What difference did it make whether he agreed or not?
“Liu, are you seriously messing with me right now?”
Ye Liu grinned broadly as he listened to his brother’s low-pitched, angry voice.
“Am I? I don’t even know what you’re talking about, how am I messing with you?”
“Liu!”
Ye Mo no longer kept his voice down. He shouted, “If you really consider me your brother, then listen to me. We can’t allow Ling’s waywardness!”
“So if I don’t listen to you, then I’m not your brother anymore? And you aren’t mine? Can we really change that?” Ye Liu countered, playing with words.
He was not afraid of Ye Mo and his infamous temper.
Ye Mo balled his hands into fists, making creaking sounds.
“What? Do you want to punch me?” Ye Liu eyed Ye Mo’s clenched fists, smiling faintly.
He stood up so that the two of them were at equal height. The corners of his mouth were still curled up into a smile.
They already had similar faces and were similar in height too. Standing like this was like looking into a mirror.
“Dear, can you take a look downstairs?” Little Lian said to Li Wazi.
Listening to Ye Mo’s shouting, she felt a little uneasy.
Li Wazi shook his head. “No, we have said what we could on the matter. There’s nothing more to add. Liu and Mo surely won’t fight it out!”
He believed they should be given space to figure things out. As a friend, he had given his opinion, and from there he would stay out of it.
If he had to, he would talk to them in the morning.
“What’s wrong with you two? Looking for a fight?” Liu Duo frowned and marched towards them after having a quick shower.
She did not have to guess to know what had triggered their conflict.
She had overheard Ye Mo’s angry tone when she was in the bathroom.
The two men averted their gaze and stopped quarreling when they heard their wife snap at them.
This was the first time they had quarreled as brothers over a disagreement!
“No,” Ye Liu said with a smile. “I can’t do that, at least not to family.”
Ye Mo eyed him once and left with a grunt. He turned towards the kitchen. He wanted to fetch water for his bath and drop the issue altogether!
Liu Duo did not call out to him. Perhaps he needed some time alone.
“Liuzi, even if Mo’s being stubborn, you don’t have to fight with him. It hurts his feelings, and he only wants what’s best for Ling.”
“It’s nothing,” Ye Liu smiled with little to care. “Don’t you worry. As brothers, the more we fight, the better our relationship. That’s how we bond! And even if things get physical, I won’t go easy on him just because he’s my brother!”
Liu Duo rolled her eyes at him.
He had a knack for cracking jokes when discussing serious matters.
“Finish your bath and get to bed early. I’m going to check on Ling.”
After dinner, Ye Liu fetched hot water for Ye Ling to clean himself. Then the young man took his medicine and fell asleep.
“Go ahead,” Ye Liu said as he patted her on the head. “Little Duo, you’re pregnant now, don’t fret over these trivial things. We’ll take care of them.”
Liu Duo’s hands went to feel her wrinkled belly. Then, she nodded and walked towards the stairway.
Ye Liu watched her go. His smile only vanished when she ascended the steps.
He sat down on the bench, his legs crossed and shaking. A stern look showed up on his face as he got lost in thought.