Perhaps because it was his first time laying his feelings bare like this, Ji Yanzhi spoke with some difficulty, but he never once looked away from Ji Ting.
Just as he had said, he wanted no secrets between them. So even if it meant exposing every ugly corner of his heart, all he wanted was for Ji Ting to see how much he cared.
After hearing all this, Ji Ting curled his fingers slightly against his legs. A long while passed before he asked, "Why me? Is it because... I'm your younger brother?"
Ji Yanzhi looked steadily at him and shook his head. "Because you're Ji Ear."
Ji Ting said nothing, but confusion surfaced in his eyes. Ji Ear is the nickname Ji Yanzhi gave me. To him, that name must still mean his younger brother, Ji Ting.
His younger brother.
Those words were like thorny branches lashing out, their sharp spikes piercing Ji Yanzhi's heart in an instant.
Although he had long known that Ji Ear wasn't Ji Ting, hearing it for himself still shook him to his core.
If Ji Ear wasn't Ji Ting, where had he come from, and why did he look exactly like Ji Ting? Was there a time limit on Ji Ear's existence? If so, would he suddenly disappear one day?
The questions Ji Yanzhi had previously refused to dwell on now surged out as though Pandora's Box had been opened, impossible to contain.
Lost in panic, he suddenly grabbed Ji Ting's hand. "Ji Ear, you..."
His grip hurt Ji Ting's fingers, and Ji Ting could faintly feel him trembling. He glanced down, then looked back at Ji Yanzhi. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Ji Yanzhi's mind was in turmoil, but he couldn't voice the questions on the tip of his tongue. When