TSSRWAB Chapter 28

Pete arrived in the morning. The yard gate was slightly ajar so he pushed it open and walked along the white pebble path beside the small villa towards the backyard where a white sign stood.

 

He took a closer look.

 

Pete gasped sharply.

 

So this is the relationship between Lu Xi and Dahl!

 

They usually didn’t seem like it.

 

On the large white sign was a group photo of four people on an amusement park train, which looks like a family of four including two fathers and two children.

 

Pete stood in front of the sign for a long time, unable to move away.

 

“What are you doing standing here?” Wang Shuo, who had arrived a couple of steps later, asked from behind.

 

Pete silently moved aside, revealing the sign. Wang Shuo looked at it and fell silent too, then stood blocking it. Soon, two more people arrived, and the four of them huddled together, looking at the sign.

 

“What do you think about this-”

 

“Probably not, right? The Captain never mentioned it.”

 

“Maybe they’re married, and he’s announcing it today.”

 

“Then congratulations are in order. As expected of Captain Lu, so young but already leading the pack.”

 

Apart from Pete, the other three were members of the dance group LBX9.

 

“What are you all standing around here for? I was wondering where everyone went.” Lu Xi came out from the living room. “What are you looking at?”

 

Then he saw Dahl’s masterpiece. Lu Xi: …… He actually looks pretty good in it.

 

Knowing the four had misunderstood, he said straightforwardly, “Long time no see.” Before he could finish his sentence, he was hugged by the burly Wang Shuo, and the other three pounced on him as well. Pete jumped far away.

 

The three young men cheered wildly: “Ahhhhhhh Captain, we finally get to see you!”

 

“Our Captain Xixi is still so adorable.”

 

“Happy birthday, Little Captain.”

 

Lu Xi: …… These three were definitely doing it on purpose.

 

He was surrounded in the middle and a smile broke across his face. The commotion grew so loud that the people inside came out. Doubao and Dougao laughed along too, thinking it was some kind of fun game.

 

Dahl’s eyes turned red. Who are these people!!!! Why are they hugging his Master!

 

Jian Huai also felt a bit sour. Why couldn’t he hug Lu Xi openly like these three?

 

Perhaps because he has ulterior motives, he couldn’t be open and honest.

 

Turning his head and seeing the big-chested muscle man’s red eyes, along with the photo on the sign, Jian Huai smiled slightly and joined in calmly.

 

Dahl couldn’t stand the male vixen’s provocation. He immediately stepped forward, appearing respectful but he’s actually pulling the four apart.

 

“Master, the tea inside is ready.”

 

The other three let out a “wow” and grinned like they were enjoying the drama.

 

Lu Xi: …… Helpless. “Come inside and chat.”

 

Back then, they formed a group through a dance competition. It was agreed that the group would last two years and disband automatically afterward. But Lu Xi left a year early, and the group started to fall apart. All three of them are in the process of retreating from the entertainment industry, and they’re becoming too obscure to be relevant.  Their peak moment was that dance competition stage. During the group’s first year, they toured the country for commercial shows with their Captain. Once the Captain left, the group lost its spirit, their popularity declined, and they faded from the spotlight quickly.

 

Back when the online controversy about Lu Xi broke out, the three of them also stepped forward to support him. But they were too irrelevant, even the gossip accounts didn’t think they were worth reposting, preferring instead to chase the movie emperor’s traffic. Lu Xi didn’t pay much attention to online gossip either and only found out later that the three hadn’t forgotten him.

 

The tall, broad-shoulder guy standing at 1.9 meters[mfn]about 6.2 ft[/mfn] is Wang Shuo. Dahl kept watching Wang Shuo like a tiger eyeing its prey, feeling that they were of the same type, which gave him a strong sense of crisis. The other two were Zhang Zihan and Xu Nuoyan. Dahl felt no hostility towards them.

 

Because these two are the cute type, especially Xu Nuoyan, who mentioned he was married and his wife was five months pregnant.

 

Dahl was as warm as a spring breeze towards Xu Nuoyan.

 

“I’m a street dance instructor now. I still love it. Sometimes I participate in competitions to make a living,” Wang Shuo said.

 

Zhang Zihan: “I opened a chain of cake shops, and it’s the third one now. Maybe I wasn’t cut out to be a star, but I’m doing alright with this.”

 

At the time, nine of them formed the group, each with their own pride. When it came to choosing a captain, everyone agreed that it had to be Lu Xi. He was capable and popular, and some also thought that since he was young and good-looking, he shouldn’t be bullied. So he became the group’s pampered captain.

 

When the topic turned to relationships, the three instinctively looked at Dahl.

 

Dahl smiled like the official wife.

 

Lu Xi: ……

 

“He’s Dahl, my childhood friend, my friend.”

 

The succubus royal family’s selected reserve succubus servants are, in modern socialist terms, of course, would naturally just mean a childhood friend and playmate.

 

Dahl wasn’t disheartened. Instead, he smugly glanced at the burly Wang Shuo, then triumphantly looked at the male vixen. Did you hear that? Master and I have been destined to be together since childhood!

 

Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Doubao and Dougao, and the matter of Lu Xi leaving early four years ago with his male ‘friend’.

 

They changed clothes and went to the backyard to soak in the hot spring.

 

Everyone started laughing and joking around, especially Wang Shuo, who was leading the mischief. This guy was always the life of the party, a typical straight guy with no inhibitions whatsoever. While soaking in the hot springs, he jokingly shouted, “Xiao Hanhan, why are you so shy? Back in the day, I was the one who scrubbed your back during showers. I even know you have a mole on your butt.”

 

Zhang Zihan was embarrassed and angry, and slammed Wang Shuo. “Ahhhh! Shut up!”

 

“Little Cake, not acting prim and proper anymore? Hahaha, with those skinny arms and legs.” Wang Shuo grabbed Zhang Zihan’s pale and slender arm with one hand.

 

Xu Nuoyan, a married man, watched the two fool around, thoroughly enjoying the show. “Watch it, there are children present.”

 

“Little Cake has a child?” Wang Shuo said cheekily. “Is it mine?”

 

Zhang Zihan: “Ahhhhhh! I’m going to kill you!”

 

These two had shared a dorm room back in the group days. Zhang Zihan’s face was red with anger. Hitting Wang Shuo made his hands hurt, so he turned to the Captain for support. “Captain, tell him off!”

 

The melon-eating Lu Xi wiped the smile from his lips and said seriously, “Alright, alright, I’ll say it. Wang Shuo, what’s going on with you? Watch your attitude! Without a hospital certificate, how can you spread rumors about Xiao Hanhan being pregnant?”

 

“Captain, even you’ve turned against me? Don’t you love me anymore?” Zhang Zihan whined.

 

Back in the days of LBX9, Wang Shuo, a Northeasterner, was the life of the group. He’s loud, cheerful, and always ready to liven things up. Lu Xi, who had grown up in the United States, picked up a thick Northeastern accent after only a few days around him, joining in their banter and roughhousing. Amidst their playful chaos, Jian Huai sat on the sidelines, smiling as he watched them, just like he does today.

 

To be precise, watching Lu Xi.

 

Logically, among them now, Jian Huai had the best reputation and stable status. If they wanted to cozy up to someone, it should be Jian Huai. But everyone still gravitated around Lu Xi, just like before. The nine members all had different temperaments, and Lu Xi was the balancing factor. Once he left, everything fell apart, and the group faded quickly.

 

Some people may have harbored resentment towards Lu Xi.

 

But Wang Shuo and the other two didn’t hold a grudge against Lu Xi for this. Lu Xi wasn’t their nanny, obliged to stay tied to them and let them leech off him. The group was supposed to disband after two years anyway. If they couldn’t stand on their own and didn’t make it big, why blame Lu Xi?

 

They were just worried that Lu Xi had left so hastily and decisively back then, afraid something might have happened.

 

Now that they see Captain Lu doing well, everyone is very happy.

 

“Back then, I thought we’d never see you again,” Xu Nuoyan sighed. “When my child is born, you must come to the full moon celebration[mfn]满月酒 mǎn yuè jiǔ – a baby’s one-month birthday dinner celebration[/mfn].”

 

Lu Xi was truly happy today, knowing that he still have friends and that they hadn’t drifted apart.

 

“Definitely, definitely.”

 

Everyone raised their glasses for a toast. Lu Xi didn’t drink juice anymore and switched to red wine. They sat in the gazebo in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine and the aroma of barbecue. They had so much to talk about after not seeing each other for so many years. Finally, Lu Xi’s face flushed with a light red hue from the alcohol.

 

Wang Shuo, who had the best tolerance for alcohol, said, “The Captain is still the same as before. He gets drunk after just a few sips.”

 

“The worst drinker.” Despite Zhang Zihan’s youthful, cute appearance, his alcohol tolerance was pretty good. “The first time I saw him drunk, he wanted to kiss people. It was terrifying.”

 

Lu Xi had forgotten this part. His mind was a bit slow, so after a few seconds, he said, “I kissed someone? Who did I kiss?”

 

How could he not remember?

 

“You hugged me, and, oh right, Jian Huai too.” Xu Nuoyan held his wine glass and tried hard to remember, “Eh, I forgot. Anyway, in the end, we didn’t end up kissing. I passed out. What about you, Jian Huai? Did you remember?”

 

Jian Huai held his glass. “Did that happen?”

 

“Speaking of this, it’s weird.” Zhang Zihan said, “I even took a video of the Captain drunk and trying to kiss people. I was going to show you the next day, but the next day my phone crashed and wouldn’t turn on no matter what. After resetting it, all the photos were gone.”

 

Wang Shuo: “Sounds like ghostly interference.”

 

“Don’t scare people.” Zhang Zihan was annoyed.

 

Xu Nuoyan also threw something at Wang Shuo. Talking about ghosts in broad daylight!

 

Lu Xi, who seemed to have encountered a lustful ghost: ……

 

His mind immediately became much clearer.

 

After chatting for a while, everyone was full and sleepy. The villa had guest rooms for resting, though they might need to share rooms. Just as Zhang Zihan was about to ask to room with Xu Nuoyan, Wang Shuo picked him up like he was his son and chuckled, “Little Cake, going to sleep with Daddy again?”

 

“Go be someone else’s daddy, you unfilial son!” Zhang Zihan didn’t lose in the war of words.

 

Then he was thoroughly ruffled by Wang Shuo.

 

Dahl tidied up in the yard while Lu Xi headed upstairs on his own. Jian Huai followed behind, watching Lu Xi’s retreating figure. The words on the tip of his tongue somehow failed to come out.

 

Doubao and Dougao had been playing all morning and were already sleepy, so they were sleeping soundly by the side of the bed. Lu Xi was reeking of alcohol, so he took a quick shower, then got into bed and pulled up the covers. His mind drifted back to the victory celebration after the group’s very first concert.

 

Confetti was everywhere, the screams of fans, the adrenaline from finishing the dance, and the alcohol.

 

Lu Xi was an adult now, but his tolerance for red wine was about one glass. Because he was happy, just like today, he drank sip by sip, and before he knew it, he had too much. His head felt dizzy and he couldn’t remember things clearly. The deepest memory seemed to be hugging Xie Zhuhan and calling him Uncle Xie-

 

Didn’t Xie Zhuhan not come?

 

Because he had something to take care of, he didn’t attend his celebration party.

 

But why did Xie Zhuhan’s face appear in the depths of his memory?

 

He had a terrible headache and drifted off to sleep in a daze.

 

By evening, the starry lights in the backyard were lit. After resting and freshening up, everyone was full of energy again.

 

Doubao and Dougao’s robot assembly competition also began. Uncle Wang Shuo, the big guy, even trash-talked before the competition, saying he wouldn’t go easy on Dougao. Dougao’s little face was cool and expressionless as he said ‘Oh.’ When the timer started, Dougao carefully examined the parts and studied the blueprint. Over there, Wang Shuo and the others had already started assembling.

 

“Didi jiayou! Didi is the best!” Doubao is his brother’s cheerleader.

 

Dougao was very calm, nodded his little head, and began to slowly pick up parts and assemble them.

 

Compared to the adults, Dougao was really unhurried and methodical. Meanwhile, Wang Shuo was shouting, “This isn’t right, is it? Were the parts given wrongly? It won’t fit. They look about the same size.”

 

Zhang Zihan and Xu Nuoyan also encountered this situation. Jian Huai took a look and said, “The part is wrong. That one is for the left hand. The right hand uses this one.”

 

The assembly parts for the left and right hands were very similar and needed careful distinction.

 

Dougao started assembling from the lower body. When he got to the hands, all were correct. There were some parts he couldn’t quite remember, so he would quietly think for a moment before continuing the assembly.

 

Jian Huai finished first, followed by Dougao.

 

Zhang Zihan: “As expected of my Captain, even his son is so smart.” He laughed heartily, mocking Wang Shuo for getting beaten by a kid.

 

Dougao wasn’t unhappy about getting second place. In fact, he grew fonder of Uncle Jian, who took first place.

 

Lu Xi rubbed his son’s head and said, “Your Uncle Jian was a top student back in the day. He’s a high achiever who graduated from a prestigious university.”

 

Only then did everyone remember that Jian Huai had studied science and engineering. If he really competed seriously, he’d be even faster than this.

 

In the entertainment industry, if academic qualifications were ever compared, Jian Huai would rank first. He was admitted through real, hard-earned exams, with excellent grades in all subjects, and even had a guaranteed admission spot for further studies. Unfortunately, he didn’t continue his education later on and instead entered the entertainment industry to become an actor.

 

“Wow, Uncle is so awesome!”

 

Doubao had starry eyes, while Dougao also showed a reserved and subtle admiration.

 

Jian Huai smiled, feeling very pleased. “Uncle can also make real robots. Let’s make one together next time.”

 

Dougao’s eyes lit up. “Okay. Uncle must come quickly.”

 

It was a rare moment of childishness.

 

Xu Nuoyan observed this with a thoughtful expression, and before he could even open his mouth to inquire, Wang Shuo blurted out, “Jian Huai, you’re acting like you’re tricking the kids into calling you Dad.”

 

Jian Huai’s expression didn’t change. He smiled slightly and said, “Doubao and Dougao are so smart and cute, of course I’d want that.”

 

“You can keep dreaming. These two are my little treasures.” Lu Xi kissed the two little buns.

 

The topic moved on.

 

They ate cake in the evening. Doubao and Dougao were sleepy so Lu Xi took the two upstairs to sleep. When he came out, he ran into Jian Huai in the hallway.

 

Lu Xi was startled. “What’s up?”

 

“Can we talk?”

 

“Sure.”

 

Lu Xi thought Jian Huai had something to say that wasn’t convenient to discuss in a crowded place.

 

So he went with Jian Huai to the small balcony on the second floor.

 

The evening breeze blew gently. Jian Huai was very nervous, his heart pounding. When he spoke, his voice startled him, it was hoarse.

 

“Lu Xi, I like you.”

 

Lu Xi was shocked.

 

He turned to look at Jian Huai.

 

Once the words left his mouth, the tension in his heart eased. Jian Huai’s gaze was clear and earnest as he said, “From that first stage five years ago, it only grew deeper. I don’t want you to see me only as a friend. I like you, and I want to pursue you.”

 

Jian Huai looked at Lu Xi.

 

Lu Xi: …… It was just too sudden. He didn’t know what to say.

 

“I’ve thought about it for a long time, hesitated for a long time, and missed my chance for four years. I don’t want to lose another opportunity because of my cowardice.” Jian Huai smiled. “Back when the group was formed, it was just like today. Everyone surrounded you, chatting and joking. I couldn’t bring myself to join in.”

 

Knowing his future was uncertain, burdened by his family circumstances, and that Lu Xi already had someone he liked, he could only watch silently like a pathetic little creature.

 

Lu Xi was still in the middle of being !!!!!!

 

There was nothing he could do. One second, he thought an old friend had something on his mind, and the next, they were confessing their feelings. The shock was overwhelming.

 

“If you can’t accept me for now, can you at least give me the chance to remain friends?”

 

Upon hearing this, Lu Xi frowned. “Lao Jian, you’re amazing. Don’t talk down on yourself like that.”

 

Jian Huai smiled. It wasn’t the worst outcome.

 

“Master, a Mr. Xie has arrived.” Dahl’s footsteps were nearly silent, but he came up quickly. After he finished tidying up, he noticed the vixen wasn’t around either. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that the vixen had come looking for the master.

 

He immediately went upstairs, coincidentally meeting a guest at the main gate of the yard.

 

Dahl now had an excuse and quickened his pace.

 

Upon reaching the second floor, he indeed saw the male vixen looking tenderly and shamelessly at his Master.

 

He was furious.

 

Lu Xi didn’t need to ask which Mr. Xie it was. His face had already turned cold.

 

He stood on the second floor, and when he looked down, his gaze unexpectedly met that of Xie Zhuhan, who was standing in the middle of the yard.