Chapter 38
Finally, under Yan Shiting's sinister gaze, Grandma Yan had no choice but to reply, "I discovered the poisoning by accident after your mother died."
“Shi Ting, Grandma has no choice. I have three children. My eldest daughter is abroad and doesn’t want to come back. My second son is dead. So I only have your uncle as my child.”
"I can't just stand by and watch him die, Shi Ting, please, spare your uncle's life."
Her explanation was grand and dignified.
Yan Shiting didn't speak, but just looked at her quietly.
He knew perfectly well that she was biased.
Her first child was a daughter. Growing up in the old era, she favored boys over girls and was unwilling to give her daughter much love.
A year after her second child was born, she had her third. Compared to her quiet and reserved second child, she naturally preferred her lively and affectionate third child.
She liked him so much that even if the third brother killed the second brother, she would still dare to plead for the third brother with a straight face.
How can a person's heart be so biased?
Yan Shiting closed his eyes.
He remembered his mother, Liu Yuening, before she died, lying in bed weakly telling him to take good care of his younger brother and grandmother.
Neither the father nor the mother received the emotional support they deserved from their grandmother.
Yan Shiting opened his eyes, looked at Grandma Yan with a pleading expression, and slowly said, "A life for a life, it's only right and proper."
After that, no matter how much Grandma Yan pleaded, Yan Shiting still had his lawyer sue his uncle Yan Yufeng for malicious poisoning and murder.
The first instance court sentenced him to death, and the second instance court upheld the original verdict.
Both times, Yan Shiting had his housekeeper, Liu, forcibly bring Grandma Yan to the court so that she could hear her most beloved son being sentenced to death.
Before Yan Yufeng was executed, he allowed his grandmother to see him one last time.
She witnessed her son's death but was powerless to stop it.
Two years later, Yan Yufeng's only son, Yan Hui, suspected his girlfriend of cheating, broke into his "love rival's" house and killed the "love rival" and his elderly parents.
The so-called "love rival" didn't actually know Yan Hui's girlfriend at all; Yan Hui had gone to the wrong place and killed an innocent person.
After that, only the younger sister, who was still in college, remained in the family.
The younger sister wanted to avenge her parents and brother, but was almost scammed by a bad lawyer. In the end, Yan Shiting sent a lawyer to help her with the case.
Ultimately, Yan Hui's murder was deemed too heinous, and he was sentenced to death.
Because Yan Shiting hired a lawyer for his sister, Grandma Yan blamed him for the incident.
She always thought that Yan Shiting wanted to avenge his parents, so he was unwilling to leave any offspring for Yan Yufeng.
From then on, he harbored a grudge against Yan Shiting.
-
Upon hearing the word "poisoning," Yu Li's grip on Yan Shiting's hand tightened.
After Yan Shiting finished speaking, he asked softly, "Does Yan Sui know the reason why your parents passed away?"
Yan Shiting remained silent for a long while.
He shook his head and said, "He doesn't know."
Although Grandma Yan resented him, she was genuinely kind to Yan Sui.
At first, Yan Shiting also thought that Grandma Yan wanted to use Yan Sui, or wanted to raise Yan Sui into a playboy.
But after observing carefully for a while, and finding that Grandma Yan really cared about Yan Sui, Yan Shiting went with her.
Perhaps she also realized that the only way to enjoy her later years was to treat Yan Sui well.
Whether it's genuine or feigned, as long as she treats Yan Sui well, Yan Shiting can let her go for Yan Sui's sake.
Yu Li pursed her lips.
He released Yan Shiting's hand, and the next second he gently hugged him.
An overwhelming heartache spread through my heart.
To avoid hurting his younger brother, Yan Shiting kept the true reason for his parents' death a secret.
He had to bear all that pain himself.
Even if others criticize him for being cold-blooded and ruthless, or for showing no mercy.
He kept these things to himself for too long, and gradually became even less willing to express them to others.
What would Yan Shiting be thinking as he left his grandmother's grave at noon and headed to his parents' graves?
Does it remind you of the past, and make you sad for your parents who weren't favored?
Just thinking of Yan Shiting's figure in the wind and rain, Yu Li couldn't help but grab his clothes, her eyes welling up with tears.
He really felt sorry for Yan Shiting.
because……
"Brother, tell Yan Sui," Yu Li said, biting her lip and trembling.
“Yan Sui is not a child anymore. You should tell him that he has the right to know.”
"Now that Grandma Yan has passed away, even if we tell Yan Sui, he won't be caught in a dilemma anymore."
At most, Yan Sui will suffer and regret for a while.
But he's an adult, and Yan Shiting can't keep these things from him forever and protect him from ever experiencing this process.
Yan Shiting raised his hand and hugged Yu Li back.
Where Yu Li couldn't see, his gaze was unreadable, his eyes lowered as he looked only at the hand that was holding Yu Li back.
Until he noticed the dampness on his neck.
Yan Shiting paused, released Yu Li, and frowned as he looked at his face.
Her beautiful face was covered in tears, and her eyes were red and swollen.
“Yu Li…”
Yu Li quickly raised her hand and wiped the marks off her face.
After becoming pregnant, he became more emotionally sensitive and his empathy improved.
Coupled with her heartache for Yan Shiting, tears began to flow uncontrollably.
After wiping the marks off her face, Yu Li looked at Yan Shiting with red eyes: "Brother, Yan Sui is your family, your closest younger brother. He also needs to know the truth."
If Yan Sui always believes that his grandmother is a very good person, what will Yan Shiting think when he faces him in the future?
"Talk to him, have a good talk with him."
“Yan Sui knows he said the wrong thing last time. He just wanted the understanding and comfort of his family, not that he disliked your teachings.”
Yan Shiting looked at him in silence.
He could understand how important family was to Yu Li.
Yu Li didn't want him to get separated from his family.
Yan Shiting's fingertips twitched slightly.
He raised his hand and wiped away a little moisture from the corner of Yu Li's eyes.
"Okay, I promise you."
Yu Li had many more words of advice in her heart that she wanted Yan Shiting to express.
But Yan Shiting readily agreed.
He was stunned for a moment, his peach blossom eyes, wet with tears, staring at Yan Shiting, still somewhat bewildered.
Under the warm light, he saw that Yan Shiting's phoenix eyes seemed to have warmed up, reflecting his image.
The eyes, which were originally like a deep pool, giving off a sense of danger, now... have a touch of gentleness.
Yu Li was stunned.
Yan Shiting remained silent, his hand still wiping away the tears, gently touching the man's face.
"Yu Li," Yan Shiting said, straightening his expression. "Thank you."
Yu Li didn't understand why Yan Shiting wanted to thank him.
But it's good that Yan Shiting agreed.
He smiled and said, "You're welcome."
Yan Shiting's eyes flickered slightly.
He took Yu Li's hand and stopped talking.
The rain outside the window had stopped, the dim sky gradually darkened, and night quietly arrived.
...
Three days later, at the Yan family manor.
Yan Sui ran to the manor gate and brought Yu Li, who had been waiting for a while, inside.
Today is Saturday, and he invited Yu Li to the manor to play games.
Since the start of the school year, the two haven't played games together for a long time.
Yu Li never came to the Yan family manor again.
Yu Li was still somewhat dazed when she first entered the gate.
The last time he left this place was after he had an argument with Yan Shiting.
Later, after she became pregnant, as he spent more time with Yan Shiting, he gradually stopped caring about the argument that day.
It's a bit bittersweet to think about it now. He said he didn't want Yan Shiting to take responsibility, but later they both wanted to take responsibility for the child and ended up getting married.
Yu Li smiled, looked away, and followed Yan Sui.
Upon arriving at the game room, Yan Sui took out two controllers and started playing a newly purchased two-player game.
After clearing a level, Yan Sui took a bite of potato chips and asked, "Do you feel like my skills have improved?"
Yu Li flexed her fingers and said, "You've always been amazing."
Yan Sui smiled, took a deep breath, and his long-standing depression dissipated somewhat.
"After moving out of the school, I had nothing to do, so I spent all day playing video games at home."
"I've figured out the basic strategies of those games. Now, if I get a game, I can figure out how to play it in seconds."
Yan Sui has always been talented in games and has a spirit of research.
His research wasn't about figuring out how to pass the levels, but rather about thinking about how the development team made these games and what gameplay elements they borrowed.
Yu Li picked up the controller. "Then we'll have to rely on you to get through today."
Yan Sui wiped his hands. "Okay!"
However, after playing the game for a short while, Yu Li started to feel a headache.
Seeing that he was not feeling well, Yan Sui put down the handle and took him to the lake to fish and get some fresh air.
By dinnertime, the two had only caught three crucian carp the size of their palms.
As Yan Sui carried the bucket toward the villa, he heard the sound of a car outside the estate.
Immediately, the manor gates opened, and the car slowly drove into the parking lot.
"My brother?" Yan Sui was slightly taken aback.
Yu Li glanced at him: "You're surprised your brother is back?"
Yan Sui looked at Yu Li and scratched the back of his head.
"That's true, he doesn't come back very often."
Yu Li thought he meant the last two months.
Yan Shiting didn't come back much these past two months, as he mostly stayed at Wan Ting's place.
After Yu Li moved in, Yan Shiting never left Wan Ting again.
However, Yan Sui looked at Yu Li and felt a little uneasy.
His brother hasn't been coming back to the manor much in the last two years, at most three times a month.
But every time his good friend Yu Li came, his brother would come back.
What a coincidence!
Yan Sui shook his head, picked up the bucket, and returned to the villa with Yu Li.
The nanny stewed the three palm-sized crucian carp into a soup; the milky white broth looked very nutritious.
Yu Li no longer experiences morning sickness.
The crucian carp soup tasted very good, with no fishy smell, and he liked it quite a bit.
After finishing the bowl, I was still a little reluctant to stop.
The next second, Yan Shiting took his bowl and ladled him another bowl of soup.
Yu Li was startled and quickly turned to look at Yan Sui.
Yan Sui held the bowl, staring blankly at him.
Yu Li was startled.
When he was in Wan Ting's place, Yan Shiting would put the next dish on his plate as soon as he finished eating. He had gotten used to it over time.
But now, in front of Yan Sui...
Will Yan Sui become suspicious?
Just as Yu Li was feeling uneasy, she saw Yan Shiting take the bowl from Yan Sui and serve her soup as well.
Yan Sui first widened his eyes, then opened his mouth wide, seemingly letting out an "oh," perfectly portraying the sudden realization.
The crucian carp soup was closest to his brother, so what was wrong with his brother serving soup to his two younger brothers?
His brother is really nice.
Yan Sui took the bowl full of soup and happily drank it.
They didn't notice Yu Li's terrified look at them just now.
Seeing that Yan Sui had no suspicions, Yu Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked up and found Yan Shiting silently watching him.
That gaze seemed to be saying: Are you relieved now?
Yu Li lowered her eyes and took a sip of soup, her ears turning slightly red.
-
After dinner, under Yu Li's urging gaze, Yan Shiting said in a deep voice, "Yan Sui, come to my study. I have something to say to you."
This was something he and Yu Li had agreed upon; they would take this opportunity to tell Yan Sui the truth about their parents' deaths.
Yan Sui was taken aback, and his mind raced as he tried to recall if he had made any mistakes recently.
Finally, his eyes narrowed, and he stood up, saying, "Okay, brother."
After saying that, he went upstairs first.
Downstairs, Yu Li grabbed Yan Shiting's arm, her eyes encouraging: "Brother, keep going."
Yan Shiting stared at him intently.
After a long while, he finally nodded.
Upon entering the small study and closing the door, Yan Sui, who was sitting at the desk, immediately stood up.
Yan Shiting walked behind the desk. "Sit down."
Yan Sui nodded and slowly sat down.
This was the first time in so many years that the two brothers had sat face to face and talked so seriously.
Yan Shiting looked at Yan Sui across from him.
The child who grabbed him and cried his heart out, saying he wanted his parents to come back to life, is now almost as tall as him.
Sixteen years have passed, and he has changed a lot.
Only those eyes remained as innocent as ever.
Yan Shiting never intended to tell Yan Sui about the cause of her parents' death and her grandmother's favoritism.
He didn't want to shatter the image of his grandmother in Yan Sui's heart. If possible, Yan Sui would rather just live a simple life.
But Yu Li is right; Yan Sui has the right to know.
Yan Shiting lowered his eyes.
The small study was silent for a moment.
Yan Sui glanced at the silent Yan Shiting a few times, then placed a contract on the table.
"Brother, take a look at this."
Yan Shiting snapped out of his reverie and looked at the contract on his desk.
Share transfer agreement.
Yan Sui transferred all of his 32% stake in the Yan family business to his brother, Yan Shiting.
Yan Shiting's expression froze for a moment, a rare occurrence, and he looked up at Yan Sui. "What do you mean?"
Yan Sui chuckled and scratched his head: "I'm not cut out to manage a company. There's no use for me holding so many shares. I might as well give them all to you, brother, so you'll have more say in the company."
This was the idea he came up with in the hospital corridor after visiting Grandma Yan with Yu Li that day.
If Grandma can give him the shares, then why doesn't he just give all the shares to his brother? After all, they're family.
He didn't want to put Yan Shiting in a difficult position.
Yan Shiting's lips tightened as he quietly watched Yan Sui.
After a long silence, he pushed the agreement in front of Yan Sui: "Keep it for yourself, your brother isn't that incompetent."
He had already made countless efforts to ensure he had more say in the Yan family business.
Yan Sui was stunned. "Brother?"
“Yan Sui,” Yan Shiting said slowly, “when I took over the Yan family, the Yan family had many problems.”
This was the first time he had explained something to Yan Sui.
"Many shareholders were eager to sell their shares, so I took the opportunity to buy them."
"To this day, I own 60 percent of the shares."
Grandma Yan was unfamiliar with company affairs. Even though she held 16% of the shares, she had never attended a shareholders' meeting, so she was unaware of any changes in the shares under her name.
After Yan Sui came of age, she refused to get involved in company affairs, so naturally she didn't know anything about it.
Upon hearing Yan Shiting's words, Yan Sui's mouth gaped open in astonishment.
"so……"
Therefore, even if Grandma Yan gives him all the shares, he doesn't need to worry about having more shares than his brother.
The heavy weight that had been pressing on my heart for so long suddenly lifted.
Yan Sui was still in a daze, as if he were still dreaming.
Looking at the dazed Yan Sui, Yan Shiting repeated, "Keep it for yourself."
Then, he frowned and said, "Next, I'm going to tell you something."
...
At 10 p.m., the door to the small study opened.
Yan Shiting walked out and looked up to see Yu Li and Butler He standing in the corridor.
He paused on the doorknob, then closed the door and walked up to Yu Li.
Yu Li looked worried and instinctively reached out to grab him as he approached.
"elder brother……"
Beside them, Butler He widened his eyes slightly as he looked at the two of them.
Then, he smiled, adjusted his glasses, lowered his head, and quietly left.
Let's not bother them here.
Neither of them noticed Butler He's actions.
Yan Shiting glanced at the door of the small study and led Yu Li back to his room.
As he closed the door, he said, "I've already told him; he needs some time to process this."
Yu Li slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good."
He paused for a moment, then asked, "So, has the conflict between you been resolved?"
Yan Shiting nodded.
Yu Li smiled and was about to say something when he suddenly realized that he was in Yan Shiting's room on the third floor of the manor.
The room's decor is quite different from the minimalist style of the Bayview Hotel; it's fully furnished, with even some ornate decorations.
Yu Li glanced around casually, then looked away and said, "Brother, I'll go back to my room, otherwise..."
Yan Shiting interrupted him softly, a complex emotion brewing in his eyes: "Are you worried that Yan Sui will find out?"
Yu Li didn't notice the odd tone in his voice and nodded, saying, "Yeah, it's not good to explain to him."
He lowered his head and pointed to his stomach, "The marriage itself doesn't need any explanation, but the child..."
The emotions in Yan Shiting's eyes gradually faded.
He said, "I'll wake you up tomorrow, and we'll go downstairs together. Yan Sui won't find out."
Yu Li was still somewhat worried.
Yan Shiting leaned over and hugged Yu Li, who was only up to his earlobe, and whispered, "Let's look at the night view here."
Over this period of time, looking at the night view has become a unique signal between the two of them.
I want to spend time with you, I want to stay with you a little longer.
Yu Li's heart softened, and she nodded with her ears turning red.
In Yan Shiting's room, there was a large two-seater sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window.
After turning off the lights in the room, the view of the garden and poolside becomes crystal clear.
Yu Li leaned back on the sofa and told Yan Shiting about her childhood.
Perhaps it was because she knew about Yan Shiting's past that she wanted to share more.
He learned about Yan Shiting's past, and Yan Shiting also knew about his family situation.
They were no longer two strangers.
“I’m similar to you. When I was little, my parents were also very busy, so I basically raised my younger sister.”
Perhaps because they were both "older brothers," Yu Li immediately noticed that the usually cold-faced older brother cared deeply for his younger brother when she first saw Yan Shiting and Yan Sui.
As she spoke, Yu Li gradually tilted her head and fell asleep.
Yan Shiting looked at his and Yu Li's reflections in the French windows.
For the past sixteen years, no one has been willing or dared to carefully observe his emotions, or even approach him after noticing his sadness.
Yu Li was the first.
At that time, Yu Li didn't have much contact with him; he was just "Yan Sui's older brother."
Yan Shiting slowly withdrew his eyes.
He picked up the sleeping Yu Li and gently placed her on the bed.
The movement was very gentle, but Yu Li's eyelashes still trembled slightly as she opened her eyes.
"Brother," he called softly.
Yan Shiting looked at him and found that his eyes were glazed over, and he was obviously not in a daze.
Looking at the handsome face so close to hers, Yu Li didn't forget to remind him, "Remember to wake me up tomorrow morning, so we can go downstairs together."
Yan Shiting hummed in agreement.
He raised his hand and touched Yu Li's face, his thumb tracing down her cheek and gently caressing her rosy lips.
In her dazed state, Yu Li heard Yan Shiting's deep voice: "Is it alright?"
His mind was a little foggy, and he groggily hummed in response.
Along with the nasal tone, came Yan Shiting's slightly cool lips.
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