47 Leave it to me
◎My brother is here.◎
...What a hell. This dream.
A faint trace of sweat had been forming on Qin Zhen's forehead since he woke up. He threw back the covers and stood up. As the cold water flowed down his throat, he closed his eyes, his resolve becoming even more resolute.
He had to dissuade his parents from wanting to marry Liang Jingyi as their daughter-in-law.
Otherwise, the Qin family will be destroyed by this madman sooner or later.
With such unscrupulous people deeply tied to their interests, will the stock price still be there? Will the company be stable? Will the foundation built over decades be preserved?
He had only created a small obstacle for Liang Jingyi, and Liang Youwei might have been a factor as well, but this was enough to make her sacrifice "half her life" for revenge... Qin Zhen couldn't imagine what this woman would do if someone really touched Liang Jingyi's bottom line.
Qin Zhen's bedroom has simple lines and occupies an area of neither too large nor too small, but he had already connected the study and bedroom. With just a few simple steps, he found what he wanted.
He has never believed in "Eight Characters".
But if Qin Zhenghe believed it, he also had a way to make his horoscope incompatible with anyone.
…
After the trip to Hong Kong Island, the atmosphere in the Liang family remained strange.
Even though the Spring Festival was approaching and the capital was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns, the Liang residence became bustling and brightly lit, but a strange atmosphere always hung over it.
Liang Youwei felt so guilty that she didn't dare go back at all. Liang Ting'an and Liang Zhihui were patient and didn't call her out specifically. Liang Jingyi, needless to say, almost couldn't help but vent his anger at work.
Although He Jingshu and Liang Youwei are not biological mother and daughter, they share the same teacher and are sometimes slow-witted.
In the semi-open-air side hall, she was learning to knit a doll in front of a large screen while asking her daughter, "Jingyi, why hasn't your sister come home yet? It's been so long since she came back from Hong Kong Island, and we haven't even had a meal together as a family."
"Mom, you should ask her that question. I don't know what she thinks every day."
Liang Jingyi curled his lips and turned a page of "The Golden Lock".
Ms. He was unaware of his presence and even leaned over to tease her with a smile: "What's going on? Are the two sisters having a quarrel? Zhihui, can you tell me about it?"
Zhang Jiao's innocent face flashed before his eyes. Liang Zhihui was rarely distracted. His wrist paused in mid-air for a second, then he pretended nothing had happened and continued to flip the rice cakes on the silver baking net, saying calmly:
"Little Mom, I don't know either."
Some of the rice cake pieces gradually turned golden yellow. She picked up a few of them, put them on a plate in front of Liang Jingyi without adding any seasoning.
Liang Jingyi turned her eyes away and said softly, "Thank you, sister."
Ms. He didn't notice the interaction between the two. Unconvinced, she went back to look at Liang Ting'an, who was making tea. He didn't even raise his eyes, his hands methodically filling one pot with black tea and another with fresh milk. His tone was as calm as his sister's: "Little mother, I don't know."
After hearing this, He Jingshu's smile froze.
Did Weiwei get into some serious trouble? Why are they all so serious and distant...
Ever since hearing her mother mention Liang Youwei, Liang Jingyi hadn't read a single word of her book. She took a few breaths, flipping through the pages and adjusting the bookcase. When her heart ached, she feigned indifference and said, "Mom, if you miss Liang Youwei so much, why don't you give her a call and ask her to come back? I don't really want to contact her just yet."
Liang Zhihui took the chestnuts his brother had peeled and glanced at Liang Jingyi with a strange expression. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but in the end he said nothing. He just picked up two pieces of marshmallows for Liang Ting'an and dipped them in honey.
The chestnuts were soft, glutinous and sweet. Liang Zhihui swallowed them slowly, his face dignified but his ears perked up as he listened carefully to Ms. He's words.
"We're all family, why don't you want to keep in touch? That won't do. Spring Festival is coming soon, Mommy, call Weiwei home so you four can have a good chat. You're siblings, there's no such thing as overnight hatred..."
Liang Ting'an lowered his eyebrows, thinking that his stepmother should divide the three words "brothers and sisters" into two parts.
"亲" is a verb and "brother and sister" is a noun.
Mumbling softly, Ms. He suddenly thought of something else. She put her phone down again just as she picked it up, and looked at Liang Jingyi seriously: "By the way, Jingyi, this is your first Spring Festival since returning home. Is there anything you are looking forward to? Mom has prepared everything for you. Just tell me what you want."
Her eyebrows moved slightly, and Liang Jingyi couldn't take her eyes off her mother's phone. She would be lying if she said she wasn't touched, but she wanted to hear Liang Youwei's voice even more.
Long time no see, I really miss you.
But when my mother asked me a question, I had to answer it seriously. So, no matter how regretful I felt, Liang Jingyi still made a surprised expression: "Really?"
He Jingshu felt a great sense of accomplishment because her daughter rarely showed her emotions. Her eyes were full of stars. "Of course it's true. Tell me quickly, what do you want?"
Liang Jingyi narrowed his eyes slightly, as if thinking seriously: "Hmm... Mom, I don't have any ideas for the time being. How about this, why don't you call Liang Youwei first? I'll think about it carefully."
Twice already.
Suspicious, Ms. He put down her knitting needles, looking puzzled: "Jingyi, now—don't you want to avoid contact with Youwei?"
Liang Jingyi opened his mouth, then shut it tightly, blinking more frequently. "I really don't want to. But after all, she's my sister. Of course I'm worried about her if she doesn't come home for so long."
"You know what I mean. We Jingyi have sharp tongues but a soft heart."
Seeing this, He Jingshu breathed a sigh of relief, smiled and pinched her nose lightly, "Do you want to talk to your sister in person?"
"……don't want."
Liang Jingyi turned his head away.
Ms. He laughed even harder.
She made a video call to Liang Youwei. Familiar music sounded in the side hall. The three Liang family members all looked around, looking at the ceiling, the small stove, and the pattern of the carpet, but not at the phone screen right in front of them.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
The female voice on the other end of the phone was cheerful, and if you listened carefully, you could hear pop music playing as accompaniment.
Liang Jingyi couldn't help but grit his teeth secretly, and his eyes were dark.
You seem to be in a good mood.
"Are you still asking me what's wrong? Weiwei, Mom is asking you, the Spring Festival is almost here, why haven't you come home yet? Is there something terrible going on at home?"
"How could that be?" Liang Youwei laughed dryly and said slowly, "That's right, I just dealt with some relationship issues this week, which took up a little time..."
Sanliang suddenly became alert, withdrew his gaze from irrelevant things, and became serious.
Ms. He was curious: "Relationship problems? Did you and Qin Zhen have a fight recently?"
Liang Youwei turned off the speakers calmly and took a sip of her strawberry milkshake, saying, "I guess so. We've already broken up."
Liang Jingyi's hand trembled and he almost knocked over the teacup.
They actually broke up? The surprise came so suddenly that she couldn't help but wonder if it was because of what she had said. She really still cared about her, didn't she?
"Huh? But how long have you been dating?" Ms. He, who married her first love, was surprised. "I was thinking of waiting until next year to see you and Qin Zhen get married. I've already prepared the dowry."
Liang Youwei couldn't laugh: "Mom, please don't bother me."
"So, why exactly did you break up? Was he using the cold shoulder against you? Or was he behaving inappropriately? Could he be cheating on you?"
Ms. He was really panicked. She was afraid that her daughter would be bullied, so she asked a series of four questions.
Liang Youwei swallowed silently, her cheeks burning. Why did she feel like he was talking about her? She adjusted her tone: "It's not that big of a deal. It's just a simple personality clash. Don't worry."
He Jingshu didn't have a strong desire to interfere with her daughter's choice of a spouse. She only cared about her daughter's happiness, but she also couldn't ignore the reality factor: "What about your father? Have you thought about what to say?"
"I'll tell you, Mom."
Liang Ting'an suddenly spoke, and the depression that had been condensing between his brows for the past few days completely dissipated.
"Bang!"
Perhaps the other end accidentally knocked something over, making a deafening noise.
Liang Ting'an pretended to be deaf but no longer dumb. He poured out some fragrant milk tea and handed it to He Jingshu with a frown, revealing only the back of his bony hand, which disappeared in a flash and was quickly retracted.
"Youwei, big brother will take you home tomorrow."
"……good."
After a long time, Liang Youwei's voice came from the other side, which was obviously much weaker.
"I understand, brother."
·
After checking again and again to make sure there were no traces on her body, Liang Youwei gripped the metal chain of her cross-body bag tightly and slowly walked out of the room.
Pure black Oxford leather shoes appeared before her eyes, and the shadow was pressing down. She didn't dare to raise her face, and she gritted her teeth and shouted: "Brother."
"Um."
Hearing that his voice and tone were the same as usual, Liang Youwei felt relieved, but the next second, his hand was held by her.
Not wrists, but real palms against palms, just like an ordinary couple with skin touching, very intimate.
Liang Youwei held her breath, her heartbeat stopping for a few moments. But the man was oblivious to her, and instead took a step closer, interlocking his fingers with hers and completely enveloping her in warmth.
"Don't be afraid." He held her hand tightly and whispered, "Leave Liang Jiangsheng to me."
Liang Youwei was stunned on the spot.
She didn't expect that after they parted in Hong Kong and she had clearly chosen Qin Zhen, this would be the first thing Liang Ting'an said to her.
Why didn't he blame her? How could he not blame her?
The tip of her nose felt sore, and many indescribable emotions surged up unreasonably. Liang Youwei didn't even dare to look directly at the person opposite her, and even speaking became difficult.
“Brother, I…”
Liang Ting'an never thought of forcing her. He exerted a little force with his hands and hugged her completely in his arms.
The fingers were released and the back was gently patted.
Liang Youwei paused for a moment, then she stood on tiptoe, hugged his neck tightly, buried her face in his neck, and cried silently.
"Brother, I'm sorry..."
Liang Ting'an also bent his back and held her completely under him. He held her head, back, and waist tightly.
The man closed his eyes. He tilted his head, kissed her long hair, and breathed in the air that passed over her: "It's okay. Brother is here."
She sobbed, her voice muffled: "Won't you blame me?"
He gently rubbed the fluffy hair of the person opposite him: "What's so strange about that?"
Liang Youwei pursed her lips: "Then, does Dad already know about us? Will he... be very angry?"
Liang Ting'an held the back of her head, his dark eyes unusually calm. "What's the harm in being angry? What happened between us has nothing to do with Liang Jiangsheng, and there's no need to consider his opinion."
Liang Youwei was speechless for a moment and hugged him tighter. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Brother, you seem to be braver than me."
Liang Ting'an was silent for a moment.
"Maybe. As long as you take the first step, everything else can be left to me."
For Liang Ting'an, the identity of an older brother is both a shackle and a source of confidence.
The word "brother" destined him to not be the one to take the initiative; but it was also the word "brother" that allowed him to become the man who stood behind his sister unconditionally.
He suppressed his love because of his "brother", and also because he was able to love because of his "brother".
If falling in love requires a hundred steps, then as long as Liang Youwei takes the first step, Liang Ting'an will take the remaining ninety-nine steps unswervingly.
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