Chapter 20

"What's wrong?" Qin Rong, freshly washed and dressed in comfortable pajamas, walked over. Qin Yi immediately felt the bed beside him sink.

"I'm so tired!" Qin Yi said lazily, squinting his eyes.

"Moving house, huh? You'll get used to it." Qin Rong's long fingers pressed lightly against Qin Yi's temples, massaging them. The cool touch of his fingertips and the perfectly measured pressure made Qin Yi hum comfortably.

"So nice." Qin Yi adjusted his position and curled his entire body into Qin Rong's arms. Fresh from the bath, the boy carried a clean, refreshing scent, gentle as sunlight. That secure, intoxicating feeling slowly drew sleep over Qin Yi.

"We should get ready, then go collect Faith Power with Andre!" Qin Rong's voice drifted down from above Qin Yi's head.

"Mm," Qin Yi answered groggily.

"Take a nap, then we'll go." Qin Rong looked indulgently at the utterly drowsy Qin Yi in his arms. "Andre is already getting impatient."

Author's note: Thanks to Hanxue for the landmine, awooo.

Everyone, help me think of somewhere good to "travel" to, okay?

Coming up with ideas is so painful, waaah~~~

Going to write the second update now.

Awooo.

Chapter 20: Haven't Thought of a Title

Chapter 20

Knock, knock, knock... A steady series of knocks suddenly sounded at the door.

Hearing the unfamiliar rhythm, Qin Rong frowned in confusion. That knocking style and tempo did not belong to Qin Zhenguo and his wife. Who else would be knocking this late at night?

Lowering his gaze to Qin Yi, who was sleeping soundly, Qin Rong carefully moved Qin Yi's head onto the soft pillow. Then he quietly got out of bed and opened the door.

Qin Dingbang stood outside.

Qin Rong blinked subtly, then shifted aside so Qin Dingbang could see Qin Yi's sleeping figure. He asked softly, "Uncle, it's very late, and Xiao Yi is already asleep. Is something wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to talk to you." Qin Dingbang waved his hand somewhat awkwardly and asked, "Do you have time?"

"..." Qin Rong said nothing. He stepped out through the open door and gently pulled it shut behind him. Turning to Qin Dingbang, he said, "If you don't mind, Uncle, let's take a walk in the courtyard."

Qin Dingbang nodded without objection.

It was called a courtyard, but it could really be considered a garden. The spacious, neat lawn, the exquisitely trimmed landscaping, and the carefully cultivated rare flowers all appeared especially pleasant under the moonlight.

The two crossed the soft, dew-covered lawn to the center of the garden, where a set of white lacquered English-style carved wooden tables and chairs had been placed. Although they had only just moved in and everything was still chaotic, the furniture had been wiped spotless, as if someone had anticipated that visitors would come to admire and use it that night. Diagonally across from the table and chairs was a white swing entwined with morning glory vines. When the breeze blew, it swayed on its own, especially alluring beneath the silver moonlight.

Qin Rong silently walked over and sat beside the swing, then raised his head to look quietly at Qin Dingbang. The bright moonlight fell upon the boy's face, making his skin appear even fairer and his eyes unusually cold.

"...I had long heard that Qin Rong of S City was a young genius. At such a young age, you skipped three grades in a row. You participated in the International Youth Mathematics Competition and won first place in the youth division, won first prize in the Youth Computer Literacy Competition, and received a spot in the student exchange program with an Ivy League University in M Country... A few days ago, I even heard that your high school entrance exam score this year was nearly perfect. I never expected such a promising young man to be the son of my muddleheaded younger brother," Qin Dingbang said after pondering for a moment.

Qin Rong raised an eyebrow without confirming or denying it.

"But after spending the past few days with your family, I discovered that your intelligence and talent go far beyond that. It could even be said that your mind is more mature than that of most adults." Qin Dingbang thought for a moment before speaking. His gaze remained fixed on Qin Rong, the admiration and conflict in his eyes impossible to conceal.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Seeing Qin Dingbang being so obvious and deliberate, Qin Rong frowned and asked.

"Father said that despite your young age, you are steady and wise, someone who could be entrusted with great responsibilities in the future. I've lived in the Qin family for over forty years, yet I've never heard Father praise anyone like that." Qin Dingbang's gaze passed over Qin Rong toward some unknown distance as he spoke slowly.

"Although the Qin family is an old and illustrious household with a long history, its system is not as decayed as those of the other great families. The Council of Elders has always promoted a merit-based approach, elevating the virtuous and the capable. So although those born into the Qin family appear wealthy and distinguished, their lives are nothing like the leisurely comfort people imagine. Under the pressure of competition and the temptation of family power, most members of the Qin family begin scheming against one another from a very young age..." At this point, Qin Dingbang suddenly laughed softly.

"Your father, however, was an exception."

"My father?" Qin Rong repeated involuntarily. Most children were interested in their parents' past, and Qin Rong was no exception.

"Yes, your father." Qin Dingbang nodded. A trace of warmth from old memories appeared on his normally stern face. "Your father and I were not born to the same mother. Of course, in the entire Qin family, probably no one except the old master knows exactly where your father came from. Some elders in the family even doubted whether Zhen Guo was truly the old master's bloodline. After all, Zhen Guo only returned to the main family when he was seven."

Was Dad an illegitimate child? Qin Rong frowned as he watched Qin Dingbang gradually sink into his memories.

"Your father wasn't an illegitimate child." Qin Dingbang saw Qin Rong's confusion and spoke softly. "Later, we learned from the old master himself that your father's mother and mine were twin sisters. The one originally engaged to the old master was your father's mother, the eldest daughter of the Wan family. But on their wedding day, the bride was abducted by enemies of the Wan family. To protect their reputation, the Wan family did not immediately search for their eldest daughter. Instead, they had the second daughter take her place. Who would have thought... ten years later, the old master suddenly brought back a little boy from outside and said that he was the child of himself and the eldest daughter of the Wan family. We didn't believe it, but the old master insisted, and there was nothing we could do..."

Qin Dingbang frowned irritably as he continued. "Even now, no one knows how the eldest daughter of the Wan family and the old master ever got in touch again. But there is no doubt that Zhen Guo is the old master's son. A paternity test was conducted on the very first day he returned to the main family."

What a twisted, melodramatic story. Qin Rong complained inwardly with a blank expression. He looked up at the moon, already rising above the treetops, and carefully calculated when Qin Yi would wake up.

Qin Dingbang, however, did not notice that Qin Rong's attention had wandered. Immersed in his memories, he continued, "I've never met anyone like your father. He looked clever, but he was actually foolish; sometimes he seemed to understand everything, yet he handled matters in a complete muddle. Although he returned to the main family later than the others, his exceptional business talent still drew the attention of the Council of Elders. Later, the family even designated your father internally as the next family head..."

Qin Rong was not surprised to hear this. From Fang Chengyue's intense reaction when she learned they were returning to the main family, he had already vaguely guessed as much.

"But Zhen Guo didn't want to become family head," Qin Dingbang suddenly said. "And he often made baffling, even extreme, moves to resist the Council of Elders' arrangements for him."

Qin Rong raised his eyebrows in surprise. As a man—one who had already gained wealth and power—his father had actually treated the temptation placed before him with contempt and tried to push it away. Qin Rong was not sure he could have done the same.

"Although Zhen Guo's behavior was arrogant and reckless at the time, our relationship was actually quite good." Qin Dingbang smiled. "Because I was the only one who gave him a friendly face after he entered the main family."

Qin Rong looked silently at Qin Dingbang. He did not believe Qin Dingbang had been that kindhearted.

"That's right, I didn't have good intentions." Qin Dingbang slowly smiled at Qin Rong, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes making his masculine charm even more pronounced. "I merely wanted to know why his judgment was so accurate, why every business he invested in earned enormous profits and never lost money."

"...And whether you could drag him down at a critical moment," Qin Rong said casually as he looked at Qin Dingbang.

"..." Qin Dingbang looked at Qin Rong with some astonishment.

"There's nothing strange about that. Ever since I learned what kind of family the Qin family was, I had been curious how my parents escaped the Qin family's tight surveillance and secretly made it to China. After hearing what you just said, I think I understand." Qin Rong's expression remained calm as he spoke lightly.

"Oh? Why do you think so?" Qin Dingbang raised an eyebrow curiously and asked with interest.

"As the next heir of the Qin Clan, my father could not possibly have had no Qin family forces secretly protecting and monitoring him. Yet he not only left Y Country, but also hid in a remote little town in China for so many years. How could that have been possible without someone's help?" Qin Rong smiled confidently.

"My father didn't want to be family head, but you did. My father loved my mother, while you loved the position of family head more." Qin Rong slowly rose as he spoke and leaned close to Qin Dingbang's ear. "That's why my father happened to meet your fiancée at school, and happened to learn that my mother was your fiancée, right? Otherwise, how could an heir to a family not know who his own elder brother's fiancée was? Or did you notice my parents' relationship, then proactively arrange a marriage alliance with my mother's family and force them to leave together?"

Qin Dingbang looked silently at Qin Rong, the unreadable smile at his lips deepening. "Your imagination is quite vivid. Unfortunately, you have no evidence."

"No evidence is needed." Qin Rong spoke lightly. "Those are all matters of the past. What truly happened is not important. In any case, you are now the Qin family's head. That is enough."

"I meant no harm." Qin Dingbang looked casually at the moon overhead. "I wanted Zhen Guo to live happily, and I wanted to obtain what I desired. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Qin Rong simply straightened up, passed Qin Dingbang, and headed toward the villa.

"I'm very satisfied with my current life and don't want anything to change." Qin Dingbang's voice sounded behind him.

"That's your business." Qin Rong's steps paused briefly.

"I received word that you ordered a batch of highly realistic Zhuge Repeating Crossbows from a mold factory, as well as a batch of firearms from an arms dealer. What are you planning to do?" Qin Zhenguo looked at the blue-clad figure before him with a complicated expression.

"Just protecting myself." Qin Rong answered lightly. He was not wrong. Qin Dingbang was simply overthinking it.

"Fang Chengyue may have some ulterior motives, but I won't let him threaten Zhen Guo. So I hope you won't do anything to Fang Chengyue or my descendants either. The Qin family needs stability now," Qin Dingbang said.

"Then keep your own woman under control." Qin Rong continued walking, moving forward with steady, unhurried determination.

"...Believe it or not, I never intended to harm Zhen Guo." Qin Dingbang stared at the boy's gradually receding figure and murmured.

"Because I was the one who..."

A gust of wind blew past, scattering those fragmentary words beneath the moonlight.

Author's note: The Faith Power collection journey begins tomorrow, awooo.

Everyone, give me some suggestions, okay?

Awooo~~~

Chapter 21: Deviation