My Brother Is Back?

"Beep! Incorrect password!"

"Beep! Incorrect password!"

"Beep! Incorrect password!"

In front of a luxurious villa, a boy dressed in a white tracksuit entered the password three times in a row, only for it to show as incorrect each time. When he tried one last time, the door locked completely.

"Meow..."

The Golden British Shorthair in his arms sensed its owner's increasingly gloomy mood. It struggled a little, but after being stroked twice, it did not dare move again.

Xia Yu looked at the tightly shut door and curled his lips into a smile. "Why didn't anyone tell me the password had been changed? I can't get in, Tangerine. What should we do?"

"Meow..." Tangerine obediently nestled in his arms, its round eyes looking toward its companion lying atop the suitcase nearby—a pure white Maine Coon—as if asking for help. Save me, Master looks like he's about to get upset.

"It's so hot. Get down first." He bent over and set the cat on the ground. The little thing promptly scurried behind the suitcase.

Capital City was scorching in July, with the blazing sun overhead and heat rising off the ground. After standing outside for quite a while, Xia Yu had worked up a considerable sweat. He was especially sensitive to heat, and his irritation was now nearing its peak.

He took out his phone, called a locksmith online, and sat by the flower bed to wait.

Fifteen minutes later, the locksmith arrived carrying a toolbox. "Hello, did you call for a locksmith service?"

"Yes." Xia Yu rose to his feet and smiled with a nod. "I haven't been back in a long time and forgot the password. Could you pry it open for me?"

"Um..." The locksmith gave him a once-over and hesitated. "Are you the homeowner here?"

"Of course." He pointed at the surveillance camera above the door. "There are cameras everywhere. Just unlock it for me. There won't be any trouble."

In broad daylight, and judging by his clothes and appearance, he did not seem like someone with ill intentions. After registering his identification, the locksmith opened his toolbox and began fiddling with the lock. As he worked, he pitched his services. "Once this kind of lock is taken apart, it'll be ruined and need to be replaced. I happen to have the latest model with the highest security rating. Want me to install it for you while I'm at it? It's just a little expensive..."

"Mm, replace it."

"Great!" The locksmith became even more enthusiastic.

Xia Yu stood beside him and watched for a while before suddenly asking, "Can you electrify the door lock?"

"Huh? Electrify it?"

"Yeah. If someone enters the wrong password, it should just electrocute them to death..."

"???"

"Ah, no. Just give them a little shock, the kind that scares people away."

"I only know how to pick locks. I don't have that kind of skill. If you want electricity running through it, you might need to replace the door and hire a professional. But that's too dangerous. If you get the voltage wrong and electrocute someone to death, even if they were a burglar trying to break in, you'd still be legally liable."

"Oh... then forget it. I was just saying."

The locksmith knew that people living in villa communities like this cared greatly about security, so he reassured him with a smile. "I'd say your neighborhood is already quite secure. I had to register and get photographed just to come in. If you're really worried, you could hire a couple of bodyguards."

"Okay, I'll consider it."

Half an hour later, the new lock had been installed. After paying, Xia Yu pulled his suitcase inside with his two cats.

Night fell, and a black nanny van stopped in front of the Xia family villa. Two boys wearing masks stepped out. The shorter one waited beside the vehicle while the other took the suitcase from the trunk. Then the two walked side by side, chatting and laughing.

"Beep! Incorrect password!"

After entering the password he had always used, Xia Wanqing heard the electronic warning. He froze for a moment, then entered it again.

"Beep! Incorrect password!"

"How could that be?" He furrowed his brows in confusion.

Chu Lan, who stood beside him, heard it too. "Did you remember it wrong?"

"No. Maybe the lock is broken?"

"Ask your uncle and aunt whether they changed the password."

"Oh, right." Xia Wanqing took out his phone and was about to make a call.

"Click!" The door opened from the inside.

He looked at the unfamiliar middle-aged woman in an apron, completely baffled. "Who are you?"

The woman gave him a thorough look, then turned expressionlessly and headed back toward the kitchen.

"Who... is that?" He was utterly dumbfounded. "Did my mom hire a new housekeeper?"

The somewhat familiar face made Chu Lan's temple twitch, and a bad feeling rose in his heart.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Xia Wanqing pulled him inside and followed the woman toward the kitchen. "Auntie, who are you?"

"Meow..." The Maine Coon curled up on the living room sofa lifted its head and lazily meowed before lying back down.

"Ah! Why is there a cat?!" Xia Wanqing, who had feared cats since childhood, jumped in fright and shrieked as he hid behind Chu Lan. "Whose cat is that?! How did it get in here?!"

"What are you yelling for?" The woman emerged from the kitchen again, holding a spatula. She frowned in displeasure. "The young master is still recovering from jet lag. Stop shouting and waking him up."

He froze. "Young master?"

Chu Lan glanced upstairs and asked, "Aunt Liu, has Xia Yu returned?"

"Aunt Liu? Lan-ge, you know her?"

Liu Ling gave him a bland glance and hummed in acknowledgment before reminding them again, "Keep your voices down. The young master is terrible when he wakes up."

With that, she went back into the kitchen.

Xia Wanqing tugged on Chu Lan's sleeve. "Lan-ge, who exactly is she?"

"She used to be the Xia family's housekeeper. She came from Harbor City and was specifically responsible for Xia Yu's food, clothing, and daily life. Four years ago, Xia Yu went abroad to study, so she returned to Harbor City." Now that she was back, it meant Xia Yu had returned too.

He stood stunned for two seconds. "My brother is back?"

"Mm. That cat probably belongs to him too." There was a trace of sympathy in Chu Lan's voice as he patted Xia Wanqing's shoulder. "If you're afraid of cats, why not move into the company dormitory apartment for a while?"

Xia Wanqing pressed his lips together. "I'm not that afraid. If I move out the moment he comes back, he might overthink it. Forget it. After resting for two days, I have to record a show again anyway. I won't be staying for many days."

Huh? What would Xia Yu overthink? Chu Lan did not quite understand, but he had no interest in asking right now. He only wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Then I'll carry your suitcase upstairs for you. Get some rest early."

"Okay. Thanks, Lan-ge."

Chu Lan unconsciously softened his movements as he carried the suitcase upstairs.

"Click!"

The moment the two reached the second floor and stood at the top of the stairs, the bedroom door that had not been opened in years swung open. Xia Yu stood in the doorway in black silk pajamas, holding Tangerine. His hair was slightly messy, and his exquisite face still carried the dazed look of someone who had just woken up.

"Meow!" Tangerine suddenly leaped from his arms and darted toward the stairway.

"Ah!" Xia Wanqing cried out and staggered back two steps. But as he retreated, he stepped into empty air and fell backward, tumbling down the stairs until he stopped at the landing. He let out a pained wail. "Ah... it hurts..."

"Wanqing!" Chu Lan hurried down and crouched to help him up. "How are you? Where did you hurt yourself?"

"Wah... Lan-ge..." Covering his bumped forehead, he said in a weak, tearful voice, "It hurts so much..."

"Nothing's broken, right? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"No, I just hit my forehead... It hurts so much..."

Xia Yu looked down at the two of them from above, a hint of amusement coloring his eyes. Mm, Tangerine would get two extra dried fish tonight.