Don't Blow Up My Table

Xie Qi Zhi's leave of absence extended to a week. On Saturday, he finally returned from the hospital. When Xie Zhi Lan mentioned it, Ying Huai visited him in the afternoon, ostensibly on his way, but the real reason was to avoid going home. He didn't want to see his parents constantly arguing about asset division.

On one side was his father's mistress, on the other was his father's dog; both were equally matched, and he held the power to arbitrate.

Teacher Xiao Tang was surprised to find that the number of times he saw Ying Huai in class had increased significantly. He no longer arrived late and left early, and his homework was in his own handwriting. This kid had somehow become obedient. He wasn't a bad student to begin with, always maintaining a humble demeanor inconsistent with his family background.

He no longer skipped class, so Xie Zhi Lan, who always hovered on the fringes of rules, became a thorn in the side of the grade-level head teacher.

The teacher had caught him several times with a tenth-grade female student, pushing and pulling. The most outrageous time, the girl grabbed his collar, stood on tiptoe to kiss him, but was loudly stopped by the grade-level head teacher.

Students from the floors above and below poked their heads out to watch. Xie Zhi Lan stood there calmly, not evading. He pushed Qiao An An's shoulder and asked, "Aren't you leaving yet? Do you want to stay and get disciplined?"

Qiao An An turned her head, glared at him irritably, and ran off.

The grade-level head teacher rushed down from upstairs, almost slipping, and only caught Xie Zhi Lan.

He led Xie Zhi Lan to the office, scolding him from not wearing his uniform to etiquette and propriety, scolding him for an entire class period. He threatened to call his parents. Xie Zhi Lan said, "They're on a business trip elsewhere, have been for over a month." The grade-level head teacher called them; one couldn't be reached, and the other said a string of platitudes like "you're too kind, teacher," then pushed the problem back to the teacher.

The teacher had no choice but to warn Xie Zhi Lan that if there was a next time, it would be recorded in the class log and a school-wide criticism would be issued, then told him to go back and write a self-reflection.

Ying Huai heard him recount this story and simply commented with two words: "Serves you right."

Even Wu Xiao Long didn't side with Xie Zhi Lan. He said seriously, "Brother Lan, you actively provoked her, then when you got bored, you told her to get lost. There's no such good thing. Before, you at least knew to use reasons like focusing on studies or dropping in rank to retreat. This time, you just broke up without leaving any room for retreat. Do you think she wouldn't be angry?"

Xie Zhi Lan only smiled, not using the excuse that the other person broke up first to defend himself.

Xu Si Miao also gathered around. The three of them stood together, watching Xie Zhi Lan diligently write his self-reflection.

She propped her chin and said, "She still likes you, that's why she's so entangled. Once her head clears and she realizes you're a scoundrel who plays with feelings, she'll pour nitroglycerin into your cup." Her clasped hands suddenly opened, "Boom! It'll explode. Just wait to die."

"Tell her to change where she acts," Ying Huai, who was looking down at his phone, suddenly spoke, "Don't blow up my table."

Wu Xiao Long and Xu Si Miao simultaneously showed expressions of admiration.

Xie Zhi Lan put on a hurt expression: "Brother Ying Huai is so cruel."

This form of address was learned from Xie Qi Zhi. Outwardly, he appeared calm, but inwardly, he was very bothered by Xie Qi Zhi calling others "older brother." He kept bringing this up to provoke Ying Huai.

Ying Huai looked up, his voice cold: "Call me that one more time and I'll hit you."

They had once speculated about why Xie Zhi Lan kept falling in love with one person after another.

Xu Si Miao said he was emotionally indebted;

Wu Xiao Long said it was because Brother Lan was too handsome, and it was no wonder girls liked him; if I were a girl, I wouldn't be able to control myself either;

Only Ying Huai said that Xie Zhi Lan was someone with a particularly low self-esteem.

He liked to be admired, surrounded by crowds, liked to be the center of attention, because that was how he found a sense of self-worth.

But they didn't believe it, as if Xie Zhi Lan was born an arrogant and cold-blooded scoundrel.

Very few people knew that in Xie Zhi Lan's world, everything came with conditions. However, even after fulfilling all the prerequisites, he wasn't guaranteed to achieve what he desired.

In junior high, Xie Zhi Lan had something he really liked. Because it wasn't cheap, his parents asked him not to cause trouble for an entire semester and to maintain first place in his grade.

Xie Zhi Lan did it, but Ying Huai still didn't see him brag about it to him. It wasn't until one day, he asked him about it...

"Oh, you mean that? I don't want it anymore." Xie Zhi Lan brushed his hair in front of the display cabinet mirror, turned around, and smiled, "That day, Mom gave me two bank cards. She said one was for Qi Qi's medicine money, and the other was for the cost of finding Dong Dong, telling me to choose which one I wanted to spend."

Even now, Ying Huai had forgotten what that item Xie Zhi Lan yearned for back then was, but he still remembered him shrugging, pretending to be nonchalant as he asked him, "What do you think I could do?"

Ying Huai sometimes suspected that the reason he liked being with girls was the same reason he pampered and meticulously cared for Xie Qi Zhi: because they were easy to deceive.

As long as he maintained his current glamorous appearance and aura, he could easily receive admiration and affection. Girls who hadn't experienced the world were inherently one of the most easily enchanted creatures on earth;

And Xie Qi Zhi didn't even need appearance or aura. He had an innate absolute trust in "older brother." As long as Xie Zhi Lan did a few things that even a smart dog could do, he would show joy, look up, and say, "Older brother is so capable."

The elevator went up. Xie Zhi Lan heard these words and smiled, threatening him, "If you tarnish my image in front of Qi Qi, I'll kick you out."

When they entered the door, the maid was preparing lobsters in the kitchen. Xie Qi Zhi couldn't stand the smell of cooking oil and smoke, but he was a little curious, constantly peeking in.

Ying Huai followed Xie Zhi Lan into the house and saw Xie Qi Zhi with both hands pressed against the kitchen door, his forehead against the glass, like a giant chameleon, intently watching something. Hearing the door open and close, he happily turned around and ran over, calling "Older brother."

Ying Huai looked at the bouncing cowlick on Xie Qi Zhi's head, raised an eyebrow at Xie Zhi Lan, wordlessly saying, "Smart dog."

Xie Zhi Lan's eyes curved, and he mercilessly elbowed him.

He took off his jacket, washed his hands thoroughly, then bent down to pick up the little tail that kept following him. He pressed his palm against his back and asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Xie Qi Zhi shook his head.

That day, after returning home, Xie Qi Zhi coughed continuously all night. Xie Zhi Lan came to take care of him, seeing him tossing and turning in bed, his pajama hem lifted, revealing a bruise on his lower back. It was then that Xie Zhi Lan discovered his entire back was bruised.

The next day, when he heard Ying Huai recount how he had been hit by a soccer ball in the back and then fallen, he was so angry he intended to go find those kids and cause trouble. Ying Huai finally understood where Xie Qi Zhi's habit of telling his older brother everything came from; it was due to this person's indulgence.

Now, Xie Zhi Lan no longer believed Xie Qi Zhi's "I'm fine" and "it doesn't hurt." He lifted the boy's bear-shaped hoodie to check.

Xie Qi Zhi grabbed his older brother's hand, holding it tightly with both hands, not allowing him to lift his shirt. His intention to resist was very clear. Xie Zhi Lan found it strange, suddenly noticing that Xie Qi Zhi's eyes weren't on him, but glancing towards Ying Huai, who was sitting on the sofa and looking over. The tips of his ears showed a slight pink flush beneath his light-colored hair, and he softly called him, "Older brother, someone's watching."

Xie Zhi Lan looked amusedly at Xie Qi Zhi's pleading face. His hand still held the hem of his shirt tightly, deliberately teasing, "What's wrong? Qi Qi isn't a girl; do you still need to be modest?"

Xie Qi Zhi looked at his older brother, seeing that he had no intention of changing, then pouted. He gently butted his head against his cheek like a small rhino, and taking advantage of his loosened grip, he slipped down, irritably adjusted his hoodie, and ran straight into his room.

Xie Zhi Lan rubbed his face, then turned to observe Ying Huai, asking in confusion, "What did you do to the kid? When did he start seeing you as the opposite sex?"

Ying Huai poured himself a Coca, not looking up, and said, "Change your way of thinking. You might be getting a younger sister soon."

Xie Zhi Lan cursed him for being crazy, then followed him into the bedroom.