An Yubei was truly angry. When they got home, he jumped straight out of the car, ran upstairs, and locked himself in his room.
He decided he would not see anyone.
He would never speak to Ji Shang again.
At that moment, Ji Dongsheng and Lao Wang, the butler, were watching a sweet romance drama in the living room. The leads had reached the quarrelling stage: the male lead had upset the female lead, and she had decided never to speak to him again.
So Ji Dongsheng and Lao Wang launched into a heated discussion about the incident. Ji Dongsheng thought the male lead did not understand women at all. He could not even soothe his girlfriend and did not deserve to be the male lead.
Lao Wang, however, felt that the female lead was being a little too dramatic. It was such a small matter; there was no need to make such a fuss.
Wasn't life just about everyday necessities? There were so many little things in life. Did every single one have to be taken to heart?
Ji Dongsheng disagreed with Lao Wang's reasoning, while Lao Wang disapproved of Ji Dongsheng's playboy ways. They each argued their case until their faces turned red.
Before either of them could win the argument, An Yubei hurried upstairs in tears.
Right after that, Ji Shang came through the door, looking utterly at a loss.
He no longer knew how to soothe his little baby.
His darling son was actually crying! Ji Dongsheng leaped off the bed and made straight for Ji Shang.
Ji Dongsheng had originally intended to hit him. Whether or not it was Ji Shang's fault, making An Yubei cry meant he was in the wrong.
But he could not beat Ji Shang in a fight. Ji Shang was tall and powerfully built, with long legs and muscles developed through years of exercise. His own aging little frame was no match for him.
So Ji Dongsheng suppressed the urge to hit him and held back his anger as he asked, "What happened? Why was Xiao Bei crying?"
"You bullied him, didn't you?" Ji Dongsheng looked fierce, his fists already itching.
An Yubei had gone out with Ji Shang, and the two had come home together. All Ji Dongsheng could think was that Ji Shang had bullied An Yubei.
Why else would his darling son cry?
It had to be that cold, heartless Ji Shang who had upset his darling son.
He was a tyrant. Bullying him for no reason was one thing-he was his father, so he was born owing his son. But what had Xiao Bei done wrong?
He was so adorable, so well-behaved, and so understanding. How could anyone bear to bully him?
Ji Dongsheng cursed Ji Shang inside and out in his mind, then imagined the ten great tortures of ancient times before Ji Shang finally spoke with a hint of sadness.
"Dad, I upset Xiao Bei, and I can't soothe him. What should I do?"
"Dad, aren't you the best at cheering people up? Could you teach me?"
The sincerity in Ji Shang's eyes and his utter earnestness startled Ji Dongsheng.
Was this still his cold, aloof son who treated everything with disdain?
He was actually admitting he was wrong, and he wanted to learn how to soothe someone?
It felt as absurd as the sun rising in the west.
Ji Dongsheng looked at Ji Shang as though he were a stranger and asked uncertainly, "You really want my advice?"
From childhood to adulthood, Ji Shang had never asked Ji Dongsheng for advice. Ji Dongsheng had always felt that Ji Shang looked down on him.
Now he could finally turn the tables, take charge, and become Ji Shang's guiding light. It suddenly felt wonderful.
He had to seize this chance for revenge, then muddy the waters between them and take Xiao Bei away from this place, never to return.
Heaven knew how painful it was to live with Ji Shang.
He was not that old, yet he had enough rules to fill a criminal code.
If Xiao Bei had not been here, he would never have come back.
Ji Shang glanced upstairs. All he could do now was count on Ji Dongsheng, although he, too, felt that Ji Dongsheng was not particularly reliable.
"Yes, Dad. Please teach me. I need to ease things between Xiao Bei and me quickly."
"The method doesn't matter. What matters is that it works. As long as Xiao Bei forgives me, I'll do anything."
Ji Shang had made up his mind. As long as Xiao Bei stopped being angry, he would even kneel.
In an instant, Ji Dongsheng became the head of the household who called the shots. He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed and said with an air of authority, "First, tell me what happened between you."
Ji Shang paused, then said, "I blocked one of Xiao Bei's friends on his WeChat."
"Xiao Bei found out today and got angry."
"I also smacked his bottom. Xiao Bei said he'd never speak to me again."
"I also...!"
Ji Dongsheng could not listen anymore and interrupted him. "You've gone too far. Just hearing this makes me want to beat you up."
How could his darling be bullied like this?
If he were An Yubei, he would have run away from home. Why would he ever come back?
His darling son had suffered such an injustice. He had to get justice for him.
Then he would take him to live elsewhere and leave Ji Shang to grow old alone!
Ji Shang also felt he had gone a little too far, but he could not help it. The moment An Yubei said he would run away from home, he fell apart.
All that remained in his mind was the thought of punishing his little baby, using force to intimidate him so he would never dare mention running away again.
An Yubei's bottom was soft and springy and felt lovely to the touch. Earlier in the car, he had been unable to resist smacking it twice more.
Ji Shang lowered his head and glanced at his palm. The sensation of An Yubei's bottom still lingered on it.
It was a strange feeling. He really wanted to use more force. He wanted to hear An Yubei cry louder as he begged for mercy.
Ji Shang felt that he was sick. He was actually a little twisted.
Shaking those thoughts from his mind, Ji Shang said almost pleadingly, "Dad, you have to help me."
Help you, my ass!
You villain!
You actually hit the darling I treasure so much I'm afraid he'll melt in my hands. Hmph, prepare to die.
Although he had cursed Ji Shang hundreds upon thousands of times inside, Ji Dongsheng still said pleasantly, "Don't worry. Dad will definitely sort this out for you."
"I'll go check things out first and see how Xiao Bei is feeling. I'll come find you afterward."
Still unaware of Ji Dongsheng's little schemes, Ji Shang thanked him politely.
"Thank you, Dad."
Ji Dongsheng smiled without a word, while inwardly giving a cold snort.
Knocking on An Yubei's door, Ji Dongsheng said, "Xiao Bei, it's Dad. Open the door for me."
Only after a while did footsteps sound inside.
Soon, the door opened from within, and Ji Dongsheng saw An Yubei's red, swollen eyes.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong? You've cried your eyes swollen!" As he spoke, Ji Dongsheng closed the door, took An Yubei's hand, and sat down on the sofa beside the window.
"What happened? Tell Dad. I'll stand up for you."
In truth, standing up for him only meant criticizing Ji Shang behind his back and saying a few bad things about him. He still would not dare swagger around in front of Ji Shang.
There was no helping it. His lot as a father was rather frustrating: he was afraid of his son.
At Ji Dongsheng's gentle words, a pang of sadness immediately welled up in An Yubei's heart.
He could not bear to part with Dad, nor could he bear to part with his older brother.
He did not want to leave the Ji family.
He leaned against Ji Dongsheng's shoulder and cried again. "My brother doesn't like me anymore. Dad, I might have to leave."
Earlier in the car, An Yubei had thrown a tantrum, crying fiercely and shouting that he would never speak to Ji Shang again.
Ji Shang had genuinely gotten angry too and smacked An Yubei's bottom twice more.
Ji Shang had not hit hard enough to hurt. It had even tickled a little, as though he were just playing around.
But An Yubei still felt bad. He thought Ji Shang had hit him because he no longer liked him.
He had punished him because he no longer wanted to indulge him.
It was just like being at the orphanage. If he did something wrong, he would be punished, either made to stand or beaten.
An Yubei did not like punishment, nor did he like Ji Shang not liking him.
He did not want to be unwanted.
His darling was far too kind. He had been upset enough to cry, yet he was still speaking up for Ji Shang?
If it were him, he would have cursed Ji Shang to death long ago.
His darling was simply too softhearted and too easily taken advantage of.
Ji Dongsheng put an arm around An Yubei's shoulders and embellished the story. "He's just heartless. He doesn't like anyone. He's awful."
"He was even losing his temper downstairs just now, saying I'd spoiled you rotten and all you ever did was throw tantrums."
An Yubei cried even harder. My brother really doesn't like me anymore.
"It's all right. If he doesn't want you, Dad does. We'll move out and live somewhere else, away from him."
"Let him grow old alone!"
Ji Shang, who was still waiting anxiously: "...!"
Listen, thank you for slandering me.