บท 70: Chapter 70 - Step brothers
Evening came faster than Jian expected, and he was barely done preparing when a new suit arrived in his room, courtesy of the servants.
He looked it over with mild interest; it was bright white, looking all fancy and expensive at first glance. But as he got closer, he noticed things were off.
He brushed his fingers over the fabric—it felt a little stiff, and not in a good way.
Holding it up, he spotted loose threads hanging here and there, and even a faint stain on the back. "Seriously?" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. They didn't need to play these cheap tricks on him.
With a sigh, he put on the suit, but it didn't feel right.
The shoulders drooped over his arms, too wide and awkward, making him look smaller than he was. The waist was baggy, with extra fabric bunching up around him, like he was just a kid trying on clothes way too big for him.
He glanced at the mirror, and his stomach sank.
The suit's bright white almost washed him out, making his skin look darker, like the clothes were meant to remind him he didn't fit in. He looked… rougher, less polished, exactly how they probably wanted him to feel.
Just then, his grandpa came in, beaming. "Ahh, look at you, Jian! You look amazing," he said, circling around to take a better look. "I knew my grandson would look the best. It's just a shame Bian doesn't get this…"
Jian's chest tightened at the mention of Bian, but he kept a smile and gently took his grandpa's hand, pulling him into a half hug. "Don't worry, Grandpa. He'll get what he deserves soon."
Exactly at 7:30, a servant came to fetch Jian from his room.
He followed quietly down the hall until they reached the foyer, where the rest of his cousins were already gathered, looking like they'd stepped out of a magazine.
Li Wang wore a deep velvet-red suit, luxurious and rich in color, the kind that screamed status.
Beside him, his sister stood in an off-white dress, elegant and mid-length with sleeves that flowed softly around her arms. She looked like she was effortlessly floating.
Then there was Lui Wang, adjusting his tie in a sharp navy suit that fit him perfectly, like it was made for him.
Lui Wang's eyes flicked up to Jian, a slight frown creasing his brow. Jian saw the look—a mixture of annoyance and judgment, maybe a bit of pity.
"Cousin!" Li Wang said, breaking into a grin as he came up to Jian. "You look stunning in that."
Jian forced a polite smile, holding back the sarcasm. "Is that so?"
"It's getting late. Let's go," Lui Wang cut in, his tone clipped as he turned and motioned for everyone to follow.
As Jian started to walk, he noticed his aunt standing off to the side, wearing a plain black dress, her expression bleak as she watched them leave. It was like she was somewhere else entirely, lost in her thoughts.
"Isn't Aunt coming with us?" he asked, the question slipping out before he could hold it back.
The room went quiet. Li Wang and his sister both turned, a flash of irritation sparking in their eyes.
"None of your concern," his cousin's sister snapped, her voice cold, before she strutted out of the room.
Li Wang glanced back at Jian, his cordial act slipping for just a second, a look of warning in his eyes, before he, too, left without waiting.
Jian sighed, feeling a heaviness settle over him. He turned back to his grandpa, giving him a tight hug. "Call me immediately if anything happens, alright?" he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "Lock the doors and stay in. I'll be back soon. Bye."
His grandpa pulled him close, his hands gripping Jian's shoulders for a moment too long. He didn't say anything, just looked at him with worry clouding his face as he finally walked away.
Li Wang and his sister climbed into a sleek car, not even glancing back to see if Jian was following. The car pulled away without him, leaving Jian to ride with Lui.
As he got in, Lui was already focused on some documents, barely acknowledging him, the car silent except for the faint rustle of their clothes.
Jian leaned back, sneaking a curious glance at his cousin. There was something different about Lui—he didn't look like Li Wang or Gia at all. Actually, he looked more like Wen Wang than the rest of them.
"Something on my face?" Lui asked quietly, still not looking up.
"No… just wondering. Li Wang and Gia are your step-siblings, yeah?"
Lui's eyes shot up, sharp and piercing. "Didn't anyone teach you not to speak out of turn?"
Jian smirked, unfazed. "People taught me to speak the truth. And it's pretty obvious. You don't look like your siblings, and your aunt… she wasn't allowed to come to this party, right? Because she's the second wife." He leaned back with a grin, throwing out the bait just to see if Lui would bite.
Lui's gaze turned icy as he stared him down. "Learn when to shut up."
Jian mimed zipping his lips and went quiet, but inside, he was grinning. 'That confirms it. She really is a stepmom to him.'
They drove in silence until the car pulled up to a grand mansion draped in soft, glittering lights that twinkled like stars. Jian stared as expensive cars lined up in front, and well-dressed guests stepped out, each looking like they belonged on the cover of a magazine. Most were young, stylish, and confident.
"So… what about my father? Will he be here?" Jian asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
Lui shook his head, not even bothering to elaborate.
"Oh, I see." Jian gazed out the window, a worried sigh escaping him. 'Great. Just great. This place is a snake pit, and I'm walking right into it. Who knows what kind of schemes they've got planned… tsk.'
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