Chapter 28: What About You? What is Your Motive?
After everyone woke up, the group discussed things again and decided to set the recognition banquet for next Tuesday.
This decision was mainly finalized by Jiang Yu. He always did things thoroughly. He needed a few days to prepare the invitations, confirm the venue and menu, and more importantly, give Su Lin a psychological buffer period. After all, being suddenly thrust in front of the entire family and social network required time to adapt.
Naturally, no one had any objections.
The only thing was…
“Then… who exactly are my parents?” Jiang Linmu couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Yu choked for a moment.
“Linmu… just stay here for now. Once I handle these matters, I will give you a clear answer.”
“However, if you are willing to stay in the Jiang family going forward.”
“We will always welcome you.”
Su Lin blinked. He watched quietly from the side, no discernible emotion in his eyes, but his fingers resting by his side curled inward slightly.
Jiang Qing glanced at Su Lin.
In the original book, there wasn’t much detailed description of Jiang Linmu’s parents. Su Lin also had no memory or impression of his parents growing up; he had been raised entirely by a grandmother. However, ever since that grandmother passed away, Su Lin had been living alone.
“Jiang Linmu.”
Jiang Qing couldn’t help but speak up.
“If you dare leave before grinding out my Golden Pig for me,” Jiang Qing crossed his arms, his chin raised slightly, “I wouldn’t mind throwing that entire room of yours full of limited edition figures into the trash.”
“……..”
Looking at Jiang Qing, Jiang Linmu’s eyes grew sore.
His brother…
Truly is the best brother in the whole world.
Who cares about the figures.
He sniffled hard, trying to hold his tears back, but couldn’t control the choke in his voice, replying hoarsely:
“I’ll grind… I can grind them for you for the rest of my life…”
“Brother… don’t abandon me…”
These words practically laid all of his insecurities bare in front of Jiang Qing.
Jiang Qing sighed helplessly.
Just as he was about to say something else, Su Lin beside him suddenly tugged on the corner of his shirt.
Feeling the touch, Jiang Qing instinctively turned his head to look.
Su Lin leaned in slightly, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“Brother… I’m a little scared too.”
Jiang Qing’s body instantly stiffened, but he quickly returned to normal.
“Hmm?”
“What is our Su Lin… afraid of?”
Su Lin lifted his eyes to meet Jiang Qing’s, the excuse he had prepared getting stuck in his throat.
Seeing this, the smile on Jiang Qing’s lips deepened slightly.
“You won’t be afraid if you hold onto me?”
“Or is it just that you wanted to find an excuse to get a little closer to your brother?”
He was still in an observation phase regarding Su Lin, but if the other party was truly willing to properly play the role of “family”, he was naturally happy to play along with him.
“Stay here with peace of mind. With me here, I won’t let you suffer any losses.”
At that moment, Su Lin felt as if his heart had been gently kneaded.
Very warm.
Watching the interaction between these three, Jiang Yu’s brow furrowed.
He saw Jiang Qing’s near-indulgent attitude towards Su Lin, saw Jiang Linmu’s complete dependence on Jiang Qing, while he himself stood here like an outsider.
He didn’t like Jiang Qing’s attention being divided like this, and he especially disliked the way Su Lin’s eyes stuck to Jiang Qing.
He stepped forward without showing any emotion:
“Alright, then the matter is settled.” His gaze swept over Jiang Linmu.
“Linmu, you are forever a member of the Jiang family. That will not change. As for your background, I will give you a clear answer as soon as possible. Give me some time.”
Then, he looked at Jiang Qing: “Come with me to the study for a moment, I have something to discuss with you.”
Jiang Qing raised an eyebrow, seemingly a bit surprised, but still lazily gave an “En,” indicating agreement.
He patted the back of Jiang Linmu’s hand—who was still gripping his sleeve—in a comforting manner, threw another glance at Su Lin, and then followed Jiang Yu toward the study.
At the moment he turned around, the corner of Jiang Yu’s eye caught Su Lin’s slightly lowered gaze.
His heart inexplicably felt a surge of gratification for a second, but it was immediately replaced by a deeper irritation.
He actually experienced emotional fluctuations over such a trivial, minor action? And even engaged in such childish behavior?
This was unlike him.
The study door clicked shut.
Jiang Qing didn’t rush him. He made himself comfortable on the sofa, finding a cozy posture and letting out a yawn.
Ultimately, it was Jiang Yu who spoke first. His voice was a few degrees deeper than usual:
“What do you think of Su Lin?” He didn’t turn around, as if he was just asking casually.
Jiang Qing played with the strings of his hoodie, nonchalant: “He’s alright. Looks pretty good, seems pretty obedient too.”
“Obedient?” Jiang Yu finally turned around to look at him.
“Xiao Qing, you can’t just judge a person by their surface. Before completely figuring out his background, keep your distance.”
Jiang Yu was completely unaware that he, acting in his capacity as an older brother, was telling his biological younger brother to be careful of his other biological younger brother.
His logic at this moment was simple and direct—
Any unknown variable approaching Jiang Qing must be strictly evaluated for risks.
Hearing this, the fingers Jiang Qing used to play with his hoodie strings paused. He lifted his eyes, the corners of his lips curving up slightly as if he had discovered something amusing.
He slowly stood up, walking step by step until he was right in front of Jiang Yu.
“Big Brother, are you worried he’ll do something harmful to me?”
Jiang Yu avoided Jiang Qing’s overly direct stare, his gaze falling on the bookshelf to the side: “I’m reminding you, you can never be too careful around others. The Jiang family is a tall tree that catches the wind. A suddenly appearing ‘relative’ might not have pure motives.”
“Oh…”
“Then what about you, Big Brother?”
“What is… your motive?”
“…” Jiang Yu turned his head, meeting Jiang Qing’s eyes that were merely inches away. The usual laziness in those eyes was gone, leaving only a bright, clear light.
“…Jiang Qing.”
He didn’t step back, nor did he look away. He just allowed Jiang Qing’s probing gaze to fall on his face, as if trying to see right through his soul.
Jiang Yu’s Adam’s apple rolled gently. He looked at Jiang Qing’s face so close to his own. He found that he couldn’t respond to this questioning with the cold logic and dominant aura he used on business rivals, nor could he conceal the possible chaos within his own heart.
Because what Jiang Qing asked was precisely the answer deep within his heart that even he himself dared not probe too deeply into.
His silence stretched out a bit too long.
Finally, Jiang Yu let out a sigh. He raised his hand and gently rubbed Jiang Qing’s head.
“My motive…”
“Is to ensure that this family, and ensure that you, will not suffer any harm.”
Jiang Qing was slightly stunned.
Looking into Jiang Yu’s eyes that were right in front of him, he suddenly felt he might have gone a bit too far.
He was used to using this slightly provocative method to test Jiang Yu’s bottom line, wanting to see what this forever calm and self-possessed older brother looked like when he lost control.
But when Jiang Yu truly revealed such an almost fragile yet incredibly earnest emotion, he suddenly felt somewhat at a loss.
He instinctively turned his head slightly, avoiding that overly burning gaze.
“…Got it.” Jiang Qing’s voice was a bit softer than before, carrying a trace of unnatural mumbling, “I will be careful.”
After saying that, he turned around somewhat hastily and walked toward the door again, his steps slightly faster than when he came.
This time, Jiang Yu didn’t watch his back.
It wasn’t until the study door was softly pulled shut that Jiang Yu slowly retracted the hand hovering in mid-air, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing together.
He turned his gaze back out the window.
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