fearfully in the corner and went to coax her.

Meanwhile, he said to his angry wife: “Next time, lower your voice. You’ll scare the child again!”

Liu Sao whispered indignantly: “Is your voice low? ‘Stir-fry two dishes’—why don’t you just stir-fry us mother and daughter?”

Despite her words, she still went to the kitchen.

Both husband and wife liked Lian Yuan quite a bit. The boy was quiet, polite, and liked Xuan Xuan very much, bringing her a gift every time he came.

He was just too refined, it felt like a gust of wind would snap him.

Halfway through cooking, her anger subsided, and she discussed with her husband: “Why don’t we ask Lian Yuan…”

Wu Lianqing’s eyes immediately bulged.

He was of medium height but had a sturdy build, and his eyes were very fierce when they bulged: “He’s just a kid, why borrow money from him? He has no family or relatives to begin with—wouldn’t that be bullying him!”

Liu Sao wasn’t afraid of him, though: “Put away those ‘bull eyes’ of yours; I was just saying. A living person can’t let themselves be suffocated by their own bladder!”

Seeing her husband still standing there like a pillar, she had to give him a firm answer: “I know, I won’t mention it, okay! Back then, you pulled him out of the water; he was soaking wet like a stray cat and covered in injuries… It hasn’t been easy for him to look like a proper human being now. I also see him as a younger brother; I won’t bully him!”

Only then was Wu Lianqing relieved. He helped peel garlic beside her, softening his tone: “I’ll think of something else. I definitely can’t delay Xuan Xuan’s matter.”

At the same time, Lian Yuan was browsing the supermarket.

The things he bought earlier were actually enough for an ordinary family.

But he understood Big Brother Wu and his wife. They were arguing yet didn’t open their mouths to him; he feared they wouldn’t easily do so.

If he said he heard them arguing, that would be too awkward.

He simply bought a whole bunch of other things in the supermarket, picking the expensive ones.

At the fruit section, he looked at the items with three-digit prices. He hadn’t eaten them himself either and was too embarrassed to ask the clerk, so he searched the names and only bought them after seeing they were said to be delicious.

There were also some snacks for Xuan Xuan—the kind that looked expensive at a glance.

Coming out and picking up the milk box, both his left and right hands were completely full.

He thought to himself that this should look wealthy enough.