If An Yubei hadn't still been in this house, Ji Dongsheng would have stopped coming home long ago.
He had moved out with his young wife in the first place for freedom.
Later, after divorcing his young wife, he had only moved back so he could see An Yubei often.
Now that a misunderstanding had arisen between An Yubei and Ji Shang, this was his chance to meddle.
He was going to take An Yubei out to eat and drink to his heart's content, experience the joys of being a man, and stay away from Ji Shang.
Which also meant staying away from restrictions.
"Baby, Dad has a courtyard house elsewhere, very close to your school. Let's move there tomorrow. It'll make getting to school convenient, too."
Counting the days, An Yubei would be starting school again soon. Living there would be perfect; he could take An Yubei to and from school every day.
An Yubei had stopped crying. He thought over the situation and still felt he shouldn't just leave.
[Dad is great too, but what should I do if I still can't bear to leave my brother?]
[If Dad and I both leave, what will my brother do? He'll be so pitiful.]
[Besides, my brother didn't do anything wrong. I shouldn't throw a tantrum. I should be good.]
[I should explain things clearly to my brother. If he's angry, I'll apologize.]
[If my brother still isn't appeased, he can scold me or hit me, as long as he doesn't abandon me.]
An Yubei really was someone who lacked a sense of security.
He cherished family affection and wanted friendship. These were all things he had tried so hard to obtain in his previous life but could never have.
Ji Dongsheng and Ji Shang had given him all their favoritism and affection. He shouldn't throw a tantrum.
Ji Shang had indeed gone through his phone and deleted Lu Jinsheng from his WeChat.
But all of that had been out of concern and care for him.
Ji Shang didn't know Lu Jinsheng, which was why the misunderstanding had arisen.
If Ji Shang got to know Lu Jinsheng, he would definitely agree to let them be friends.
As for a spanking, if his brother wanted to punish him, then let him!
With that thought, An Yubei felt relieved. He stood up and gave himself a pep talk. "Dad, I shouldn't be angry with my brother. I'm going to apologize to him and do my best to earn his forgiveness."
Ji Dongsheng: "...!"
This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
What was so great about that brat Ji Shang that his precious son cared about him so much?
And wasn't his precious son just too good? Ji Shang had gone so far, yet he wasn't even angry. Instead, he was comforting himself and working through his emotions.
My precious son really is too good.
"How about this, baby? Wait here in your room. Dad will go talk to your brother first."
"He's still angry right now. He might really hit someone."
"Stay out of his way for now. Dad will go in first for you."
An Yubei threw himself into Ji Dongsheng's arms and said softly, "Thank you, Dad. You're so good to me."
Ji Dongsheng went downstairs, delighted. When he saw Ji Shang look over, he quickly wiped the smile off his face and put on a sorrowful expression.
Ji Shang had been waiting in the living room, frantic with anxiety. Seeing Ji Dongsheng come down, he hurried over and asked, "Dad, how did it go?"
"Is Xiao Bei still angry?"
Ji Dongsheng heaved a deep sigh. "Ji Shang, you went too far this time. Xiao Bei is still angry!"
"He said he doesn't want to stay in this house anymore. He wants to move out."
"What I mean is...!"
"No," Ji Shang said urgently. "Xiao Bei can't leave me."
"I'll go talk to him myself."
Seeing that he was about to be exposed, Ji Dongsheng quickly grabbed Ji Shang's arm and said angrily, "Look at you. You're always like this, insisting on having the final say."
"Why should everyone have to listen to you?"
"Xiao Bei is angry right now. Wouldn't you just be adding fuel to the fire? What if you upset him again and he simply runs away from home?"
Ji Shang deflated. He really was afraid An Yubei would sneak away.
What if he could never find him again?
"Dad, what should we do, then?"
Ji Dongsheng held back a smile. "What else can we do? I have a courtyard house downtown, close to Xiao Bei's school. I'll stay there with him for a few days first. Once he's calmed down, I'll persuade him to come back."
"Kids are at a temperamental age right now. You can't go against them. You have to go along with them."
Ji Shang felt somewhat dejected, his heart as though pricked by needles. "Xiao Bei agreed too?"
"Yes, he agreed. He said he doesn't want to see you for a while and wants to go somewhere quiet."
Ji Dongsheng suppressed his amusement, thinking that he really was a master actor, actually managing to fool a shrewd fellow like Ji Shang.
Hmph, that's what you get for being so arrogant all the time. I'm really going to screw you over this time.
Ji Shang was like a deflated ball, all his energy gone. "If he wants to live elsewhere, I have no objection."
With that, Ji Shang headed upstairs. "Lao Wang, don't call me for dinner. I have no appetite."
Ji Dongsheng was smiling delightedly when Lao Wang's scornful voice soon sounded beside him. "You're lying to Mr. Ji."
Ji Dongsheng's heart lurched. Lao Wang really is something. He saw right through me at a glance.
He felt terribly guilty. "How could that be? I didn't lie."
Lao Wang said, "Mr. Ji is too worried to think straight. How do you think he'll deal with you if he finds out you've been muddying the waters between them?"
Ji Dongsheng warned him, "You damned Lao Wang, if you dare tell on me, our friendship is over!"
"I'm going to tell Mr. Ji."
Soon, the two men, both over fifty, were grappling in the downstairs living room.
Ji Dongsheng and Lao Wang had grown up together and often fought as children. Now that they were older, they rarely came to blows.
But no matter how many years passed, Lao Wang still couldn't beat him.
"Shut up. If you dare tell on me, our friendship is over."
With that, Ji Dongsheng headed straight upstairs. He still had to persuade An Yubei to leave with him.
"My precious son, your brother is still angry. He's already smashed several drinking glasses downstairs. I think we'd better stay out of his way for now, or we might get beaten."
An Yubei felt uneasy. "Dad, does my brother still refuse to forgive me?"
"Yes. He said he has to teach you a lesson so you'll learn to keep your temper in check."
[My brother really won't indulge me anymore. My heart hurts so much!]
His face full of disappointment, An Yubei curled up listlessly on the sofa, hugging his knees.
Ji Dongsheng said, "My precious son, come with Dad!"
"Ji Shang doesn't want you anymore!"
Those words pierced An Yubei's heart like a thorn. An Yubei said quietly, "Okay. I'll go with Dad."
After Ji Dongsheng left, An Yubei was the only one remaining in the room, an inexplicable loneliness settling over him.
He hadn't expected Ji Shang to let him leave.
Ji Shang didn't want him anymore.
He didn't know how long he had been sitting there when Ji Dongsheng called him to dinner. An Yubei refused.
Nobody wanted him anymore. How could he be in the mood to eat?
He'd had both a brother and a dad, but now only his dad remained.
He had driven his brother away with his behavior.
He regretted it so much!
He glanced at the time. It was already midnight. An Yubei still couldn't resign himself to leaving just like this. He wanted to find Ji Shang and explain things clearly.
So An Yubei went barefoot to find Ji Shang.
Standing outside Ji Shang's bedroom, he had to muster all his courage before he dared knock.
He had made up his mind. Whether Ji Shang hit him or scolded him, he didn't want to leave his brother.
The door soon opened from inside, and the first thing An Yubei noticed was the heady smell of alcohol.
Looking up, An Yubei saw Ji Shang's handsome face, looking somewhat haggard.
An Yubei didn't speak. Instead, he obediently threw himself into Ji Shang's arms and hugged him tightly.
Only after gathering himself did he say, "Brother, don't abandon me. I'll be good."
"I won't throw tantrums ever again!"
Ji Shang's spine stiffened. He soon wrapped his arms around An Yubei's waist and asked, "Who told you I didn't want you anymore?"
An Yubei felt deeply wronged. "Dad did."
Instantly understanding everything, Ji Shang clenched his back teeth. Ji Dongsheng, you're dead.