Sis-in-Law, My Brother Did That on Purpose

Xiang Tian was a tagalong who loved following his big brother around.

When Xiang Tian was nine, his brother made a new best friend named Zhu Hao.

Zhu Hao and his brother were so close they could've shared a pair of pants. He was also wonderful to Xiang Tian, taking him up mountains and down rivers, raiding bird nests and climbing trees, chasing off the older kids who bullied him, and letting Xiang Tian mooch food and drinks off him.

Even Xiang Tian's hapless biological brother couldn't do that much for him.

So Xiang Tian started hanging out with both of his big brothers.

He kept at it until he was thirteen. One day, as usual, Xiang Tian went to find Zhu Hao.

Just like always, Zhu Hao took him to the amusement park, bought him a kids' meal, and got him comics and a Superman watch.

When Zhu Hao walked Xiang Tian home, he didn't come upstairs. Smiling at the entrance to the building, he told Xiang Tian not to mention him at home anymore.

Zhu Hao said Xiang Tian's parents had found out he was gay, and that he and Xiang Tian's brother had already broken up amicably.

Xiang Tian thought, Holy crap.

So Zhu Hao wasn't his big brother after all. He was his sister-in-law?

Thirteen-year-old Xiang Tian clung to a naive hope and asked shyly, "Now that you've broken up, can I still come play with you?"

Zhu Hao patted his head. "Sure. The green hills will remain, and the rivers will keep flowing. We'll meet again."

Two weeks later, Xiang Tian stood outside the Zhu family's empty apartment building.

It rained heavily that day. Xiang Tian came down with a serious illness. When the rain stopped, a dampness that would never fade remained in his heart.

*

At twenty-nine, desperate to make ends meet,

Zhu Hao swallowed a handful of liver-protecting supplements and walked into the glitzy world of fame and fortune.

Surrounded by people drinking and trading toasts, Zhu Hao endured their malicious scrutiny as glass after glass of liquor was forced down his throat.

When the party ended, a wealthy businessman offered to take Zhu Hao to a hotel.

He wanted to refuse, but he was too drunk to stand steadily and had no strength to resist.

Then a hand wearing a Patek Philippe watch shoved the ill-intentioned man away.

Zhu Hao saw a young man, handsome and youthful, whose eyes reddened the instant he saw Zhu Hao.

He said, "Sister-in-law, my brother did it on purpose back then."

He said, "If someone in the Xiang family has to come out as the unfilial son today, I'm willing to be that person."

Zhu Hao stared drunkenly at the young man and let out a belch. "S-sorry... handsome, who are you?"

●Reader's Guide●

A new love interest replaces the old one; younger man, eight-year age gap. Please don't leave comments with crude language, personal attacks, or writing advice. Such comments will be deleted.

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