Lai Li propped his elbow against the car door and stared out the window blankly. He clenched his fist with five fingers pressed against his lips, occasionally nibbling on his knuckles.
Dai Linxuan glanced at the rearview mirror, his gaze brushing over Lai Li’s face. The city’s nightscape flashed by rapidly outside, illuminating Lai Li’s features in bursts of vibrant neon lights that flickered on and off. Only the deep sockets of his eyes remained perpetually shrouded in shadow, indistinguishable.
The car slowly pulled into the underground garage of Hezi Mountain Mansion.
Dai Linxuan pulled out the key and opened the car door. “What are you thinking about? We’re home.”
“…Nothing.” Lai Li watched his brother’s back, then lifted his hand to bite his fingertip.
Dai Linxuan closed the car door and circled around to the passenger side to open the door for the little ancestor. “Not getting out? Planning to sleep in the car?”
Lai Li got out and headed to the underground lobby with him.
Dai Linxuan extended his index finger to tap the access panel. “I’ll have the property management come by sometime to register your fingerprint.”
Lai Li: “Okay.”
Of course, they needed to register his fingerprint. That way, he could open the door himself and spare his brother from touching one more thing.
Their footsteps echoed prominently on the cold marble tiles. Their tall, slender figures reflected side by side on the elevator doors, maintaining a very measured, safe distance.
Dai Linxuan said, “I’m not going to the company tomorrow morning. I’ll go with you to take Song Zichu to the police station.”
Lai Li clenched his outer hand into a fist and hummed in acknowledgment.
With a “ding,” the elevator doors opened. They stepped inside, and Lai Li pressed the button for the tenth floor. A dozen seconds later, they were back at their front door.
Dai Linxuan pulled open the shoe cabinet and paused slightly upon seeing it—the previously empty space was now packed full. Dress shoes and sneakers were arranged haphazardly, but it actually looked pretty neat.
He took out two pairs of the new slippers that had appeared, placing one pair by Lai Li’s feet. “How come you bought the same style?”
Lai Li had worn the same shoe size as him since he was around eighteen or nineteen, so identical styles made it impossible to tell whose was whose.
“Couples’ style.” Lai Li bent down to put his outdoor shoes into the disinfection cabinet, his tone casual. “We can’t wear matching clothes outside, but not at home?”
Dai Linxuan gave him a look and smiled. “Fine.”
They had even worn matching watches and cufflinks before, which drew even more attention than matching shoes. But back then, Lai Li hadn’t veered onto this “wrong path” yet. He saw nothing wrong with brothers sharing the same accessories—open and aboveboard, without any thought of avoiding suspicion.
Dai Linxuan opened the front door and flicked on the lights, only to pause again.
Lai Li’s warm body pressed against him from behind. His hands wrapped around to hug Dai Linxuan’s waist, and he gently rubbed his forehead against his shoulder… a complete contrast to the distance he kept outside.
“Bro…”
Dai Linxuan didn’t speak for a long moment.
The living room had gained quite a few new items. A famous painting from some auction years ago now hung on the north wall—a piece he didn’t even remember buying. A massive rug lay under the sofa, next to a corner high tea table with a long blanket draped over it, its tassels trailing to the floor and held down by a few books.
Dai Linxuan had mild nearsightedness and couldn’t see far clearly, but from the colors on the book covers, he vaguely recognized them as the ones he’d flipped through but never finished over two years ago.
Inside the glass partition wall at the corner sat a semi-antique vase filled with a wildly mismatched, flamboyantly blooming bouquet of colorful roses.
It was obvious who was behind it.
The space still lacked much of a lived-in feel, but for someone as clueless as Lai Li to go to such lengths created an illusion of “home” in the act itself.
Dai Linxuan grasped the hands at his waist and couldn’t help but pinch them. “You did all this in one morning?”
They’d eaten lunch together, and Lai Li had met Jing Zixiao in the afternoon, so only the morning had been free for these little touches.
Lai Li lowered his head and nudged Dai Linxuan’s shoulder with it. “Don’t like it?”
“I like it.” Dai Linxuan gave an affirmative answer. He zoned out for a moment, then turned his head slightly. “Tired?”
“This isn’t tiring. I didn’t buy any of it myself—they were all delivered.” Lai Li’s lips moved to Dai Linxuan’s nape and nipped lightly. “Only the flowers were picked by me at the neighborhood entrance.”
Dai Linxuan chuckled. “I could tell.”
Lai Li caught the teasing but didn’t get mad. “I originally wanted to gut the whole place and renovate.”
Dai Linxuan asked, “Then where would we live?”
Lai Li: “We have more than one house.”
Dai Linxuan: “So why didn’t you?”
Because you never planned to live here long-term…
Lai Li’s eyes darkened a shade, but he said insincerely, “Moving would make it inconvenient for you to go to the company.”
Dai Linxuan didn’t mind. As long as Lai Li was happy and healthy, he could do whatever he wanted.
The master bedroom had changed a lot too. The bedding was now a textured black set. The previously empty side by the window now had a lounge sofa and tea table, with a pretty potted plant in the corner.
Dai Linxuan sighed inwardly. How much research did this take…
Lai Li said, “The new underwear and pajamas are washed and dried.”
Meaning he should wear them tonight.
Dai Linxuan smiled. “You washed them?”
“Yeah.” Lai Li said, “Don’t worry, the washing machine can’t fit me anymore.”
“…”
Dai Linxuan had some PTSD about that. As a kid, whenever Lai Li was upset, he’d crawl into the laundry room at the manor and curl up inside the drum washing machine to sleep.
There had been a news story back then about a child who got into a washing machine and suffered a heartbreaking accident. For a long time after, Dai Linxuan panicked whenever Lai Li was out of sight.
He crooked a finger and flicked Lai Li’s hand. “You’re too big now to crawl in there—you’d deserve a beating.”
Dai Linxuan walked into the walk-in closet and found not just pajamas, but also several coats, down jackets, jackets, and at least a dozen new sweaters.
Dai Linxuan laughed helplessly. “All your clothes?”
Lai Li: “The jacket’s mine. The rest are yours. We can both wear the sweaters—no one will see.”
Dai Linxuan found it amusing. “You’re stealing Cai Bo’s job.”
Lai Li said matter-of-factly, “Just filling the gap from the past two years.”
“…”
Like Jiang Qiujun, Dai Linxuan hated shopping for himself. Cai Bo handled most clothing purchases, with tailors or brands for special occasion formalwear.
Lai Li was different—he loved buying things for Dai Linxuan, from underwear to watches. But not in the past two years; even if he bought them, he never saw Dai Linxuan wear them.
This reminded Dai Linxuan of Dai Yi.
As a child, Dai Yi adored those life-sized dolls that creeped adults out. She loved dressing them up, mixing outfits, and even taught herself to sew… until Dai Songxue mocked her, and no amount of coaxing could get her to play anymore.
Lai Li was like little Dai Yi, and he was the doll being dressed.
Dai Linxuan laughed at the thought, shook his head, and didn’t dwell. He picked up the thread: “Still holding a grudge from two years ago? What would it take to forgive me?”
Lai Li looked at him for a moment and said softly, “Have you forgiven me yet?”
Dai Linxuan paused slightly, picked up the pajamas, and headed to the bathroom. He patted Lai Li’s hand as he passed. “Forgive you for what? Forgetting things because of your illness? I’m not mad.”
Lai Li said, “I mean the thing that made you suddenly abandon me and go abroad two years ago.”
“…” Dai Linxuan didn’t really want to talk about it, but clearly he couldn’t avoid it. He walked into the bathroom and started filling the tub. “You remember?”
Lai Li followed and fell silent.
“Looks like you don’t.” Dai Linxuan glanced up at him. “It wasn’t a big deal. I just overheard you on the phone with someone, saying how disgusting it was that we were doing gay stuff together.”
He said it flatly, unable to mimic Lai Li’s tone from back then, as if it truly wasn’t a big deal.
But Lai Li’s heart trembled inexplicably. “After we slept together?”
Dai Linxuan hummed and sat on the edge of the tub.
This was the first time Dai Linxuan had directly admitted they’d been intimate two years ago—while Lai Li had no knowledge of it. His mind swirled with related images… from his fantasies or dreams, where he’d defiled his brother countless times.
Yet now, he couldn’t distinguish the one real memory from them.
He’d even forgotten his post-sex “slip of the tongue.” He might have remembered it then but hadn’t seen the problem, casually wounding his brother’s heart.
Lai Li’s head ached again, but he ignored it. Before his mind could catch up, his body had already knelt in front of Dai Linxuan. “Bro, I…”
“I know. You were afraid outsiders would misunderstand our relationship and it would affect me, so you said that.” Dai Linxuan soothingly pinched his nape. “I wasn’t mature enough back then, didn’t think of that. I really couldn’t hold back.”
Lai Li opened his mouth. “…Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” Dai Linxuan’s tone was gentle. “Looking back, it wasn’t worth getting mad about. If I’d walked in and talked to you then, I might not have gone abroad, leaving you in the dark and miserable for two years.”
They’d taken that step, but he’d always felt it was wrong. Beyond the hurt from Lai Li’s words, there was guilt: Turns out Lai Li doesn’t like you that way, but you did something wrong to him.
Dai Linxuan couldn’t face his own mistake, so he hadn’t gone in right away to talk it out.
Timely communication might have prevented a lot.
Unfortunately, time couldn’t turn back.
Dai Linxuan’s gaze fell on the rising water. Moments later, he tested the temperature and coaxed, “I promise, nothing like that will happen again… Take off your clothes and soak in the bath.”
An inexplicable irritation surged in Lai Li, making his breathing labored. He couldn’t tell if Dai Linxuan truly forgave him, despite the calm, gentle tone.
He said, “Bro, we’re together now.”
Dai Linxuan turned back. “Hm?”
Lai Li: “Can I have the ring back?”
Dai Linxuan was stunned, then smiled. “Your Schrödinger’s amnesia—how do you still remember the ring?”
Lai Li’s expression darkened. “Are you—”
Dai Linxuan beckoned. “The water will get cold if you keep adding.”
Lai Li: “Stop changing the subject.”
“I’m not saying no.” Dai Linxuan agreed readily this time. “Get in and soak. I’ll go get it.”
Once Lai Li stripped and stepped into the water, Dai Linxuan left.
Hearing the door close, Lai Li instinctively pulled out his phone to check the surveillance… Wait!
His phone had been with his brother the whole time—did that mean the cameras he’d installed had already been discovered?
Lai Li stiffened slightly, his expression inscrutable as he gripped the phone. He couldn’t resist and opened the app to check Dai Linxuan’s real-time movements.
Dai Linxuan went to the study after leaving the bedroom. He didn’t close the door, bent down to retrieve the ring from a drawer, and tossed it in his hand. He was sideways to the camera, expression unclear. After a few seconds, he closed the drawer and returned.
Lai Li quickly pocketed his phone, a storm churning in his chest, feeling deeply uncomfortable.
The safe in the study was gone.
Lai Li hadn’t noticed that morning, but the moment he opened the surveillance, he remembered the two reasons he’d installed it—
One was to monitor his brother’s daily life constantly. The other was to find out what was in that safe.
Dai Linxuan returned to the bathroom and placed the ring on the counter nearby, joking, “Don’t do this again. Auctioning it from left hand to right makes it look like I’m laundering money.”
Lai Li extended his hand. “Put it on for me.”
Dai Linxuan had been about to shower but sat back down. He lifted Lai Li’s wrist with one hand and held the ring with the other. “Which finger?”
“…” Lai Li stared at him.
Dai Linxuan guessed what he was thinking and laughed. “Everyone knows I bought He Si’s Ring. You sure about the ring finger?”
Lai Li frowned. “Never mind.”
He withdrew his hand, took the ring himself, and placed it on the other side, guarding it like it might be stolen.
Dai Linxuan had expected this and didn’t interfere.
Lai Li asked casually, “Bro, how come I didn’t see your safe when I came this morning?”
“You mean the one left by the developers?” Dai Linxuan explained. “Poor quality. I tossed it recently and got a new one.”
Lai Li: “…”
Dai Linxuan flicked his hand. “Didn’t you install surveillance? Didn’t check the footage?”
“.” Lai Li leaned in, hugged Dai Linxuan’s waist, and nuzzled.
Dai Linxuan leaned back suddenly, caught off guard. He braced one hand against the bathtub and wrapped the other around Lai Li’s shoulders, his clothes soaking through completely.
He said helplessly, “Calling you a little puppy is spot on. You always act spoiled when you’ve done something wrong.”
Lai Li asked, “Are you angry?”
“What would I be angry about? Didn’t I install a tracker on yours too? It’s only fair.” Dai Linxuan ran his hand along Lai Li’s damp back and, unusually, made his request in a declarative tone. “It’s just the tracker—no listening devices or anything. Don’t remove it. Let me have some peace of mind.”
“Got it.” Lai Li bit open the buttons of his shirt. “Call me one more time.”
Dai Linxuan played dumb. “What?”
Lai Li said nothing. He buried himself in Dai Linxuan’s chest and gnawed the buttons open one by one.
Dai Linxuan felt unbearably ticklish and arched his back, laughing as he begged for mercy. “Spare me, Young Master. People our age have different mindsets now. I really can’t say it… It’s too cheesy.”
—
Qiu’en Manor.
Cai Bo heard a heavy crash from upstairs. He hurried to the second floor and knocked on the door of the only occupied bedroom. “Xiao Yi, what happened?”
The room stayed silent for a long time, with no response.
Cai Bo grew very worried, assuming Dai Yi had fallen and fainted. He was about to send someone for a key when he heard her voice, trembling slightly. “I’m fine, Cai Bo. I accidentally knocked over a vase… But I’m going to sleep now. I’ll clean it up in the morning.”
“All right…” Cai Bo said with concern. “Just be careful if you get up in the night. Don’t step on it.”
Inside the room, Dai Yi opened her mouth, wanting to call back “All right,” but no sound came out.
She stared at the two paternity test reports in the email. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms and leaving several bloody crescent marks.
—The report stated in black and white at the end that she, Dai Yi, shared no blood relation with Dai Enhao or Jiang Qiujun.
Dai Enhao was not her biological father. Jiang Qiujun was not her biological mother.
