The office fell silent, and for a long time, no one spoke.
Dai Linxuan didn’t know exactly what Lai Li had gone through as a child. Lai Li had never been willing to talk about it, and he hadn’t had the heart to press him. But from Lai Li’s various stress responses in those early years, he could always guess at some of it.
Dai Linxuan had simply been deprived of love, but Lai Li had struggled just to stay alive.
In comparison, the faint bitterness of his own youth seemed insignificant.
It was basic human decency not to smack one’s lips in front of someone who was starving and complain that “today’s porridge only had sea cucumbers, no abalone.”
“I don’t need those things.” Lai Li’s other hand also covered Dai Linxuan’s, his tone calm and indifferent. “Bro, I only need you.”
They held hands for so long that Dai Linxuan’s hand warmed up, sending waves of warmth that passed to Lai Li’s other hand.
Dai Linxuan almost asked out loud: What if there’s no me in the future?
He could still do just fine, right?
Lai Li was twenty-two this year. With someone he loved who felt the same, he could go to the Civil Affairs Bureau, get married, and settle down. The assets in his name weren’t vast, but they were enough for him to live out the rest of his life as a carefree little playboy.
Unfortunately, Lai Li wasn’t fooled by Dai Linxuan’s heartfelt confession. “What you’re talking about happened a long time ago. There’s no reason for the conflict to erupt just in the last two years.”
Lai Li didn’t believe these matters were enough to make the always respectful and obedient Dai Linxuan go two years without calling his mother once.
“Emotions build up bit by bit, and when they reach a critical point, they naturally erupt.” Dai Linxuan leaned back, looking at Lai Li. “I told you before—two years ago, Grandpa gave me evidence of Mom’s private financial dealings with the auto repair shop.”
There was something strange in Dai Linxuan’s eyes at that moment, just like the last time he mentioned it. Even though he tried his best to restrain and conceal it, a faint layer of loathing still lingered in the depths.
Loathing whom? Jiang Qiujun? Dai Songxue?
“I couldn’t bring myself to expose it, especially since the evidence wasn’t solid enough. But I still laid it all out in front of her, demanding the truth. That sparked the first real argument we’d ever had. The process was long, so I won’t recount it…” Dai Linxuan paused for a moment before continuing, “In the end, the argument inevitably dredged up old grievances, and she said—Dai Yi is her only recognized child.”
“…”
Lai Li’s gaze darkened. Even though he had never experienced maternal love, the tenderness Dai Linxuan had poured into him over the past twelve years had given him enough empathy to imagine it—a mother saying something like that to one of her own children was no different from stabbing a knife straight into the heart.
And this child had been outstanding and sensible from a young age, excelling in everything without ever making a single mistake, yet had to endure such verbal abuse.
How innocent.
That was exactly why, when Jiang Qiujun had lost control earlier and said, “Do you want me to watch my own child be pointed at and reviled by thousands?”, it had struck a chord with Dai Linxuan, even prompting him to volunteer for a urine test… when he clearly hadn’t planned to explain much at first.
Dai Linxuan said flatly, “And she never intended for me to inherit the family business. She wouldn’t give me even a single share.”
In most cases, parents preferred the child who took after them, but Dai Linxuan—who was carved from the same mold as Jiang Qiujun—didn’t win her favor, while the deeply pampered Dai Yi hadn’t inherited much of her parents’ genes in looks or personality.
Maybe it was because she grew up surrounded by love, so she could be more carefree and unrestrained.
Lai Li supported Dai Linxuan in fighting for what was his, but some things still needed to be said. “Bro, even without Dai Corporation, your future would still be bright and unobstructed.”
Dai Linxuan was silent for a long while before lowering his eyes with a smile. “Is that so?”
Lai Li: “Yes.”
“But I’m still not reconciled…” Dai Linxuan said softly. “I still hate.”
Lai Li froze abruptly, recalling the way Dai Linxuan had looked at him that night before.
The word “hate” felt too heavy for Dai Linxuan—heavy enough to seem out of place.
“Over these past two years outside, I tried to let it go.” Dai Linxuan said, lost in thought. “But in the end, I’m just a mortal. I couldn’t truly remain indifferent, so I came back to fight for it.”
It sounded like a child who had never been valued, planning to confront his parents with his own abilities and force them to see him, even if just once.
Dai Linxuan said, “I deceived Mom, telling her I could help her get the shares Grandpa holds, and all she needed to do was let me into the board of directors.”
Dai Songxue liked him, his grandson, the most. That was his biggest bargaining chip in the fight for inheritance. Once he was on the board, it would be hard to oust him.
Lai Li waited a moment and realized Dai Linxuan had finished. He asked, “Is that all?”
Dai Linxuan hummed in affirmation.
Lai Li furrowed his brow. “Two years ago, did President Jiang…”
Dai Linxuan looked at him. “What?”
Lai Li asked bluntly, “Did she find out you like men—find out you like me?”
“…” Dai Linxuan was speechless for a moment. “I honestly don’t know if she found out.”
Lai Li narrowed his eyes.
“It’s not what you think. Do you really believe she’d care about that? Scold me because of my sexual orientation or who it’s directed at?” Dai Linxuan shook his head with a laugh. “No. If Xiao Yi liked girls, she might intervene, but as for me—she never cared before how I lived my life, and she won’t care in the future.”
Lai Li dropped a bombshell: “If she doesn’t care, I will.”
“…”
Even Dai Linxuan, who was well-traveled and unflappable, was stunned by Lai Li’s outrageous declaration, which flipped the natural order upside down.
Who was the older brother here?
Dai Linxuan was silent for a long time before leaning forward to open the office drawer. “If you don’t mind me lighting a cigarette…”
Before he could touch the pack, Lai Li snatched it away and held it high.
“Confiscated.” Lai Li said displeased. “No smoking.”
Dai Linxuan leaned back and laughed. “You act just like…”
Lai Li: “Like what?”
“Why do you have to manage everything?” Dai Linxuan spread his hands. “Anyway, that’s the gist of it. I don’t want to keep living passively anymore, even if it means using some shady tactics to deceive Mom and Grandpa. So what? As long as I achieve my goal.”
The Dai Linxuan saying this bore no resemblance to the gentle gentleman of the past. He was more like a TV drama villain who had abandoned his conscience and was gradually heading toward betrayal by all.
Lai Li looked at him for a while before asking, “Is your goal just to get Dai Corporation?”
Dai Linxuan looked at him without speaking.
“Bro, no matter what you want, I’ll help you.” Lai Li tossed the cigarettes into the trash. “But there are some things you shouldn’t do—they’ll ruin you. And I don’t care.”
“Anything you don’t want to do or can’t do openly, just leave it to me… anything at all.”
Dai Linxuan understood the implication, his brow furrowing slightly as he slowly narrowed his eyes.
Lai Li looked at Dai Linxuan. “So don’t hide things from me. Tell me everything…”
Lai Li’s voice cut off abruptly. Dai Linxuan suddenly yanked him into his arms and pressed down hard on the back of his neck. Lai Li stared at the familiar sight right in front of him, his mind flashing with five big words—
Holding it in again?
Dai Linxuan smacked him on the head. “I raised you all these years just so you could become the knife that handles dirty work, living like a ghost in the shadows forever!?”
“…” So he had only been pulled down because it was inconvenient to hit him standing up.
Lai Li felt a little dizzy for a moment. There was no such scene in his mind—this was the first time his bro had ever slapped him. He was stunned for a bit, not understanding why Dai Linxuan’s reaction was so intense.
Dai Linxuan’s chest heaved for a while, his gaze turning slightly cold. “Lai Li, if you dare act behind my back, then pretend I don’t exist—”
“I’m sorry.” Lai Li leaned in and hugged Dai Linxuan, pressing his face into his bro’s neck. “I said the wrong thing.”
“…” The rising anger in Dai Linxuan was extinguished in his chest just like that. He raised his hand, pausing two finger-widths from Lai Li’s waist before withdrawing it.
He had grown up, after all. This kind of softening and coquetry had come naturally before, but now at over six feet tall, it just looked awkward.
Dai Linxuan: “Get out.”
Lai Li slowly released his bro but didn’t move a step.
“Let me be alone for a while.” Dai Linxuan softened his tone, massaging his temples. “This video was sent to the board members. Even if Mom can handle the source, it will affect the upcoming board vote. I need to think of a solution.”
Lai Li really couldn’t help with that. He turned on his heel and took two steps toward the door, then looked back. “Bro, did you do the same thing to the guy in the video?”
He meant the boy kneeling between Dai Linxuan’s legs in the video—the same thing as that morning after returning to the country.
“I thought you wouldn’t ask.” Dai Linxuan calmly tossed the question back. “—What do you think?”
This time, Lai Li really left without looking back. He slammed the door hard, producing a loud bang.
Lai Li stood expressionless at the door, barely suppressing the dark surge inside him.
For a split second, he almost saw a cloud of black mist at Dai Linxuan’s heart, like concentrated sulfuric acid splashed on flesh, slowly corroding the surrounding tissue with a sizzling sound.
But his bro seemed to feel no pain, remaining calm and breezy from start to finish.
After two years abroad, his bro had turned into a liar.
Lai Li found it ironic. His bro had lived thirty years without ever uttering a “scram,” so how could he fall out with his mother and sister over so-called inheritance rights and the neglect of his youth?
Someone who often wallowed in self-pity and harbored every injustice wouldn’t end up so upright and noble.
His bro might not have lied, but he had definitely concealed most of the truth.
If Dai Linxuan hadn’t left Dai Corporation at twenty, Jiang Qiujun probably couldn’t have shaken his position now. Yet he had gone out to start his own venture right when seizing power would have been easiest, only to return when it was hardest and declare he wanted to fight.
Absurd.
His phone buzzed. A message from Jing Deyu: On extended vacation, Young Master Lai? I picked up that car President Jiang gave you half a month ago. When are you coming to test drive it? It’s badass!
Lai Li didn’t reply, staring fixedly at his phone wallpaper.
“Bro, you’re not behaving.” He murmured softly. “You’ve been so disobedient lately.”
Dai Linxuan sat for a while before standing and walking to the floor-to-ceiling window.
The plump cactus was missing a large chunk, its roots damaged—it was beyond saving.
Dai Linxuan fetched a bag and picked up the cactus remnants with his bare hands.
The instant the thorns pricked his skin, a faint pain spread—not enough to jolt him awake—followed by an indescribable itch in his throat.
Dai Linxuan stared for a moment before pressing harder, driving the sharp cactus spines into his flesh.
Soon, dense beads of blood seeped from his fingertip… It didn’t hurt that much.
Dai Linxuan didn’t let go, letting the thorns sink deeper and deeper, almost whole spines embedding into the bloody flesh. His skin fused tightly with the cactus surface, as if they had grown together.
Bzzz*—his phone on the desk suddenly rang.
Dai Linxuan seemed not to hear it. Only when blood seeped from the gaps between the cactus and his hand did he suddenly stop. He forcibly peeled the spines from his fingertip and tossed them into the bag with the potted plant debris on the floor.
He stood up, letting his injured hand hang at his side. He allowed the bright red blood to stain the lines on his palm, gathering at his fingertip into a perfect droplet, hanging but not falling—like a vermilion mole at the tip of white jade.
He walked to the desk and stopped, picking up his phone with his other hand to check—
【He Xunzhang】: On vacation? Come hang at the club?
