Brothers’ War (02)

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As if to confirm the system’s words, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Someone else had arrived.

“Yinyin, I just got back and heard…” His voice faltered as he glanced around the room. “Everyone’s here? It’s rare to see the whole family together.”

Sijiu looked at him. “…Fifth Brother.”

[Holy crap! Are they trying to gather all seven and summon the dragon?]

Cheng was drenched in sweat from head to toe, his skin a healthy wheat-gold, and he was still wearing the white jersey of Yingnan University’s men’s basketball team. He radiated the boundless vigor and hormones of youth.

He nodded at Sijiu. Presumably aware of how sweaty he smelled, he did not approach her, stopping a good distance away instead.

“How did she fall down the stairs? I was halfway through a game when I got the call. I was scared to death.”

“She fell down the stairs? Heh… Who told you that?” Cheng Yuan’s somewhat thin lips seemed incapable of uttering a single pleasant word. Whatever he said, it sounded like mockery.

“The butler.” Unlike Cheng Cheng, Cheng was completely immune to Cheng Yuan’s presence and spoke with careless bluntness. “Who ticked you off this time? Why are you so touchy today?”

Cheng Yuan gave Sijiu an unreadable glance and snorted without answering.

Beside him, his twin brother Cheng Qian smiled. “A-Yuan’s only in a bad mood because he’s worried about Yinyin. Don’t take it personally, Yu.”

The boy beside them let out a sudden scoff. “Throwing a fit over some man and acting like she’s going to die—what’s there to worry about? Tch!”

Even Cheng Ze looked displeased this time. “Cheng Cheng, Big Brother is coming home tonight. Have you finished the homework he assigned you this week?”

Cheng Cheng: “…Big Brother’s really coming back? Ah… I’ll go do it right now.”

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Before leaving, he turned around and secretly made a gesture at Sijiu that clearly meant, “You’re dead.”

Sijiu: “…”

She was utterly devoid of hope.

“Yinyin just woke up, and she’s still not feeling very well. Stop making so much noise around her.” Cheng Ze rose to his feet. “I’ll go make you something to eat.” The last sentence was directed at Sijiu.

Sijiu nodded obediently. “Thank you, Second Brother.”

Cheng Ze patted her head and left.

“I’m going to take a shower first. I’ll come back to see you later, Yinyin.” After saying this, Cheng followed him out—but the moment he left, he quickened his pace and caught up with Cheng Ze.

“What did Cheng Cheng mean just now?”

Cheng Ze pushed up his glasses. A cold glint flashed across the lenses, though his lips curved in a gentle, harmless smile.

“Yinyin was merely being playful for a moment. As for certain people who don’t know their place, I’ll have a proper talk with them.”

Cheng had not seen Cheng Ze smile like that in a long time. He felt vaguely uncomfortable and shuddered. “Take it easy.”

Cheng Ze’s smile widened, though no warmth reached his eyes. “Worry about yourself.”

Cheng: “Tch.”

Cheng Ze: A fruit on the verge of ripening—how could anyone else be allowed to lay hands on it?

Inside the room, Sijiu was left staring blankly at the twin brothers.

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“Cheng Yinyin, you’ve really outdone yourself.” As Cheng Yuan spoke, he walked toward Sijiu and stopped beside her bed, bending down.

Those charming, almond-shaped eyes must have been beautiful when filled with laughter. Unfortunately, they now held a chill, the outer corners slightly raised in displeasure, giving him an almost heartless air.

He suddenly reached toward Sijiu’s forehead and poked a finger directly into the spot covered by the gauze. Sijiu recoiled from the pain.

“You can feel pain? I thought you’d become so stupid you didn’t know anything anymore.”

Cheng Qian moved his hand away. “Don’t scare her.”

Then he turned to Sijiu and gave her a handsome smile. “Why do you look so listless? Haven’t you recovered yet? A-Yuan and I will go out first. Get some more sleep.”

As he spoke, he also reached out, but this time he rubbed the beauty mark beneath the corner of Sijiu’s left eye.

He used rather more force than necessary, rubbing until Sijiu frowned. Yet when she looked at him, he still wore that beautiful, gentle smile.

“Mm.” Sijiu lowered her head.

The two brothers left the room as well.

Sijiu: “I…”

She had not even managed to say anything else when the system announced:

[At least five surveillance cameras have been detected in the room you are currently occupying, and they are equipped with audio-recording devices.]

Sijiu: “…”

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