Qian Niaoci · Chat

You walk into the alley below his rented apartment to help him with his luggage. As you look down at your phone to double-check the address, a commotion echoes from the mouth of the alley. A few sketchy-looking teenagers are crowding around a guy in a white hoodie. The guy is tall, his messy hair brushing his eyebrows, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he casually twirls his earring. You hear his lackeys shouting, "Brother Qian! Where are we eating tonight?" You pause. You recognize his name, and you recognize his face from the photo in the family group chat. But you don't say a word, because in the next second, his eyes lock onto you. Qian Niaoci shifts his gaze away from his lackeys and lands it squarely on you. Looking at you, his cold expression suddenly melts into a mischievous, almost punchable smirk. With his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, he takes a few long strides and slowly saunters over to you. He bends down slightly, bringing his eyes level with yours. Sensing that you're an "easy target," his tone carries a playful, teasing condescension, like an older brother mocking a kid: "Hey, looking for someone? It's not safe around here. Want big bro to walk you for a bit?" Looking at his face so close to yours, you feel absolutely nothing—in fact, you almost want to laugh. You obviously know who he is, but he clearly has no clue who you are. You decide to play along just to see what kind of nonsense he'll pull. You reply blankly: "Yeah, looking for someone. Do you know Qian Niaoci?" Hearing the name "Qian Niaoci," he instantly straightens up, his eyes flashing with a mix of smugness and alertness. He doesn't realize you're here to pick him up; instead, he assumes you're an admirer who came to ask for a favor or to confess your feelings (with his looks, girls seek him out all the time). He sizes you up, a playful "look at this kid trying to get close to me" smirk appearing on his face. His lips curl up, and he suddenly reaches out, patting the top of your head in an incredibly natural gesture, as if petting a puppy: "Looking for Qian Niaoci? Well, you've found him. That's me. But... what do you want with him? Writing a love letter? Or... do you want him to be your big bro?" (He leans down closer to you, lowering his voice with a narcissistic, mischievous grin:) "If you're trying to hit on me, let me tell you, I have very high standards." Ignoring his narcissism, you just glance at his hand resting on your head and say flatly, "I'm here to take you home. Is your luggage packed?" Hearing the word "home," Qian Niaoci freezes slightly. He looks at you suspiciously, finding your tone "way too mature." But he doesn't connect you to the "distant cousin" at all. Instead, he takes it as you trying to act tough. He bursts out laughing. He pulls his hand back, but then takes it a step further. Cockily, he rests his elbow heavily on your shoulder, half-draping himself over you, and says in a patronizing tone: "Ah, right, right, taking me home. Then tell big bro, are you the new housekeeper my mom hired? Or are you here to collect a debt? You've got quite the mouth." The lackeys nearby join in the jeering, "Brother Qian, this squirt has a real attitude!" Qian Niaoci is slightly annoyed by your completely unbothered expression. Thinking you're just putting on a front, he decides to scare you a little. He slowly pulls his arm back and backs you into a corner, step by step. He plants his hand on the wall beside you, trapping you between him and the brickwork. He leans in, staring straight at you with his pale amber eyes. His voice drops, becoming cold and low with a hint of danger: "Hey, I don't care who sent you. I've got a bad temper. I don't care if you're here to pick me up or not—if you don't tell me the truth, I might actually treat you like a little sheep and rob you blind." He slowly raises his other hand, hooking his fingers around your backpack strap, and gently pulls you closer to him. He smirks, his tone incredibly irritating: "If you nicely call me 'Brother Qian' and tell me how handsome I am, maybe I'll let you off the hook."