Chapter 14: Still Daring to Lie to Me

The young man's figure was slender and tall; his face was handsome and gentle. Standing alone under the crystal lamp, he appeared somewhat cold, proud, and aloof, yet imposing, like frost that would melt if held in the palm of one's hand, leaving one feeling dazed.

"I'll go upstairs to see him."

Jin Liangjin scrutinized this eldest son who had left home for ten years and wiped his tracks clean; his gaze was sharp to the point of being terrifying...

One second.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Even Jin Shaoyu, who had gradually taken power, could not meet his own father's gaze so calmly for this long.

But Ling Wu was like a bottomless lake; whether it was a harsh frost passing through or a hurricane blowing over, they could only pass by this lake, briefly ruffling the water, yet unable to leave behind any mark.

Jin Liangjin stood up and patted his shoulder, smiling with gratification: "Go ahead."

"A-Wu, wait." Xiao Yu called him to a stop: "Your younger brother hasn't had dinner yet; take this plate of fruit to his room."

A servant led the way in front.

The door was ajar, and the lights were on. Ling Wu knocked twice, and only after receiving no response did he carry the fruit inside. The room was empty.

Just as Ling Wu was about to leave, he caught sight of the little lamb doll lying quietly in the glass cabinet. The doll's fur was still brand new and beautiful, looking as if it had been meticulously cared for.

His memory was pulled back to his childhood.

In the garden, there was a gazebo covered in ivy, with mandara wind chimes hanging from the eaves; the sound of flowing water from a nearby fountain added vitality to the tranquility.

"Wuu wuu..."

A little boy with delicate features sat on the gazebo bench, wiping away tears.

Footsteps sounded from behind.

"Let me see whose little brother is crying?" Ling Wu lowered his head to look at the face that had been cried into a little flower cat, his slightly immature face smiling: "So it's my own little brother crying."

Jin Shaoyu threw himself into his arms, his eyes red as he said obediently: "Brother!"

The young boy mumbled as he buried his head in his arms. Even though Ling Wu was only one year older than him, he had become his harbor from the storm: "Dad... Dad said I'm useless. I'm sorry, I'm really scared, but I'm not a good-for-nothing."

"I just like fluffy dolls."

Ling Wu, wearing a small black tuxedo, took the little lamb doll from behind his back and handed it to his tearful brother, coaxing him softly: "This little lamb represents courage, wisdom, and strength... Shaoyu, you are just as amazing as the little lamb; you won't be a useless child."

Jin Shaoyu let out a tearful hiccup: "... Really?"

Ling Wu: "When has Brother ever lied to you?"

"Brother."

"I'm here."

"Brother, you're so amazing, I like you so much."

Ling Wu promised to grow up first, to shoulder all the wind and snow, so his younger brother could grow up carefree.

Not long after, the vow shattered like paper, and he traveled far away.

A furious voice dragged him back to reality!

"What are you doing?!"

Jin Shaoyu stepped forward quickly, grabbing Ling Wu's arm to pull him away from that glass cabinet: "I didn't give anyone permission to let you into my room, get out!"

Ling Wu looked at the young man's eyes.

Jin Shaoyu's eyes were very similar to their mother, Ling Tingwan; they usually appeared tranquil, but when he wore a cold face, it made him look wicked and roguish, flamboyant and rebellious, revealing indifference and detachment at every moment.

The younger brother from his memories who loved to rely on his brother was gone forever.

Meeting again, they were like fire and water, like enemies.

Jin Shaoyu was right in front of him, a full half-head taller.

"Shaoyu."

This was the second time Ling Wu had met Jin Shaoyu since returning to the Jin Family today; the first time, the two hadn't even spoken. He called the name out, feeling awkward and bitter.

Jin Shaoyu's expression was one of disgust: "How many times do I have to say it, don't you fucking call my name!"

He took two steps forward, then seemed to recall something funny: "Ling Wu, you let Yu Shixue bring you back?"

Ling Wu: "Yes."

Jin Shaoyu gripped his jaw fiercely, his tone mocking: "Does the Jin Family not have drivers anymore? Can't you make a phone call?"

"Why didn't you look for me!"

"Or is it that as long as there is a powerful man by my side, you rush to throw yourself into his arms?"

"Are you that scared? Scared that you can't get a foothold in the Jin Family, that you can't seize power? After all, you left without a word for so many years; now you've finally realized the Jin Family doesn't revolve around you, and it hasn't needed you for a long time!"

Jin Shaoyu roared: "Is that right?!"

Ling Wu explained: "No!"

"You are the heir, the Jin Family is yours; I didn't come back to fight for the family fortune."

"Everything in the Jin Family will belong to you; whatever doesn't belong to you, I will fight to get it for you!"

Before his eyes, the 999+ barrage comments floated by:

【My heart aches for Young Master Jin; a deceased mother, an indifferent father, a brother who traveled far away, a broken him.】

【I finally understand now, Jin Shaoyu is just an awkward kid at heart; he just cares about why his brother abandoned him and left.】

【Ahhhhh... the two of you, one doesn't have a mouth, and the other has a mouth but only says unpleasant things!】

【Does the second male lead have a hidden reason?】

【Is there really a hidden reason or not? Tell him!】

【Your younger brother is about to shatter...】

A hidden reason?

Jin Shaoyu: "Do you think I'll believe you just because you say these things?"

"Dream on."

Ling Wu locked the door, and following the hints from the bullet comments, looked at Jin Shaoyu and said as if yielding, "Shao Yu, I missed you very much."

This sentence was like a potent sedative, or perhaps a miraculous elixir that could bring the dead back to life, pulling back this relationship that had long been precarious and on the verge of collapse.

Jin Shaoyu calmed down.

"....... Then why didn't you come back to see me?"

【Toxic-tongued brother, you finally heard what you wanted to hear, feeling great, aren't you?】

【My mammary glands are finally unblocked.】

【Male supporting character, if you had yielded to your brother earlier, he could have wiped out Shen Zhaojue and Wei Ranxu in one go and delivered them to you to vent your anger.】

【Damn, if he had just said he missed him earlier, wouldn't all this trouble have been avoided? Brother-complexes really can't be resisted.】

Ling Wu said concisely, "I had to leave at that time; the situation was too complicated. If I hadn't left the Empire, neither you nor I would have survived. Once I left, you became the legitimate sole heir of the Jin Family, and no one would dare touch you."

"Even if illegitimate children entered the house, the Elder Council of the Jin Family was still there, and they would never have supported them."

Jin Shaoyu asked, "What about that kidnapping? You said you would find a way to take me away, you gave me a candy, and then you abandoned me and left."

At that time, the power of the Empire was in turmoil, and the Rebel Army, pushed to the brink, bribed teachers to kidnap several young masters from noble families, among whom were Ling Wu and Jin Shaoyu.

Ling Wu said, "I was taken away by force."

It was unclear which word had triggered Jin Shaoyu's nerves.

He flew into a rage, the emotion in the depths of his eyes a near-maniacal obsession.

"Ling Wu, you fucking dare to lie to me again."

"Is there a single word of truth in your mouth at all?!" Jin Shaoyu's lips curled into a cruel and heartless arc: "The candy you gave me back then had a sedative in it, right?"

"You had it all fucking calculated from the start."

"But you miscalculated one thing: I have a tolerance to that kind of drug. At the time, I was just lying on the ground with weak limbs; you thought I had fainted, but in fact, I was still conscious."