AFTER Luo Yan finished his video call with Shen Ji Yun, he went out of his room and walked to the kitchen to drink water. Arriving there, he saw their housekeeper taking out a batch of chocolate chips cookies from the oven.
He walked over and asked, "Aunty, can I have one?"
The housekeeper, Aunty Cheng, smiled at their second young master. "Of course, young master. But let's wait a bit because the cookies are still hot."
"Okay," Luo Yan said.
"Does young master want a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice?"
With Aunty Cheng's question, Luo Yan remembered that he went there to get a glass of water. But fresh orange juice was even better. "Yes, please."
Aunty Cheng smiled and started to make him fresh orange juice. Luo Yan sat on the bar counter while waiting.
Once Aunty Cheng was done, the cookies also cooled down and was okay to eat. So, she put three pieces of cookies on a plate and put it in front of the second young master. As well as the glass of juice.
"Thank you, Aunty," Luo Yan said, picking up a cookie and eating it. His eyes brightened at his first bite. "This is so good! As expected of Aunty Cheng."
"Oh, young master and your sweet mouth," Aunty Cheng said, waving her hand, looking all embarrassed.
She always enjoyed seeing their second young master be happy in anything that he does. She had been working in the Luo family home since the master and the deceased madam were married. They were like a second family to her. So, all the good and bad things that happened in the family, she had also experienced.
The death of the madam and the coma of the second young master. She had seen how that tragedy almost destroyed the whole family. But the master somehow managed to get his act together. Which she was really glad for. Because what would the eldest young master and the third young master if they even lost the support of their father?
So, when the second young master woke up from his coma, she was also greatly overjoyed. Now that he's back home, she wanted to do her best to add a bit of happiness to the second young master's life. That's why she tried to make the second young master's home life as comfortable as possible. Which included giving him delicious and nutritious meals. And sometimes, tasty treats like these cookies.
"Aunty Cheng, can I have another piece of cookie?" Luo Yan asked.
"You can't, young master. You know it's not good for you to eat too much sweets."
"But this cookie is not even that sweet. Please, Aunty. Just one more, okay?" Luo Yan pleaded, looking up at their housekeeper with his big peach blossom eyes.
Aunty Cheng was almost blinded by their second young master's cuteness. She swore she could even see the twinkle in his eyes. She was on the verge of saying 'yes' when another voice spoke.
"Yan Yan, don't make trouble for Aunty Cheng," Luo Ren said.
He just entered into the kitchen and saw this scene. So, he walked towards his brother and stopped him from eating more cookies.
"No, no, young master. The second young master is not making trouble," Aunty Cheng quickly said.
"It's okay, Auntie Cheng. I know how irresistible this little guy is. No one would blame you if you give him another cookie," Luo Ren said, pinching his younger brother's cheek.
"Brother-!" Luo Yan complained, rubbing his pinched cheek.
Aunty Cheng only chuckled before leaving the two brothers alone.
Luo Yan glanced at his brother who picked a piece of cookie and bit into it. He suddenly felt a bit vengeful.
"So, did Brother enjoy his date with Jiao Jiao?"
Luo Ren choked on the piece of cookie that he just ate because of that question. He coughed non-stop. He quickly picked the glass of orange juice in front of Luo Yan and drank it. When that piece of cookie successfully went down his throat, he soon finally stopped coughing.
Because of that, he suddenly remembered that time when he choked on that piece of chicken. That time, it was also because of Luo Yan's sudden question.
"You- do you seriously want me to choke to death?"
"Tee-hee," Luo Yan said, acting all cutesy.
Luo Ren pinched both of his cheeks. "Don't 'tee-hee' me."
"But I have no control over what surprised Brother," Luo Yan complaint while rubbing both pinched cheeks. "How do I know that you would be too sensitive when it comes to topic about Jiao Jiao?"
Luo Ren was speechless for a bit. Then he scratched his nose before taking a deep breath and saying, "To answer your question earlier – yes, I had fun spending time with Jiao Jiao."
Luo Yan smiled full of teasing. "And?"
"And I don't consider that a date," Luo Ren said. "A date is something that both parties are aware of. It wouldn't matter if only one knew about it. That's not a date, that's simply being delusional."
Hearing that, Luo Yan suddenly imagined Shen Ji Yun for some reason. Because during that time they went to Tropical Land, he could feel how considered that as a 'date'. It was really easy for him to read his expressions. Maybe because Shen Ji Yun showed more emotions whenever the two of them were together. That's why it was easy for him to tell what the other was thinking.
What his brother said just now was like a jab at Shen Ji Yun. If he didn't know any better, he might think that Luo Ren was dissing the other. But still, he felt a need to defend Shen Ji Yun. Even if he knew that the 'delusional' comment was not pertaining to him.
"I wouldn't call it delusional if the other party who was supposed to be 'unaware' actually knew about it and they chose not to tell it to the one who was secretly thinking that the two of them were in a date."
"That explanation is kind of a mouthful," Luo Ren commented though he still understood his brother's point. "But why would the 'unaware' party not tell the other that he knew about it?"
"Maybe because they find it cute, seeing the other blush and scurry about so they wouldn't know that they were on a 'date'."
Luo Ren only gave Luo Yan a glance. "I don't think Jiao Jiao has that kind of 'sadistic' personality."
Luo Yan laughed. "True," he agreed. "So, Brother, do you like Jiao Jiao? And I mean that in a romantic way."
Luo Ren was suddenly hit by such a curveball that he became speechless for a second. Then he smiled, the arch of his lips full of meaning. "What do you think?"
"Hey, no fair. Brother should answer my question."
"I don't think there's a rule saying that I should always answer your question straightforwardly," Luo Ren said. "But if you tell me a secret equivalent to your question, maybe I would answer it."
Luo Yan tilted his head. A secret equivalent to his question? He stopped. Because the only thing he could think of was his feelings for Shen Ji Yun. Surely, his brother was not asking about that. Right?
He crossed his arms. "Never mind. I think I already know the answer anyway."
Luo Ren didn't ask what he thought and just ruffled his hair. "Yes, yes, our Yan Yan is the smartest."