Chapter 9#

Fried Egg#

It was past four in the morning when the two of them returned home.

“Big brother, let’s just go to sleep first. Can we talk about whatever it is tomorrow?” Lin Muhan helped him take off his coat.

Han Qingsu said impatiently, “I need a shower.”

“You have a cast on your hand—” Lin Muhan paused for a moment, suddenly remembering something. “You still haven’t gotten it out?”

Han Qingsu almost raised his hand to hit him again, sneering, “Do I look like I have the time?”

Lin Muhan choked, following him toward the bathroom. “I’ll help you.”

Bang!

The door was violently slammed shut, almost hitting his nose. Lin Muhan rubbed his itchy nose tip and shouted at the door, “Big brother, can you manage with just your left hand? Do you know how to use this old-fashioned shower head?”

“Get lost!” Han Qingsu roared from inside.

Lin Muhan leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “The floor is slippery; be careful not to fall.”

He swore he was just joking, but the moment he finished speaking, a clattering sound came from the bathroom. Lin Muhan’s expression shifted, and he shoved the door open.

Han Qingsu had fallen into the corner between the toilet and the shower, with bottles and jars scattered everywhere. His head had knocked against the wall, and his face was terrifyingly pale.

“Big brother!” Lin Muhan hurried to help him up, but he was covered in body wash and slippery as a fish. It took a half-lift, half-embrace to haul him to his feet.

“Damn it…” Han Qingsu clutched his neck, gasping from the pain, and cursed, “Did you carve this bathroom out with a spoon?”

Lin Muhan turned off the shower, grabbed a towel to frantically wipe his dripping hair, and gripped his injured hand to keep him from moving, sounding nervous: “Where are you hurt?”

Han Qingsu said irritably, “I hurt everywhere. If you want my life, just stab me with a knife.”

The young master had never suffered like this—he’d been *ed all night, his hand was broken, and he still had to hold up his crippled limb to take a cold shower. This place, barely the size of a fingernail, wasn’t big enough for him to fall in—it was practically torture.

“I’ll help you.” Lin Muhan sighed imperceptibly, adjusted the water temperature, and washed the foam from his hair.

The young master was used to being served and made no move to refuse, though the water washing over the wound on his collarbone made him wince. Lin Muhan stared at his lean waist and the smooth lines of his arms, his eyes darkening. “Did you clean yourself?”

Han Qingsu turned his head to glare at him fiercely: “Are you not finished yet?”

Lin Muhan wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder. The familiar sensation behind him made Han Qingsu instantly alert. He gritted his teeth, “Lin Muhan, you try it, and see if I don’t kick your ribs until they crack.”

Lin Muhan pressed his forehead against his shoulder blade and laughed out loud.

After a chaotic, messy shower, by the time Han Qingsu came out, Lin Muhan had already changed the sheets. He took over the entire bed with ease. Lin Muhan stood by the bedside, staring at him gloomily: “Big brother, there’s only one bed in this house.”

“Get lost, I don’t want to see you right now.” Han Qingsu pointed at the sofa in the living room.

This young master truly lacked a conscience. Someone had just worked hard to bathe and blow-dry his hair, all while having cracked ribs of his own, only to be banished to the sofa.

Lin Muhan grabbed his wrist and forced his way onto the bed. Han Qingsu tried to resist, and the two injured men exchanged a few moves on the bed, both groaning in agony.

“Fuck,” Han Qingsu cursed, and stopped moving.

Lin Muhan successfully occupied half the territory. He looked at Han Qingsu, who had his back to him, and leaned in to wrap his arms around him.

A warmth radiated from his back. Han Qingsu was exhausted and couldn’t be bothered to deal with him; his eyelids felt heavy.

“Big brother, I feel like I’m dreaming,” Lin Muhan bit his ear. “Does it hurt?”

“No,” Han Qingsu said viciously. “Go have your sweet dreams elsewhere.”

Lin Muhan held him tighter, whispering, “Don’t go. I’ll make you something good to eat tomorrow morning.”

Han Qingsu was silent for a few seconds. “Sleep.”

“What do you want to eat?” Lin Muhan wouldn’t let it go.

Han Qingsu said impatiently, “Whatever.”

Lin Muhan kissed his neck lingeringly. So much had happened that day that he was too exhausted to think about the mess in A-City. Before long, he fell asleep.

Han Qingsu first met Lin Muhan when he had just returned to the country. He had just turned twenty-four, and his father had given him two companies to manage, but he had no interest in them and was extremely annoyed. It just so happened that Han Qingran was starting his freshman year of college; even though he didn’t care for his younger brother, he used him as an excuse to slip away.

Han Qingran was carrying a backpack and dragging two large suitcases, dripping with sweat. Han Qingsu was behind him, playing with his phone distractedly, and said impatiently, “How much further?”

“It’s just up ahead.” Han Qingran was eighteen, his temperament wasn’t yet so cold, and he hadn’t completely lost hope in his brother. He sighed, “Big brother, I can do it myself, you can go back.”

“Go back and listen to Dad nag?” Han Qingsu sneered. “If he calls you, just tell him I’ve been staying with you at a hotel for the past two days.”

Han Qingran said with a headache, “I’m living in the dorms.”

“Do I have to teach you how to lie?” Han Qingsu made a move to kick him, and Han Qingran dodged, grimacing.

When they arrived at the registration hall, student volunteers were welcoming freshmen, each wearing a culture shirt so tacky it was offensive. Han Qingran knew he couldn’t rely on his brother, so he took his acceptance letter to ask.

“The Finance Department is registering at location 12,” a clear, pleasant voice rang out.

Han Qingsu finally pulled his attention away from his phone and saw a clean, fair-skinned boy. He was about the same height as Han Qingran, with a polite, indifferent smile on his face. Seeming to sense his gaze, he glanced at him inadvertently.

No emotion, clean and aloof, with a scholarly air about him that made Han Qingsu’s heart itch.

“Thank you, Senior Lin,” Han Qingran smiled.

The boy had a volunteer badge hanging around his neck with the name “Lin Muhan” written on it.

He had quite a few suitcases, so Lin Muhan saw the situation and took one over: “I’ll take you over.”

“Senior, what’s your major?” Han Qingran asked as they walked.

“Physics,” Lin Muhan said.

“That’s amazing.” Han Qingran immediately became interested. “I wanted to apply for the physics major here, but my family wouldn’t let me, so I ended up in finance.”

“Is that so? Which one were you going to apply for?”

“I wanted to study computational physics, before…”

“There are many open courses for computational physics; you can attend Professor Chen’s lectures later…”

“Really? I previously…”

“…Yes, condensed matter is currently…”

“Our school’s applied physics is relatively dominant, relatively speaking…”

As the two talked, Han Qingsu couldn’t understand a word. He stepped in, forcing his way between Han Qingran and Lin Muhan, took the suitcase from Lin Muhan’s hand, smiled, and extended his hand toward him: “Hello, I’m Han Qingran’s older brother, Han Qingsu.”

Lin Muhan paused for a moment and shook his hand: “Hello.”

Han Qingran knew his brother’s habits all too well and instantly felt like he was facing a great enemy. He forced a smile: “Senior, since my brother is here, you go ahead and get back to your business.”

Lin Muhan nodded and tried to pull his hand away, but it was held tight. He looked at Han Qingsu with confusion.

This person looked a bit older than them; his features were three or four parts similar to Han Qingran’s, but he looked fierce and not someone to mess with. The smile on his face seemed a bit frivolous, and the way he looked at people made him feel uncomfortable.

Han Qingsu squeezed his palm and smiled: “Thank you, student Lin, for carrying my brother’s suitcase. Are you free at noon? Let me treat you to a meal.”

“No need, thank you.” Lin Muhan politely declined, saying to Han Qingran, “I’m going to get back to work. If you have any questions, feel free to find me.”

“Okay, see you later, Senior.” Han Qingran waved at him happily.

Han Qingsu hugged his brother and stared at Lin Muhan as he walked into the crowd. Han Qingran pushed him away: “Big brother, don’t mess around. He’s a good student.”

“Anyone who gets into A-University is a good student.” Han Qingsu joked, “A bunch of bookworms. You’ve finally found the base camp of the nerds.”

Han Qingran said sternly, “Senior Lin is not like you. Don’t go ruining him.”

“Tsk.” Han Qingsu recalled the way Lin Muhan had looked at him just now and smiled, “He must be intense in bed.”

Han Qingran wanted to use the suitcase to smash his head, which was clearly full of obscene garbage.

Han Qingsu hadn’t intended to do anything to his brother’s senior. After all, a perpetual underachiever like him had a natural sense of awe and disdain for “straight-A students” who could get into A-University. Lin Muhan seemed very smart; if they really talked, his mouth would be full of “states” and “atoms”—it would be so embarrassing not to understand.

He thought he would soon put the person behind him, but ever since he saw Lin Muhan at A-University, every time he closed his eyes, he saw that look. His heart itched terribly, and in the end, his lust overcame his fear of knowledge.

It would be exciting to make Lin Muhan solve problems while in bed.

He specifically had someone get Lin Muhan’s class schedule and blocked him outside the classroom.

Lin Muhan froze when he saw him.

“Little brother, do you still recognize me?” He waved at Lin Muhan with a smile.

Lin Muhan nodded: “Is there something you need?”

“Can’t I come see you if I don’t need anything?” Han Qingsu draped his arm over his shoulder with familiarity. “Accept my friend request. I’ve been left hanging for a week.”

“What?” Lin Muhan frowned.

Han Qingsu smiled and squeezed the back of his neck. Lin Muhan reflexively tried to dodge but was held fast in his arms. “I got your info from my brother. Don’t worry, I know you’re busy with class, I absolutely won’t bother you during class.”

Lin Muhan looked at him, bewildered: “What on earth do you want?”

Han Qingsu laughed to himself, thinking, To sleep with you, of course, but on the surface, he acted all proper: “My brother has always wanted to transfer to the physics department. My family won’t let him, but I’ve been trying to find a way. I heard there’s a transfer exam coming up, so I wanted to ask you to help tutor him. Senior Lin, interested in a part-time job?”

Han Qingsu, of course, wasn’t kind enough to help his brother transfer. If his brother didn’t study finance, who would manage the company and earn him money in the future? He certainly had no interest in it.

He had thoroughly investigated Lin Muhan’s situation: single-parent family, raised by his grandfather, last year’s S-Province college entrance exam top scorer, impoverished background. His excellent grades allowed him to receive the school’s highest scholarship, but this year his grandfather fell seriously ill, draining all the family’s savings. He was in desperate need of money, which is why he had been working part-time tutoring off-campus, though it was a drop in the bucket.

When Lin Muhan heard him say this, he immediately relaxed: “Okay.”

He looked like a naïve little thing who hadn’t yet seen the world.

Lin Muhan took out his phone. Han Qingsu leaned over his neck, their bodies very close. Lin Muhan tried to dodge to the side, and Han Qingsu looked up at him: “We’re both grown men; what are you shy about?”

He was too close; his breath was right there. Lin Muhan said stiffly, “I’m not.”

Han Qingsu smiled at him: “I’ll come pick you up tonight. What do you want to eat?”

“Anything is fine.” Lin Muhan typed in his contact info and said politely, “Brother Han, does Qingran want to come too?”

“He doesn’t need to,” Han Qingsu said. “I’m representing him completely.”

Lin Muhan nodded, half-doubting.

He never imagined that this meal would be the start of walking into the lion’s den.

Lin Muhan hadn’t dreamt of the past for a long time. When he opened his eyes, Han Qingsu was nowhere to be seen.

He woke up with a start, got dressed, and grabbed his keys, intending to find him. As the tracking software on his phone was halfway open, Han Qingsu’s voice came from behind: “Where are you going?”

Lin Muhan turned around to see Han Qingsu shirtless, the bruises and marks on his body particularly conspicuous. He looked half-dead, his eyelids drooping as he leaned against the bathroom door, brushing his teeth with his left hand with great difficulty. Seeing him stunned, he frowned and waved his cast-covered hand in front of him: “Are you stupid?”

Then he turned back to rinse his mouth and wash his face.

Lin Muhan stared at him gloomily, threw the keys down, walked into the bathroom, grabbed him, and kissed him.

“F—… are you sick…” Han Qingsu was kissed out of nowhere; the taste of blood soon filled their mouths. Since he couldn’t push him away with one hand, he clamped down and bit him hard.

Lin Muhan felt the pain, staring at him with cold, black eyes.

Han Qingsu pointed his toothbrush at him: “Don’t go crazy early in the morning.”

Lin Muhan licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled with a chilling, eerie air: “I thought you had run away.”

“I wish I had.” Han Qingsu’s tongue hurt from being bitten. Just as he was about to continue spewing nonsense, he saw Lin Muhan’s smile vanish. He pointed at a concrete pillar with a hole behind him and said hauntingly, “Big brother, do you see this? If you ever dare to run, I’ll lock you here forever.”

Han Qingsu kicked the pillar, realizing what he had tripped over yesterday. He said with a sour face, “You’re a total loser, you’ll never be able to afford a big house in your life. Everyone else locks people in basements; you lock them in the bathroom. Even if you’re not embarrassed by how shabby it is, I am.”

“…” Lin Muhan was silent for two seconds. “Do you think I’m joking with you?”

“Try it.” Han Qingsu narrowed his eyes and stared at him. “The idiots in A-City used so many methods and still couldn’t kill me. If you really have that kind of ability, I’ll call you ‘Daddy’.”

Lin Muhan slowly clenched his fists. The next second, a burnt smell drifted from the kitchen. He paused: “What did you do?”

Han Qingsu was puzzled for a moment before he suddenly pushed him away: “Fuck, my egg!”

Lin Muhan followed him into the kitchen and saw a charred, round, unidentifiable object flying toward him. He dodged, and the piece of black charcoal landed precisely in the sink behind him.

Han Qingsu tossed the pan into the trash can in a rage: “Damn it.”

Lin Muhan was silent for a long while: “Big brother, are you hungry?”

“What do you think!” Han Qingsu glared at him. “Who said they were going to make breakfast last night? I got up and waited for an hour while you slept like a dead pig. Am I the one *ing you or are you *ing me?”

Lin Muhan picked the pan out of the trash, put it in the sink, tossed the burnt fried egg from the sink into the trash can, and began to wash the pan.

Han Qingsu took a step out, then suddenly turned back to stare at his shaking shoulders: “Are you laughing?”

“No,” Lin Muhan said.

“If you have the guts, turn around.” Han Qingsu roared.

Lin Muhan held the pan, turned around, and looked at him with a smile: “Your egg is gone.”

“I’m—” Han Qingsu held back for a long time, but couldn’t help laughing: “You’re a psychopath.”

The kitchen was filled with the smell of burnt smoke. Han Qingsu, with his bitten lip and toothpaste foam still on his face, held up his cast-covered hand and cursed him while starving. Watching him laugh while scrubbing the charred pan with all his might, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of peace.

“Lin Muhan, you really are a psychopath.”

He repeated it once more.