Chapter 61 Chapter 61 He is my brother.

The landlord even said he was confused and realized something was wrong.

Businessmen are serious, so he called his wife to get clarification. The old phone was leaking some sound, and the middle-aged woman's muffled voice came through, but he could just make out: "It's not a daughter! It's one of their two sons."

"Bullshit," the landlord and his wife started arguing. "I saw it when we moved, and it was just a son."

This is a clever idea. Moving requires moving heavy objects. Since you have two sons, why not do it together?

The two debated over the minutiae of that year.

The boss firmly believes that seeing is believing, one is one. The boss's wife said that you are a lazy person and she has to run around most of the time. How can she understand everything clearly?

But no matter what, there is one thing we all share in common:

The man who died was a piece of shit.

He took his anger out on his wife and children because he couldn't make money, and he didn't allow his children to get into a good university. In the end, he drank himself to death, which was what he deserved. It's a pity that his family had to be implicated because he made so much noise when beating someone that night that the neighbors called the police. By the time the police arrived, he was already dead, and the victim had to give a statement.

After the call ended, the proprietress's final words were a sarcastic rebuke: "That's why I told you not to drink."

The landlord hummed in agreement, then remembered that there was a customer nearby and quickly apologized.

Lu Yanxi shook her head: "It's okay. You two have a good relationship."

"Just make do with it. Who else can I have without her?" The landlord sighed that no one loves him in his middle age.

But just a moment later, he noticed something strange about Lu Yanxi - although her face was blocked, he could read a hint of envy.

No way, what's there to envy? The landlord got goosebumps.

This intuition was correct, Lu Yanxi was indeed envious.

However, he was putting himself in Cen Xue's shoes, and he didn't know when he would be able to have such a conversation with Cen Xue... like a family.

A landlord who has been quarreling with his wife for twenty years does not understand the pain of the actor who has been a widower for seven years and has regained his youth but has to pursue love again.

After looking at the house, Lu Yanxi contacted the cleaning staff and asked them to only clean it and not touch anything else.

I went with the landlord to complete the remaining procedures, and then he went to the No. 3 Municipal Middle School for a walk in the evening.

When you are alone, it is convenient to think about things.

For example, the secret of that family seven years ago.

Lu Yanxi remembered clearly that when he was on the set of "Youth", Cen Xue asked him to pack three lunch boxes.

Given Ah Xue's stubbornness, she would never be willing to bring anything back to a father as terrible as the landlord described.

Isn’t it “Dad, Mom, and He”, but “Mom, He——” and who?

Brothers? Sisters?

If Cen Xue was by his side now, her doubts would be answered.

*

"Sister, I've given birth to a son. I was so confused those few days that I don't even know what day he was born. I just remember it was snowing the whole time. We haven't picked a name yet. My husband is out looking for work. I'll call him Ah Xue or Xiao Xue when he comes back. It's been so long since the baby was born, why is he still in so much pain?"

[Sister, I'm Cen Li. I remember Xiaolin was born a year early. You have experience. Are you feeling comfortable right now? I always feel uncomfortable.]

My husband says there's something wrong with my brain, and I don't know what's wrong. Oh, I'm always worried about Xiaoxue. She's so weak and small, isn't it unreasonable to worry so much?

[The man went out again. He didn't come back for several months.]

"Sister, Xiaoxue is calling me mom. My body is getting more and more painful, and my neighbors are urging me to go to the hospital. But if I go, who will take care of Xiaoxue?"

[I'm doing fine now. I have friends at home with me. Although I can't move, I can speak.]

My friends are unreliable. I left Xiaoxue with them while I went out to see my man. When I came back, Xiaoxue was crying and her stomach was empty. I had clearly told her to cook some noodles for her.

…

Cen Xue is not Cen Jing's biological child.

He only said this to Zhang Yan. Strangely enough, the person who knew this secret was actually someone he was not very close to.

But seeing Zhang Yan exhausted from dealing with the situation, he just wanted to comfort someone whose affection for the child he'd raised was being questioned. His words might have come out a little hastily and irrationally, but his point was: Even if she's not my biological child, I love her just as much, so don't doubt yourself.

Zhang Yan is very good at keeping secrets, his skills are stronger than the company's most expensive safe.

After so many years, even Lu Yanxi mentioned it.

However, what Cen Xue didn't say was that he and Cen Jing had another blood relationship.

Strictly speaking, he is Cen Jing's nephew. His biological mother and Cen Jing are sisters, and her name is Cen Li.

It's hard to recall your childhood as an adult.

Cen Xue didn't remember Cen Li. The earliest scene he remembered was being held in Cen Jing's arms. Cen Jing was talking nonsense and cursing at everyone around her while pressing him into her arms.

"No matter how crazy my sister is, she hasn't stopped the children from eating or drinking! How dare you point fingers at me?!"

The frail body trembled under the influence of anger, and to the little Cen Xue, it was like the earth's crust rising, breaking open his closed world.

From then on, there were sounds and colors in Cen Xue's world.

He was taken to Cen Jing's home and got his first playmate.

He is a brother who is about one year older than me. His name is Xu Lin, the biological son of Cen Jing and Xu Zhongqiang.

That year, Cen Xue knew she was five years old. She was taught to call Cen Jing "Mom" and Xu Zhongqiang "Dad". She was also taken to the hospital for a check-up. When the doctor said everything was normal, Cen Jing breathed a sigh of relief.

When we got home, Xu Zhongqiang said: I will send you to elementary school in a few months. From now on, your name outside will be Xu Lin, do you know?

Cen Xue was very obedient when he was a child. Even though he didn't understand why he had to take his brother's name or why his brother never went out, he still did everything he was told.

Yan Pei's answer interrupted his thoughts: "I don't even know who he is, how can you ask me to respect him?"

Cen Xue suddenly felt a sense of emptiness around her neck. She had worn the same necklace for nearly ten years, but once she took it off, it was like a curse. She couldn't wear it again for various reasons. Cen Xue remembered that he had sent the silver bottle pendant to the teacher who wove the chain, and it would take some time before she could get it.

Death leaves an indelible mark.

When Cen Xue decided to move Xu Lin's ashes back to City S, she had a premonition that this day would come.

But Xu Lin grew up in S City. Even though he had not seen much of the scenery of S City, this place had been his home for a long time.

"He's my brother."

It turns out that it is not difficult to say this.

This was the first time that Cen Xue told others about her relationship with Xu Lin. The moment she finished speaking, it was as if a treasure chest that had been sealed for a long time was pried open, revealing the light of day again, and the fog that had been protecting the treasure chest also dissipated.

Yan Pei's eyes widened slightly. Cen Xue smiled triumphantly and continued, "Don't you want to know where the necklace came from? It's the only gift he ever gave me."

*

As her body and knowledge began to grow, the gap between her and her only playmate became increasingly larger, and Cen Xue gradually realized the truth.

Xu Lin has an intellectual disability.

His arrival just filled the gap of "normal son".

Xu Zhongqiang doesn't allow Xu Lin to go out, so Cen Jing spends every day at home with him except doing housework.

By using Xu Lin's social identity, Cen Xue gained the right to move around outside. From elementary school to high school, he had always used Xu Lin's household registration, and the Xu family only had one son.

When you first realize how different and unique your family is from others, when you first see the gap in destinies.

As Cen Xue gradually matured, she began to feel impatient with her playmates.

Even though he was just a child at that time, he was annoyed because Xu Lin had no way of understanding what he said - yes, if he could understand, it wouldn't be a defect.

In the world of children, everything is taken very seriously. Cen Xue had nightmares about his classmates finding out that his family was not only poor but also had a fool. Then he would be implicated and become a stupid and poor person at the bottom of society, and he would never be able to hold his head up.

"I don't want to talk to you! I want to read!"

This was the first time Cen Xue yelled at him.

Xu Lin was stunned, not quite understanding why his playmate suddenly treated him with Xu Zhongqiang's attitude, and ran away.

Deliberately holding the book upright to cover his face, Cen Xue held back the sadness in his eyes and didn't cry. He had been like this since he was a child, stubborn and not a crybaby. Xu Zhongqiang always said that he was not likable.

He felt like the world was going to end, and he and Xu Lin started a cold war.

In order to prevent Xu Lin from ignoring him, he had to ignore him first.

A difficult week passed like this, and even Cen Jing realized that something was wrong, but before she could mediate, Xu Lin found a way to make peace.

"Xiaoxue... this is for you."

Xu Lin's intelligence is about that of a five or six-year-old, and he can speak simple words.

His hands seemed to be holding some treasure and presented it to Cen Xue.

That thing is not unfamiliar.

Cen Xue had seen it on Cen Li - an ancient silver bottle necklace, and of course he had also secretly explored it. When Cen Jing was not wearing it, he found that this small silver bottle could actually be twisted open.

"...Shh!" Cen Xue didn't care about anything else and pulled Xu Lin into the room, fearing that Xu Zhongqiang would see her. "How could you take my mother's things?"

"A gift," Xu Lin said with effort. He was a little anxious—another common problem with his flaws. His voice grew louder. "I'm giving you a gift. Do you like it? Are you happy? Don't ignore me."

The silver bottle shook during the movement, making a sound of particles colliding.

Cen Xue unscrewed it, poured it out, and found that it was like a small stone, clean and white.

"What's this?"

Seeing that Cen Xue finally took the initiative to talk to him, Xu Lin chuckled: "Polar bear teeth."

"You're lying!" Cen Xue seemed to have discovered something earth-shattering.

At first, Xu Lin was terrified. This was a serious accusation for him: "No, no."

If Cen Xue was a five or six-year-old elementary school student like him, she might have been fooled, but Cen Xue had already been educated.

The North Pole is so far away from here. Even if Xu Lin is an alien, he can't get the polar bear's teeth.

He continued to ask: "Did you really lie?"

Xu Lin was about to cry: "I'm not bad."

Cen Xue sighed: "I didn't say you were bad."

Xu Linpin noticed something was wrong and Cen Xue was laughing.

Seeing Cen Xue laughing, he also chuckled, and the cold war was broken, and their foreheads touched each other.

Cen Xue: "Tell me, what is it?"

"The stone I picked up is white and beautiful."

It turned out to be small stones that were brought into the house from the soles of shoes when entering and leaving the house.

Cen Xue was really happy, not because of the necklace that asked for peace, but because Xu Lin lied.

If you can lie, you can protect yourself.

For example, he would sometimes lie to Xu Zhongqiang so that he would be beaten less often. Only then did Cen Xue understand that his anxiety stemmed from his fear that Xu Lin would not be able to take care of and protect himself.

At this time, the third person in the room finally couldn't help laughing out loud.

The two were startled and turned around to see that it was Cen Jing.

It turned out that she was in the room from the beginning.

Cen Xue felt guilty. He thought more than Xu Lin. Before lying, he first stole things. He knew that stealing was not good. His teacher had taught him so, and Xu Zhongqiang had also warned him that if he was found stealing money from the family like the neighbor's son, he would break his legs.

Does the necklace count as money?

Xu Lin doesn't know anything, so let him take responsibility.

Cen Xue closed her eyes, showing a resolute determination to sacrifice her life for justice.

But Cen Jing did nothing.

She simply put the necklace on Cen Xue and said, "It looks nice. I'm giving it to you as a souvenir of our reconciliation."

Thus, this necklace became Cen Xue's most precious thing.

It carries the anniversary of him and Xu Lin, the price of almost losing a leg, and the meaning of further maturity.

When Xu Lin was cremated after his death, not all of his remains were burned to ashes. Cen Jing collapsed and could not move at all. He acted as the person who picked up the remains and put them into the urn. Cen Xue secretly hid one -

It is the same size as the pebble and belongs to Xu Lin.

The meaning of the necklace also carries Xu Lin's life.

So when Yan Pei saved him from danger and he was getting stitches in the hospital, he said: They were just two small stones, one of which was white and looked like a tooth after being washed.

So Cen Xu didn't know how to take care of children and coax them from the beginning. It was only because he had a child-like Xu Lin by his side. Singing nursery rhymes to him and reading picture books to put him to sleep had long been a habit ingrained in him, so he could do it effortlessly when coaxing Yuanyuan.

“…It shouldn’t be like this.”

Yan Pei said.

Cen Xue: "What should it be like?"

Yan Pei opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.

The remaining malicious look of taking advantage of others' misfortune also disappeared.

How should I put it? He originally thought that it was just an insignificant person, so he vented his anger.

But he was Cen Xue's brother, and in a sense, the brother who died for him. Yan Pei felt that it was all wrong.

He went to explore in order to -

Yan Pei said: "Don't you see how much I care about you?"

Cen Xue: "How did you prove this?"

The two rhetorical questions made Yan Pei feel a little helpless. It didn't feel good to be caught in a mistake. He subconsciously aroused his emotions and used his usual methods to protect himself.

"I spent so much time on you, turning down work and shortening my days off—"

Yan Pei actually wanted to say that there were three public cemeteries and countless private urn storage rooms in City S. He was extremely unlucky and had to run all over the place before he finally found the cemetery that was all uphill. At that time, there were still four hours before boarding the flight. If he didn't go back, Liu Ping would kill him, so he didn't have time to buy flowers.

But he couldn't say it.

In this way, he has no habit of using tricks to seek credit for himself, because he did not receive any rewards when he was a child, so he naturally became unfamiliar and unfamiliar with it when he grew up.

The words came to my lips, but the tone changed as they left my mouth: "Isn't this enough to prove it? Shouldn't you be happy about how much I value you?"

Cen Xue didn't answer, but her eyes changed.

Under the changed gaze, Yan Pei was extremely annoyed. He said inexplicably humiliated: "Don't look at me like that!"

Then he became a little confused, like a child who failed to get candy: "What do you want me to do to me like you did to me back then?"

Thinking back to the time when he lived with Cen Xue, those were his happiest days. Because Cen Xue would obey him unconditionally, never argue with him, and would agree to give him anything he wanted. Cen Xue was his comfort, his Abebe. With him around at night, he never had trouble sleeping again. Why was that possible then, but not now?

He just wanted Cen Xue to love him.

After a moment of silence, Cen Xue said, "Don't you have it now?"

Yan Pei didn't have time to be happy because he found that things were not as he wished.

Cen Xue: "Because I think at that time, I just felt sorry for you, so I couldn't help but compromise."

"Is there genuine affection between us?" To say love was a bit too much. This was a question Cen Xue had pondered countless times over the past seven years. "Perhaps it was an illusion created by the fact that in that environment, we were the only two who could warm each other up."

Like and love can warm the body, and so can the comfort of mutual comfort.

Just like the suspension bridge effect, the relationship becomes distorted and misidentified.

Therefore, there was now some pity in his eyes when he looked at Yan Pei.

But he has his own principles and will no longer agree unconditionally like before.

Yan Pei was stunned. He remembered the question he wanted to ask Cen Xue on the day he left the crew of "The Great Hero".

Seeing that Cen Xue was asleep, I thought I would talk about it next time.

What he wanted to ask was: Does Cen Xue still love him?