(7 Fresh Coins) Chapter 13 (Part 2) A Belated Rebellion

A test…? Xu Qi pondered this in his mind as he slowly walked out. He wasn't foolish enough to ask his father about the test—what kind of test is it that easy to know the questions in advance?

However, now that things had come to this, he had to be on high alert to prepare for the "test" that might come at any moment. As he pondered these things, his heart inevitably felt heavy, and so for the first time, his expression did not soften when he saw the long-haired beauty walking towards him from the opposite direction.

"I knew you were coming." Xu Yi stopped in front of him, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, and her voice unusually serious. "So? What did the old man say?"

Xu Qi didn't have time to dwell on his usual disrespect for his father, and simply said in a calm tone, "I will win."

"Just as I thought." Xu Yi frowned even more, his expression showing considerable resentment. "Why should the old man control you? You've been his obedient son for so many years, does he think you should be controlled by him for the rest of your life?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Xu Qi finally frowned and scolded softly. Then he looked carefully at his younger brother in front of him, looking at the other's bright and delicate face that was bursting with anger but did not lose its beauty. He reached out and habitually touched his head, his tone becoming the doting tone that Xu Yi was already familiar with, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"Who's worried about you?" Xu Yi retorted reflexively, then realized his tone was a bit harsh, but he couldn't bring himself to back down, so he turned away in a huff. He knew he was being childish, but when faced with his older brother who had always doted on him since childhood, his childish temper would always surface without him realizing it—ultimately, it was all because of his older brother, Xu Qi, who had spoiled him.

Xu Qi quickly grabbed his arm, her smile widening, and coaxed him softly, "Yes, yes, I was just being presumptuous. It's rare for you to come, let's go have a meal together. What would you like to eat?" With that, she pulled Xu Yi out without waiting for a reply.

Xu Yi tried to break free, but upon seeing the gentle smile on his brother's face, his grip loosened unconsciously. He sighed inwardly and obediently followed. He knew that although his brother appeared calm and indifferent, he still cared deeply about their father's attitude. So, after hearing the news that the other party was coming back to confront them, he had followed despite his unease. Since his brother didn't intend to say anything, it would be good to make him happy. His brother had always taken care of him; this time, he should do something for his brother.

While the two brothers were enjoying a harmonious and loving relationship, another person, thousands of miles away, was in a completely different situation.

Under a clear blue sky, seagulls soared about, the water rippled, and crowds thronged the docks—this was the busiest time of day at the Seld harbor. Cargo ships, laden with large containers, were ready to set sail and bring their owners huge profits. However, no one knew that hidden among the densely packed containers was something that didn't belong there—to be precise, it was a person, a tall, imposing man.

The man sat in the corner with his back against a shipping container. His clothes were tattered and covered in dirt and grime. His hair, whose original color was unrecognizable, was tangled and scattered on his equally dirty face and neck, obscuring his features. Coupled with his stubble-covered chin, it was almost certain that he was a disheveled homeless man who was there simply to save on the cost of a boat ride—after all, sitting next to a shipping container full of goods was not the behavior of a normal citizen.

However, if one shifts their gaze slightly downwards, they would likely immediately overturn their previous assumptions—this man is definitely not a homeless person trying to save on travel expenses. After all, what homeless person would travel by boat with an arm that is clearly from a gunshot wound and has not been treated?

Fortunately, all the crew members on the cargo ship were already in place, and no one would come here at this time. The man grabbed the hem of his tattered shirt and tore it open, using the dust-covered strip of cloth to wrap around his bloodied left arm, hastily tying it into a knot. Slowly, the blood stained the newly added gray-white bands into a glaring bright red.

How pathetic. But it's better than nothing. The man stopped looking at his still-bleeding left arm and reached into his left breast pocket, pulling out a ring. It was a simple men's ring, undecorated on the outer band, with only a few gracefully curved lines on the inner band. At first glance, it seemed casually engraved, but upon closer inspection, the shape of flowers could be vaguely discerned. It was midday, and the silver platinum ring reflected several dazzling points of light in the sunlight. The man squinted at it for a few seconds, a slight smile playing on his lips, a hint of warmth appearing on his otherwise indifferent face.

Author's Note:

Why have I suddenly turned into a bohemian artsy young woman...? (kneeling)