CH 11

The dining table was full of delicacies and a bottle of red wine had been opened.

Su Jitong was full of joy as he raised his glass, “Come on, we’re having an extra meal today!” Several wine glasses clinked over the table, clanging a few times.

Su Huanyi brought the wine glass to his lips and took a sip to strengthen his courage.

He took a few deep breaths to prepare himself mentally and was about to speak when Su Jitong spoke first.

“Today I learned that those two children of your Uncle He’s family are unperceptive. The eldest one adopted a starlet, and the second one stirred up the story. Why do you think the brothers’ relationship could be so bad? ”

He finished and glanced at Su Huanyi’s still open mouth, “You’re surprised too, right?”

“……mmm.” Su Huanyi slowly closed his mouth and lowered his head to pick up a mouthful of white rice.

Su Jitong continued, “The oldest turned to his father and told him that the second one had his feet in three boats and was not as faithful like he was to his starlet. What kind of brothers attack each other like that? ”

Su Huanyi choked violently.

Su Jianchen snorted, “That is how brothers who have been together for ten or twenty years are, they know each other’s true faces and hearts!”

For the rest of the meal, the topic of conversation revolved around the “plastic brotherhood of the gentry,” and even Yu Xinyan joined the discussion.

Su Huanyi was hit by an arrow in his heart and didn’t say a word throughout the meal. When he saw that Su Chi didn’t say anything, he cast a questioning look.

Su Chi gave a meaningful look back at him: it’s a classy melon that is educative to someone.

Su Huanyi: “…”

As the dinner drew to a close in a heated discussion, Su Jitong raised his glass and gave his final words, “All things go well at home, you guys save me the worry!”

The bright crystal light fell on his head and shoulders as if he was covered in a spotlight of honour.

Su Huanyi’s chopsticks trembled as he picked up some rice. He looked up at Su Jianchen, who was also looking at him, his gaze substantial.

Su Huanyi put down his chopsticks and licked his lips, “Dad.”

Su Jitong’s sentiments were interrupted and he turned his head to look at him, “What’s wrong?”

Su Huanyi settled down and placed his small hands on his thighs in a sincere gesture, “I want to admit my mistake.”

Su Jitong unloaded his spotlight as he felt something was wrong. Yu Xinyan also put down her chopsticks and looked over. Su Chi still silently moved his chopsticks to eat, as if he had the foresight of what was to come.

“It was me who threw second brother’s Lohan pine.”

Once he opened his mouth, the words that followed were much easier to say. Su Huanyi said word for word, “I was afraid of being scolded by dad, so I said that it was second brother who dropped it himself.”

Su Jitong put down his bowl and chopsticks, and his face gradually turned serious.

The joyful and peaceful atmosphere at the dinner table had vanished in an instant as if the rain was coming from the mountains and dark clouds were pressing down.

But Su Huanyi did not stop there.

He seriously dissected his sinful journey, “I thought second brother’s pot of Lohan pine looked better, so I threw it down. Not only that, but I made up excuses to slander my second brother and framed him for my own mistakes. ”

He confessed, “It was jealousy that blinded me, disturbed my mind, and made me obsessed with mutilating my fellow…”

Clang! A bowl slammed.

Su Huanyi’s words came to a screeching halt.

But the one who slammed the bowl was not Su Jitong, but Su Jianchen.

Su Jianchen’s lips were pursed into a straight line, his chest was heaving up and down, and he looked angry. Su Jitong’s attention quickly shifted to him, “Son?”

Su Jianchen didn’t know what was wrong with him.

Probably because he did not expect Su Huanyi to confess to such an extent, his original assumptions were overturned by reality, so much so that there was not a trace of relief or pleasure in his heart when his purpose was achieved.

“That’s enough!” Su Jianchen gasped in a hoarse voice, “I know you didn’t mean it, but there’s no need to talk anymore.”

Su Huanyi looked surprised from the moment he was interrupted, “What are you talking about?”

Su Chi stopped eating and lifted his head to look at him.

Su Jianchen felt that he must look very foolish now, not at all like a man who had fought a good fight.

Ignoring the different looks from the others, he stood up with a crash and shouted at Su Huanyi, “Come here with me!”

Su Huanyi’s body trembled. Come over for a beating?

Su Jitong watched as his youngest son followed his second son out, and then his eldest son stood up and followed them. He suddenly felt that his presence was redundant.

With all three sons gone, Su Jitong turned to Yu Xinyan, “Alas, how come even a good boy like Xiao Yi can lie?”

Yu Xinyan was calmer than him; “Everyone makes mistakes. For Xiao Yi to confess in such an atmosphere means that he is sincerely admitting his mistakes. ”

Su Jitong was comforted. “That’s right. I just hope the brothers can love each other and not let it affect their relationship. ”

Yu Xinyan then said, “Su Jianchen called Xiao Yi outside, which means he is willing to talk about it.”

Su Jitong was worried, “But the second one is impulsive. Do you think the two will get into a fight? ”

Yu Xinyan reminded him, “The oldest will be there.”

Su Jitong realized, “Madam is saying that there will be a fight?”

“…”

Inside the courtyard outside the living room, the orange light from the corner was reflected on the wooden corridor. Beneath the rockery was an artificial lotus pond, the water calm with occasional sparkling microbes.

Su Huanyi stood at the bottom of the corridor with an annoyed Su Jianchen in front of him and Su Chi standing against the door behind him.

His hair fluttered above his head, and his little mind was changing rapidly with lightning and fire. ‘When the fist comes down, should I catch it with the back of my head or the top of my head?’

” Su Huanyi!”

“Ah?” This was the first time Su Jianchen had ever called him by his name. Su Huanyi looked up and crashed into those complicated pupils, “Se..second brother.”

“What exactly do you mean?”

Su Jianchen paced back and forth in a restless manner before looking into Su Huanyi’s eyes again, “Do you know what the consequence of saying that is? Dad’s impression of you will be greatly diminished from now on, and he may even stop trusting you and doting on you.”

Su Huanyi froze and realised that Su Jianchen was not going to hit him.

“You’re not his biological son. You know what it means to lose trust…”

“But I don’t deserve Dad’s trust.” Su Huanyi interrupted softly, “If I am wrong, I should admit it. I also keep my promises. ”

Su Jianchen was speechless.

People who did wrong would feel hateful until they were punished, and then they would actively pay an excessive price and feel that the crime was not worth it.

He cursed himself for having made the request himself and now regretted it.

He would have preferred Su Huanyi not to say anything so that he could continue to speak ill of him instead of being in a dilemma as he was at the moment.

Su Huanyi looked at him and knew what he was struggling with. “The Lohan pine matter and many other things in the past were all my fault, so it’s only right to admit my mistakes. Second Brother doesn’t have to forgive me so quickly; I will slowly make up for it later. ”

A brief silence fell over the courtyard with those words. All that could be heard in the darkening sky was Su Jianchen’s ragged panting like he was struggling with something.

“……Fuck!” He suddenly cursed after a while, then glared at Su Huanyi, clenched his fist and turned to leave. “Whatever!”

Su Jianchen’s back disappeared past the sliding door and around the corner of the living room.

The small courtyard was quiet again, with the night breeze blowing, leaving only the two figures.

Su Chi had been standing silently four or five metres away. His tall, slender figure had its back to the light coming from the living room, appearing to have flat shoulders and a broad back.

Their eyes met in the air for a few seconds before Su Chi slowly walked down the corridor and stood in front of Su Huanyi, “Are you truly repentant?”

Su Huanyi’s head nodded like a chicken pecking rice.

Seeing that Su Chi had no intention of continuing, Su Huanyi asked again, “Big brother, why did you follow me out?”

“I was afraid that he’d beat you up.”

Su Huanyi was stunned.

It was probably because the evening breeze in late summer was a bit soft. On such a dim evening, with the orange light reflecting through, he looked at the face in front of him that had lost its usual sneer and felt that his big brother was actually soft-hearted.

Su Huanyi showed what was in his hand, “I specially brought my phone for that. I was ready to dial 120 at any time.”

Su Chi, “…”

The next day, before breakfast, Su Jitong called Su Huanyi to the side.

Su Huanyi felt guilty and sad. He was afraid that he could not hold onto his only golden thigh anymore. He hung his head and apologized, “Dad, I’m sorry for putting you in a bad mood yesterday.”

“Who told you that Dad was in a bad mood?” Su Jitong was puzzled.

Su Huanyi brushed his eyes up: Wasn’t he?

“The timely resolution made dad happier than the apparent harmony.” Su Jitong watched the wisps of standing hair wiggle around and sighed as he smoothed them out for the person. He was now quite skilled at smoothing them out. “The courage to admit your mistakes makes you a good boy, but don’t stain yourself just to redeem yourself.”

Su Huanyi: “… eh????”

“Su Jianchen made it all clear to me.” Su Jitong finally patted his head and spoke earnestly “Get along well with your brothers in the future.”

With these words, he left with his hands folded profoundly

Su Huanyi’s breath suddenly sank into his chest: Why don’t you say a few more words that make sense?

He didn’t understand what that meant at all. ‘What do you mean by “staining yourself”?’ He was already so dirty, so dirty that he couldn’t be dirtier

After breakfast, Su Huanyi sneaked up on Su Chi, who was on his way out.

“Do you know what second brother said to dad?”

Su Chi gave him a sidelong glance and said, “I suggest you ask the person concerned directly.”

Su Huanyi was shy. “I’m embarrassed.”

“Then you have the courage to ask me? Am I omnipotent? ”

Su Huanyi choked for a moment. He couldn’t say, “I’ve read the book; you’re the protagonist!”

He moved closer and flattered, “There’s nothing under the sky that big brother doesn’t know.”

Su Chi’s gaze was fixed on his face for several seconds.

Su Haunyi saw Su Chi’s eyelashes droop, casting half-circle shadows on his eyelids, “But there’s something I’m not too sure about right now.”