Chapter 47: Provocation
The next day, Lin Heng seemed to have been restarted, and he returned to his lazy and somewhat evil look, but there was still a trace of barely perceptible depression in his eyes, like a petal wilted by the rain, trying hard to stay spirited.
Seeing him like this, I felt a little uncomfortable.
I remembered that when I was in the dormitory with Lin Yan, I also wanted to play games with him and curse at people, but I was moved in the end (Lin Yan's personality was such that at most he would frown and swallow the curses when they came to his lips), so I decided to try the same trick again.
"Hey, kid, let's go to the canyon?" I shook my phone and made an invitation.
Lin Heng raised his eyelids and glanced at me, lacking interest: "It's boring." But he still slowly sat down next to me.
At the beginning, he was obviously absent-minded in his operations. His usually impressive positioning was frequently flawed, and he even missed several last hits.
I looked at the hero on his screen who was stupidly giving away kills, and I couldn't help but open the microphone: "Fuck! Does that idiot in the mid lane know how to provide support?! Is he blind?!"
My angry old man's shout seemed to awaken some dormant switch in Lin Heng's body. His operation was still awful, but his mouth started to move.
"Are junglers like turtles? The jungle is your ancestral graveyard, why are you just squatting there and not moving?"
"Support! Where the hell are you throwing your hook? Are you hooking the air to wish the other team a happy new year?"
"Shooter, did you hold down the A button?! You can't even stand and shoot?!"
He was just complaining at first, but then he met a stubborn teammate and Lin Heng completely exploded!
He unleashed his fury at his stepbrother, his discontent with his father's plans, his frustration with his studies—all poured out into the virtual canyon. His rich vocabulary and cunning attacks left me breathless! I, too, was swept up in the excitement and joined in this "Zuan Symphony."
The two of us were cursing at each other, spit flying everywhere, and with the teammates' avatars on the screen turning gray, the scene was very "harmonious" for a while.
I don't know when Lin Yan came back and stood behind our sofa. His brows were furrowed and his eyes were looking back and forth between us, full of disapproval.
But he rarely said anything to stop us. He just silently refilled our cups with warm water, one cup after another, as if he was using the water to quench our raging anger.
Finally, after another team was wiped out, Lin Heng seemed to have let out all his pent-up resentment. His shoulders relaxed and he let out a long breath.
He stared at the big "DEFEAT" on the screen and was silent for a few seconds. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled up very slightly, revealing his first real smile in these few days.
He turned his head to look at me, and said in a low, somewhat awkward voice, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
I was stunned for a moment, I couldn't believe my ears! This little devil actually said thank you?!
Before I could react, Lin Heng suddenly opened his arms and gave me a big hug!
"Sister-in-law, you are so nice!" He buried his head in my shoulder and rubbed it like a big coquettish dog.
"Hey! Lin Heng!" Lin Yan's deep voice, with obvious displeasure, suddenly rang out. A big hand reached out and unceremoniously pulled Lin Heng away from me. "That's enough."
He brought me closer to him and gave Lin Heng a warning look.
Lin Heng wasn't annoyed when he was pulled away. Instead, he leaned back on the sofa with a smile, looking at Lin Yan, then at me, with a mischievous look in his eyes: "Brother, seriously, you really picked up a treasure."
He paused, counting on his fingers, "I've been following your 'relationship dynamics' for years. Tsk tsk, every relationship you've dated has ended badly, and you've always been dumped! Three! Three beautiful women, but none of them won you over! In the end, men still have the best taste, right?"
He gave Lin Yan a thumbs up and said in a teasing tone, "Brother, you are this!"
Lin Yan was exposed by him, and his face was a little embarrassed. He rubbed his eyebrows helplessly and retorted angrily: "Shut up."
He subconsciously tightened his grip on my hand, his eyes fixed on my face, his voice low but filled with undeniable seriousness, "Can he...be the same as before?"
My heart skipped a beat and my face felt a little hot.
Yes, it's different. Although at first I also thought that Lin Yan's "stamp boyfriend" behavior was revenge for me discovering his secret, but now... it seems to be really different.
Lin Heng didn't care about his brother's embarrassment. Instead, he held his chin with his hand and began to fantasize with a wandering look in his eyes: "Alas... Sister-in-law, what kind of partner do you think I will find in the future? Will he be as reserved and reserved as my brother, or as gentle as Su Yan? Or..."
"Your main task now is to study." Lin Yan interrupted his fantasy without mercy.
Lin Heng's face instantly fell, like a popped balloon: "Why?! Do you have to look at grades? Can grades be used to make a living?!"
Lin Yan looked at him and suddenly smiled, that smile was a little meaningful: "Of course grades can't be used to make a living." He changed the subject, his tone was light, but it was like dropping a bomb.
"But... well, I'm not home now, and that 'hungry wolf' at home is ready to make a move. I heard he has pretty good grades and is smart enough. Maybe... he'll be trained as the 'heir' by the old man?"
The expression on Lin Heng's face froze instantly.
He looked like he was struck by lightning, his eyes widened, and the rebelliousness and disdain just now were instantly replaced by a huge hatred mixed with shock, anger and a strong sense of crisis!
"Fuck!!!" He suddenly jumped up from the sofa like a cat with its fur standing on end, "This bitch! How dare he?! Is he worthy?!" He was so angry that he walked around in the living room and started cursing his stepbrother crazily.
I stood by and looked at Lin Yan in amazement.
Goodness! This provocation was too harsh, wasn't it?! It was a precise strike! It directly hit the point that Lin Heng cared about the most and couldn't stand the most—
What originally belonged to him (or what he thought belonged to him) was taken away by his stepbrother whom he regarded as a "wild dog"!
However, just as I was sighing at Lin Yan's cleverness, his previous words suddenly flashed through my mind like lightning -
"This old man has a lot of tricks up his sleeve." And then there's Lin Heng's father's seemingly gentle but actually ambiguous attitude...
An idea so bold that even I found it absurd popped up in my mind: Could it be that... all this was carefully arranged by the old man?
The so-called remarriage, the so-called "ambitious" stepbrother, and even this "family education" incident... are all setup by the old man?
Is it just to stimulate Lin Heng's rebellious youngest son, make him realize the crisis, and thus... work hard to become stronger?
I'm shocked by my own "dog-brained" reasoning! Is this... possible? This is too sinister! Is this how all the wealthy family scripts are written?!
Before I could sort out my thoughts, Lin Heng had already convinced (or stimulated) himself.
He suddenly stopped, his eyes blazing with an almost ferocious fighting spirit, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Damn it! Isn't it just studying?! I'll study! I don't believe it! Let that dog ride on my head? Dream on!"
Looking at his excited look, I stood beside him worriedly: There is less than half a year left before the college entrance examination... Can this kid really do it?
Lin Yan was very calm and patted my shoulder: "Don't worry, this kid is very smart. He had top grades in junior high school and only started to let himself go in high school. His foundation is still there." There was a hint of imperceptible indulgence and trust in his tone.
In the end, Lin Heng decided to go back. He was not forced to do so, but rather he had a burning desire to "go back and beat that dog!"
On the day of his departure, Lin Yan arranged a comfortable private car for him.
Lin Heng was taking his time changing his shoes at the entrance, but his eyes were always glued to me.
Even after the luggage was loaded into the car, he still held my hand and was reluctant to leave.
"Sister-in-law..." He rarely showed the dependence and reluctance that belonged to his age. "If my brother bullies you in the future, just tell me! I will scold him for you!"
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Okay, okay, okay."
"From now on... I will only recognize you as my sister-in-law!" His tone was solemn, as if he was announcing some great oath.
My heart warmed up, and I was about to say something when the boy came closer, lowered his voice, and added slyly, "Also...if my brother doesn't want you anymore one day, just come with me! I'm sure..."
“Lin Heng!” Before he could finish his words, Lin Yan, who had lost his patience, grabbed him by the back of his collar, lifted him up like a chicken, and stuffed him into the car! “Get out of here! Behave yourself on the road!” Lin Yan slammed his face as he closed the car door.
I stood downstairs and watched the black car slowly start up. Lin Heng's face was pressed against the car window, and he was still waving at me.
I feel a little empty inside. When this little devil was here, everything was in chaos. Now that he is really leaving, I feel reluctant to see him go.
The car merged into the traffic flow and I was about to turn around and go upstairs when an inexplicable feeling of being watched suddenly hit me, like a cold snake crawling up my spine.
I subconsciously looked back.
Not far behind Lin Heng's car, an ordinary taxi had just started.
The backseat window was halfway down, revealing a young face. It was a boy about Lin Heng's age, dressed in a neat school uniform. He had a handsome face, even a touch of bookish cleanliness.
But his eyes... were cold and sharp, like poisoned needles, piercing me precisely from a distance, with an undisguised scrutiny and... intense hostility?
With just a glance, the taxi accelerated to catch up with the private car in front, and the cold look disappeared.
I froze in place, a layer of cold sweat instantly breaking out on my back.
Is this an illusion? Or...
That look... was it really as Lin Heng described, like a starving dog staring at its prey?
Looking at the taillights of the car going away, I shuddered for no reason.
The next time I see Lin Heng... I don’t know what it will be like.
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