At this moment, Jiang Yiheng was also lost in thought, unsure how to explain this scene to Xu Che.
In his daze, he recalled his own birthday.
That night, he was lying alone in the hospital room when these people burst in carrying steamed buns.
At that moment, his feelings were just like Xu Che's, no—actually worse than Xu Che's.
But why was he now standing here, becoming one of the people tormenting Xu Che?
Just... why was this happening?!
Time seemed to freeze at that moment, with only the dentist wearing a dejected expression, mumbling: "Were there really this many patients this morning?"
How did he end up with such a heavy workload? He had been hoping to leave early to get hot pot.
Xu Che had managed to maintain his composure until he got up from the dental chair and saw Hang Feng at the doorway—at that moment, he fell into complete self-doubt.
Finally, Xu Che turned to Shen Yujing and said, "The psychiatric department is next door, since we're all here already."
Since we're all here, might as well get our heads checked.
*
At the convenience store near the hospital entrance.
After hearing everyone's reasons for showing up, Xu Che summarized, "So you all thought I had a mental illness and came here because you were worried I might commit suicide?"
Everyone nodded in unison, especially Shen Yujing and Song Yi, their heads bobbing like pecking chickens.
Who could have guessed Xu Che was just here for a cavity!
Well, they could have figured it out, but they were too worried and assumed the worst.
Thinking of all the various candies Xu Che had given her, Song Yi kindly reminded him, "But you really do eat too much sugar. Too much sugar intake isn't good for your health."
"Alright, I'll be mindful of that," Xu Che said, his gaze falling on Hang Feng again.
At that moment, Hang Feng was turning his head to look out the window, acting as if none of this concerned him.
Song Yi couldn't stand it anymore and waved at Shen Yujing, who was sitting next to Hang Feng, gesturing for him to give Hang Feng a nudge.
Shen Yujing nodded, showing he understood.
The next second, Shen Yujing's hand was on the back of Hang Feng's head, forcibly turning his face around, saying, "Song Yi is calling you."
Hang Feng: "..."
Song Yi: "..."
Was that what she meant? Was it really?!
Hang Feng looked at Song Yi with questioning eyes.
Song Yi mentally cursed Shen Yujing a thousand times but still managed to force an awkward smile, saying, "You probably have something you want to say to Xu Che, right? If you'd like some privacy, we can all leave first."
"There's no need for privacy," Hang Feng looked directly at Xu Che and said five words, "Good that you're not dead."
Xu Che nodded and replied, "Same to you, good that you're still alive."
Everyone: "..."
Ah, what a touching display of brotherly affection.
"You can visit grandmother whenever you want, the rest isn't my business," Hang Feng said before standing up and walking towards the exit, looking like he couldn't bear to stay another second.
"Hang Feng," Song Yi called out to him.
Hang Feng stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around.
"You came all the way here, which proves you care about him. Why do you always say the opposite of what you feel?" Song Yi walked in front of Hang Feng and grabbed his wrist.
Though Hang Feng's face showed resistance and hesitation, he still allowed Song Yi to pull him back to the table.
Song Yi then turned to Xu Che, frowning as she criticized him as well: "And you, you're usually such a nice person, why do you put on such a stern face when talking to your brother?"
Song Yi pushed Hang Feng down into the chair, then pulled Shen Yujing up from his seat, and looked at the others saying, "Let's go outside and give them space. Brothers need to clear things up between themselves."
Everyone stood up and walked out. The convenience store was empty of other customers now, leaving just Hang Feng and Xu Che.
Before leaving, Song Yi threw back one last comment, "Talk properly, even if you have to make up things to talk about."
Of course, this was assuming they could ignore all the expectant gazes watching them through the glass door.
Song Yi and the others hadn't completely left, instead standing guard at the door, worried the brothers might leave after just five minutes of conversation.
The sudden privacy made both of them uncomfortable.
Xu Che's hand instinctively reached into his pocket, taking out a milk candy and unwrapping it.
Hang Feng frowned and said, "You just got your cavity filled, are you a child? Always eating candy."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Hang Feng realized he was actually... showing concern for Xu Che?
He immediately avoided Xu Che's gaze and, embarrassed, grabbed the strawberry milk beside him and took a big gulp.
Xu Che froze for a moment, still holding the candy, suddenly unsure what to do with it.
Soon, both joy at receiving his brother's concern and embarrassment at being lectured by his younger brother rose in Xu Che's heart.
In Xu Che's view, he had been the one quietly taking care of Hang Feng all these years, since when did Hang Feng get to lecture him?
His pride as an older brother made him feel slightly dissatisfied, so his gaze fell on Hang Feng, finally settling on the strawberry milk in his hand.
Xu Che snickered, "You're no better, drinking such sickeningly sweet milk."
Hang Feng looked up, their eyes met, and both their expressions became awkward again.
Hang Feng turned away once more, saying somewhat uncomfortably, "You just don't understand."
"True," Xu Che nodded in agreement, saying, "I've never tried this kind of milk."
Hang Feng was silent for a few seconds, then got up and walked to the dairy section, bought another bottle of strawberry milk, and returned.
He placed the unopened strawberry milk in front of Xu Che, then once again turned his head, trying to look elsewhere to avoid the awkwardness.
As a result, he saw Shen Yujing and Quan Le outside the convenience store, waving their arms trying to encourage him.
The two were waving their arms so energetically, it looked like they were about to join a square dancing competition.
Hang Feng: "..."
Never mind, he decided to turn his head back—looking at Xu Che was better than watching Shen Yujing and Quan Le.
Just as Hang Feng turned back, he saw Xu Che extending a hand toward him.
Hang Feng watched that hand warily, yet couldn't help feeling a bit expectant.
Soon, handful after handful of candy was pulled out by Xu Che and placed in front of him.
All sorts of varieties, different brands and flavors.
Then Hang Feng heard Xu Che say, "I can't eat them for now because of my dental work. Don't want to waste them, so they're all yours."
"Who wants them anyway," Hang Feng snorted, but his hand honestly reached out and took a piece of candy from the table.
It was just an ordinary milk candy, and the taste was exactly as Hang Feng expected—sweet enough to stick to his teeth.
It tasted even worse than he imagined; Xu Che really had no taste.
Hang Feng thought this, yet his hands unconsciously gathered all the other candies from the table and put them in his pocket.
A bottle of strawberry milk cost eight yuan, that's expensive, right? These candies were what his brother owed him, he'd be at a loss if he didn't take them.
Yes... that's right, it's not like he actually wanted candy from his brother.
*
Meanwhile, at the convenience store entrance.
Jiang Yiheng stood aloof to one side, while the others waited anxiously, even starting to discuss among themselves.
Murong Huan kept peeking in, "What's going on in there? What are they talking about?"
Quan Le and Shen Yujing had lowered their tired arms, now standing back-to-back supporting each other as they rested.
Song Yi was silent for a few seconds before saying, "They're still sitting there, so nothing bad must have happened."
Shen Yujing nodded in agreement with Song Yi's assessment, "Besides, I've known Xu Che for so many years, and I can guarantee that he absolutely adores his little brother Hang Feng. Without us around, they'll probably communicate even better."
Song Yi found herself unusually agreeing with Shen Yujing's words, because she knew how much Hang Feng valued family ties.
Or more directly, if Hang Feng and Xu Che's conversation had really gone badly, they would have just left already, not still be sitting there.
When Hang Feng bought Xu Che the strawberry milk, and Xu Che gave Hang Feng candy, Song Yi excitedly slapped her thigh—
"Ah!"
Shen Yujing cried out in pain.
"Sorry, hit the wrong target," Song Yi immediately withdrew her hand, her face showing uncontrollable joy, "Finally! Finally!"
Shen Yujing looked at her in surprise, "Finally what?"
Song Yi declared with certainty: "They've finally made up."
Shen Yujing asked with increasing curiosity, "Why? How did you figure that out?"
Jiang Yiheng replied calmly, "They've already exchanged gifts."
Shen Yujing became even more confused, "Gifts? What gifts?"
Of course, by this point, Shen Yujing's words no longer mattered.
Murong Huan raised her hand and said, "In that case—
Let's go get something to eat!"
"Huh? Eat?" Shen Yujing paused for a moment, then asked, "What about Hang Feng and Xu Che? Aren't we going to wait for them?"
Song Yi pushed Shen Yujing aside, saying, "Don't worry about that. Those two brothers will sort things out themselves."
The group's figures quickly disappeared from in front of the convenience store.
On the store's window ledge, two small snowmen had been placed close together at some point, though no one knew when.
Xu Che glanced outside and said in a calm voice, "They've all left."
"Yeah, I saw," Hang Feng responded softly, lowering his gaze.
The two remained silent for a long while.
After some time, it was Hang Feng who first stood up to leave, dropping just one sentence: "Grandmother is making braised pork ribs for lunch today. She always makes too much—too much for just the two of us to finish."
Xu Che followed him, holding the half-finished strawberry milk from the table, and said, "Then let's add another pair of chopsticks today."
