Chapter 2

Chapter 2

That year he was 18, like a blazing sun only fit to be praised.

Little did anyone know, beneath his scorching brilliance, countless shadows lurked.

That day, when I came home to the Jiang Family after school, I happened upon Jiang Chuyi being cornered by a group of delinquents.

The usually aloof Young Master Jiang was now groveling, begging nonstop:

“I… I’ll give you money, I have lots of money, tomorrow I’ll pay…”

I stood behind a low wall and watched as each of them kicked him once.

Only after they were gone did I emerge.

“Having eyes means you have to watch everything? I should have told them you’re my sister, then maybe they’d beat you up too…”

Jiang Chuyi gave me a dark, gloomy smile.

My hand, extended to help him, froze mid-air.

So he had noticed me all along.

In the next second, a cold hand suddenly slipped into my palm.

He took the initiative to hold my hand, using my strength to stand.

I was pulled forward by him, and a faint scent of blood wafted out.

I stood helplessly before him, my fingers clenched so hard by him that it hurt.

Yet he looked down at me, his tone full of disdain.

“I don’t want you as my sister.”

Even a coward like me couldn’t stand his sarcasm, so I raised my head and glared at him:

“I was just passing by and happened to see some filth.”

In that moment of confrontation, the barrier between us-built on status and his indifference-seemed to suddenly shatter.

At that instant, a despicable schadenfreude welled up in my heart.

So the lofty, idolized Young Master Jiang also had such pathetic moments.

But I never imagined that coming back to the Jiang Family Villa that night was just the beginning of Jiang Chuyi’s nightmare.

What greeted him was not parental comfort or concern, but Uncle Jiang’s fury.

Uncle Jiang felt he had disgraced the Jiang Family, and in front of everyone at home, he dragged him straight up to the top floor.

What followed was self-evident.

Jiang Chuyi’s screams and wails grew more and more harrowing.

The entire villa could hear them clearly.

My mother, downstairs, couldn’t bear it any longer. She thrust a plate of sliced fruit into my hands, her eyes red, and instructed:

“Take this to Madam’s room. Try to persuade her to speak to President Jiang… After all, he’s just a child. How can he be beaten like this, nearly to death…”

Carrying the fruit plate, I cautiously made my way to Madam Jiang’s bedroom.

Pushing the door open, I saw her sitting on the wicker chair by the window, staring vacantly into the night outside. She didn’t even turn her head when I entered.

“He’s made his father angry again. His father won’t be coming back this week. How did I end up raising such an unlikable son!”

How could there be such a cruel mother? I didn’t understand.

And that sliver of schadenfreude vanished in an instant.

All that remained was a heart full of unbearable pity and bitterness.

He was like a pet that hadn’t been properly trained, trying his utmost but never gaining his master’s favor, only able to endure beatings and scoldings without daring to make a single excuse.

After returning to the nanny’s room, I made the boldest decision of my life.

I grabbed the first-aid kit and sneaked up to the top floor.

Jiang’s Mother’s porcelain collection lay shattered across the floor. Jiang Chuyi’s thin body was curled up among the shards, like a precious piece of china smashed to pieces, miserable and fragile.

I fed him painkillers and carefully cleaned his wounds.

Half-conscious, the first thing he murmured was: “I’m sorry, Mother. I’ll clean this up.”

The voice was as light as a breeze, but it stabbed deep into my heart.

Not long after, those who had bullied Jiang Chuyi transferred schools one after another, and one was even expelled.

The incident caused a stir at school, with all sorts of rumors circulating.

“You know about them transferring?”

Jiang Chuyi was trimming flower branches when he suddenly snorted and called out to me.

I intended to pretend I hadn’t heard, as usual, but he went on speaking.

“I’ve been wanting to deal with them for a while. I was just borrowing my dad’s influence.”

“Everyone needs to know that I’m President Jiang’s son.”

His gaze was cold and detached, as if behind a thick layer of ice, out of step with everything in this world.

That was the first time I felt genuine fear toward him. My heart pounded wildly, and I just wanted to turn and flee.

But he instantly stepped forward, blocking my path.

“What I mean is, if you can’t keep your mouth shut, I could use that influence on you too.”

His white shirt was dazzling in the sunlight, blinding me.

I remembered that threat for many years.

Only I never expected that all these years later, I would still be entangled with this madman.

My thoughts returned to the present, and I looked down at Jiang Chuyi slumped over the table.

He slept surprisingly peacefully, his brow unfurrowed, none of his usual coldness in sight.

Just a few days ago, my mother said he wasn’t sleeping well and often walked alone in the rooftop garden.

It seemed she had exaggerated again.