“I remember, but.”
Zong Xian clearly had no intention of listening to any of Gui Wen’s excuses. He tightly gripped Gui Wen’s palm, his gaze locked firmly onto the small patch of skin exposed at the front of the other’s neck. “Since you remember, you need to listen to your older brother.”
Gui Wen’s movements paused abruptly. Zong Xian usually couldn’t stand Yan Guanbai, this nominal younger brother without any blood relation, and had even found it repulsive at first when Gui Wen called him Brother Zong Xian. Yet, at this moment, he was unexpectedly acknowledging his identity as an older brother right in front of him. “Brother. Brother?”
“Don’t you call me Brother Zong Xian all the time?” Zong Xian’s fingers pressed gently against Gui Wen’s Adam’s apple, causing the latter’s expression to change involuntarily. “Listen to me, and I’ll take you back to get your necklace.”
Gui Wen did not dare to raise any objections, following Zong Xian out of the professional classroom and down the stairs.
Zong Xian’s sedan was parked not far away in the underground parking lot. As soon as Gui Wen approached the area, he spotted Lu Yuteng from afar, holding a stack of textbooks and waiting near his nominal older brother’s car.
Gui Wen assumed Zong Xian had an appointment with Lu Yuteng, but Zong Xian didn’t even spare Lu Yuteng a proper glance. Instead, he stopped a few paces away from Lu Yuteng and cast a quick, sideways glance at the sculpture-like university student standing by the car. “Go back first.”
Lu Yuteng nodded and hurried away from the sedan.
Gui Wen couldn’t help frowning. How could such an attitude advance things further with the protagonist shou? “Aren’t you going to drive him back?”
“I said I’m taking you,” Zong Xian opened the rear passenger door of the sedan. “Get in.”
Gui Wen sat in the back seat, silently operating his phone. He originally wanted to obliquely check in on Lu Yuteng, such as whether those students who had tried to extort him were still bothering him, or how far his relationship with Zong Xian had progressed. However, the moment he opened the chat window, his phone was snatched away by Zong Xian.
“Give it back.” Gui Wen instinctively tried to snatch it back.
Zong Xian had clearly seen that the chat on Gui Wen’s phone was labeled with Lu Yuteng’s name just a moment ago. He coldly pressed the screen to turn it off and slipped the phone into his pocket. “When it’s time to return it to you, I naturally will.”
“Brother.” Gui Wen called out tentatively, acting ingratiatingly.
Zong Xian’s actions clearly faltered for a moment, but he still had no intention of returning the phone. Instead, he pinched Gui Wen’s chin, forcing the other person to look at him. “Would you die if you didn’t talk to him right now?”
“Not really.” Zong Xian’s tone was extremely aggressive, so Gui Wen temporarily abandoned the idea of getting his phone back.
The vehicle kept moving forward along the road, and Gui Wen listlessly cast his gaze at the street views outside the window. The surroundings were becoming increasingly desolate, clearly not the direction back to the apartment or the villa. “Brother Zong Xian, where are you taking me?”
Zong Xian glanced at him sideways and did not answer the question directly.
Gui Wen kept his attention focused outside the car the whole time, attempting to glean some clues from the scenery, until he caught sight of the shimmering sea under the setting sun not far away, and a salty, fishy sea breeze rushed in through the car window. He reflexively thought Zong Xian had merely brought him to see the ocean and enjoy the sunset view, but unexpectedly, the driver got out midway, and Zong Xian climbed into the driver’s seat.
He slammed his foot down on the accelerator, making Gui Wen nearly lose his balance in the back seat as he hurriedly raised his hand to grab the overhead grip handle. “Brother Zong Xian?”
Zong Xian ignored his voice. There were no guardrails by the seaside, and Gui Wen nearly thought the car was going to plunge off the edge into the sea, but the other person managed to halt the sedan just before reaching the water.
With even a fraction of an error, he and Zong Xian would have plummeted into the sea together, their survival uncertain.
Gui Wen’s heart practically leaped out of his chest, and he had to force himself to take a few deep breaths to relax. “Why.”
“Yan Guanbai, I should have died in the sea with you on the day you went abroad.” Zong Xian gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“Don’t say things like that,” Gui Wen thought Zong Xian was having suicidal thoughts, so he quickly reached out from the back seat and grabbed the corner of the other’s shirt. “There’s always a way to get by while staying alive.”
“I have no way out,” Zong Xian yanked Gui Wen’s hand away. “I have zero way of dealing with you.”
“Brother Zong Xian, can’t we just talk about whatever is bothering us?”
After pondering for a moment, Gui Wen climbed down from the back seat, opened the passenger door, and sat inside, moving a little closer to Zong Xian. “Brother, tell me.”
Zong Xian did not move.
“Yan Guanbai, if you say you can’t leave Lu Yuteng, I’ll step on the gas and drive right into the ocean.” Zong Xian deliberately avoided looking into Gui Wen’s eyes.
Gui Wen couldn’t help falling into a brief silence. He didn’t think about the system’s warnings, nor did he remember the so-called mission. His eyes reflected only Zong Xian’s silhouette. “If I want Brother Zong Xian to live, what should I do?”
“Do you want yourself to live, or do you want me to live?”
“At least for now, it’s you, Brother Zong Xian.” Gui Wen spoke with earnest sincerity, grasping the other’s wrist. Zong Xian met his eyes, and for a fleeting second, he even felt the illusion that all his lingering resentment was nothing more than redundant emotion.
Zong Xian remained still for a long while before finally pulling Gui Wen’s hand away. “Stay away from Lu Yuteng.”
Gui Wen subconsciously fell silent. “I will leave him at the appropriate time.” Or even leave this world entirely.
Zong Xian made no sound, his leather shoe hovering over the accelerator for a moment before he ultimately chose to reverse the car.
Turns out, he still couldn’t bear to let Yan Guanbai die.
Thinking of this, he let out a cold laugh in his heart.
After returning from the seaside, Zong Xian dropped Gui Wen off downstairs at his apartment building.
In truth, from the company to the apartment where Gui Wen lived wasn’t quite on the way, but Zong Xian suddenly started coming to pick him up for school one morning. Before that, he hadn’t sent a message or made a call, and Gui Wen only discovered Zong Xian’s car waiting when he went downstairs, the timing extremely coincidental.
“The necklace.” Zong Xian glanced briefly at Gui Wen’s neck.
Ever since returning from the seaside, Gui Wen had started carrying the diamond necklace Zong Xian gave him everywhere, and at this moment he was wearing it right around his neck, though it was neatly concealed by a high-necked shirt.
He pulled out the pendant to show Zong Xian, and only then did the latter start the vehicle.
The driver hadn’t come; Zong Xian drove himself.
Gui Wen inexplicably looked heavy-hearted, though if asked what was truly bothering him, even he couldn’t put his finger on it. When he returned to the dormitory, even his roommate noticed his low spirits and offered a few words of greeting.
He didn’t dwell on it too much himself, packed his backpack, and headed to the professional classroom. Gui Wen happened to run into Lu Yuteng at the elevator entrance, but the other person seemed to be deliberately avoiding him, even answering from afar across another person when spoken to.
Gui Wen couldn’t take it anymore. Since there was still plenty of time before class, he took advantage of the empty hallway to chase after him, grabbing Lu Yuteng firmly by the wrist. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing,” Lu Yuteng answered timidly. “Guanbai, you’re overthinking it. I’m just in a rush to get to class.”
Gui Wen clearly didn’t believe his explanation, but since Lu Yuteng was unwilling to speak, he had no way of prying the other’s mouth open.
This class was lectured by Professor Yu, and Gui Wen was drawn into the course content, unconsciously reducing the time he spent browsing his phone.
After the class ended, Gui Wen was just about to shoulder his backpack and leave when Professor Yu intercepted him right at the door.
Gui Wen instinctively turned back. “Professor, is there something you need?”
“Regarding our last homework assignment,” Professor Yu curved his eyes into a kind smile, “I’d like to chat with you about it.”
Gui Wen wasn’t particularly interested or invested in the works generated under the system’s buffs, but it wouldn’t do to turn down a teacher who came looking for him, so he followed Professor Yu along.
Professor Yu took him to the art academy’s exhibition hall. The works displayed here were all created by past outstanding students, featuring distinct themes, skilled techniques, and a strong sense of vitality.
“I specifically took the time to study your work,” Professor Yu turned his head slightly, fixing his gaze on Gui Wen. “Your aptitude is no less than theirs, but your concept and expression could still be improved.”
Gui Wen understood what Professor Yu meant; works created by the system ultimately lacked a human touch.
Professor Yu introduced a portion of the paintings in the exhibition hall to him, including their themes, sources of inspiration, and more, explaining everything vividly and in detail.
“Thank you, Professor, I’ve learned a lot.” Gui Wen nodded and expressed his gratitude sincerely.
“Don’t mention it, it’s what I should do,” Professor Yu raised a hand and patted Gui Wen’s shoulder gently. “It’s getting late, head back first. You can always ask me if you have any questions.”
Gui Wen shouldered his backpack and left, walking straight out of the exhibition hall entrance without looking back.
Professor Yu lifted his phone and snapped a photo of Gui Wen’s retreating back.
Before he could even put his phone away again, someone suddenly grabbed his wrist from behind, halting his next movement.
“What are you doing?”
Gui Wen, who had just stepped outside the door, heard Zong Xian’s voice and turned around abruptly.
Zong Xian clearly saw Professor Yu’s phone screen, and his expression instantly darkened. “Why are you taking pictures of my younger brother?”
“Just as creative reference material,” Professor Yu did not panic, answering Zong Xian quite naturally as if with a clear conscience. “Sir, I think you’re overthinking it.”
Zong Xian didn’t completely let down his guard. Gui Wen hurried over to Zong Xian’s side in a few steps. “This is Professor Yu who teaches our major. Brother, is there some kind of misunderstanding?”
“Is that so?” Zong Xian’s expression didn’t soften, but he feigned surface-level composure and let go of Professor Yu’s hand.
Unwilling to let the situation remain at a stalemate, Gui Wen quickly pulled Zong Xian’s hand, bade farewell to Professor Yu, and left the exhibition hall.
“Why are you here?” As soon as they stepped onto the campus pathway, Gui Wen couldn’t help asking.
Zong Xian did not answer his question, as if intentionally dodging it. “I will come to the school to pick you up and drop you off.”
“The apartment is very close to the school,” Gui Wen blinked, struggling to understand Zong Xian’s reasoning. “That’s a waste of car mileage.”
“We’ll walk back,” Gui Wen hadn’t yet let go of the hand he was holding, and Zong Xian made no move to shake him off. “I’ll keep you company.”
“Will this delay.”
“You don’t need to consider that.”
Zong Xian reached out and lightly hooked the diamond necklace on Gui Wen’s neck, much like tugging on a pet dog’s collar. Seeming to realize just what he was doing, he immediately let go a moment later.
“Can you just listen to me.”