Chapter 6 Let Me Show You the World

Chapter 6: Showing You the World

Jiang Jiang, who had been having a silent laughing fit, was startled out of nowhere and let out a hick.

Jiang Huaiyu's ears perked up at the sound. His gaze swept back and forth like a scanner toward the source of the noise, finally locking onto a figure at the back of the crowd wearing a hat and mask, who was trying to slink away.

He dropped his suitcase, covered the distance in a couple of strides, and just as the person turned to flee, accurately grabbed the "Ginger" trying to blend in with the "potatoes."

Jiang Jiang was hauled out like a little chick.

Before he could even attempt an excuse, his mask was pulled off.

He looked up, revealing an innocent and angelic smile, and raised a paw to wave. "Hi~ What a coincidence, Second Brother."

"Heh." Jiang Huaiyu firmly held onto this guy trying to get away with being cute, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

Jiang Jiang threw his arms around Jiang Huaiyu's neck, pulling him down, and nuzzled against him. "Second Brother, I missed you so much! Did you miss me~?"

At the same time, he secretly gave the hired actors behind Jiang Huaiyu's back a thumbs-up and a wave.

This was their prearranged cue, indicating the performance was over.

The leader received the signal and gestured to the others.

Whoosh.

The entire group vanished without a trace.

Jiang Huaiyu clicked his tongue, peeling off the guy stuck to him, his tone softening a bit. "Putting on a show for me, huh? Enjoyed watching your second brother get chased, did you?"

Jiang Jiang wore an expression of utter innocence that said, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Jiang Huaiyu reached out and pinched his cheek.

Jiang Jiang: O3O

"Still playing dumb?" Jiang Huaiyu pointed behind him, his tone certain. "Those people were arranged by you, weren't they?"

"Second Bro, wha' are you talkin' 'bout? Who's behind you?" Jiang Jiang's speech was slurred with his cheek pinched.

Jiang Huaiyu looked back. "Isn't it just..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

There was no one behind him, only his suitcase standing alone not far away.

As if everything that had just happened was merely his hallucination.

......

The black Porsche raced down the highway.

Inside the car, Jiang Jiang extended his index finger and poked Jiang Huaiyu's arm.

No reaction.

Poke poke.

No reaction.

Poke poke poke.

Poke poke poke poke poke......

His index finger was caught.

"What, trying to poke me to death and get a new second brother?"

"No way! I'm clearly checking your fitness progress, Second Brother." Jiang Jiang straightened his back, full of righteous indignation.

"Hand over the video." Jiang Huaiyu cut him off.

"What video? I..."

Jiang Jiang's cheek was pinched again.

Jiang Jiang: O3O

He blinked innocently. Second Brother shouldn't have seen him with the GoPro.

"Do you think I don't know you? Hand it over, or I'll eat all the delicious snacks I brought for you myself." Having grown up helping their eldest brother take care of Jiang Jiang, Jiang Huaiyu was intimately familiar with his level of mischief. "Hurry up."

Jiang Jiang had no choice but to pull the GoPro from his bag and present it with both hands.

Only then did Jiang Huaiyu let go.

Jiang Jiang rubbed his face like a seal.

Second Brother was getting harder and harder to fool.

It was already 10 PM by the time the two arrived home.

Eldest Brother Jiang Huaijin was leaning back on the sofa in the first-floor living room, a laptop resting on his legs. The screen's reflection on his glasses made it hard to see the emotion in his eyes.

Hearing the door open, he pushed his glasses up and spoke without looking up. "Back?"

"Big Brother, Big Brother! I brought Second Brother back in one piece!" Jiang Jiang propped one hand on the back of the sofa, used his core strength, and smoothly flipped over to sit beside his eldest brother.

Jiang Huaiyu rolled his eyes. "My soul almost flew away thanks to this guy."

"What happened?" Jiang Huaijin looked up at Jiang Jiang, who was sitting sloppily. "Sit properly."

Jiang Jiang instinctively straightened up, but within two minutes, he unconsciously slumped down again.

Jiang Huaiyu chattered away, tattling to their eldest brother.

Meanwhile, the culprit himself gradually grew fuzzy-headed amidst the rambling. His head tilted to the side and landed on Jiang Huaijin's shoulder.

He nuzzled his head, adjusting to the most comfortable position, and fell completely asleep the next second.

Jiang Huaijin glanced sideways, stopped typing, and closed the laptop.

Seeing his eldest brother's action, Jiang Huaiyu finally noticed the sleeping Jiang Jiang and instinctively lowered his voice. "Tsk, really. He's only full of energy when he's up to no good."

Though his words were disdainful, his hands picked up the blanket from the back of the sofa and gently draped it over Jiang Jiang.

Jiang Jiang: Zzzzz.

The two chatted in low voices for a while, and Jiang Huaijin asked about Jiang Huaiyu's studies during his time abroad.

......

Their hushed conversation acted like white noise, allowing Jiang Jiang to sleep exceptionally soundly.

Jiang Huaijin glanced at his watch—it was already 11 o'clock.

He gently shook Jiang Jiang awake. "Go wash up and head to your room."

Jiang Jiang groggily got up and, relying on muscle memory, felt his way toward his room on the second floor.

Jiang Huaijin didn't look away until his figure disappeared around the corner, then said to Jiang Huaiyu, "It's late. You should rest too and adjust your sleep schedule."

"Alright, Big Brother, you should sleep early as well." Jiang Huaiyu stood up and headed to the second floor.

After both had left, Jiang Huaijin expressionlessly rubbed his slightly numb shoulder, picked up his laptop, and returned to his study.

......

The next day, before 404 could even sound its alarm, Jiang Jiang woke up, stretching and feeling refreshed.

404 was in a good mood: This guy is quite adorable when he's obedient, isn't he?

For once, the pair didn't bicker.

Due to jet lag, Jiang Huaiyu slept until the sun was high in the sky. As soon as he opened his phone, he saw 99+ messages.

Most were from the young masters he used to hang out with before going abroad, inviting him to catch up now that he was back.

He raised an eyebrow and turned down all the invitations except for Liang Yi's.

Liang Yi: Finally awake, bro?

Jiang Huaiyu: Quit the small talk. Where are we going tonight?

Liang Yi: The usual spot, Meise.

Jiang Huaiyu: Alright.

Liang Yi: I'm bringing my kid brother. Want to bring yours along too?

Jiang Huaiyu initially wanted to refuse outright, but then it occurred to him that Jiang Jiang was already 20—it was time for him to experience these things.

He didn't reject the idea outright. Instead, he walked to the outdoor pool and found Jiang Jiang tumbling around in the water.

Jiang Huaiyu stood under the shade, waiting for Jiang Jiang to come ashore. He watched as Jiang Jiang swam one lap, two laps... he lost count.

......

Same old brother, still so full of energy.

He gave up on waiting silently and called out.

Jiang Jiang glanced sideways at the source of the voice but didn't respond. Instead, like a nimble little fish, he "whooshed" underwater and disappeared.

Jiang Huaiyu waited for a while, but Jiang Jiang didn't surface. Even though he knew his brother was a good swimmer, he couldn't help but worry. He quickly walked to the edge of the pool and peered in.

The next second.

"Splash!"

A head burst out of the water, splashing him right in the face.

He wiped his face and saw Jiang Jiang gripping the edge of the pool, looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Second Brother, am I awesome?"

Jiang Huaiyu patted his head. "Pretty awesome. I almost thought we'd be celebrating your first death anniversary next year."

Jiang Jiang: "..."

He gave his head a shake, flinging water all over Jiang Huaiyu's face again.

"Got plans tonight?" Jiang Huaiyu finally got to the point of why he'd come looking for him. "If not, I'll take you out to broaden your horizons."

"Sure, sure!" Jiang Jiang pushed himself up and nimbly climbed out of the pool.

Just as he was about to shake his head again, a towel landed on his head from above.

Jiang Jiang pulled the towel away and saw his second brother's look of disapproval.

"Are you a puppy, shaking like that? Use the towel to dry off."

"Okay then." Jiang Jiang obediently used the towel to dry his hair.

"Aren't you going to ask where I'm taking you?"

"So, where are we going?"

"..."

In the private room on the second floor of Meise, aside from the two brothers who had brought their younger siblings, there were also some friends Liang Yi had invited.

Seeing them talking, someone tactfully switched the music to something soft and soothing.

"This is my brother, Jiang Jiang," Jiang Huaiyu introduced.

"Hey there, little brother~ I'm your brother's friend, Liang Yi." Liang Yi smiled warmly at the particularly well-behaved-looking young man.

"Hello, Brother Liang Yi." Jiang Jiang greeted him politely.

"Hey~" Liang Yi responded with a smile.

Ah, indeed, other people's younger brothers are always better.

He pointed to the boy beside him, who looked rather defiant. "This guy is my brother, Liang Liang."

After saying this and seeing no reaction, he patted his brother's head. "Say hello."

"Hello," Liang Liang said stiffly.

"Tsk." Liang Yi turned and smiled, looking into his brother's eyes. "Don't force my hand..."

Jiang Jiang didn't catch the last few words.

But after Liang Yi finished speaking, although Liang Liang still seemed somewhat reluctant, his tone softened considerably.

"Hello, Brother."

Jiang Huaiyu nodded and instructed the two younger ones, "You two are around the same age. If you find the room boring, you can go downstairs and play, but remember, don't accept drinks from strangers, and don't touch anything that's been passed around, got it?"

"Mhm, mhm." Jiang Jiang nodded, his eyes full of excitement.

Big Brother was strict—he had never been to a bar before and had only had a few drinks in his life. On the way up, he had already been itching to try the cocktails at the bar.

Jiang Jiang turned to head downstairs. After a few steps, he noticed Liang Liang wasn't following. Remembering what his second brother had said, he turned back, grabbed the boy's arm, and said, "Come on, let's go try some cocktails."

Liang Liang was caught off guard by the pull. After taking a few steps, he snapped out of it, shook off Jiang Jiang's hand, and frowned at this overly familiar guy. "I can walk by myself."

With that, he strode past Jiang Jiang to the front.

......

"My brother has a nasty temper. You're really okay leaving them together? Aren't you worried your brother might get bullied?" Liang Yi was puzzled.

If Jiang Jiang were his brother, he wouldn't just send him off like that.

Jiang Huaiyu waved his hand dismissively. "Relax."

If anyone's getting bullied, it sure won't be Jiang Jiang.

His brother isn't the soft little thing he appears to be.

Besides, Jiang Huaiyu glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window on the right, which gave him a clear view of the scene downstairs.

At the bar counter, Jiang Jiang and Liang Liang were sitting side by side.

Liang Liang hated these well-behaved young masters the most. He was always being compared to them, and his brother would always wear an expression that said, "I wish he were my brother."

So annoying.

He turned to look at Jiang Jiang, who was enthusiastically chatting with the bartender, and felt a jab of annoyance. "Hey."

Jiang Jiang kept right on chatting excitedly with the bartender.

"Hey!" Liang Liang raised his voice.

Jiang Jiang kept right on chatting excitedly with the bartender.

"Jiang Jiang!"

"What?" Jiang Jiang turned to look at Liang Liang.

"You heard me just now."

Of course Jiang Jiang had heard him, but his name wasn't "Hey."

"So?"

Liang Liang was left speechless.

He caught sight of the gin on the liquor shelf, and an idea popped into his head. Turning to the bartender, he said, "A Whiskey Sour and a Dry Martini."

"Coming right up, sir."

"I see you're interested in cocktails. Order whatever you want—my treat." Liang Liang's tone softened a bit.

He wanted to see what this guy was like drunk. It would be best if he caused a scene right then and there, so his brother would stop pining for other people's brothers!

Jiang Jiang flashed an innocent, harmless smile. "Oh, thank you! You're such a good person."

If someone was begging to pay, who was he to say no?

That wasn't the reaction Liang Liang expected. Just as a twinge of guilt started to creep in, he heard Jiang Jiang turn to the bartender and say—

"Give me one of each of your most expensive cocktails."

Liang Liang: ...

Author's Note:

----------------------

Liang Liang: My heart is bleeding [cracked].