Brothers Conflict (12)

Cheng Ze knelt on one knee in front of Si Jiu, applying ointment to her. His brow remained furrowed the entire time.

"If the wound were any deeper, it would leave a scar. Look at you, why are you so disobedient?"

"I... was wrong. I'll never dare do it again."

"You said the exact same thing last time when you snuck out to the KTV at night and got caught. And the time before that, when you secretly ordered takeout and threw up after eating it."

Cheng Ze blew gently on the wound on Si Jiu's forehead, carefully applying a piece of gauze. Yet, with the final press, he pushed down a bit too hard. He stood up, leaned over, and looked down at her from above. "What kind of dangerous thing are you going to do next time?"

To Cheng Yinyin, the look in his eyes at that moment meant extreme sternness.

The young girl's eyelashes trembled with unease.

"I won't. I really won't. I was wrong."

"If there's a next time, Second Brother will have to punish you, understand?"

His tone remained exceptionally gentle, accompanied by a refined and cultivated smile.

Yet his eyes were somewhat detached, as if to say: I am smiling at you this second, but the moment I am displeased, I can throw you away the next.

"No, there won't next time. Second Brother~"

He looked at her in silence and indifference until tears began to well up in her eyes, at which point he finally deigned to reach out and stroke the top of her head. "Good girl."

Instantly, the grievance and fear in her eyes were replaced by relief and satisfaction.

It was as easy as that.

Everything still seemed to be under control, no different from usual.

Finally, warmth returned to his eyes. "Second Brother will go draw your bath. Once you've showered, go straight to sleep like a good girl."

"Mhm."

...

After tucking Si Jiu in and wishing her good night, watching her close her eyes and listening to her even breathing of deep sleep, Cheng Ze finally turned off the light and left the room.

Instead of returning to his own room, however, his footsteps pivoted and he headed for the fifth floor.

"Su, why did you make a decision like this?"

Lin Su twirled his wine glass. "What are you referring to?"

"All of it."

Cheng Ze slammed a hand down on the table in front of Lin Su, leaning forward to look him straight in the eyes.

"By having all of them move back in, aren't you sending them a signal? Furthermore, you're making things convenient for them. What? You've ignored the way I've treated Cheng Yinyin all this time, and now you regret it? Do you really think they can compete with me?"

Lin Su lifted his eyes to look at him, speaking with unhurried deliberation, "If they can't beat you in a contest, why are you so angry?"

Cheng Ze: "..."

"Or is it because Cheng Yinyin inadvertently revealed her lingering feelings for Cheng just now that you've been rubbed the wrong way? Are you panicking?"

"Do you enjoy peeping that much?"

"I am merely observing."

Lin Su tapped a finger on the table. "Take your hand off."

Cheng Ze gave him a deep look. "Is it necessary? I can't even touch your things? What kind of weird obsession is that."

"Ze, you aren't the only one with resentment. Nor are you the only one trying to stay alive. At the very least, you have to give the younger brothers a chance."

"So you called all of them back, dropped this so-called opportunity right into Cheng Yinyin's hands, and let the younger brothers slaughter each other?"

An icy sheen reflected off Cheng Ze's lenses, mirroring the cold sneer at the corner of his lips. "I actually thought you would remain so aloof and noble forever. But this is fine. Since you've stepped into the arena, this competition finally has some challenge to it, doesn't it?"

Lin Su remained completely silent.

"Fine, fine. Don't be so serious. We've been brothers for over a dozen years, after all; you know I always soften toward you in the end."

He reverted to his gentle and refined persona, resembling a good younger brother facing an esteemed older brother.

"What's the fun in drinking alone? Shall I keep you company?"

Lin Su glanced at him. "Pour your own."

Cheng Ze smiled as he turned to grab a wine glass.

"Use your own cup," Lin Su said coldly from behind him.

Cheng Ze clicked his tongue. "Understood."

...

Inside Si Jiu's bedroom.

The room was shrouded in stillness. The oversized bed made the young girl, curled up in the exact center, look even more like a tiny ball.

She appeared to be sleeping soundly, her eyelids not even fluttering.

In reality, however, she was engrossed in watching an internal theatrical performance in her mind.

On the real-time surveillance feed transmitted back to her by the system, Lin Su and Cheng Ze were clearly visible inside the monitoring room.