"Hello, Fourth Brother," Luo Wanqi said with a smile. "Honestly, I can never tell you and Fifth Brother apart. I'm glad you didn't show up with him."
"I'm usually not around at the same time as him, to avoid causing anyone trouble," Lan Muguo said, smiling, and turned his gaze to Joyce. "Nephew?"
Joyce touched his nose. "Fourth Brother."
Lan Muguo teased, "Shouldn't you be calling me Fourth Uncle?"
"Well, I'll call you that from now on, just like our Wanqi."
Lan Muguo smiled and asked, "Your Wanqi? Are you two together?"
"I'm not with him!" Luo Wanqi said with a look of disgust, backing away from him, and almost stepped on Nan Qiyue's foot.
Luo Wanqi apologized, pulling Nan Qiyue's hand, and said with a smile, "Fourth Brother, this is Qiyue."
Nan Qiyue, looking at Lan Muguo's smiling face, greeted him with a slight blush, "Hello."
Lan Muguo smiled and asked, "Such a pretty young lady, whose daughter is she?"
"Sister Qiyue's surname is Nan~" Mu Mu replied with a smile.
Lan Muguo frowned almost imperceptibly. "If you're not in a hurry to eat, I can cook a few more dishes for you."
Seeing Nan Qiyue's eyes dim, Lan Yuxi nudged her Fourth Brother. "Forget it, you're tired too. Let's eat first. I just saw the cook preparing dishes again, you should try the royal chef's skills first."
After Lan Muguo went in, everyone else also entered the dining room one after another.
Lan Yuxi pulled Nan Qiyue aside and whispered, "Don't take it to heart. My Fourth Brother lives a simple life and can't hide anything. He dislikes anyone surnamed Nan. He won't be like this once he knows your situation."
Nan Qiyue smiled indifferently. "It's fine. I've been looked down upon so much over the years, he's already being quite polite to me."
"With your abilities, those who look down on you will eventually look up to you," Lan Yuxi said, linking arms with her and leading her into the dining room.
After the family had dinner, Lan Yuxi personally escorted Lan Muguo to his bedroom on the third floor.
Lan Muguo looked at his sister who had prepared his change of clothes and said displeasantly, "It's one thing that you're taking in Nan Xiao, but why are you taking in Nan family members too?"
Lan Yuxi, puffing out her cheeks, shoved the pajamas into his hands. "Don't speak carelessly if you don't know what's going on! Your attitude has hurt Qiyue. She's also a pitiful child. You should treat her better in the future..."
Lan Yuxi recounted Nan Qiyue's experiences over the years to Lan Muguo in one breath.
After listening, Lan Muguo, with a look of guilt, put down the pajamas. "I'll go down and apologize to her."
"Don't be too deliberate. Just treat her better from now on."
"Oh," Lan Muguo scratched his head. "This is quite something! No, Xi'er, did I seem that obvious back then?"
"It might have been fine with someone more carefree, but Qiyue is very sensitive."
"I thought you had it tough, I didn't expect to find someone who had it even tougher than you."
Lan Yuxi sighed. "Yes, at least I had Nan Xiao protecting me back then. But Qiyue was all alone. It's a miracle she's even alive today."
"Your adoptive mother broke the law. Shouldn't she get a few years in prison?"
"When I heard about it, the Nan Jiang couple had already gone to the police station. They wanted to withdraw the lawsuit, but Nan Xiao didn't agree. I haven't dared to tell Qiyue about this matter."
Lan Muguo clenched his fists. "What a scoundrel!"
Lan Yuxi pursed her lips. "Who isn't? Fourth Brother, do Big Brother and Zi Xin know you're here?"
"I didn't tell them. I'm afraid Big Brother will drag me back to help him manage the company."
"If you don't want to help Big Brother with the company, then take over all the hotels and restaurants under the Lan Corporation. This way, you won't have to give up being a chef."
"If I take all of this, when will I have time to research cuisine?"
"You can find help."
"Find help?"
"Yes, find a wife who's good at business to help you manage the company, and you can stay in the kitchen to research your food."
Lan Muguo squinted at her. "Did Mom send you?"
"You know Mom is worried about the marriages of you few!"
"I'll worry about my marriage after Eldest, Second, and Third have all settled down."
Lan Yuxi, annoyed, gave him a kick. "I'm leaving, I'm not talking to you anymore. The more we talk, the angrier I get!"
Lan Muguo smiled helplessly. "Are you really leaving?"
"Why wouldn't I leave? To wait for you to anger me? I'll hang your clothes in the closet. Choose whichever you want to wear."
Just as Lan Yuxi was about to leave, Lan Muwei's call came through.
Lan Yuxi answered the phone in the corridor.
"Third Brother, Fourth Brother is here. When are you and Second Brother coming back?"
"Your Second Brother is drunk. I'm still debating whether to go home or stay at a nearby hotel for the night."
Lan Yuxi blinked her eyes and asked gossipily, "Is Second Brother really drunk? Did he confess anything while drunk?"
"Well... your Second Brother has someone in his heart, but I can't tell you who it is yet."
"If you don't say, I can probably guess. Is it Sister Zi Xin?"
"..."
"Then Sister Zi Xin likes Big Brother, which is why Second Brother is so miserable... Third Brother, you don't like Zi Xin too, do you?"
"What nonsense are you spouting! I like Zi Xin, but it's different from your Second Brother. It's purely a brother's affection for his sister."
"Then I'm relieved. People say twins have a spiritual connection and often like the same things. If the three of you were to fall for the same person, I wouldn't know who to help."
"You don't need to help me. I don't like sickly beauties. Also, Second Brother has backed out. He said he wants to find a new beginning here."
"He says that, but he didn't even look at any of the girls you arranged for him today."
"That's because you don't understand him. He's studying medicine. You need to find him someone in the same field."
Lan Yuxi suddenly realized. "Right! How could I be so silly? We have quite a few girls in our college."
"Don't pressure him. Let him get over it first. Otherwise, it's unfair to the girls."
Lan Yuxi said with a smile, "Oh my god! I didn't know you had such a tender and chivalrous side."
"You'll discover more of my good qualities slowly."
Lan Yuxi giggled.
Lan Muguo, who had been eavesdropping for a while, came over with a smile. "Third Brother, hurry back. When you get back, I'll cook a few dishes, and we can have a drink."
"Alright, I'll carry Second Brother back."
"He can't drink when he gets back either. Have someone take him to a hotel, so Mom and Dad don't see him and start scolding him again."
Lan Muwei thought for a moment. "That's fine too. You prepare the dishes. I'll be home in about thirty minutes."
Lan Yuxi's mouth twitched. These two alcoholics really hit it off.
Lan Muguo smiled and returned to his bedroom. After changing into loungewear, he quickly caught up with Lan Yuxi, who was heading downstairs.