Chapter 18: Don’t Call Me Brother 2
Lu Ziyi and Ye Chuxiao chatted casually as they walked towards the girls’ dormitory on the east campus.
The warm yellow streetlight shone through the branches and leaves of the mango tree, enveloping this space and making it exceptionally peaceful.
Ye Chuxiao’s mood was light, and her voice, when she spoke, was clear with a hint of softness, which sounded particularly pleasant to Lu Ziyi’s ears.
Lu Ziyi occasionally looked at Ye Chuxiao; her beautiful face was adorned with a pure and sweet smile, and her clear eyes were exceptionally bright with joy.
Lu Ziyi walked at a leisurely pace, matching Ye Chuxiao’s steps. He even wished the journey could be longer; this feeling of peace and contentment brought him joy.
“Senior Student Ziyi,” Ye Chuxiao asked with a slight smile, “are you and Brother Congrui and Brother Hou Chun always this fun? How did you choose Brother Congrui and Brother Hou Chun to help in your studio?”
Lu Ziyi said gently, “I established this design studio in the first semester of my third year. Because my father is an architectural engineer, and my mother is very busy, working as a martial arts instructor on film sets year-round, my father spent more time raising me.
“From a young age, I was influenced by what I saw and heard, so I also became very interested in architectural design. I started helping my father with small tasks a long time ago.
“During the summer vacation of my second year, my father had a long talk with me. He encouraged me to establish a design studio and complete some design work independently.
“In the beginning, after I finished the orders I took, I still had to ask my father to help review and revise them. It wasn’t until this semester that I could truly complete orders independently.
“Gradually, the orders increased, and I couldn’t handle them all, so I asked Congrui and Hou Chun to help.
“They have different personalities. Congrui has many ideas and good divergent thinking, while Hou Chun is meticulous and practical, handling tasks steadily.
“We tolerate each other and get along… pretty well. Uh, at least that’s how I see it. Perhaps one of them doesn’t think so!”
“Hahahaha!” Ye Chuxiao’s clear and joyful laughter echoed along the tree-lined path dappled with light and shadow.
Senior Student Ziyi naturally felt they got along well; after all, whatever he said and did, he never lost out.
Brother Congrui always had to complain on the surface!
Brother Hou Chun unconditionally obeyed Boss Lu!
Ye Chuxiao quickly became deeply impressed by these several distinct senior students.
She never felt that the walk from the West Main Gate to the girls’ dormitory on the east campus was so short.
Standing at the entrance of the dormitory, Ye Chuxiao still had more to say. She said, “Senior Student Ziyi, I’ve arrived.”
“Ah? We’re already here!” Lu Ziyi also stopped.
Ye Chuxiao said with a smile, “Then I’ll… go up now. Thank you, Senior Student Ziyi.”
“You’re welcome. Goodnight, Xiaoxiao!”
“Senior Student Ziyi, goodnight!” Ye Chuxiao turned lightly.
Watching Ye Chuxiao leave, Lu Ziyi called out, “Hey—”
Ye Chuxiao paused her steps and turned back to Lu Ziyi, asking, “Senior Student Ziyi, do you have anything else to tell me?”
Lu Ziyi paused for a moment and said, “Xiaoxiao, don’t be so polite in the future. Always calling me Senior Student Ziyi.”
“Oh!” Ye Chuxiao thought of Zhao Congrui and Lin Houchun vying to be called brother by her, so she smiled slightly and said, “Then I’ll call you Brother Ziyi from now on!”
Lu Ziyi’s handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his expression became even colder: “I don’t like others calling me brother.”
“…Oh.”
Lu Ziyi’s sudden coldness made Ye Chuxiao’s smile fade. Brother was indeed an intimate term. In Lu Ziyi’s heart, she wasn’t familiar enough with him for that, was she?
Lu Ziyi said, “Xiaoxiao, just call me Ziyi.”
Ye Chuxiao took a deep breath. Was she Lu Ziyi’s junior student or his assistant? Directly calling his name would be impolite, wouldn’t it?
Ye Chuxiao stammered, and still called out, “Senior Student Ziyi.”
The two who had been chatting happily all the way back became hesitant and unsure how to proceed because of a single term of address.
