Chapter 6: Younger Brother
Wei Xun had always known his own temperament, and he wasn’t easily fooled. However, since Mu Haochang returned to China, he’d been calling him “Third Brother” in a tone very similar to Mu Jiashu’s. Hearing it, a sudden pang of pain struck his heart, his grip loosening instantly. He suddenly felt too tired to pursue anything.
Wei Xun released him. Mu Haochang straightened up, calmly adjusting his rumpled collar. A calm smile remained on his face, but a fervent gleam in his eyes gave his expression an unsettling danger.
Wei Xun had thought he was crazy since childhood and said impatiently, “Do I need your money to fix the car?”
Mu Haochang smiled meaningfully, his gaze sweeping over Wei Xun’s car again. Mu Jiashu in the car didn’t change his posture, but he distinctly felt a sense of being targeted.
He felt something amiss—even if their relationship was cold, they were still biological brothers. Mu Haochang had always been secretive, and no one in the family could guess what he was thinking. Now, after a year, this guy seemed rather enigmatic, his demeanor like that old blind fortune teller on the bridge.
Although Wei Xun was straightforward, his background wasn’t something to be trifled with, and he wasn’t a fool. Even if Mu Haochang was truly ill, this suicidal method was too abrupt. Something must have suddenly triggered him to act so irrationally.
Thinking of the resemblance between Shen Shu and Mu Jiashu, Wei Xun’s expression wasn’t good. Mu Haochang didn’t say anything, and he didn’t want to bring it up, so he said indifferently, “Forget it, you can go back.”
Mu Haochang stood still: “I’m really sorry today. Let me drive Third Brother to work first, and let your driver handle the rest.”
“Haochang.”
Wei Xun suddenly called him, his tone serious, causing Mu Haochang to pause, his smile fading slightly. He heard the other continue, “Your older brother and I were best friends, and I always treated you like my own younger brother. Now, you’re the only one left in Mu’s generation. Don’t disappoint Uncle Mu.”
Normally, if anyone dared to mention Mu Jiashu’s death in front of Wei Xun, regardless of who it was, a beating would be unavoidable. Yet, he himself brought it up, catching Mu Haochang off guard. After a pause, he replied, “Okay.”
Wei Xun’s words ripped open an old wound, and his grief was almost uncontrollable. His sharp gaze lingered on Mu Haochang’s face for a moment.
His tone was like a brother caring for his younger sibling, but the actual meaning was open to interpretation.
Mu Haochang didn’t say anything else or press further. He nodded: “Third Brother, goodbye.”
Mu Jiashu waited half a day before Wei Xun returned, half his body numb from the cold: “Young Master Wei, I’ve already called. The company car will arrive in five minutes, and the towing company will send this car for repairs immediately. Is this alright?”
He was young, but efficient and thorough. Wei Xun looked at him in surprise and nodded: “Good.”
The two leaned against the car, silent for a moment. Wei Xun suddenly asked, “Why did you save me just now?”
Mu Jiashu said, “I’m your hired bodyguard. It’s my responsibility to ensure your safety.”
Wei Xun was stunned, looked at him, and wanted to laugh—this guy was a talent, able to calmly give an official answer to such a sudden question. But he was too clever; it seemed he hadn’t considered that his calmness beyond others was an abnormality.
He felt a rare sense of interest and pressed further: “But as far as I know, protecting oneself in danger is a human instinct.”
When did Wei Sanshao become so troublesome?! He never used to talk this much!
Mu Jiashu finally paused, considering Shen Shu’s mentality, and cautiously replied: “Maybe because I kept telling myself last night that I must risk my life to protect you.”
Wei Xun was genuinely surprised: “Why?”
Unknowingly, their conversation became casual, and the distance between them shortened: “Before I started working, Brother Liang said the company’s benefits are generous and that they’ve already bought insurance for me. So if something happens to me because I protected you, my family will definitely receive a considerable amount of compensation. If…Young Master Wei had an accident, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to bear the responsibility. My grandmother is eighty years old.”
Wei Xun stared at him, mesmerized by his thoughtful expression and tone of speech…understanding Mu Jiashu’s meaning, his heart trembled violently.
He couldn’t help but say, “Nonsense!”
Mu Jiashu looked at him in surprise. Wei Xun frowned: “What’s money? If a person is gone, it’s useless! You were only thinking about not causing trouble for your family, but didn’t think about how heartbroken they would be if something happened to you? What would your grandmother do then? Use the money to buy you a good grave? Don’t be so impulsive next time!”
“…” Mu Jiashu said, “So Young Master Wei means that next time there’s danger, I should run first and not worry about you?”
Why hire a bodyguard if you’re not afraid of death? Go home and hang yourself.
Wei Xun: “…”
He was speechless.
Under their mutual gaze, Wei Xun’s flustered expression reminded Mu Jiashu of their countless youthful memories together, causing him to smile—even with the guise of a big bad wolf, appearing more profound than before, his inner self hadn’t changed at all. He should be a capable person, yet he was sometimes prone to silliness.
With sword-like eyebrows and shimmering phoenix eyes, he wasn’t someone who loved to smile, but every time he smiled, it was extremely beautiful.
Mu Jiashu’s eyes showed genuine warmth: “Young Master Wei’s words make sense, but if it happens again, I’ll still do it, but the reason might be different—if you hadn’t used your arm to shield me from the broken glass, I might have become blind.”
Wei Xun shook his head, the wound on his arm aching appropriately. He ignored it, casually lit a cigarette, and leaned against the car, smoking.
Mu Haochang leaned against a tree in the distance, a telescope hanging around his neck from somewhere. He smiled playfully, retracted his gaze, and turned towards his car parked by the roadside.
Mu Jiashu leaned against the car next to Wei Xun, looking sideways at him smoking. The rising smoke obscured Wei Xun’s handsome profile. His heart stirred. For a moment, he almost wanted to tell Wei Xun the truth about his rebirth. But as soon as that impulse arose, the sound of a car approaching came.
The car to pick up Wei Xun arrived, and Pang Xing and Liang Pingzhao got out.
Seeing Pang Xing’s gloomy face, Mu Jiashu’s impulse was immediately suppressed—before he understood why this man had returned to Wei Xun’s side, he shouldn’t have such an irrational idea.
Mu Jiashu stood up from the car, smiling slightly: “Brother Liang, Brother Pang, you’re here.”
He remembered the mortal feud, yet he could effortlessly call out “Brother Pang,” his expression calm. Pang Xing, on the other hand, who had been beaten up and had his bruised face on display for three days, was extremely unhappy with him and said coldly, “On your first day of work, something like this happens? Young Master Wei’s car is worth nearly ten million…”
“Alright, Lao Pang, this isn’t Shen Shu’s fault.” Wei Xun interrupted, giving a short order, “Get in the car.”
Mu Jiashu smiled faintly and got in the back seat with Wei Xun—he naturally knew the price of the car. It was a car he and Wei Xun had bought together. His was white, probably being used by Mu Haochang now.
But Wei Xun’s attitude towards Pang Xing surprised him. Others might not understand, but from Mu Jiashu’s perspective, if Wei Xun simply treated him as a subordinate, his attitude seemed overly polite.
Even more surprising was that, despite being treated so well, Pang Xing’s expression wasn’t good. Although it was mostly directed at him, given Wei Xun’s temper, if it were in the past, he would have kicked someone so unappreciative away.
Mu Jiashu quietly lowered his eyes, hiding all his emotions.
Back at the office, Wei Xun summoned a personal doctor to treat their wounds. Most of the glass shards had been blocked by his arm; it looked bloody and raw, scaring everyone.
Mu Jiashu was well-protected, only having a few small cuts on his waist. They weren’t serious, but when the medicine was applied, it stung—Wei Xun’s usual medicines were military-grade, generally potent and highly irritating, but wounds healed quickly.
Mu Jiashu let the doctor apply the medicine without moving, his expression calm. Finally, he thanked him.
Wei Xun silently watched him, feeling dazed. He rubbed his forehead, feeling he should go to the Mu family and beat Mu Haochang up—that madman must have given him a concussion.
The people around him were still surrounding him like stars around the moon. Wei Xun was annoyed: “Pingzhao stay, everyone else get out. Shen Shu, go to the outer room of the chairman’s office; the desk on the right can be used.”
He didn’t ask Mu Jiashu to report to security but arranged him to guard outside his own office, where a secretary assistant would usually be. Mu Jiashu didn’t ask anything, simply agreeing and preparing to leave.
Author’s Note: Don’t worry, everyone, the reunion will happen, but for now, let Third Brother guess. Xiaoshu’s personality is suspicious and overthinking, especially after being inexplicably murdered, so give him some time…but it won’t be too long. The guessing game is actually pretty fun now, isn’t it (⁄ω＼)
Love you all～
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