บท 19: 1.19

Lian Zhinan was lost.

After staying with Chu Yan in the villa, the latter wanted to bring to him to the company, and it seems Lian Zhinan's suicidal actions left a deep impact in Chu Yan. He was afraid now of leaving Lian Zhinan alone, even with the presences of the servants and guards.

As a docile and obedient canary, Lian Zhinan of course had no rejection to this. Wrapping himself in a big coat, Lian Zhinan endured his social anxiety. It just that halfway to the company, Lian Zhinan find it difficult to breathe as well as move, he was surrounded by many people and their gazes were stocked on him.

In result, no one could tell when did he let go of Chu Yan's hands or where did his fear take him? Feeling the eyes of hundreds, Lian Zhinan shrank himself into a ball.

"Don't worry, we will bring you back to Brother Chu." Yan Shen comforted.

Lian Zhinan did not reply and tried to minimize his presence. The light smell of aroma in the car made him calm down and the soothing voice of the man slowly let his guard down. Yan Shen is said to be best at communicating with other people, and with the illness of Lian Zhinan, he understood best when to retreat and conquer.

Staring at the rearview mirror, Yan Shen's gaze turned unusually dark. The kind of the water without ripples, calm and serene, but deep inside, there is an unknown that everyone couldn't distinguish. Mysterious, strange and difficult to discern.

Yan Shen uttered again, "Before that, do you want to exchange contact number?"

Lian Zhinan does not feel the drive to response, but the aura of this man is very comfortable. There is something that made others drawn to him, however, with his withdrawn personality, it is hard to communicate this way.

Nonetheless, Yan Shen is not discouraged by his ignorance, he smiled and asked, "Don't you have any contact number? If you are lost again, you can call me."

Lian Zhinan wrapped himself tightly and pursed his lips. Lowering his face, he muttered in a soft voice, "I-I don't have a contact number."

Yan Shen's eyes widened, he shifted his eyes again and asked again, "Are you sure? If you don't want to give it to me, it's okay, I won't force you."

"N-no!" Lian Zhinan opposed loudly. He blinked his eyes innocently and replied, "I really don't have a contact number. I don't even have a phone. B-brother Chu said that there is no need for that."

With this revelation, Yan Shen's eyebrows furrowed. The driver who was busy eyeing on the road froze. It doesn't seem right. No matter how everyone think, isn't this a pure manipulation?

A seed of doubt was planted in Yan Shen's mind, he asked, "Is it true that you are his fiancé?"

Lian Zhinan narrowed his eyes, a little confused, "Ah? No, I'm not. Our relationship is not like that. I-I'm his…" His cheeks rarely turned blushed and Lian Zhinan feels that his identity is a shame. He doesn't know how to say it.

Yan Shen nodded, finally understanding his circumstances. He whispered something on the driver and the direction to the villa took a drastically changed.

Lian Zhinan who was familiar with the road, anxiously reminded, "T-This isn't the way to brother Chu. Where are you taking me?"

The only way who could provide him contentment is Chu Yan and now that he was separated from him, it was difficult to think clearly. He became frightened and his breathing staggered.

Yan Shen hesitantly retorted, "Lian Zhinan, relax. We are going to my house, Chu Yan is playing with you!"

It's funny to think that they only meet a few minutes ago, but Yan Shen was already concern about him. It seems his attribute of pitting others was working on his behalf, and it is hard to see the young man fall in the clutches of the evildoer.

"No! Bring me back to Brother Chu! I am his canary. Please… I want to go to Brother Chu!"

The constant nagging accompanied by the pitiful voice is enough for a stone man to give mercy, but Yan Shen was even more certain. It is not in his element to let someone be destroyed. Lian Zhinan is a promising young man. Innocent and full of hope, how come Chu Yan could be ruthless to coy him?

Lian Zhinan's cries reverberate along the way, but Yan Shen was already firm. Arriving at the mansion, Yan Shen and the driver picked up the weak Lian Zhinan and proceed to take him inside.

Lian Zhinan struggle turned weak, and his loud complaint turned into sobs, "B-brother Chu… b-brother Chu…."

Yan Mansion had many servants, and they were stationed at different area of the mansion. Seeing the young man consistently struggling, they don't know what to do for a while. Should they tell the master about this? But upon accidentally glimpsing at the appearance of the young man, they were even more sure. This is kidnapping! The youngest master had kidnapped someone!

Unaware of the servant's paranoia, Yan Shen brought Lian Zhinan into the living room. The young man's struggles weakened, which allowed them to completely sealed him into the sofa.

Lacking of courage, Lian Zhinan pitifully lowered his eyes and muttered, "W-why are you doing this to me? I need to go to brother Chu."

Yan Shen sighed and replied in his soft voice, trying to convince him, "Lian Zhinan, let me tell you something, Chu Yan is manipulating you, he's a bad person—"

Lian Zhinan immediately interrupted and glared, "You are lying! Brother Chu is not a bad person, he had helped me and supported me! How can you say that?" The anger in his eyes flashed, "From the start, aren't you the bad person? You took me by force and I don't even know you! How could you say that!"

Yan Shen lost his words. In fact, it is unclear to him why he was instantly worried about the youth, this is the first time they had meet. Yan Shen is kind, but he wasn't kind enough to dragged people, but something… is going on inside his brain. He doesn't know what it is.

Noticing his lack of response, Lian Zhinan pleaded sadly, "Please, can you bring me back to brother Chu?"

Yan Shen sighed and was about to give up when Yan Li suddenly appeared.

"Xiao Shen, the servant said you brought someone—" He paused and his pupils shrank.

Thanks to his ruthlessness that Yan Li was unable to stop targeting Chu Yan. In their social circle, many had already discovered the dispute between them, and Yan Li constant attack to Chu Yan was greatly well-known. It just that Chu Yan was able to grasp and counter, Yan Li lost several times, making him restless and exhausted. Now, he even felt dreaming, finally seeing the young man in front of him.

He stumbled, "W-when did you brought him here?"

Yan Shen quickly discovered the strangeness in his brother, his voice cold, "Brother, do you know what Chu Yan had done to Zhinan?"

Lian Zhinan couldn't understand the turmoil between the two brothers, nevertheless, upon discovering another person, he swiftly changed his target and pleaded with Yan Li, "Please… l-let me go back to brother Chu. I'm scared."

Hearing the youth's entreat, Yan Li turned his face into his brother, gritting his teeth, "You, you bastard, did you kidnap him?"

Imagining the difficulties of the young man, Yan Li's heart suffered harshly. It was his own methods and cruelty that made the young man afflicted. And now, his younger brother abducted him, Yan Li almost gone crazy. He just wanted to release the youth from Chu Yan's clutches and now falling into his brother? Yan Li was unable to calm himself.

Yan Shen frowned and replied resentfully, "Brother, he was lost in the city and I found out that Brother Chu had been manipulating him. I can't bear to bring him back."

Lian Zhinan frowned and defy, "Like I said, Brother Chu is not like that! You are lying, all of you are lying."

Swallowing his saliva, Yan Li leaned down and stared directly at the young man's angry eyes, "Zhinan, do you want to see your brother?"

The word 'brother' completely shattered something in Lian Zhinan. It's been a while since someone asked him what he wants and that is to see his only family left. Months of accompanying Chu Yan made him forgot his real purpose. He bites his lips and his thoughts gradually cleared.

His brother… he almost forgot that he had a brother…

Tears slowly formed on his eyes, the anxiousness was replaced by loneliness. He tried to stifle his sobs by biting his lips, however, sobs were still heard in the gap of his mouth. The pretentiousness he showcased months ago was broken, and the immaturity hidden beneath the cold wall was showcased.

He was just a young man who recently turned legal. What he wanted was his family, but fearing the abandonment made him trapped in this cage. He was like a helpless bird, unable to spread his wings and could only sit still, a canary.

Still crying, he nodded repeatedly, "I want to see my brother. Please let me see my brother!"

Yan Shen wanted to oppose, but Yan Li stopped him. His breath turned heavily, and he could only try to calm the young man, "Okay, let's see your brother. But tomorrow, okay? It's late now."

How could Lian Zhinan wait until tomorrow? He shook his head and argue, "I want to see now! Please, I want to see my brother!"

Yan Shen patted his brother shoulder and agreed, "We had a car, let's follow Zhinan's request."

"It's not that easy." Yan Li looked away. Regret and guilt manifested in his eyes. It was no longer the aggressive he had in the past.

In the end, Lian Zhinan's demand was answered. He was wrapped by Yan Shen's jacket and his eyes were swollen from crying. However, the anxious expression on his face was replaced by now a faint joy. He even absentmindedly turned his eyes into the road, to see if they were near to his brother.

Yan Li, who was driving and watching this, felt like something was clenching in his heart. Reminding himself to focus, he might actually crash this car.

Yan Shen smiled beside the young man and said, "Don't worry, we will see your brother soon."

"Yes, yes…" Lian Zhinan replied unconsciously.

Soon, the rare smile on his lips was slowly disappearing. An unknown panic surged in his heart, he couldn't help asking Yan Li, "W-why are we heading this way?"

The word 'cemetery' made him nervous. Yan Li didn't give him a response until they pulled over. Lian Zhinan started panicking: "W-why are we in the cemetery? I thought we are going to brother?"

Yan Li gulped, and his eyes turned red, "I'm sorry, Zhinan. Lian Chen was dead, a long time ago."