Night fell quietly, enveloping the city in a dazzling array of lights as a grand banquet was about to begin.
At this moment, a black sedan was driving slowly along the road toward the venue of the banquet. The car windows were tightly rolled up, as if shutting out the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
In the back seat, the man furrowed his brow slightly, a trace of imperceptible worry flickering in his eyes. After a moment, he could no longer help breaking the silence. Turning his head, his gaze fell upon his silent younger brother sitting beside him.
Xie Shinian sighed softly, a hint of bitterness and helplessness tinging his words: "I promise I'll give you advance notice next time, but could you please be a little well-behaved tonight?"
However, Xie Qi did not raise his head, continuing to gaze out the car window at the rapidly flashing scenery, completely ignoring Xie Shinian.
Xie Qi had already made plans for today, only to have them forcibly canceled at the last minute due to a phone call from his older brother, forcing him to attend this so-called Yu family banquet instead. Anyone in his position would feel displeased by such sudden news.
Moreover, Xie Qi had never had any interest in gatherings filled with flattery and bootlicking. He simply could not understand why his older brother was so stubbornly insisting on his attendance today, to the point that even his parents had sided with his brother and offered him no support whatsoever.
Seeing his younger brother's clear reluctance to talk, Xie Shinian knew he was indeed putting him in a difficult position tonight, but still urged: "This banquet is really important. Once we get to the Yu family, just bear with it for a bit and make sure you don't leave early."
Hearing this, Xie Qi couldn't help curling his lip before lazily leaning back against the seat. As far as he was concerned, his brother's worries were completely unnecessary, because he had already prepared to sneak away.
Compared to becoming a workaholic like his brother who inherited the family business, he much preferred the ease of being a slacker who did the bare minimum. Anyway, with his dad and his brother shielding him, he could somehow manage to coast through life doing nothing at all.
Besides, what baffled and puzzled him the most was why his brother and parents had suddenly taken such a keen interest in that illegitimate son of the Yu family over the past two years. Sometimes it even felt a bit overly enthusiastic. And this banquet was reportedly hosted by that very illegitimate son.
In his impression, the Yu family was not some prominent, deeply rooted powerhouse of a wealthy family. Such a background truly seemed rather out of place when compared to those illustrious major clans.
Furthermore, that illegitimate son had only suddenly burst into the public eye over the past two years. Rising from an unfavored outsider, he had gradually taken over the entire Yu family and become its head. His methods and talents were truly breathtaking.
Yet surely that wasn't enough reason for his brother to lower his status and attend his banquet? And he was dead set on dragging him along too! His parents had never forced him to attend banquets he didn't want to go to before.
At this thought, Xie Qi felt a jolt in his chest and abruptly turned to look at his older brother, a trace of astonishment in his eyes: "Brother, does our family have some kind of dirt on us held by that illegitimate son? Should I take some people and beat him up?"
However, Xie Shinian's expression darkened as he sternly reprimanded: "What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"
Seeing this, not only did Xie Qi show no fear whatsoever, but he instead calmly replied: "No dirt? Then why are you forcing me to go? I don't even know these people, it should be fine if I don't go."
Seeing that his younger brother still seemed to be plotting an escape, Xie Shinian had no choice but to offer another excuse: "I'm having you attend simply in the hope that you'll make more connections and expand your social circle. Stop staying cooped up in your room all day, you're about to grow mushrooms!"
Hearing his brother's earnest advice, Xie Qi merely responded with an indifferent expression: "But I have zero interest in making connections with them."
"Interest? It looks to me like you have no interest in anyone at all."
Hearing his brother's remark, Xie Qi pondered for a moment before leisurely replying: "That's hard to say. If the other person happens to be good-looking and handsome enough, perhaps I'd have a bit of inclination to interact with them."
Hearing his younger brother's comment, Xie Shinian was instantly rendered speechless. He had almost forgotten that his brother was an absolute looks-obsessed fanatic.
Yet for this banquet, the host had specifically named his younger brother in the invitation. Xie Shinian really had no way to explain himself if Xie Qi didn't show up. But neither could he explain the true reason to his brother.
With no other choice, Xie Shinian adopted a firm tone: "Our parents specifically instructed that you must attend the Yu family banquet. There is no room for negotiation on this. Don't even think about sneaking off, there will be bodyguards keeping an eye on you until the banquet ends, so behave yourself." His voice carried a trace of unquestionable majesty as he looked firmly at Xie Qi.
Hearing this, Xie Qi, who had already wanted nothing to do with the banquet, widened his eyes: "Just what does this Yu fellow have that makes you and Mom and Dad dwell on him so obsessively? Don't think I'm completely in the dark—over the past two years, you guys have been secretly keeping in constant contact with that Yu guy behind my back. I'm starting to suspect he's actually your real brother."
Upon hearing this, Xie Shinian's expression instantly turned grave, his eyes fixed intently on Xie Qi, revealing a hint of tension and worry. He had never expected his younger brother to utter such words, and a wave of panic involuntarily surged through his heart.
His voice dropped lower, carrying an unconcealable anxiety: "What kind of wild thoughts are you having! You will always be my younger brother, there is no doubt about that! No matter what happens, our blood ties will never change."
Saying this, he paused slightly, as if pondering how to continue expressing his thoughts. Then, his gaze fell upon Xie Qi once again, and he continued: "As for him..."
"Look out!"
Before Xie Shinian could finish speaking, Xie Qi caught a glimpse of a car out the window charging directly toward his brother's side. With no time to overthink, Xie Qi let out a loud shout, lunged forward from his seat, and threw himself over his brother.
Accompanied by a sharp, ear-splitting crash that echoed through the air, a massive wave of impact struck fiercely as the ruthless vehicle slammed violently into Xie Qi's body.
In an instant, an endless, excruciating pain surged like a tidal wave, rapidly spreading to every corner of his body. It felt as though thousands of steel needles were piercing his skin all at once, or as if he were being consumed by blazing flames.
The scalding blood slowly trickled down Xie Qi's forehead, falling drop by drop like a broken string of pearls onto his brother's face, which was filled with terror.
Xie Qi bit down hard on his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging as beads of sweat mixed with blood slid down his cheeks.
He gritted his teeth against the overwhelming agony tearing through his body. The scene before his eyes grew increasingly blurry, but he still mustered every ounce of remaining strength to speak in broken gasps: "Brother, just now... I was lying to you, I never doubted... I am your brother, I just didn't want to go to the banquet..."
As the final words faded, Xie Qi's already bloodless face grew even paler, as if all his life force had been drained away, and he slumped heavily against Xie Shinian.
As his life steadily slipped away, the thought that surfaced in Xie Qi's mind was: "Good thing my brother is okay. If anything had truly happened to him, this massive family business would have fallen into the hands of a lazy slacker like me!"
Clinging to this mixture of relief and resignation, he slowly closed his eyes and awaited the arrival of death.