The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 227 - 226: I Didn’t Say I Don’t Want You

"Maybe. But my dad said he was worried Xingjun would feel awkward seeing him at my place, so he moved back out for now. He was already planning on moving back after the New Year anyway."

Xue Yue sighed. "Why don’t we just let Xingjun stay with me? I have room."

Xue Xingzhou shook his head. "Better not. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law are there too. It’s better if he stays with me."

"What if he still refuses to go to your place? That kid can be stubborn," Xue Yue asked.

"Hmph, I’ll drag him there if I have to. Either that or he goes home. I’m not letting him have his way. You don’t need to worry about it. I’ll talk to him."

"Xingjun said he wanted to find a job yesterday, so he went to the construction site with He Lang today. If he really doesn’t want to go back, then just let him stay. I’ll talk to Dad about it."

Xue Xingzhou grunted in agreement. "I expect we’ll get a letter from home soon."

Xue Xingjun spent the day trailing He Lang around the construction site and saw a lot. When he came back that evening, he was still buzzing with excitement.

But the moment he saw Mr. and Mrs. He, he instantly became reserved.

"S-Sir... Ma’am."

Mrs. He looked at him, hesitating for a moment. "You’re... you must be Yue’er’s younger brother, right?"

Xue Xingjun nodded, a little embarrassed.

Mrs. He said with a smile, "So you’ve come to visit too. You must be in your teens now, right? Are you still in school?"

Xue Xingjun glanced at Xue Yue, then replied, "I’m fifteen this year. I’m not in school anymore."

Hearing this, Mrs. He felt it was a great pity. "You really should follow your brother and sister’s example, study hard, and get into a university. Look at them—they’re both university students. It shows your family has the right genes for it."

Xue Xingjun gave a bitter smile inwardly. ’My brother and I aren’t even related by blood. My sister has loved reading since she was little. It’s just me. I’m just not cut out for that stuff, so there’s no point wasting time.’

But he just gave Mrs. He a couple of sheepish chuckles.

Xue Yue said to Mrs. He, "He’s never liked school, even when he was little. Now that he’s older, we can’t control him anymore. He ran off to Beijing City hoping to find a job, only to find out you have to be an adult to get one. So, today He Lang took him to the construction site to see if there was any work suitable for him."

Mrs. He nodded. "That’s true. At his age, no one would dare hire him. Following He Lang is fine too. If there’s any light work, he can do it."

Xue Xingjun quickly interjected, "Ma’am, I’ve got plenty of strength! I can do any kind of work."

Xue Yue said with a smile, "She’s just worried about you."

Xue Xingjun scratched his head and let out another goofy chuckle.

This made Mrs. He laugh. "This kid is certainly honest."

When it was just Xue Yue and Xue Xingjun, he said to her, "Sis, let me tell you, Brother-in-law is amazing! At the construction site, so many people listen to him. I felt so cool just by being with him."

Xue Yue thought, ’He Lang is the one funding the project. Of course they listen to him.’

"Was the construction site fun?"

Xue Xingjun nodded. "It was fun."

"So you’re really not going back? Even if the family insists you return, you still won’t go?"

Xue Xingjun nodded. "I’m not going back. If you guys send me back, I’ll just run away again. It’ll be easier the second time around, anyway. They can’t lock me up, can they?"

Well, then. Now that he’d said that, what else could Xue Yue say?

Just as Xue Xingzhou had guessed, a letter from their hometown arrived two days later.

In the letter, however, Xue Changlin stated clearly that Xue Yue was to send Xue Xingjun back. He couldn’t be allowed to do as he pleased and cause trouble for them in Beijing City.

After receiving the letter, Xue Yue quickly wrote back to her dad.

After that, there was no more news, so Xue Yue assumed her dad had agreed.

The next time Xue Xingzhou came over, he deliberately chose to come in the evening.

He Lang and the others had just gotten back not long ago and were having dinner. For the past two days, Mr. He had also been going to the construction site, not to work, but to "watch the workers," as he put it.

He Lang wanted him to rest, but Mr. He told him, "With such a big project, don’t I need to keep an eye on it for you? What if they cut corners and use cheap materials? We’re building houses here; there’s no room for regrets."

Well, since his dad put it that way, He Lang could only let him.

The moment Xue Xingjun saw Xue Xingzhou come in, he quickly turned his back to him, bowl in hand.

Xue Xingzhou ran his tongue over his back teeth. ’Heh, this kid is still mad.’

"Kid Xue, have you eaten? Sit down and have a bite."

Xue Xingzhou said with a smile, "Mr. He, I’ve already eaten. I just came by to see how the construction site is doing."

Mr. He nodded. "It’s going great. I go every day to keep an eye on things. No one dares to slack off."

"Hahaha, I’m sure they wouldn’t dare."

After chatting with Mr. He for a bit, Xue Xingzhou saw Xue Xingjun finish eating and put down his chopsticks. He said to him, "Come outside with me for a minute."

Xue Xingjun paused for a few seconds but followed Xue Xingzhou out anyway.

Once outside, Xue Xingjun stood with his head turned away. "If you have something to say, say it quick. I have to go to bed."

Looking at him acting this way, Xue Xingzhou felt a little helpless.

"So you really don’t want me as your big brother anymore? That really hurts. I thought we’d be brothers for life—the kind who are closer than actual blood relatives. Since someone doesn’t want me as their brother, I guess I’ll just leave."

When Xue Xingjun heard this, his eyes darted around, and he grew anxious. "I never said I didn’t want you! You’re the one saying that."

Xue Xingzhou glanced at him sideways. "But you’re giving me the cold shoulder. Xingjun, we may not be related by blood, but I still want to always think of you as my little brother. Are you okay with that?"

Xue Xingjun answered with almost no hesitation, "Of course I am! We’re supposed to be brothers for life. Why else would I have come looking for you?"

Xue Xingzhou smiled, slinging an arm around his shoulder and giving him a little shake. "Then it’s settled. Come on, let’s go back to my place."

Xue Xingjun shook his head. "No way. I’m staying here. I still have to work with Brother-in-law."

Xue Xingzhou said, "I’m not saying you can’t work with your brother-in-law. But you should live with me. From now on, that place is your home too."

At this, Xue Xingjun fell silent.

"What’s wrong?" Xue Xingzhou asked him.

Xue Xingjun said in a low voice, "Your dad doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him. I’d rather not go. I’ll just stay here with my sister and brother-in-law."

Xue Xingzhou was taken aback.

"My dad isn’t living at my place anymore. He has his own place to stay. In fact, he was the one who told me to have you move in. Who said he doesn’t like you?"

Xue Xingjun’s head shot up, and he stared at Xue Xingzhou. "Really? He really said that? For me to go live there?"

A corner of Xue Xingzhou’s mouth twitched. "Why would I lie to you? It’s true. He has his own house, and it’s even bigger than your sister’s place. And he doesn’t dislike you. It was the first time you met, and you’re my brother. What reason would he have to dislike you?"

Xue Xingjun thought for a moment. "That’s right. I’m so likable, and I’m not ugly. I’m not the type people hate."

"Heh, right. Everyone likes you. So, can you come with me now?"