“You should’ve let me buy you something” the tall boy pursed his lips.

Xiu Min turned to his brother beside him and chuckled “I don’t need much and you didn’t spend too much either” they were sitting in the bench inside a mall, tired out after three hours window shopping. Each of them held a cold bubble tea on their hand and straightened their legs.

 

“Mom and Dad, they started their business roughly with no support from others. I don’t want to spend their hard work like that”

 

Xiu Min reached Tao’s hand and squeeze it “You’re such a good kid. Don’t worry, your gege will graduate and get a nice job, work hard and buy you lot of stuffs with his own money”

 

“Really?” Tao smiled and raised an eyebrow.

 

“Yes, gege will take care of you from now on”

 

They sat silently, Xiu Min would offer Tao his drink and with a blush crept on his cheek, the younger shyly took the straw. The awkwardness between them soon melted away as they catched up all the stories they’ve missed from each other in the past months.

 

“I don’t like Lu Han” felt the dejavu from his dream, Tao grinned a little.

 

“Yeah, I notice that. You barely talked to him on breakfast”

 

“I think I was jealous” the boy pouted.

 

“Mwoh??” Xiu Min was surprised and smiled.

 

“I know I should thank him for being your friend and being by your side, helping you adapted since the beginning. But... It was supposed to be me” Tao sighed “I couldn’t help hating myself for not being there with my brother when he needs someone” And of course, the fact that Lu Han was too pretty bothered him a lot.

 

“You know, Tao...” Xiu Min put an arm around his brother’s shoulder “I never said this to anyone since I don’t want to hurt my mother, even though I think she could sense it”

 

Tao took a close look at Xiu Min’s side face and his heart skipped a beat.

 

“But I’ve always felt alone all of my life. When I found out I had a brother, I was so happy because there’s someone else who shared the same blood as I am, even if it’s only a half” he chuckled.

 

“So you don’t have to worry, you’re always a special person in my heart no matter what you do” Xiu Min warmly looked at the younger and they both smiled.

 

“Okay this is sickeningly too cute” someone cut them and they turned to the voice.

 

“Chen ge” Tao was surprised “How did you know we were here?” he asked the dark haired boy who’s sitting on a bench behind them.

 

“You... Mall... Sale... Kind of predictable, right?” Chen shrugged and turned to Xiu Min “Hyung, I was lonely too” he pouted.

 

“Sorry, Jongdae-ah, but I thought today I should get to know my brother more”

 

“Then I’m sorry for brought you a bad news”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Zufu asked me to pick you up and met him in the main house”

 

“What for?” Tao’s mouth agaped.

 

“I’m sure he had his plans. You know, being a bitter witty old man, but of course I couldn’t say no to him”

 

“Then I’ll go too”

 

Chen shook his head “You shouldn’t worry, I’ll stay with Xiu ge and took care of him”

 

“How can I be not worry?” Tao’s voice was rising “He had nothing to do with the family affairs, now what Zufu want from him couldn’t be a good one. He even never talked to Dad”

 

“I guess I just have to showed up to know” Xiu Min said “It’s okay, Tao. He just wanted to talk”

 

“But, ge...”

 

“Zi Tao, you from all people knew how your Zufu acted” Chen looked straight at the youngest “I’ll say, let us hear what he wanted to say and think about it later”

 

Xiu Min patted his brother “Chen is right, you should wait at home and I’ll tell you everything later”

 

And with the sweet smile of his brother, Zi Tao gave up. They separated there, Chen and Xiu Min went to the main house while Zi Tao went back home.

 

“Yi Xing told me yesterday that Zufu wanted to see me” Xiu Min talked to Chen who was driving “Do you have any idea what’s this all about?”

 

Chen bit down his bottom lip “I had an idea, but... let’s just hear what he wanted first and we’ll talk after that” he then smiled to the older.

 

They arrived and get into the main door as a few men in a suit passed by. It was another old men with bodyguards around him, Chen bowed down and he kept walking without even glancing.

 

“That’s rude...” Xiu Min furrowed his eyebrows. His mother taught him well how to respect the elders, but not even a nod was given to the peer is an insult.

 

“Don’t mind him, he’s from the Yi. Besides, I’m a half blood” Chen kept on walking with Xiu Min beside him “Me and Tao were accustomed with this since we’re a child”

 

“Why do you put up with this?” Xiu Min wandered while the younger approached the head buttler to let Zufu knew they’ve arrived.

 

“Xiu Min ge?” someone called him. Xiu Min looked up to the stairs and he saw Yi Xing smiled at him. The boy was in a casual sleeveless t-shirt and walked down to him “You came”

 

There was something in Yi Xing that made Xiu Min stuttered, maybe it was his gentle aura or how the younger always talked to him with a look straight in his eyes as if he was reading his mind.

 

“What’re you doing here, Yi Xing?”

 

Yi Xing chuckled “I lived here, silly”

 

“EH?” Xiu Min’s eyes widened “Really?”

 

“Yes, me and Yi Fan lived in the main house since we’re a child” he was amused with the way Xiu Min reacted.

 

“Ah, you two met already” Chen showed up with the butler behind him.

 

“Chen Chen” Yi Xing turned around “Thank you for bringing Xiu ge with you. I couldn’t bring myself to it yesterday”

 

“Of course you couldn’t” the younger replied “or should I say you wouldn’t?”

 

Yi Xing laughed a little but it was an intense fight as they stared at each other  “You know I’m out of this business long time ago”

 

“That’s what they said. Come on Xiu ge, Zu fu is waiting for you”

 

“I’ll see you later, Yi Xing” Xiu Min said in a confusion, Chen never frowned like this before, he’s very good at hiding his emotion. But this time he didn’t bother to hide his dislike to the guy who had the most innocent and sweet smile, and Xiu Min had to slap himself to remind him Lu Han is his boyfriend now.

 

“You should come to see me after you’re done, Zeng Zufu wanted to see you too”

 

“Okay” Xiu Min nodded and waved to the younger.

 

“He’s from the Yi, you shouldn’t trust him” Chen whispered when they walked away.

 

“Then you should’ve said something since the start”

 

“I’m sorry, hyung. I wanted to tell you everything, but I need to see who your siding first” Chen smiled apagogically “Now, get in there. I’ll be waiting in Zeng Zufu’s room”

 

Xiu Min followed the butler who knocked on a door and opened it for him.

 

“Xiu Min” Mr. Huang greeted him. He was sitting in his office desk, a big room that functioned as his little office at home. Xiu Min stepped closed and sat as Mr. Huang pointed the chair in front of him.

 

“I’m sorry for taking your free time, drinks?” he offered.

 

“No, thanks sir” Xiu Min shook his head, he just wanted to know what the old man wanted with him.

 

Mr. Huang dismissed the butler and after the door closed he shifted in his chair. “The reason I called you here, I wanted to suggest something that could benefit both of us”

 

Of course, the last time he checked, Mr. Huang hated him and his father so much. There’s no way he would invited him if there’s no interest for himself.

 

“You know Yi Fan and Yi Xing moved in the main house since they were kids so they could be educatedas the next successor. I’ve been trying to get Zi Tao to move in too, but it was hard because he is... let’s just say not all of the family members accept him”

 

“It broke my heart that my grandson weren’t acknowledged by others just because his blood. The boy has so many potentials and good future ahead. He just needs guidance and support”

 

“And I supposed Tao was opposed to the idea as well?” Xiu Min rose an eyebrow.

 

“Zi Tao is still a boy. He didn’t know what’s good for him” Mr. Huang answered, waving his hand in frustration “At this rate, the head of the family would fall to the Yi, I couldn’t let it happen. I worked so hard so my grandson could take my seat one day”

 

“If Tao didn’t want it, why bother?”

 

Mr. Huang looked sternly at him “Over than fifty years, Huang had the power as head of family, I’m not going to let it end after me”

 

“So you want me to talk to Zi Tao to take your offer?”

 

Mr. Huang now smiled “Yes, but it’s not all. If Zi Tao agreed to move in, he’ll need allies. And what better allies than you, his brother, and Jongdae, his childhood friend?”

 

Xiu Min moved his finger in confusion “So you wanted the three of us to move in?”

 

“Exactly, I know I’m not being too nice the last time we met. But I think we should put the past behind, right?”

 

Xiu Min breathed in and out “I’m not someone who hold grudge, but...”

 

“I don’t see how this benefits my brother. He lived well and happily already. From what I see, he’s not someone who after money or power. He’s a sweet humble boy who appreciated his parent’s hard work and never took anything for granted”

 

“I’m sorry, sir. But I have to declined your offer, Zi Tao has the right to make his own path. And I hope you didn’t push your ideas and visions to him”

 

“After all these years you turned your back on them, you don’t have the right to”

 

Mr. Huang frowned at Xiu Min’s last sentence “I know I’m not being a good father or grandparents before, but people changed”

 

“Yes, and I’m glad you did” Xiu Min replied “Zi Tao and his parents don’t deserve your treatment, but that doesn’t mean you could turned him in to something he didn’t want to be”

 

“So, this is your decision?” he asked in a cold tone.

 

But Xiu Min wasn’t scared with the threat behind the old man’s words, he determined to guard his brother and never let the cute smile he had disappeared.

 

“Then, I have nothing more to say. You could leave now”