Chapter 44: Falling for the Same Person as My Younger Brother
It wasn’t something that could be summarized simply as a “brother complex.”
It was a psychological dependency where his sense of self-worth was almost entirely tied to the role of “Protecting Gege.” He was terrified that once this role was diluted or shaken, the meaning of his own existence would become blurred.
Therefore, he had to guard his position strictly to ensure he was forever the most indispensable person by his brother’s side. Anything that could distract his energy, take up his time, or weaken his role was on his forbidden list.
Love was, without a doubt, at the top of that list.
“I’m not dating!” he had almost shouted back then. “What’s the point of dating? It’s a waste of time!”
His classmates had looked at each other, thinking he was overreacting.
Jiang Limu ignored their strange looks. He was immersed in his own thoughts, secretly swearing: his time, his attention, and all his kindness must belong to his brother first.
This was his principle and his bottom line.
No one could shake it.
Jiang Qing looked at Jiang Limu’s increasing tears and his lip twitched slightly.
“Close your eyes.”
“Huh?” Although Jiang Limu found it strange, he obediently closed his eyes.
“Suck those tears back in yourself. My hand is getting tired.”
“……”
Thank you, Young Master Jiang, for your mercy. This lowly one’s tears have tired your hand; it is all my fault.
—————————
When Lin Siyu saw his younger brother staring longingly in the direction Jiang Qing had left—looking as if his soul was about to fly away with him—he couldn’t help but sigh.
“He’s already far away. Are you still looking?”
This kid really wore his heart on his sleeve.
Lin Siwu finally snapped out of it, scratching his head awkwardly, his ears turning slightly red. “Ge… I just think Jiang Qing is… really great.”
“He is great,” Lin Siyu agreed with a nod. “Which is why there are plenty of people eyeing him.”
Hearing this, Lin Siwu lowered his head in discouragement.
It was true.
How could someone like Jiang Qing ever take an interest in him?
This was the first time he truly felt “unqualified.”
Before, he was the Second Young Master of the Lin family. With his status, he was treated like a prince wherever he went, surrounded and coddled by everyone.
He was simple-minded and took people’s kindness for granted, never looking deeper into how many of those smiles were actually directed at the “Lin family” name.
He loved to have fun and spent money lavishly, believing that the excitement and happiness money could buy were real. That was until tonight, sitting at that table, listening to Chi Jian and Jiang Qing discuss the management and future layout of Zero Six. He had listened to his brother and Jiang Qing talk about projects and collaborations he only half-understood, and watched the natural familiarity between Xia Yinhan and Jiang Qing…
He suddenly realized that aside from his identity as “Lin Siyu’s brother” and the endless allowance in his bank account…
He seemed to have nothing of his own.
He couldn’t speak those professional terms; he didn’t even have a decent “career” to call his own. The “partying skills” he was so proud of probably looked childish and superficial to someone like Jiang Qing.
That feeling of being excluded gave him his first taste of “inferiority” and “powerlessness.”
He even felt that the way Jiang Qing looked at him—with a gentle but calm gaze—was completely different from the way he looked at others, which held notes of admiration, intrigue, or the spark of meeting an equal.
That difference had nothing to do with like or dislike; it was simply a natural… categorization. He had been placed in the category of “friend’s younger brother who needs to be treated politely,” rather than “an equal existence for deep communication.”
This realization left a sour and bitter taste in his heart.
He didn’t want to be like this forever.
He didn’t want to be someone who could only watch from afar as Jiang Qing chatted and laughed with those who were “qualified,” while he remained an outsider.
Lin Siyu took in his brother’s sudden drop in mood, his brows furrowing slightly. He had originally thought Lin Siwu only had a slight crush or admiration for Jiang Qing, but now it seemed those feelings were deeper than he had anticipated.
The hand he had resting on his brother’s shoulder tightened slightly as his tone softened. “If you think he’s great, then interact with him more. Start as friends. Jiang Qing might look cold, but he doesn’t reject sincere people.”
Lin Siwu’s eyes brightened for a moment before dimming again. “But… it doesn’t seem like there’s anything I can help Qing-ge with. I don’t know how to do anything…”
“Who says you don’t know how to do anything?” Lin Siyu interrupted. “You are simple-minded and sincere; you don’t have all those twists and turns in your heart. That might be the most precious thing of all.”
“So, don’t be so quick to dismiss yourself.” He patted his brother’s shoulder. “Be good friends first. As for everything else… take it slow.”
Lin Siwu nodded vigorously, the gloom on his face vanishing as he regained his drive. “I understand, Ge! I’ll work hard!”
Watching his brother regain his vitality, a flash of complexity crossed Lin Siyu’s eyes.
He loved his brother; there was no doubt about their sibling bond. He wanted Lin Siwu to be happy and to get what he wanted. If Jiang Qing really could make Siwu happy, he might… suppress his own subtle feelings and even help matchmake them.
But similarly, he couldn’t deny his own interest in Jiang Qing. That interest had started as admiration and had quietly grown during tonight’s interactions.
He enjoyed the equal exchange of intellect and emotional intelligence between himself and Jiang Qing—a pleasure he rarely found in other suitors or business partners.
And now, his innocent younger brother had developed a naive yet sincere crush on the same person.
This placed him in an unprecedented predicament.
On one side was his flesh and blood, a brother who needed his protection and guidance; on the other was the person who sparked a strong interest in him, someone he wanted to know better and get closer to.
What should he do?
Lin Siyu’s thumb unconsciously rubbed his brother’s shoulder as his mind raced to weigh the options.
Ultimately, he made the decision that seemed most stable and best suited to his personality: let nature take its course.
He wouldn’t actively “compete,” but he wouldn’t deliberately back down either. He would continue to interact with Jiang Qing as a friend and collaborator, letting things progress as they should. Meanwhile, he would guide Lin Siwu to approach Jiang Qing in a healthier, more natural way, preventing his brother from getting hurt due to impatience or clumsiness, and ensuring Jiang Qing wouldn’t feel troubled by it.
As for who Jiang Qing would eventually be moved by, or if he would choose no one at all…
He would leave that to time and fate.
At the very least, he didn’t want this matter to ruin the relationship between him and his brother, nor did he want to scare the other party away by being too aggressive for gain.
Translator’s Note: Talk about a Shura Field! Now we have brothers falling for the same man. Lin Siyu is the mature type, while Lin Siwu is clearly the “puppy” type. It’s interesting to see the contrast between their approaches. Also, poor Limu’s internal monologue about the “lowly one” (小男子) is a humorous way of playing the victim to his brother’s teasing!
Recommended Reads
