Chi Feiran felt the warmth of his brother’s embrace and couldn’t hold back the emotions that had been building up. At this moment, he couldn’t help but sob.
Caesar heard the sound and began to whimper, stretching his neck to nuzzle his face.
Chris gently patted his back. “Don’t cry; it’s all over now. Don’t cry.”
Suppressing his choked-up voice, Chi Feiran said, “I’m the one who should apologize…”
If only he could trust Chris more…
Chris interrupted, “No, Ethan, you’ve done well. You protected me.”
As an adopted son, he seemed to be in a good position, but in reality, it was the most awkward, especially since Ethan wasn’t Edmund’s biological child. Any dissatisfaction from Sherman towards him could easily lead to the collapse of everything he possessed.
Sometimes, familial bonds could be the most reliable support. However, regardless of the nature of the relationship, it shouldn’t be easily tested because human hearts are inevitably biased.
A biological son and a foster son who might potentially harm him – how should one choose?
The child of a loved one and a foster son who was barely kept – which one is more important?
The answers to these questions may not be absolute. After all, the emotions built over the years weren’t fake. But Chris knew very well that if Ethan were to voice everything out, inevitable cracks would appear in this already patched-together family.
Once there’s doubt in something previously unquestioned, everything could crumble in an instant.
Besides fleeing in fear, Ethan had better choices. He could speak up, seek protection from his mom or Edmund.
But he didn’t.
Some might see this as cowardice, but Chris knew clearly that amidst the fear of death, what exactly was Ethan afraid of?
Perhaps even Ethan himself didn’t fully understand, yet he subconsciously chose to do so.
Chris said, “Ethan, thank you for choosing to protect me even at the risk of danger.”
Chi Feiran rebutted, “I’m not that good…”
Chris cut him off, “No, you ultimately chose to confide in me, didn’t you?”
Some things only those directly involved would understand.
He might feel upset because Ethan didn’t trust him, but he also asked himself, could he truly remain steadfast in the face of life and death matters?
Human nature can sometimes be unexpectedly fragile; there’s nothing absolute.
He was just grateful now. After Ethan experienced such pain, he still chose to entrust his trust to him.
Ethan ultimately protected him and protected their patched-together family.
The voice of his brother wasn’t particularly gentle, and even seemed clumsy when comforting, but every word was so resolute.
Chi Feiran cried heartily, Caesar anxiously meowed.
After Chris wiped his tears several times, he finally said in silence, “Why can’t you stop crying? Haven’t we both graduated from college?”
Chi Feiran: “…”
He couldn’t justify crying anymore…
But Chris laughed. He, who was young and already managing company affairs, was not someone who joked around often. In order to maintain control, he became more indifferent, and such a joking demeanor was rarely seen even by family.
After many years, seeing him laugh like this again, Chi Feiran was also stunned.
However, from his momentary daze, Chris read a lot of information.
Chris sat down by the armrest of the sofa and asked softly, “Will I become someone who scares you in the future?”
Chi Feiran immediately shook his head vigorously, “No!”
He quickly explained, “It’s just that you’re too busy…”
Chris could probably imagine what was going on. In fact, starting from these past two years, he had been frequently busy, spending much less time with Ethan than in their childhood.
In a few years, as he got more involved in affairs, there might not be much time for them to be together throughout the year.
Chris took a deep breath and said, “Whose fault is that?”
Chi Feiran didn’t react, staring at him like Caesar in his arms.
Chris rubbed his brother’s tear-stained face as if rubbing Caesar, “Which troublesome little rascal makes his brother so busy every day?”
Chi Feiran’s face hurt from the rubbing but didn’t know how to retort.
Indeed, he had his own share of responsibility. If he could help Chris share some of the burden, he wouldn’t be so exhausted.
But…
Chris paused and looked at him. “I think we’ve discussed this before. I would be your best assistant, Ethan. You’ve never taken anything away from me; on the contrary, you and Mom have given me a lot.”
So much that he, as a child back then, couldn’t even imagine.
Chi Feiran shook his head. “You’d do better than me, and I’ve found something I want to do now.”
Chris didn’t insist on persuading further. They had already talked a lot today, and they had plenty of time for the rest later.
Moreover, it was good for Ethan to have more contact with the Chinese side.
Chris turned and pressed the service bell in the room, asking Charles to bring some ice packs.
Chris said, “Your eyes are swollen, and you have filming tomorrow. Use the ice packs more often later.”
Chi Feiran: “…”
He didn’t want to know how swollen his eyes were right now.
Charles moved quickly, and Chris stayed with Chi Feiran for a while, applying the ice packs to his eyes before leaving.
After they left for a while, Chi Feiran carefully looked at himself in the mirror. He found that the effect of the ice packs wasn’t as effective as he had imagined. Anyway, his current appearance clearly showed signs of crying heavily.
As he was contemplating if there were any more effective solutions, someone knocked on his door.
It was just a knocking sound, no words spoken.
Chi Feiran hesitated and asked, “Who is it?”
It definitely wasn’t Chris; he had many more convenient ways to come and go from here.
Could it be Rong-ge?
Thinking so, he asked, “Rong-ge?”
The person outside still didn’t speak, just knocked a few more times on the door.
It was getting late, and he was in no condition to meet anyone like this.
If it was Rong Jin, he wouldn’t be silent like this. Chi Feiran frowned. “It’s late; let’s talk about it tomorrow.”
He would seize the time tonight to apply more ice packs, and he should be presentable by tomorrow.
At this moment, the person outside finally spoke, “It’s me. I have something very important.”
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but not entirely, and Chi Feiran recognized it after a moment; it was Qiu Lang’s voice. His brow furrowed even tighter.
What important matter could there be between him and Qiu Lang?
Was it something related to the program? It didn’t seem likely; they had said the filming had ended.
Or was there some unplanned segment?
Ambushing guests for a bedtime makeover?
Such things weren’t unheard of in variety shows, and he was a bit indecisive. Additionally, he remembered Qiu Lang’s behavior of pinching his hand earlier and felt uncomfortable.
While he hesitated, Qiu Lang knocked on the door a couple more times, showing no signs of giving up without a response.
Finally, Chi Feiran chose to answer the door with the ice pack on his eyes, trying to be open-minded. If there was filming, he could simply say his eyes weren’t feeling well and casually apply the ice pack.
Qiu Lang, like him, hadn’t changed his clothes, still in the same attire from the recording just now, looking a bit flashy, and seemed to have sprayed perfume, which was not Chi Feiran’s preferred style.
Chi Feiran glanced behind Qiu Lang, seeing no cameraman. So, Qiu Lang had come to him on his own.
Chi Feiran asked, “What’s the matter?”
Qiu Lang put on a devil-may-care smile, his eyes wandering over Chi Feiran. “Won’t you invite me in to sit?”
Chi Feiran: “…”
With that look in your eyes, you want to come into my room to sit?
Do you think I’m an idiot?
Qiu Lang continued to smile. “You don’t want the whole crew to know, do you?”
Chi Feiran: “… What are you talking about?”
Qiu Lang didn’t answer but took a step forward, directly squeezing into the room.
Chi Feiran hadn’t expected him to act like this, and he couldn’t help but be stunned.
Qiu Lang then closed the door behind him from the inside, standing behind Chi Feiran, his hand propped against the door, almost as if he was embracing him.
Chi Feiran’s hair stood on end, and Qiu Lang said, “Hey, want to try with me? How much are you worth? Or do you want to be worshipped like Rong Jin? Hm?”
Chi Feiran turned to look at him, moving back a bit in the process, increasing the distance between them.
To be honest, this feeling was quite fresh; it was the first time someone had asked him face-to-face how much he was worth…
Qiu Lang saw his eyes were red and he was hiding back. He was really a little excited, but he was not the kind of person who yelled in a hurry. The person who yells doesn’t like to play the role of a bully who forces his bow.
Qiu Lang, who thought he was a high-end player, slowly took out a check from his pocket and handed it over, and pretended to show Chi Feiran the numbers on it casually.
Qiu Lang showed his most arrogant and cool attitude and asked casually: “You have never seen so much money, have you?”
Chi Feiran glanced at it and replied calmly: “I have.”
Qiu Lang smiled again, with a light tone. “In your dream.”
Chi Feiran felt that his mind was quite flexible, and he answered the words so quickly…
He shook the check in his hand: “I won’t treat you badly, I don’t care how many people you follow, as long as you follow me when you are here, and serve me…”
Chi Feiran interrupted him: “Do you know Chi Jun?”
Qiu Lang, halfway through his pretentious act, was interrupted and felt a bit annoyed. Hearing Chi Feiran’s question, he was a bit impatient. “Who?”
Chi Feiran looked at him and said, “Do you know Chi Jun?”
Qiu Lang: “Huh?”
Qiu Lang wanted to laugh and say, “Who is Chi Jun?” But before the words came out, they got stuck in his throat.
Is… is that what he understood?
Chi Feiran said, “Yes, he’s the one from Tianyun, Chi Jun.”
Qiu Lang’s hand holding the check shook a bit, but he still held onto a glimmer of hope, thinking that Chi Feiran was just bluffing him. “Are you kidding me…”
Chi Feiran threw the ice pack back at him. “I grew up abroad; I should actually be called Ethan Bonnet.”
The little prince lifted his chin and said, “Yes, this spot you’re standing on is my family’s territory.”
Face slapping comes so suddenly and loudly hahaha
