Extra: Perhaps a Future Gathering of Brothers

12:30 AM
Seoul, a tavern.

"It’s here, it’s finally here!"

One tavern, a low table, ten cases of beer, and six brothers.

"Wow, you went out to grab some skewers; why did it take you so long?" Lin Yuzhe squinted at Chen Zhe, who had rushed in looking flustered, and couldn't help but complain.

"You’ve got the nerve to say that?" Chen Zhe retorted, unable to hold back. "Easy for you to say, standing there while I do the running around, right?"

"Cut the crap, what’s with all the attitude?"

"Take it or leave it. If you don't want them, go eat instant noodles." Chen Zhe set the skewers on the table with a huff.

"It's been so hard to get us all together like this now that the pandemic has finally eased up a bit."

"Don't start barking at me."

"Go to hell!" Lin Yuzhe laughed, then hurriedly grabbed a lamb skewer and started devouring it.

"You certainly don't stand on ceremony!" Chen Zhe couldn't help but laugh; it had been a while since he’d seen this group of troublesome friends.

The catastrophe of 2020 had made the whole world suffer. Now that things were finally better, and the world had overcome those demons with the help of China, everyone finally had the time to gather again.

And that was exactly it.

A while back, Xu Yu had brought his wife back to Seoul, so everyone agreed to meet up at the new tavern Bai Fan had just opened for a proper drinking session. But who would have thought? Bai Fan’s tavern didn't serve skewers? How could a group of Chinese men tolerate such a thing? Drinking without edamame and skewers? Could you even call that drinking?

Fortunately, Chen Zhe hadn't started drinking yet, so he had rushed out to find a Chinese barbecue joint and brought back a mountain of skewers. That brought us to the scene at the start.

"Man, it’s been ages since we all hung out," Chen Zhe said, taking a seat.

"It really has," Xu Yu nodded in agreement.

"No choice, though. My mother insisted I go back to China. We held a wedding in my hometown, and since Sunny has all our friends here, we decided to hold another one in Seoul. Otherwise, my mom probably would have made us wait until the baby was born before she let us come back."

"Speaking of Sunny," Gu Guangyu asked with a grin, raising a bottle of beer, "don't you guys in Sichuan have that saying about being 'henpecked'?"

"Are you actually bold enough to sneak out for drinks behind your wife’s back?"

"What kind of talk is that? What kind of talk is that?" Xu Yu waved his hand dismissively. "Do you even understand the true essence of being henpecked? I do it because I love my wife. You have no idea how obedient she’s been since we got married. When I said I was coming out to drink with you guys, she didn't even dare to say a word. Let me tell you, what do you call this? This is the legendary spirit of a true man, you get it?"

"Alright, alright, stop putting on a show." Zhou Jing, the eldest of the group, couldn't help but call out his younger brother's posturing. "We all know how much of a coward you really are. That’s enough; any more and it’s just impolite!"

"???" Xu Yu’s eyes widened, his face full of indignation. "Uncle, do you have any idea what you’re saying? Are you actually questioning my status in the household?"

"Uncle, don't you know him by now?" Chen Zhe wiped his mouth and laughed. "Even if the sky were to fall, he’d be soft everywhere else, but that mouth of his would still be rock hard."

"Huh? Who are you looking down on?" Xu Yu looked ready to square up with Chen Zhe. "I’m putting it out there right now: whoever leaves first tonight is a coward and will never be able to hold their head up in this brotherhood again."

Despite his bold words, there was a flicker of fear in Xu Yu’s expression. After all, he had snuck out tonight, and if he were caught, he’d likely be reduced to a whimpering mess by the next day.

"Damn! Ah Yu has grown up, he’s so full of himself now," Lin Yuzhe laughed. "Not bad, not bad. A married man really is different!"

"As if you aren't married," Chen Zhe chuckled. "How did you negotiate with your wife? She actually let you come out to drink?"

"Me?" Lin Yuzhe froze for a second, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. "I'm just like Ah Yu—I just snuck out... I mean, I came out fair and square."

Seeing Chen Zhe’s skeptical, mocking look, Lin Yuzhe felt a surge of defiance and quickly countered. "Why are you pretending? As if Crystal let you out to drink. Who among us didn't sneak out?"

Once the window was broken, everyone went silent, and no one brought it up again. Too funny! People fight for dignity, but if you can't win the fight, it’s best to act like it never happened. After all, we’re brothers—if you can't keep up the act, just stop. Who among us isn't afraid of their wife? Is it embarrassing? Not in the slightest.

Chen Zhe opened a can of beer and raised it. "To our brotherhood, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Oh, right," Zhou Jing added with a warning, "Ah Yu, don't drink too much; his tolerance is truly terrible."

"Uncle!!!"