Ji Shang looked as though he might devour someone, and Ji Dongsheng trembled.
At that moment, he was actually pathetic enough to want to kneel and admit his mistake.
Absolutely not. He was the father here. He wasn't scared!
He had barely finished telling himself he wasn't scared when Ji Shang shot him an icy glance, and Ji Dongsheng immediately chickened out.
His legs went weak.
"Xiao Bei, save me!"
"Ji Shang's going to hit me."
The hierarchy in this family was clear. Ji Shang had started out as the absolute leader, the boss, while Ji Dongsheng had been at the very bottom all along.
Now the leader had changed to An Yubei, so An Yubei was the first person Ji Dongsheng thought of.
He backed away repeatedly, then ducked behind An Yubei.
"Xiao Bei, protect your dad. Ji Shang's about to defy his elder."
Ji Shang never tolerated anything objectionable, and he was rather ruthless with Ji Dongsheng too. When he said he wouldn't get involved, he meant it. He would rather watch him suffer a loss than say another word.
He had long since seen through his young wife's intentions toward Ji Dongsheng. He had kept quiet precisely to teach Ji Dongsheng a lesson.
That would keep his love brain from hurting anyone.
Now, however, he had no choice but to intervene. If he didn't teach Ji Dongsheng a lesson, Ji Dongsheng would take An Yubei out to fool around again.
Was a bar the kind of place An Yubei should go?
His little brother was so innocent and well-behaved, while those people were so wicked and shameless. Wasn't that just asking to be taken advantage of?
"Ji Dongsheng, I hope you can keep yourself in check and stop being a bad influence on Xiao Bei. Xiao Bei's still a student. How could he go somewhere dangerous?"
"Nothing happened this time, but if something had, could you have taken responsibility?"
"You've always been unreliable, and I haven't held it against you. But from now on, if you lead Xiao Bei astray again, don't blame me for kicking you out of the Ji family."
Ji Shang was genuinely angry, which was why he vented his temper without restraint.
Ji Dongsheng huddled behind An Yubei, not daring to show his face. "I was wrong. Isn't admitting it enough?"
Ji Dongsheng pinched the soft flesh at An Yubei's waist. "Xiao Bei, Dad's sorry. I really didn't mean it."
"Dad won't do it again."
By now, Ji Dongsheng regretted taking An Yubei to the bar. Bars attracted all sorts, and they really weren't places his innocent darling should visit.
He already recognized his mistake, so surely Ji Shang didn't need to scold him so harshly!
No matter what, he was still the father. He needed to save at least a little face.
"You think admitting you were wrong is enough?" Ji Shang said. "You're grounded for a week. Lao Wang, keep an eye on Ji Dongsheng. Make him face the wall and reflect on his mistakes. He's not to take a single step outside."
Lao Wang, who had been off in his own world wondering which melodramatic TV drama to watch that evening, was speechless. "...!"
This was such a daunting task.
"Understood, Mr. Ji."
Ji Dongsheng stamped his feet in agitation. "This is going too far! I won't accept it."
"Another week," Ji Shang said.
Ji Dongsheng didn't dare speak again. He tugged An Yubei's arm, his eyes full of pitiful pleading.
An Yubei didn't care about this sort of thing. He cared more about family harmony.
"Dad already knows he was wrong. Don't punish him."
Ji Dongsheng had loved freedom all his life. Being confined for half a month would be worse for him than being killed.
He didn't want to see Ji Dongsheng suffer either.
As he spoke, An Yubei stepped forward and hugged Ji Shang, saying softly, "It's over now. Let's stop talking about it and go to bed. I'm so sleepy."
An Yubei yawned, his eyes misting over. He looked soft and drowsy, as though he might fall asleep at any moment.
Ji Shang put an arm around An Yubei's waist, suddenly feeling unable to bring himself to refuse him.
"Then three days of grounding. No less. He needs to learn his lesson."
"He's not young anymore. He can't keep being this unreliable."
Ji Shang's voice was gentle, as though he were soothing a baby, and An Yubei grew sleepier as he listened.
He leaned straight into Ji Shang's arms, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Mm."
I'm so sleepy. Dad, I've done my best.
Ji Dongsheng slowly backed away, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.
Good son. You're the best after all!
Half a month down to three days. Oh yeah!
From now on, An Yubei would be his guardian angel.
Seeing that An Yubei really was sleepy, Ji Shang scooped him up in his arms and headed upstairs.
By the time they reached An Yubei's room, An Yubei was already asleep.
He laid him down and left.
He returned to his own room, smoked a cigarette, and took a shower before getting ready for bed.
An Yubei slept in a daze and dreamed.
In his dream, he saw Wang Yu again. Wang Yu tugged at his clothes, revealing his ugly face as he tried to kiss him.
Terrified, An Yubei struggled violently, but no matter how he resisted, he couldn't break free of Wang Yu's hold.
He panicked and lost his composure. This time, no one came to save him. He was all alone.
Just as he was on the verge of breaking down, An Yubei woke from his dream.
The clammy palm in the dream brushed over his abdomen, and An Yubei trembled.
He gasped in fear, curled up against the headboard, and sat there all night.
He had insomnia. He couldn't sleep.
Whenever he closed his eyes, all he saw was Wang Yu's ugly face.
As a result of his sleeplessness, An Yubei had no energy when he got up, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
Ji Shang had left long ago. He got up very early every day and then went to work at the company.
Only Ji Dongsheng, Lao Wang, and a few housekeepers were home.
At the dining table, Ji Dongsheng noticed something was off with An Yubei and asked worriedly, "Xiao Bei, didn't you sleep well?"
An Yubei shook his head and forced a smile. "No, it's not that. Maybe I'm nervous about starting school."
An Yubei had found an excuse at random. In truth, it wasn't entirely an excuse. School started in a few days, so it counted as a legitimate reason.
Speaking from experience, Ji Dongsheng said, "University is so much fun. Don't be scared, Xiao Bei."
"There are loads of beautiful girls at university. You can get a girlfriend then and experience the joys of adulthood."
An Yubei still couldn't understand these joys of adulthood Ji Dongsheng kept talking about.
Did the joys of adulthood really just mean going clubbing, drinking, and dating?
Biting into his sandwich, An Yubei said listlessly, "I don't want to date."
Lying flat and spending money is so nice. I don't want to waste energy dating at all.
School starts in a few days. How am I going to get there? I'm so nervous.
At that thought, An Yubei had one more thing to worry about.
Ji Dongsheng walked over and patted An Yubei's shoulder. "Dad will take you to school when the time comes."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you? Dad will prepare plenty of gifts for you then. I'll make sure you fall in love with university."
"Thank you, Dad."
An Yubei slept for a little while at noon, but his sleep was still restless. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw Wang Yu's face.
He seemed to be having a bit of a stress response. He was already exhausted and desperately wanted to sleep.
But whenever he closed his eyes and saw Wang Yu, he became too frightened to sleep.
Ji Shang returned after dinner. An Yubei had used feeling unwell as his reason for not going downstairs to eat.
Ji Shang knocked on An Yubei's door and walked in carrying food and milk.
"Xiao Bei, what's wrong?"
An Yubei was feeling dazed just then. When someone suddenly pushed the door open and came in, he jolted in fright.
"Brother... Brother Shang." His voice sounded aggrieved.
Seeing An Yubei's fear, Ji Shang drew him into his arms. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
An Yubei nestled in Ji Shang's arms and nodded. "Brother Shang, I'm scared. I don't dare go to sleep."
"What are you scared of?"
An Yubei didn't say. He felt a little ashamed to talk about something like this.
He was already an adult, yet he was still so timid. So he said, "I'm just a little scared."
An Yubei was very sleepy now. He found a comfortable position in Ji Shang's arms and said softly, "Brother Shang, I'm scared. I want to sleep with you."
"Can I?"