14 One: III

Bai Mo thought that he had put himself into some kind of trap. Almost like he signed himself up for something he was going to regret. When he saw Xue Zhiqiang walk through the door and reveal his face, several things started to make sense.

The way that he stood, the way he carried himself. The style of his hair, and the curve of his lips. The color of his eyes and the mood they gave off. The slouch of his shoulders and the small steps he took. All of it wasn't at all like Lu Mao. And yet, at first sight, Bai Mo was able to see that they were the same person.

Comparing them side by side he would say they would be close related maybe brothers or cousins. But when looking at his face, the thing that annoyed him the most was the distinct pair of moles under his right eye. They were the same ones that Lu Mao had on his own face. Looking at them, the only feeling that came to his mind was some kind of annoyance. It scratched at his heart and made him want to tear at something.

So when Xue Zhiqiang walked into the room holding a warm bowl of porridge, Bai Mo's expression was modified to what he was feeling.

"Third Brother?" The young boy called out to Bai Mo. He walked closer and revealed the steamy top of the bowl of porridge. "Aunty Dai sent me to bring this to you."

Bai Mo sent it a passing glance and said, "I see that." He pointed towards the bedside drawer. "Set it there, I will eat it when I feel like it."

"Alright." The boy slowly set the bowl onto the table and stood back. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" He politely asked. He fidgeted with his empty hands.

"I have no need for you, you can leave." He said, still not looking at the boy.

Xue Zhiqiang paused slightly and an awkward look spread across his features. His third brother was the only one of his family members who spoke to him, so naturally, his favorability was high. He personally thought that the two of them were close. Xue Bolin was by far the only person in this house that he spoke to the most, he was also the person who knew him the most. Although Xue Bolin usually spoke to him like so, he wouldn't be able to tell how bad their relationship was in the first place.

When it came to Xue Bolin, this was true. Xue Bolin was the only person in this house who spoke to Zhiqiang so much. And he knew him very well. That's how Xue Bolin was able to get away with his behavior for so long. Ever since they were children, the four older children were told that Xue Zhiqiang was below them. While the older three responded by ignoring the young boy, Xue Bolin treated him like he was a servant. And after growing up with the boy, although he never knew what was going on behind the scenes, he knew very well how Xue Zhiqiang thought of the family.

Xue Zhiqiang was able to read Xue Bolin's mood from a mile away. He was concerned but knew how angry Xue Bolin would get if he asked something that wasn't his business. He spotted the discarded wet rag that laid at the side. He picked it up and said to his older brother resting on the bed. He couldn't help but say, "Brother, wearing the rag will help you cool off. Although it may be troublesome, wearing it would help you heal faster."

Xue Zhiqiang watched his brother turn his head towards him and give him the first look since he saw him at the door. "And what right do you have to say that? I wouldn't be bedridden if it weren't for you. If you hadn't forgotten a spare umbrella from yesterday, then I wouldn't be suffering from this fever."

Xue Zhiqiang panicked slightly at his tone and waved his hands, "T-That's not what I meant. I just want you to feel better because I don't like seeing you sick. I'm sorry for forgetting the umbrella, I'll make sure to never make that mistake again. "

Xue Bolin gave out a humph turned his head away, "You're lucky I'm easy on you, or else I would ignore you like everyone else."

The young boy dejectedly looked down at the floor. "You're right Third Brother, I'm really lucky with you here." The boy was naive and ill-informed. But even in that case, he wouldn't be wrong. As it was in the story, without Xue Bolin, Xue Zhiqiang would have gone insane. Instead of imprisoning his family, he would have done worse. The child would have blown a fuse one day and wiped out the whole Xue household.

Without Xue Bolin, Xue Zhiqiang would have been left all alone. Locked up in his empty room and occupied with nothing. Humans are social creatures, wheater they want to admit it or not. Solitude could destroy a person's mind. So he really was lucky that Xue Bolin gave him attention, even if their relationship wasn't exactly healthy.

Xue Bolin softened his tone and motioned for Xue Zhiqiang to give him the rag, "Hand it over already, you don't need it."

A small smile spread across his face as he willingly handed Xue Bolin the wet rag, "Here you go." He said. He turned away and headed towards the door, "Then I'll be leaving, make sure you eat that porridge before it goes cold. Hope you feel better soon!"

Xue Zhiqiange shut the door behind him. The smile on his face broadened slightly. A joy, similar to the feeling of fireworks in his chest, rose in him. Although Xue Bolin had always treated him coldly he had always thought he had a soft spot for him.

That smile stayed on his face as he walked to his room on the other side of the manor. While his brothers' and sister's room was on the right wing, his own room was on the left wing, where the employees would stay. He didn't mind. He thought that he was lucky that they gave him a room at all.

While he was passing by the front entrance, the door had opened to reveal his second brother, Xue Shaoqing. Who was currently drunk and hanging from his older brother, Xue Mingyu.

"Auntie Dai! I found him!" Xue Mingyu called out. Xue Shaoqing at his side slide over and put his face in his chest. "Gege, why does your shirt smell so good? It smells like flowers..." He mumbled into the cloth. He gripped onto his coat and gave it a large sniff. But then a hand grabbed onto his face and shoved him away, "Knock it off." Xue Mingyu hissed at his drunk younger brother.

Auntie Dai came over to scold the drunk man. "Xue Shaoqing! Where have you been all night?! Do you know how worried I was?!" When she had gotten close enough to smell the alcohol off of him, she exhaled a long sigh. After knowing Xue Shaoqing for so long, this was expected and was no longer a surprise. But that doesn't make it any better.

The intoxicated Xue Shaoqing didn't notice Auntie Dai's mood and ditched Xue Mingyu's coat to grab onto her blouse. "Auntieee, are you here for me? Are you here to cook me some good food? I love Auntie's food, it's all so tasty!" The older woman's face evened slightly at his words but still scolded him. "Second Young Master, haven't I warned you to stop it with the partying? No more drinking! Or else you'll age as fast as my husband!"

Xue Mingyu removed the coat that was practically manhandled by the man-child. "Do me a favor and toss him in a cold shower. I need him for later." He checked his watch for the time and tossed the coat towards the bystanding Xue Zhiqiang, who was frozen while watching the scene. "Send this to the washers and get me a new one as soon as possible."

Xue Zhiqiang studdered a bit at the order, "H-huh, but I'm not."

"Is there a problem?" Xue Mingyu said, giving him a side glance. Yet that glance was all it took for Xue Zhiqiang to shut his mouth. "No, no problem."

Xue Shaoqing at the side suddenly held onto his mouth. "I feel sick..." He said through his fingers. "I think I'm gonna..." His face paled at a rapid pace and the surrounding group prepared themselves.

"Wait, Young Master Shaoqing!" The old woman called out.

"Blluuuuuug---"

Xue Shaoqing had regurgitated the contents he had eaten before onto the floor.

-

"Be a dear and take these to the washers as well." Auntie Dai said as she handed Xue Zhiqiang the dirtied clothes from Xue Shaoqing's drunken incident. Some of the splashes had landed onto his clothing, Aunt Dai had removed them from the now unconscious body and given them to Xue Zhiqiang. Xue Mingyu at the side looked down at his brother, "Disgusting." He turned his attention towards Xue Zhiqiang. "Don't put my clothes in the same wash as his." With this, he turned and headed towards the right side of the house. "I'll be in my office, have the coat ready by the time I leave."

Auntie Dai and the butler both held Xue Shaoqing and brought him towards his room that was also on the right side, leaving Xue Zhiqiang all by himself carrying a small pile of clothing. He gave out a small sigh and walked in the opposite direction of them, to the left.

"I guess it's alright since it's on the way to my room." He said to himself. He was a very optimistic boy, or at least that's what he would tell himself. Others would call it foolishness.

"At least they spoke to me. It's been a while since I've seen Brother Mingyu, he's always so busy." His eye's softened when he thought back to the scene from before. "I wish I had someone that would worry about me when I'm missing. Maybe Third Brother would." A smile carved itself onto his face at the thought of Xue Bolin worrying about him. "It would be nice seeing that side of him."

Opening the door to the washing room, Xue Zhiqiang said, "Excuse me." and walked in. Several lower maids were doing their jobs and close to none of them gave him a glance.

One who did though walked up to him. "Xue Zhiqiang, what's this?" She said with her hand on her hips.

"Apologies for stacking more onto the load, but Brother Mingyu asked for his coat to get cleaned. And Brother Shaoqing had gotten some puke onto his clothing. Oh, and Brother Mingyu asked for his to be cleaned separately." He told her.

She gave out a sigh, "Nothing we can do about it." She took the small pile of clothes from Xue Zhiqiang. Before she could walk away, Xue Zhiqiang called out to her, "Oh, and Brother Mingyu had asked for a freshly cleaned coat for when he leaves, is there one that-" Before he was able to finish, the head cleaning maid interrupted him.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll send someone out to do it. Now get back to your room." She shooed him off with the wave of her hand.

Xue Zhiqiang gave off a relieved sigh when he found out that he wouldn't have to deliver it himself. He was scared that if he had to go back and face his older brother, Xue Mingyu would recognize him and ignore him. Or maybe it was perhaps because he had recognized him that he gave him the job in the first place. Xue Zhiqiang didn't want to know the answer. All in all, although Xue Zhiqiang liked having the chance of being around his family, he didn't have enough courage to face the man on his own.

Xue Zhiqiang speed-walked through the halls and up to the door of his own room. He opened the door and shut it behind him. The small room opened itself up to him.

The creaky hardwood floors. The flimsy carpets. The creaky bed frame that held up the springy mattress. The visible dust in the air that shined because of the bright light that came from the single window that stood on the wall across from him. This was his home. This was where he stayed almost every day.

This was where he had his meals. Where he kept his possessions. Where he slept at night. His clothes were in his drawers and his scent was in his bedsheets. This was where he had grown up. From his young childhood to the age where he was now.

He walked into his own personal bathroom, one of which he was forever grateful for being given. He watched his hands before splashing some water onto his face. He looked into the mirror to see a young boy. This young boy was him, Xue Zhiqiang. From his wide dark eyes to the dark hair. From the curvature of his lips to the vertical pair of moles under his right eye. This was Xue Zhiqiang, and nothing more.