Translated by Eve

Edited by Kara

Song Xuanhe was taken aback for a moment. He couldn't help but turn to seriously size up Song Xuanlin. When he saw the other's face, however, his mind blanked. Song Xuanlin's lips were slightly curled up, unprecedentedly relaxed.

It was like he had finally said the words that had been hidden in his heart all these years, or like after much hesitation, he'd finally taken his first step onto the path he'd wanted to take. It was like a heavy load had been lifted from his mind.

“But, 'I' don't need a big brother anymore.” Song Xuanhe's gaze fell down before he looked away. When Song Xuanlin looked at him, he kept his own gaze directed forward. His lips were slightly pursed as he quietly said, “A question suddenly popped up in my mind.”

“Tell me.”

“You should know that Xiao Yuanmu and I didn't get together because we liked each other. We started dating because I used the orphanage to threaten him. Afterwards….what if the situation between Xiao Yuanmu and I hadn't turned out like it did? What if I had forced him and bullied him, making him hate me to the bone? What if Xiao Yuanmu had declared that I was the person he loathed the most after his return to the Xiao Family? What would you have done then?”

Song Xuanlin's relaxed expression faded. His gaze grew heavy. “You think that I'm saying these things to you because of the Xiao Family?”

Song Xuanhe didn't respond to the question. He simply repeated his own. “What would you have done?”

Song Xuanlin stared at him for a few seconds. He then cast his gaze away and said, “If you had done that—bullying and forcing someone—it doesn't matter who it is. I would not approve of your actions.”

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“Would you have opposed it?” Song Xuanhe turned to look at him. “Would you have stopped me?”

Song Xuanlin opened his mouth, but no words came out.

If he hadn't suddenly developed this feeling of responsibility as an older brother, and his impression of Song Xuanhe had still been as mild as it used to be, would he have stopped Song Xuanhe upon seeing him do something that he thought was wrong?

Song Xuanlin wanted to say

yes

. However, when he thought about how they used to keep out of each other's business, he knew that the answer was

no

.

Song Xuanhe had always been unreasonable. He had caused a lot of trouble throughout his lifetime. However, nothing major had ever happened. Therefore, even though the rest of the Song Family was infuriated over this, they had never steeled their hearts and disciplined him. This had caused Song Xuanhe to become increasingly rebellious over the years. And the more rebellious he became, the less likely he was to listen to others.

In the past, he might have said a word or two upon seeing something like that. However, ever since he and Song Xuanhe had had a big fight during Song Xuanhe's teen years, he had stopped meddling in his younger brother's life. As long as it hadn't been anything that the Song Family couldn't handle, he hadn't been willing to waste his energy on it.

To tell the truth, Song Xuanlin had seen many acts of someone “forcing another person” after becoming an adult. But, he had only ever thought that it was just some roleplay that couples got up to whenever people his age had brought it up. This was because he had thought that no one would ever break the law, just because they were interested in someone. At most, they would use their ident.i.ty or wealth to awe and entice the other party. After all, even people like them feared the law.

Therefore, the rich second-generation had thought that the people who “succeeded” in “forcing someone to be with them” were actually engaged in consensual roleplay, or the other party had simply been playing hard-to-get. Although some people looked down on this, no one would meddle in someone else's affairs. Song Xuanlin had thought that Xiao Yuanmu and Song Xuanhe's relations.h.i.+p was like this.

If Xiao Yuanmu hadn't had his current accomplishments and ident.i.ty, Song Xuanlin believed that even if Song Xuanhe had done shameful things to Xiao Yuanmu, the Song Family wouldn't have interfered at all. At most, they would have just given him a warning. After all, they would have thought that Xiao Yuanmu wouldn't have been able to cause any big waves.

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But if it had been as Song Xuanhe had said—if Xiao Yuanmu had his current ident.i.ty and a grudge against Song Xuanhe and the Song Family…what would Song Xuanlin have dome to Song Xuanhe?

An image appeared in Song Xuanlin's mind. Thinking about how he had thought and done things in the past, he came to a conclusion: he would have temporarily abandoned Song Xuanhe and protected the Song Family instead.

It wouldn't have just been him either. Song Xuanlin believed that even their grandfather, who usually loved Song Xuanhe dearly, would have made the same decision.

It was like he had said to Song Xuanhe in the past. Song Xuanhe should take responsibility for his own actions. If he was to one day bring disaster upon the Song Family, the only person who would be willing to give up everything to save him would be their mother.

“You wouldn't, would you?” Song Xuanhe shrugged, his tone indolent but covertly piercing. “You told me before. If something happened to me, the only person who would give up anything to save me would be Mother.”

“That's right,” Song Xuanlin admitted calmly, “According to what you said, I think that I would have temporarily abandoned you.”

Song Xuanhe raised a brow. “Temporarily?”

“First, I would have pacified the Xiao Family's rage and diverted everyone's gaze away from the Song Family. When everything was over, I would have come to take you home.”

“What if I couldn't go home?” Song Xuanhe asked, “The Xiao Family's rage—there are many people who want to get closer to the Xiao Family or even just throw stones at me while I'm down. If you had chased me out of the Song Family, and I lost my last bit of support, do you really think that I could survive all those people targeting me until you could take me home?”

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“Obviously.” Song Xuanlin sounded sure of it. “Even if you were driven away, it's not like we would have cut off your resources. Moreover, even if people had wanted to kick you while you're down, they wouldn't have actually dared to hurt you. At most, they'd hurt you psychologically. However, you would have deserved that. It would probably have been a good thing for you to suffer a bit outside and learn your lesson before coming home.”

Song Xuanlin didn't hesitate and appeared confident. This made Song Xuanhe fall silent. In the past, he had felt a bit conflicted when it came to Song Xuanlin, who had never involved himself in the original host's life or death, and the Song Family. According to what the System had said, it was because he had the original host's memories. Therefore, he couldn't remain objective when judging how big of a part the Song Family had played in the original host's death. Now that he'd heard what Song Xuanlin had said, he realized that there was nothing wrong with the Song Family's, and in particular, Song Xuanlin's methods.

They didn't know and would never have expected that Lu Chao and Zhou Rong would inject the original host with a highly addictive drug. And, they definitely wouldn't have expected that the original host, who had a weak willpower, would walk straight towards his death because of his drug addiction.

If it hadn't been for Zhou Rong and them, perhaps the original host's fate would have turned out the way Song Xuanlin had predicted. He would probably have learned from his suffering outside.

“But, that kind of stuff won't ever happen,” Song Xuanlin said, “You're not as terrible as I had previously thought. You're also not the kind of person who would completely disregard someone else's opinions. This means that you and Xiao Yuanmu would never really fall out like that. Therefore, what you had said will never come true.”

Song Xuanhe was pulled out of his thoughts. When he heard what the other had said, he couldn't help but laugh. The complicated emotion that had just bubbled up in his chest was washed away. He stood up and patted Song Xuanlin on the shoulder. “I'm going to head in first.”

Song Xuanlin looked up, staring after the other. All he saw was the image of the other's back illuminated beneath the light.

Song Xuanhe had wanted to head straight back to his apartment. Unfortunately, when he reached the living room, he encountered Song Guochao, who was holding something in his hand.

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He didn't have any intention of acknowledging the other. He glanced at the older man and was prepared to brush past him. However, Song Guochao called his name. For once, there was glee on his face, which had been perpetually dark as of late. There was also a complicated emotion in his expression.

“I received an invitation just now.” Song Guochao looked at Song Xuanhe. He still felt some disbelief and shock as he recalled the contents of the invitation. “It's from the Xiao Family.”

Song Xuanhe paused, a bad premonition springing up in his chest.

As expected, his bad premonition came true a second later.

“They've invited our family to their banquet in America,” Song Guochao said, “Aside from us, the Guan Family and Zhang Family have also been invited. It will take place on July 25th. Make sure you're ready. You'll come with your mother and I on that day.”

“I don't have time.”

“Hold it!” Song Guochao grabbed hold of Song Xuanhe. He then forced himself to remain calm, telling himself that he couldn't get angry. It was important to placate Song Xuanhe right now. Therefore, Song Guochao tried his best to ease up his tone. “This invitation is directed to you. If you don't go, how can your mother and I attend?”

Song Xuanhe turned to look at him. When he saw a rare pleasant expression on Song Guochao's face, he said in a flat voice, “If you want to go, go by yourself. I'm not going.”

“You have to go.” Song Xuanhe's expressionless face made Song Guochao's vow to remain calm collapse. His face darkened. “You have no right to refuse. You have no right to refuse to attend the Xiao Family's banquet. I'm telling you, Song Xuanhe, don't think that you can do whatever you want, just because Xiao Yuanmu's behind you….”

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“Father.” Song Xuanlin, who had been a few steps behind Song Xuanhe, walked in and interrupted Song Guochao. He glanced at Song Xuanhe, his tone sounding baffled. “Uncle brought Jiabao over.”

Song Guochao frowned. He didn't know why Song Guohua and his son had come over at such a time. In any case, they couldn't leave their relatives outside. He glared at Song Xuanhe and then gave the nearby servants an order. “Let them in.”

Shortly after, Song Guohua and Song Jiabao walked in. When Song Xuanhe saw Song Jiabao, he realized why Song Xuanlin had on that expression just now.

“Uncle.” Song Jiabao greeted Song Guochao and then bit his lips as he walked over to Song Xuanhe. The rod on his back was very eye-catching. Song Jiabao pulled the rod out and held it in front of Song Xuanhe. Who knew if it was out of reluctance or shame, but his voice trembled. “Xuanhe, in the past, I offended bothMr. Xiao and you far too much. If you are discontent with me, please vent it onto me now. I hope that with this, you won't hold what had happened in the past over me.”

Song Xuanhe was contemplating taking the rod and testing it out. However, Song Xuanlin responded on his behalf. He walked over and stood in front of Song Xuanhe. “Jiabao, you're a year older than Xuanhe. What's a bit of bickering? There's no reason to let a younger cousin chide you. Don't make such a joke.”

“It's not a joke.” Song Guohua took the rod out of Song Jiabao's hands, wanting to shove it into Song Xuanhe's hands. He said, “Jiabao is in the wrong. It's only right for him to apologize after doing bad things. This has nothing to do with whether or not we're family. Xuanhe, hit him as much as you want. You can stop once you've finished venting your rage.”

Song Xuanlin didn't stand down, however. He didn't let Song Xuanhe take the rod either. In a low voice, he said, “Even if Jiabao wants to apologize, it's not Xuanhe who he should be apologizing to. The person he offended isn't Xuanhe.”

“Aren't Xiao Yuanmu and Xuanhe a family? If one of them forgives Jiabao, the other person naturally will not mind.” Song Guohua laughed dryly. “Xuanhe, Jiabao is your cousin, regardless of what's happened. Although you two don't usually get along, your relations.h.i.+p isn't so bad that you'd hold a grudge, right? How about you help Jiabao reconcile with Mr. Xiao? We'll all be one big family once you and Mr. Xiao get married anyway. Wouldn't it be better to resolve any conflicts we may have now?”

At this moment, Song Xuanhe realized just what Song Guohua was planning. When he recalled all the hara.s.sment he'd been suffering recently, the last tiny vestige of his patience disappeared. He pulled his phone out and said, “You want to resolve their conflict? Speak to him yourself.”

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Eve: Three thoughts. One, these relatives are so annoying. So shameless, changing their tunes like this. Two, Xuanlin trying to be a good big bro I cri. Three, SXH always tattling to Mumu cracks me up.

Kara: The audacity of these relatives never fails to surprise me. SMH!! But, it's so nice to see how SXH comes to terms with dealing with the original host's memories and feelings. I genuinely love seeing how SXH and XYM's individual growth allow them to positively develop their relations.h.i.+p together. ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)