Chapter 44: Younger Brother?

Chapter 44 - A Brother?

As the evening lights illuminated the room, one person directed a robot within.

"Little to the left, that's good."

Little Yuan followed Luo Le's instructions and shifted slightly to the right.

Upon deeming the position suitable, Luo Le leaned on the shoulder to look into the mirror.

With each strip of bandage unwound, the injuries on his back were revealed.

The wounds had scabbed over, presenting a dense and somewhat grotesque sight.

Luo Le's brows knitted together. Although he knew scars would form, he hadn't expected so many.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open from the outside.

Luo Le, somewhat panicked, hurriedly dressed himself while glancing towards the entrance.

In his urgency, he found it impossible to put on his clothes properly.

When Huo Lanjing entered, he caught sight of Luo Le in this state, his gaze inadvertently falling upon the scars that marred his back. The scars seemed to spread like a plague across his fair skin, making the wounds appear even redder.

Huo Lanjing's grip tightened as he approached Luo Le from behind.

"You..."

Luo Le had finished dressing by then. He lifted his gaze, looking at Huo Lanjing with a detached expression. "Did Captain Lin speak to you?"

Huo Lanjing was taken aback. "What?"

It seemed that hadn't happened.

Luo Le sighed, about to speak when an unexpected voice interrupted, "Luo Le, why are you here?"

He turned his head to see Chen Wuxing standing at the door, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Luo Le swallowed his words, casting a glance at him and then at Huo Lanjing before standing up straight.

"You carry on."

Then, he dashed upstairs as swiftly as possible.

He knew that staying any longer would only make the situation more awkward.

Upon reaching the second floor, Luo Le paused for a moment. Against his will, he walked to the staircase and peered down.

—Chen Wuxing had already closed the door. Familiar with the routine, he fetched a pair of shoes from the shoe cabinet, put them on, and entered.

It was evident that this wasn't his first visit.

Recalling the used suppressant patch, Luo Le involuntarily bit into the flesh inside his cheek until a metallic taste filled his mouth.

Seeing Chen Wuxing approach Huo Lanjing's back, open his mouth as if to speak, and then suddenly seem to sense the gaze from upstairs, Luo Le hurriedly took a step back and rushed towards his room.

Closing the door behind him, he leaned against the wall, his breathing slightly hurried.

Wait, what was he running from? He hadn't done anything.

Luo Le shook his head, dismissing these thoughts from his mind.

Why would Chen Wuxing come here?

Why did Huo Lanjing stop him from leaving and then bring Chen Wuxing over? What was the intention behind it all?

Frustrated, Luo Le scratched his hair, his mind in a jumbled mess.

Staring at the light filtering in through the window, he was momentarily lost in thought.

It wasn't until someone knocked on the door that Luo Le snapped back to reality.

He stood up and found Chen Wuxing grinning at him as soon as he opened the door.

Luo Le was taken aback. Why was he here? To show off his power?

He reached out to shield himself, gazing straight ahead.

Chen Wuxing raised his hand. "Here you go."

Luo Le looked at the small jar in his hand but didn't take it. "What's this?"

"It's good for removing scars. I used to use it often. You should keep it."

Upon hearing this, Luo Le withdrew his hand. He didn't want it.

"Thanks, but no need. It's just a minor injury; it'll heal on its own in a few days."

Chen Wuxing let out an exclamation and stuffed the item into Luo Le's hand behind his back.

"Well, applying it won't hurt either. Here, take it."

Feeling slightly aggrieved, Luo Le held the jar and said, "Thank you."

Chen Wuxing waved his hand. "No problem. But I didn't expect you to be the general's brother. We really do have a connection."

Luo Le stiffened. He said, "Brother?"

"I'll bring you over to my place next time when I'm free. You guys should enjoy stuff like mecha at your age, right?"

After Chen Wuxing finished speaking, he patted Luo Le's shoulder and turned to leave.

Luo Le watched his retreating figure before glancing at the can in his hand. He casually placed it on the shelf by the closet near the door and then closed the door as he descended the stairs.

Today, he needed to have a talk with Huo Lanjing.

When Luo Le reached the ground floor, the vast living room was empty except for Little Yuan tidying up.

He walked over and sat down, sinking into the plush sofa.

He couldn't fathom what was going on in Huo Lanjing's mind.

Despite knowing that he was bothered by his relationship with Chen Wuxing, he still brought him back so brazenly.

Huo Lanjing wouldn't even acknowledge their connection.

Brother, what a clever idea he had.

From Luo Le's perspective, Huo Lanjing was trying to force him into a divorce.

But why hadn't Huo Lanjing agreed readily when he brought up divorce the last time?

He truly couldn't figure it out...

A sharp ringtone startled Luo Le awake. He hurriedly sat up and checked the time, only to realize that two hours had passed.

An unfamiliar number appeared on his smart screen – Luo Lu had used this tactic before after Luo Le had blocked the family.

Without hesitation, Luo Le hung up.

Then, he looked up at the floor above and asked Little Yuan beside him, "Has anyone come down?"

Little Yuan's screen displayed a smiling face. "No one has come down in the past two hours since Young Master fell asleep."

Hasn't he come down yet?

Luo Le paused.

Huo Lanjing had been leaving early and returning late these days, with dark circles under his eyes, indicating poor rest. He also always wore a worried expression.

Initially, Luo Le thought it was because of the insectoid issue that troubled him. That's why he once woke up early just to have a conversation with Huo Lanjing.

But when he asked, Huo Lanjing impatiently replied that it wasn't something he should be concerned about.

After that, a cold glance was all Luo Le received before the latter turned and left.

Luo Le didn't push the matter further and didn't ask again.

What could they possibly talk about for two hours?

Suspicion arose in Luo Le, who quickly rushed over. At the staircase, he turned to Little Yuan. "Did you send up any tea?"

"It's been delivered."

Luo Le pondered for a moment and headed to the kitchen, opening the fridge. Inside, there was a plate of grapes. He took them and rinsed them under the faucet before storming towards the study.

The second knock was answered by Huo Lanjing's cool voice from within.

"Enter."

Luo Le pushed the door open, but the scene he had imagined did not unfold. Huo Lanjing sat in the main seat with one hand resting on the armrest and the other holding a teacup lid. He poured the tea onto the 'tea' character on the table, instantly brightening it. With every gesture, he resembled a refined and elegant nobleman.

Chen Wuxing, on the other hand, held his teacup with a smile, asking what was wrong.

Luo Le hurried over in three strides, placing the plate on the table.

"Have something to eat."

Chen Wuxing studied the exposed thread, hesitated for a moment, then plucked it off and ate it.

"Mmm, it's sweet. Thank you."

Luo Le looked at Huo Lanjing. "You're not done talking?"

Huo Lanjing lifted his head. "Something?"

Supporting himself on the table with both hands, Luo Le gritted his teeth. "Yes."

Huo Lanjing silently pushed his plate away, glanced at the sky outside the window, then said to Chen Wuxing, "Stop fussing. Sleep here tonight."

Luo Le stared straight at him. Since Huo Lanjing had entered, he'd assumed they'd spent those two hours discussing work matters, but now it seemed that wasn't the case.

He was indeed busy.

Busy at the hospital, busy elsewhere.

Luo Le scratched his palm but remained silent.

Chen Wuxing shrugged nonchalantly and turned to leave, casually pulling the door shut behind him.

In an instant, they were alone in the study.

Huo Lanjing leaned back, asking, "What is it?"

Luo Le glanced at the solitary cup of tea left on the desk and sneered. "No tea for me?"

Huo Lanjing remained still, gazing at him as if to say, Get to the point.

Unbothered, Luo Le picked up the other cup, poured a little tea, swirled it around to rinse it out, then filled it halfway.

Just as he was about to lift it to his lips, Huo Lanjing's large hand covered the rim of the cup.

Lifting his gaze to meet Huo Lanjing's, Luo Le asked, "What are you implying?"

Huo Lanjing's voice was devoid of emotion. "Do you have something to say, or should you leave if not?"

When those cold eyes met his, impatience was the only emotion that could be discerned.

A pang pierced Luo Le's heart, suddenly sapping him of the desire to inquire further.

"I want to go back."

Each day, the moment Huo Lanjing left, he would activate the room's security system. Others couldn't enter, and he couldn't exit.

He couldn't fathom the reason behind such precautions.

Huo Lanjing's gaze darkened. "Is that why you're so eager to return, to see Yu Bing?"

Luo Le cast a skeptical glance at him, then lowered his head to ponder before smiling. "Could it be... you're feeling jealous?"

The color drained visibly from the other person's face.

"Is that even possible?"

"Well, then, let me go."

Huo Lanjing's expression darkened as he pointed toward the door. "Get out."

Luo Le lifted her chin and looked at him. "Don't."

"I have another question for you, mind you: according to Imperial law, in cases of marital infidelity, the offending party is liable for compensating the victim for emotional distress..."

Huo Lanjing repeated insistently, "Step outside."

For Huo Lanjing to repeat himself twice, it indicated that he was truly enraged.

Luo Le felt a slight relief in his heart, but he maintained his provocative gaze, not moving a muscle.

"What's the matter? You did it, yet I can't even comment on it?"

In the next moment, Luo Le saw Huo Lanjing shoot up from his seat, head bowed.

Just as he was about to speak, he witnessed Huo Lanjing stride straight towards the door.

Looking at his retreating figure, Luo Le became angrier by the second. He couldn't help but lash out, "Brother, my foot! Who are you calling your brother? How dare you say such a thing? A brother you can sleep with? Do you have any shame?"

After venting, Luo Le felt relieved. He took a shower, climbed into bed, and fell asleep instantly, completely forgetting that Chen Wuxing was right upstairs.

The next morning, when Luo Le woke up, the two of them were already gone.

After his usual routine of washing up, he approached the door and turned the doorknob.

The door opened.

Looking at the ajar door in confusion, Luo Le wondered if Huo Lanjing had stopped locking him in?

"Little Master, Little Master, there's a message from the Master for you."

"Convert it into text for me."

In response, Little Yuan saluted and a piece of paper emerged from its mouth.

Upon the cessation of the sound, Luo Le promptly grabbed it.

There were two instructions on the paper: one was to lie down in a healing pod, and the other was to get lost.

Nonchalantly, Luo Le stuffed the note into his pocket and stepped out through the open door.

Arriving, he had been carried in by Huo Lanjing, still wrapped in a blanket, not even wearing shoes.

He no longer desired the items Lin Weiwei had brought over the previous day.

Huo Lanjing's residence was a standalone structure, with no other buildings nearby.

Luo Le obediently observed that there were no vehicles in the garage. Apparently, Huo Lanjing only had that one hovercar, which was currently absent.

He had no choice but to rely on his own two legs for transportation.

After about twenty minutes of walking, he emerged from the woods and spotted the military hoverbus that would pick them up.

There were five or six young men on board, sitting less than half a meter away from Luo Le.

Their conversation, due to their proximity, reached Luo Le's ears.

Young Man 1: "You should have seen how perfectly Vice-Chen and the General worked together this time. They sent those insects flying meters away."

Young Man 2: "I heard Vice-Chen got attacked by the insects while activating the defense system. The General was frantic."

Youth 1 retorted, "No, I was there. The Zerg must have used some sort of tactic that caused Chen Fu's mech to suddenly go out of control. If not for him, it might've been the Admiral in that situation, and that would have been truly terrifying."

Youth 3 queried, "Then who was the one who activated the defense system? We haven't heard anything about them."

Youth 4 shrugged, "Who cares? It could have been someone from the Defense Systems Department. That's just part of their job, so maybe that's why they didn't receive any rewards."

Luo Le was taken aback, though he wasn't particularly concerned about military accolades.

For some reason, he felt a vague sense of discontentment.

He gazed silently out the window.

Suddenly, his AI received a message. Upon checking it, he saw that it was from Yu Bing, asking him to visit the square.