Brother's Conflict (25)

Back then, he had just arrived at the Cheng family estate. He had no idea what kind of place it truly was, nor did he realize how drastically the course of his entire life was about to change.

Since he and Cheng Yinyin were closest in age (before Cheng Cheng arrived), Yinyin loved playing with him.

She would secretly hide her favorite snacks to share with him, tell him about a terrifying nightmare she had the night before, bury her face in his chest and cry when she suddenly received the news of her father's death, and cover him with a fleece blanket after she woke up exhausted from crying.

Unfortunately, during that very period, he was just beginning to realize his own predicament and experiencing the "methods" of Mr. Cheng firsthand. His heart was filled with resentment and grievance, making it impossible for him to look at Cheng Yinyin with a calm and welcoming gaze.

By the time he finally came to his senses, Cheng Yinyin had already altered her way of interacting with him and all the other brothers, developing a morbid dependency on Cheng Ze.

Looking back now, Cheng Yinyin had probably... once cried out to him for "help."

Cheng's gaze suddenly froze, and a dull ache pierced his heart.

***

Meanwhile, Wang Zirui, who had managed to hail a taxi shortly after leaving Cheng Yinyin's neighborhood, was sitting in the back seat, completely absorbed in playing a mobile game.

With a harsh screech, the car came to a sudden halt, slamming his forehead straight against the back of the front passenger seat. He couldn't help shouting an oath, "Driver, do you even know how to drive? I'm in the middle of a team fight—uh..."

Before he could finish, someone grabbed him by the collar, hauled him out of the car, and threw him onto the ground. As he struggled to get back up, a hand pressed down heavily on the back of his head, pinning him firmly to the pavement.

Within his narrow field of vision, he saw only a pair of black leather shoes drawing closer, followed by the hem of a tailored suit trousers.

Those legs stopped right in front of him, the tip of the shoe just two centimeters away from his face.

Then, he heard a cold, indifferent voice ask: "Which hand?"

***

Cheng was lost in a swirl of thoughts, unaware of how long he had been standing outside Si Jiu's doorway.

He was still so absent-minded on his way downstairs that he almost collided squarely with someone.

"Big Brother?"

Wasn't he supposed to have gone back to his room earlier? Why did it look like he was coming back from outside?

Lin Su's gaze swept over the hand holding the wrist guard, and he gave a slight nod. "Did Yinyin give that to you?"

"Ah... yeah." Cheng's eyes drifted, suddenly feeling somewhat self-conscious for no apparent reason.

"She's quite thoughtful. Remember, your birthday is in just a few days."

"Oh... right, it is."

"No classes today?"

"I have two classes in the afternoon, heading to school soon. Aren't you going to the company today, Big Brother?"

Lin Su replied, "My shoes got dirty, came back to change them. Want to ride with me later?"

"Sure, thanks, Big Brother."

After exchanging these words, the two of them passed each other. Cheng walked down a few steps, then suddenly glanced back. In his line of sight, a patch on the hem of Lin Su's black suit trousers was a shade darker, looking as if something had splattered onto it, and a faint metallic scent of blood drifted through the air.

When he tried to look closer, Lin Su had already stepped onto the very last tier and was out of sight.

There was no longer any strange odor in the air, making it seem as though it had all been just his imagination.

***

He shook his head and pushed the thought out of his mind.

Meanwhile, Lin Su, who should have been heading up to his own bedroom on the fifth floor to change clothes, stopped short on the fourth floor.

Yet, in the end, he merely lingered there for a few minutes before proceeding upstairs as if nothing were amiss.

He changed into a fresh set of clothes and stood before the vanity, washing his hands.

The man in the mirror possessed a remarkably striking, unconventional face. Because of his eye shape and overly pale pupils, he exuded an aura of profound indifference and unapproachability.

The corners of his lips turned downward slightly, forming a cynical and world-weary arc.

To put it more sophisticatedly, he had a resting anomie face.

It seemed he wasn't particularly popular with young girls.

He was truly nothing like Cheng.

Cheng always gave off an impression of boundless vitality, overflowing with hormones and youthful vigor.

Did young girls prefer that type, perhaps?

Lin Su lowered his gaze and meticulously washed his hands three times before finally stepping out of the room.

After he left, the maid who entered to tidy the bedroom looked at the large mirror shattered right down the middle, and inexplicably felt a sudden, chilling weight settle upon the back of her neck.