Chapter 164: Elder Brother

Ming Han directly hailed a taxi to go to the county town and pick up his mother.

At that moment, his mother was at home watching television. Hearing a knock and seeing someone enter, she asked with great excitement, "Xiao Nuo, is that you?"

Ming Han's heart instantly turned ice-cold—what a cruel blow!

Especially when Ming Han caught the exact moment Su Yan saw him, the excitement in her eyes quickly faded and transformed into complete calm.

"My son is back!"

Heh! There was definitely a sense of distance now.

"Mom, I'm taking you to the downtown area for a big feast."

Su Yan waved her hand dismissively. "Going downtown is too much trouble. If you want to eat, your mom will cook for you herself."

"It's Chen Nuo; she said she wanted to host a welcome-back dinner for your discharge from the hospital."

"Ah, that's such a sweet thought from Xiao Nuo! Then I certainly can't let her down. Let's go!"

Seeing Su Yan agree so readily, Ming Han was left dumbfounded! He felt as though his heart was shattering.

*The cool night breeze turns your longing into a flowing river, transforming into spring mud to nurture me.*

"Hurry up, Xiao Han. Don't let Xiao Nuo wait too long."

Ming Han thought to himself, *I literally just got back and you're dragging me away without even letting me take a sip of water!*

Su Yan hurriedly pulled Ming Han downstairs and flagged down a taxi.

Ming Han felt as if he had become an utter burden to his mother on her way to see her "daughter."

By the time they reached the restaurant, it was already dark, yet Su Yan was still brimming with excitement.

"I haven't seen Xiao Nuo in days. I wonder if she's gained weight or lost weight?"

Ming Han complained, "Didn't you even notice that your son has grown much more haggard lately?"

Only then did Su Yan carefully size Ming Han up for a moment before smiling and saying, "Boys look better when they're a bit thinner."

Heh! Back before Chen Nuo came along, she used to tell him every day to eat more, saying that chubby boys were blessed. Now, the new favorite had effortlessly replaced the old.

The scene of Chen Nuo and Su Yan reuniting could literally be turned into a sitcom. Both of their eyes were brimming with faint tears—they looked at each other in silence, tears streaming down in the thousands.

"Would you two please stop this? You're starting to look a bit like little tadpoles looking for their mother..."

Ming Han's remark completely ruined the atmosphere, and both Su Yan and Chen Nuo glared at him with dissatisfaction.

Ming Han had no choice but to quietly eat his food; when women united, they were truly invincible.

Su Yan first inquired about the two girls' recent studies, offering remarkably insightful commentary on several current entertainment industry hot topics, before finally turning her attention to Ming Han.

"Son, you haven't been home for quite a long time. Didn't you miss home at all?"

Of course he did! When Ming Han lay on the stiff wooden bed in his dorm, he deeply yearned for the soft little bed at home. Whenever he felt homesick, he would look up at the moon and recite that timeless classic proverb: *East or west, home is best...* (Though literally translating to "A golden nest and a silver nest are not as good as one's own dog kennel...")

And then there was that soon-to-be-obsolete desktop computer, his sacred sanctuary for relaxation. Even though the internet connection was agonizingly laggy, as long as he opened up the computer and played a couple of rounds of Eighty-Point cards, all his worries would instantly vanish.

Seeing Ming Han deep in thought, Su Yan assumed he felt guilty for not coming home to see her in so long. Just as she was about to offer a few words of comfort, she heard Ming Han muttering to himself, "My little bed, my computer, how I've missed you both so much!"

Heh! What was the use of having a biological son anyway?

...

Just as they were having their meal, the vice president of the No. 1 Municipal High School Student Union happened to arrive at the same establishment.

A vice president was always busy, having to treat a bunch of people to dinner while assigning tasks.

A junior student flattered him sycophantically, "Our senior is truly working his fingers to the bone for our school, giving his all until his dying breath!"

Everyone was startled.

This junior really had no idea how to talk! Even though the vice president's hair was receding quite severely, you couldn't just casually tell him he'd work until his "dying breath" right to his face!

Lin Zhengming was also somewhat angry. "It's my duty!" he replied in a very detached tone...

The junior continued showering praise in his own unique way, "The vice president is just like a public servant of the people, forever fighting on the front lines, dedicating his young and robust life."

Lin Zhengming's face darkened. "Just order the food!"

"I shall order the braised prawns in oil for the vice president. Prawns are rich in iron minerals, which are extremely beneficial for hair growth..."

The junior just kept rambling on and on!

Lin Zhengming couldn't take it anymore. He had a strong suspicion that this junior was sent by the heavens specifically to punish him. "I'm going to the restroom."

Lin Zhengming's mood could only be described as deeply depressed. He felt he urgently needed to go to the restroom to vent.

Humming a little tune while he relieved himself, he felt every pore on his body expand in sheer, blissful relaxation!

And right at that moment, Ming Han walked in as well.

He paused for a brief second upon seeing Lin Zhengming, then offered a polite smile and greeted him, "Hello!"

There were only two urinals, so they stood right next to each other...

The atmosphere grew somewhat bizarre. Out of nowhere, Ming Han blurted out, "That tune you were humming just now was pretty good."

Lin Zhengming awkwardly replied, "Indeed, quite an atmospheric piece of music."

"That song is the theme song of *Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf*, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes. The cheerful melody reveals an optimism and fearlessness toward life..."

"Pfft!" Muffled laughter erupted from one of the locked toilet stalls. They really couldn't take these two weirdos anymore!

A brief bathroom break had turned into absolute torture. Just as Lin Zhengming finished up, zipped his pants, and was about to leave, he heard Ming Han muttering to himself nearby, "Quite exquisite!"

He furrowed his brow in confusion. What kind of adjective was that?

Ignoring it, he walked back toward his private dining room...

Halfway there, he overheard a waiter explaining to a customer, "Look at our steamed buns, how delicate and exquisitely petite they are!"

*What the heck!* Lin Zhengming's realization hit him like a lightning bolt—he had just been insidiously insulted by that jerk.

He wanted to turn right back around and reclaim his dignity. He wanted to grab Ming Han by the collar and roar fiercely into his face, *"You're exquisite and petite! Your entire family is exquisite and petite!"*

Then, he heard Chen Nuo's voice, "I have a friend, you know? He's actually not bad-looking, except he's always losing his hair..."

*Oh, wow!* He could manage to hear people talking trash about him even here. Did his hair loss somehow infringe upon their lives?

And as for that brat named Chen Nuo, could she please stop badmouthing him behind his back? Was there any hope left for their friendship?

He knocked on the door, figuring that since Chen Nuo was inside, Chen Li must be there too.

"Please come in."

Lin Zhengming pushed the door open and immediately heard Chen Nuo complaining, "Why are the braised prawns taking so long?"

As it turned out, Chen Nuo had mistaken Lin Zhengming for a waiter.

"Why on earth are you eating braised prawns?" Lin Zhengming asked, harboring a deep trauma toward the dish. "You already have more than enough hair."

Chen Nuo was stunned. What on earth did her eating braised prawns have to do with her hair?

At that moment, besides Chen Nuo and Chen Li, there were two unfamiliar people in the private room.

"And this auntie is...?"

Chen Nuo proudly introduced Su Yan to Lin Zhengming. "She's my godmother."

Being the gentleman he was, Lin Zhengming politely greeted Su Yan, "Hello, Auntie. Chen Nuo and I are as close as brother and sister. Her godmother is naturally my godmother."

The moment those words left his mouth, a deeply affectionate cry of "Brother" drifted over from right behind him...

The tone was so sweet and gooey it could make anyone's skin crawl.

It was none other than Ming Han.

Lin Zhengming snapped, furious. "I don't have a younger brother like you."

Chen Li looked at the two of them speechlessly. *What the hell is this? Are they seriously reenacting a long-lost brothers reunion scene right now?!*