From Now On, You're Not My Brother (continued)

Lam Kong had seen too many ugly faces of fair-weather friends betraying each other, whether they were rich or thugs. Today, he finally met a truly loyal and wealthy man, which warmed his heart. But when he looked at Song Tianyao, his heart sank again.

Song Tianyao looked calmly at Chu Xiaoxin, who was smiling and extending an invitation to him. After a moment, he said, "Big Brother, you've hooked up with a beautiful girl, you've had your fun. The one I'm looking for hasn't arrived yet, I haven't had my fun."

"Get in the car. With your money-spending ways, what pretty girl can escape your clutches? Where do you want to find a pretty girl? Get in the car, I'll go with you." Chu Xiaoxin continued to speak to Song Tianyao with a smile.

Song Tianyao lowered his head, took out a cigarette, lit it, exhaled a puff of smoke, then looked up slightly at the rain and night sky above before finally turning to Chu Xiaoxin: "Big Brother, I know you're a smart man, you can't be unaware of what I mean, so why make things so clear and leave everyone embarrassed in the end?"

Chu Xiaoxin's smiling face changed slightly. He stared blankly at Song Tianyao, unable to believe those words had come from his mouth. After all, just a few hours ago, the two had been inseparable, pretending to be brothers. Now, the sudden change of attitude was hard for him to accept. After a long pause, he lightly tapped the JP brooch on his chest with his finger and uttered a sentence:

"A-Yao, you crawled out of the mud with me. One was a good-for-nothing young master of the Chu Family, and the other was a poor young man from a wooden hut. You helped me earn this brooch and build my fortune, so I believe in you. Even if the rest of the world doesn't believe you, I will. Otherwise, I wouldn't have raised funds to stand by your side when you were preparing to target the two major Boat Gangs! Tonight, all I want is for you to explain things to me clearly. I'm not very bright, so you need to explain things to me! Get in the car and tell me slowly! Even if you say you want to rebel and become the Governor of Hong Kong, I will believe you! I will still support you!"

Given his status and the Chu Family's position, this promise carried considerable weight. Even a playboy like Chu Xiaoxin wouldn't utter such words lightly. Lam Kong that no matter what Song Tianyao's reason, he should back down and choose to leave with Chu Xiaoxin. Unexpectedly, Song Tianyao smiled, his expression exaggeratedly frivolous:

"Stop fooling around, Young Master Shun. Let's go home. If you don't understand, go home and think about it slowly. I don't have time to explain it to you."

Yan Hung, who was holding a black umbrella to shield Chu Xiaoxin from the rain, immediately spoke up upon hearing Song Tianyao's last two sarcastic remarks:

"Song Tianyao! If it weren't for Mr. Chu's help, you would have been lying dead in the street long ago..."

"Go away!" Before Yan Xiong could finish speaking, Chu Xiaoxin shouted angrily. Yan Xiong was so frightened that he turned to look at the dandy. Chu Xiaoxin glared at Song Tianyao, but cursed Yan Xiong: "I am talking to Ayao, I don't need anyone else to talk!"

Yan Hung's status in the police force rose rapidly, and he was very powerful, but he could only be subservient in front of a tycoon like the Chu Family. Seeing Chu Xiaoxin's appearance, he dared not disobey and quickly stepped aside. A Wai, who had been silent all along, took Yan Hung's place and continued to hold the umbrella for Chu Xiaoxin.

Chu Xiaoxin took a deep breath and waved his left hand in the direction he had come from on Queen's Road:

"A-Yao, on my way here tonight, many people braved the rain to block my path—my father-in-law's family, my elder brother's people, people from the Pharmaceutical Association. They stopped their cars in front of me, wanting to talk to me, but I told them all to get lost! I abandoned my wife, family, and money. I drove all the way here just to ask you face-to-face the question they asked me! Are you, Song Tianyao, going to help Shanghai people fight Hong Kong? Are you going to let China person fight China person?!"

Song Tianyao's smile faded, and after a few seconds of pause, he resumed the calm tone he usually used when speaking to Chu Xiaoxin, "Big Brother, the whole matter is quite complicated. We'll talk about it later when we have more time..."

Chu Xiaoxin kept his eyes fixed on Song Tianyao's. "I don't understand much! I just want to know, is it or isn't it!"

The atmosphere froze. Not only Chu Xiaoxin, but also Yan Hung, Lam Kong, Qi Weiwen, and even Lu Yuanchun all focused their attention on Song Tianyao's face.

Chu Xiaoxin's question seemed far more terrifying than the swords and spears of these martial arts figures, leaving Song Tianyao standing there in silence for a long time.

Lam Kong and the others watched Song Tianyao nervously, hoping he would give a negative answer. As long as the Chu Family stood up for him, the charge wouldn't be substantiated.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, everyone staring intently at Song Tianyao. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating Song Tianyao's face. A clap of thunder followed, and with that, Song Tianyao nodded slightly, exhaling and uttering his answer, "Yes."

Surprisingly, the first to react was Qi Weiwen, who was standing next to Song Tianyao. After hearing Song Tianyao's reply, she immediately distanced herself from him, preferring to get soaked in the rain rather than get close.

Lam Kong's heart sank to the bottom, a profound sense of powerlessness engulfing him. He began to suspect that the Britain had cast a spell on his boss, driving him insane. Otherwise, how could he have uttered that answer? Even if you really did that, you shouldn't say it in this setting. Even a fool understands that; surely Song Tianyao knows it?

He knew he was too closely tied to Song Tianyao. Even if he shot Song Tianyao dead right now, he wouldn't gain the trust of anyone else, and he wouldn't have a chance to switch sides. He had no other choice but to follow this crazy boss to the bitter end. But once he said "yes," it was hard to say whether he would be able to leave tonight.

Chu Xiaoxin stared blankly at Song Tianyao for a moment, then walked step by step to Song Tianyao's front. A Wai wanted to follow behind and hold an umbrella, but Chu Xiaoxin raised his hand and knocked the umbrella away. Chu Xiaoxin stood in the rain opposite Song Tianyao, staring into Song Tianyao's eyes. Song Tianyao looked back at him as if nothing had happened.

Chu Xiaoxin raised his hand and forcefully wiped the rain from his face, then turned and strode towards the car, shouting as he went:

"From now on, you are no longer my brother! No longer my friend!"

Song Tianyao remained silent, instead looking at Lu Yuanchun: "Aren't you going to scold me?"