Chapter 3: Chapter 3
After a few days of meticulous preparation, the funeral was held grandly but also in a low-key manner.
The Li's was utterly devastated by the loss of their first young master that they appeared very listless even though there were many reporters at the scene.
Many famous and affluent families from the upper circle came to give their condolences. This event created a buzz of many scandals and it left a bitter taste for the Li's.
From what the public knew about the terrorist incident, many civilians lost their lives including the hotel staffs and the passersbys. Many of the guests from the engagement party were also injured but strangely enough, only the young master of the Li family died on the spot.
It was not strange for some people to survive while some lose their lives amidst an act of terror but to think Li Junfeng would be the one from the camp of 'those who lose their lives' was simply unlucky for the Li family.
One of the biggest scandals also suggested that this attack was simply meant to cover up the real assassination attempt towards the first young master.
The reporters were grouping together outside of the vicinity due to having been blocked by the bodyguards, but they still wanted to capture any juicy details on the upper circle. So when a handsome man in a black attire appeared, they began to rack their minds about his identity to no avail.
His stature was tall and lean, his black hair was scattered on his forehead but it didn't look messy. For some reason, his look resembled the first young master who was now dead. If Li Junfeng was a clean type of man with a charming smile, he was the silent type with a detached demeanor and killer stare. He was strangely gorgeous and mysterious.
Li Shaoze walked steadily towards the tombstone where many people gathered. He planned to come only when nobody was here but Li Junfeng forced him to go immediately when the funeral was at its peak hour.
Li Shaoze sighed. He knew Li Junfeng must want him to appear more around the society to give him exposure but he really didn't need it. The attention was suffocating but he had no choice.
Li Shaoze really didn't want to disappoint Li Junfeng anymore.
People's eyes trailed on him when they saw him. He was a latecomer so he attracted attention once he arrived. Li Shaoze didn't like how their stares had burned a hole into him but thankfully Li Junfeng was just beside him, giving him a silent support.
There were also many wandering souls (ghosts) scattering around the graveyard with weird appearances and scary eyeballs but Li Shaoze was already accustomed to it since young. He only focused on Li Junfeng beside him and ignored the others.
"It's you," a throaty, hoarse voice was heard.
Li Shaoze looked over and found it was his father whom he never saw for 12 years. Li Qinfeng appeared haggard and without vitality. Li Shaoze knew he was devastated by his 'only' son's death whom he held dear.
Li Shaoze suddenly thought that if he died, would this man he called father cry for him like this too one day?
He thought no. Never.
He gave a curt nod towards Li Qinfeng like he was greeting a stranger and proceeded to place a white flower bouquet on the tombstone. He knew others were observing him like a piece of new art. But he wasn't here to entertain their thoughts.
So Li Shaoze decided not to speak to anyone and began to turn around.
"Li Shaoze," a heavy silence descended once his name was called. He turned back to see his grandmother.
She was the Li family matriarch. The head of household. And the one who decided his existence as useless and unworthy.
If life was a courthouse, then she was a judge with prejudice.
Beside her was his stepmother, Lu Mimi. She was Li Junfeng's birth mother. She was a very calculating character who indirectly caused Li Shaoze's birth mother to die. But because Li Shaoze valued Li Junfeng, he never considered justice.
He thought it would be saddening if Li Junfeng came to know about what his mother had done back then. So once Li Shaoze decided to bury the hatchet, he never mentioned it to anyone.
"How dare you show up here?" matriarch Li said condescendingly.
Li Shaoze didn't feel anything nor did he want to answer his grandmother. However, Li Junfeng was angry.
"Grandma still hasn't change, has she?" Li Junfeng snorted as he clenched his hands into fists.
"You're too old for dispute now grandma. Why can't you just be kind to my brother?" Li Junfeng was always dissatisfied with his family's mistreatment towards his brother but he just couldn't do anything about it. He was a junior member of the family so he couldn't be disrespectful.
He also valued family relationship more than anyone so he was stuck in between his brother and the Li's.
Li Shaoze was silently listening to his brother's rant. Somehow it felt nostalgic because he had been out of the country for 12 years so he had forgotten what it felt like when Li Junfeng often took his side like this.
When he disappeared 12 years ago, he never had to deal with his grandmother's blatant criticism anymore and he tasted freedom. But he also never once came back home to see Li Junfeng.
Li Junfeng was the only one who would travel to Country E to see him a few times every year.
"I'm going back now," Li Shaoze ignored everyone present and bowed somewhat formally to his grandmother. Then he went away without looking back.
Li Junfeng had no choice but to follow him.
"Brother, I'm still angry. Why did you walk away like that?" Li Junfeng complained.
"It's no use, Junfeng. It's been 12 years and it won't change their mind towards me," Li Shaoze decided to explain carefully.
Li Junfeng became silent once he heard his brother. He knew it was hopeless. He knew but he was still hoping that things could change. He was dead but he still regretted everything that happened to Li Shaoze.
He wished everyone would be kind to Li Shaoze but reality was cruel.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone