Chapter 6

Ning Luo was completely unaware that someone stood behind him. His outstretched arms slowly curved inward.

Like Jack holding Rose, he embraced himself with deep affection.

[At this very moment, I shall recite a poem.

Ah~ the fragrance of money, like April in this human world.

Paired with Northeastern Three Delicacies, it could buy ten thousand grand mansions.]

After reciting it with great feeling, Ning Luo kept nodding.

[Fine poem, fine poem.]

[Qin Shi Huang eating peppercorns—winning so hard he's gone numb.]

Ning Yang had received an elite education from childhood and possessed excellent manners.

Yet at that moment, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he felt the urge to curse.

What a case of drawing eyebrows on his ass—giving himself way too much face!

With a grave expression, he backed away again, got into the car, and lit a cigarette with a slightly trembling hand.

Seeing him return after only a few steps, the driver was baffled. "Young Master, what's wrong?"

After a long silence, Ning Yang asked, "What do you think a family should do if, after producing a lovesick fool, it produces another lunatic?"

Without a second thought, the driver replied, "That family is doomed."

Ning Yang: "..."

Ning Yang took a hard drag of his cigarette and asked hoarsely, "Did you enter the company with your left foot first this morning?"

Driver: "Huh?"

"Your bonus for this month is gone."

Driver: "Huh???"

Ignoring the driver's grievance, Ning Yang finally calmed himself down after smoking an entire cigarette in the car. Looking at the ash he flicked away, he felt that he was the sick one.

What did it have to do with him whether Ning Luo was sick or not? As long as Ning Luo behaved himself and did not cause trouble, he could ensure he wanted for nothing for the rest of his life.

Having thought it through, Ning Yang lifted his chin. "I almost forgot. Take out the desserts I bought for Xibai."

The driver handed him the dessert box.

These were desserts Ning Yang had remembered to buy even after working overtime all night, and the driver had even specially buckled them in with a seat belt.

Watching the eldest young master carry the desserts—which required a long wait in line to buy—through the villa gates, the driver muttered, "The eldest young master doesn't seem to like the newly arrived second young master very much..."

The relationship among the Ning Family's three brothers was complicated.

The eldest son, Ning Yang, had been born from Ning Father's business marriage to his first wife. The second son, Ning Luo, had been born to his current wife and had only recently been brought back, leaving him unfamiliar with his relatives. The third son, Ning Xibai, was a mistakenly switched fake young master, and his current situation was awkward.

Three brothers, three mothers.

During the holidays, they could practically gather around a table and play Fight the Landlord.

"But the second young master is really handsome," the driver sighed.

He just did not know why he was doing stretching exercises like a radio calisthenics routine at the entrance.

Ning Luo had no idea that someone had witnessed that scene just now, nor did he know Ning Yang had arrived. He walked straight into the villa, crossed the enormous courtyard amid the servants' and butler's enthusiastic welcome, and pushed open the front door.

The moment he looked up, he met a pair of terrified eyes.

Ning Luo pursed his lips in a smile. "Xiaobai."

The voice was like a demonic sound piercing his ears. Ning Xibai was so frightened that he immediately staggered back several steps, instantly putting distance between them.

Ning Luo smiled shyly. "Why are you suddenly being so distant with me? Aren't I your dear brother anymore?"

By now, how could Ning Xibai fail to understand? Ning Luo had deliberately targeted him to make him embarrass himself.

Using such despicable methods—just as expected from something that could never stand in the spotlight.

He simply stopped pretending. A sweet smile bloomed on his face, making the two seem extremely close in outsiders' eyes, but his voice carried a trace of chill. "Brother? Ning Luo, you don't think a single paternity report means you can move into the Ning Family, step on me, and take the heir's position, do you?"

"In the entertainment industry, you can only be my cheap substitute. It's the same here." Watching Ning Luo's face gradually turn pale and stiff, Ning Xibai tilted his head and smiled. "However you came in, I'll make you crawl right back out."

No one could take away everything the Ning Family had given him.

No one.

If Ning Luo had a system, he should have heard a notification that Ning Xibai's corruption value had increased by one, one, one at that moment. Clearly, another one had gone mad.

But he did not, and he was feeling very bad right then.

Because he saw Ning Father coming down the stairs and walking toward them.

His money-addled mind immediately cooled down. Ning Luo finally remembered the nonsense he had mouthed off in the car, and his face went white.

Save me!

Looking at the two standing by the door, Ning Father had clearly misunderstood, and his face darkened.

Like a robot that had run out of lubricant, Ning Luo turned his neck toward Ning Xibai inch by inch, stiffly raised a hand to poke his shoulder, and said with difficulty, "Turn around and look."

Ning Xibai sneered. "Why should I turn around? Oh, I know. You want to tell me that everything here belongs to you. Brother, you're so naive."

Ning Luo: "..."

Does anyone understand? He had run into an idiot today.

As if that were not enough, Ning Xibai leaned close to Ning Luo's ear and whispered, "Second Brother, if you suddenly push me away because you don't like the sight of me and I fall to the ground, who do you think Dad and Big Brother will believe? Me? Or you, with your terrible reputation?"

Ning Xibai caught sight of Ning Yang approaching the door and smiled as if victory were already in his grasp.

Ning Luo had already seen Ning Father striding over with a face as black as the bottom of a pot. His lips moved. "...They'll believe you."

What an idiot!

Standing this close would really cause a misunderstanding!

Dear heavens, he had only been talking big. He truly did not have a hobby of exploring the limits of the human body with other tops!

"At least you have some self-awareness."

The instant Ning Xibai finished speaking, his expression changed. With disbelief all over his face and his eyes reddening, he grabbed Ning Luo's hand and placed it against his chest, then acted as though he had been shoved hard and fell backward—

But he could not fall.

A hand supported his body.

Refusing to give up, he pushed himself harder downward. Ning Father's ghostly voice sounded by his ear. "You were so excited to see your brother that you nearly fainted? You can't even stand steadily?"

Ning Xibai's expression froze, looking inexplicably ridiculous on his stiffened face.

Ning Yang happened to enter as well. Seeing the strange posture of the three of them, he froze for a second. "What are you doing?"

Now the misunderstanding was huge. Ning Luo closed his eyes peacefully. "Thinking about my epitaph."

Was it the Start of Winter? No, it was time to erect a tombstone.

The Ning Family had its own Burning Winter.

Ning Yang: ?

Ning Luo did not care about his expression. Ning Father's words had disgusted him, and for the first time, he felt the power of backlash. His "Dad" came out incredibly smoothly. "Dad, he tripped over his own feet and fell."

It had nothing to do with him!

After suffering one blow after another, Ning Father should have been angry, but he discovered that he felt strangely calm. He even nodded at such a ridiculous excuse. "I see. Aunt Sun mops diligently, after all. It's possible to fall on level ground."

Ning Luo nodded vigorously in agreement. "Yes, yes, yes."

Ning Xibai's face flushed red. He hurriedly grabbed Ning Father. "Dad, no, it wasn't like that. I saw Second Brother and wanted to chat with him, but for some reason he resisted me strongly and pushed me... I only fell because I lost my footing."

Ning Father remained calm. "Chatting? Chatting is good."

What kind of joke was that? Chatting while practically lying against someone's ear?

He had seen it clearly just now. Xiao Luo's face had gone pale, yet because Xibai was his younger brother, he had not pushed him away.

What a child who valued family affection. He could not even bear to push away a younger brother who harbored improper thoughts toward him.

Ning Father sighed inwardly. He really was far too kind.

If Ning Xibai knew what Ning Father was thinking, he would definitely cough up blood.

But he did not know. Twisting the hem of his clothes in panic, he said helplessly, "Maybe Second Brother still can't accept my identity. It's my fault. I shouldn't have enjoyed Mom and Dad's and Big Brother's affection, then still greedily refused to leave. If I weren't here being an eyesore..."

"Xibai," Ning Yang interrupted, clearly displeased by what he had said. "What nonsense are you talking about? You'll always be part of the Ning Family. No one can replace your place."

His gaze fell on Ning Luo, full of implication.

Ning Luo curled his lip.

[What a rousing speech. Bro loves him pretty deeply, but maybe he should look at what kind of little brat he's protecting.]

This guy would lose both his wife and his army, be played around by Ning Xibai, fail to get a single share of the Ning Family business, and nearly drag his mother's family assets down with him too.

[Sure enough, true love means never having the heart to blame them. Just like Yunnan people never blame mushrooms for being poisonous—they only firmly believe they didn't cook them thoroughly enough.]

Ning Yang froze for a moment, then grew angry and snapped coldly, "Ning Luo, is this your upbringing?"

Ning Luo was baffled by the scolding. "What?"

[Upbringing? If I had even a little, I wouldn't have none at all.]

[What's wrong with me saying he fell on level ground? He even slandered me, saying I pushed him. Believe it or not, Green Tea Bro's next line will be to retreat in order to advance, defend by yielding, and make himself look wronged. He'll say he doesn't need a status, only that he wants to stay in the Ning Family as long as he can see you all every day.]

Ning Yang's head hurt from the rapid-fire voice pouring out like beans from a bamboo tube. After processing it, he finally understood who Green Tea Bro referred to. Just as he was about to continue scolding Ning Luo, someone grabbed his hand.

Turning around, he met Ning Xibai's fragile smile.

Ning Xibai forced a smile. "Big Brother, don't argue with Second Brother because of me. If you do this, Second Brother will feel even worse."

Ning Yang stroked his head and sighed softly. "Xibai, you're just too kind."

That was right. Xibai had always been kind since childhood. He was nothing like what Ning Luo had described.

And Ning Luo...

Disgust flashed through Ning Yang's eyes.

His mother's family business was involved in the entertainment industry, so of course he knew what kind of character Ning Luo was. Everyone in the industry knew.

A useless piece of mud that could not be propped up against a wall.

Ning Xibai said, "Actually, it doesn't matter if I don't have a place in the family. I don't care whether I'm the third young master or not. As long as I can still see Dad and my brothers every day, I'll be satisfied."

Ning Yang's hand froze atop his head.

Ning Luo's eyes lit up.

[Oh, here it comes. This is where he needs to build up the emotions and keep retreating in order to advance, shaping himself into a little white flower fallen into the dust.]

As he spoke, he began singing with deep feeling: [Little cabbage~ yellow in the field~ at two or three years old~ Mother was gone~]

Ning Yang could no longer endure it and wanted Ning Luo to shut up. Did he not know he sang off-key?

But just as he opened his mouth, he suddenly realized something was wrong. Looking at Ning Luo, who stood nearby like he was only missing a bag of sunflower seeds, Ning Yang felt dazed.

It seemed... only he could hear that voice.

"I can give my room to Second Brother and move into the servants' quarters, or move out. Either is fine. I only hope Second Brother won't be angry with me or dislike me, and that Big Brother won't get upset with Second Brother." Ning Xibai's voice trembled as tears welled in his eyes, pitifully begging for sympathy.

The servants around them all felt heartbroken upon hearing it.

When had the young master, who had always been pampered beyond measure, ever been this humble?

Ning Xibai was acting for Ning Yang to see, but Ning Yang was not looking at him. Instead, he stared at Ning Luo as though someone had punched him and turned his entire world upside down.

He did not know whether he should first be shocked that the world had finally become fantastical enough for him to hear Ning Luo's inner voice, or shocked that Xibai... seemed to truly have something wrong with him.

Ning Luo clicked his tongue in amazement at Ning Xibai's casual performance.

[All right, the groundwork is done. Let me think about Green Tea Bro's next scene... Shouldn't he create a little sense of crisis for his brother now? Like getting another brother who loves him even more?]

Ning Xibai looked up at Ning Yang. "It's okay, Big Brother. Even if I'm not part of the Ning Family, I'll have new family and friends. Someone who loves me as much as you do will definitely appear. I'll have a new brother."

Ning Luo smacked his fist.

[Exactly right! Who wrote that "Green Tea Spirit Cultivation Manual"? It deserves to be matched with heaven, earth, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple. I'm carrying the whole field today.]

[From now on, call me the God of Gamblers! Sexily brushes hair back.]

Ning Yang's face burned as if Ning Luo's words had slapped him.

They told him that everything he had believed for so long was simply a joke.

He withdrew his hand and pressed it to his chest, feeling his heart rate rise above 120.

Ning Xibai understood Ning Yang too well. He knew saying this would definitely make him unable to bear it.

Ning Yang would never accept being a replaced, useless thing. His pride would not allow him to be replaceable—he had to be unique.

But Ning Yang remained silent for a long time.

After a while, he asked with an ugly expression, "Xibai... why are you telling me this?"

There was an accusation in his tone that made Ning Xibai panic.

[Why else? Of course he sees you as a sucker, as Xiangzi, as Plan B. Don't you have any self-awareness, bro?]

[The world is huge, but it's still not as huge as the hole where your brain should be. Be grateful you two are brothers. Otherwise, he could hook you like a bass and you'd still praise his casting skills.]

Ning Yang clutched his chest tightly and spoke with difficulty. "...Dad, where are your fast-acting heart pills?"

He was about to have a heart attack!

Who wanted to hear Ning Luo's inner voice? Could someone make him shut up!