Junior Brother Always Wants to Bend Me

you all later.” Gu Feng grabbed Su Mujin’s hand and pulled him along.

Bewildered, Su Mujin was dragged to a place he was all too familiar with.
It was .
.
.
his adoptive parent’s home. But how did Gege know? 

“I know all about your troubles.” As if reading Su Mujin’s mind, Gu Feng calmly stated.

“Gege, I’m .
.
.” incredibly happy.
Su Mujin assumed that because Gu Feng cared about him, he had investigated his background. 

’

“Want to go in and see? We can make ourselves invisible and no one will discover us.” Gu Feng reached out his hand and tousled Su Mujin’s hair.

“Yeah.” Thank you.

*****

“Wife, the grandson is crying again.
Be quick and look after him.” A burly man was cutting wood for the fire while he called out to the woman preparing a meal. 

“On it.” The woman hurriedly ran over and picked up the infant, and patiently coaxed him until he was happy and giggling again.

“It seems as though they’re doing quite well.
I can feel at ease.” Su Mujin smiled, with a hint of tears in his eyes.

Gu Feng actually wasn’t any better off than Su Mujin.
Some things can’t be forced, afterall.
Neither he nor Su Mujin were fated to have parental love, but in this life the two of them had each other.

“This is the Flower of Long Life, which can extend longevity by twenty years.” Gu Feng threw a handful of flowers into the pot that the woman had been tending.
It should suffice as compensation for the thirteen years of life they had given him. 

“Gege, sometimes I feel that you understand me better than I understand myself.” How can I help but fall in love with you?

“Hm, I certainly understand you.
Let’s move along.” Gu Feng softly spoke, paused, then added, “You .
.
.
still have me.”

Returning to the main street, the sky had already grown dark, but the number of people out and about had grown more numerous than during the daytime.
The young men and women had all come out, each and every one with a face full of joy.
Lanterns and colored streamers were hung all around, creating a festive atmosphere.
There were riddle guessing lanterns, dragon dancers, and stalls for every kind of festival attraction.
The city was full of fireworks and lanterns, and buzzing with excitement!

“Today is the Lantern Festival, one of the mortal realm’s most important holidays.
Gege, you must never have seen it before.” Su Mujin watched the interactions between the townspeople with interest as he explained the situation. 

Gu Feng smiled, but did not refute him.
According to ‘Gu Feng’s’ experience, he really hadn’t encountered this event before.

The pair wandered aimlessly along with the crowd.
The lanterns were picturesque, flickering like stars.
Under the lamplight a young man with a smiling face guessed a riddle on a hanging lantern and won a prize lantern to gift to his companion.
She received it with a beautiful blush on her face, which was enhanced by the warm lantern light.

Somewhere along the way, our pair unconsciously began to hold hands, while passersby gave them sidelong glances.
Reaching the bank of the river, the surface rippled gently while countless lanterns floated along.
This was the spot for releasing lanterns.
Lotus shaped lanterns with a small candle in the center floated into the distance, creating a beautiful sight.

’

“Do you two gongzi want lanterns? If you can guess the corresponding answer to the poem written on the lanterns, you can win a lantern.” A young girl selling festival lanterns called out in a loud voice toward the pair. 

“Gege, let’s have a go.
Releasing a lantern can make a wish for peace and stability.” It can also be used to wish for fate to tie two lovers together. But Su Mujin didn’t dare to utter that second sentence.

“Okay.” Gu Feng grinned back at him.

“I sail alone beside the sun.
One word answer.” Gu Feng picked up a slip of paper attached to a festival lantern and read it aloud.

“I know this one.
It’s ‘friendship’ right?” Su Mujin blurted out the answer before Gu Feng even had a chance.
He seemed to be a bit wound up.

“This gongzi guessed correctly.
This lantern is for you.” The girl’s pair of eyes sparkled.
A young man as handsome and charming as Su Mujin was rare, afterall.

Su Mujin smiled widely.
He pretended to forget that Gu Feng held the lantern he’d won, and he picked up another lantern riddle slip, on which was written, “Assistant to the Board of Revenue with a face like Guan Yunchang.
When I take office, peach blossoms emerge, and when I resign, chrysanthemums wither.
Guess what I am.” 

“A fan.” Gu Feng answered with a smile.
At this point, if he couldn’t figure out what the other party was up to, he would be a fool.

“Gongzi, you also answered correctly.
Here’s a pair of lanterns for you two.
Take this brush and write your fervent wish on the lanterns, then go release them.
Good luck!” The girl handed them the brush while instructing them.

Picking up the brush, Su Mujin earnestly wrote Gu Feng’s name on the lantern.
At the same time, he explained, “I wish for Gege to enjoy peace and health.” And also to hold my heart forever. 

“Likewise, I also wish for Xiao Jin to enjoy peace and health.” Gu Feng took the brush Su Mujin handed him, and stroke by stroke wrote Su Mujin’s name carefully and neatly upon the lantern.
He played along with the other party and wrote his sweetheart’s name on the lantern while feigning ignorance.

Su Mujin watched Gu Feng write his name on the lantern and his heart overflowed with warmth and joy.

After they finished writing, they lit the candles in the center of the lanterns.
The flames shone brightly through the thin walls of the lanterns.
The two little lanterns glowed side by side, creating an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder down to the riverbank, bent down, and set the lanterns afloat.
Though they launched the lanterns adrift at the same time, the river ran fairly fast and the little lanterns got stuck among the multitudes of others, floating further and further away from each other. 

Su Mujin felt a bit anxious, while Gu Feng tried not to smile.
With a subtle flick of a finger, the two lanterns came back together and floated off into the distance.

“Gege, you .
.
.” Su Mujin turned his head and his words were broken off as his lips were sealed.
His eyes widened slightly in surprise.