1099 'HELPFUL' BROTHER
LUO YAN raised his brow with interest. "Well, as long as it's within my abilities, of course, I will help Ah Jin. So, what do you need my help for?"
Luo Jin shifted uneasily, appearing uncertain about how to broach the topic. But at the end, after much pondering, he finally said, "Can you help me convince Dad to let me go to B City on Saturday?"
A lightbulb instantly lit up in Luo Yan's brain when he heard that. If he's not mistaken, it was Su Yuqi's birthday on Saturday.
"Do you want to personally greet Sister Yuqi on her birthday?" he asked in a teasing tone.
Luo Jin nodded, a hint of red appearing on his cheeks. Obviously, looking very shy. "I also prepared a customized gift."
"I'm sure Sister Yuqi will like it," Luo Yan said, giving the other a thumbs-up.
"And, well, I'm also thinking of... following your advice."
Luo Yan tilted his head, especially since Luo Jin just mumbled that last part and he almost couldn't hear it clearly. But when he finally understood what he's saying, a big grin automatically appeared on his face.
Because there had only been one advice he gave Luo Jin that had something to do with his relationship with Su Yuqi. And that was for Luo Jin to straightforwardly tell Su Yuqi that he loved her.
"Good for you, Ah Jin. Good for you," he said while patting his brother's shoulder. Then he started to act like he was wiping away non-existent tears. "Oh, I can't believe our Ah Jin is growing up so well like this."
"Yan--! Can you be more serious?" Luo Jin looked like he was both annoyed and embarrassed at the same time.
"What? I'm always serious."
Luo Jin shook his head. Then his expression became a bit solemn. "What if... what if I still don't get an answer from Yuqi after doing all that?"
Luo Yan looked at his brother. Seeing the worried lines on Luo Jin's face, he knew that this was not the time to tease the other. "If that really happened, will you give up, then?"
"No," Luo Jin said almost automatically. He didn't even pause or think.
Luo Yan smiled at that. "Then there's your answer."
Luo Jin blinked and then smiled helplessly. "Yeah."
Why was he asking that kind of question in the first place? When he knew that whatever response Su Yuqi would give him, it wouldn't make him give up so easily. The only way that would happen was if Su Yuqi directly told him that he was a nuisance and that she didn't want to see him any longer. Even then, he might only stop approaching the other, but his feelings would still remain the same.
Yeah, he was down that bad. Down to the point of no return.
After a while, he circled back to the original topic of conversation. "Do you have an idea on how to convince Dad?"
"Hmm... I think being honest is the best way to go about it."
Luo Jin's face turned red after realizing the implication of what Luo Yan had said. "Y-You mean tell him that I- I'm going to B City to see Yuqi?"
"Ah-huh."
"No! Dad will definitely not let me go if I told him that's my reason for going there," Luo Jin vehemently refused.
"How can you be so sure? Haven't you noticed how supportive Dad is of Brother's love life?" Luo Yan said. "Dad is surprisingly very romantic at heart."
"That's because Brother is already 23 and still hasn't gotten a girlfriend. My situation and his is very different."
Luo Yan laughed at that. "Hey, 23 is still young. The way you said it, one might think Brother is already 40 or something."
"Anyway, I don't think being honest in this situation is the right way to go," Luo Jin insisted on his initial stance.
"So, did you ask me for help so I can lie to dad for you?" Luo Yan asked with a raised brow.
"It's not that! I just... fine, maybe there's a part of me that's hoping you would. I'm sorry if that came out all wrong," Luo Jin said, quickly apologizing when he realized he was in the wrong.
"It's fine, I forgive you," Luo Yan said, waving his hand to show that he's not really that offended. "But my opinion is still the same. The best way to go about this is to tell the truth."
He didn't really like lying to their father. He's already feeling very guilty about the situation with Shen Ji Yun. Everything that had to do with his relationship with the other, he had to circumvent and lie about it to his father. So, as much as possible, he was trying hard not to lie about anything else.
"Don't worry, I will be there to support you. I'll be the best wingman. Dad will have no choice but to agree to let you go to B City," he continued. "All you have to do is be honest."
Luo Jin stared at his brother's smiling expression and then sighed. "Fine. Let's go with your plan."
-----
That night, an hour after dinner, Luo Yan accompanied Luo Jin to the study to speak with their father. However, upon reaching the door, Luo Jin hesitated, lingering in place for several minutes, not making any movement.
As a good older brother, Luo Yan decided to help the other out. So, he simply knocked on the door. "Dad, can we go inside?"
When Luo Jin saw that, his eyes widened. He didn't have much time to react because the voice of their father echoed from inside.
"Come in!"
Luo Yan smiled at him, as if saying 'see, it wasn't that hard', and proceeded to open the door. Luo Jin could only sigh, feeling a bit helpless.
When he followed Luo Yan inside, his steps subconsciously stopped when he saw Luo Ren inside. The two seemed to be talking about the company.
"What brings you two here?" their father asked.
Before Luo Jin could speak and say that he and Luo Yan would just be back later, Luo Yan once again did not hesitate to 'help' him out.
"Dad, Ah Jin has something to say to you."