Shi Jin said hello to the club staff on night duty and left, carrying a disposable bowl of still steaming dumplings. He headed for a military jeep parked at the entrance which stood out like a sore thumb and was impossible to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting got off and stood by the car, watching him approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shi Jin stopped two steps away from his brother and handed him the bowl. “Here, eat it, it’s about time for supper. I made these earlier and reheated them, so they might not taste as good. Still, they’re edible.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This stunned Xiang Aoting. His eyes dropped to the paper bowl. After a moment of hesitation, he took it and set it on the car hood. As he split the disposable chopsticks, he said, “I didn’t know you could make dumplings.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s not that difficult to learn.” Shi Jin put his hands in his pockets and watched his brother. As soon as Xiang Aoting took the cover off the bowl, Shi Jin reached out and stuffed a dumpling in his mouth. He couldn’t resist asking, “Aren’t you afraid I put laxatives in them?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting obediently opened his mouth and swallowed the dumpling. “Would you do that?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Of course,” Shi Jin said. “I used to think you were horrible, and I was angry at you because every time you visited me, you said I was too fat and made me exercise. I came up with a lot of pranks to play on you, but you never came. I had no chance to use any of them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These were the original ‘Shi Jin’s’ thoughts. Shi Jin had no qualms about saying them out loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before everything broke apart, ‘Shi Jin’ was the least intimate with Xiang Aoting. ‘He’ wanted to get closer to him, but at the same time, was afraid. The original ‘Shi Jin’ was an ordinary boy. Xiang Aoting, his brave elder brother who could fly fighter planes, was pretty much how ‘he’ imagined a hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a pity this hero, in front of his youngest sibling, occasionally played the role of a villain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting said nothing in reply to Shi Jin\u2019s words. He lowered his head, picked up another dumpling, and stuffed it into his mouth. He looked indifferent, but the slight shaking of his hands caused the soup to splash on his clothes and proved his heart wasn’t unperturbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Did you know about the deal?” Shi Jin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting started. He swallowed the dumpling in his mouth and wiped his clothes. The white, plump dumplings in the soup suddenly made him remember the moment he first met his sixth brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was in M country, in Shi Xingrui’s magnificent but desolate residence. Shi Jin was less than a year old and had just lost his mother. Held in Shi Xingrui’s arms, he looked like a fat, white dumpling. When he saw Xiang Aoting, he broke out in a wide, pure smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Children were innocent\u2014this he learned in the army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know.\u201d Xiang Aoting suddenly felt unable to face Shi Jin. The dumplings he\u2019d eaten stuck in his throat. He continued, his voice subdued, \u201cBut I guessed something. I was assigned to the best service branch, had the best instructors and the best resources. This happened every time I met with you\u2026 I didn\u2019t know how Shi Xingrui managed it. I just hated the feeling as if I got in through the back door. Army is a place where strength speaks, and most people look down on guys who get in by pulling strings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shi Jin realized something. “So that’s why you visited me less and less, and why, every time I asked, you were busy with training you couldn’t avoid and tasks you had to do.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting neither confirmed nor refuted. He stirred the soup in the bowl and asked, “Xiao Jin, do you hate us?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I didn’t hate anyone until after I knew the truth. Now, I hate my other brothers, but you are different. I don’t hate you,” Shi Jin answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting’s hand on the chopsticks stiffened. He glanced at the teenager and asked in a rough tone of voice, “Why am I different?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shi Jin recalled the original ‘Shi Jin’s’ thoughts at the end of ‘his’ life and sighed inwardly. He said, “Because you’re a hero. Even if the hero occasionally makes a mistake, it’s fine as long as his heart stays pure and noble.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting put down the chopsticks and braced himself against the car hood. It took a long moment for him to speak, and when he did, his voice was hoarse. “I’m sorry, I guess you’re disappointed with me… No one is truly pure and noble. Certainly, from the moment we returned to that house while feigning affection, none of us was.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a painful conversation. They both spoke the truth buried in their hearts and, in return, heard the truth they\u2019d rather not hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, Shi Jin didn’t want to continue anymore. He asked, “So what did you want to tell me? I need to go back and wash, we’re leaving early tomorrow.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Xiang Aoting lowered his head. He got a hold on his emotions, straightened, and faced Shi Jin. He gazed at the teenager unblinkingly, took in his face, and squeezed out an ugly smile. “I heard you were hurt and wanted to take a look at you… It’s late, and it’s cold outside. You should go back.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This clearly wasn\u2019t what Xiang Aoting originally wanted to say. Shi Jin watched as he struggled to maintain his calm and decided not to tangle with him anymore\u2014either way, he\u2019s already said everything he wanted to say. So, he nodded to his brother, turned and walked towards the club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After he took a few steps, Xiang Aoting’s call came from behind, so he stopped and turned to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If you want, I will always be your brother,” Xiang Aoting said, with a pale, awkward smile. “Of course, it’s fine if you don’t want something like that… Xiao Jin, I’m sorry.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I should thank you.” Even if just for rescuing ‘Shi Jin’ in the original plot.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin said nothing else. He turned around and continued walking towards the club. He glanced through the printed glass door\u2014Xiang Aoting had picked up the bowl with dumplings. His eyes dropped to the floor. In a low mood, he headed for the elevator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When he came out of the bathroom after taking a bath, he found a text message on his phone. Rong Zhouzhong sent it and, as usual, it was short and unfriendly: [Little bastard, you didn’t watch the New Year\u2019s Gala where I appeared.]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin stopped rubbing his hair and opened the messaging app. He recalled the original plot\u2014it wasn\u2019t just Rong Zhouzhong\u2019s mouth that was poisonous, his actions were all kinds of toxic too. He texted back: [Yeah, I didn’t want to see you, you big bastard.]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Then he deleted all the messages and ignored Rong Zhouzhong’s follow-ups, laid down on the bed, wrapped himself in the quilt, and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the over twelve-hour flight, the plane landed in a coastal city in M country. Shi Jin observed his progress bar nervously and was relieved to find it didn\u2019t rise\u2014on the contrary, it dropped a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <It didn’t go up. It seems Ruixing and the country you grew in are no longer lethal factors. Leaving B City also reduced the danger,> Xiao Si said happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watching the bar drop to 490, Shi Jin was happy too. He sighed with emotion: \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since I was this relaxed. It\u2019s good we left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <Yeah, it is,> the system echoed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin leaned to the side in the backseat. Though he pretty much broke off relations with Shi Weichong, there was no change in the progress bar. He recalled the survival factors he’d gained from his brothers and sank into thought. In the end, he shook his head and dismissed the matter from his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever, it’s fine. I’m safe now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He took a piece of toffee from his pocket, opened it, and offered it to Lian Jun. \u201cHere, have a candy to wake up. You\u2019ll feel great all day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lian Jun, who was somewhat pale after the tiring flight, glanced at him. He caught Shi Jin’s wrist and ate the toffee from his hand, then leaned back against the car seat, closing his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Satisfied, Shi Jin retracted his hand and pulled out his phone to play mahjong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua Two, watching from the driver’s seat, stopped looking in the rearview mirror and silently put a lollipop in his mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The car drove all the way to a private port. Shi Jin followed everyone to a medium-sized cruise ship docked in the harbor, his eyes taking in the unfamiliar sight. He sighed in wonder. \u201cI thought we were going to the island by helicopter. I never expected a cruise ship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe could, but it would be too much of a strain on Jun-shao\u2019s body. Gua One got a ship so we could have a good night\u2019s sleep on board,\u201d Gua Two explained. He eyed Shi Jin strangely. \u201cYou used to be a rich young master. Haven\u2019t you seen a cruise ship before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Uh… Of course I have, but I was always studying and didn’t have time to go play on a cruise ship.” Shi Jin tried to save his image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua Two\u2019s expression said, \u2018Yeah, right, do I look mentally retarded?\u2019<\/em> but he gave it a rest. When they came on deck, something occurred to him. \u201cDo you get seasick? It will take us a while to arrive on the island. If you do, you\u2019d better take some medicine right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin pondered this question for a moment and answered confidently, “I don’t. I have a good sense of balance; I heard only people with bad sense of balance get motion sickness.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua Two’s eyebrows rose. No longer persuading him, he led the way to the cabins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ten minutes after the ship set sail, Shi Jin collapsed on the sofa in the lounge. The entire world spun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This doesn’t make sense!” Feeling half-dead, he covered his mouth and tried not to vomit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Xiao Si was very sympathetic: <It’s probably because you haven’t been on a ship until now. Let me give you a buff so you’ll feel better in a moment.><\/p>\n\n\n\n A few minutes later, Shi Jin\u2019s nausea slowly calmed down. He thanked his \u201cgolden finger,\u201d overwhelmed by gratitude, then found a tablet and touched a certain app icon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when Gua Two returned to the lounge with a seasickness medicine, he saw Shi Jin playing mahjong, as fresh as a daisy. It was quite different from his earlier dying image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Mahjong also cures seasickness?” Gua Two couldn’t believe his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uncle Long, who followed behind, glanced at the teenager, then rolled his eyes at Gua Two. He put his hands in the white coat’s pockets and strode away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was Jun-shao who asked you to come, why are you rolling your eyes at me?\u201d Gua Two called after him, feeling wronged. He looked at Shi Jin, who had fun with the tablet, then at the seasickness medicine in his hand. He threw it in a trash can and stalked off in a huff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cruise ship dropped anchor for the duration of dinner. Shi Jin was delighted to see the sun go down. He arranged for them to eat on the deck and pushed Lian Jun\u2019s wheelchair outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lian Jun took a nap while they were underway. Now, he was much more energetic, and his mood was better. When he saw the \u201ccandlelight dinner\u201d prepared on deck, the expression in his eyes changed slightly. He looked over his shoulder at Shi Jin. \u201cDid you arrange it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, I asked the staff. The sea air is good for you, but the sun was too strong earlier. Now, it\u2019s just right, and the breeze is pleasant,\u201d Shi Jin replied as he parked the wheelchair at the table. He sat next to him instead of on the place prepared for him opposite and dragged the tableware over. \u201cThe kitchen planned the Western-style meal, with dishes served one at a time. I don\u2019t like it because it\u2019s just so slow, so I asked them to change it for a seafood buffet,\u201d he said, uncovering the dish covers. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, it\u2019s all what Uncle Long allowed you to eat, it won\u2019t upset your stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The corner of Lian Jun\u2019s mouth rose slightly. He picked up his chopsticks and said, \u201cYou\u2019re quite considerate. How is your studying going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin\u2019s smile disappeared in an instant. He lowered his head and started to shove in food, pretending he didn\u2019t hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once that silly grin vanished, Lian Jun was satisfied. He stopped teasing the teenager and turned his attention to the excellent meal, accompanied by the cool night breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the time dinner finished\u2014peacefully\u2014it was dark. The table was removed, and the cruise ship set sail again. The sky filled with stars, appearing to be so close one could reach out and touch them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since I saw such a beautiful starry sky,\u201d Shi Jin sighed and sprawled out on a lounge chair. The fresh sea breeze, the gently rocking ship\u2014it was like a beautiful, intoxicating dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lian Jun leaned back in his wheelchair and gazed at the stars, his eyes serene. He put his hands behind his head, looking languid and carefree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was quiet as if the only sound in the entire world was the murmur of waves and the whisper of the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin turned his head to Lian Jun. His eyes followed the movement of the night breeze and swept over the man\u2019s fluttering, jet black hair and the hem of his sleeves. Then, they slowly moved down, peeking inside the robe blown open by the wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you looking at?\u201d The question asked in a low, gentle voice broke the silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin, as if caught in some sort of spell, blurted out, \u201cI want to see if you\u2019re wearing pants. The wind blows so hard that if you aren\u2019t, I\u2019ll be able to see your legs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lian Jun: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin, whose brain caught up to his mouth: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Xiao Si, the captive audience: <\u2026\u2026><\/p>\n\n\n\n The warm atmosphere burst like a soap bubble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stiff, Shi Jin looked up at Lian Jun, stammering out, \u201cNo, it\u2019s\u2026 I mean, I\u2019m curious, you only wear robes, I\u2019ve never seen you in other clothes. Is it to look good? Well, it really does look good on you\u2026\u201d He didn\u2019t forget to flatter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Lian Jun didn\u2019t feel flattered. He looked at Shi Jin expressionlessly, covered his legs with a thin blanket, and said, \u201cIt\u2019s because, for people who have trouble walking, robes are more convenient to put on and take off, and don\u2019t have so many complicated buttons and zippers\u2014it saves a lot of time.\u201d Then, he turned the wheelchair around and left the deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That simple answer stunned Shi Jin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Xiao Si said in disbelief, <JinJin, you thought\nDarling is dressing like this because he\u2019s vain? You\u2019re too superficial!><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin put his feet on the lounge chair and hugged his\nknees, hiding his face in them. He was ashamed of himself. The only explanation\nhe could give was that he watched a bit too much anime in middle school and\nsometimes, his imagination ran riot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the early morning hours, when the ship docked at\nthe port, Shi Jin was sleeping like a pig, not even stirring. Not bothering to\nwake him up, Gua One and others disembarked to arrange things on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the time the teenager left his cabin, it was\nalready bright. The ship was already empty except for Gua Two who sat in the\nlounge, waiting to take him to the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the mild breeze, Shi Jin walked to the railing and\nlooked at the magnificent, crescent-shaped island surrounded by cerulean\nwaters. He couldn\u2019t help but whistle. \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful. What\u2019s that there in the\nbay, a water scooter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have good eyes, it really is the water scooter.\nI\u2019ll take you to play with it later,\u201d Gua Two said. \u201cThere are many fun things\nto do on our island. If nothing unexpected happens, from today to the end of\nMarch is our vacation time. We can enjoy ourselves to our heart\u2019s content.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This pulled Shi Jin\u2019s attention from the island back to the man. \u201cOnly until the end of March? Do we have some work in April?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot work, there\u2019s a legal underworld organizations\u2019\nconference. Every April, the government officials check and re-register all the\nmajor underworld organizations in China, then discuss with their leaders the\ncleanup of the illegal ones. Jun-shao has to attend personally, and stare at\nthe underworld side to make them behave,\u201d Gua Two explained as he led the way\noff the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin followed him, asking, \u201cWhere\u2019s the meeting\nplace? In China?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, on the high seas. The government moves a large\ncruise ship there, and everyone boards it. You know, even if the underworld\norganization is legal, people in our line of work can\u2019t help but worry that the\nofficials will take advantage of the occasion to catch all of us in one net.\nThey\u2019d never agree to gather on land.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin nodded in understanding. He glanced at Lian\nJun\u2019s progress bar which went back to 500 after Chen Qing\u2019s rescue and inwardly\ndrew a big red mark on April\u2019s calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lian Jun\u2019s island was called Crescent Bay Island,\nafter its shape. It was privately owned and surrounded by the sea, so there was\nno need to worry about sneak attacks. Because of this, everyone\u2019s attitude\nbecame more relaxed, not as tense and cautious as in B City and Y Province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The place they would live in was a complex of\nbuildings at the center of the island. It included three huge villas, a large\nviewing deck, big and small swimming pools, three dining halls with separate\nkitchens serving food of different styles, a gym, a shooting range, a\nmultifunctional building, tennis and basketball courts, and a multimedia\nentertainment building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin was like a country bumpkin on his first visit\nto a big city. As he looked around listening to Gua Two\u2019s introduction, he\nexclaimed inwardly\u2014the happiness of the rich was beyond the imagination of\nordinary people. This place was a paradise compared with Flowery Orchard and\nthe club in B City!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is where we live, there are different recreation\nareas in the other parts of the island. Later, you can get the map and take the\nsightseeing minibus to check them out, just remember to ask Gua Six to give you\na pass card,\u201d Gua Two finished and led Shi Jin into the largest villa in the\nmiddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin woke up. \u201cGua Six?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua Two remembered Shi Jin hadn\u2019t seen Gua Six before,\nand explained, \u201cGua Six is this island\u2019s administrator. Every year, he comes to\ntake care of things and spend the winter with Jun-shao, but because Jun-shao\nstayed in B City a little longer this time, he too came later, and we just\nmissed him. He has a gentle character and takes care of the logistics and such.\nI\u2019ll introduce you in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin nodded. The two walked through the comfortable\nbut elegantly decorated villa lobby and ascended the wooden staircase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second floor of the villa was large. There were two spacious master bedrooms with an excellent view, a few study rooms, a small living room, and a comfortably arranged terrace with swinging reclining chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua Two took Shi Jin into one of the master bedrooms.\nHe pointed to the wardrobe and said, \u201cThe new clothes for you are here. Look\naround the room by yourself and call me if anything\u2019s missing, I have something\nI need to do now.\u201d Then, he went to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin stopped him and asked, \u201cWhere do you live,\nnext door? It looks like there are only two rooms on this floor, where are the\nothers living, on other floors? What about Jun-shao?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019d subconsciously concluded Gua Two was his\nneighbor\u2014that first question wasn\u2019t asked in a questioning tone at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua Two glanced at him with a strange expression. He\nkept silent for a moment, then said, \u201cThe first and third floor of this villa\nis empty. I live in the villa on your left\u2014if you call me from the terrace,\nI\u2019ll hear it in my room. You have a flatmate, but it\u2019s not me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surprised, Shi Jin asked, \u201cThen who? Gua Nine?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua One, Gua Three, and Gua Five usually lived close to Lian Jun because they helped him to deal with Annihilation\u2019s matters, so he automatically excluded them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gua Two gave him a profound look and deliberately kept\nhim in suspense: \u201cNo, it\u2019s not Gua Nine. You\u2019ll know when you meet him. Now,\nunpack and put your things away, I really need to go take care of something.\u201d\nHe turned around and walked out of the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin watched him leave, wondering about this\nneighbor business, but quickly forgot about it and threw himself on the soft,\nbouncy bed. He happily rolled around on it and looked at the splendid panorama\nbehind the windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis really is a paradise,\u201d he sighed, contented. Remembering he hadn\u2019t seen Lian Jun since yesterday, he glanced at the hour. It was already breakfast time, so he pulled out his phone, made a call, and waited for it to connect. \u201cJun-shao, where are you? Have you eaten breakfast?\u201d He asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n {Did you get off the ship?} The sound of running water\naccompanied Lian Jun\u2019s question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, Gua Two just showed me to my room. Where are\nyou, Jun-shao? If you haven\u2019t had breakfast, let\u2019s eat together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The phone was silent for a moment, then there came a\nsound of a door opening, at the same time when the door to Shi Jin\u2019s room was\npushed open. Lian Jun appeared at the entrance, still holding his phone, and\nsaid, \u201cI\u2019m here, you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shocked, Shi Jin twisted around and stared at him with\nwide eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They looked at each other in consternation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lian Jun was dumbstruck. He looked at Shi Jin lying on the bed, whose clothes rolled up when he tossed about, and now revealed his waist. He blinked, then moved his eyes away, backed off, and closed the door. His voice came from the still connected phone: {Get dressed, then we’ll go to the dining hall for breakfast.}<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin looked at the door, looked at his phone, and\njumped out of bed. He ran to the door and threw it open. \u201cJun-shao, how did you\ncome so fast, are you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lian Jun eyed his messy clothes. He turned around and\nreturned to his room, slamming the door in front Shi Jin\u2019s nose. {I told you to\nget dressed, why did you come out looking like that?} His voice came from the\nphone once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shi Jin studied the door before him, then turned to\nglance at the one behind, and silently changed the question he was going to ask\ninto a declarative sentence: \u201cSo you are my flatmate.\u201d This was the nearest\nthey ever lived to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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