Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning only knew what “big sister” meant, but they didn’t understand what “brother-in-law” meant. Still, they were obedient little babies. Since big sister said they couldn’t call him “Lu Zhe gege,” but had to call him “brother-in-law,” they nodded obediently in agreement.

Little Tiancai opened his mouth, ready to call out “brother-in-law,” but Su Ci quickly covered his small mouth.

The little one’s eyes widened round.

“Lower your voice. This is our secret, we can’t let anyone else hear it.” Even with her thick skin, Su Ci didn’t dare be so brazen with her parents still here.

Little Tiancai understood. He faced Lu Zhe and, in a tiny, tiny whisper, quietly called out, “Brother-in-law.”

Su Ci was deeply satisfied.

Little Su Ning copied him. Just like Little Tiancai, he used his soft, milky voice and quietly called, “Brother-in-law.”

The teenager standing beside Su Ci glanced at them faintly. Under his short black hair, the tips of his ears were completely red.

“What are you all doing standing at the door?” Mother Su had just sat down with Father Su when she noticed the few little ones still standing over by the entrance.

Su Ci secretly used her fingertip to rub lightly against the back of Lu Zhe’s hand hanging at his side, then she walked in with a bright smile.

Lu Zhe lowered his eyes, hiding the smile within his black pupils.

There was an electric kettle in the hotel room, but the bottom inside the kettle was full of scale. Lu Zhe didn’t want to use that to boil water to serve Father Su and Mother Su, so he went to the hotel front desk and bought a few bottles of mineral water.

Originally, the room only had two chairs; the other two were borrowed from Boss Fang.

Father Su and Mother Su each sat on one. Su Ci sat on the chair by the floor-to-ceiling window. The two little radish heads sat on the edge of the bed, their tiny heads pressed together as they whispered about something.

Lu Zhe walked over and sat down on the chair opposite Su Ci.

Father Su, after all, was a man who had lived through big events. The shock in his heart had already settled. He carefully sized up this young man, Lu Zhe.

That kid Lu Chen looked like a fox-spirit, a demon who lured bees and butterflies everywhere, always attracting trouble.

But Lu Zhe’s brows and features were upright and proper. His face was stiff and cold. Apart from a few traces of resemblance to that kid Lu Chen, his gaze and temperament were completely different.

Father Su felt conflicted.

“Uncle Su, Auntie Su, the place is simple. If anything is lacking, please forgive me.” The always cold and composed teenager still had a bit more restraint and nervousness when facing Su Ci’s parents.

Father Su waved his hand. “We’re not particular about these things. We came today because we wanted to thank you for saving our lives. During the fire, you saved me and my wife. Before that, you even took care of my daughter. We are all very grateful. You are the Su family’s benefactor. If there’s anything you want, just say it.”

Putting aside whether Lu Zhe really was that kid Lu Chen’s son, this young man had done the Su family a great favor. He indeed ought to be properly repaid.

Lu Zhe glanced at Su Ci sitting by the window, then shook his head. “Uncle Su, I don’t want anything. Back at the fire, no matter who it was, I would have helped.”

He never imagined that the people he saved were actually Su Ci’s parents. When he found out, he felt a burst of relief, but he had never thought of using this to demand anything in return.

Beside him, Su Ci grew anxious. She kept shooting him meaningful looks. If not for her parents being present, she would’ve already kicked Lu Zhe with her toes.

So stupid. Her family had plenty of money — even asking for money would be better than asking for nothing at all.

Father Su had heard from his wife that this young man, Lu Zhe, had a good nature. He could see it too. In this, he was nothing like that kid Lu Chen. Lu Chen looked like a seductive demon, always full of schemes and vicious tricks. He himself had suffered several losses in Lu Chen’s hands.

“You don’t seek repayment for your kindness, but our Su family will not leave a debt unpaid.” Father Su looked at Lu Zhe and said honestly, “Don’t mind it, but when we found Little Ci back then, we did have someone investigate your background. We know about your situation.”

Lu Zhe listened quietly.

“We know you’re an orphan, and that you have ALS.” Father Su did not use the businesslike manner he used in negotiations, but the tone of an elder speaking to a junior with heartfelt concern. “We can provide you with the best treatment.”

Even if ALS could not be cured, at the very least, an excellent medical team could help slow its progression.

Father Su continued, “And also, if you want, we can help you find your biological parents.”

Although he could not confirm whether Lu Zhe was that kid Lu Chen’s son, considering the great debt the Su family owed him, he could temporarily put aside his hostility toward that flower-fox and investigate whether Lu Zhe was really his son.

Hearing this, Lu Zhe shook his head. “Thank you, Uncle Su, thank you, Auntie Su, but I don’t want to.”

Seeing Lu Zhe refuse Father Su’s help to find his family, Su Ci wasn’t surprised at all. After all, being thrown into an orphanage — even if such parents were found, what meaning would it have? Perhaps there had been some hidden reason back then, but after all these years, it no longer mattered.

Upon hearing Lu Zhe’s words, Father Su didn’t know why, but he suddenly thought of that kid Lu Chen again. If Lu Zhe really was Lu Chen’s son, and Lu Zhe didn’t want to acknowledge his parents, then he could enjoy watching that flower-fox make a fool of himself.

Beside him, Mother Su spoke, “We understand if you don’t want to find your parents, but we hope you won’t refuse treatment. We’ve already contacted the top experts in this field.”

Lu Zhe’s thin lips pressed together. His peripheral vision swept to Su Ci, and he agreed.

If treatment worked, he wanted more time with her.

Only then did Mother Su breathe a sigh of relief. After all, this young man seemed to have no desires and asked for nothing. They had no way to repay him otherwise.

At this moment, Father Su asked someone to bring up the thank-you gifts prepared in the car — all chosen by Mother Su. “Take these. Don’t refuse. You saved us. These are what you deserve.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Su Ci chimed in too. Her eyes narrowed halfway, her tone carrying a threat. “You’re not allowed to refuse.”

Lu Zhe’s lips curved slightly. He no longer declined.

Before long, the room — already not very big — was piled full of gift boxes and bags.

Mother Su, being the more meticulous one, smiled and said, “Cici told me you’ll be staying in B City from now on. Have you found a place to live yet? If not, we can provide one.”

A house was nothing to the Su family.

Lu Zhe declined. “Thank you, Auntie Su, but I’m already looking. I should be able to settle it soon.”

Mother Su did not insist. “If you need any help from the Su family, just speak up. Regarding treatment, once the specialist arrives, I’ll have someone contact you immediately.”

Ever since her daughter told her she liked Lu Zhe, whether out of personal feelings or gratitude, Mother Su hoped this young man could get better. Even if there was no cure, slowing the illness would still be good.

Lu Zhe said, “Thank you.”

Father Su had only been discharged yesterday. His body was not fully recovered and he couldn’t sit for long. After chatting briefly with Lu Zhe, he prepared to leave.

He still needed to send someone to investigate Lu Zhe’s background. Even if Lu Zhe did not want to find his parents, he wanted to know whether Lu Zhe was truly that flower-fox Lu Chen’s son.

Watching her parents and the two little radish heads walking ahead, Su Ci deliberately slowed her pace.

When they had all stepped outside, Su Ci remained inside the room. She turned around abruptly, reached out both arms, and hooked them around Lu Zhe’s shoulders.

“Su Ci!” Lu Zhe was startled by the girl’s sudden action — her parents had just stepped out the door.

“Shh!” Su Ci blinked at the teenager. “Lower your voice.”

Lu Zhe reminded the girl, “You should go.”

A sly glint flashed through Su Ci’s dark eyes. “Kiss me and I’ll go right away.”

Only now did Lu Zhe realize that the girl who was practically hanging off him not only had thick skin, but also an impressively bold courage.

He let out a quiet sigh. “If your parents turn back and notice you’re missing, they’ll come in looking for you.”

Su Ci nodded. “I know, so hurry.” Mischief shimmered in her eyes. “I put on lip gloss today. Do my lips look even prettier?” When she went out, she had deliberately applied it.

Lu Zhe knew nothing about the lip products girls used. His gaze fell on her lips. They were indeed a little different from her usual rosy-red color.

He answered, “Mm.”

Su Ci laughed. “Quick, taste it. This lip gloss is peach-flavored, with added candy essence. It’s a little sweet.”

Taste what?

The girl was telling him to taste her lips.

Lu Zhe understood the girl’s nature clearly. If he didn’t go along with her, she would only push further.

The teenager lowered his jaw, and his cool, thin lips touched her tangerine-colored ones. As he leaned close—just as the girl said—he caught a sweet peach fragrance. And her lips were softer than a perfectly ripe peach.

Lu Zhe only brushed her lightly.

Su Ci was not satisfied. “You didn’t taste anything.” She rose on tiptoe and took the initiative to press in.

The sweet scent overflowed between their lips and teeth.

Su Ci, mindful that her parents—who had supposedly walked away—might turn back and see her missing, only lingered with Lu Zhe for a few brief moments before pulling away.

Hearing the teenager beside her breathing a little heavily, Su Ci looked at him with bright eyes. “How does it taste?”

Her cosmetics, skincare, and even lip products were all custom-made under Mother Su’s arrangements. The lip gloss was made entirely from natural ingredients. Eating a little by accident wasn’t an issue.

Lu Zhe’s tongue was filled with the sweet fragrance of the girl’s lips. His dark eyes stared deeply at her, the icy tone in his voice completely scattered. “Very good.”

Then his lips brushed close to the girl’s ear, his breath a little warm. “Tuan Tuan, you should go.”

Su Ci’s ears instantly went soft.

The door closed.

Lu Zhe leaned against the door panel, steadying his breathing. He raised a hand to touch his lips, and the tangerine-colored gloss smudged onto his fingertips.

He licked the corner of his lips, and his pitch-black eyes held a faint smile. The girl’s courage kept growing—one day, she’d make herself cry in his hands.

After leaving Lu Zhe’s room, Su Ci happened to run right into Mother Su, who had turned back to look for her.

Su Ci broke into a cold sweat. That was close—she had almost been caught red-handed.

“Mom.”

She walked up with a smile, looping her arm through Mother Su’s, and explained on her own, “I just had something I needed to talk to Lu Zhe about, so I came out late. I thought you and Dad had already left.”

Ever since learning her daughter liked Lu Zhe, Mother Su absolutely didn’t dare let Su Ci and Lu Zhe be alone together.

She looked at her daughter—and with one sharp glance, noticed that all the lip gloss on her daughter’s lips was gone.

If it were Father Su, he definitely wouldn’t notice such tiny details. But Mother Su was different. As a woman, she naturally paid attention to small things like lip color and makeup—especially since she had seen her daughter deliberately change her lip color today and had even complimented how nice it looked.

Mother Su had experience, and even now, her relationship with her husband was still very good—they were often affectionate. How could she not know why her daughter’s lip gloss had disappeared?

She faced her daughter’s smiling expression, but her heart sank.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

After returning to the Su residence—

Father Su said to Mother Su, “Last time you told me Lu Zhe looked like someone. Do you still remember that?”