Chapter 71: Fishing Part 1

“Don’t be impulsive!” Jing Zixiao said tactfully. “That’s your… and your brother’s mutual little sister.”

To put it bluntly, if Dai Linxuan himself didn’t mind that slap, Lai Li had no right to demand justice for him. If he really did something to Dai Yi, it would probably anger Dai Linxuan instead.

Jing Zixiao didn’t understand the dynamics of their family, so he could only advise based on ordinary people’s thinking.

This was also the point that infuriated Lai Li the most—Dai Linxuan was always incredibly tolerant toward those who hurt him, yet Lai Li couldn’t do anything about it.

…Not that he couldn’t do anything at all.

Lai Li suddenly remembered something, and his gloomy expression eased considerably. He was about to speak when the door to the private room was kicked open with a loud “bang.” Jing Deyu burst in energetically. “Hey, you two having a secret rendezvous without calling me!”

Jing Zixiao jumped in fright and immediately shifted the blame. “I thought Lai Li had called you.”

Lai Li shot him a sharp look, but Jing Deyu seized the opportunity to throw an arm around his shoulders in a loose hug. Lai Li’s face twisted for an instant, and Jing Deyu, clearly very familiar with him, quickly backed away before he could get hit.

He looked Lai Li up and down a few times before snatching Jing Zixiao’s wine glass and downing it in one gulp, catching his breath as he panted. “Spill it. Why are you two meeting behind my back?”

Jing Zixiao got goosebumps. “Because we’re not gay.”

“Not necessarily.” Jing Deyu snorted with a laugh. “During that time when Lai Li had no news, I thought he’d been turned into a canary by his brother and…”

Lai Li’s glare was too piercing, forcing Jing Deyu to swallow the words “kept captive.”

But Jing Deyu really did think that. While everyone else was spinning conspiracy theories or believing rumors, he alone wondered if Lai Li had actually died on the operating table or if Dai Linxuan had hidden him away.

As for the reason, it was probably because someone was always going on about “my brother, my brother” while insisting he wasn’t gay.

Who wouldn’t go crazy over someone like that?

“So, what’s the real situation?” Jing Deyu plopped down on the sofa, his eyes slightly reddened. “Was it really Dai Second Uncle behind the car accident?”

Lai Li glanced at the time, his brows furrowing slightly.

He hadn’t called Jing Deyu because he wanted to finish talking with Jing Zixiao quickly and get it over with… But after such a major accident, a normal person would want to catch up with friends.

After a moment of hesitation, he sat down anyway, his face tense. “The police haven’t found any evidence yet.”

Jing Zixiao glanced at Lai Li, thinking this wasn’t like him at all—he actually cared about evidence.

“Whoever it was, they were ruthless.” Jing Deyu sighed, rubbing his eyes. “How badly were you hurt? I saw that video leaked online—your brother holding you, covered in blood…”

Unlike the “disappearance” version circulating in their circle, netizens obsessed with wealthy families now firmly believed in their deep brotherly bond. Some busybodies had even started shipping them as a CP.

Of course, they absolutely couldn’t let the stubborn-as-a-mule Lai Li find out about that.

Jing Zixiao said, “Look at his haircut. Clearly, he hurt his brain.”

Lai Li: “…Subtly insulting me?”

Jing Zixiao feigned shock. “How could I?”

Lai Li snorted coldly and answered Jing Deyu’s question. “I was in a coma for over half a month after surgery. I only woke up recently.”

Jing Zixiao hadn’t realized it was that serious; his wine glass nearly slipped from his hand. “You didn’t wake up until the day we video-called?”

“…Yeah.”

Lai Li didn’t want outsiders knowing he’d been “confined” for several days. After all, to most people, being deprived of freedom like that was terrifying.

Dai Linxuan hadn’t told anyone about his whereabouts or condition—not even Dai Yi. Despite holding his phone every day, he’d coldly ignored the stream of anxious messages from Jing Deyu, Jing Zixiao, and the others, then later lied and said he’d replied to them all…

For at least that period, his brother had truly wanted to hide him away.

Jing Deyu drew in a soft breath. “Good thing you woke up. Otherwise, your brother would have to go through the same thing twice…”

He trailed off, realizing that didn’t sound right. He should be relieved from Lai Li’s perspective that he’d woken up, not focusing on how Dai Linxuan would suffer if he became a vegetable. It came off a bit…

He pondered for a while, trying to figure out how to explain his concern, but Lai Li didn’t see any issue at all and even nodded in agreement.

Fine, whatever.

Jing Deyu asked, “I heard from my sister that the driver who caused the accident was poisoned to death.”

Jing Zixiao frowned. “That does seem odd. As long as the case stuck to ‘mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake,’ it could be ruled an accident. Killing to silence him would just be shooting themselves in the foot, exposing the murder instead. A driver ruthless enough to kill wouldn’t be less tight-lipped than some nurse paid off on the spot?”

It was indeed a suspicious point, one that Lai Li and Dai Linxuan had also considered. This clumsy cover-up didn’t fit the cunning Dai Second Uncle at all. Instead…

Lai Li’s eyes flickered, and he suddenly thought of something. His gaze vaguely fixed on the wine bottle, a flash of killing intent passing through.

“Stop staring.” Jing Deyu misunderstood. “It’s been how long since your surgery? You can’t drink.”

“I wasn’t thinking of drinking.” Lai Li shifted his gaze. “I’ve quit alcohol.”

“?” Jing Deyu was shocked. “For real? Never again?”

Irritation crept into Lai Li’s expression, but he finally replied, “Quit.”

Doctor Ye had emphasized it several times: psychiatric meds weren’t like others. Alcohol was strictly forbidden during treatment.

Lai Li didn’t care, but his brother did. The best way to avoid exposing something was simply not to do it—no need to risk making his brother angry over nothing.

Jing Zixiao asked curiously, “Why quit all of a sudden?”

Lai Li gave an airtight reason. “My brother won’t let me.”

Jing Deyu: “You didn’t drink on the day of the accident, did you? And you weren’t even driving.”

Lai Li: “Drinking harms the body.”

“…” You’d been drinking since you were underage, and your brother never restricted you much.

Jing Deyu shrugged, not pressing further. “Alright, then next time we hang out, I’ll get you juice.”

Jing Zixiao couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Like a kid.”

“Isn’t he just a kid…” Jing Deyu suddenly slapped his thigh hard. “Fuck! You know what? Your sister recently hooked up with He Gan! Those two are thirteen years apart! When He Gan was twenty-two, Dai Yi was still a little kid! And he could go for that? What an old shameless pervert!”

Jing Zixiao inwardly winced, afraid Lai Li would remember that slap. “She’s an adult now. Free love—what’s the big deal…”

“Love? You two are overthinking it. Does Dai Yi even fancy He Gan?” Lai Li sneered. “That dead girl has ulterior motives.”

Jing Deyu: “What do you mean? What’s Dai Yi up to?”

Just to attract Dai Linxuan’s attention.

Lai Li projected his own feelings and finally understood Dai Yi’s intentions—

Dai Linxuan had changed a lot in the past two years. After returning to the country, he’d moved out and grown distant in various ways. Naturally, Lai Li wasn’t the only one unhappy about it.

But in the end, Lai Li remained as close to Dai Linxuan as ever, while Dai Yi had been cast aside. Of course she’d try every trick to draw Dai Linxuan’s focus back.

Unfortunately, Dai Yi had no self-awareness at all.

She wasn’t qualified in any way.

“She’s bored. Ignore her.” Lai Li suddenly felt a bit cheered up. “Did you bring the report?”

Jing Zixiao blanked for a second before realizing which report. “Yeah, it’s in the car.”

Lai Li glanced at the car keys by the door, and Jing Zixiao instantly got the hint—

He was supposed to make an excuse to leave and transfer the report to Lai Li’s car.

Jing Deyu didn’t notice. “Financial report? You’re such a workaholic.”

On the surface, Lai Li co-managed several venues with Jing Zixiao, like the newly opened ski resort. He had business ties with many of his fair-weather friends, including Jing Deyu and Huo Fei. Of course, it was all for show, to avoid making Jing Zixiao seem too special.

Jing Zixiao hemmed. “Uh, I need to hit the bathroom. Can’t hold it anymore.”

At the door, he smoothly pocketed Lai Li’s car keys—

Jing Deyu suddenly went, “Hey,” and Jing Zixiao’s heart leaped to his throat. Fortunately, the next words were, “Is this your phone? Why’d you leave it so far away?”

Lai Li: “Tossed it there when I came in.”

Jing Deyu: “Alright, I’ll switch to a different song for background music. This one’s awful. Don’t you two have any taste…”