Kang Sola somewhat allowed her Wenbin-ge to drag her, not showing any resistance, but her head was kept turned to where they came from.

Her heart was broken by her older brother, Linyun-ge. 'Why does he always show up and cut things short?'

'Why does he have to be my brother?'

'Oh my G.o.d, did I just think of that?' Pursing her lips, and while Mo Wenbin towed her into the car, her uneasiness worsened with her wicked thought.

'Why can't we four live harmoniously as a family?'

'Right, I have two older siblings – one I deeply care for who chooses to ignore me, and one… one whom I just started to know about and get along with, but also someone who seems to be deterring my reunion with my father.'

'He doesn't accept them.  Maybe he doesn't accept me too?'

She exhaled sharply.  She and Mo Wenbin had reached the car and had been safely buckled up.

"Don't worry.  Chen Linyun will take care of it.  He would not allow you to enter such a shady transaction."

"You think so?"

"Of course.  I know him for so long.  I have known him better than anyone – not as much as Xue Jinxu does perhaps – and I can tell you he truly cares for you to s.h.i.+eld you like that.  I could read the context of the situation, and you might be uncomfortable discussing it so I wouldn't ask about it and I apologize if I was there, an intruder as I may appear.  But… Just like him, I do care for your welfare, too, Sola.  You're a family member now.  Please do think about that.  Don't act too rashly.  By being impulsive your actions might simply hurt the people you hold dear."

"I'm not only talking about us.  It's in a general sense." *Ahem* *Ahem*

He cleared his throat, threw a side-glance at the girl on the pa.s.senger seat, and drove off.

After a few more minutes, they convened at Apartment 301.  Mo Wenbin and Kang Sola were rejoined with Chen Linyun.

They all seated on the couch facing each other. 

Some serious discussion was imminent.

"Sola –"

"I'm sorry. Linyun-ge."  The girl cut him off in mid-sentence.

"It's alright.  I'm sorry, too… Maybe you are finding me hard to trust, huh?"

From head being bowed down, Kang Sola abruptly met her brother's saddened eyes and felt even more guilt-stricken.  She pursed her lips.

"I may not be as engaging as… the others you know… It's my character's flaw.  But I have reiterated several times that you can discuss anything with me, hmmm?  I know I must have sounded imposing, but you still need guidance especially with serious adult affairs.  I'm trying to be lenient with your schedule and activities, am I not?  For some things, I would appreciate it if you take the initiative and let me know.  I promise I will set aside time for you.  And don't feel burdened at all if you think you're taking up my time.  I expect you to do that."

"Am I too imposing already?"

The girl shook her head.

Chen Linyun was filled with worry deep within.  'Would she rather her other older brother would look after her?  But I cannot trust them – him and his father.  I don't think they would want to look after her responsibly.'

'This is so d.a.m.n messy.'

Elbows on his thighs, he pulled her hair in vexation. 

"Have I not allowed you pa.s.sively to stay here alone?"

Chen Linyun continued with his soliloquy.  "Have I been nagging you too much?"

Kang Sola started crying silently.  She felt wronged, and this instance, it really felt like an extremely concerned guardian was scolding her because that's what he's actually doing.

"Wenbin, say something!  I feel like I'm the bad cop here."

"I've already said my piece during our ride home.  It's your turn."

"Hmph." Chen Linyun scowled a little.  As he remembered what his wife told him some other day, "Take it as a drill for parenthood."  And she said it with a laugh, too, teasing him a bit.

"Stop crying." He went to the kitchen and poured some water into a cup.

"I just don't understand why you hate him so much." Kang Sola mumbled, but the two men heard her alright.

"Once and for all, Linyun, just tell her, for heaven's sake.  Stop this charade.   You're keeping too much from her." Mo Wenbin advised almost unthinkingly, yet it was sound advice.

Chen Linyun hesitated at first, but in the end, he gave in.  'Wenbin's right.  If I don't then this whole charade will continue.'

"Listen."

Chen Linyun placed the water-filled cup in front of Kang Sola and seated himself again on the couch.  He leaned forward, and went on in divulging about the current state of the s.h.i.+ Corporation, and about certain true stories of the past of people she knew too well – Xue Jinxu and Xue Guangxi.

Chen Linyun told her about the controversial The Great Adventurer – the cruise s.h.i.+p that keeled over about two years ago.  That one Kang Sola had personal memories on because she used to be aboard that cruise s.h.i.+p.  She even helped Xue Guangxi look for evidence and possible hints on the culprit.  It was the time when Xue Guangxi and herself had not been in good terms, and that incident somewhat mended and offset ill-feelings between them.  It was the start of their friends.h.i.+p.

Now, Chen Linyun was saying that the person behind it was her other brother, her Fengyu-Oppa who's using another name in this country.  

"Are you sure?" She whispered barely audibly. Her tears intensified.  There was no sobbing at all, but her tears flowed like waterfalls.  Her eyes were wide open, aghast and surprised at the same time.

"Yes.  He owned too it."  Chen Linyun went towards the master's bedroom where he and his wife used to stay.  He opened a drawer and retrieved a recording pen.  He played the content for his sister to hear.  Surely, she could distinguish the voice.