Chapter 23 – Younger Brother
Novel Title: 一生之计在于春 (Spring is the Plan of Life)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 姚锦夕 (Yao Jinxi -MC), 吴洋 (Wu Yang -ML)
*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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No matter the situation, they couldn’t stand outside forever. Yao Jinxi led the two of them into the tea shop. “Mom knows you’re coming to work in City C, right?”
Yao Jinchen sat down and looked around with great interest. His luggage was placed at his feet and he only settled down after hearing the question. “Um… she knows. This company is in the Fortune Global 500. So she’s happy that I got in.”
Yao Jinchen’s explanation made sense to Yao Jinxi. Their mother, Yao Hong, would indeed react that way.
Yao Jinxi nodded and prepared tea for both of them. He chatted with Yao Jinchen as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He showed no sign of the earlier stiffness and awkwardness from meeting his brother.
Wu Yang quietly sipped his tea and didn’t join the conversation. He observed the two brothers in the well-lit space, noting that there seemed to be some resemblance between them.
However, Yao Jinchen was slightly fairer than Yao Jinxi. He also had a youthful air about him, which matched his status as a recent college graduate entering the workforce.
Yao Jinxi asked, “How did you know I was here?”
Cautiously gauging his brother’s expression, Yao Jinchen quickly answered, “I… I found one of your middle school classmates, surnamed Bai. Uh. He was the one who told me.”
So that’s it. That explained why Bai Xu suddenly asked about him. Yao Jinxi understood it now. He glanced at the time and said, “It’s getting late. You should head back.”
Yao Jinchen had received Yao Jinxi’s information as soon as he arrived in the city. Without even going to the company-arranged dormitory, he had rushed over. “Brother…”
He called out. But then he looked at Wu Yang, the outsider, and fell silent. He wore a somewhat hurt expression as he stared at his older brother. Yao Jinxi seemed oblivious to his conflicted expression. Yao Jinchen said, “Can I stay here tonight?”
“No.” Yao Jinxi’s tone was calm but firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
Yao Jinchen opened his mouth to speak again but hesitated when he saw Wu Yang nearby. He looked at his brother with a wounded expression. Although Yao Jinxi noticed his inner turmoil, he acted as if he hadn’t and said, “At this hour, there are no more public buses. Can you take a taxi back?”
Wu Yang raised an eyebrow slightly. The interaction between these brothers seemed unusual. It piqued his interest.
He still didn’t know what had happened in Yao Jinxi’s family. But given Yao Jinxi’s history with depression, it seemed that there must have been some impactful events in his life.
What could it be?
Wu Yang’s gaze settled on Yao Jinchen. “I’ll give you a ride, then.”
Yao Jinxi went along with it. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Wu Yang stood up first and bent down to help Yao Jinchen with his bag. But Yao Jinchen swiftly snatched it back. Wu Yang shrugged it off and stepped aside.
Yao Jinchen continued to stare firmly at Yao Jinxi. After a while, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Wu Yang was still there, he blurted out, “Brother, are you still mad about that incident?”
Yao Jinxi didn’t respond to him and instead addressed Wu Yang. “Be careful on the road.”
Wu Yang smiled in agreement. “Don’t worry. Well, shall we go?”
The last sentence was clearly directed at Yao Jinchen. But he seemed not to have heard it. He continued to stare at Yao Jinxi, who was busy tidying up the tea set. “Brother, are you really ignoring me?”
Yao Jinxi glanced at him while continuing his task. “What’s your logic here? I really can’t accommodate one more person here.”
Yao Jinchen’s eyes lit up. “I see! Then I can share a bed with you, can’t I?”
“Sorry. The bed at my home can’t accommodate two people.” Yao Jinxi paused and couldn’t help but sigh. “Jinchen, if you keep causing trouble like this, don’t bother coming here again.”
This statement seemed to have an unusual impact on Yao Jinchen. He pursed his lips and picked up his luggage but he didn’t stand up. “Alright, I’ll head back for today. I’ll come find you tomorrow.”
Yao Jinxi seemed a bit tired and casually nodded with his eyes lowered.
Wu Yang squinted his eyes but didn’t interject since he didn’t have a strong stance in this situation. He patiently stood by and waited. After some delay, Yao Jinchen finally stood up. “I’m leaving, brother.”
“Alright. How long has Wu Yang been waiting for you?” Yao Jinxi waved his hand as if shooing away a puppy. “Hurry up.”
Yao Jinchen left with Wu Yang.
Yao Jinxi watched them leave. Once they disappeared from his line of sight, it was as if he had exhausted all his energy. He slumped his shoulders and rested his head on the table.
The tea cups that hadn’t been picked up yet were knocked over. The remaining tea spilled onto his skin, already cold. Unaware, Yao Jinxi buried his head in his arms for a while before sitting up again, staring vacantly into space.
Wu Yang led Yao Jinchen towards his car and opened the rear door for him to place his luggage inside. “Could you please tell me the address again?”
Yao Jinchen provided the address with a cold and indifferent tone, completely different from how he had interacted with Yao Jinxi just moments ago. Wu Yang didn’t mind and took his place behind the steering wheel.
There was no communication between the two during the ride, each fastening their seatbelts. Yao Jinchen was focused on sending a text message while Wu Yang concentrated on driving. The road was relatively empty at this time so the traffic was smooth. Wu Yang followed the address and arrived at the entrance of the residential area.
He parked the car and unlocked the doors. “We’re here.”
Yao Jinchen released his seatbelt and twisted his body to reach for his luggage bag in the back. He then turned his head abruptly. “What’s your relationship with my brother?”
Wu Yang rested his elbow on the steering wheel and smiled faintly. “As I said, we’re friends. Right?”
“Are you just a friend when you go to his tea shop at night?” Yao Jinchen frowned. His eyes were filled with hostility. “Stay away from my brother.”
To outsiders, the interaction between Wu Yang and Yao Jinxi appeared to be harmless. Going to a tea shop for a drink was perfectly normal. However, Yao Jinchen regarded it with suspicion and rejection.
This was indeed quite intriguing.
Wu Yang looked at Yao Jinchen’s challenging gaze with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Stay away from your brother? Why should I listen to you?”
Yao Jinchen furrowed his brow deeply at first but then seemed to come to some realisation. He opened up, “It doesn’t matter. After all, my brother’s favourite person is still me.”
“It’s getting late, kid. You should hurry back to your dormitory.” Wu Yang no longer paid attention to him, turning his head to start the engine. Yao Jinchen’s display of defiance didn’t elicit any response. Frustrated, he stepped out and forcefully closed the door. It made a loud noise in the process.
Wu Yang pulled out his phone and called Yao Jinxi. This time, it was not answered on the first attempt. He felt a bit surprised and called again. Yao Jinxi finally picked up.
“Jinxi?” Wu Yang spoke gently. “I’ve dropped your brother off. Just letting you know.”
Yao Jinxi’s voice remained as calm as usual. “Thank you for that.”
Wu Yang smiled and asked, “By the way, how old is your brother?”
“He’s 22. He just graduated from college,” Yao Jinxi replied mechanically before realising something. “Why do you ask? Did he say something to you?”
Sensing a slight tension in his tone, Wu Yang remained composed. “No. He didn’t say anything. I just thought he looked a bit young. I even thought he might have skipped a grade in school.”
Yao Jinxi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Jinchen is quite clever. But my mom was afraid that skipping a grade would affect his performance and make him less diligent. So she insisted on him to follow the regular sequence.”
Wu Yang chuckled. “Alright then. Just wanted to check in on you. I’ll hang up now. Get some rest, okay?”
He ended the call, feeling a bit distracted.
Yao Jinchen’s unusual attitude toward Yao Jinxi, as well as the apparent lack of contact or communication between them, struck Wu Yang as odd. The way Yao Jinxi’s brother acted, like a child wanting to monopolise a toy, didn’t sit well with Wu Yang. What bothered him even more was the sense of entitlement that seemed to exist between the two of them.
Blood ties, a younger brother, and a mother – regardless of what had happened over the years, they were family to Yao Jinxi. That couldn’t be denied.
Wu Yang knew he wasn’t in the best mood at the moment, unable to focus his thoughts. So he decided to pull the car over to the side of the road. He leaned back in his seat, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes.
He clicked his tongue.
—It’s truly envy-inducing, isn’t it?
Not just one person had had a sleepless night. Yet they would still have to face the next day. Yao Jinxi had barely slept. By 6 o’clock in the morning, he couldn’t take it anymore. He sat up with his blanket in his arms, staring into space.
Yao Jinchen came to find himself, which was unexpected for Yao Jinxi. But it also seemed like something that could have been anticipated. Facing such a situation with such a natural demeanour, could it be said that his younger brother, who had been spoiled by him, truly didn’t repent?
What should Yao Jinxi do about Yao Jinchen?
Yao Jinxi’s mind was stuck in this place, unable to move forward or backward. This is because, no matter what, that guy was still his own brother. Before he left home, they had spent more time together than anyone else, even surpassing his time with Yao Hong.
He sighed deeply and ultimately decided not to dwell on it any longer. They were brothers. He couldn’t just ignore Yao Jinchen. For now, let it be.
Having temporarily found a solution to his own problem, Yao Jinxi finally got up. He already had several text messages on his phone. They are all from Yao Jinchen.
—Brother, I’m awake, are you?
—The company is right next to the dorm. My roommate says it takes only five minutes to get there. It’s very convenient.
—The breakfast porridge here tastes awful. What you make is still the best.
…
Yao Jinxi read through them one by one. He replied with a wry smile to the last one, telling Yao Jinchen to focus on work. He was unable to say much else, not knowing what else to say.
At this point, there were still a few hours before his usual opening time and Yao Jinxi didn’t feel like going online. He felt down. There were clearly many things he could do. But he couldn’t muster any interest in doing any of them.
This wasn’t a good sign.
Realising he was zoning out again, Yao Jinxi quickly shook his head and rubbed his nose. He hesitated for a moment. But then reached for his phone.
At this moment, he thought, ‘Has Wu Yang… gotten up yet?’
He was a bit worried that the other person might still be asleep. But as soon as he remembered how that guy had dared to call him at three in the morning back then, Yao Jinxi’s confidence surged.
Wu Yang quickly answered the phone, “Jinxi? It’s so early. Is there something you need?”
There was a hint of surprise in his voice, but also a sense of delight. He didn’t sound like he had just been awakened. Yao Jinxi then said, “Nothing in particular. I just wanted to chat with you.”
As the words left his mouth, he realised they sounded somewhat familiar.
Laughter came through the receiver, “Can’t sleep? What do you want to talk about? Should I come over?”
His restless mind found a momentary anchor in this exchange, miraculously calming down. Without thinking too much, Yao Jinxi replied, “Sure. Come over.”
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*Author’s Note: Feel free to disturb him_(:з」∠)_. That person on the other end is more than willing to be disturbed by you.-YXF
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*Translator’s Note: Can you all guess what happened between YJX and YJC? -K
Next update: 2023.10.27
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