Fu Heng sat across from Mu Zhe, his eyes fixed on the empty corner of the laboratory. He sipped his coffee, which suddenly tasted bitter - far too bitter to swallow.
He tried to gather his composure, which had fallen apart the moment he heard Mu Zhe's question. He felt trapped in a deep hole, caught between a rock and a hard place - both paths equally dangerous.
"Not Jonathan."
His voice felt stuck in his throat. He set his cup down slowly, not daring to look Mu Zhe right in the eyes.
"Qihan."
He said.
"Who is Qihan?"
Mu Zhe asked. He felt like he knew the name - it sounded familiar, yet he couldn't quite place it.
"Jonathan's father. Yu Fei's younger brother."
BOOM.
It felt like a nuclear bomb exploding inside his head. His long-lost uncle hadn't disappeared - he'd been right there all along. No... it can't be. Maybe it's another Yu Fei... Mu Zhe forced himself to stand steady.
"Which Yu Fei?"
He asked, his voice barely there. "Please - tell me it's not my father."
Fu Heng met his gaze. He could feel the sorrow in every look.
Maybe it was finally time Mu Zhe learned the truth. About his uncle. About Jonathan. He had to know why Jonathan seemed to despise him. This misunderstanding couldn't go on - not until it was too late, and everything fell apart.
"Liu Yu Fei. Your father."
Mu Zhe's mouth fell open. Jonathan was Qihan's son. And Qihan was his father's little brother - the one who'd disappeared the moment his parents married. What really happened between those two brothers?
His father hadn't told him about any of it. He'd only said that Mu Zhe had an uncle - and how much he missed him. But he'd never told anything beyond that. Mu Zhe gritted his teeth.
"Does my father know?"
His voice was flat, empty. Fu Heng shook his head. He could feel the hurt tearing through Mu Zhe inside. Yet he was helpless. Some adult problems... they're just cruel.
"No."
"Why not? My father -"
"Qihan refused."
Silence crashed down between them. Mu Zhe stared, eyes glistening. What had his father done? Why wouldn't Qihan ever see him? What tore them apart?
He turned away. Tears spilled over. Lips clamped shut - the hurt was too much to bear.
Fu Heng gripped his cup. He didn't fully understand it himself - what rift had grown between Qihan and Yu Fei? Who the cause? Qihan didn't talk much about that. His father also just kept his lips tight. Not a single word coming from his mouth.
"Does my brother know?"
"I'm sorry... but... yes. Bai Lu knows."
Mu Zhe's tears spilled faster. He bowed his head, trying to hide his face - but nothing could hide the way he shook, weeping there.
"But -"
He looked up, face streaked and swollen, nose red.
"Why?"
His voice broke - caught halfway between weeping and hurt.
Fu Heng said nothing. The words just wouldn't come. His eyes stung hot. Seeing Mu Zhe cry broke him apart - deeper than anything Jonathan had ever done.
"What did my father do?"
He asked, his voice sounding completely broken. His glistening eyes stared straight into Fu Heng's - hoping for the answer. The truth.
Fu Heng rose, came around the table, and gently placed a hand on Mu Zhe's back.
"I'm so sorry."
He said in a trembling voice, pulling Mu Zhe into his arms. Gently, he embraced him.
"I truly didn't know."
He wept too. He didn't blame Yu Fei - nor Qihan. There must be some misunderstanding between them. Qihan had simply chosen the wrong way to survive. Without any of them realising it, Mu Zhe and Jonathan had been dragged right into the mess.
"I'm sure one day they'll tell us everything."
Fu Heng held him a little tighter.
"But... we need to give your father and Qihan time. Jonathan too."
He murmured softly, keeping Mu Zhe close as the boy shook and coughed through his weeping.
"We're all on your side. You're not alone."
Mu Zhe wept until every heavy weight in his heart finally wore him out - and he drifted asleep, safe and held, in Fu Heng's arms.
"How is he?"
Bai Lu walked over to the sofa. He lifted Mu Zhe from Fu Heng's arms and laid him down gently. He brushed away the leftover tears from Mu Zhe's soft pink cheeks.
"Sweet dreams, little bear."
Bai Lu brushed a kiss to his little brother's forehead, tucked the blanket close.
"Fu Heng."
"Mm?"
"Thank you."
Fu Heng paused. He didn't deserve thanks. None of this was Mu Zhe's fault - yet Jonathan had hurt him again and again.
"We'll fix this."
Bai Lu said steadily.
Fix it? How? Fu Heng wondered. This wasn't simple. This was about Qihan's mind - and no one truly knew what haunted him. Not even the man who loved him.
"I'm going to see Qihan."
Fu Heng looked up, unsure. Bai Lu smiled gently.
"I know you're worried. But we need the truth. Before Jonathan becomes like him."
Bai Lu smiled. Sometimes Fu Heng wondered if Bai Lu was always this positive. He had never seen Bai Lu being down or sad, not even once. Was he made of stone?
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
He added. Fu Heng nodded. That was true. He wouldn't watch that happen - not to Jonathan, and not to Mu Zhe.
Without warning nor shame, Bai Lu reached for Fu Heng's coffee and took a sip.
"Hey - that's mine."
Bai Lu glanced at the rabbit mug and grinned.
"You like rabbits? It's cute."
He took another sip.
"Come on - sharing is caring. We're family, aren't we?"
Fu Heng blinked. Family? Because of Qihan? Or something more?
"Don't you want to share?"
Bai Lu said. He suddenly realised he was going too far.
"I'm sorry — I'll buy you a new one,"
He said. But there was no sign he intended to give Fu Heng's mug back.
"It's fine."
Fu Heng softened.
"We're family, after all. When will you see Qihan?"
Fu Heng asked.
Bai Lu paused, his mind turning slowly. After meeting Qihan — then what? Ask why he'd disappeared? Why he'd hidden away all this time? And what came after that?
"Does your father know?"
Bai Lu asked. Fu Heng nodded. His father likely knew more than anyone.
"I'll see him first. Better safe than sorry."
Bai Lu walked out - still holding the mug.
"Wait - that's mine..."
The door clicked shut. Fu Heng sighed, gazing at Mu Zhe sleeping so peacefully. Who am I to your big brother… truly?