Separated (Arc 2)

"Don't talk about that brat. I heard he was the one who pushed you down the stairs, right?" Zhao Baozhai said with gritted teeth.

Feng Yongrui's eyes widened in disbelief. What is she talking about?

"Gege did no such thing!" Feng Yongrui cried angrily.

He obviously fell down on his own... Who was spouting lies?!

"What? There's no need to defend that brat. I know everything already," Zhao Baozhai said.

Feng Yongrui protested. "I'm not defending him, Mum! I'm telling you the truth... None of this is his fault... I'm the one who accidentally fell down... It's my fault because I was careless!"

Zhao Baozhai carried Feng Yongrui to the sofa and placed him down gently.

"Son, just stop, okay? You should be wary of people like him... Mum knows that you like your older brother, but many times, people aren't as nice as they seem. Your Gege is not someone you can trust."

Feng Yongrui frowned and stopped talking. It seemed like Zhao Baozhai was adamant about this. If he tried to defend his brother again, she might get angrier.

Zhao Baozhai called for the nurse, and Feng Yongrui was fed and bathed very quickly.

When all of that was done, Feng Yongrui was tucked into bed again.

"The doctor said it's better for you to rest, otherwise, who knows if there will be side effects because of your concussion... Just stay in bed, okay?" Zhao Baozhai said.

Feng Yongrui nodded obediently and closed his eyes, pretending to go to sleep. Of course, he was actually wide awake.

The first thing Feng Yongrui did when he shut his eyes was check the protagonist's blackening value. He remembered that just before he passed out, he had heard something like the System's notification...

Feng Yongrui checked the blackening value: it was 5%!

Feng Yongrui shook his head and checked it again. It really said 5%, not -5% or -50%!!

How could this be??

"System! When did the protagonist blacken? Was it when I fell down? Or... was he punished by Zhao Baozhai because of this incident, and so he blackened?" Feng Yongrui asked worriedly.

The System paused for a while, seemingly searching for the relevant information.

"Ah! I remember. The protagonist blackened when he saw you fall down... At that time, his blackening value turned into 0%... When he saw you lying at the bottom of the stairs and you passed out... His blackening value gradually rose to 5%..."

The System was silent for two seconds before it continued. "When Zhao Baozhai scolded him, his blackening value did not even fluctuate..."

Feng Yongrui sighed. This meant that Yin Longshen's blackening value would increase when he himself (Feng Yongrui) got hurt...

Since that was the case, it seemed like Feng Yongrui's only option was to scheme to get himself hurt, so that Yin Longshen would blacken.

Feng Yongrui had everything planned out. As he grew up, he would stick close to his older brother and develop a good relationship with him.

And then, he would scheme to hurt himself... When Yin Longshen found out that his little brother got hurt, wouldn't he be furious?

Heh, it was the perfect plan.

Well, but for now...

Feng Yongrui swapped places with the doppelganger and flew out of the nursery in his ghost form. He had to find his Gege!

The first place Feng Yongrui went to was Yin Longshen's bedroom, but he did not find his older brother there.

Feng Yongrui was disappointed, but he calmed himself down. Maybe Yin Longshen just went to school...?

No. Today was Saturday!

Feng Yongrui flew through the entire mansion but he did not find a single trace of Yin Longshen.

Feng Yongrui began to feel panicked. No way... Did Zhao Baozhai do something to him?

As Feng Yongrui was flying through a corridor, he heard a few servants whispering.

"Sigh... That child is really too much... I heard he pushed the Young Master down the stairs... How could he do that?" a female servant whispered.

Her colleague replied, "You're too simple. He knows he's just an illegitimate son... How could he take over the family company? He knows that the company will go to the Young Master instead of him, so he's jealous..."

"That's right... And if the Young Master is dead, then that Yin Longshen will be the only son of Yin Qiushan. By that time, of course the company and various assets will fall into his hands..."

"This is the problem with being rich... Everyone is backstabbing and hurting each other even though they're obviously family... Well, money can change people like this..."

"I agree, this is really..."

Feng Yongrui rolled his eyes in annoyance. What do these people know? His Gege wasn't a bad person -- the proof is, his blackening value is just 5%!!

Oh well, at least it wasn't in the negatives like before...

"Right, that kid has been locked up for several days... If the Master finds out about it, won't he be angry?" a maid whispered.

Her friend shook her head. "Even if the Master is angry, what can we do? Right now, the Madam is in charge... She'll be furious if any of us feel sorry for that kid..."

"Sigh... looks like we can't do anything about it..."

The servants stopped their discussion and continued cleaning up the corridor. Feng Yongrui hovered in the air as he mulled over their words.

"Locked up for several days...?" he whispered.

Feng Yongrui had a bad feeling, and he flew outside the mansion.

Outside the mansion there was a large garden, a water fountain, and a garage, where Yin Qiushan's expensive cars were kept.

On the other side, there was also a small shed where the gardening tools were kept. Feng Yongrui remembered seeing that small, inconspicuous shed when he was touring the mansion in his ghost form.

He flew to the shed as quickly as he could, and when he entered the shed, his suspicions were confirmed. Yin Longshen was locked up here.

Yin Longshen looked terrible -- his face was gaunt and pale, and his lips were dry and cracked. His left cheek was swollen, and he was sitting on the dusty ground with his eyes closed.

"Urgh..." Feng Yongrui groaned. Zhao Baozhai was really ruthless... Feng Yongrui also felt a stab of guilt.

If he didn't throw himself down the stairs... if he wasn't so eager to complete his mission... would this happen?

Feng Yongrui hovered quietly near the shed and pondered deeply. He wanted to get closer to the protagonist, but based on Zhao Baozhai's anger, how was he supposed to get closer to him?

Feng Yongrui did not want to act rashly. If Zhao Baozhai really wanted it, even if he kicked up a fuss, Zhao Baozhai still had the authority to separate the two of them.

Feng Yongrui thought of striking a deal with Zhao Baozhai, but he wasn't sure on what terms would make her agree to his request.

Feng Yongrui thought of telling Zhao Baozhai that he wanted a playmate, but if he said that, Zhao Baozhai could still send other children to become his playmate...

What if he said Yin Longshen was suitable to become his (Feng Yongrui's) assistant? Would Zhao Baozhai allow them to stick together if he gave her this reason?

No... most probably not... Then how...?

Feng Yongrui did not want to appear in front of Yin Longshen in his ghost form, so he returned to his nursery with a heavy heart.

Why did he have to be a powerless child like this? It was so annoying.

The next day, Zhao Baozhai finally released Yin Longshen from the shed. However, he was not allowed to go near Feng Yongrui at all.

This time, no matter how much Feng Yongrui cried, pouted, or pleaded, Zhao Baozhai stayed firm in her decision.

She was adamant on separating the two of them. Feng Yongrui couldn't do anything and he was in despair. He began to think that he needed to change his plans...

Several months passed after this incident, and although Yin Longshen wasn't openly bullied by the servants, he wasn't treated well either. However, his blackening value did not change at all.

Right now, Feng Yongrui was three months short of becoming 2 years old. His running, walking, and jumping skills were better than before, but Zhao Baozhai was still afraid that something would happen to him.

Feng Yongrui had also heard a piece of news. Zhao Baozhai wanted to invite a famous Taoist monk to check on Feng Yongrui and read his fortune.

At first, Feng Yongrui didn't think much about it. However, he checked the information given by the System.

Since this time, the System's information was complete, Feng Yongrui was able to highlight any important events that might happen in the future, and well as certain characters and people who might be important in the long run.

And, after reading the information closely, Feng Yongrui realized that this Taoist monk's visit was not simple. If he used this event carefully... maybe he could find a way so that he and his Gege were allowed to stay together!

***

You want to get closer to your older stepbrother, but your mother is not supportive. You...

a) Blackmail her

b) Strike a deal with her

c) Obey her

d) Something else

Comment below~