ARBRMW : Chapter 93

Chen Xu had only seen Lin Penghan on television; this was his first time seeing him in person. Contrary to the emotional connections often depicted in dramas, Chen Xu felt only a slight sense of familiarity. While Chen Xu remained composed, Lin Penghan was visibly emotional, his hands trembling as he held Chen Xu’s.

“Xiao Ze… Dad finally found you.” Lin Penghan embraced him, tears streaming down his face. “I’m sorry you had to suffer all these years.”

Chen Xu, although understanding Lin Penghan’s emotions, found the situation more awkward than touching. For Chen Xu, Lin Penghan was still a stranger, and he disliked physical contact. He stood stiffly, unable to push away the affectionate father.

“Dad, calm down. Let’s sit and talk so we don’t scare Xiao Ze,” Lin Yirun gently advised, helping Lin Penghan to a chair.

Chen Xu breathed a sigh of relief, smoothing out his wrinkled clothes and casting a grateful look at Lin Yirun. 

Unlike Lin Yirun’s more aggressive demeanor, Lin Penghan had a scholarly air. Chen Xu noticed the family trait of having peach blossom eyes, evident in both Lin Penghan and Lin Yirun.

Si Ye pulled out a chair for Chen Xu, and a waiter entered the room to serve the dishes.

“Sorry, Xiao Ze, I was too excited earlier. I hope I didn’t scare you,” Lin Penghan apologized with a slight smile, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Chen Xu politely shook his head, his demeanor somewhat cold and distant. Lin Penghan and Lin Yirun mistook his demeanor for shyness and spoke to him with patience and care, similar to soothing a child. This was a new experience for Chen Xu, who was more accustomed to the cold and distant interactions of his past. The family’s warmth was a stark contrast.

Lin Yirun pushed a plate of crystal dumplings towards Chen Xu. “I heard you like these. This restaurant is famous for them. Try one.”

“Thank you,” Chen Xu nodded politely, placing one on Si Ye’s plate before taking one for himself.

“Eat it yourself,” Si Ye spoke to him gently.

Chen Xu smiled slightly, “You should try it too.”

Their intimate exchange did not go unnoticed by Lin Yirun, whose gaze towards Si Ye darkened.

With Chen Xu’s innocent and unguarded demeanor, Lin Yirun was convinced his younger brother was an innocent lamb that had fallen into a cunning fox’s den.

“Xiao Ze, your grandfather and everyone are eager to see you. When would be a convenient time for you?” Lin Penghan asked cautiously, afraid of upsetting Chen Xu.

Putting down his chopsticks, Chen Xu replied earnestly, “Mr. Lin, there’s no need to be so cautious with me. I understand that as my biological father, you wish for me to recognize my roots. I have no reason to refuse. We can proceed as planned.”

“I will accompany you back to the Lin family, but I need to coordinate with my husband regarding our schedule. I hope you understand.”

Lin Penghan was taken aback by Chen Xu’s rational and decisive response, seeing a hint of the younger version of Lin’s grandfather in him.

“Of course, of course, I understand,” Lin Penghan nodded repeatedly, his demeanor somewhat flustered.

Despite having raised an older son, he felt like a novice father, unsure of how to treat this newfound son. He wanted to make up for the lost years, but Chen Xu seemed not to need it.

They agreed to go to the Lin family in three days.

“Yirun, do you think your brother dislikes me?” Lin Penghan asked on the way back to the hotel, feeling dejected.

Lin Yirun was also surprised. A moment ago, he thought of Chen Xu as an innocent child, but Chen Xu’s calm and composed manner made him realize there was more to his younger brother.

“No, Dad. Xiao Ze agreed to come home with us, so he doesn’t dislike you,” Lin Yirun reassured. “It’ll take time to build a relationship, but it will get better.”

“You’re right. Your mother has already prepared Xiao Ze’s room. I need to remind her to prepare extra toiletries,” Lin Penghan said, calling his wife.

Lin Yirun felt a pang of resentment thinking about Si Ye coming home with them. It was a reality he had to accept but couldn’t fully embrace. Had his brother not gone missing, he would have been cherished by the family rather than being taken away by Si Ye.

On the other hand, Chen Xu and Si Ye headed home but stopped by the mall to buy gifts for the Lin family.

“Sir, I think I don’t have enough money,” Chen Xu said, looking at the luxurious items in the mall and turning to Si Ye.

Si Ye pinched his chin, a smile playing on his lips, “Call me something nice, and I’ll buy it for you.”

Looking around and seeing the mall wasn’t too crowded, Chen Xu leaned in and whispered in Si Ye’s ear, “Husband.”

Originally just teasing, Si Ye was instantly stirred by Chen Xu’s endearment, causing his ears to flush. He rubbed Chen Xu’s ear, “If you call me that, I’d bring you the moon.”

Chen Xu, embarrassed, let Si Ye guide him to buy gifts.

“Lin’s grandfather didn’t remarry after his wife passed, so the Lin family consists of three households, eleven people in total, including you,” Si Ye explained while walking.

Chen Xu thought, “My husband is going to be spending a lot.”

After shopping, Si Ye also bought Chen Xu a brooch shaped like a sword, elegant yet sharp, fitting Chen Xu’s temperament perfectly.

The shop assistant said, “This is our new summer collection, just arrived yesterday.”

Si Ye: “We’ll take it.”

The assistant showed a lemon-yellow tie with cute cartoon cats printed on it. Chen Xu leaned closer to see the proud and adorable little cats.

“This tie suits the gentleman well; few can pull it off.”

Si Ye agreed it would look great on Chen Xu, whose fair skin and delicate features could carry off the playful yet youthful tie perfectly.

“We’ll take it.”

Chen Xu was used to Si Ye’s lavishness by now.

Three days passed quickly, and just before leaving, Si Lin found Chen Xu to remind him about his promise to arrange a visit to see Tao Minzhi.

“I’ve already booked the appointment. Tomorrow at 10 am, ask the driver to take you,” Chen Xu said casually.

Relieved, Si Lin’s gaze turned fervent, “Chen Xu, if you ever need help, you can come to me.”

Despite his gratitude, Si Lin’s promise was tainted by ulterior motives. His cousin, Sun Pangfei, had been filling his head with notions of taking over the family business, believing Chen Xu’s marriage to Si Ye was driven by ambition rather than genuine affection.

Sun Pangfei had convinced Si Lin that once he had control, Chen Xu would be his. Blinded by his ambitions, Si Lin didn’t realize he was being manipulated.

“Time to go,” Si Ye interrupted, handing Chen Xu a jacket. “It’s time to leave.”

“Uncle, are you going out?” Si Lin noticed the driver loading luggage.

“Yes, we’ll be away for a few days. Focus on your studies,” Si Ye replied. As soon as the subject of studies came up, Si Lin quickly found an excuse to leave.

Watching Si Lin’s departing figure, Chen Xu told Si Ye, “I arranged for him to visit the sanatorium tomorrow morning.”

Si Ye frowned, “Let him be stupid then.”

“Don’t be angry, it’s not worth it,” Chen Xu said, kissing the back of Si Ye’s hand. “Let’s see what he does.”

Both of them underestimated the extent of the situation, which eventually took an unexpected turn.

…

“Alright, Mom, stop crying. Be careful of your health,” Lin Yirun said, gently helping a tearful Zhuo Shunan away from Chen Xu. Zhuo Shunan’s eyes were red from crying, and despite trying to hold back, tears kept falling.

Seeking help, Lin Yirun looked at Chen Xu, who understood that Zhuo Shunan’s health couldn’t withstand such emotional turmoil. He stiffened momentarily before stepping forward to pat Zhuo Shunan’s back, offering comfort.

“It’s all in the past now. You don’t need to blame yourself, and I don’t hold any grudges. Besides, I haven’t suffered much over the years,” Chen Xu reassured.

What he said wasn’t a lie. He had never faced hardship; his life had been better than most, even though it lacked familial warmth.

Seeing how sensible Chen Xu was, Zhuo Shunan cried even harder, clutching his hand tightly.

Once Zhuo Shunan was calmed down, Chen Xu turned to face the Lin family, who were all staring at him with eager eyes.

“Xiao Ze, I’m your grandfather. Come over and let me have a look at you,” the elderly Lin greeted warmly.

Chen Xu walked over and stood before him. The old man, looking at Chen Xu’s face, showed a nostalgic expression. “You look so much like your grandmother. She would have loved you dearly if she were still here.”

Holding Chen Xu’s hand, the elder continued, “We’ve longed to reunite with you for years. Now that we are together again, there’s nothing more I can offer but the company your grandmother founded. I’m sure she’d be happy for you to have it.”

Chen Xu was taken aback. Did wealthy families give such lavish gifts upon first meetings? Wouldn’t such a gesture cause issues in other families?

“I think it’s a good idea. ‘Qiong Yin’ is well-managed, so Xiao Ze won’t have to worry too much. He can oversee it in his spare time,” Lin Pengju agreed, smiling kindly at Chen Xu. “I’m your uncle. Your cousin told me about a new car model, and I’ve pre-ordered it for you. It’s not as grand as the company, but I hope you’ll like it.”

In just a few minutes, Chen Xu’s grandfather gave him a company, his uncle a luxury car, his cousin a custom-made drone, his other cousin a luxury watch, his other uncle a villa in the capital, and his second cousin a customized motorcycle.

The aunts had prepared an array of clothes, shoes, and accessories, filling an entire wardrobe. Chen Xu suspected they had cleared out a shopping mall.

“This is too much. It’s too valuable,” Chen Xu protested, feeling overwhelmed by the extravagant gifts. He hadn’t done anything to deserve such generosity.

“Nothing too much, just small gifts. If you need anything, just ask your uncles and cousins. They are well-off and it’s their duty to take care of you,” his uncle patted his shoulder, smiling warmly.

Chen Xu couldn’t detect any falsehood in their eyes; they seemed genuine in their intentions. He was amazed that a family this large could be so harmonious.

“Xiao Ze, have you considered joining the entertainment industry? With your looks, you’d be a star,” his cousin Lin Peixin suggested, her eyes shining as she looked at him.

Seeing Chen Xu, Lin Peixin finally understood her grandfather’s obsession with his late wife’s beauty. Chen Xu’s resemblance was uncanny.

“Don’t be ridiculous. The entertainment industry is too chaotic. Xiao Ze is too pure for that,” Lin’s uncle interjected, clearly against the idea.

“With me around, nothing will harm him,” Lin Peixin retorted.

The renowned actress showed a different side at home, more relaxed and straightforward.

Before dinner, Zhuo Shunan took Chen Xu to see his room. Chen Xu glanced at Si Ye, who nodded, signaling it was okay to go.

Chen Xu remembered that Si Ye was familiar with the Lin family, so he followed Zhuo Shunan upstairs.

“Xiao Ze, you seem very close with Si Ye,” Zhuo Shunan observed.

Chen Xu turned, smiling softly. “Yes, he’s very good to me.”

Zhuo Shunan noticed the warmth in Chen Xu’s eyes as he spoke, his cold demeanor melting away.

“It’s a pity I couldn’t attend your wedding,” Zhuo Shunan said regretfully.

From her perspective, it was a loss. But Chen Xu knew there was no need for another wedding.

He smiled but didn’t reply.

Zhuo Shunan opened the door to his room, letting him explore. “I didn’t know your preferences, so I decorated it to my taste. If you don’t like it, we can redecorate.”

The room was in white and gray-blue tones, minimalistic yet elegant. Chen Xu immediately liked it, seeing the effort put into its design.

“Thank you, I really like it,” Chen Xu said sincerely.

“I’m glad you do,” Zhuo Shunan smiled, seeing his genuine appreciation.

While the room was perfect, Chen Xu knew he wouldn’t be staying long. Still, it showed Zhuo Shunan’s care.

Both being designers, they had much to discuss. In her workspace, they talked about designs, reminding Chen Xu of the legendary designer Zhuo Shunan used to be.

They spent the entire afternoon chatting, only stopping when Si Ye came to call them for dinner.

“It’s okay, we have plenty of time in the future,” Zhuo Shunan comforted.

Chen Xu nodded, feeling a bit guilty for keeping her busy, considering her health. “Are you feeling alright? Any discomfort?”

“Not at all. I actually feel great,” Zhuo Shunan reassured, touched by his concern.

Seeing she was genuinely fine, Chen Xu turned to Si Ye. “Sorry, I got carried away and forgot about you.”

Si Ye ruffled his hair. “It’s fine. I was playing chess with the elders.”

“Did you win?” Chen Xu asked curiously.

Si Ye smiled, not answering directly. He wouldn’t dare win against the elders. The family members took turns playing, with his father-in-law being the most accommodating.

Dinner at the Lin family was a stark contrast to the rigid formalities of the Si family. Everyone sat together, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

“Xiao Ze, come sit next to Grandpa,” the elderly Lin called cheerfully.

Chen Xu felt it inappropriate for a junior to sit there but saw his second uncle pulling out a chair for him, realizing everyone else was accustomed to it.

“No need, Grandpa. I’m fine here,” Chen Xu insisted, not wanting to be separated from Si Ye.

“Go on, don’t upset the elder,” Si Ye nudged him gently.

Reluctantly, Chen Xu moved but kept holding Si Ye’s sleeve.

Seeing this, his aunt laughed, “They’re inseparable, aren’t they?”

The family understood, and Chen Xu’s ears turned red from the teasing.

Despite his embarrassment, he didn’t let go of Si Ye’s sleeve. Once seated, the elderly Lin kept urging him to eat, making it hard for Chen Xu to keep up.

Meanwhile, the Lin men, especially Lin Yirun, started pouring drinks for Si Ye.

“Sir, thank you for taking care of Xiao Ze. As his brother, I toast to you,” Lin Yirun downed his drink, challenging Si Ye to do the same.

“It’s my duty as his husband to take care of him,” Si Ye replied smoothly, matching the drink.

Lin Yirun nearly crushed his chopsticks in frustration, irritated by Si Ye’s audacity.

The family didn’t share Lin Yirun’s hostility. Lin Peixin and Lin Yixuan quietly discussed Lin Yirun’s behavior.

“He probably thinks Xiao Ze was tricked by Si Ye,” Lin Yixuan speculated.

Though he had initially doubted Chen Xu’s identity, the resemblance and subsequent findings confirmed Chen Xu was indeed their missing brother.

“Yirun’s not thinking straight,” Lin Peixin rolled her eyes. 

Lin Yixuan refrained from commenting further. Lin Yijun, an air force officer rarely at home, was also eager to get to know his younger brother.

“Did you pursue him before he came of age?” Lin Yijun asked sternly, adhering to his strict moral code.

Si Ye paused, then replied, “Of course not. I would never do something illegal, and I couldn’t bear to harm him.”

Having waited years to pursue Chen Xu properly, Si Ye’s words were honest.

Lin Yijun scrutinized him, finding no deceit in his demeanor. “Good.”

Despite Lin Yirun’s continued animosity, they both ended up drinking heavily.

Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! ?~(????)

D-day 9!! ?o?.(??? ??)

You can also give me your suggestions for my next project (September). I’ll be happy to work on it ?