Unexpected Incident : Chapter 4

No matter what, after hearing the story, Rong Liu finally fell asleep sweetly, fully content.

Xiao Teng only closed that incredibly dull picture book after hearing the breathing steady, then turned to look at the young man’s face.

Very young, open, relaxed, peaceful, carefree, fearless.

And these were all things he himself did not have.

Xiao Teng watched for a while, finally stood up, silently turned off the light, and left the room full of darkness and peace to the young man.

The next day, Xiao Teng was having breakfast while reading the newspaper as usual, when he suddenly heard a not very energetic but quite cheerful voice say, “Good morning.”

Xiao Teng only turned a page of the newspaper, not even moving an eyebrow: “Mm.”

Rong Liu was neatly dressed, sat down not far away, took the juice the servant poured for him, held the glass with both hands, looked up and smiled at her slightly: “Thank you.”

He was already good looking, and having been ill, he now had an added air of vulnerability that stirred the heart. With this smile, even the old maid of advanced age could not help but lose her composure.

A phrase immediately popped into Xiao Teng’s mind.

“A calamity that topples nations and ruins the people.”

Seriously, this guy was a walking disaster.

The breakfast the kitchen had specially prepared for the sick person seemed too bland. Rong Liu quietly poked at it for a while, then said softly, “Could you pass me the salt?”

Xiao Teng wordlessly pushed the seasoning bottle over.

The young man took it, without any opportunistic teasing, being polite and well behaved: “Thank you.”

He ate and drank very attentively and seriously, his soft hair falling down over his forehead, his long eyelashes gently covering his eyes. From the side, one could see the half exposed fair neck revealed by his shirt collar, like the most gentle and harmless little white rabbit in the world.

Xiao Teng thought, what the hell was this, really.

The breakfast was surprisingly quiet, with nothing but the slight clinking of cups and plates. Rong Liu, while ill, seemed to have become much more restrained, not as aggressive and shamelessly clingy as usual.

After breakfast, Xiao Teng also folded his newspaper: “Are you going to the company or resting?”

Judging by his clothes, the guy was ready to go to work, but he clearly lacked energy. Although squeezing the maximum surplus value out of employees was what a capitalist should do, he still did not want to be too harsh.

So without waiting for Rong Liu’s answer, he frowned again: “Forget it, just stay home. Save the trouble.”

“Trouble…”

“Look at you, what else would you be but trouble.”

This time Rong Liu did not use his smooth talk either, hesitating to speak, but in the end only smiled, actually seeming a bit shy.

Xiao Teng wiped his mouth with a napkin, pushed back his chair, and stood up: “Get well soon. There’s a lot going on at the company. Don’t be so sickly.”

Rong Liu smiled with an “Mm,” not a single extra word.

He seemed embarrassed by this weak state of his.

Xiao Teng thought, this was not strange. At this age, still needing to hear a story to fall asleep, no matter who it was, they would feel embarrassed to see people the next day.

With Rong Liu finally absent from the company, no longer sticking to him like chewing gum, Xiao Teng could not help but feel that the start of this day was so easy and pleasant, simply refreshed and energized, to the point that even his chronically sore shoulders had healed without treatment.

However, all morning, Xiao Teng heard countless people tirelessly asking each other:

“Where’s Rong Liu?”

“How come Rong Liu didn’t come?”

“Where did Rong Liu go?”

“Rong Liu…”

“…”

Could this guy be any more like a lingering ghost?

“Hey, where’s Rong Liu?”

“…”

Xiao Teng expressionlessly raised his eyes to look at the man in front of him. Shen Yi was still sitting boldly before his desk.

Meeting his gaze, Shen Yi continued, with no regard for his own life, to repeat the question that made him want to close his ears today: “Strange, why didn’t I see Rong Liu? Where did he go?”

Xiao Teng said, “Are you asking me?”

“Of course.”

Xiao Teng said coldly, “What does it have to do with me?”

What incredible nerve. Couldn’t he see that so many people outside had questions, yet not a single one dared to come in and ask him?!

“How could it not matter? Your relationship is so unusual, you’ve always been close as can be, joined at the hip.”

Xiao Teng raised his eyelids again, slowly looking at him once more: “Say that again?”

Shen Yi immediately shut his mouth, obediently handing over the documents in his hand: “Rong Liu isn’t here, please take a look at this personally.”

“Mm.”

After a moment of quiet, Shen Yi could not stay silent: “I’m really curious about your opinion of Rong Liu.”

Xiao Teng calmly flipped through the contract in his hands: “None of your business.”

Shen Yi gave an awkward laugh: “Ah haha, yes yes yes, I’m being nosy. But, I’m just curious. Rong Liu is so likable, but your attitude toward him isn’t great, there must be a reason.”

“…”

“Which aspect of him do you have a problem with?”

“Every aspect.”

“…Then, tell me specifically.”

“What’s there to say about such a sickly weakling.”

“…”

Shen Yi asked, “Rong Liu is sick?”

“Yes.”

“Is he alright? Is it serious?”

Xiao Teng said in surprise, “Why don’t you go ask him yourself?”

“Oh… then can I go visit him?”

“Whatever.”

Having sent off Young Master Shen, Xiao Teng continued to review today’s work.

He simply thought there was no need to seriously discuss certain topics with people he was not close to. Speaking of his evaluation of Rong Liu, it was not actually that bad.

If not for their past unpleasant clashes, a person like Rong Liu would actually be very much to his liking.

Intelligent, emotionally intelligent, knew his limits, understood the bigger picture, knew when to advance and retreat, skilled at socializing. He was desperately short of talent like Rong Liu.

But Rong Liu had always been someone who had the audacity to offend him. Although the circumstances were rather special, in essence he was not very different from those opponents who tried to challenge his authority and defeat him in business.

He felt Rong Liu was like a wolf that could never be tamed. Even with the posture of a dog, he would eventually bite him unexpectedly.

A day without Rong Liu was mentally very relaxing, but Xiao Teng also felt tons of work pressure.

During meetings, he found that other people were just so stupid, so dull, so inconsiderate, unable to handle even small matters properly, and unable to read his intentions from his expression (what, he had no expression?), and they looked like their parents had died after just being scolded by him a couple of times.

“Look at Rong Liu!” Scolded until drenched in dog’s blood yet still smiling like a flower!

He had wanted to say this several times, but held back when the words reached his lips.

A good general is hard to find, Xiao Teng thought rather unhappily to himself.

That day Xiao Teng worked overtime until very late before leaving the company. In the days when Rong Liu was around, it had been a long time since he had worked overtime so gloomily.

Rong Liu looked like he had no seriousness about him, with the face of a pretty vase, but at work, having him versus not having him was a completely different level of difficulty.

When he arrived home, as soon as Xiao Teng entered the gate, he felt something very unusual.

The house was actually quite lively, and unprecedentedly cheerful.

Xiao Teng frowned and followed the sound, seeing quite a few people on the garden lawn, flowers in full bloom, laughter and joy. He even saw a BBQ grill, with half roasted vegetable bacon rolls still steaming, like they were having a block party, just short of hanging lanterns and decorating with streamers.

“…”

“What are you doing?”

The moment he spoke, it was like instantly pressing mute and pause. Everyone froze, the whole place dead silent.

After a few seconds, the stone statues began to thaw one by one.

“We’re leaving.”

“Talk next time!”

“Take good care!”

“See you!”

In an instant, everyone scattered like birds and beasts, leaving completely clean. If not for the grill still being there, one might have thought the liveliness just now was an illusion.

The remaining few were quiet for a moment, then Xiao Zi spoke up timidly first: “I heard Uncle Rong Liu was sick, so a lot of people came to see him. Uncle Rong Liu was in a good mood, so they had a little gathering…”

Rong Liu looked at him: “Sorry, I didn’t greet you beforehand, entertaining guests in your home without permission…”

Xiao Teng said indifferently, “It’s fine.”

Everyone seemed to be trembling with fear, afraid of angering him, but actually he was not petty in this regard.

Borrowing his garden for a gathering was just borrowing his garden, not a big deal at all. The garden was not a place he loved to go, not part of his “no trespassing” private territory. Whether children were playing in it or guests were playing in it, he did not much care.

He was irritable and quick to anger, but he did not fuss about everything.

As he turned to leave, he heard Xiao Pu say behind him, “Isn’t Dad unhappy? Could he be jealous that Uncle Rong Liu is too popular?”

Xiao Yin said, “Why are you blurting out the truth again.”

“…”

The veins on Xiao Teng’s forehead popped again.

Truly the ignorant views of a child.

The scene of having a bunch of people come visit when you’re sick, he had seen plenty of times. What was there to envy.

Even if they came to curry favor, while Rong Liu’s visitors came out of concern, what difference did that make.

Being able to make people hate you yet still come visit you, that was also a kind of skill.

Right.

He had always only cared about results. Motives and processes did not matter at all.

Returning to the living room, just as he was waiting for Mama Huang to bring his solitary dinner, he saw Rong Liu also follow him in.

Xiao Teng thought of that pile of work troubles lacking an assistant, and asked him, “How are you today?”

The young man smiled like flowers blooming toward his face that showed no concern: “I’m much better today.”

Xiao Teng gave an “Mm.”

“Tomorrow I’ll go to the company with you.”

Xiao Teng was about to agree, but looking at his still pale face, said again, “Can you manage?”

Rong Liu smiled: “I’m already fine.”

Xiao Teng frowned without hiding it: “Don’t cause trouble, there’s no one to take care of a sick person.”

“I won’t cause trouble.”

“Stay home a few more days.”

Wait until completely recovered, lest he seem too harsh as a host. The Rong family had after all sent this young master to “rest quietly,” not to work for him.

“…Mm.”

Xiao Teng also noticed that when Rong Liu was still ill, he was quite different from usual. Restrained, docile, not very playful or cheeky.

In the evening while flipping through his calendar, Xiao Teng saw the reminder.

“Sunday is Mid Autumn Festival.”

He greatly revered his deceased father. So he would arrange this family dinner as his father had wished.

Although he very much hated this so called Mid Autumn reunion dinner.

He called his younger brother. Xiao Xuan naturally remembered this just as clearly, readily agreeing to both the dinner and the day’s memorial visit.

At the end, Xiao Xuan suddenly said, “Big brother. There’s something.”

“What?”

The young man hesitated, finding it hard to speak: “That, for Sunday night’s dinner, can I, bring Teacher Ouyang?”

Xiao Teng’s muscles stiffened for quite a while, but still said, “…Whatever.”

On the other end of the phone, Xiao Xuan was clearly very happy: “Thank you big brother!”

After hanging up, Xiao Teng felt quite unwell, having to sit down and press on his chest for a while.

But just as he had ultimately nodded in permission, rationally he also clearly knew that no matter what he thought, how angry he was, unless he disowned Xiao Xuan as his blood brother, then Ouyang Xiwen was, to some extent, already considered a member of the Xiao family.

What the hell could he do about it, how many years had it been, what methods had he not used.

He knew Xiao Xuan was working quite hard to maintain the delicate balance between him, the older brother, and Ouyang Xiwen. If he deliberately made things difficult any further, the subsequent development was truly hard to say.

Would Xiao Xuan choose Ouyang Xiwen over him?

“Not necessarily” was already the most optimistic and polite way to put it.

What sin had he committed.

It could only be called fate.

When Sunday came, Xiao Teng arranged to first go worship his parents during the day. He met Xiao Xuan to go up the mountain, and when they arrived, he saw a bouquet of flowers already placed before his father’s grave. Someone had come before them.

Xiao Teng felt his teeth itch. Without saying, he knew who this early visitor was. Really aggravating.

Together with Xiao Xuan, they arranged the flowers and offerings they had brought. Xiao Teng asked his brother, “You, how have you been lately?”

Xiao Xuan said, “Very good.”

“Mm.”

Xiao Xuan had really grown up, his stature tall and straight, his youthful childishness almost completely faded, hints of a grown man’s competence in his brows and eyes.

He dearly loved this younger brother with such a large age gap, with a feeling of an older brother being like a father.

When Xiao Xuan was born, he was already around ten years old. Holding the soft baby in his hands, that vulnerable, overwhelming sensation had made even his heart of stone tremble for the first time.

Only…

“You don’t come to me to pour out your troubles much anymore.”

When they were young, Xiao Xuan would tell him everything, no matter how small. This brother was the closest to him in the whole family, and had relied on him the most.

Xiao Xuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled: “Ah, that’s because, I’m doing quite well now.”

Xiao Teng said, “That is true.”

He knew, actually it was because his brother had someone else he could pour out his troubles to.

Xiao Xuan had completely grown up, and no longer needed him.

That night’s reunion dinner was arranged on a painted boat in the middle of the river. In the night, the painted boat slowly drifted with the current, the bright moon in the sky, the mirror of the sky in the water, truly the light of heaven and the shadow of the moon, very elegant.

But Xiao Teng simply wanted to push all those extra people on the boat into the water.

Xiao Xuan had indeed brought that Ouyang Xiwen. For this frail scholar, the brothers had nearly fallen out back then. Xiao Teng naturally could not have a good expression.

That was bad enough.

That illegitimate child Xiao Meng was truly absurd. He had never been in Xiao Teng’s good graces to begin with, and having to invite him to this reunion dinner was barely tolerable. This time he had even brought a man along without permission, and very generously introduced him to everyone, saying his name was Lin Jiayan.

Who the hell was this, what was this thing.

A full table of ten people, neatly arranged, and except for his own daughter, all the rest were men.

Xiao Teng felt like he was going to spit blood, having to repeatedly rub his chest.

What sin had the Xiao family committed. What kind of scene was this!

Xiao Teng simply could not eat this meal, feeling blocked from his stomach to his eyes before they even started eating. Fortunately, Rong Liu was there.

Rong Liu had been wagging his tail and acting cute in every way to come eat this dinner. Xiao Teng had been quite annoyed, but considering this guy’s social skills, he could help with the socializing, so he treated it like bringing a secretary, and tacitly allowed it.

Rong Liu indeed played his role.

He was born with a face like a neutral peace ambassador, able to quickly win the friendliness of any camp, and he was glib tongued, eloquent, unafraid of awkward silences, able to talk flowers out of a stone.

So this dinner, which could have erupted into a fight at any moment, became more harmonious and friendly than any previous year.

“This dish, I remember there’s an interesting story behind it, but I only know a little bit, can’t explain it well, does anyone here know?”

Then the always quiet Ouyang Xiwen spoke up: “I know…”

How could such an obscure topic even get a conversation going. Xiao Teng simply could not understand.

That equally sour faced Xiao Meng, in the past they had treated each other as if the other did not exist, their gazes able to pass directly through the other’s body as if transparent. This time, however, he used subtle and strange eyes to repeatedly and unabashedly size up him and Rong Liu. When their gazes met, it was practically sparks flying.

This was not a good thing either.

When the meal was almost done, Xiao Xuan was making rabbit lanterns with Xiao Zi there. This incredibly boring activity actually attracted the others, even Lin Jiayan joined in.

“Two big circles crossed to make the body, tape them in place, good… two small circles to make the waist, yes, tape them in place too, then, two small circles, these are for the face, mm, these two small circles for ears… the tail is also two small rings… alright, the frame is done, get that translucent paper, yes, that’s it, cover it… then cut it, finish the edges…”

The crude rabbit lantern, with a candle placed inside, looked like it could barely stand, yet everyone was actually happy.

“I want to make one too, I want to make one too!”

The children were all very happy, and Xiao Xuan, being young after all, also played along.

“Teacher, I’ll make one for you!”

“Xiao Meng, look, the white rabbit lantern I made!”

Xiao Meng actually smiled at that man and the alien like rabbit lantern in his hands.

What the hell was this. What kind of taste did these people have.

Xiao Teng faced this group of foolish mortals, feeling quite speechless, as if he was the only normal person left on this boat who had not been bewitched.

Rong Liu had prepared a large amount of materials, and then they actually tirelessly made sky lanterns, and even lotus lanterns.

The seemingly simple and unremarkable paper lanterns, once the fuel was lit, rose lightly into the air, higher and higher, their warm light swaying and drifting, like a star, while the young people below cheered.

“…”

Xiao Teng continued to play his role as the stern family head with a “everyone is drunk but I am sober” mindset, while Rong Liu assumed the posture of a capable wife, smiling as he moved among the guests, getting along well with everyone, graceful and natural, like another host.

Xiao Teng was quite speechless about this, but Rong Liu had indeed helped him pull off a fairly successful family dinner.

At the very least, how happy his children were, how happy Xiao Xuan was.

Xiao Teng looked at his brother, his face brilliant with smiles in the lantern light.

Xiao Xuan’s style was similar to Rong Liu’s, both smiling and likable, but by comparison, Xiao Xuan was after all still a child, unable to achieve Rong Liu’s level of experience and thoroughness, not to mention Xiao Xuan’s heart was not in the company.

In a couple of years, Xiao Xuan would leave all this behind and be his free and easy novelist.

No matter what, his brother could finally love whoever he wanted to love, and do whatever he wanted to do.

But he would not make that choice. He was the eldest young master of the Xiao family. Things like “liking” were任性 emotions for spoiled little children.

As the eldest son, what he possessed first and foremost was responsibility. After his father grew old and stepped down, he became the family head, the vast family business all depending on him to carry. He married the appropriate wife, had enough children, inherited the family business.

He was the one who could not step back, could not hide.

“Dear.”

Although he was used to this completely non targeted catchphrase, Xiao Teng still lost his composure and choked on his tea in public.

“Want to come release a lantern?”

“…”

“You can make a wish before releasing it.”

Xiao Zi also said, “That’s right, Dad, come release one, make a wish.”

Xiao Teng said coldly, “I have nothing to wish for.”

If he really were to make a wish, it would be for this guy Rong Liu to disappear from his sight right away?

No.

There were people on site far more irritating to him than Rong Liu.

If anything, he would push this illegitimate child Xiao Meng into the water first.

After his father’s death, the will clearly announced the distribution of the inheritance.

The company and those uncontroversial real estate properties, as expected, went to him and Xiao Xuan. But his father’s personal collection, private winery, farm, everything deeply marked with his father’s imprint, was all left to Xiao Meng.

He was not petty, he did not care about the economic value of those things at all, only.

Who his father loved most, that was too obvious.

He had always been the least favored.

Although he was the most capable, he was also the least appreciated by his father. His temper, his personality, his way of thinking, he was like a monster surviving alone, impossible for others to understand.

Even his most revered father did not love him.

He should have been the beloved eldest son, and now should be the widely supported family head, yet it had never been so.

Of course, he did not need it at all.

When the dinner ended and he returned home, Xiao Teng felt some extra exhaustion.

Today on the mountain the sun had been quite harsh, then the indoor air conditioning was set too low, and on the painted boat at night he had caught more wind, a slight headache.

He sat in the chair in his study, thinking about work matters, and without realizing it, actually dozed off.

When his father passed away, he had not shed a single tear.

The whole place was filled with genuine or fake grief, among the large group of relatives and friends with red eyes, only he was expressionless, showing no sign of sorrow.

Everyone pointed fingers at his heartlessness.

Actually, when a person is truly grieved to the extreme, they are numb. Not to mention he had never been good at showing emotion.

Only, much time had passed since then, and today, suddenly, he had dreamed of it without warning.

He dreamed his father was in the study, with an open book on his knee, his face kind, waving his hand, calling him over.

He almost did not know what to do, walking toward the old man who had rarely been so gentle to him. However, before he reached him, the smiling image in the chair slowly faded.

He only had time to open his mouth in panic and say, “Dad!” before his father completely disappeared.

Waking up, he was startled to find the area beneath his eyelids wet. Xiao Teng hurriedly raised his hand to wipe it, only then noticing there was a blanket covering him.

“Awake?”

Xiao Teng was startled, coming to his senses, seeing Rong Liu sitting beside him looking at him.

The young man’s eyes looked especially bright in the dimmed light, and warmly deep.

For a moment Xiao Teng felt somewhat embarrassed, and somewhat angry from the shame. He wanted to ask when Rong Liu had come in, and even more wanted to ask whether Rong Liu had noticed his loss of composure in the dream, but doing so would seem too weak, too much like covering up.

“What are you doing in my study?”

Rong Liu said, “I originally wanted to talk to you about something, but you were asleep.”

“…”

“You must be quite tired today, why don’t you go back to your room to rest early?”

Xiao Teng was a bit surprised. Today Rong Liu actually did not have an endless stream of words he couldn’t stop, nor was he playfully making a fuss.

It was practically like he had changed his nature.

And not knowing how long this change would last,

so he did not delay for a moment, decisively standing up: “Alright.”

Rong Liu looked up at him: “Mm, then,

good night.”