Chapter 23 – Confrontation Between Two Men

After sending the message, Jian Mei felt refreshed, as if he had cleared his mind and unblocked his energy channels. In reality, he might have been aware of certain things himself, but after Lu Xingwang’s guidance, he suddenly had many realizations. Previously, his brother always avoided him, but now things were different. With a ten-day holiday for National Day, Jian Changjia would have to stay at home for five or six days. Moreover, the village wasn’t that big, so no matter where he wanted to go, he couldn’t escape. Wasn’t this a great opportunity for himself?

That’s right…

He didn’t know what to do to make his brother not dislike him so much.

Evening came.

While Jian Mei was having dinner downstairs, the wind started blowing outside in the courtyard. Autumn had arrived, and the weather was gradually becoming cooler. The gust of wind shook the wooden door.

The old master glanced outside and said, “It’s probably going to rain tonight.”

Jian Mei knew there was work to be done. “Then I’ll go collect the dried herbs from the backyard.”

“Go ahead.” The old master turned to the two who were sitting beside him and said, “Changjia, take Mei Mei with you and move the shelves back to the medicine room. Make sure to lock the doors and windows, understood?”

Jian Changjia frowned. “I can do it alone.”

The old master waved his hand. “Let your younger brother help you. Stop wasting words and go quickly!”

Jian Changjia wanted to argue, but when he turned around, he saw Jian Mei looking eager and excited, putting down his bowl, and showing a strong desire to work. His refusal got stuck in his throat.

Jian Mei quickly volunteered, “Brother, take me with you. I’m more familiar with the medicine room!”

“Whatever,” Jian Changjia stood up and walked outside, not in a good mood. “Just stay away from me.”

“Okay, okay.”

“I told you to stay away from me, so why are you getting so close?”

“I’m not that close.” Jian Mei gestured with his palm. “There’s still this much distance.”

“…”

Sorting the herbs was also a skillful task, but fortunately, Jian Mei had been accustomed to doing these things since childhood. He was quick and agile with his hands and feet. However, it was a bit difficult and cumbersome to put away the shelves for the herbs. He wanted to help lift them, but Jian Changjia pushed him away and carried the shelves himself. Annoyed, he said, “Don’t get in the way, move your own herbs.”

Jian Mei watched anxiously from the side. “It’s heavy, let me help you.”

“Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?” Jian Changjia glared at him. The young man had been wearing a short-collared shirt during the day, but now, for some unknown reason, he had changed into a long-collared one, neatly covering up a large portion of his horrifying scar. However, his mouth remained as venomous as during the day. “Just take care of yourself.”

Jian Mei wisely returned to move the lighter herbs.

The nighttime wind grew colder and when a gust of cool air blew, Jian Mei, with his poor constitution, couldn’t help but sneeze, lowering his head and muttering softly, “Ah-choo!”

The sound was very faint and could barely be heard if one wasn’t paying close attention.

After completing one round of transporting herbs, when Jian Mei was preparing to move the second batch, Jian Changjia had already taken the remaining herbs. The young man had just finished moving the shelves and was covered in sweat, yet he chose not to rest and started doing the tasks that were originally meant for his younger brother.

Jian Mei caught up with him and said, “Let me do it.”

Jian Changjia didn’t allow it. “Stay aside. Your efficiency is so poor that it’s a waste of time.”

He continued walking forward, carrying the items. However, after a few steps without hearing Jian Mei’s response, he hesitated for a moment before finally turning back. Standing under the vine tree, he saw the child looking at him, a sweet smile on his face despite the chilly autumn wind. “Brother, thank you.”

…

Jian Changjia choked up. The spiteful teenager was inexplicably standing there looking somewhat lost. Thankfully, the darkness concealed his slightly reddened ears. He muttered a resentful “So annoying” and hurriedly left as if escaping.

Although it seemed like both of them were working, in reality, Jian Changjia had completed all the tasks by himself. Jian Mei had no choice but to return to the house to check the doors and windows. The calico cat, always roaming outside, seemed to sense the approaching storm and ran back from outside, closing the door to the house. The old master, being old, had long since gone to sleep, so Jian Mei had no choice but to hurry back to his own room.

Indeed, the wind picked up in the evening, and half an hour later, water streaks started to spread on the windows as the rain began to fall.

Due to his early bedtime for school, Jian Mei also went to sleep early at night. Feeling a bit unfamiliar in a new bed, he couldn’t sleep very soundly. In a half-dream state, suddenly…

“Boom!”

A muffled thunderclap echoed, raindrops pattered against the glass, and the shadows of the towering trees in the backyard were elongated by the lightning’s glow, casting monstrous shapes on the ground inside the house. At first glance, it looked like a beast baring its fangs and claws.

Jian Mei felt a bit scared. He cautiously reached under his pillow for his cellphone and glanced at the time—it was a little past 8 pm. The tranquil village had already fallen into silence, with only the boisterous rain outside seemingly screaming silently. He had just had some nightmares in his dream, and combined with the shadows he saw upon waking up, his courage had been shattered.

Subconsciously, he opened WeChat and sent a message to Lu Xingwang: “Are you asleep?”

On the other side, Lu Xingwang might have been busy and didn’t reply promptly.

Jian Mei gathered his courage and sent another message: “I’m feeling a bit scared right now, really.”

“Boom.”

Another thunderclap sounded from outside.

Jian Mei trembled in fright, and his phone slipped onto the blanket, disappearing from sight. Jian Changjia’s room was just a wall away, and he hesitated for a moment. Should he secretly retrieve his phone? He tiptoed off the bed, quietly opened the door, and then began knocking on Jian Changjia’s room. He wasn’t sure if his brother was asleep, but he held onto a glimmer of hope as he knocked. In the past, their parents were always busy with work. Their father would work late into the night performing surgeries for patients, and Shen Meina couldn’t come back from the set.

Sometimes, when the housekeeper had things to attend to and it happened to rain, Jian Mei would quietly go to his brother’s room to sleep. However, after that incident, Jian Changjia not only refused to let him sleep with him but also completely ignored him.

He knocked on the door for a while, but there was no response. Jian Mei felt a bit disheartened, and just as he was about to give up, there was a soft “click,” and the door to the room opened. Jian Changjia, still in his pajamas and looking drowsy, glared at the person outside the door, not in a good mood. “What are you doing not sleeping in the middle of the night?”

Jian Mei was half a head shorter than him and involuntarily shrank back, his fair little face filled with unease. “I want to sleep with you.”

?

Jian Changjia couldn’t believe his ears. “What did you say?”

Jian Mei pursed his lips and finally said it, “I… I said I want to sleep with you.”

Jian Changjia immediately rejected the idea. “No way!”

“Why… why not…”

“No reason.” Jian Changjia leaned against the door, expressionless. “I’m not like our parents. I won’t spoil you. If you want to sleep somewhere, go sleep there. Just don’t come to me.”

These words were said decisively and mercilessly.

Jian Changjia felt quite imposing, but unexpectedly, when he lowered his head, he met Jian Mei’s eyes. They were eyes filled with dependence, carrying a hint of hurt at the moment. For some reason, Jian Mei’s face was also pale. The child in front of him seemed to tremble slightly, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Jian Mei simply said in a soft voice, “I understand.”

Jian Changjia’s gaze shifted downward, skeptical. “Where are your shoes?”

Jian Mei lowered his head and saw his bare feet, honestly answering, “I forgot to wear them.”

“Are you a pig-headed fool?” Jian Changjia scolded him angrily, “Can’t you take care of your own body? Why did you come out without wearing shoes?”

Jian Mei was taken aback by the scolding. He stood still for a few seconds, and then his eyes gradually turned red. He suppressed his trembling voice and said, “I’m sorry.”

“Boom.”

Another lightning flashed across the sky.

The shadow of the trees outside swayed wildly through the glass window of the corridor. Jian Mei trembled nervously, and instinctively took two steps forward and held onto Jian Changjia’s arm, seeking comfort like a small animal.

Jian Changjia’s body stiffened. He hadn’t realized that they were a bit too close until now. He noticed that Jian Mei’s hands were icy cold, and his body was trembling slightly. He hesitated and asked, “Are you still afraid of thunder now?”

Jian Mei nodded obediently.

Jian Changjia chuckled and mockingly said, “You’re hopeless.”

This matter couldn’t be entirely blamed on Jian Mei. When Jian Changjia was young, he attended a full-time boarding school. At that time, Jian Mei was left at home because their parents were too busy with work. The nanny took care of Jian Mei, but unexpectedly, she didn’t live up to their expectations. On rainy days with thunderstorms, she would leave without permission if she had something to do, locking the child inside the house. She even warned him that if he didn’t behave, monsters would come and take him away.

Coincidentally, that day there was a severe thunderstorm, and the power in the neighborhood went out.

Jian Mei was locked in the dark room for the whole night. No one could imagine how a child who was not yet five years old at the time managed to get through it.

Jian Mei stood in the corridor and tugged at the hem of Jian Changjia’s clothes. “Brother…”

“What?” Jian Changjia asked.

“I’m feeling a bit cold.”

“No kidding, if I’m not wearing shoes, I’ll feel cold too.”

Jian Mei wanted to say something more, but suddenly his vision blurred, and he was lifted up horizontally. Jian Changjia, who had been exercising regularly, carried him as if he was carrying a little chick. He roughly threw him onto his own bed and said, “Don’t stand outside and catch a cold. If tomorrow you blame it on me, our parents will never stop nagging. It’s so annoying!”

Jian Mei skillfully crawled under the covers, then peeked his head out to look at him. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m not that weak.”

Thoughts running through his mind, he instructed Jian Mei to stay put and fetch the bedding from the adjacent room. Though separated by a wall, Jian Mei’s small room was noticeably smaller. The bed inside was wrapped into a ball, resembling a frightened little animal seeking safety in its own nest. Jian Changjia’s mouth curled into a faint smile as he approached to take the blanket.

“Clatter.”

Something fell to the floor—it was a cellphone.

Jian Changjia hesitated for a moment before picking it up. At that very moment, the screen lit up, accompanied by the sound of a WeChat message notification:

“What’s wrong?”

“Where are you?”

Jian Mei had deliberately sent a few messages expressing fear and ambiguity, leaving Lu Xingwang uncertain. The last time something like this happened was when they got lost in a small forest. Could it be that they were in trouble again? However, this time, the child did not reply to any messages, causing even greater worry. After much hesitation, Lu Xingwang finally pressed the dial button.

The WeChat call vibrated on the cellphone. Jian Changjia held the device, wondering who this “Brother Dazhuang” was. It didn’t seem like the name of a classmate. Did anyone really go by that name now? Could it be some shady person online specifically targeting young boys? Sending messages in the middle of the night was suspicious enough. In the world, elder brothers often harbored protective instincts, always being suspicious of unidentified individuals.

Finally, the call was answered.

Jian Changjia’s voice carried a hint of suspicion. “Hello, who is this?”

Lu Xingwang’s previously calm expression instantly turned cold. The darkness in his eyes deepened, giving off a menacing aura that would surely make anyone who saw him in this state panic. It was reminiscent of a dangerous beast whose territory had been violated. He spoke, his voice icy cold, “And who are you?”