Chapter 65: I like him

After finishing the meal, Xie Xiaobao didn’t leave immediately but was pulled into a chat by Grandma Li.  

Grandma Li was getting older and her greatest worry was the future of the younger generation in the family.

He Yi was already married, but He Qi and He Yu still hadn’t made any moves, and even Xie Xiaobao was on her mind.  

The elderly woman nagged incessantly, “They always say to establish a family and then build a career. You can’t have a career without a family first. You all are not getting any younger, and none of you have a partner yet. I don’t know when I’ll be able to hold my grandchildren.”  

“Grandma, He Que is already fifteen, and you’re still saying you haven’t held a grandchild. The eldest sister-in-law would be unhappy if she heard that.” He Qi said with a mischievous grin.  

Grandma Li swatted him lightly, annoyed.

“You’re always joking around. You should settle down soon so your mother can be at ease…”  

He Qi’s smile faltered for a moment, then he chuckled again, “I know, I’ll bring home a granddaughter-in-law for you in a few days.”  

Grandma Li sighed and turned to look at the silent He Yu.

“How about the girl you went to meet last time? The one Zhang Granny introduced. She shouldn’t be wrong.”  

Xie Xiaobao, sitting beside Grandma Li, froze at her words and instinctively glanced at He Yu.  

There was no expression on He Yu’s face as he said flatly, “She didn’t pick me.”  

Grandma Li clasped her hands in frustration.

“I heard that girl is a high achiever and quite beautiful… Sigh, with your personality and that perpetually dark expression, it’s no wonder she didn’t choose you.”  

She patted Xie Xiaobao’s hand and said, “Someone like Xiaobao is much better—good-looking and with a great personality. Girls would definitely like him.”  

“Has Xiaobao found a partner yet?” Grandma Li asked him affectionately.  

Xie Xiaobao wiped the sweat off his brow secretly and forced a smile, “Still looking.”  

Grandma Li smiled, “You’re still young, no need to rush. Choose someone you really like, so life will be easier later.”  

Xie Xiaobao nodded obediently.  

After chatting for a while, Grandma Li started to feel sleepy.

The elderly woman’s energy was fading with age, so He Yu helped her back to her room to rest.

When he came out, only Xie Xiaobao remained in the living room.  

“Want me to walk you back?”  

Xie Xiaobao hesitated briefly before nodding.  

The two of them walked side by side, slowly strolling along the shaded path toward Xie Qi’s house.  

Xie Xiaobao kept his head lowered, tangled in thoughts about what he had just heard.

After a moment of hesitation, he feigned curiosity and asked, “When did you go on that matchmaking date?”  

He Yu’s eyes looked deeply into his, “Last week.”  

“Oh.”  

After a moment of silence, Xie Xiaobao stammered, “So, did you… like her?”  

He Yu didn’t answer immediately.  

Waiting for a while and hearing nothing, Xie Xiaobao felt a little sad.

He pinched his fingers nervously and whispered, “Sorry, I asked too much.”  

“I don’t like her.”  

He Yu suddenly stopped in front of him, blocking his path, and looked at him seriously.

“I don’t like her. I like men.”  

Xie Xiaobao’s eyes widened slightly, surprised.  

He Yu smiled, “Grandma insisted I go. I didn’t want to upset her, so I just had a meal with that girl and then told her clearly.”  

Xie Xiaobao felt like he was on a roller coaster, his emotions swinging wildly.

Knowing He Yu went on a matchmaking date made his heart sour and tight, only to be told He Yu didn’t really date the girl and that he liked men…  

His heart raced quickly, and feeling a bit dizzy, he blurted out, “Do you… do you have someone you like?”  

He Yu’s expression softened as he looked at him warmly and replied, “Yes, a very cute boy.”  

Xie Xiaobao made a short “ah” sound but said nothing else.

In his heart, he wondered if He Yu liked him.

Even Second Brother said He Yu liked him—so it probably wasn’t a lie.  

His cheeks flushed deeper and deeper.

Avoiding He Yu’s gaze, he stared at his chest instead.

“That’s… that’s good.”  

He Yu smirked, agreeing with him, “Yeah, it is.”  

Xie Xiaobao didn’t know how to respond.

He bit his cheek, his mind in a tangled mess.  

“Let’s go.” He Yu turned and started walking ahead, his voice laced with faint amusement, “I’ll see you home.”  

Xie Xiaobao followed him in a daze, stealing glances at his profile, then quickly looking away, only to steal another look again and again—until they reached his doorstep.  

He Yu seemed oblivious.

Standing face to face with Xie Xiaobao at the door, his frame was just a size bigger, looking like if he reached out, he could scoop him up in his arms.  

“We’re here. Go inside.”  

Xie Xiaobao looked up at him, hesitated, wanting to say something but couldn’t, then finally said, “Yeah, I’m going back now. See you.”  

He Yu reached out and ruffled his hair, his eyes filled only with Xie Xiaobao’s figure.

“Okay, see you.”  

Xie Xiaobao opened the door and waved at him through the iron gate before rushing inside.  

Only after Xie Xiaobao was inside did He Yu turn and leave.  

From upstairs, Xie Qi watched the scene with narrowed, dangerous eyes, his anger intensifying.  

Xie Meili withdrew her raised paws and didn’t confront the visibly angry Second Brother.

Instead, she dashed down the stairs.  

Xie Xiaobao was just about to go upstairs when he bumped into Xie Meili running down.  

He scooped up his sister and pinched her paw pads.

“Why are you running so fast?”  

Xie Meili patted his hand, sympathizing, “Xiaobao, you’re doomed.”  

Xie Xiaobao was confused.  

He thought carefully—he hadn’t done anything recently to make Second Brother angry.  

“Xiaobao, come to the study.” Xie Qi stood at the stairwell, expression calm and unreadable.  

Xie Meili wriggled out of his arms, jumped down, and meowed at him, “Confess and you’ll go easy, resist and it’ll be tough. Good luck, meow.”  

Xie Xiaobao was completely baffled.  

He followed Xie Qi into the study, sitting nervously across from him.  

Xie Qi frowned, thinking for a moment, then tried to ask gently, “He Yu was the one who sent you back, right?”  

Xie Xiaobao nodded obediently, “Yeah, we had lunch at Grandma Li’s.”  

“Do you remember what I said before?”  

Xie Xiaobao said he remembered and quickly glanced at Xie Qi’s face.

Seeing no anger, he cautiously said, “You said that when you like someone, you get jealous. I felt jealous today.”

That sour, painful feeling that makes cats sad—that must be jealousy.  

Xie Qi had planned to take this chance to give his brother a lesson, but frowned, “Who were you jealous of?”  

Xie Xiaobao pursed his lips shyly and said softly, “He Yu.”  

“When I heard He Yu went on a matchmaking date, I… felt very sad, my heart was sour and tight.”  

He looked up bravely at his brother.

“Do you think I like He Yu? Not just as a friend.”  

“…” Xie Qi reminded him, “He Yu went on a matchmaking date.”  

Xie Xiaobao said he knew that, “But He Yu said he already rejected the girl. He said he likes boys.”  

“Do you think the one He Yu likes is me?” Xie Xiaobao shyly asked, “Should I ask He Yu?”  

Veins bulging on his forehead, Xie Qi saw that his brother was clearly in the throes of first love.

Being too harsh might backfire.  

He tried to keep a gentle expression, “Feelings are unpredictable. If he really likes you, he’ll confess on his own. You can wait a little longer.”  

Xie Xiaobao said, “I like him too. Can’t I confess first?”  

Xie Qi ruffled his head, trying to discourage his brother from making it too easy for himself, “The one who confesses first loses.”  

Xie Xiaobao didn’t understand what that meant.

In his mind, as long as he liked He Yu and He Yu liked him back, it didn’t matter who confessed first.  

But since his brother said so, he’d better listen—after all, Xie Qi was the only one in the family with a partner.  

The brothers’ conversation ended peacefully and lovingly.

Xie Meili watched Xie Xiaobao’s relieved smile, then glanced at the dark-faced Second Brother and quietly followed Xiaobao downstairs.  

Brother who’s so protective is scary.  

The seven-day holiday flew by.

On the last day, Xie Xiaobao was taking Xie Meili to sell local specialties.  

Xie Qi had been in a terrible mood the past couple of days, scaring everyone with his stern face.

Xie Meili was very dissatisfied and only agreed to go out with Xie Xiaobao.  

Tomorrow, the adorable, fluffy little sister would be leaving, so Xie Xiaobao was naturally accommodating.

Neither of them could drive, so they called a Didi and waited by the roadside.  

Just then, He Yu called, asking what he was doing.  

Xie Xiaobao said he was accompanying his sister to buy local specialties and waiting for the car by the roadside.  

He Yu immediately caught the key point, “You took a taxi?”  

Xie Xiaobao said yes, “Neither of us can drive.”  

“I’ll take you there. I’m home and have nothing to do.” He Yu’s voice was tinted with a smile.

Xie Xiaobao could hear the sound of a door opening and a car engine starting on the other end.  

He Yu acted so fast that Xie Xiaobao swallowed his refusal again and quietly canceled the Didi order.