ARBRMW : Chapter 7

Chen Xu lay back in Si Ye’s embrace, and when he looked up, he found himself gazing into Si Ye’s deep, abyss-like eyes.  

His irises were pitch-black and gleamed brightly, with a hint of a smile surfacing within them.  

The hidden meaning in those eyes seemed to gnaw at Chen Xu’s willpower.  

As Si Ye’s face inched closer and closer, Chen Xu’s sluggish heart suddenly panicked.  

Like a helpless and innocent little lamb, he softly called out, “Uncle Si.”  

“Hmm?”  

Si Ye did not press his lips against the ones he had been longing for.  

Instead, he responded gently, with a tone both merciful and tender.  

His fingers brushed against Chen Xu’s cheek, sliding down to his ear, where they began to knead his soft earlobe.  

The ear under Si Ye’s fingertips grew increasingly warm, yet the curve of his lips only deepened.  

Chen Xu swallowed nervously.  

At this moment, he was absolutely certain that he must have done something last night under the influence of alcohol—something that had led Si Ye to misunderstand.  

“Did I go crazy from drinking last night?”  

Si Ye’s hand stilled.  

“Does Xiao Xu not remember?”  

Compared to his usual self, his voice could even be considered gentle.  

But in that instant, Chen Xu felt as if a snake had flicked its tongue at him.  

“Not very clearly.”  

Chen Xu cautiously observed Si Ye’s reaction.  

“Is that so?”  

Si Ye’s fingers trailed down to Chen Xu’s neck, stopping right at his carotid artery.  

“Do you truly not remember?”  

A thin layer of sweat formed on the tip of Chen Xu’s nose.  

His gaze met Si Ye’s, and after a brief hesitation, he nodded. “Yes.”  

After a long, eerie silence, Si Ye finally withdrew his hand from Chen Xu’s neck.  

Chen Xu let out a breath of relief and quickly sat up.  

Lowering his head, he stared at his own fingers.  

“Uncle Si, if I said anything inappropriate last night while I was drunk, it was not what I truly meant. I apologize.”  

“It was not what you truly meant?”  

Si Ye asked.  

Chen Xu was now certain that he must have said something he should not have.  

He hurriedly nodded. “Yes.”  

His response made Si Ye chuckle.  

Chen Xu, feeling as though he was sitting on pins and needles, desperately wished he could travel back to last night to see what exactly he had said to make Si Ye laugh out loud.  

Si Ye tilted his head, his face full of amusement.  

“Including the part where you asked me to *spoil* you?”  

*Boom—*  

A bolt of lightning struck Chen Xu’s mind.  

His brain exploded into chaos, and his fair face turned red—so red it almost looked like pig liver.  

Had he actually said something *that* shameless?  

He did want Si Ye to spoil him, preferably to the point where he became the most favored one in the Si family—enough to drive Si Yi Chen mad with jealousy.  

But he had actually *said it out loud* last night, so openly and brazenly?  

And the worst part was, the way Si Ye was treating him today did not seem to be the kind of *spoiling* he had in mind.  

“S-Sorry! I was just talking nonsense! Uncle Si, please just forget about it!”  

Chen Xu’s face, all the way down to his neck, was flushed crimson.  

At this moment, he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself in it.  

“Oh… You do not want me to spoil you?”  

Si Ye propped his chin on one hand, looking at Chen Xu with a teasing smile.  

Chen Xu pursed his lips and, against his own will, shook his head. “No.”  

“Really?”  

Si Ye suddenly leaned closer to his ear and asked in a low voice.  

His deep, rich voice was as smooth and melodious as a cello, making Chen Xu’s heart tremble.  

His beautiful peach blossom eyes turned misty with embarrassment.  

He bit his lips into a straight line and stared at Si Ye for a few seconds before finally giving up and honestly replying, “Yes.”  

Hearing the answer he wanted, Si Ye’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.  

He whispered softly into Chen Xu’s ear, “Uncle will spoil you.”  

His voice, his words, made Chen Xu’s heart pound uncontrollably.  

His long, dark eyelashes fluttered, making him look like a small, startled deer.  

Si Ye sat beside him, making no further moves.  

If he pushed too hard, the little one might get scared.  

—

“Sir, the Madam requests your presence.”  

Uncle Zhong stepped forward when he saw Si Ye return and took his coat and briefcase from him.  

“Hmm.”  

Si Ye did not need to guess—he was sure Si Yi Chen had gone to complain to Tao Minzhi.  

It was just as well. He had something to discuss with her.  

Hearing Uncle Zhong’s words, Chen Xu thought of that difficult woman, Tao Minzhi.  

Tao Minzhi was Si Ye’s mother.  

She lived in the farthest villa, Villa No. 5, and rarely came to the main estate.  

Chen Xu remembered that the relationship between Si Ye and his mother was not good.  

Si Ye, who held absolute authority outside, often suffered at her hands.  

Meanwhile, Tao Minzhi always treated Si Ye with a mixture of cold indifference and practicality, as though he were merely a tool to be used.  

Chen Xu could never understand why a mother would treat her own son that way.  

Si Ye had never wronged her.  

“Uncle Si, you have not had dinner yet. Eat first before going.”  

Chen Xu disliked Tao Minzhi and did not want Si Ye to go there just to be mistreated.  

Si Ye was surprised by Chen Xu’s concern for him.  

The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and he reached out to ruffle Chen Xu’s soft hair.  

“Hmm. You eat with me, then.”  

Chen Xu wanted to say that he had already eaten, but then he thought about his goal.  

He still had a long way to go before he could take Si Yi Chen down.  

So, he agreed and sat down to eat a little more with Si Ye.  

If he did not put in the effort, how would he be able to eliminate Si Yi Chen early?  

Once he sat at the dining table, he was surprised to find that nearly all the dishes were his favorites.  

That was odd.  

The two ate quietly, without any issues.  

After finishing dinner, Chen Xu went back to his room.  

Meanwhile, Si Ye took a shower and changed into a fresh outfit before heading to Villa No. 5.  

“Uncle Si, you are back!”  

Tong Jiaxi had not expected to run into Si Ye.  

Excited, he jogged over.  

Si Ye gave him a cold nod.  

“Hmm.”  

Just as Tong Jiaxi was about to say something else, Uncle Zhong spoke first, addressing him.

“Young Master Xi, the Master has other matters to attend to. If you have not had dinner yet, you may go to the dining hall—there are people in the kitchen.”

Having lived in the Si family for so many years, Tong Jiaxi naturally understood that Uncle Zhong was politely asking him to leave.

Not daring to risk displeasing Si Ye, he obediently nodded.

“Alright. Good night, Uncle Si.”

Si Ye did not seem to hear him.

His figure soon disappeared from Tong Jiaxi’s sight.

Turning around, Tong Jiaxi made his way toward the dining hall, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

What a lucky day—I got to talk to Uncle Si.

“Aunt Liu, what did Uncle Si eat just now?”

Tong Jiaxi was always good at acting obedient and well-behaved in front of elders, which made him quite popular among the Si family’s servants.

Aunt Liu did not hide anything and told him exactly what Si Ye had eaten.

Hearing this, Tong Jiaxi felt a little puzzled.

Why was Uncle Si’s meal so different from usual?

Does he not dislike broccoli?

Still, he did not dwell on it for long and simply asked Aunt Liu to serve him the same meal.

He ended up eating so much that he was stuffed, barely managing to finish his food.

Holding his waist, he made his way to the second floor, satisfied.

The rooms of the younger generation were all on the second floor, close to one another.

As Tong Jiaxi climbed the stairs, he happened to run into Chen Xu, who had just taken a shower and was heading downstairs to get some water.

The moment Chen Xu stepped out, he saw Tong Jiaxi clutching his waist as he walked up the stairs, looking somewhat comical.

He could not help but curl his lips slightly.

That smile did not escape Tong Jiaxi’s eyes, and he glared at him indignantly.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.”

Chen Xu shrugged, not bothering to engage.

Tong Jiaxi’s eyes darkened as he stared at him.

When Chen Xu walked past him, he finally spoke smugly.

“Just now, Uncle Si spoke to me. He even told me to go to the dining hall early so I wouldn’t go hungry. I ate the same dinner as Uncle Si tonight.”

The statement was so foolish that Chen Xu was momentarily confused.

What is there to be proud of?

He really could not understand Tong Jiaxi’s mindset.

Was this similar to how fangirls felt when they got to use the same products as their idols?

Seeing Chen Xu remain silent, Tong Jiaxi felt even more triumphant, convinced that he had struck a nerve.

Seizing the opportunity, he continued,

“I know Uncle Si defended you this morning just for the sake of the Si family’s reputation. Even if you use little tricks to get his attention, so what? It is only temporary.”

“I advise you not to act too smart. Uncle Si hates people who think they are clever.”

Chen Xu turned his head, meeting Tong Jiaxi’s gaze.

“Are you talking about yourself?”

“What?”

Tong Jiaxi was surprised that Chen Xu could still remain calm and even engage in conversation.

He had expected Chen Xu to be infuriated by his words.

A sneer tugged at the corner of Chen Xu’s lips.

“Someone thinking they are clever—is that not you?”

“You—! Chen Xu, do not get too cocky!”

Tong Jiaxi was furious, pointing at him in rage, clearly provoked.

“You are telling me not to be cocky, but are you not the one feeling pleased with yourself over having the same dinner as Uncle Si?”

Chen Xu’s lips curled, his tone filled with mockery.

Tong Jiaxi finally realized that Chen Xu was ridiculing him.

“So what? Can you even have a conversation with Uncle Si? Do you even know what he ate tonight?”

Chen Xu looked at him with growing pity, shook his head, and said,

“You are going to be disappointed. Not only do I talk to Uncle Si, but I also had dinner with him tonight.”

Glancing at Tong Jiaxi’s bulging stomach, Chen Xu grinned widely.

“Coincidentally, all the dishes tonight were my favorites. Looks like you enjoyed them too.”

Each word made Tong Jiaxi’s eyes widen in shock.

His fists clenched tightly, and he stood there, speechless.

By the time he snapped out of his daze, Chen Xu had already disappeared from the staircase.

“AH—CHEN XU!!!”

Tong Jiaxi screamed in frustration, kicking and punching the wall in anger.

In the end, he twisted his ankle and limped back to his room.

— 

Si Ye rarely visited Villa No. 5.

Tao Minzhi never called for him unless she had something important to say.

Si Ye’s mother, Tao Minzhi, was sixty-three years old but had maintained herself well—she looked as if she were only in her forties.

She sat gracefully in her chair, wearing lace gloves as she picked up an exquisite teacup and took a sip of red tea.

Si Ye had already been standing there for five minutes, yet she acted as if she had not noticed him, making it clear that she intended to keep him waiting.

After six minutes, Si Ye raised his wrist and glanced at his watch before turning around to leave.

“Stop right there.”

Seeing that he was about to walk away, Tao Minzhi finally spoke, her tone sharp.

“I assumed you preferred solitude,” Si Ye replied, stopping in his tracks.

His voice remained completely emotionless.

Tao Minzhi frowned.

She had a growing sense that this son of hers was becoming more and more difficult to control.

She did not know when it started, but there was no longer any expectation in his eyes when he looked at her.

He was no longer easily provoked by her.

And that meant something very concerning—she could no longer manipulate his emotions.

“Yi Chen is already eighteen. It is time for him to enter the company and start learning the business so that he can assist you in the future.”

“There is no rush.”

Si Ye rejected her outright.

Tao Minzhi’s gaze sharpened.

At first, she had assumed that Si Yi Chen’s complaints were just childish jealousy.

But now, with Si Ye’s attitude, she started to have real doubts.

Could he actually be thinking about replacing Si Yi Chen?

Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡