Bai Yanxiu had no idea how long he had been standing outside the door waiting.
He dared not use his phone, nor did he dare leave, until his legs went numb, at which point a faint creaking sound came from inside the door.
Bai Yanxiu his posture, and when he looked up, he saw Qin Mubai's face, which was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.
"Get in here."
Bai Yanxiu rarely visited Nan Qing's room after that.
With Qin Mubai's clearly displeased expression present, he didn't dare to look around and stood obediently with his legs pressed against his trouser seams.
"Big brother."
With a thud, the wooden suitcase was thrown to the ground, but unfortunately it was completely empty, without a single hair inside.
Bai Yanxiu's face lit up for a moment.
"I knew that little brat had taken everything inside!"
A cold, icy gaze fell on his face, Bai Yanxiu's words came to an abrupt halt.
In order to survive in the cracks of this family, he learned to read people's expressions from a young age. Qin Mubai's current state is not a good time for him to say these words.
Bai Yanxiu quickly shut his mouth, glanced at the box, and then carefully changed his words.
"Brother, did he receive an empty box?"
Qin Mubai looked at him with a gloomy gaze. This kind of thing could easily evoke painful memories for Bai Yanxiu, such as the beatings he had received in the past, the solitary confinement he had been locked up, or the loss of his source of income.
In the dusty darkness, a light was shining from a certain direction. Bai Yanxiu turned his head and glanced at it; it was an audio file opened with a music app.
Seemingly sensing his gaze, Qin Mubai tapped a key on the keyboard, and the clear voice of their conversation echoed again in the room.
Bai Yanxiu's expression grew increasingly grim, and he didn't even dare to lift his head.
The call, which lasted only a few minutes, played repeatedly in the room. A chilling gaze fell upon him, and Bai Yanxiu felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
He found Qin Mubai to be terrifyingly sinister at that moment.
He didn't dare to breathe, keeping his head down as his mind raced, trying to figure out what words to use to soften his older brother's heart before making any excuses.
The recording had been played countless times when footsteps sounded in the room. Qin Mubai's spotless black leather shoes clattered on the floor, making a crisp, approaching sound.
"Clatter--"
The last voice fell upon him, Bai Yanxiu's body trembled involuntarily. He then knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Big Brother--"
Qin Mubai's voice was calm, " Bai Yanxiu, what did I say before I went abroad?"
Bai Yanxiu's heart was pounding, and the words he was saying were almost unintelligible.
"Let me... let me take good care of Nan Qing... don't let him be bullied..."
"Is this how you take care of him?"
Qin Mubai's calm voice was flat, but the moment he finished speaking, he raised his long leg and kicked Bai Yanxiu in the chest with a loud "bang".
Bai Yanxiu winced in pain, clutching his chest as he struggled to his feet.
"Brother, it's not like that actually, let me explain--"
"Deceiving superiors and subordinates, outwardly complying while inwardly opposing."
Qin Mubai approached him step by step until he stood in front of him again.
"Second brother, I know you're a fool. You have no business acumen, but you're a pro at spending money. You're always calling on friends and bossing them around, and you're incredibly vain."
"It's okay. Nobody's perfect. At least you've been a good brother for the past twenty-odd years. I don't mind if you have a slight flaw in your character."
"So over the years, I haven't mistreated you financially."
"The money you want, the paintings you like, the exhibitions you want to attend, even the awards you want to win—I'll get them for you."
"Just like I do for Qingqing, I hope you grow up safely. It doesn't matter if you don't have great abilities, as long as you don't become a spendthrift, your older brother will always look after you."
"If you want to open an art museum, I'll take care of everything for you, arrange all the staff, and just wait for you to walk in and be a hands-off manager."
"Second brother, but you're a biting dog—"
Qin Mubai raised his leg and kicked Bai Yanxiu again with a "bang," knocking him to the ground.
Tears welled in Bai Yanxiu's eyes from the pain, and he gasped for breath.
"Even on the eve of your departure abroad, to express my gratitude for your care of Nan Qing, I invested another 30 million in your art museum."
"Second brother, is this how you repay me?"
Qin Mubai bent down, looking down at Bai Yanxiu, his cold eyes almost freezing over.
Bai Yanxiu coughed a few times in pain, pressing his hand to his chest.
"Brother, why are you only blaming me?"
"Why don't you think about who caused all of this? If you could treat everyone equally—"
Why should I treat everyone equally?
Qin Mubai squinted at him.
" Bai Yanxiu, I'm only three years older than you. Besides, I'm not your father."
Bai Yanxiu deathly pale, and all color quickly drained from his face.
Qin Mubai was only three years older than him...
But they're different!
Qin Mubai was more mature than his peers from a young age; he looked much older than himself in every way!
He clearly took such good care of Nan Qing, but Nan Qing doesn't have the blood of the Bai Family flowing in his veins! Why is he so kind to an outsider, yet so harsh on his own younger brother?
Seemingly having read his thoughts, Qin Mubai straightened up, his voice indifferent.
"I want to take back the 30 million yuan I invested in your art gallery six months ago. You have three days to give it to me, or I will initiate legal proceedings to hold you accountable."
Bai Yanxiu in disbelief. "What!?"
Half of that money was spent on the art museum, and the other half on him; he's already spent it all!
Moreover, the art gallery he opened wasn't very profitable, but as an artist, he needed an art gallery befitting his status, one that sounded sophisticated and elegant.
Where is he going to get 30 million in such a short time?
Qin Mubai withdrew his gaze, looking at him with some disgust.
"Get out."
"Brother! Big brother--"
Ignoring the pain in his chest, Bai Yanxiu crawled over and grabbed Qin Mubai's trouser leg.
"We can't do this, brother!"
"We're brothers, you can't treat me like this because of an outsider!"
"And you have no idea how outrageous Nan Qing is. He's no good at all, he—"
Qin Mubai stared at him coldly, his overly sharp face appearing even more aloof under the light.
Bai Yanxiu's gaze swept over the empty box, and a flash of inspiration struck him.
"Those things are problematic! I swear I really didn't embezzle any!"
"You know I don't have the guts, brother! But I really gave it to him!"
"It must be Auntie Chen! She must have done it secretly!"
"Give me a chance, brother! Let me atone for my sins! I really will investigate this matter thoroughly!"
Qin Mubai's patience ran out, and he kicked him away.
"I don't need a fool who betrayed me."