The real young master thought he was hated by everyone

At night, while holding the cat and tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, Li Heng thought about two things.

The first thing was why Bai Ruan could be so bad. Despite having a good family and living a life not much worse than he would have had with the Xie family, why would he go to such great lengths, scheming over a small grudge, to destroy someone else’s family?

If Xie Duzhi hadn’t specifically analyzed the situation, he would have been tricked by Bai Ruan again today.

In that dream, Bai Ruan had deceived him many times, always appearing in the role of a helper, giving him advice and telling him how to be liked and not be rejected.

When Bai Ruan’s intentions weren’t as obvious, every time Li Heng was disliked for doing something wrong, he would think it was his own fault. Then, he would foolishly go to Bai Ruan for help, only to be deceived again.

Thinking about this made him a bit angry, and without realizing it, he tightened his grip, causing the Siamese cat to meow and quickly escape from his arms, retreating to the edge of the bed and turning its back to him in displeasure, flicking its tail.

Normally, he would have brought the cat back into his arms and gently scratched its chin and behind its ears until it purred contentedly.

But now, he only angrily slapped his own forehead and let out a long sigh.

So annoying.

How could there be such a person?

The other thing on his mind was Xie Duzhi.

His mother had often talked to him about his three brothers and their childhood antics, so in his memory, Xie Duzhi had always been the “model child”—exceptionally good in school, mature and steady, trusted by the adults, and admired by his peers.

But he hadn’t known that during his time at the orphanage, Xie Duzhi had lived such a lonely life, with not even a single person to talk to, let alone a friend.

Even though he had brushed it off lightly when he mentioned that he had been retaliated against by Bai Ruan after exposing his tricks, he also said that he hadn’t stayed at the orphanage for long.

Yet, just thinking about it made Li Heng feel indignant on his behalf.

And he felt like he should care more about him.

Aside from his sense of injustice, Li Heng also felt an inexplicable sense of pride.

Because Xie Duzhi wasn’t like Bai Ruan.

His brother was upright and kind. Despite having been treated unfairly, he didn’t become bitter or vengeful, nor did he resort to underhanded tactics.

Thinking about this made him admire him even more.

And so, Xie Sizhi noticed that after his brother returned from a single gathering with friends after the exams, he was no longer his most beloved and favorite brother.

He couldn’t understand it.

When his younger brother, for what seemed like the umpteenth time, gave Xie Duzhi a piece of his favorite braised beef and eagerly watched him, hoping he would eat more, Xie Sizhi finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.

In the past, braised beef had always been his, and even when he gave some to his younger brother, Li Heng would thank him and insist, “Second Brother, you should eat more; this is your favorite dish,” and then give some back to him.

Almost immediately after dinner, Xie Sizhi blocked his younger brother, who had just finished opening a package and was holding a thick hardcover book, ready to head upstairs.

He dragged him into a corner with a serious expression.

Li Heng looked at him, confused.

“…Second Brother, if this isn’t something urgent, can I please go upstairs first?”

He wanted to deliver the book to Xie Duzhi.

Xie Duzhi was about to leave for work, and if he didn’t deliver the book, he might have to wait until next week when he returned home.

The book was one Li Heng had specially ordered through a personal shopper on Taobao after Mrs. Xie had mentioned that Xie Duzhi had studied philosophy and liked reading. The shopper had taken a long time to find a first edition in excellent condition without any marks of use, which was why it had only just arrived.

“This is absolutely urgent,” Xie Sizhi said sternly.

“Little Buddy, don’t you realize something’s been off with you recently?”

He actually wanted to ask directly, “Has that brat Xie Duzhi put a spell on you?” but felt that would be too rude to his younger brother.

“What? Nothing’s wrong with me,” Li Heng instinctively denied, worrying that his second brother had discovered something.

Even though Xie Duzhi had reassured him that Bai Ruan wouldn’t show up again anytime soon, Li Heng had still declined invitations from his classmates, staying at home, eating, sleeping, and playing with the cat.

Could his second brother have figured out why he wasn’t going out?

“Everything’s wrong!”

Xie Sizhi emphasized, clearly frustrated. “Think about what you did during dinner just now!”

…All he had done was eat as usual, give and receive food from his family.

Li Heng was even more confused. “I didn’t do anything.”

Xie Sizhi’s frustration turned to exasperation—his little brother was utterly clueless.

“You gave Second Brother broccoli, broccoli!” Xie Sizhi’s lips formed a tight line, his face lacking its usual relaxed and carefree expression.

He and Xie Shenzhi were twins, and when he wasn’t smiling, for a brief moment, Li Heng actually mistook him for their serious eldest brother.

He was taken aback, and it took him a moment to realize that Xie Sizhi, being a hardcore carnivore, absolutely detested vegetables, especially broccoli, which had an unpleasant taste for him.

“But…”

He hesitated for a moment, searching for words. “But Mom has told you before not to eat only meat.”

He knew his second brother didn’t like broccoli.

“Broccoli is rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.” He tried to recall what Mrs. Xie had said. “Second Brother, it’s not good to be picky.”

Xie Sizhi: …

Without a word, he stretched out his hand and, with lightning speed, fiercely ruffled his younger brother’s hair into a mess.

“Talking like Mom won’t help,” he gritted through his teeth. “Don’t think I didn’t see you giving braised beef to Third Brother!”

And even if there wasn’t any braised beef, why didn’t he get any shrimp stir-fried with broccoli either?!

“Because Third Brother eats very little. He always just eats a bit and then says he has to get back to work,” Li Heng was momentarily stunned but then chuckled.

For a second, Xie Sizhi’s expression really made him think something serious had happened.

Besides, he hadn’t only served Xie Duzhi braised beef; he had served food to the others too.

…It’s just that he might have served Xie Duzhi a bit more often.

“But Second Brother didn’t eat a lot either,” Li Heng said softly, realizing he might have been a little biased and feeling a bit guilty. “And Third Brother lives alone now…”

He had moved out to live with Xie Duzhi before, so he knew better.

“Alright, alright, I get it,” Xie Sizhi quickly interrupted, trying to avoid hearing anything else that might make him clench his teeth in frustration. “So you’re saying Third Brother’s pitiful living by himself, huh?”

Pitiful, my foot!

“……”

He noticed that his younger brother didn’t refute him.

He felt a twinge in his chest and almost clutched it in front of Li Heng. He couldn’t decide whether to be more amused or exasperated.

“He only moved out because coming back and forth every day was a waste of time,” Xie Sizhi repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. “Mom didn’t even agree, and he had already packed up and moved.”

Otherwise, Uncle Fu wouldn’t be so constantly displeased with him.

Some of Xie Sizhi’s friends had asked if there was conflict among the brothers, and other company executives had even tried to subtly take sides.

But the truth was that simple.

At the end of the day, Xie Sizhi believed that Xie Duzhi just had a different way of thinking.

After all these years, everyone had gotten used to him putting work above everything else.

“I know, Mom already explained it to me,” Li Heng couldn’t help but clarify. “I just feel like, well…”

Like what?

He vaguely understood but found it hard to put into words.

“Forget it,” Xie Sizhi sighed deeply. “Anyway, Second Brother’s not as important as Third Brother. I will just find some place and move out tomorrow…”

He sounded a little self-pitying, as if he were joking, though there was a chance he might actually mean it.

“Don’t, Second Brother.”

“I’ll be more mindful next time,” Li Heng tugged on his sleeve, adding, “I know you like braised beef.”

He just hadn’t expected Xie Sizhi to be so protective of his food.

Xie Sizhi sighed again.

He hadn’t really been serious when he pulled his brother over. He mostly wanted to tease him a bit but hadn’t expected the conversation to take such a serious turn.

He couldn’t tell whether his brother was simply too easily teased or if he had misunderstood something—thinking about the rumors swirling outside lately, he suddenly felt a headache coming on.

“I’m not rejecting Third Brother,” he explained after a pause. “I just want to be closer to you; it’s not like I really have a bad relationship with him.”

At most, he couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous of his brother now and then.

“Don’t misunderstand me because of this,” he added.

Li Heng asked, confused, “Second Brother, why did you suddenly think to explain this?”

“I know your relationship with him isn’t bad,” Li Heng said. “It’s just that your personalities are different, so it seems a bit awkward sometimes.”

Most of the time, though, the awkwardness was probably because of Xie Sizhi.

He had to admit that his second brother was, at heart, a bit like an immature grade-schooler.

Xie Sizhi was momentarily speechless.

…It’s because you’re so gullible, always believing whatever anyone says, he thought silently.

But before he could start explaining in a more serious tone and salvage his image, his younger brother had already eagerly said goodbye.

“Then I’ll go find Third Brother first.”

Li Heng said, “He’s about to leave for work, so I need to give him something.”

Xie Sizhi didn’t even have a chance to ask what the “something” was.

Why was it that only Xie Duzhi got something, and he didn’t?

Suddenly, he didn’t feel like running the gallery anymore.

Maybe he should start a company.