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The assistant was crouched by the door, while balancing the hot cocoa on a tray with some difficulty. Startled at the sight of Lin Feng, he was about to stand up and stammer an apology when Lin Feng raised a hand to stop him.

And also pressed himself against the door.

A faint voice sounded in the room, they could hear Lin Jing rambling and crying, occasionally a few sentences floated to the crack at the door.

"…can't let Brother know, he'll kill me…."

"I didn't mean to…"

"Help me one more time, I'll give you all my money…."

The assistant shivered and snuck a look at Lin Feng. The latter's eyes were already dark.

The room was quiet for a moment before Mu Jinchu's voice could be heard: "Okay."

There was no affection in it, but no resentment either. Just like how he used to greet him as "Brother" in the past, his tone was just as devoid of feeling.

Dark flames erupted fiercely in Lin Feng's eyes, his hand rose to hit the door, but the voice inside continued frankly.

"I'm not doing it for your money."

"You behave yourself for the next few days. Brother's not having it easy, don't give him any more cause for concern."

Lin Feng's breathing stuttered in his chest. The raised hand slowly curled into a fist and lowered to his side.

His expression grew warmer, and his eyes were bathed in a gentle glow.

*

Su Shi watched as Lin Jing wept in front of him with calm indifference, but internally he was brimming with gratitude for the other party, so much so he could keep his photo on an altar to worship.

He had been close to falling asleep when Lin Jing had barged into his room, crying and begging him to claim to be responsible for what had happened at the party that night.

Mu Jinchu's memory of that night was a complete blank. He still didn't know what had happened at the party, but was more than happy to embrace the new heaven-sent opportunity.

In this unpredictable world full of ups and downs, he was moved by this stroke of luck.

Considering that Lin Jing wasn't emotionally stable at the moment, Su Shi did not say much more, just obliquely reminded the other not to "upset" their eldest brother, then closed his eyes again: "I'm tired, you should leave."

"Jinchu… don't you want to know what happened that night?"

The other had agreed too readily, it made Lin Jing uneasy as he scrutinised his face, his whispered question born from a guilty conscience.

The more he knew, the more likely he might let something slip. Su Shi had no intention of finding out and gazed at him mildly: "Do you want to tell me?"

Lin Jing tongue was leaden, he guilty lowered his head and didn't dare open his mouth. Su Shi chewed at the corner of his lower lip, looking at him thoughtfully, his inflection calm.

"Don't bother, I don't know anything, it's better this way— thanks a lot though, do remember to tell me in advance if anything else happens."

Lin Jing was stunned by his words, his face full of shame, he lowered his head deeply: "Jinchu, you are a good person, I'm in your debt…"

Su Shi smirked and made no reply. A heavy silence enveloped the room.

Staying in the room grew unbearable. Lin Jing got up in disarray and opened the door, and stood petrified as if he had been struck by lightning.

"What's wrong?"

Su Shi furrowed his brows as he leaned to look past Lin Jing, and his expression suddenly twisted: "Brother… why are you here?"

"I was worried you'd be unable to sleep, so I brought you some hot cocoa."

Lin Feng answered calmly, turning a blind eye to his horror-stricken younger brother. He picked up the cup of hot cocoa from the assistant's tray and walked over to the bed.

"Don't worry, I just got here, I didn't hear anything."

Su Shi suddenly felt his stomach hurt.

Seeing Lin Jing still rooted to the spot by the door, the assistant quickly pulled him out of the room and dragged him to the corner of the staircase: "Young master, are you tired of living?"

...

In the stillness of the room, the pleasant aroma of the cocoa drifted.

Su Shi was not happy at all.

Lin Feng didn't ask anything, just placed the cup down and sat on the edge of the bed. He suddenly raised his hands to hold on to the thin shoulders of the youth.

His heart was overflowing with tenderness from the feel of the softness in his arms.

The young, warm body leaned meekly onto his shoulder, looking up at him silently, his dark eyes restless and upset.

Lin Feng's gaze was affectionate, he raised his hand to caress the boy's head: "Jinchu, do you have anything to say to me?"

Su Shi was feeling so aggrieved, he could choke. He hung his head and butted it against the other's shoulder in silent indignation.

Such a beautiful opportunity!

The windfall that had just landed on his lap was being confiscated!

The fruit that had been just ripe for the picking, snatched away in front of his eyes!