On the dinner desk, Ji Ruan lastly had the chance to satisfy Fang Qiming, Gu Xiuyi’s elder brother who was not associated by blood, and Gu Zhaoxu, his ill-tempered father. Each of them wore discontented expressions. 

Gu Zhaoxu, as a consequence of his larger standing within the household, occupied the primary seat, whereas Fang Qiming sat on the farthest nook, even farther away than Ji Ruan. 

Regardless of the tense environment, Fang Lan remained energetic, filling the desk along with her enthusiastic laughter. 

“Xiu Yi, you are lastly right here. Eat extra, these are your favourite dishes,” she mentioned cheerfully. 

“Sure, older brother,” echoed Gu Chuli. “Mother wakened early to arrange them. After a busy day, you need to attempt them.” 

Gu Xiuyi positioned a bit of candy and bitter spareribs in Ji Ruan’s bowl, with out sparing a look at Fang Lan, and casually remarked, “Thanks, Aunt Fang.” 

Gu Zhaoxu let loose a chilly snort. “The extra you reside, the extra disrespectful you grow to be. The elders have labored tirelessly on your sake all day, and you’ll solely give such a perfunctory thanks?” 

Gu Xiuyi remained silent, providing Gu Zhaoxu a big piece of elbow meat. “Dad, you have to be hungry. Let’s eat.” 

Sadly, Gu Zhaoxu’s nerves had been struck by that assertion, inflicting his voice to abruptly rise. “What do you imply?! Are you suggesting that I should not educate you and that you would be able to compensate with meals?!” 

Ji Ruan was bowled over. 

This Gu household actually had an intricate mind-set. 

Much more puzzling was that Gu Xiuyi merely wore a slight smile on his lips, with out uttering a phrase in response. 

Ji Ruan raised an eyebrow at Gu Xiuyi, quietly asking if he really meant what he mentioned. 

Gu Xiuyi tapped the desk. “Eat your meals.” 

Caught within the midst of his anger, Gu Zhaoxu witnessed the opponent’s refusal to interact and shrugged off the retort. He was left alone, unable to maneuver, and along with his neck turning purple. 

Fang Qiming furiously interjected, “Gu Xiuyi, you’ve got gone too far. Have you ever ever seen anybody deal with their elders in such a way?” 

“Do you have got the precise to talk?” Gu Xiuyi leisurely poured himself a glass of purple wine and held it in his hand nonchalantly. 

“Gu Xiuyi!” Gu Zhaoxu pointed at him and scolded, “Your conduct is outrageous!” 

“Oh, Outdated Gu, relax. Do not get offended,” Fang Lan shortly jumped in to mediate. “Xiuyi has lastly come again. Why are you arguing once more?” 

“You spoil him an excessive amount of! You deal with him properly, however have you ever ever seen him reciprocate the love?” Gu Zhaoxu fumed. 

“I do not want reciprocation,” Fang Lan eagerly responded, placing on a virtuous and beneficiant entrance. “It is all voluntary. I simply need our household to be harmonious. That is Xiao Ruan’s first time visiting our home, so why are we arguing? Let’s simply chat, Outdated Gu. Settle down…” 

After Fang Lan spent a very long time comforting Gu Zhaoxu and rubbing his chest, he lastly discovered his composure. He leaned again in his chair and forcedly acknowledged to Gu Xiuyi, “Your brother shall be graduating from school quickly. You need to prepare a job for him within the firm.” 

Nonetheless, Gu Xiuyi acted as if a protect had been activated, exhibiting no indicators of wavering. After listening to the demand, he solely responded indifferently, “This matter requires additional dialogue.” 

“What’s there to debate? He’s from the Gu household and he is your youthful brother! It is solely pure to assist him safe a place within the firm!” 

“Crack!” Gu Xiuyi positioned the goblet again on the desk and seemed Gu Zhaoxu squarely within the eye. “As I mentioned, we have to talk about it.” 

In reality, Gu Xiuyi possessed a strikingly sharp and detached look. His facial options had been too outlined and lacked softness, making it troublesome for him to exude heat. Thus, when his normal politeness and gentleness vanished, his eyes stuffed with conceitedness appeared much more dominant. 

Observing Gu Xiuyi on this state, Gu Zhaoxu appeared momentarily dazed, shaking his head whereas protecting his brow. 

“Dad, please cease,” Gu Chuli mentioned anxiously. “I am superb.” 

He checked out Gu Xiuyi apologetically. “Brother, please do not thoughts. Dad is simply overly involved about me. In all honesty, I do not really feel succesful sufficient to work on the firm in the intervening time. Let’s not talk about this, alright?” 

“Precisely,” Fang Lan easily intervened. “Let’s simply concentrate on consuming. Everybody, please take pleasure in your meal.” 

Gu Chuli eagerly served Gu Xiuyi meals. “If you happen to do not eat extra, the meals will get chilly. It is all Mother’s needs.” 

“Ahem…” Ji Ruan abruptly coughed twice. 

Gu Xiuyi instantly turned to him, leaning nearer and whispering, “What’s incorrect?” 

Ji Ruan coated their mouth, barely frowning, and pointed to the spicy rooster within the bowl. “It’s kind of too spicy and salty…” 

“It is alright.” Gu Xiuyi obediently handed him a glass of water. “You will not eat something salty.” 

Unnoticed by Gu Chuli, his hand holding the chopsticks hung within the air momentarily, then withdrew awkwardly, and eventually sat again in embarrassment. 

“Heh, have a look at how a lot care he receives,” Fang Qiming sneered. “Do you suppose he appreciates it? Overlook about this, how a lot did Mother sacrifice for him? He is into males, and Mother even went out of her solution to prepare a wedding with the Ji household. However he did not even spare a look and married another person—” 

Ji Ruan’s face immediately turned chilly. 

“Qiming!” Fang Lan snapped. “Watch your phrases!” 

Gu Chuli frowned as properly. “Brother, that is not proper. The elder brother has the precise to marry whomever he needs.” 

“Did he say something incorrect?” Gu Zhaoxu sneered. “What’s incorrect with the Ji household’s younger grasp? He is educated and well mannered. Have a look at who he married. He is sickly, petty, and disabled!” 

“Gu Zhaoxu!” Gu Xiuyi threw down his chopsticks and displayed anger for the primary time. “Watch out the way you converse.” 

“Who do you suppose you might be?” Gu Zhaoxu slammed the desk twice. “I am your father! You are telling me to watch out?! You ungrateful youngster!” 

Gu Xiuyi stared at him coldly. “I am going to name you Dad, however do you actually imagine you maintain any weight?” 

“You… how dare you…” Fang Lan, unable to tolerate it any longer, burst into tears. “Cease arguing!” 

She hurried over to Ji Ruan’s facet, squatted down, and held their hand, talking tearfully. “Xiao Ruan, please do not pay any thoughts to them. They’ve their tempers, and they aren’t talking correctly. Auntie apologizes to you. Please, do not be offended, okay?” 

Ji Ruan raised an eyebrow in shock. 

He hasn’t even mentioned he is offended but! 

He hasn’t uttered a single phrase! 

How shameless is that this household, forcibly attempting to carry him morally hostage after insulting him, and never permitting him to specific anger? 

Ji Ruan took a deep breath, then turned to take a look at Fang Lan, whose face was soaked in tears. 

He smiled softly, his eyes clear as could be. 

“What did you say? I did not catch that.” 

In any case, he is only a disabled deaf man who cannot hear something. 

1

“…” Fang Lan’s tears appeared to freeze on her face, rendering her speechless for a second. 

Gu Xiuyi stood up abruptly, taking Ji Ruan’s wrist out of Fang Lan’s grasp, and positioned himself in entrance as a protect. His voice turned as chilly as ice. “There’s nothing extra to say. Let’s go residence.” 

Ignoring the gazes of everybody within the room, he led Ji Ruan out of the eating space, handed by way of the hall adorned with panorama work, every another breathtaking than the final, and entered the piano room on the west facet of the primary ground. 

The piano room was an enormous and silent void, its solely occupant a solitary black grand piano, its lid closed like a mournful eye. The partitions had been lined with curving cabinets of polished wooden, every bearing a unique handicraft: a hand-painted ceramic vase, a fragile silver figurine, a patchwork quilt. 

Gu Xiuyi closed the door, helped Ji Ruan onto the piano bench, and squatted in entrance of them. He apologized, “Are you offended?” 

Ji Ruan lowered their head barely, showing like an upset youngster. “They mentioned I am disabled.” 

Feeling wronged and pitiful. 

“No…” The corners of Gu Xiuyi’s lips felt dry. He gently pinched Ji Ruan’s cheekbones. “You are not.” 

Ji Ruan nonetheless did not really feel like speaking to him. 

Gu Xiuyi let loose a sigh, pausing for a second earlier than saying, “Effectively, I am going upstairs to get the paperwork now, and you will keep right here alone for some time.” 

Ji Ruan seemed up, a little bit puzzled. 

A smile shaped on Gu Xiuyi’s lips. “Somebody will probably come to hassle you. Be happy to deal with it nonetheless you need, and I will be again in 5 minutes to assist you.” 

Ji Ruan’s eyebrows twitched barely, understanding what Gu Xiuyi meant. 

The lights within the piano room weren’t turned on, and Ji Ruan watched Gu Xiuyi’s silhouette towards the darkening sky outdoors the window. After a second, he smiled softly and playfully kicked Gu Xiuyi’s calf. 

“Be on time,” Ji Ruan mentioned. 

“Completely,” Gu Xiuyi replied. 

After Gu Xiuyi left, Ji Ruan let loose a protracted breath, calmly composing themselves. 

Simply as Gu Xiuyi had predicted, inside moments, the door opened as soon as once more. 

Gu Chuli cautiously poked his head in, tiptoeing in. He even switched on the lights within the piano room. 

Ji Ruan rested their elbows on the piano cowl, supporting their chin, and stared on the customer with out uttering a phrase. 

“Xiao Ruan, are you alright?” Gu Chuli positioned a glass of orange juice in Ji Ruan’s hand, a responsible expression on his face. “I am sorry, I did not count on a pleasing meal to end up like this.” 

Ji Ruan glanced on the tempting orange juice however confirmed no intention of consuming it. “You’ve got already apologized, Aunt Fang mentioned so.” 

A glimmer of hope shone in Gu Chuli’s eyes. “Do you imply… you are not offended?” 

Ji Ruan’s lips curled, withholding their response. 

However Gu Chuli appeared to imagine it to be true. He patted his chest in aid, his tone changing into extra relaxed. “I knew you had been kind-hearted.” 

Ji Ruan let loose a tender “ah.” “You possibly can inform?” 

“Sure,” Gu Chuli shyly smiled. “Truthfully, I such as you. I’ve appreciated you from the second I laid my eyes on you. I simply did not notice it on the time, however I’ve come to know it now.” 

Ji Ruan nodded, pretending to pay attention attentively. 

Gu Chuli took a seat reverse them. “You remind me of somebody I do know, not when it comes to look, however within the feeling…” 

Ji Ruan’s coronary heart skipped a beat, sensing what he was about to disclose. 

Within the subsequent second, Gu Chuli hurriedly fetched a photograph body from the storage shelf and innocently confirmed it to Ji Ruan. “That is him, would not he resemble you?” 

Ji Ruan seemed on the photograph with an emotionless expression. 

Three folks had been captured within the photograph, however their faces had been turned away, so nothing could possibly be discerned. 

Gu Chuli cradled the photograph fastidiously, pointing to one of many figures. “That is him, his identify is Bai Yue. He is a really variety individual. He helped me after I was bullied as a baby. By the best way, he grew up along with his elder brother, and their relationship is superb. Seeing you jogs my memory of that very same kindness.” 

Ah, it is the usual tools of the second lead – Bai Yueguang. 

Nonetheless, within the authentic novel, this supposed kind-hearted “White Moonlight” practically tortured the protagonist midway by way of the story. 

Ji Ruan wasn’t sure if he was being dragged into that storyline, however he felt a way of disgust. 

Seeing Ji Ruan’s lack of response, Gu Chuli continued chatting with himself, seemingly unaware. “This photograph was taken when the three of us had been collectively. We had a good time throughout our childhood. Brother Bai Yue is really an important pal to my elder brother. Nonetheless, he went overseas later and barely returned. We miss him dearly. My brother was devastated when he left…” 

Ji Ruan did not wish to hear anymore. He closed their eyes, rubbing his brow along with his knuckles, and softly mentioned, “So, are you right here to make me uncomfortable?” 

Ji Ruan did not care what Bai Yueguang can be like upon his return. If he was upset now, he would go away. 

Gu Chuli’s affectionate reminiscing got here to a halt, frozen by Ji Ruan’s directness. He hadn’t anticipated Ji Ruan’s response. “What? No, Xiao Ruan, why would you suppose that…?” 

Ji Ruan opened their eyes, tapping their fingernails slowly on the piano cowl. “You assume that, since you like that individual and imagine him to be variety, I need to even be variety and mild. Do I not have my very own id? Should you examine me to another person?” 

“You additionally talked about that he is Gu Xiuyi’s closest pal. When he went overseas, Gu Xiuyi missed him and was heartbroken. That does not sound like a friendship, does it sound like a romantic relationship?” 

“And also you mentioned that I resemble him. You make baseless assumptions by utilizing an image of somebody’s physique and the again of their head. If you wish to counsel that I’ve a doppelgänger, simply say it immediately. Is not it simply being roundabout? What am I to you?” 

Gu Chuli was bowled over by Ji Ruan’s phrases, taking a number of seconds to reply. “No, that is not what I meant, Xiao Ruan, please do not misunderstand!” 

He appeared utterly at a loss, his eyes changing into teary. “I genuinely did not imply that. I assumed you had been variety and needed to be associates. I did not notice you’ll be so upset after I talked about Brother Bai Yue…” 

“Cease,” Ji Ruan crossed their legs and smiled faintly. “Who’s your pal? Gu Xiuyi and I are legally married. Contemplating your age, you need to deal with me as your sister-in-law—” 

“Oh…” He abruptly nodded. “Or brother-in-law can also be acceptable, nevertheless it would not sound fairly proper.” 

Gu Chuli widened his eyes and was speechless for some time. Ultimately, tears began to properly up. “You misunderstood… I actually did not imply to upset you…” 

Ji Ruan paid no consideration to his impending tears. He grabbed the photograph body and weighed it in his fingers, tilting his head playfully. 

“However I believe you have already got.” 

After saying that, he let go, and the glass photograph body fell to the bottom with a pointy crack, shattering into numerous items. 

Tiny shards scattered throughout Ji Ruan’s ankles, inflicting them to furrow their brows. 

“What are you doing!” Gu Chuli suppressed his impending tears and involuntarily shouted, “You should not harm your self out of anger—” 

His voice abruptly ceased, and disbelief crammed his eyes as he checked out Ji Ruan. 

Ji Ruan sat on the piano stool, leaning towards the piano for assist. Their head was barely tilted, tears streaming down their cheeks, eyelashes soaked in droplets, and their nostril turning purple as if that they had skilled nice injustice. 

Crying extra intensely than their mom! 

Gu Chuli stood there frozen, unable to maneuver. 

One second, two seconds… Footsteps approached the door! 

Sounds so shut, proper outdoors! 

“Crack—” 

The door swung open. 

Gu Xiuyi stood on the doorway, holding a well-known brown paper bag in his hand. 

His gaze swept throughout the shattered glass on the ground, moved to Ji Ruan’s moist eyelashes, and lingered for some time on Ji Ruan’s ankle which was oozing blood. 

“Massive… large brother…” Gu Chuli’s trembling voice sounded. 

Gu Xiuyi lastly shifted his gaze to him slowly, trembling. “What have you ever accomplished?” 

—– 

Writer’s Word: 

Ruan Ruan: Pretending to cry after scolding somebody? Who would not? 

Mr. Gu: A little bit of cooperation can be appreciated.jpg