“Go change your clothes.”
Si Ye pressed his palm lightly against Chen Xu’s waist, urging him forward. Though his hand wasn’t particularly warm, Chen Xu still felt an unexpected heat at the point of contact.
“Do I need to wear formal attire?” Chen Xu asked. Si Ye telling him to change made him wonder if they were going to some important event.
“No need.”
Si Ye led him out of the room.
—
Back in his room, Chen Xu noticed a neatly placed set of clothes on his bed—a crisp white shirt and a pair of black casual trousers. A simple combination, but once he changed into them and looked in the mirror, he realized how well they fit him.
The shirt framed his shoulders and waistline perfectly, making his figure appear lean yet defined.
He rarely wore dress shirts, preferring T-shirts on most days, and his school uniform was just an oversized tracksuit.
Now, looking at himself, he suddenly felt like one of those straight-A students adults loved—well-mannered, obedient, and reliable.
So, even Uncle Si preferred this kind of image?
Chen Xu sighed in regret as he glanced at the exaggerated accessories in his closet. Looked like they’d be gathering dust from now on.
—
By the time Chen Xu came downstairs, Si Ye had also changed—this time into a full suit.
Tall and broad-shouldered, he wore his usual cold, abstinent look. His long legs were wrapped in tailored trousers, and his shirt was buttoned all the way up to the collar.
Stoic. Impeccable. Untouchable.
—
Just as their car was driving out of the estate, another car drove in.
Inside were Si Yichen and Madam Tao.
“Make sure to apologize to your father later,” Madam Tao reminded him.
Si Yichen pressed his lips together and nodded sullenly.
Since last night, his father hadn’t called him once.
Not to scold him.
Not even to check on him.
He had spent the entire night anxiously waiting, assuming his father would at least rebuke him. But nothing.
No call. No message.
The fear that had gripped him for hours had now been overtaken by a different emotion—disappointment.
Had his father… already given up on him?
—
Back at the house, Si Yichen finally mustered the courage to go find his father and admit his mistakes.
But just as he was about to head to the study, he overheard the servants whispering.
“The Master took Young Master Chen Xu out.”
Si Yichen froze in place.
Panic rushed through him like a tidal wave.
He turned abruptly to Madam Tao, eyes wide with fear.
“Grandmother… Grandmother, does this mean Father doesn’t want me anymore?!”
His voice was trembling.
“He’s… He’s planning to support Chen Xu instead, isn’t he?”
His worst nightmare was playing out in real time.
He had always known Chen Xu was a threat, but he had never thought his father would actually favor him over his own son.
Now, reality was sinking in like a knife to his chest.
Si Yichen was on the verge of tears as he clung to Madam Tao’s hand.
“Grandmother, you must not let Father support Chen Xu. Please!”
Madam Tao’s face darkened.
She was disappointed by how weak he was acting—but she needed Si Yichen.
So, she softened her expression, gently patting his face.
“Don’t overthink. With me here, the Si family will never fall into an outsider’s hands.”
“This is just a coincidence. Stop worrying and go rest—you’re still sick. I’ll handle this.”
Si Yichen felt like he was drowning in anxiety, but he clung to her words like a lifeline.
Yes.
No matter how much Father might favor Chen Xu—
Grandmother would never accept him.
As long as she was around, his position as heir wouldn’t be shaken.
That thought finally calmed his panic.
His complexion was still sickly pale, making him look fragile and pitiful.
—
After sending Si Yichen back to his room, Madam Tao returned to her private villa.
Without wasting time, she called Si Ye directly.
She didn’t bother hiding her displeasure.
What was he playing at?
Even if Si Ye wanted to teach Si Yichen a lesson for his past mistakes, this was too much.
A little discipline was fine.
A little competition could even be healthy.
But was Si Ye actually serious about making Chen Xu his successor?
If so, that wasn’t just an insult to Si Yichen.
It was a slap to her face, too.
And that—she would not allow.
“Uncle Si, your phone is ringing.”
As they got out of the car, Chen Xu noticed that Si Ye’s phone had been buzzing nonstop. However, Si Ye showed no intention of answering it, prompting Chen Xu to remind him.
“Mm, I know.”
Si Ye glanced at the screen.
As expected—it was his mother, Madam Tao.
Without a word, he neither answered nor declined the call. Instead, he simply put the phone on silent and let it ring.
Chen Xu glanced at him curiously but didn’t press further.
This wasn’t something he had the right to interfere in.
Si Ye stepped out of the car first and casually reached out to ruffle Chen Xu’s hair.
At 1.88 meters, he was significantly taller than Chen Xu’s 1.78 meters, and with Chen Xu’s still-youthful frame, he looked like a child beside him.
“Curious about who’s calling?” Si Ye asked.
Chen Xu looked up at him. “Would Uncle Si actually tell me?”
Si Ye’s lips curved into a faint smile.
Leaning down, he murmured in Chen Xu’s ear, “As long as you want to know, I’ll tell you everything.”
His voice was smooth and deep, like a whispered secret between lovers.
It was the kind of voice that could make people drunk on just the sound of it.
Chen Xu felt a strange jolt in his heart, like a small current of electricity running through him.
But he remained rational.
Si Ye was obviously lying.
How could it be possible that Si Ye would tell him anything just because he asked?
What if he wanted to know company secrets?
He wasn’t Si Ye’s heir—why would Si Ye tell him?
So, Chen Xu wisely chose not to pursue the question.
Yet, surprisingly, Si Ye volunteered the answer himself.
“It’s Madam Tao.”
Chen Xu was startled.
Madam Tao.
Si Ye’s mother, Tao Minzhi.
The woman who had never treated them well.
Chen Xu recalled that she had gone to the hospital last night to check on Si Yichen. If she was calling Si Ye now, it was probably about him.
Glancing at Si Ye, Chen Xu hesitated before testing the waters.
“I heard Si Yichen was injured and sent to the hospital last night.”
“Mm.”
Si Ye simply nodded.
So, he did know.
Then why hadn’t he gone to see Si Yichen?
Why had he chosen to go out with him instead?
“Madam Tao must be calling about Si Yichen. Are you sure it’s okay to ignore her?”
What he really wanted to ask was—Si Yichen was injured. Aren’t you even a little worried?
But something about that question felt too direct, too revealing.
Si Ye turned his head slightly, his gaze deep and unreadable.
“You think I should call back and check on Si Yichen?” he asked, his voice carrying a teasing edge.
Before Chen Xu even realized what he was doing, he instinctively grabbed Si Ye’s wrist, stopping him from dialing back.
His voice was unusually petty as he muttered, “Madam Tao is there. Si Yichen will be fine.”
Then, as if trying to distract from his own reaction, he quickly changed the subject.
“There are a lot of people over there. Are we going there?”
Si Ye let himself be pulled along, watching the back of Chen Xu’s head as he led the way.
His amusement deepened.
And the curve of his lips grew even more pronounced.
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