ARBRMW : Chapter 40

Due to Si Ye’s inquiry, Chen Xu had to explain the whole story, which naturally also forced him to reveal his involvement in playing in a band. Chen Xu didn’t consider playing in a band as a waste of time, but the elders did. He always regarded Si Ye as a figure from his parents’ generation and subconsciously wanted to behave well in front of him, so he never mentioned such matters.

“Very impressive,” Si Ye actually had some awareness of Chen Xu’s involvement in playing in a band, but since Chen Xu hadn’t brought it up, he hadn’t delved deeper.

“Uncle Si, don’t you think I’m wasting my time playing in a band?” Chen Xu’s expression showed surprise.

Si Ye chuckled, “Why would I think that? It’s just a personal hobby of yours.”

Chen Xu’s surprise was too obvious, so much so that Si Ye realized he might be seen as old-fashioned in Chen Xu’s eyes?

“When I was in my teens, I also played in a band,” Si Ye thought that he was only ten years older than Chen Xu, and considered that there was no generation gap between them, but in reality, Chen Xu didn’t seem to think so.

“Uncle Si, did you also play in a band? What was your role?” Chen Xu’s body subconsciously leaned forward when he heard this.

“I did. I played the cello in a classical music band with friends,” Si Ye reminisced about his teenage years, vividly recalling memories that seemed as distant as another lifetime.

Upon hearing Si Ye’s answer, Chen Xu thought he would be very surprised, but he wasn’t. Compared to pop and rock music, classical music seemed more suitable for Si Ye.

“Why did you disband later?” In fact, Chen Xu’s band was also facing this problem. The lead singer was a scumbag, Lu Hai and Yuan Ren were about to enter society, and Chen Xu’s academic workload was gradually increasing after he entered university. Their opportunities to get together in the future were likely to be even fewer.

Si Ye recalled and said, “The captain started dating.”

Chen Xu never expected it to be this reason, it seemed a bit too childish yet too real.

Talking about dating, Chen Xu thought that Si Ye must have been quite popular when he was a teenager. His image of playing the cello on stage must have captivated many people.

“And you, Uncle Si ?” Chen Xu curiously looked at Si Ye.

“Me? What about me?” Si Ye didn’t immediately understand what Chen Xu was asking.

Chen Xu’s dark and bright eyes stared at him, “Uncle, did you date back then?”

Si Ye paused, didn’t immediately answer, and even after a moment of silence, his lips curled up slightly, “Xiao Xu cares about this question a lot, huh?”

Chen Xu’s heart fluttered inexplicably. He steadied himself and said, “Just a bit curious.”

“No, I didn’t date,” Si Ye told Chen Xu frankly. In the previous life, he gradually tasted the flavor of love after the age of twenty-eight, and the person who made him understand love was Chen Xu. Who would have thought that the terrifying head of the Si family would secretly crush on someone for years like a teenager.

Si Ye’s answer made Chen Xu’s heart bloom inadvertently. He didn’t even realize that he would be so happy to hear Si Ye’s answer.

Did that mean Si Ye had never belonged to anyone else?

It was already late at night. Si Ye got up and ruffled Chen Xu’s soft black hair, “Rest early.”

Chen Xu stood up like a loyal follower, leaned against Si Ye’s back, and escorted him to the door, “Good night, Uncle Si.”

The light shone on his fair and jade-like cheeks, his lips tinged with a rosy hue, his eyes shining like stars. Si Ye was afraid that if he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t be able to leave.

“Good, night.”

Watching Si Ye leave, Chen Xu closed the bedroom door, and slept dreamlessly until dawn.

The morning light seeped through the window, and Chen Xu turned over and buried his face in the blanket to block out the light.

After a while, as his mind gradually woke up, he reached for his phone from beside the pillow and glanced at it with squinted eyes. It was half-past seven.

There were no classes until the afternoon, so Chen Xu flipped over lazily and lay still for a while.

Zhen Guo: Damn! Xu Ge, overnight, all the rumors related to you online have disappeared out of thin air!

Zhen Guo: Who on earth intervened?! 

Zhen Guo: Xu Ge, do you know some big shot?

Zhen Guo: Xu Ge? Xu Ge? Are you awake?

Tang Zhen kept sending messages, and Chen Xu finally moved. He opened and read them, immediately understanding that what Si Ye told him last night about not worrying was true.

Chen Xu: Yeah, I know the richest man in our province.

Zhen Guo: Hahaha, Xu Ge, you’re hilarious.

Zhen Guo: Anyway, this is a good thing.

Chen Xu: Yeah.

Zhen Guo: Okay, I won’t bother you anymore, I have to go to work.

Aside from studying, Tang Zhen always worked whenever he had the chance, claiming that his living expenses were not enough and that he wanted to buy too many things.

But Tang Zhen did live quite extravagantly, with a full range of skincare products from facial cleansers to moisturizers. Chen Xu’s sunscreen, which was half-used during military training and then left idle, was also requested by Tang Zhen. According to Tang Zhen, it was the first time he had used such a good sunscreen, and he wanted to repurchase it later. But when he checked the price, he was almost scared to death. It was then that Tang Zhen realized that Chen Xu’s family background was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

Chen Xu went online to browse around and indeed found that all the rumors about him being a scumbag had disappeared completely.

His lips lifted involuntarily as he woke up in a good mood.

He got out of bed briskly, took some fresh clothes, and went into the bathroom, leisurely taking a shower.

After opening the bedroom door, he saw the door opposite also opening, and Chen Xu unexpectedly met Si Yichen’s pale face.

Si Yichen looked very haggard, with dark circles under his eyes, obviously having stayed up too late. He also seemed to have lost weight, his whole person looking somewhat emaciated. He lifted his eyelids and stared at Chen Xu with a gloomy expression.

Chen Xu didn’t bother with him, closed the door, and went down the stairs.

“Are you feeling smug?” Si Yichen’s voice was hoarse and harsh, like someone with a sore throat who had just started speaking after treatment, unpleasant and grating.

“Seeing me like this, finally bringing me down, are you secretly laughing in your heart?” Si Yichen kept questioning Chen Xu, emitting a strange cold laugh, like a broken phonograph. “I really didn’t expect you to be so despicable, stooping so low just to surpass me by climbing into father’s bed. You’re truly disgusting.”

“Chen Xu, don’t be too proud too soon. My downfall today will be your tomorrow.”

Chen Xu paused, turning to face Si Yichen. Si Yichen wanted to see anger or shame on his face, but there was none. Chen Xu’s eyes were clear, his expression calm, which only further infuriated Si Yichen. He saw Si Yichen clenching his fists in rage, glaring at him with resentment.

But Chen Xu wasn’t afraid of him. “And, I’ve married Uncle Si. You should address me as ‘Dad’ from now on. Remember that for next time.”

With that, Chen Xu didn’t wait to see Si Yichen’s explosive anger. He walked away confidently, leaving Si Yichen seething with rage.

Si Yichen had originally intended to go downstairs to find something to eat, but now he had no appetite. After entering the room, he slammed the door shut with a resounding bang.

His phone suddenly lit up. It was a message from Chen Hao, inviting him out for drinks.

Chen Hao used to be a lapdog in front of Si Yichen, very obedient, on par with Pan Qizhi. Moreover, he was Chen Xu’s brother, and like Si Yichen, he detested Chen Xu. Just on that basis alone, Si Yichen was inclined to bring Chen Hao into his circle.

Si Yichen didn’t have the mood for drinking, especially since his card was frozen, and he had no money to buy drinks.

Chen Hao sent another message, saying it was his birthday today and he hoped Si Yichen would come out to celebrate.

That meant it was a set-up by Chen Hao, so Si Yichen wouldn’t have to pay. If someone had told Si Yichen a month ago that he would be reduced to bumming drinks off others, he would never have believed it.

Thinking of Chen Xu at home, Si Yichen didn’t want to stay there. He reluctantly agreed and went to the bathroom to freshen up before grabbing his phone and heading out to the drinking session.

“Master Chen, it’s your brother’s birthday today. Madam Chen called to ask if you could come home for dinner.”

Chen Xu thought for a moment. Today was indeed Chen Hao’s birthday, but why did his mother call the Si family instead of just calling him directly? It must be because he had blocked all of their numbers, and they probably couldn’t reach him on his phone.

He hesitated and realized he had Chen family members blocked, and they probably couldn’t reach him on his phone.

Chen Xu picked up the phone in the living room and called his mother to tell her he had evening classes and wouldn’t be able to make it.

“It’s your brother’s birthday, once a year. Even if you have grievances against us, can’t you put them aside for such an occasion?” Zhao Qiang’s voice was soft and pleading, but filled with accusation towards Chen Xu.

Chen Xu didn’t like her passive-aggressive tone. He spoke bluntly, “Everyone has birthdays once a year. It’s nothing special, and I doubt my brother wants to see me on his special day anyway.”

“You’re his only brother. How could he not want to see you? Chen Xu, now that you’ve gained Mr. Si’s favor, are you going to sever ties with us?” Zhao Qiang’s voice quivered, as if Chen Xu was some heinous criminal.

Chen Xu clenched the phone, remaining silent for a moment. “I have classes tonight, and I’ll be late.”

Zhao Qiang, upon hearing this, joyfully said, “Okay, Mom will wait for you to come back.”

After hanging up the phone, Chen Xu stood in place for a minute before moving his feet.

He wondered what he was to them. What was the purpose of calling him back this time? They should have just called his phone directly, instead of calling the Si family.

He felt a mixture of emotions and wondered why they called him back. Was it out of genuine affection? He doubted it. From what he had seen in his past life, his parents and siblings always seemed to want to exploit something from him. Once he became worthless, they would discard him in the next second.

He couldn’t believe that they called him back out of family love.

Sometimes Chen Xu wondered if he had committed some unforgivable sin, which made them treat him like this. The three siblings, why were they the only ones treating him like this? When he was young, he would always find reasons on his own, wondering if he hadn’t done well enough? Had he made them angry somewhere?

Until he grew up and went to another place to attend university, far away from these people, he gradually understood that some things might just be like this, without reason. It wasn’t because he hadn’t done well enough, even if he was excellent, he was still worthless in the eyes of those four people.

So he learned to reconcile with himself, no longer punishing himself for others’ mistakes, and no longer harboring any expectations for that family. It wasn’t until then that he felt relieved, living only for himself.