At those words, Qin Sili froze for a moment. His heart began racing uncontrollably, and a trace of incredulous surprise entered his deep, dark eyes.
He simply couldn't believe what he'd heard.
Had Lu Chiyan just praised him in his thoughts for being better than Duan Linfeng?
In the past, he would never have dared imagine those words coming from Lu Chiyan.
In Lu Chiyan's eyes, Duan Linfeng was perfect in every way. As for Qin Sili, he was nothing but a ruthless, scheming, cold, selfish jerk.
"Big brother." Lu Chiyan grabbed Qin Sili's hand and apologized with utter sincerity. "I'm sorry."
B-big brother?
Qin Sili's heart trembled slightly. Inexplicably, he felt a flicker of panic, like a small pebble had suddenly been tossed into a tranquil lake, sending out ripples and throwing him into complete disarray. Even his usually stern face took on a faint blush.
Lu Chiyan had never called him "big brother."
He had always either addressed him by name or given him a curt, impatient "hey."
Qin Sili hadn't expected "big brother" to sound so sweet and soft coming from Lu Chiyan's mouth.
It made his heart tingle, as though he'd received an electric shock.
Feigning composure, Qin Sili looked at Lu Chiyan, his gaze unconsciously flicking toward the hand holding his. "What are you sorry for?"
Filled with remorse, Lu Chiyan confessed, "It's my fault for being blind and a poor judge of character. I let a scumbag deceive me and hurt you, big brother. Big brother, I swear, from now on, you'll be the only one in my heart. From now on, you're my real big brother, and the Qin Family is my family. I'll follow your every command and give my all for the Qin Family, even my life!"
Qin Sili: "..."
"Who's your real big brother?" Qin Sili pulled his hand away, his face darkening as though storm clouds had gathered over it. The veins in his forehead throbbed. He was somewhat speechless.
Who else would my real big brother be but you? I've already fallen out with the male lead. Of course I have to hug the thigh of a big-shot villain like you!
Qin Sili: "???"
What male lead? What villain?
What nonsense!
"It's late. Get some rest." With that, Qin Sili stood and headed outside.
He had just reached the door when he heard Lu Chiyan call after him again. "Big brother~"
Whether Lu Chiyan was doing it on purpose or not, that "big brother" sounded positively heart-wrenching. To express his reluctance to part, he even deliberately dragged out the last syllable. It was terribly affected.
It gave Qin Sili goosebumps all over.
He turned back and glared at Lu Chiyan with feigned sternness, saying through gritted teeth, "Don't call me big brother!"
"Then what should I call you?" Lu Chiyan pouted, gazing at Qin Sili pitifully with his large, clear, fawn-like eyes.
Sigh!
Qin Sili sighed helplessly. Before opening the door and leaving, he said, "Whatever you like."
After Qin Sili left, Lu Chiyan got out of bed and wandered around the room.
He had some recollection of this room. It was the room Lu Chiyan had always lived in.
However, Lu Chiyan had later moved out of the Qin residence to be with Duan Linfeng, taking all his clothes and personal belongings with him. Yet as he looked around now, he found the room was no different from before. The clothes in the walk-in closet and the toiletries in the bathroom were all neatly in place, as though no one had ever taken them away.
Presumably, after Lu Chiyan moved out, Qin Sili had bought identical things to restore everything to its original state.
The clothes were the brands Lu Chiyan usually wore, and the toiletries were the brands he was used to using.
Opening the walk-in closet and seeing it packed full, Lu Chiyan was rather touched.
How was this not a real big brother?
Even a real big brother wouldn't go this far!
Qin Sili, he really... I'm crying my eyes out! o(╥﹏╥)o
Lu Chiyan silently vowed that he would honor his big brother properly from now on, strive to be the world's best little brother, and never make his real big brother sad again!
(Qin Sili, who was being saddled with the title of "real big brother" no matter what: smiling face.jpg. I'm seriously so done!)
After taking a shower, Lu Chiyan settled happily onto the sofa. He had just taken out his phone when a call came in.
Caller ID: Darling
Lu Chiyan: "..."
He could figure out even with his toes that this "Darling" was that dog Duan Linfeng.
Without a second thought, Lu Chiyan hung up and blocked the number. Not only that, but he also went through WeChat, QQ, Weibo, a certain Pay app... anywhere he had Duan Linfeng added as a friend, blocking or deleting him from them all.
He had just finished when his phone rang again with another call.
This time, the caller ID read: Qian Le
Lu Chiyan remembered this name too. She seemed to be his manager and assistant.
Oh, right. He'd almost forgotten. His character in this novel was a somewhat famous second-tier male celebrity!
As soon as Lu Chiyan answered, a very pleasant female voice came through. "A-Yan, where are you right now? President Duan just called me. He said you weren't answering his calls, and apparently you even blocked him. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. What could possibly be wrong? I'm at home, doing great." Lu Chiyan told Qian Le, "From now on, don't answer if that bastard Duan Linfeng calls you again. You should block him too."
"Huh? Are you sure?" Qian Le asked incredulously. "Did you have a fight with President Duan?"
"We broke up," Lu Chiyan said. "I dumped that piece of trash."
Qian Le was stunned. "Seriously? Can I interview you? What power finally made you see the light?"
"Um..." After a moment's silence, Lu Chiyan replied, "The power of big brother, I guess!"
Qian Le: "???"
"Are you sure you've really broken up this time?" Qian Le asked, still uneasy. "You're not going to run back tomorrow and tearfully beg President Duan to take you back, are you?"
Qian Le had seen all along how devoted Lu Chiyan was to Duan Linfeng. He was like a man possessed, so desperately in love.
She had tried many times to persuade Lu Chiyan, telling him Duan Linfeng was a scumbag he couldn't entrust his future to. But Lu Chiyan had been determined to stay with him forever, so eventually she'd stopped bothering.
In any case, she was being paid by President Qin. She only needed to do her job properly as Lu Chiyan's manager and assistant. There was only so much else she could concern herself with.
"Don't worry. If anyone's going to cry, it'll be him coming to beg me for mercy," Lu Chiyan said. "From now on, no man will ever measure up to my real big brother in my heart. From this day forward, I'm cutting off all romantic attachments. My brother is my only love!"
Qian Le: "???"
"When... did you get a real big brother?" Qian Le was rather confused.
Wasn't Lu Chiyan an orphan whom President Qin had brought back to the Qin Family and raised?
Lu Chiyan said, "My real big brother, Qin Sili!"
Qian Le: "...???" Does President Qin himself know about this new identity you've given him?