Chapter 46: Business Trip Part 1

“Knock knock.”

“Come in.”

The morning sunlight filtered through the stone balustrade of the balcony, casting faint golden streaks.

When Dai Linxuan entered, Lai Li had just pulled his shirt over his head. Most of his waist and back were exposed to the light, revealing beautiful merman abs that tapered downward, disappearing into the loose waistband of his pants. The tattoo in his groin area was faintly visible, with only the snake’s tail and a golden sun peeking out.

Under the play of light and shadow, those crisscrossing, terrifying scars became less prominent, reduced to mere accents of wildness.

Dai Linxuan hesitated, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

“. . . Morning.”

“Morning, bro.” Lai Li’s voice was muffled and hoarse through the fabric.

“Don’t bother putting it on.” Dai Linxuan walked in and closed the door behind him.

“Hm?” Lai Li poked his head out, his shirt caught at his elbows.

Dai Linxuan picked up the scar removal cream from the nightstand, unscrewing the cap as he approached.

Lai Li pursed his lips, his emotions unreadable.

Since being splashed with sulfuric acid, he hadn’t applied the cream even once. The doctor had warned against smoking, drinking, and spicy or oily foods, but he hadn’t followed a single instruction.

Lai Li wanted to keep these scars.

He hoped that among these ugly, unbearable scars, more marks related to Dai Linxuan would appear—ideally ones carved by Dai Linxuan’s own hand. Of course, that was impossible.

Getting injured for Dai Linxuan’s sake would serve the same purpose—as a memento, a mark, an anchor for memory.

He already regretted how quickly the bite wound had healed. Lai Li didn’t want this mottled burn scar to vanish too.

At the same time, he could sense his brother’s attitude softening slightly, as if he no longer rejected all contact beyond mere plastic brotherhood. Dai Linxuan might accept him as his sole outlet for nightlife, perhaps even return to how things were before.

Lai Li didn’t want to push away this hard-won initiative from his brother, so his eyes flickered, and he said nothing.

Dai Linxuan stated flatly, “You didn’t apply it last night.”

Lai Li: “Forgot.”

“You’re really disobedient.”

Dai Linxuan stopped in front of Lai Li. His fingertip lightly touched Lai Li’s shoulder. Though he exerted no force, Lai Li’s body reacted as if controlled, his knees buckling involuntarily as he fell back onto the bed.

Before applying the cream, Dai Linxuan unnecessarily asked, “Is this okay?”

Lai Li naturally affirmed, “Mm.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lai Li realized he’d answered too hastily.

Dai Linxuan didn’t touch him with his fingers at all. He merely used a cotton swab to dab the ointment onto the shoulder, the cotton fibers scraping unpleasantly against the skin.

Lai Li grabbed the fabric at his brother’s waist, frowning silently.

Dai Linxuan’s downcast eyes shifted slightly, catching Lai Li’s displeased expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“I want your hand.” After saying it, Lai Li reluctantly added, “The cotton swab’s too rough. It doesn’t feel good.”

“. . .”

Dai Linxuan said nothing, switching to his fingertip to apply the medicine. The scar wasn’t large, and it was done quickly. But the instructions said to massage it in for a few minutes afterward.

Lai Li had only been scrawny and fragile in his early years. As he grew, his energy surged, and he took to all sorts of extreme sports—rock climbing, skiing, racing. He often ended up covered in bruises, with muscle fatigue and strains being commonplace.

Lai Li never allowed anyone else to touch him, so Dai Linxuan always handled the massages to relieve his soreness.

Over time, Dai Linxuan’s technique improved, mastering a gentle yet penetrating touch.

“Cold?”

Lai Li licked his lips, staring at Dai Linxuan’s waist as he said, “Not cold.”

Dai Linxuan pivoted on his heel. As he pulled his hand away, Lai Li grabbed it and immediately changed his tune without hesitation: “A little cold.”

“. . .”

For a moment, Dai Linxuan couldn’t quite describe the feeling. This lawless little punk seemed to be losing himself under the pressure, lowering himself to such an extent that he was even willing to become a tool for release rather than face any “change” from his brother.

“I’ll get a hot towel.” Dai Linxuan pulled his hand free and headed to the bathroom. “Take a look at your shoulder yourself.”

Lai Li finally turned his head and saw that the spot where He Shuxin had struck him was a deep purple-black, swollen faintly, with frightening bruises spreading at the edges.

Soon, Dai Linxuan returned with the hot towel and pressed it to Lai Li’s shoulder.

Perhaps from the sudden heat, or maybe because Dai Linxuan pressed a bit too hard, a wave of soreness seeped into the flesh and bone, making even his soul shiver along with it.

Dai Linxuan continued massaging the acid scar with his other hand. Once the cream was fully absorbed, the towel had cooled.

“Tonight, video call. I’ll watch you apply it.” Dai Linxuan tossed the shirt onto Lai Li’s face. “My flight’s at noon. Heading out of province for business.”

Lai Li pulled the shirt away and blurted out his displeasure: “Leaving again?”

Dai Linxuan said, “Back in two days.”

Lai Li felt that real-time bodyguard surveillance wasn’t enough at all. He always struggled to learn about Dai Linxuan’s scheduled trips in advance. Lai Li held back, pulling on his shirt as he asked, “What for?”

The messy scars vanished as the shirt settled into place. No one would guess that beneath Lai Li’s neat attire lay so many old wounds.

Clothed, Lai Li still resembled a male college student. Naked, he looked more like a mercenary from a Western film, living on the edge of a knife while keeping an intact “pretty boy” face.

Dai Linxuan calmly withdrew his gaze. “Grandpa wants to open a sea route.”

Lai Li sneered coldly. “The merger isn’t even settled, and he’s in such a hurry? Is he dying?”

Dai Linxuan crooked a finger and flicked his forehead. “Is that how I taught you? So disrespectful to your elders?”

Lai Li turned his face away expressionlessly. “My only ‘elder’ is you.”

“. . .” A faint sigh echoed in Dai Linxuan’s heart, though his expression remained as mild as ever. “Grandpa’s health isn’t what it used to be. He really is in a hurry.”

Dai Songxue wanted too much: to eliminate any chance of Dai Corporation falling into his daughter-in-law’s hands, to have his grandsons follow his preset life paths, to keep the mother and sons in check against each other, and to reclaim the ancestral estate before death.

Greed knew no bounds, and it rarely ended well.

Before breakfast, Dai Linxuan changed the bandage on Lai Li’s hand, saying indifferently, “I hope it’s healed by the time I get back.”

Before Dai Linxuan could discard the old one, Lai Li pocketed it and hummed in acknowledgment.

Dai Linxuan said, “If anything happens, tell me.”

Lai Li dismissed it. “What could happen to me?”

Dai Linxuan gave him a deep look but said nothing. The two entered the dining room one after the other. Dai Yi hadn’t gotten up yet, and Jiang Qiujun had already finished and left.

Cai Bo smiled and sighed. “The madam headed to South Garden first thing this morning.”

Dai Linxuan sat down. “Has anyone come to visit Dad lately?”

“Plenty. They’ve all made at least one visit.” Cai Bo shook his head helplessly. “The old master came twice too, wanting to bring the young master back to the Old Residence. It’s just a father’s love.”

Dai Linxuan brought the porridge to his lips but only sipped once before setting the spoon back in the bowl.

Lai Li watched from the corner of his eye and noticed Dai Linxuan doing this repeatedly. After a dozen scoops, the porridge level hadn’t dropped at all.

He ate like he was putting on a show.

Lai Li couldn’t take it anymore. “Bro, did your taste buds regress after two years abroad? Need me to feed you?”

“. . . No manners.” Dai Linxuan glanced at him and finally swallowed a full spoonful. “What’s your plan today?”

Lai Li said, “Nothing.”

Dai Linxuan paused after two sips, peeled an egg, and placed it on Lai Li’s plate. “November’s almost here. That ski resort you set up last year should be gearing up for opening, right?”

Lai Li popped the egg into his mouth and chewed it down in two bites. He wolfed through breakfast like a storm, then set his empty bowl aside and began staring intently at Dai Linxuan eating. “End of the month.”

Dai Linxuan sipped his porridge leisurely, ignoring the other dishes. “I’ll check it out then.”

Lai Li was a bit surprised. “Okay.”

His brother didn’t ski, and the sport offered no business value. Deals were more often sealed over golf—elegant, unflustered, minds turning nonstop amid the play.

In his thirty years, almost nothing Dai Linxuan had learned was chosen out of personal interest.

Under Lai Li’s unwavering stare, Dai Linxuan painstakingly finished breakfast. His expression remained calm and breezy, though he ate slowly.

Dai Linxuan returned to his bedroom to pack for the trip, and Lai Li had other plans, so he didn’t follow.

When everyone was up, the house usually started cleaning at eight. From the stairwell landing, Lai Li watched the maid exit Jiang Qiujun’s bedroom and toss a bag of trash into the large bin in the back yard.

Once the maid left, Lai Li adjusted his gloves and approached. He sliced open one bag with a small knife and effortlessly picked out a small clump of hair.