As soon as the car stopped steadily, Shi Jiufeng quickly got out, hurriedly running into the elevator like dodging a plague god, without the slightest intention of waiting for Jin Cixu, and pressed the floor where his younger brother was.
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Shi Jiufeng saw that pure black car slowly drive away.
Huh?
Didn’t he say he wasn’t well-rested and needed to see a doctor?
Why did he leave?
A strange feeling rose in Shi Jiufeng’s heart, but he didn’t dwell on it. After going upstairs to check on his brother’s condition, he hurriedly left.
On the way back to the Ling residence, it happened to be the evening rush hour. Wu Chang’an wasn’t driving fast to begin with, and by the time they arrived home, the sky was completely dark.
Dinner was served on the dining table. Although Shi Jiufeng was the only one eating, the chef still prepared six dishes according to the rules.
Yet, the exquisitely plated food exuded a nauseating aura. Shi Jiufeng looked at it for a long time, and ultimately only symbolically ate two mouthfuls of greens before going upstairs to rest.
Shi Jiufeng didn’t want to waste food either, but he truly had no appetite.
The scene of Shi Yinghan and Fang Weixi flirting kept spinning in his mind. Fang Weixi had said that she and Shi Yinghan had maintained their relationship for three years.
Yet, from the time Bai Miaoxi passed away until now, it had only been a little over five years.
Although Shi Yinghan hadn’t committed infidelity, and in this era, there was no rule requiring one to stay chaste for a deceased person for a lifetime, Shi Jiufeng still felt he had betrayed his mother.
As a father, Shi Yinghan was actually very good to Shi Jiufeng.
The only thing worth criticizing was that, apart from painting, whispering sweet words to his wife, and taking the children out for outings, he turned a blind eye to everything else at home.
However, there was always a nanny at home, so Shi Jiufeng didn’t think there was anything wrong with this when he was little.
Until he entered high school.
On an ordinary night, inspiration suddenly popped into his head, so instead of doing his homework first, he translated that inspiration into an essay.
By the time he finished his homework, the time had already reached past one in the morning.
Long hours of intellectual activity left Shi Jiufeng ravenous. He wanted to sleep, but his stomach kept growling and he couldn’t fall asleep at all. With no other choice, he got up, intending to go to the kitchen to find something to eat, only to see Bai Miaoxi resting against the sofa after walking downstairs.
Bai Miaoxi was on the phone with a friend, her eyes closed, so she didn’t notice Shi Jiufeng standing right next to the stairs.
Bai Miaoxi: My husband? He just fell asleep. I’ll go back up after he sleeps soundly.
Bai Miaoxi: I’ve been working overtime every day lately. I don’t even know what time I’ll finish myself.
Bai Miaoxi: I told him.
Bai Miaoxi suddenly laughed: If he won’t wait, then he won’t wait. He paints every day, he needs to rest up his spirit.
The next day, Shi Jiufeng mentioned this matter to Shi Yinghan and added, Mom has been working very hard lately. Dad, you should care more about Mom too.
Shi Yinghan agreed readily, yet continued to act his usual self, never going to the company to check on Bai Miaoxi, nor waiting for her to come home at night.
Shi Jiufeng asked him, Didn’t you promise me?
Shi Yinghan just gave a light chuckle: I’m a man, these things aren’t what a man should do.
This wasn’t a matter of principle, but what Shi Jiufeng saw was a completely asymmetrical emotional investment between the two people.
Compared to his mother, Shi Yinghan loved himself more.
Especially after taking over his father’s role to give his mother more care, Shi Jiufeng increasingly felt that Shi Yinghan was actually an emotionally indifferent person. He wasn’t perfect at all, and even at times, he subjected every member of his family to cold violence.
Shi Jiufeng could not control his thoughts. After he had already judged Shi Yinghan as the fault-making party, he inevitably thought of the day he first met Shen Biyun.
Even though the conditions offered by Shen Biyun were generous enough, if he had to sacrifice the rest of his life, his love, and his marriage, he was not willing at all.
He returned home and recounted the ins and outs to Shi Yinghan.
At that time, Shi Jiufeng thought that as long as Shi Yinghan showed even a tiny shred of displeasure about this matter, he would truly willingly agree to Shen Biyun.
Unexpectedly, after hearing it, Shi Yinghan only asked, That’s great! Dad really couldn’t go on working another day; if he kept working like this, Dad might never be able to paint again.
Can we buy back our big house from before? Also, the Ling family will send someone to take over the company, right?
The house had been sold to fill Shi Yinghan’s financial holes and to pay for Shi Jiuyue’s medical treatment.
Shi Jiufeng hadn’t expected that what Shi Yinghan focused on first was actually this matter.
He didn’t hear a single word of the care and heartache he wanted.
At that time, he still had plenty of temper; he immediately stood up with a cold face and walked away.
If it weren’t for the fact that Shi Jiuyue was still around, he really would have wanted to sever father-son ties with Shi Yinghan right then and there. Why on earth should he ruin the second half of his life for such a person?
Yet, precisely because Shi Jiuyue was still around, Shi Jiufeng had to compromise.
He lowered his expectations of Shi Yinghan and no longer expected him to give him anything, only hoping that Shi Yinghan would remember Shi Jiuyue and treat him a little better.
Unexpectedly, Shi Yinghan couldn’t even manage this simple thing.
Shi Jiufeng clearly felt that he was being driven toward a dead end.
Ahead lay pitch-black darkness, and the path beneath his feet was getting narrower and narrower. He had to muster twelve-tenths of his spirit to handle it carefully. But he was already very tired; his body was beginning to sway, and with just an insignificant breeze, he would plunge into that bottomless abyss.
It had been a very long time since Shi Jiufeng tasted the feeling of happiness.
He lay in bed, covered by a quilt he hadn’t adapted to even after two years, his golden-brown pupils reflecting the shape of the intricate, ornate crystal chandelier. He watched as countless beautiful crystals were tied to a single thin string.
Such a sturdy string.
If he were to hang from it, he probably wouldn’t fall down.
At that time, he probably wouldn’t feel sad anymore either.
However, could being free of sadness be equated with being happy?
Shi Jiufeng closed his eyelids, laughing at himself in his heart for becoming foolish, not even knowing such a trivial matter.
Crash,
The bedroom door was abruptly kicked open from the outside.
Shi Jiufeng immediately sat up and raised his eyes to look.
He saw Ling Xiao, who hadn’t returned home in two years, standing at the door with a face reeking of alcohol.
Ling Xiao hiccuped, the foul stench of alcohol he breathed out smelled by Shi Jiufeng even from a long distance.
Shi Jiufeng quietly held his breath.
The annoyance in Ling Xiao’s eyes dissipated by more than half when he saw Shi Jiufeng’s slender, well-behaved figure. He pressed his lips together, braced one hand against the wall, and smiled: Lying down so early? You must have been terribly bored at home with your husband away.
Shi Jiufeng: What are you trying to do?
Ling Xiao walked into the room, casually took off his coat and threw it on the ground, took a sip of water using Shi Jiufeng’s cup, and then sat down at the foot of the bed, smiling: I won’t go out anymore from now on. I’ll stay at home to accompany you, and we’ll live a good life together, alright?
When Ling Xiao said this, his tone could be considered gentle, but Shi Jiufeng felt a wave of disgust rise from the bottom of his heart.
Shi Jiufeng looked at Ling Xiao expressionlessly: You can just say directly what you want me to do.
Ling Xiao looked at Shi Jiufeng at leisure.
So obedient, will you do whatever I ask? Without waiting for Shi Jiufeng to answer, he continued on his own: Then kneel down and open your mouth.
Ling Xiao braced his hands backward on the bed, lifting one leg and resting it upon the pristine white sheets.
What those words meant went without saying.
Shi Jiufeng immediately refused: No.
Ling Xiao clicked his tongue. In the past, he would have started uttering harsh words; today, he merely frowned.
I knew you wouldn’t agree, Ling Xiao said. Don’t worry, from now on I won’t force you to do things you don’t want to do anymore. I’m apologizing to you; everything was my fault before, but this time I’m sincere. I’ve really turned over a new leaf. Give me a chance, okay?
No matter how foolish Shi Jiufeng was, he wouldn’t believe Ling Xiao’s words. As the saying went, rivers and mountains are easy to change, but human nature is hard to alter.
Leaving aside the fact that if Ling Xiao had truly repented, he wouldn’t have kicked his door open in the first place, even if he hadn’t kicked the door today, Shi Jiufeng would still never give Ling Xiao any chance.
Because Ling Xiao was the person he hated most in this lifetime.
Inside the Jin Residence.
Having finished his handiwork, Jin Cixu was leisurely washing his fingers.
Although he was extremely reluctant to wash away the fragrance belonging to Shi Jiufeng that lingered on his hand, there was no reason to keep it on him.
He couldn’t help thinking: if only he could make these scents appear on Shi Jiufeng’s body in the future.
If other places weren’t possible, just rubbing it onto his clothes should be fine, right?
The phone on the bedside table rang with a sharp, urgent ringtone.
Jin Cixu dried his hands and hurried back to the bed to answer the call.
Sir, Ling Xiao came home tonight and hasn’t come out yet.
Jin Cixu’s eyes split with rage: What did you say!
That damn cheap dog actually dared to go home?!
Why hasn’t he died yet? He should go straight to hell!