The moment Qi Xiuyi heard the voice, he fumbled to fold the A4 paper in his hand. He looked up and saw the Fang family’s older brother bathed in sunlight, the light scattering in his hair and reflecting silver specks.

Those eyes, which held a third of Qi Wendong’s charm, were now watching him with a gentle smile.

In a daze, Qi Xiuyi seemed to see an angel who had descended from the heavens to the mortal world.

If his brother’s spirit could return to the human world to see him, perhaps he would look just like this angel.

Fortunately, he was much better at controlling his emotions now than he was six months ago. At least when he thought of his brother or saw things related to him, he no longer sat for an entire day like he used to.

He folded the A4 paper in his hand two more times, put it in his pocket, reined in his emotions, and stood up to smile at Fang Chengyu: “Chengyu-ge, you’re here!”

He then turned his head to greet Fang Ji: “Morning.”

Fang Ji curiously sidled up to his brother and peeked at him: “What are you doing here, Xiuyi? What were you looking at just now?”

Qi Xiuyi snorted softly: “Ever heard of privacy?”

Fang Ji rolled his eyes: “If you don’t want to say, then don’t. Who’s curious anyway.”

Qi Xiuyi turned to the guide beside them and said, “Thank you for your hard work, you can go rest now.”

Fang Ji: “?”

Fang Ji was so shocked he grabbed the guide’s wrist: “Qi Xiuyi! What are you doing? Not only are you not satisfying our curiosity, but you’re also confiscating our guide?”

Qi Xiuyi raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms: “You’ve triggered the museum’s surprise easter egg. For the remaining floors, the museum owner himself will be your guide—how about that, are you happy?”

Fang Ji immediately let go of the guide and grabbed Fang Chengyu. He let out an exaggerated “waa” of surprise and curiosity: “Do you personally guide everyone you meet? Won’t you be exhausted by the end of the day?”

Qi Xiuyi scoffed: “What are you thinking? I only personally guide the holders of the first three ticket numbers. You’re just benefiting from your brother’s good fortune!”

Fang Chengyu quietly observed for a moment. Seeing that Qi Xiuyi didn’t seem too affected by his emotions, he didn’t interject, naturally allowing Qi Xiuyi to move past what had just happened. It was only when he heard the jingle that signaled Fang Ji was about to start bragging that Fang Chengyu helplessly placed a hand on Fang Ji’s shoulder, pulled him behind him, and gently thanked Qi Xiuyi: “Then we’ll have to trouble Xiuyi.”

The museum, as Qi Xiuyi had originally planned, was built with a total of five floors. In addition, the rooftop had the museum’s exclusive, limited helicopter exhibition.

If a regular guide were to lead the tour, it would take about four hours to see everything from the first floor to the rooftop and recite all the explanations.

But with Qi Xiuyi as the guide, he didn’t recite from a script. He spoke about whatever came to mind, and there was much more he could elaborate on and expand upon.

Besides the stories of the antiques themselves, he was also intimately familiar with their “modern-day” stories. He remembered clearly which antique had been passed through how many hands, what amusing incidents had occurred during those transfers, and how he had eventually acquired them.

As a result, with him leading, Fang Chengyu and Fang Ji’s tour speed dropped drastically, slowing down a lot.

Fang Ji wasn’t interested in the history of the antiques, let alone the stories beyond their history. Unfortunately, his brother was quite interested and listened attentively the whole way.

Seeing his brother so focused, Fang Ji didn’t have the heart to whine to his brother about wanting to leave, nor was he willing to sit on the side and let his brother tour with Qi Xiuyi alone. So he could only grit his teeth and accompany them.

This accompaniment lasted from morning until six in the evening.

Fang Ji finally couldn’t take it anymore and grabbed his brother, wailing: “Brother! My legs are about to break!”

Fang Chengyu flicked his forehead and laughed, “I told you to sit and rest, but you wouldn’t. Now you’re complaining, huh?”

Fang Ji’s face fell, and he looked at his brother with a pitiful expression.

Fang Chengyu coaxed him: “Almost there, almost there. We just have the helicopter left to see. Give your brother ten more minutes, and we’ll go back in ten minutes, okay?”

Fang Ji sighed deeply: “Ten minutes… ah, alright. Who’s to say no when you’re the older brother.” He muttered softly, tugging on Fang Chengyu’s sleeve as he struggled to follow.

Qi Xiuyi took this scene in completely. His mood, which had lifted slightly upon seeing Fang Chengyu, immediately sank again.

Look at that.

What a good, happy relationship between the Fang brothers.

And what about him and Qi Wendong?

In the span of a year, they first had a poor relationship, then they were both busy with studies. By the time he had finally passed the difficult make-up exams and gotten used to the life of making bubble tea, Qi Wendong’s health had taken a turn, and he had flown abroad for treatment for half a year.

He had originally fantasized that after Qi Wendong finished his treatment and returned to the country, he and Qi Wendong could also have such a period of intimate brotherly time together.

But who would have thought, right after the exams were over, Qi Wendong… he… he…

Qi Xiuyi did his best to maintain his composure and a smile. After introducing the rooftop helicopter exhibition to Fang Chengyu, he accepted Fang Chengyu’s invitation for a future meal and saw the two of them to the museum entrance.

He watched the Fang family’s car disappear from his line of sight, the smile on his face slowly flattening and vanishing.

…He was thinking about Qi Wendong again.

The museum’s trial visit was about to end around this time.

Qi Xiuyi turned back into the museum. After politely declining some party invitations from the young masters and misses, he organized the staff to begin the closing inventory and cleaning work.

By the time all the visitors had left and the museum’s closing procedures were complete, the sky had completely darkened.

The staff who were supposed to get off work left, and soon, only the 24-hour security guards and Qi Xiuyi remained in the museum.

…It was time to take Qi Wendong for a tour of the museum.

Qi Xiuyi thought to himself as he looked at the brightly lit but empty museum.

After sending his driver home, he took out his phone, switched to video mode, pointed the camera forward, and began to walk up from the first floor.

As he walked and filmed, whenever he saw a sign with the words “Wendong Museum,” he would stop, smile at the camera, and say, “Qi Wendong, look, isn’t the name of this museum nice?”

Qi Xiuyi walked, stopped, and filmed, spiraling up the stairs until he soon reached the rooftop.

After recording the entire rooftop, Qi Xiuyi saved the video, opened GreenChat, and sent the video to his only pinned contact.

Qi Xiuyi: [Qi Wendong, look, the complete interior of the museum!]

Qi Xiuyi: [Do you like this gift?]

The text and video were sent quickly. However, there was no response.

Of course, there was no response.

Fortunately, he hadn’t been expecting a response in the first place.

He just wanted to share things with Qi Wendong, that was all.

Qi Xiuyi found a random chair in the rooftop rest area and sat down.

After sitting blankly for a moment, he suddenly felt like something was missing. He pulled out an unopened case of beer from under the table, slit open the box with a key, and placed a bottle on the table.

Then, he fumbled in the box for a while, found the complimentary bottle opener, and awkwardly used it to pry open the beer bottle.

He wasn’t actually good at drinking, nor did he like it. Before Qi Wendong passed away, he was practically a teetotaler. But after Qi Wendong’s death, he often couldn’t stop the sadness in his mind. At times like these, he would occasionally turn to alcohol for help, drinking a little. If he was lucky, he could even “see” his brother this way.

His alcohol tolerance was not good. After two bottles, his cheeks were already burning hot.

His mind became chaotic and slow, all desire to open another beer vanished, and he just laid his head on the table, quiet and dazed.

He didn’t know how long he sat there like that, but Qi Xiuyi suddenly and slowly recalled the thought that had been interrupted earlier. He took out the A4 paper that had been folded several times from his pocket and slowly unfolded it.

Printed on the A4 paper was, strikingly, a report card.

A report card belonging to Qi Wendong.

The familiar subjects were listed on it, but the numbers that followed were so unfamiliar.

“97,” “98,” “99”—absurdly high scores seemed to be given away for free on this report card, casually placed after each subject.

But…

He clearly remembered that Qi Wendong’s scores in each subject were not much different from his own.

He clearly remembered that Qi Wendong had said his scores this semester hadn’t beaten “Zhang San” from their class.

But… why?

Why were the scores so high?

Why did Qi Wendong, with such high scores, lie to him and say he only got sixty or seventy points?

Why did Qi Wendong, whose scores clearly crushed Zhang San’s, lie to him and ask him to get revenge for him?

Why did Qi Wendong, knowing that that hug might be their last time seeing each other… still insist on him going back to school for the exams, unwilling to let him stay by his side for the final journey?!

“Liar…”

Qi Xiuyi murmured to himself, his face, red from the alcohol, now covered in tears.

“Liar, Qi Wendong, you’re a big liar…”

“Saying you’d play with me for the whole vacation if I did it… saying you’d do whatever I said at home if I won…”

“You never intended to fulfill a single promise, it was all lies! Qi Wendong, you’re a big liar!”

His hand trembled as he took out his phone from his pocket, taking great effort to unlock it.

Everything in front of him was a blur of double vision; he couldn’t see the words on the phone at all.

But his hands seemed to have muscle memory. Without him even thinking, they opened the only pinned chat in GreenChat and pressed the video call button.

The familiar ringtone sounded, playing over and over.

Qi Xiuyi lay on the table, his eyes fixed on the phone, murmuring softly, “Qi Wendong, pick up… you lied about so many things, hurry up and come out and apologize to me, or else… or else I won’t forgive you…”

No one answered, no one hung up. The video call timed out and ended automatically.

Another missed video call record was added to the chat.

Qi Xiuyi stared at the record blankly, then suddenly moved to delete it.

He didn’t want Qi Wendong to not answer his call!

If he deleted it, then Qi Wendong didn’t not answer it!

Dark clouds had gathered in the sky at some point. The sky was gloomy, and it seemed a heavy rain was pressing down on the clouds, ready to pour down at any moment.

Qi Xiuyi looked up at the weather, stood up shakily, went downstairs, and walked towards the museum exit.

The museum security guard was slacking off when he suddenly saw Qi Xiuyi in this obviously drunk state. He froze for a moment, then immediately ran out of the security room and grabbed Qi Xiuyi’s wrist.

Museum Guard: “Mr. Qi, where are you going? Do you need me to call a car for you? …Mr. Qi!”

Qi Xiuyi impatiently shook off his hand: “Aiya, I’m not drunk, don’t grab me, I’m going to find Qi Wendong!”

The museum guard was in a difficult position: “That’s not a good idea, Mr. Qi. If you go find your brother, who will pay our salaries?”

Qi Xiuyi stumbled two steps and glared at him: “Do you even know how to talk! I… of course I’ll pay your salaries! …Now get out of the way, if Qi Wendong gets too far and I can’t find him, I’ll blame it all on you!”

He forcefully shook off the museum guard and staggered towards the outside of the museum.

…

After leaving the museum, Lin Chen kept an eye on Fang Brother’s messages on his “Lin Chen” GreenChat account. After seeing that Fang Brother’s emotional tolerance was much better than he had estimated, he decided to take Fang Ji shopping.

He first took Fang Ji to eat at the best strawberry hot pot restaurant near the Qi family’s home.

Then he took Fang Ji to the nearby pedestrian street and bought a batch of super “cheap” but very down-to-earth, common bell-themed jewelry.

Next, he took Fang Ji into a craft store and personally sewed two small bells for him, which made Fang Ji laugh all the way on the road.

Fang Ji quickly adapted to this almost-free, super-cheap shopping and very happily enjoyed it with his brother.

He saw a nail salon and, struck by inspiration, excitedly said to his brother, “Brother! What do you think about me getting a bell-themed manicure!”

Lin Chen did not understand this at all and was not inclined to accept.

So Fang Chengyu tactfully said, “Just try it on one finger, don’t glue them on all ten, or you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Fang Ji happily accepted his brother’s suggestion and tried to pull his brother into it.

His brother smiled and refused: “How old is Xiao Ji now? It’s time to learn to get your nails done by yourself. Brother will be waiting for you in the car.”

Fang Ji was disappointed, but couldn’t resist the temptation of his sudden inspiration, so he was forced to agree.

Lin Chen did not get out of the car. He took this opportunity to switch his GreenChat account and check his messages.

One account for Lin Chen. One for Fang Chengyu. One for Qi Wendong.

He checked them one by one, finally lingering on the Qi Wendong account for a few more minutes.

He didn’t check Qi Wendong’s account very often. Only during fragmented moments like this, when he didn’t know how many minutes of rest he had, would he switch to the Qi Wendong account to clear the red dots, just like how other people scroll through their social media feeds.

Half a year ago, Qi Wendong’s account would indeed have many messages refreshing frequently. But after half a year, the number of people who persisted in sending messages to Qi Wendong’s account could be counted on one hand.

Among them, the one who sent the most messages, or rather, created the most unread notifications, was none other than Qi Xiuyi.

Just like now.

Lin Chen switched accounts and, sure enough, the chat window with Qi Xiuyi showed a “99+” red dot.

Lin Chen: …

Lin Chen, somewhat troubled, clicked into the chat window, went back to the first unread message with a single tap, and quickly scrolled through the screen, skipping the countless missed video calls and quickly reading the messages that had content.

“Whoosh—“

Just then, a torrential downpour suddenly started outside the car window.

This season was supposed to be less rainy in the Imperial Capital. A rare heavy rain like this even drew Lin Chen’s gaze away from his phone and towards the outside of the car.

The driver said with a curious “Eh?”.

He found two umbrellas in the car, turned to Fang Chengyu, and said, “First Young Master, you just sit tight, I’ll go inside and check on the young master’s progress.”

After speaking, the driver quickly got out of the car.

Lin Chen rested his head on his hand and watched the rain for a while. Finding it uninteresting, he planned to continue reviewing the messages Qi Xiuyi had sent him.

But just as he was about to look away, Lin Chen, through the curtain of rain, suddenly noticed a figure on the other side of the street.

The figure had no umbrella, no raincoat, and was completely soaked in the heavy rain. Their steps were staggering, swaying left and right, looking very drunk.

After just a couple of steps, the figure suddenly tripped and fell with a thud by the side of the road.

The moment Lin Chen saw the figure, his brow had already tightened.

He immediately got up and fumbled where the driver had just found the umbrellas, pulling out another one.

He sent a message to the driver explaining that he was temporarily getting out of the car, then opened the umbrella, got out, and ran in small steps towards the fallen figure on the side of the road.