Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Coming to Take Him Home

The black-haired youth’s eyes were lowered, seemingly distracted. He nearly bumped into someone and reflexively apologized.

Hearing no reply, Yuan Shiyao looked up, only to find it was his twin brother.

Two pairs of emerald, cat-like eyes stared at each other.

Unlike usual, this time Yuan Shimo stared intently at him, his gaze intense, while Yuan Shiyao was the one to look away first.

He looked away with guilty haste.

For the past few days, Yuan Shiyao had been avoiding Yuan Shimo.

Ever since that absurd idea had popped into his head, Yuan Shiyao felt his world had become even more abnormal.

First, he started seeing or running into Jiang Qingli more and more frequently.

Yuan Shiyao had never felt someone’s presence could be so strong before.

’Even with a casual glance, I can spot her in a crowd instantly...’

And it wasn’t just during the day.

Every night, he would dream of Jiang Qingli.

The dreams had different scenes and plots, but the one constant was that the protagonists were him and Jiang Qingli.

Every time he woke up, Yuan Shiyao felt like he was on the verge of a breakdown.

But in his daze, he would also feel a trace of sweetness brought by the fantasies.

His prized rationality and these deceptive fantasies were in a constant tug-of-war. He tried to escape, yet was forced to sink deeper.

Occasionally, Yuan Shiyao would allow himself the indulgence of letting her name escape his lips in a secret whisper.

Facing his twin brother again, Yuan Shiyao felt as if he had been yanked from his fantasy back into reality, accompanied by a strong sense of guilt and sin.

The black-haired youth lowered his eyes and spoke reluctantly, "...Brother."

"Mm."

Yuan Shimo walked past him and headed out, his face dark.

Seeing this, Yuan Shiyao felt a strong sense of unease.

Their relationship as brothers had always been delicate; they weren’t particularly close, but not distant either. Yuan Shimo had never been this cold to him before.

"Brother," Yuan Shiyao called out to him. "What did Father say to you? What is he forcing you to learn now?"

Yuan Shimo’s steps faltered, but he didn’t turn back.

Every time Du Yushan reprimanded him, he would claim he was just concerned about his research or lecturing on the importance of family.

’Compared to me, my little brother has been well-protected.’

’For instance, Yuan Shiyao is still naive enough to believe that my marriage alliance with Jiang Qingli is the result of a system match.’

’I could tell Yuan Shiyao everything,’ Yuan Shimo thought. ’Knowing Secretary Yuan’s personality, he would definitely be flustered with guilt.’

’He might even run away from home.’

’And then, I wouldn’t have to be tied down here because of him anymore.’

’And no one would be trying to get close to my female master under the banner of "just being friends."’

Time seemed to stand still in that moment.

After a few breaths, Yuan Shimo said coldly, "It has nothing to do with you."

After speaking, he walked straight away.

Yuan Shiyao stood frozen, his thoughts a tangled mess.

He only responded after a servant informed him that his training session was about to start.

—

Yuan Shiyao was distracted all morning.

He wasn’t paying attention during training and was nearly injured by his sparring partner.

At the lunch table, he only had a few bites before putting down his knife and fork.

Seeing this, Du Yushan asked with concern, "What’s wrong? In a bad mood?"

"It’s nothing," Yuan Shiyao said.

"If nothing’s wrong, then you should train more," Du Yushan said. "I saw the video of your training session. What’s gotten into you? Your mother will be back in a few days. Don’t let her see you in this state."

Patriarch Yuan was currently a judge, but he had served in the military before, so he was very keen on sending Yuan Shiyao into the army.

Because of this, Du Yushan was extremely strict with Yuan Shiyao’s training. The slightest mistake would earn him a lecture that lasted for hours.

Amidst his father’s incessant nagging, Yuan Shiyao glanced at his twin brother sitting across from him.

The youth seemed completely unaffected, eating slowly with his eyes lowered. The lenses of his gold-rimmed glasses reflected a cool, exquisite light, and his movements were elegant, natural, and pleasing to the eye.

Suddenly, Yuan Shiyao recalled a poll on the school forum last year: "Who Do You Want as Your Desk Mate?" Yuan Shimo had been far ahead in the rankings, one spot above him.

The girls on the forum all said that Yuan Shiyao was too cold and aloof, while Yuan Shimo had a kind of gentle detachment that was just right, making people want to win him over.

’Does Jiang Qingli... think so too?’

’Did she participate in that poll? Who did she vote for?’

"Shiyao, are you listening to me?" Du Yushan tapped his plate with his knife.

"I’m listening." Yuan Shiyao snapped back to attention. "I understand, Father. I will improve."

"As long as you understand."

Facing the son who could bring him honor, Du Yushan nodded in satisfaction.

Then he turned and suddenly realized that while he had been speaking, his other son was still eating instead of listening attentively as he usually did.

Both the conversation from the morning and the current situation made Du Yushan feel that his authority as a father had been undermined.

He slammed his hand on the table. "Yuan Shimo, how dare you act like this while an elder is speaking? What about what your etiquette teacher taught you? Where are your manners?!"

Yuan Shiyao frowned. "Father, Brother is probably just hungry—"

"You shut up!" Du Yushan raised his voice. "I’m talking to him!"

Yuan Shimo took a sip of water, then lifted his eyelids and looked at him coolly. "Father, one does not speak at meals or in bed."

His emerald eyes held unconcealed mockery.

Du Yushan’s mind went blank with rage. Forgetting that the servants and his other son were present, he grabbed Yuan Shimo by the collar and, disregarding his own status, roared, "You’re rebelling against me!"

"Do you think that just because you’ve latched onto the Jiang Family, latched onto that useless female, that I don’t dare to do anything to you?!"

"Father!" Yuan Shiyao rushed over, pried Du Yushan’s hand away, and shielded his brother behind him. "Brother’s health is already poor, you should control your emotions..."

"You shut up too!" The sight of their brotherly solidarity infuriated Du Yushan, sending him into a towering rage. "You’re the last person who has any right to speak, Yuan Shiyao! If it weren’t for me, the one marrying Jiang Qingli right now would be—"

"Sir!"

A servant burst in frantically, cutting Du Yushan off.

Du Yushan was startled and looked nervously at his two sons.

Yuan Shiyao was looking down, checking if his twin brother’s neck had been choked, while Yuan Shimo’s eyes were lowered, not saying a word.

Straightening his clothes, Du Yushan looked at the servant. "What is it?"

What he didn’t notice was his own shadow trembling manically, like a net poised to spring, ready to envelop and devour him in the next second.

A few small, thorny tentacles extended from the shadow, silently wrapping around Du Yushan’s ankle...

In the next second, the servant announced frantically, "Miss Jiang is here!"

Both Yuan brothers froze.

Yuan Shimo’s eyelashes trembled, and the tentacles in the shadow quickly retracted.

"Who’s here?" Du Yushan asked in disbelief. "Which Miss Jiang?"

"It’s, uh, Miss Jiang Qingli..." the servant said.

Du Yushan was confused. "What is she doing here?"

As soon as he asked, a slender, beautiful figure appeared in his line of sight. She followed the servant with light steps, her skirt dazzling in the sunlight.

Yuan Shimo’s pupils trembled slightly, and he instinctively glanced at his younger brother.

And Yuan Shiyao also glanced at his twin brother.

The two brothers, who had just been concerned for each other, now tacitly pulled away from one another.

Jiang Qingli walked into the dining room and greeted Du Yushan.

Just moments ago, Du Yushan had been fiercely cursing her as a "vicious female," but now, seeing her in person, he was all smiles. "Miss Jiang, what brings you here? Have you eaten? What would you like? I’ll have the kitchen prepare something..."

"That’s not necessary."

Jiang Qingli dangled her car keys by the ring on her index finger, her gaze locking onto the seated youth. She raised an eyebrow.

"I’m here to pick someone up."