Translator: Sissy That Walk
As the saying goes: two tigers couldn’t live on the same mountain; nor can two kings rule in the same palace.
As soon as they stepped out of the plane, Chen An was pulled into a tight, enthusiastic embrace by the awaiting Chen Yang; the temperature around Lu Feng dropped another thirty degrees and straightly turned into the Arctic.
Before they came, Chen An called Chen Yang. Lu Feng didn’t know what they talked about; he wasn’t allowed to listen. He only knew they spoke for more than an hour.
Chen An wasn’t a man who liked talking on the phone; most of his calls lasted less than three minutes: so what could they possibly be talking about for over an hour?
No matter what they said, such long calls made it clear to Lu Feng: Chen An reserved a place for Chen Yang in his heart.
To avoid being seen, they went directly towards home. On their way, Chen An sat in the middle back seat and took up the hands of the two young man sitting next to him, smiling.
“Today you formally meet each other. Speaking of seniority, Lu Feng is my first disciple, so he’s the senior brother-in-arms; Chen Yang, you would be the younger brother from now on.”
As one much older in years and with more experience of the world, Chen An sensed the tension between the two young man the moment they sat in the car, but he was not going to be bothered by that.
It was hardly possible for two men who didn’t knew each other at all, to become brothers all of a sudden. Chen An knew Lu Feng well: he was very possessive and saw Chen An as his, and he didn’t want anyone to be near Chen An, or to draw his attention away.
If it wasn’t for that, Lu Feng wouldn’t have risked everything and put him under house arrest.
Lu Feng didn’t like Chen Yang; that was for sure.
“Lu Feng, you would be the older brother. And as one, you should take care of Chen Yang, while Chen Yang needs to learn from Lu Feng.” As a rule, Chen An hated seeing brothers turning on each other. With a bright smile and soft voice, his words nevertheless carried a warning, “I want to see no bickering, no fights between you two. Understand?”
As one with a less enthusiastic temperament, Lu Feng just nodded his acknowledgement. While Chen Yang spoke with a large smile.
“You are right, uncle; I will learn from brother Lu.” Leaning forward, Chen Yang politely held out his hand to Lu Feng, “I very much appreciate the opportunity.”
Lu Feng glanced over at Chen Yang, something flashing across his eyes. A small smile cracked on his lips.
Taking Chen Yang’s hand, he added force to his grip and said, “sure.”
The smile on Chen Yang’s face stiffened a little. His hand hurt but he didn’t say anything. He thought he might forestall his opponent by a show of strength; but Lu Feng was not someone to be easily daunted.
At least in the first round between the two, Chen Yang didn’t gain the upper hand.
By the time they arrived home, Wang Li had made already dinner. Chen An sat at the head of the table, while Lu Feng and Chen Yang sat on his two sides.
Hostile as the two felt towards each other, they were quite aware that they needed to behave themselves in front of Chen An, so dinner actually went on in a cordial mood.
“An, I need to go and deal with some business first.”
After dinner, Lu Feng went to the study to handle affairs for the Group. Chen An called Chen Yang onto the balcony. Uncle and nephew hadn’t seen each other for some time; they sat together and made coffee. Sitting in their armchairs and admiring a view of the city at sunset, the two chatted.
“How have things been going since I was away?” sipping on his latte, Chen An asked in a light-hearted tone.
“Um, uncle, business has been going well. Since we established our trade route in the Middle East, more people are coming to us to buy weapons. And selling weapons technology last time has helped us make connections with the army; we don’t need Wang Hao any more to get through customs.”
In front of Chen An, Chen Yang had been a straight-A student: no matter what Chen An asked him to do, or how difficult it was, Chen Yang would do his best, and never complain.
Chen An knew firearms was not an easy trade; it was a small, close-knit circle with a high threshold and a lot of danger; one could easily get killed.
He went back to the firearms business with Chen Yang, partly because it was his old trade, and he needed something to do to help him feel more grounded, partly because he didn’t expect Chen Yang to be so good at this that he managed to carve a niche in such short time.
When he looked at it in this way, Chen An thought Chen Yang did not necessarily need to join the Brothers Group.
“Chen Yang, remember the other day I told you on the phone, if you like this trade, as your uncle, I will help you as much as I can.” Then Chen An added, “that being said, you’ve been in the trade for some time now. You should know the dangers in what you do.”
After making a small fortune, did he want to go back and enjoy life as an ordinary person, or did he want to continue this life in the grey zone with all its dangers? This was Chen Yang’s decision and Chen An wouldn’t make it for him.
Changle, Chen An’s brother, also used to do a good job, so much so that Chen An never asked him whether he wanted to do it; if he had, Changle probably wouldn’t destroy himself and leave him.
Chen An didn’t want the same thing to happen to people he cared about most again. Lu Feng couldn’t back out now, being where he was; if he did, he wouldn’t be able to stand up to those who want him dead. But it was different for Chen Yang; he’d only dipped his toe in the trade and he could still pull back, if he wanted to.
“Uncle, I know you say this because you’re worried about me. But rest assured, I do not regret entering this trade at all.” Looking Chen An in the eyes, Chen Yang said word by word, “Uncle, I want you to be proud of me. At the same time, I also want to find my own value, and build something of my own, something to be proud of.”
On hearing Chen Yang’s declaration of ambition, Chen An smiled and patted the young man’s shoulder, “good boy, well said!”
Chen Yang’s words relieved Chen An’s worries. He went on, “I’m tired and pretty much done with this business myself. I will gradually retreat from the front line. Chen Yang, do you want to set up a business of your own and bear all the pressure, or do you want to join Lu Feng?”
Did he even need to think about this?
Chen Yang smiled a bright smile in the orange, setting sun, and said, “uncle, I want to try it on my own.”
It seemed this young man had great aspirations; the confident Chen Yang of today reminded Chen An of his past self. He couldn’t help but like this young man.
Chen Yang was different from Lu Feng, who felt like the crescent in the night sky: cold and sharp.
Chen Yang was more like the eight, nine o’clock sun in the morning: bight but not dazzling; every person who came close could feel his warmth.
Chen An stretched his hand and ruffled the soft, black hair on Chen Yang’s head. The affection and warmth in his eyes seemed to cast a spell on Chen Yang. To keep this smile and gentleness, Chen Yang would have jumped down from the balcony into the river, if he had to.
“Business is not the only important thing; don’t leave your study behind, okay?” Chen An urged as an elder. He never asked about Chen Yang’s study. With the brains Chen Yang had, he had no need to worry there.
“Uncle, I already got admission letters from several prestigious universities, and I haven’t graduated yet.” Chen Yang couldn’t help but display his childish side in front of Chen An; he said these things about himself to hear Chen An’s compliments.
“Stop showing off.” Chen An laughed and stepped Chen Yang with his foot, who took it in his hand and massaged it for him.
…
…
While Chen An chatted with Chen Yang about going to America on the balcony, dusk soon fell. After the sun set, lights came on and illuminated the city night. Lu Feng came out from the study.
“Mr. Lu, you won’t stay here tonight?” Wang Li was surprised when she heard that he wouldn’t need the guest room, which she had already prepared.
Lu Feng looked at her calmly and asked, “Where’s An’s room?”
“Over there…” Wang Li didn’t quite understand and thought Lu Feng was looking for Chen An, so she added, “Uncle Chen is not in his bedroom right now; he’s in the living room.”
“I’ll sleep in An’s room.” Leaving that behind, Lu Feng walked away in large strides. He was a man of few words, except when with Chen An.
Wang Li was rooted to her spot in shock; wait, what did Mr. Iceberg just say, he was going to sleep in the same room with Uncle Chen?
Seeing Lu Feng walk to Chen An’s room, Wang Li couldn’t possibly drag him out; so she rushed downstairs to the living room.
Chen An was speaking with Chen Yang about their recent business dealings. He wanted to act as a consultant, and help his nephew stand on firmer ground in the firearms business.
“What’s up?” seeing Wang Li hurrying down as if she’d seen a ghost, Chen An took down his glasses and asked in an amused tone.
“Uncle Chen, Mr. Lu said he wouldn’t sleep in the guest room. He wanted to sleep in your room.” her voice trailed off. There were enough rooms for everyone in the house, so sleeping in the same room with Chen An, how could one see this in any other way?
Chen An laughed; he thought something had happened, seeing Wang Li like that.
“Take things you prepared from the guest room and send them to my room. Also, bring a cup of coffee for Lu Feng.” Chen An’s words clearly expressed his attitude on this: yes, he agreed that Lu Feng could sleep in his room.
“Yes.” Wang Li nodded, she was relieved. As long as Chen An agreed, she didn’t have to know the exact nature of the relationship between the two; she only needed to do her job.
Chen An let Wang Li stay all this time, because he liked her straight-forward character.
Chen Yang, who had been watching from aside, wrung the corner of his clothes imperceptibly. He heard it on the phone before, but it was a different matter seeing it with his own eyes.
Chen Yang was shocked by the fact that Chen An and Lu Feng were together. He’d never seen Chen An getting too close with anyone, and now he was letting Lu Feng sleep in his bedroom, right here in their home.
After Chen An went back to his room, Chen Yang sat alone in the empty living room, watching TV. He did not loosen his hands.