"Some people really have no conscience. They've only been away from the Bai Family for a short time, and they don't even greet their elder brother anymore."
Another voice came from behind the man, belonging to Bai Yanxiu, the second young master of the Bai Family.
Nan Qing is sharp-tongued and not one to suffer losses.
But now, faced with Bai Yanxiu's ridicule, he said nothing.
He felt sullen, his head drooped, and his eyelashes trembled slowly.
The tall man standing in front of him didn't move either. The two were separated by a few wooden floorboards, yet it felt like they were separated by an unbridgeable galaxy.
After a long while, until Bai Yanxiu clicked his tongue again,
"What's going on? She only knows how to grovel and act weak in front of her older brother, and now she's doing this again..."
"Shut up."
The man's deep voice interrupted Bai Yanxiu, and he asked Nan Qing:
Why don't you come find me?
He had clearly colluded with the entire Bai Family to abandon her, yet now he hypocritically asked why she didn't go to him. Nan Qing raised her eyes and glared at him.
Why did I come to find you?
What's our relationship?
Don't you think what you're saying is unnecessary, Qin Mubai?
"If you like meddling so much, then go and manage your own blood-related younger brother, not me, this usurper, this imposter who's been kicked out of the house by all of you and stripped of even the right to bear the Bai surname!"
Qin Mubai frowned as he looked at him.
" Qingqing, stop fooling around."
"I'm just being unreasonable! I'm only here to make you angry. I'm just a disposable object that your Bai Family can summon and dismiss at will. Are you satisfied now?"
Nan Qing's nose stung, but her voice remained persistent.
"What did you call me over for today? Surely not to lecture me again?"
"I'm no longer surnamed Bai, Qin Mubai. You have no right to discipline me!"
"You're just as hypocritical as everyone in the Bai Family! You said you'd never give up on me, that you'd never abandon me! I hate you, you liar—"
Nan Qing felt increasingly aggrieved as she spoke, and turned to leave.
But before he could take a few steps, his arm was firmly grasped by the man's large hand.
Even Bai Yanxiu's mocking voice came from behind.
"You really think highly of yourself. Only your elder brother is so magnanimous, showing concern for you out of respect for the Bai Family you for so many years. But you're the one with the worst temper. Ruanruan is never like that."
"Our Bai Family hasn't even held a grudge against Ruanruan for being raised by your parents and suffering so much hardship in terms of material conditions, and now you're yelling at us. Like father, like son; a mouse's child knows how to dig a hole."
" The Bai Family has taught you for so many years, yet you still have absolutely no manners."
Nan Qing clenched her fists in anger.
"You keep saying Bai Ruanruan suffered injustices in the past, but what exactly did he suffer? My biological parents are enlightened and loving highly educated intellectuals. Our family may not be as well-off as your Bai Family, but we are still a middle-class family. Bai Ruanruan is an only child, and he received all the love and companionship. They even risked their lives for him."
"Why do you still think Bai Ruanruan was wronged? Why do you still think my parents treated him badly in the past? Why do you keep lecturing me, saying that I stole his place and wronged him?"
"Why do you always want an explanation from me? Did I insist on switching identities with him? Do I owe him anything? Do I owe your whole family anything?"
Bai Yanxiu was so bewildered by his scolding that he choked on his words.
"Open!"
Nan Qing slapped Qin Mubai's hand that was gripping his arm. He felt wronged, yet also found the world absurd and laughable.
The Bai Family's parents were married in an arranged marriage, and the three Bai Family brothers did not often receive their parents' company.
The eldest brother was the child born amidst the anticipation of both families, and he took his mother's surname. It wasn't until the birth of his second brother seven years later that his life as an only child came to an end.
Qin Mubai is 10 years older than him, Bai Yanxiu is 3 years older than him.
The three of them grew up together, bickering and arguing for 20 years. Even without blood ties, spending so much time together should make their relationship closer than that of ordinary friends.
Even if you've raised a dog for 20 years, you shouldn't just kick it out the door so easily.
The older brother, who had raised him single-handedly and was like a second father to him, did not return to the country and tacitly agreed to Bai Ruanruan's request to kick him out of the Bai Family.
The second brother, who had always played and teased him since childhood and dressed him up in skirts to look like a little girl, stood next to Bai Ruanruan and scolded him for usurping her place.
He's the villain, Bai Ruanruan is the protagonist.
Therefore, once Bai Ruanruan appears, everyone will hate him and leave him.
He was treated worse than a dog, kicked out of his home, verbally abused and insulted, and bullied by those who looked down on people.
From being the arrogant and domineering young master of the Bai Family to falling from grace, if Huo Yuzhou hadn't caught him, given his past behavior, who knows how many people would have humiliated him.
Anger, pain, hatred, humiliation...
A mix of emotions overwhelmed Nan Qing. Unable to swat Qin Mubai's hand away, he could only open his mouth and bite down.
Sharp teeth tore through flesh, the metallic stench of rust filling the mouth, the salty, fishy taste spreading and sweeping across the tip of the tongue.
Thick blood trickled from the corner of his lips. He had bitten hard, but Qin Mubai didn't flinch, and seemed to feel no pain. He simply looked down at the child, even his voice softening slightly.
"Go with your older brother."
Like an enraged little beast, Nan Qing shoved him violently, causing herself to stumble.
"Get out of here!"
Bai Yanxiu's startled cry rang out, "You've gone mad, Nan Qing!"
Suddenly, a strong embrace enveloped Nan Qing, accompanied by the familiar scent of ebony and sandalwood, pulling him into that ever-firm and reliable embrace.
Huo Yuzhou's large hand brushed against his cheek, wiping away the tears that had somehow rolled down his face, along with the blood stained the corner of his lips.
His deep voice carried a hint of ferocity, and a dark cloud hung over his otherwise refined face.
"Long time no see, Mr. President Qin."
Qin Mubai's Adam's apple bobbed, but his dark eyes were fixed intently on the person in Huo Yuzhou's arms.
" Mr. Huo, please release Nan Qing."
Huo Yuzhou's handsome face was gloomy as he pulled the person even closer into his arms.
A broad chest obscured Nan Qing's face, leaving Qin Mubai with only his back to him.
" Nan Qing has no connection with the Bai Family now, so President Qin doesn't need to act all high and mighty as an adoptive father's brother in front of Qingqing."
"If Mr. President Qin addicted to being the eldest brother, he can go home and discipline his blood-is-thicker-than-water younger brother. He's caused my Qingqing a lot of trouble. If it's inconvenient for the Bai Family, I don't mind teaching him a lesson on your behalf."
Bai Yanxiu's expression changed instantly.
But Qin Mubai remained expressionless.
The bitten hand dangled from the seam of his trousers, bright red blood trickling down his large, bony hand, winding its way to his fingertips, and dripping onto the dark wooden floor.
Swimming out a series of irregular dark colors.
He seemed oblivious and unable to hear Huo Yuzhou's words.
He simply stared at the boy held in Huo Yuzhou's arms, his voice calm.
"My older brother has already returned to China."
"I will handle things at home; I will explain everything to you in detail."
"Come home with me, my Qingqing."
"Brother is here."