The crescent moon peeked out from behind the dark clouds, casting its light through the boundless, pitch-black night.
Bai Yanxiu, standing behind Qin Mubai, froze for a moment with an indignant expression. A tension he himself was unaware of surfaced on his face, and his answer became somewhat insincere. He repeated Qin Mubai's question to himself:
Why?
The answer to this question was too complicated, so complicated that for a moment he didn't know how to answer it.
Is it because Nan Qing has absolutely no blood relation to him?
no.
Nan Qing was right that time. Twenty years is enough time to tame even a dog, let alone before the blood relationship was exposed. He didn't dislike Nan Qing.
That's why his elder brother, who always doted on Nan Qing, entrusted him with the task of taking care of Nan Qing.
From childhood to adulthood, everyone in their social circle knew that he had an older brother and a younger brother.
The eldest brother is steady and capable. At a young age, he is the heir to two families who are expected to achieve great things. He receives the most resources and praise. He has outstanding business acumen and can sit openly next to his grandfather, who is always glaring and stern, during the Chinese New Year.
He envied Qin Mubai, but his older brother was a ceiling he could never reach, no matter how hard he tried.
He respected Qin Mubai Qin Mubai revered him, so he naturally followed him and took care of Nan Qing.
But does he really like Nan Qing?
Even though they're both younger brothers, the older brother only has eyes for Nan Qing. He gets into fights, climbs trees, sneaks off to swim, falls down the stairs, whispers during other people's speeches, and eats too much ice cream...
It seems that no matter how small or trivial the matter, it will attract the eldest brother's attention.
It's okay if he's naughty; Qin Mubai will take care of everything for him.
It doesn't matter if his grades aren't good; Qin Mubai will indulge him.
Even when he sneaks out with his cronies to play the hero and ends up overturning someone's fruit stand, it doesn't matter. Qin Mubai, with his elite demeanor, arrives in a luxury car, gives the other party five times the compensation, and helps them cover up the matter.
It seems that no matter how much trouble Nan Qing causes, Qin Mubai can always handle the mess with ease.
Even when he begs for mercy and squeezes out a couple of tears, you can still hold him on your lap and comfort him.
At that time, Bai Yanxiu really didn't understand why his elder brother liked Nan Qing so much.
Whether he brought a perfect painting that had been praised by a big name in the art world, or a competition he had entered with his teacher and won a prize, his older brother simply nodded at him and handed him a cold, impersonal bank card.
From childhood to adulthood, he had never caused Qin Mubai any worry, nor had he ever made Qin Mubai suffer a scolding because of his mistakes. He had tried his best, so why did Qin Mubai still not like him?
Even his friends would tease him, subtly asking if he was an adopted child.
Later, when he was drunk, someone put their arm around his shoulder and sighed repeatedly, telling him to be more careful.
"Your older brother dotes on Nan Qing so much, and he's about to graduate, you'd better be more mindful..."
The other person lowered their voice, the smell of alcohol wafting into his ear.
"Your family and the Qin Family's businesses are now 80% controlled by your eldest brother. Do you think, given his biased nature, he'll let you and Nan Qing share them equally?"
Bai Yanxiu was quite drunk at the time.
But upon hearing those words, the effects of the alcohol vanished completely, and he instantly sobered up.
He forgot how he answered, and he forgot how he got home.
But on that sleepless night, staring at the dark ceiling, the same thought kept repeating in my mind:
Since we're all brothers, why can't we treat each other equally?
So he could only console himself that it was because Nan Qing was too young.
My elder brother is three years older than me and ten years older than Nan Qing.
In the context of early marriage and childbirth in ancient times, he was almost old enough to be Nan Qing's father.
It's precisely because of the large age gap that Qin Mubai favors him.
But what happened next was both ridiculous and terrifying; it turned out that Nan Qing was not a child of the Bai Family at all!
How could he, the legitimate second young master of the Bai Family, have been bullied for so many years by a usurper and imposter, who even dotes on him so much?
Bai Yanxiu could no longer convince himself with the rule that "he's young, we should all cherish him."
During the six months his elder brother was abroad, he coldly watched as Nan Qing transformed from the Bai Family's most favored young master into a troublemaker universally reviled.
His parents despised him, resenting that he had taken everything from Bai Ruanruan.
The servants avoided him, knowing he had no blood relation to the Bai Family and would most likely be kicked out.
If it weren't for his elder brother's lingering influence, even the servants would probably dare to bully him.
His cronies despised him, kicked him when he was down, and spoke sarcastically to him, while turning around to curry favor with Bai Ruanruan.
Bai Ruanruan loathed him even more; after all, Nan Qing had bullied him so many times, he should have retaliated long ago.
So later, she was splashed with dirty water, loaches appeared in her blanket, and Nan Qing verbally abused her. Bai Ruanruan cried uncontrollably, and the two argued from the first floor to the third floor, even fighting in the garden...
Until the very last time, Nan Qing pushed Bai Ruanruan down the stairs, breaking her arm and fracturing her fingers in a comminuted fracture.
The doctor said that Bai Ruanruan will never be able to play the piano again in her life.
Bai Ruanruan burst into tears, recounting the cold treatment she had endured over the years, her past helplessness and suffering, the strict upbringing of her family, and her longing for her biological parents...
Nan Qing stood somewhat bewildered by the stairs.
Alone and small in stature, he looked rather pitiful.
Bai Yanxiu once thought he would throw a tantrum, or call his older brother with a wronged expression, throwing a tantrum and asking his older brother to come back and help him.
But he did nothing, not even offer an explanation.
He dejectedly and calmly accepted the fact that he had ruined Bai Ruanruan's hand, only to be met with Bai Ruanruan's cries and demands to be driven out of the Bai Family.
He seemed to glance at me; was he asking for help?
Bai Yanxiu couldn't remember clearly anymore.
All he remembered was that the Bai Family was in extraordinary chaos that day.
He was immersed in a kind of ecstatic joy, inquiring about Bai Ruanruan's condition in a protective manner, while his mind raced with excitement—
This time, Nan Qing will no longer trouble him!
Later, he watched as Nan Qing was pushed and shoved into his room, awaiting her final fate.
To avoid causing trouble for himself, he took out the things his elder brother had left him and had them delivered to his room...
Having finished his thoughts, Bai Yanxiu shook his head, his face sincere.
I don't know the specific reason.
"It's probably because Ruanruan is too sensible, and Nan Qing is too much of a bully."
Even with all the years we've grown up together, I can't bring myself to favor him anymore.
"Big brother, you don't know, Nan Qing really went too far—"