Chapter 23.1 - Big bro will accompany you to drink

It didn't take too long for the manager to return with Li Xinwen's card along with the jade bracelet which the staff carefully packed for him. After saying his gratitude, Li Xinwen left the shop with Xue Rui.

The two men had not gone far when Li Xinwen turned to face Xue Rui and asked with a serious expression. "Alright, spill it. What brings you here?"

He forgot to ask sooner because he was too preoccupied with the altercation involving Xue Liang and his existence, then he had to find the missing parts of Lanyu. In addition to that, he worried that Xue Rui might be injured and hence unable to join them this weekend and then he had to pick out a gift for his mother. It was only now that he remembered to ask Xue Rui this question.

"I just... wanted to see you," Xue Rui answered with slight hesitation. "Then, when I arrived, an officer came out of the alley and when he saw me, he was surprised. After questioning him for a bit, I realized my brother was with you and..." Xue Rui's hands clenched into tight fists as he recalled what he saw and heard earlier. "Xinwen, I'm sorry. I didn't know that my brother... was like that with you."

Li Xinwen couldn't answer and just stared at Xue Rui, trying to come up with a reply. 'It's not my place to forgive him... how am I supposed to reply to this?' he thought, as he racked his brain for an answer. After a while, he could only sigh. "It's already in the past. From now on, he won't be able to take advantage of me," Li Xinwen finally replied. "Anyway, I still have somewhere to go. You should return to your work now. Don't laze off," Li Xinwen said as he turned around, about to walk away.

He barely took two steps forward when Xue Rui grabbed his wrist and stopped him. "Where do you plan to go? How about I send you there before I return to work?" Xue Rui asked. Somehow, he still felt uneasy after knowing that his second brother was back in the country, especially after he found out that Xue Liang had entangled himself with Li Xinwen.

"No need. I want to walk around the city and exercise. Don't worry about me and get back to work, as you can see, I'm not that weak," Li Xinwen said before he shook off Xue Rui's hold. "I'll see you on the weekend. Just don't forget," he added before he walked away once more, leaving Xue Rui to stare at his figure as he walked towards the city center.

Xue Rui only moved after Li Xinwen disappeared from his sight and walked to his car. He was feeling extremely dejected but when he remembered the worry on Li Xinwen's face because he was injured, he couldn't help but smile. After a while, he took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He stopped when he saw a familiar name then pressed the call button. The line connected to the other party after two rings.

"Hello?"

"Brother, second brother is back. Did you know?" Xue Rui didn't bother beating around the bush. After all, his eldest brother didn't like having to play guessing games.

"Did he? He didn't inform me. Where are you now? I'll go there immediately."

"He already left. I don't know where he is now... and brother, I think you were right. I should've just confessed as you advised rather than follow Liang-ge's idea..." Xue Rui mumbled in a soft voice. The other side was silent for a while and Xue Rui thought that he called while the other person was busy. Just as he was about to speak again, the other person on the line spoke.

"Tonight, 7pm at Fluorescene Club, I've already booked a private room. Big bro will accompany you to drink so you can tell me everything later."

"Alright. Jun-ge, thank you..."

"En. Don't be late."

Xue Rui stared at his phone for a while after the other party cut off the call. "Always straight to the point," Xue Rui sighed before he started his car and finally drove off.