“Lao Gu! What’s going on with you since you got married? You don’t answer calls, don’t reply to messages—what, you think you’re too good for your bro now?”

From the other end of the line came Chen Feng’s mock-accusatory voice, though there was a layer of concern underneath that warmed Gu Xingyi’s heart.

It was all the original host’s fault. After getting married, he spent all his time trying to cozy up to those two losers, Gao and Xu, and completely neglected his best bro.

“Sigh! That was my bad. Be the bigger man and let it slide this time, yeah? Next time we meet, I’ll treat you to a proper meal and make it up to you.”

Gu Xingyi apologized sincerely while cursing the original host again in his heart.

What a fool—couldn’t even tell people from garbage! Embarrassing!

“Haha! You said it! No need to wait till next time. How about tonight? Bro, I’m in Jiangcheng!”

Chen Feng’s voice sounded excited—his pride practically came through the speaker.

“Uh… Fengzi, it’s not that I don’t want to treat you, but I’m not in Jiangcheng right now. I’m in Modu on business, won’t be back for a few days…”

Gu Xingyi scratched his head awkwardly. He hadn’t expected Chen Feng to travel all the way there, only to find him gone.

“What the—why’d you run off to Modu again! No way, wait for me! I’m flying over right now! There’s no way I’m letting you escape this meal!”

“I finally broke free from home to go chase my dreams! I gotta share this with you!”

“Alright! I’ll be waiting in Modu. I won’t go anywhere. I’ll send you my location. I can afford to treat you to a meal, hahaha!”

Gu Xingyi readily agreed. He really did want to see this long-lost brother of his.

“It’s settled then! I’m booking my flight now. I swear I’m gonna eat you out of house and home this time! Later!”

Chen Feng was as efficient as ever—just a short while after the call, he messaged Gu Xingyi a screenshot of his flight. Arrival: 10 PM.

Still a few hours to go.

Gu Xingyi was in a great mood. The days of waiting had been boring and frustrating, but now even that gloom had vanished. Humming a tune, he scrolled through his phone, waiting.

Before long, seeing it was almost time, Gu Xingyi headed downstairs.

A taxi pulled up in front of the hotel, and out came two people. One was a slightly chubby guy around 170 cm tall, his face full of excitement as he looked toward the hotel.

The other was a girl dressed in an anime-style outfit, petite and delicate. She looked a little impatient as she followed the guy.

When Gu Xingyi and the guy saw each other, both were stunned for a moment—then grinned wide.

“Lao Gu!”

“Fengzi!”

That slightly chubby guy was none other than Chen Feng.

Chen Feng rushed forward, eyes glowing with excitement, and gave Gu Xingyi a big bear hug.

“You bastard! You haven’t changed a bit—just got even better looking! I almost didn’t recognize you!”

Gu Xingyi laughed as he gave Chen Feng a once-over.

“Haha! You’ve gained weight! I remember how fit you used to be—muscles and everything! What happened to you?”

“Haha! Blame my mom. She said I was too skinny and fattened me up so much I can barely get out the door now!”

Chen Feng laughed. He really had been fit back in college—a strong build and a square face that gave him a naturally serious look.

But ever since he went home after graduation, he’d been basically penned up and turned into this. Even his square jaw had rounded out!

“No wonder! But honestly, this look suits you. Looks comfy.”

“Right?”

Chen Feng slung an arm around Gu Xingyi’s shoulder and pointed to the anime-styled girl. “Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Ruan Qing.”

Gu Xingyi glanced at Ruan Qing, then nudged Chen Feng with his elbow and whispered.

“Nice one, Fengzi. You did good.”

Then he nodded politely to her.

“Hi, I’m Gu Xingyi—Chen Feng’s good brother.”

“Nice to meet you. Feng’s always talked about you. Didn’t think you’d be this handsome in real life.”

Ruan Qing’s eyes lit up when she saw Gu Xingyi, but she quickly composed herself and smiled.

“Of course! Look who he’s friends with!” Chen Feng chimed in proudly, only to earn an eye-roll from Ruan Qing.

“You’re not the handsome one! What are you proud of?”

“Haha! My bro and I are practically one and the same. Come on, come on! I flew all the way here just to bleed your wallet. No way I’m letting you get away!”

Chen Feng hooked his arm around Gu Xingyi and led the way forward.

“Bleed away. I’ll take it like a man.”

As they walked along the street, Chen Feng ended up picking a roadside barbecue stand and dragged Gu Xingyi over to sit down.

Gu Xingyi had to laugh—talk big about treating him, and yet he still couldn’t bear to spend much. This chubby guy was secretly quite proud.

As they sat down, Chen Feng shouted for the boss to bring over some skewers.

But Gu Xingyi noticed Ruan Qing seemed a little displeased. Still, she took out a napkin and carefully wiped down her seat before sitting.

Chen Feng, completely oblivious, happily dug into the menu.

Seeing this, Gu Xingyi clapped Chen Feng on the shoulder and said deliberately, “Fengzi, maybe we should go somewhere else? I thought you were gonna go all out on me. What can you get at a place like this?”

To his surprise, Chen Feng shot him a look.

“What, too good for a street stall now? Didn’t we used to come here all the time in college? This is perfect—tonight we drink till we drop!”

Alright then. Good intentions get you nowhere. Still as stubborn as ever.

Gu Xingyi gave a wry smile. “Fine, fine. Here it is. You’re the boss. But no drinking for me—I quit.”

Chen Feng frowned slightly, puzzled. “What’s with you? First it’s complaining about the food, now no drinking?”

Gu Xingyi quickly patted his shoulder.

“Bro, seriously. I really quit. I used to mess up a lot because of drinking. I’ve changed now—no more booze.”

Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Chen Feng relaxed. “Alright. Quitting’s good, actually. Keeps you out of trouble. We’ll just eat till we burst then.”

“Oh, right! What about my celebrity saozi? Didn’t she come with you to Modu?”

Since he was a year younger than Gu Xingyi, Chen Feng had always called Xia Xiyao as “saozi”.

Gu Xingyi shook his head. “Nah, I came here for business. She’s at home with the kid. What about you? How’d your family let you off the leash?”

At that, Chen Feng puffed up proudly and leaned in conspiratorially. “Took a lot of work! I went back home to inherit the family’s small supermarket, right? Turns out—boom! Not a small supermarket at all. It’s a nationwide chain!”

“Can you believe it? My family kept it hidden all this time. Turns out—I’m a damn rich second-generation kid!”

Gu Xingyi was stunned. Back in college, this guy constantly mooched meals off him and survived on a shoestring budget.

Now he’d done a full 180 into a rich second-generation? Damn—his family really knew how to play the long game!

Gu Xingyi gave him a thumbs-up.

“You’re insane. So now that you know you’re a rich second-generation, why not stay home and live the easy life?”

“Hell no! I’ve got dreams, brother! I’m not just gonna sit around like a leech! Took forever to convince my family to let me out!”

Chen Feng looked all riled up, like a warrior with a cause—not some lazy rich kid.