Chapter 27: The Qin Family Siblings

Qin Yian was woken up by the urge to pee. 

He groggily opened his eyes, feeling a splitting headache, and for a moment was confused about his surroundings. 

Who am I? 

Where am I? 

What happened? 

My neck feels like it’s going to break…

He stared blankly at the car’s interior, falling into memory. 

He remembered attending a friend’s drinking party… 

Bright lights, beautiful women, he drank a lot during the process… 

Then he heard news about Han Xiao… 

Met Han Xiao and her best friend, and her best friend’s brother on the roadside… 

Huh? 

Then what happened? 

The last memory stopped at him and that smirking man, arm-in-arm, as if they were old friends who just met, preparing to send Han Xiao home.

Wait! …

Qin Yian looked around, confirming that he was indeed downstairs at Han Xiao’s place. 

Did he send Han Xiao home and then just slept in the car? 

No, did I drive? 

Or did I just pass out midway, and Han Xiao drove and dumped me downstairs?

Hmm, in the driver’s seat, it should be me who drove Han Xiao home.

He felt smug for a moment, then annoyed because he had no memory.

Drinking really messes things up…

Rubbing his throbbing head, Qin Yian sighed. 

He first sneaked to a public restroom for some relief, then pulled out his phone and found Han Xiao’s contact at the top. Qin Yian, [Xiao Xiao, what happened last night?]

Qin Yian: [Xiao Xiao?] 

Qin Yian: [Han Xiao?] 

Han Xiao: [You slept in the car after sending me home.]

Qin Yian breathed a sigh of relief. 

Really? 

Then it was as he guessed, but why was his neck hurting so much? 

A stiff neck? 

Impossible, he who regularly passed out on a beauty’s lap had ample experience with stiff necks. 

And through the rearview mirror, he could still see a long red mark. 

Why was there such a suspicious mark? 

What exactly happened yesterday?

Qin Yian: [Are you home?] 

Qin Yian: [I reek of alcohol, is it convenient for me to come upstairs and take a shower?]

In Qin Yian’s view, Han Xiao had no reason to refuse. 

Courtesy demands reciprocity, a traditional Chinese virtue! But she refused anyway, using “silence,” the most undignified way. 

Fortunately, he was used to it. 

Helpless, he could only drive home. 

He seemed to have forgotten something very important, but couldn’t recall it. 

Never mind, none of that matters.

We common folks, we’re really happy today…

This seemed to be his and Han Xiao’s first “intimate contact.”

Victory was within reach!

***

~ The Bund. A certain villa area  ~

This villa area has been completed for over twenty years, and just by looking at the exterior walls, one can clearly feel the traces of time. 

Qin Yimo’s car stopped at the entrance of the community, and the car window slowly rolled down.

The guard glanced at her and let her through, clearly very perceptive. 

She drove for two minutes through the wide residential streets and stopped outside a luxurious large villa.

Beyond the exquisitely carved iron gate lay a garden-like courtyard. 

Through the creative use of flowers, trees, rockeries, and ponds, and by skillfully arranging buildings and pathways, the courtyard exuded an elegant and beautiful ambiance. 

A tall, three-story villa stood at the center of the garden, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Qin Yimo took out her access card from her pocket, swiped open the iron gate, and walked in.

She walked through the path paved with cobblestones… 

She walked through the flowerbeds vying for beauty…

After successfully entering the villa’s main hall, she looked up and saw Qin Yian’s dazed expression. 

She couldn’t help but wave her hand in front of his eyes, “Second Brother, what are you thinking about?”

“Ah? You’re back…” 

Qin Yian snapped back to reality and sighed, shaking his head, “This is hard to explain.” 

“What’s hard for you to explain? You look like you’re troubled by love. Aren’t you a master of emotions?”

Tsk… master of emotions. 

I’d need to know the details of the process. I’m not a fortune teller.

Qin Yimo stared suspiciously, then saw Qin Yian tilt his head and point to the red mark on his neck, asking, “You tell me, was this kissed onto me?”

“Don’t you know if you’ve been kissed?” 

“I was drunk last night. It’s hard to see clearly from this angle, but it looks a lot like it. The ‘strawberries’ have even formed a patch… Otherwise, it wouldn’t still be there after a whole night.”

Qin Yimo covered her mouth and chuckled softly, “If that was kissed on you, then she must be a hippo.”

“…Oh, right.” 

Qin Yian suddenly realized.

So what was it then? 

Headache! 

The more he thought about it after coming back, the more something felt off.

While he was still deliberating, Qin Yian’s phone rang. 

He answered an un-saved number. 

The voice on the other end was very flustered, “Brother Qin… Brother Qin, something… something big has happened!”

Qin Yian glanced at his sister, cleared his throat, and spoke in a steady, deep voice, “Calm down, calm down. When faced with a big situation, remain composed. What is it?” 

Hearing this, the person on the other end felt much calmer, their tone noticeably lighter, “Brother Chen just came looking for you, asking where you were.”

“What did you say?!” 

Qin Yian seemed to suddenly remember something, his steady voice abruptly turning sharp, “Big… Big Brother is looking for me?! How did you answer?!!”

“He came so suddenly, it caught us off guard. When his secretary woke us up, our minds weren’t clear yet… so we told the truth.”

Qin Yian’s legs suddenly went weak, and he slumped onto the sofa, his eyes becoming vacant.

“But don’t worry, we didn’t say you were with us the whole time. We said you left midway and didn’t know where you went.” 

The man briefly explained the situation, “I saw Brother Chen had no expression, so he didn’t look angry.”

After that, there was a long silence from the other end of the phone. 

Qin Yian didn’t speak, and the man didn’t dare to speak either. 

Faintly, he heard breathing ranging from faint to rapid.

“Brother Qin?” 

“What do you know? When his face shows expression, it’s over! Don’t you think, if there was nothing wrong, would he come looking for you? He’s always looked down on ‘second-generation rich kids’ the most! Even if he beats us, those old folks will just say, ‘Little Chen beat them well!’ Haven’t you had enough losses these past few years, huh?”

“…What should we do then? How about you come to my place to hide?” 

“Shut up!!” 

Qin Yian’s voice was trembling.

“Brother Qin, can you handle it?” 

After asking, the man seemed to hear the footsteps on the other end become more hurried. …

“Can I handle my ass? I’m packing my bags and running away right now! It’s over! It’s over! How could I forget what he told me to do? I’m really dead this time!”

Qin Yimo was puzzled but still showed a sympathetic look. 

The man on the other end of the phone was still comforting him, “Brother Qin, it’s not that serious, is it? Aren’t you two biological brothers? He’s your brother, not your dad…” 

“You f***ing know nothing. Let’s meet at yesterday’s club first. I’ll settle accounts with you later.”

“Yimo, if Big Brother comes back later, just say you’ve never seen me…” 

“Let me think, starting from now, for at least a month. Tell me when he doesn’t look angry anymore.”

Qin Yimo shook her head, “Second Brother, I might not be able to help you.”

Qin Yian was breathing rapidly, “It’s fine, it’s fine… Big Brother is just harsh with his words but kind at heart. You’ve been part of the family for so many years, he still has feelings for you. You’re closer than biological siblings, he just doesn’t know how to express it. But I’m different. I promised him yesterday to go… Never mind! It’s useless to tell you. He can really beat me to death. Mom and Dad are unreliable. You stay here and put in a good word for me.”

“No, Big Brother is already back.” 

Qin Yimo pointed to the courtyard. 

Qin Yian froze, dumbfounded, as if the sky had fallen.