Chapter 56: Brother

Chapter 56: Brother

In the dim light of night, Xie Guiluan's voice was pressed low, giving an illusion of gentleness. He still wouldn't let go of Cen Wu's hand, his large palm nearly engulfing Cen Wu's whole hand.

Cen Wu’s pale, cold fingers turned slightly red from the pressure. He pushed against the ground with his feet, struggling a few times, but couldn't shake free.

Xie Guiluan was a man cold and obsessive, never knowing how to rein in his desires nor understanding satisfaction.

Just like how he wanted to break free from the Xie family and take revenge on everyone, he made himself the top student in his grade, every step he took was for revenge. He needed a ladder to climb up and ensure he would never fall.

Similarly, if he had someone he liked, he would never let them go.

Cen Wu could scold him or slap him; it would only make Xie Guiluan want to possess him more. He wouldn't mind if Cen Wu stabbed him.

After all, compared to pursuing, he was better at seduction, but above all, he excelled at being ruthless.

Cen Wu always ended up softening towards him, not wanting to be held but also not having the heart to push him away. Like now, he didn't want to hold hands with him, and if he really tried, he could have pulled away, but he was afraid of hurting Xie Guiluan.

This left him unable to act irrationally towards Cen Wu, unable to find an excuse to be ruthless.

"Let... let go," Cen Wu blushed, his face flushed. He pried at Xie Guiluan's fingers, wishing he could break them, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, Xie Guiluan took advantage of the situation, slipping his fingers between Cen Wu's, interlocking their fingers even tighter.

The scorching heat from Xie Guiluan's palm spread, and Cen Wu gave up, hiding further in the shadows, secretly holding hands with Xie Guiluan in this hidden corner by the villa's back door.

Xie Guiluan's calloused fingertips brushed against the back of his hand, his dark eyes glimmering slightly in the night.

Cen Wu’s cheeks inexplicably heated up under Xie Guiluan’s intense gaze. He hadn’t visited Xie Guiluan’s rented place yet, but the original novel described it as an old, dilapidated building. It must get really cold at night.

Song Lingwei didn't live with Xie Guiluan, and no one could keep him company. What was wrong with spending more time with him? It was just holding hands, after all.

It wouldn't kill him.

Cen Wu's fingers loosened a bit, his lashes fluttering as he gently held onto a few of Xie Guiluan's fingers.

It was a cold night, and Xie Guiluan's fingertips were icy. Cen Wu covered them with his other hand, rubbing them gently, then awkwardly said, "Don't... don't pursue me anymore. I don't like you."

He was attempting to convey a fatherly affection to Xie Guiluan.

"I know," Xie Guiluan hung his helmet on the motorcycle’s handlebars. His thin, cold eyelids drooped, and he seemed calm, his tone flat, "You just pity me."

"..." Cen Wu was at a loss, "I... I didn't mean that."

Xie Guiluan despised being pitied. Even with Meng Liangping and the others, Xie Guiluan despised those pitying looks. Cen Wu had always been careful not to make Xie Guiluan feel like he pitied him.

But he did find Xie Guiluan pitiable. Not in a way that made him seem miserable, but a vague, blurred kind of love welled up when he saw him do anything.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he just felt that Xie Guiluan was pitiable.

Knowing how ruthless Xie Guiluan could be, how no one could bully him, he still feared he would be wronged, bullied, and really wanted to bring him home, not liking to see him alone.

Cen Wu bit his lip, still thinking about how to explain to Xie Guiluan. Xie Guiluan stared at him and suddenly grabbed his wrist, pulling him forward. If not for the villa’s gate, he might have stumbled right into Xie Guiluan’s arms.

Xie Guiluan held his hand, brought it to his lips, kissed it, and then stared at Cen Wu's lips.

Cen Wu: "..."

Alright, brother.

He’s worrying about nothing; all he ever thinks about is kissing. Might as well kiss him to death.

In this position, Cen Wu raised his hand and gently patted Xie Guiluan’s face—not quite a slap, just a light tap with a hint of reproach.

Xie Guiluan paused, his cold, peach blossom eyes lifting up, and suddenly bit his finger, leaving a tooth mark.

Just being disobedient.

Cen Wu: “……”

Rebellious brat.

Cen Wu inappropriately thought that thank goodness he wasn’t dating Xie Guiluan, or else this biting and nibbling would be unbearable—as if Xie Guiluan wanted to swallow him whole, bones and all.

It’s quite possible that Xie Guiluan actually enjoyed it, because this way they could be together forever, their bones and blood intertwined.

Cen Wu didn’t return for a long time, and the old butler came out to look for him. Cen Wu quickly shook off Xie Guiluan’s hand, waved awkwardly at him, and ran towards the old butler.

Xie Guiluan watched Cen Wu’s back and thought that Cen Wu really suited living in such a villa.

He originally only wanted to destroy the Xie family, to make sure every member of the Xie family died without a burial ground. As for himself, he hadn’t considered his own future and didn’t care.

Perhaps before the Xie family was destroyed, he would already be dead at the hands of Xie Mingcheng.

Tonight, for the first time, he thought about the future. A young man’s promise might still hold weight. If Cen Wu was willing to be with him, he would never let Cen Wu live a worse life than now.

He would buy a villa for his young miss. This was much more interesting than getting revenge on the old man Xie Mingcheng. Of course, he wouldn’t let the Xie family off, but suddenly he felt it wasn’t worth risking his life.

Even if by some luck he didn’t die, but just went to prison, what if by the time he got out, Cen Wu had married someone else?

Would he really wait until Cen Wu’s second marriage?

He couldn’t wait that long; what if he didn’t even get a third chance? He really couldn’t guarantee what he might do.

“The second young master,” the old butler, helping Cen Wu carry his backpack, asked him, “Who were you talking to just now?”

The courtyard was dark at night, and he vaguely saw someone. His old eyes weren’t what they used to be.

“No… no one,” Cen Wu said guiltily.

A butler of a wealthy family would have some sense of boundaries. The old butler didn’t press further. Cen Wu ran to his bedroom, took a shower, and threw himself on the bed, lying face down without moving.

Damn it, he always felt like he’d fallen into some kind of trap.

Every night, Xie Guiluan would see him home and stay with him for a few minutes before leaving, making him the last person Cen Wu saw most nights—aside from the servants.

After all, Cen’s father and mother, as well as Cen Xiao, were very busy and couldn’t be seen much at night.

This led to him thinking about Xie Guiluan every night before going to bed, Xie Guiluan kissing him, holding his hand, and before parting, either saying something flirtatious or making physical contact.

When he reached to pull the blanket over himself, he thought about how this hand had just been held by Xie Guiluan and angrily tried to close his mouth to sleep—only to remember how this mouth had just been kissed by Xie Guiluan, his tongue even lightly touched.

He couldn’t control it.

Moreover, it was easy for thoughts before sleep to slip into his dreams, and lately, he often dreamed about Xie Guiluan.

Xie Guiluan was like a male ghost, following him at night and invading his dreams, subtly taking hold of his heart.

Even if he didn’t like Xie Guiluan, on a cold night like this, years later, he would still remember the warmth of Xie Guiluan’s palm—and his heart would still tremble.

Cen Wu has never been afraid to speculate about Xie Guiluan's intentions with all his 800 ulterior motives. However, Xie Guiluan's thoughts always run deeper than what Cen Wu speculates.

It's true that Xie Guiluan wants to spend more time with him, but it's definitely intentional to do so.

Xie Guiluan is truly terrifyingly adept at manipulating people's hearts. This instinct flows through his veins, a terrifying gift.

It makes him invincible and all-powerful.

Cen Wu didn't dare to think too much. He urged himself to go to sleep because there was a birthday party the next day, which made his scalp tingle just thinking about it.

Cen’s father and mother had invited many guests. The birthday of the second young master of the Cen family was certainly not just a simple birthday party. There were many who wanted to curry favor with the Cen family, as well as regular business partners who would come to maintain good relations with the Cen family.

The entire upper-class circle of Huai Jing would be there, including Xie Mingcheng. Cen Wu didn't invite Xie Guiluan.

Otherwise, Xie Guiluan would be ridiculed by many people again.

But he had agreed with Xie Guiluan that after the banquet ended in the evening, he would go to Blue Night to meet him. He was very afraid that Xie Guiluan would overthink, especially since it was Xie Guiluan's birthday.

The next day, Cen Wu dragged his feet. The party didn't start until the evening, but he fell into anxiety at three in the morning, unable to sleep much. He got up with a somewhat pale face, unable to lift his head.

"What's wrong, Xiao Bao?" Guan Xingxue was a little worried. Her soft palm pressed against Cen Wu's forehead.

Cen Wu shook his head and said, "It's... nothing."

The preparations for the party had begun a month in advance. He had no choice but to attend, so there was no use complaining.

Cen Wu hadn't celebrated his birthday for five or six years. When his parents were alive, he would go to his grandfather's house with them every year for his birthday.

After his parents passed away, he lived with his aunt. In the first year, his aunt also celebrated his birthday.

His dad's side of the family wasn't particularly well-off. They were considered a film family, but his grandfather's films weren't especially popular, and they often lost money on productions. His aunt and uncle were also strapped for cash when they first got married and couldn't even afford to buy a house.

Later, one of his father's films became a hit, giving his uncle three million to buy a marital home.

At first, his uncle treated him well, even after his family went bankrupt and both his parents passed away, leaving him with no value. His uncle still took good care of him, and his cousin also treated him nicely.

But he was ultimately an extra burden, carrying debts, and trouble always found him. At fifteen, his aunt bought him a birthday cake, which led to an argument with his uncle.

His uncle's face darkened, and he said impatiently, "Xiao Bin wants to buy sneakers but is reluctant to do so. Why are you buying such an expensive cake?"

"What?" his aunt immediately raised her head and said coldly in a low voice, "A cake that costs over a hundred yuan will make you poor? Then you're just born to be poor."

His uncle was so angry that his face turned red, and he sneered, "Your family is all talk. One is more caustic than the other."

They whispered in the living room, assuming Cen Wu couldn't hear them. But they had already moved into an old building with poor soundproofing, so he could hear everything.

Cen Wu realized that his presence would ruin a family. He no longer had a home and couldn't let others lose theirs because of him.

He started boarding at school and had less contact with his aunt. Sometimes, on his way home in the evening, he would pass by the old building where his aunt lived. The warm, bright lights were back on.

He knew that some people didn't have to be together. He'd rather see her bright lights from afar than let her life fall apart because of him.

Guan Xingxue cherished him and watched him grow up. She looked forward to his birthday every year. She also thought Cen Junshan had no sense of aesthetics, so she took charge of the birthday party preparations every year.

Cen Wu couldn't bring himself to refuse.

At 2:30 in the afternoon, Guan Xingxue's makeup team arrived at the Cen family's home. Over a dozen people were solely responsible for Cen Wu's makeup.

Cen Wu had taken a nap and, upon waking up, was dragged off by three stylists to change his clothes. His face was pale, and his legs trembled.

The Cen family has a private dressing room, which holds Guan Xingxue's old costumes from her filming days. The crystal chandelier above gleamed brilliantly, and the soft, luxurious wool carpet underfoot added to the opulence. Cen Wu was seated on the sofa.

They respectfully presented over thirty suits, starting with the first row of garment racks, and asked, "Second Young Master, which suit would you like to wear tonight?"

Guan Xingxue had originally prepared just one set but then thought each option suited Cen Wu well, so she had more custom-made for him.

Cen Wu's lips trembled, unable to speak. The attendants misunderstood his silence as dissatisfaction and gestured for the racks to be wheeled away, bringing over another dozen suits.

Help.

He wished he could confront these rich people.

Cen Wu felt dizzy and overwhelmed, not only by the crowd but also by the dozens of people buzzing around him.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him. His trembling hand wanted to drink some water, and immediately someone came to test the temperature and apologetically said, "Young Master, I'll get you another cup."

Unable to take it any longer, Cen Wu pointed at a random suit, "Th-th-this one."

"Yes, Second Young Master." The stylist immediately had the suit taken down, helped Cen Wu change, and then took him for makeup and hair, ensuring he was impeccably groomed from head to toe.

Cen Wu had pointed to a white suit, so Guan Xingxue matched herself with a white fringed shawl and a cheongsam underneath.

Her long, black, wavy hair flowed down, making her breathtakingly beautiful, though her peach blossom eyes carried a distant coldness.

When she saw Cen Wu, they suddenly curved into a smile.

Cen Wu thought his sharp and beautiful back-seat classmate did resemble his mother more, though Xie Guiluan was more sinister.

In the evening, Cen Junshan drove them to the hotel. Cen Wu leaned against the car window, his lips growing paler and his palms cold and clammy. His stomach felt queasy, and a dizzy nausea crept up.

"Xiao Bao," Guan Xingxue patted his back, then suddenly asked, "Don't you want to go?"

Cen Wu was startled and pressed his lips together, swallowing the nausea before whispering, "Mom, I want to go."

"If you don't want to go, then don't," Guan Xingxue said.

If Cen Wu suddenly didn’t attend, it would make the second young master of the Cen family appear spoiled and unruly. No one would dare say anything, but who knows what they'd say behind their backs.

Cen Wu didn’t care, but Cen Junshan and Guan Xingxue would be talked about, and he could just endure the night.

Cen Wu insisted he was fine, so Guan Xingxue took him to the banquet. The glamorous crowd, the clinking of glasses—the original host loved these occasions, and Guan Xingxue had invited so many people for him.

But before Cen Wu could even reach the stage, his stomach churned, and his ears buzzed. He turned and dry heaved.

A curtain shielded him from view, so no one saw. Guan Xingxue asked Cen Xiao to go ahead first, then helped Cen Wu sit on the sofa, holding his fingers and rubbing his stiff fingertips.

"What's wrong?" Cen Junshan also came over. "Is Xiao Bao unwell? Stomachache?"

Guan Xingxue held Cen Wu's hand and said, "You stay here with Xiao Xiao. I'll take Xiao Bao out for dinner."

Cen Wu's stomach ached terribly, his eyes red from sickness, tears welling up when he dry heaved.

Cen Junshan didn't know what was happening, but he never questioned his wife's decisions. If Guan Xingxue said they needed to leave, there must be a reason, so he agreed.

Of course, he hoped Cen Wu would stay and celebrate his birthday, avoiding gossip from the guests. But the Cen family's position wasn't built for the sake of appearances—it was for family.

If Cen Wu was uncomfortable and had to force himself to stay, what was the point of all his years managing the Cen family?

Cen Wu didn’t really want to leave; he thought he'd feel better soon. But Guan Xingxue already had her arm linked with his and, with a touch of guilt-tripping, innocently said, "Don't you want to accompany Mom for dinner?"

Cen Wu: "..."

He didn't dare to.

Guan Xingxue also didn’t change her clothes and simply took Cen Wu out. Cen Wu had no choice but to follow her.

There were many restaurants near the hotel. Guan Xingxue took him to a tea restaurant and ordered a bowl of fish porridge. It was cooked until tender and smooth, with no fishy taste at all. Cen Wu’s stomach felt instantly relieved.

Only then did Guan Xingxue start to order her own food.

Cen Wu felt very guilty, both for not being able to let her spend the birthday with her own child and for letting her down after all her hard work for a month.

But Guan Xingxue didn’t mention it, treating it like any other evening. She took him out for dinner and shared stories from her time on set, including the gossip on the crew and how fiercely some directors would scold people. When she was younger, she had often been scolded until she cried.

Guan Xingxue sighed and said, "I hate those directors the most. They’re all so fierce, with such bad tempers."

Cen Wu thought of the countless actors he had scolded until they cried. He hurriedly, guiltily, served Guan Xingxue some food.

After finishing dinner, Guan Xingxue rested her chin on her hand and suddenly asked, "Xiao Bao, would you like to watch a movie?"

Cen Wu hadn’t watched a movie in a long time and wasn’t quite brave enough to enter a cinema, but since Guan Xingxue wanted to go, he didn’t refuse.

Their clothes were a bit too formal, so Guan Xingxue took him to a mall to buy new clothes, then they purchased tickets for a regular theater.

Cen Wu had thought she would rent out the entire theater or go to a private screening room. After all, Guan Xingxue was a celebrity, and paparazzi could easily take photos of her. The environment in a regular theater wasn’t good enough.

But Guan Xingxue simply acted like a mother, taking him to watch a movie, buying him cola and popcorn.

The movie that night was actually quite cliché. Cen Wu zoned out for a bit, thinking about how he would shoot it if he were the director. Before he realized it, the movie was over.

The lights hadn’t come on yet, and several audience members were waiting for the post-credits scenes. Guan Xingxue held his hand and patted the back of it.

In a soft voice, she gently asked, "Xiao Bao, are you happy tonight?"

Cen Wu was startled. He really was happy. Guan Xingxue hadn’t put any pressure on him, and they always had things to talk about when it came to filming, even though Cen Wu had to be careful not to reveal too much.

"But... Mom," Cen Wu’s voice was a bit hoarse as he whispered, "I couldn’t make you happy."

Guan Xingxue’s eyes immediately turned red. In the dim light of the cinema, she quietly wiped away her tears, then grabbed his cold, tense hand and said, "Why are you so silly? If you’re happy, then Mom is happy. Nothing else matters."

Cen Wu wasn’t that child. That child would never say such things. Guan Xingxue desperately wanted to know what had happened to her real son but couldn’t bring herself to ask Cen Wu.

After all, Cen Wu was so concerned about her. Even though he was nervous himself, he was always afraid she would be upset.

By the time Cen Wu and Guan Xingxue finished watching the movie, it was already past eleven o’clock. Cen Xiao had saved some cake for him.

He went to the hotel to pick it up and hesitated around Guan Xingxue, trying to get her attention before saying quietly, "Mom, I... I want to go out."

Guan Xingxue lightly pinched his cheek, not even bothering to ask. It was clear he was heading to see Xie Guiluan.

If not for Cen Wu’s innocent look, she might have thought he had a crush on Xie Guiluan, totally smitten.

"Go home early," Guan Xingxue instructed him. "Have the driver pick you up. You’re not allowed to stay outside."

Cen Wu nodded repeatedly. He turned and sprinted off, worried about missing midnight, but after a few steps, he slowed down, concerned about damaging the cake, and walked cautiously while carrying it.

Cen Xiao, watching from the side, had a twisted expression. What kind of eldest young master was this? Having someone deliver a cake at midnight and insisting it stays intact. He was getting visions of those manipulative people who called others "big brother" behind their backs.

Cen Wu reached Blue Night with only three minutes left till midnight. He informed the manager and then took Xie Guiluan away.

He didn’t even bother to take Xie Guiluan to a private room. Time was of the essence, so he quickly found an empty hallway, sat on the steps, and hurriedly opened the cake. Without saying a word, he grabbed a fork, fed Xie Guiluan a bite, and urged, "Come on, eat, eat."

Xie Guiluan, though confused, obediently ate it. Only then did Cen Wu’s eyes crinkle into a smile.

"Wu Wu," Xie Guiluan said, noticing there were candles in Cen Wu’s bag. He lit one for him and said, "Make a wish and blow it out. Happy Birthday!"

Cen Wu blew it out and silently wished Xie Guiluan a happy birthday in his heart.

Then he realized something was off. What had Xie Guiluan just called him?

His ears reddened as he stammered, "You… don’t call me that. I’m… I’m a year older than you now."

In his previous life, he was even three years older.

Don’t call me by a pet name.

Xie Guiluan responded by wrapping his arms around Cen Wu, burying his face in Cen Wu’s neck. Cen Wu pushed and even kicked, but Xie Guiluan clung tightly, seemingly oblivious to any discomfort.

Cen Wu gave up and let him hold on like that. Not like it would hurt him. Then he saw Xie Guiluan’s dark peach blossom eyes lift, as he softly called, "Brother."