Chapter 720
Staying at the You House
Translated by Crystal of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Two days later, the news that Thunderclap Academy’s archives had been broken into spread.
Although all of the files were intact and none were lost, the fact that it got broken into without anyone noticing, was enough for the leaders of the Academy to lose face, thus they went all out on the investigation.
When Qiao Sen heard of the news, a thought passed through his head, although he was quick to deny it. He admit that those two was really strong, but he knew what kind of a place the Thunderclap Academy was, and it was the archives at that. Even if they were strong, they couldn’t have fooled those old foxes. However, to prove that they hadn’t left the base that night, Qiao Sen looked into it and discovered that they never left, thus it clearly wasn’t them. Then, he called the two over.
There was a knock on the door, and he said, “Enter.”
You XiaoMo and Ling Xiao came in one after another, the first immediately asking, “Leader, what did you call us here for?”
Qiao Sen signalled them to sit down and then said, “I have a mission for you two.”
“Just us?” You XiaoMo asked in surprise.
Qiao Sen pulled out a file from his desk and handed it over, “No, the mission this time is pretty broad so there we need to split into teams and you’re one of them. The information is all here, you’ll know once you read it.”
You XiaoMo flipped through and he became so excited that he almost jumped out of his chair.
Ling Xiao took the files over and said with his brows raised, “You want us to protect the You Family in JinDu?”
“Correct.” Qiao Sen nodded, “You guys probably heard of the conflict between the You Family and the Li Family. Something happened half a year ago and the disagreement blew up causing a life and death fight between the families. They almost went at it in Jindu, which would’ve destroyed it…”
Both the Li and You Family were top families in the country and most importantly, they both had high level mages. Although the mages from the Li Family weren’t on par with the You Family, they still had a lot of followers. No families in Jindu wanted either to be destroyed and in turn break the power balance of the country.
During this half a year, the old families tried to mitigate the problem multiple times. Finally, both families agreed to talk, thus this meeting was crucial, no one wanted anything to happen. Thus, an order was sent for them to protect the Li and You family members until they arrived at the meeting, making this an incredibly important mission.
“Now I can openly get in touch with them!” Once they got back to their rooms, You XiaoMo told Ling Xiao excitedly. He had been worried about how to get close to them, but now that was not a problem anymore.
Ling Xiao was flipping through the files when he heard You XiaoMo’s comment and said, “Don’t get too excited, we need to figure out the beginning of this whole mess first.”
“What is there to find? It’s definitely the Li Family who got jealous of the You Family and did something shady. I know You Bo and You Lu’s personality, unless someone provoked them first, they wouldn’t be bothered with those kinds of people.” You XiaoMo said with confidence.
Ling Xiao looked at him with a raised brow in surprise, “You know them quite well, huh?”
You XiaoMo subconsciously felt guilty, even though he didn’t know what he was feeling guilty about and instantly replied awkwardly, “We…we are brothers and you know, we lived together for many years, so knowing them is normal.”
“But I remember you telling me that your position in the family was pretty low. From what I heard, your parents only cared for your brothers. The fact that you didn’t turn against each other is rare.” Ling Xiao looked at him with a critical eye.
With a guilty conscience, You XiaoMo rubbed his nose. He had the want but not the nerves. Both You Lu and You Bo were aggressive, once they got angry, he couldn’t say anything.
The meeting time between the You Family and the Li Family was the day after tomorrow. They only needed to protect them for a day, once they brought them to the meeting place, their job was over. Although it was just for a day, You XiaoMo was still very excited.
The two went to the You Family that very afternoon.
The luxury mansion of the You Family was huge, more than doubled the place they had in City A. You XiaoMo initially thought that it only looked luxurious but on the instead it would be warm and comfortable, but he was wrong.
You XiaoMo was astonished. His mother was a passionate and romantic person, the house in City A was slowly pieced together by her, so he thought it would be the same here.
“Please come in, both the Mister and Missus are here today.” The one who spoke was Butler Tan of the You Family and the adult who cared for You XiaoMo the most. He had been serving the You Family for three generations now, he had a lot experience and was a amiable old man.
You XiaoMo looked at him and started to remember the past. Once he saw this familiar face, his eyes started to become watery. He had thought that he had forgotten them, but the moment he saw Butler Tan, everything came back.
Seeing that he was looking over, Butler Tan smiled at him.
You XiaoMo came back to his senses and gave a big grin in return.
Now the butler was taken back, for a moment, he thought he had seen the Second Young Master, but he knew that the poor young master had died in an accident ten years ago. Remembering this, he couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.
Ever since the Second Young Master’s death, everyone in the You Family became weird. Whenever he saw them, he couldn’t help but want to say, ‘why do those things if only for things to turn out this way’.
Bringing the two inside, he told them to wait in the living room and went upstairs to call everyone. Seated on the sofa, You XiaoMo started to become nervous.
Holding his hand, Ling Xiao comforted him, “Don’t be so nervous, you’re not here to be recognized as part of the family.” Just as he finished, he received a major eye roll.
After a while, a pair of footsteps came from the staircase, but only of two people, one of them being Butler Tan. You XiaoMo raised his head and saw a man with a slender figure and a young yet mature face. Ten years passed and he’s still that young and handsome looking. He should’ve figured out something was amiss long ago.
Even though their oldest child was already twenty, his parents still looked as if they themselves were in their twenties. His skin was also smooth as a boiled egg. He had always credited that to good skincare and his mom did buy a lot of makeup, but now he knew, that was all just a cover. Now without him dragging them down, they could finally let everyone in Jindu know of their true identity, either as a mage or practitioner without hiding it.
“I assume you guys are members of White Shark, I’m You Rong, hello.” Father You sat facing them, he moved like a true gentlemen, his smile was also perfect.
You XiaoMo became more and more depressed. This perfect attitude was only for outsiders, only with family would he be stripped of all facades and return to the true You Rong. Now, he was also an outsider.
“Is something wrong?” You Rong noticed that he kept looking at him with hidden bitterness. He was a bit confused, it was the first time they had seen each other, but the young man gave him a familiar feeling and his gaze was also weird.
Ling Xiao replied with a smile, “Mr.You, you can ignore him, his still in his rebellious phase.” Rebellious phase was something he learned once he came here but he found that this word suited his wife very well.
You XiaoMo rolled his eyes, you’re the one in a rebellious phase.
Father You chuckled, he thought White Shark had sent someone much more serious, he didn’t expect them to be so interesting. Then he asked, “How should I call you?”
“My surname’s Ling, his is Fang.” Ling Xiao said.
Father You nodded, “Mr.Ling, Mr.Fang, please stay for the night here. I have already told the butler to make two rooms for you. He will bring you up later, I need to tend to my wife, so I’ll be taking my leave first.”
“Mo…eh, did something happen to your wife?” You XiaoMo almost said mom, but he stopped in time. However, when Father You looked at him in astonishment, he knew he said something he shouldn’t have. He was just an outsider.
Although Father You thought it was weird, he still replied with grace, “Thank you for your concern, she just feeling under the weather that’s all.”
Why was she under the weather?
You XiaoMo didn’t dare ask again. In his mind, Mother MingJing was someone with little worries because his father wouldn’t let her be distressed over anything. If she was feeling down, it must have been something major.
Once Father You left, Butler Tan arrived with a delicate plate of fruits.
With one look he could tell that Butler Tan made it himself. He was very good with his hands and every time he made a fruit platter, it was always so detailed that he felt bad eating it.
You XiaoMo couldn’t help but feel as if he was back to the past and said, “Thank you Uncle Tan.” Just as the words left his mouth, he froze. When he raised his head, he saw, without surprise, Butler Tan looking at him with a surprised expression.
“Mr.Fang…How did you know my surname?” Butler Tan asked with some hesitation. That weird feeling appeared once again, now he felt even the young man looked more and more like the deceased Second Young Master. Especially his thanks earlier, it was exactly in the same tone as the Second Young Master.
With a guilty consciences, You XiaoMo said, “About that, I saw the You Family’s information so I knew your surname and you look very amiable, eh…there’s someone in my family the same age as you, that’s why I couldn’t help it back then, calling you that.”
Even though he make up the excuse on the spot, it was pretty good.
Ling Xiao gave him a ‘thumbs up’ expression.
Butler Tan smiled, seemingly believing his words and didn’t question further.
Chapter 721
Dinner
Translated by Yan of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
The moment You Bo entered through the door, he heard the movement coming from the living room. The movement didn’t sound small either, and it seemed as if they were playing some kind of game. Just then, Butler Tan walked over, and as You Bo changed shoes, he said, “There are guests here today?”
Butler Tan couldn’t help but laugh. “Young Master Bo, you forgot. Since you’re going to meet the Li family the day after tomorrow, the country sent over two people to come protect you all. I heard that they’re from a special division called White Shark.”
You Bo paused. For some reason, he recalled again that young man who reminded him a lot of You XiaoMo. These past few days, that man kept appearing in his mind every now and then. Even though it was clearly the first time they had ever met, You Bo kept remembering him, and the more he thought about it the more he felt like he was especially similar to You XiaoMo.
“You can go prepare dinner.” You Bo told Butler Tan before walking towards the living room. He only discovered when he got closer that one of the people present was precisely the one who kept appearing in his mind. They could be considered ‘acquaintances’ now.
The sound of his footsteps was extremely light, but the two of them both turned their heads before he got close. The young man was holding a game console controller in his hand, and there was a sniper game in front of them from ten years ago. It was already extremely old now; never mind young people nowadays, not even old game enthusiasts would like that kind of game anymore.
But when You Bo saw it, his expression darkened slightly. Originally, this kind of game wouldn’t have shown up in his home. It was considered a sort of taboo for all of the people in the You family, because it was the game that his older brother You XiaoMo liked to play the most. Every time he was in a bad mood, You XiaoMo liked to shoot things to vent.
“You’re back.” You XiaoMo gave a very casual greeting.
You Bo frowned, seemingly a little unhappy, but in the end he still didn’t say anything. He only threw down a ‘hmph’ and went upstairs.
You XiaoMo understood him, and the moment he saw You Bo frown he knew that he wasn’t in a good mood. You XiaoMo lowered his head and looked at the controller in his hands before looking at Ling Xiao as the words ‘GAME OVER’ appeared on the television screen.
At around six, the You family’s people all came down at the same time.
This was the time that the You family ate dinner. The You family all had a very rigid sense of time, as this was part of the You family’s clan teachings. Everyone had to be punctual, and unless there were unusual circumstances, they all had to come back to eat dinner.
As a matter of fact, they had just come downstairs when You Lu came back. He basically noticed from the very start You XiaoMo and Ling Xiao in the living room, but this was the first time they met. They hadn’t talked before, so You Lu didn’t say anything as his gaze slid placidly past.
You Bo and You Lu were both similarly handsome. However, You Lu looked much more mature and robust than You Bo, tall and thin. If you overlooked his personality, he was simply a perfect man!
Papa You led his precious wife down the stairs. When he passed the living room, he told the two of them, “Come eat with us, no need to be polite. I already told Butler Tan to make two more portions.”
You XiaoMo’s gaze landed on the beautiful woman next to him. The color of her face wasn’t very good, her eyes slightly red as if she had just cried. However, her emotional state should have already calmed down, or else she wouldn’t have come down to eat, especially when there were outsiders present. She seemed to sense his gaze, and the woman revealed a faint smile towards him.
The two of them didn’t reject the offer. You Rong allowing them to stay and even clearing out two rooms for them indicated that he wanted them to stay for dinner as well. As a result, he said a few words just for show.
Six people around one table. A strange silence.
But You XiaoMo wasn’t uncomfortable in the slightest. On the contrary, he was reminiscing quite a bit. Before he died accidentally, he lived in this house for eighteen years. Each meal was like this, and he was already accustomed to eating without talking.
“We don’t really have anything good to receive our guests with. These are all fairly ordinary dishes, so please pay no attention to them. Eat whatever you wish, no need to hold back.” Papa You was the first to break the silence at the table.
You Bo and You Lu didn’t say anything. The two brothers were just like two statues, no response whatsoever.
“Then we’ll help ourselves,” Ling Xiao said before he picked up a piece of red braised pork for You XiaoMo. Since the You family’s head chef made it, the flavor definitely had to be first-tier. You XiaoMo learned his cooking skill from the You family’s Head Chef Lin. Even though his own red braised pork was pretty good, every time he saw the dish, he would particularly long for Head Chef Lin’s.
(t/n: 红烧肉, red braised pork! it’s so good!!!)
The moment the dish arrived at the table, his mouth had already started to water. However, since he was currently an outsider, he still couldn’t be impolite in front of ‘other people.’ Furthermore, Mama Ming Jing disliked people who didn’t respect table manners the most. So even in his previous life, he had no choice but to restrain himself a little.
But Ling Xiao’s actions made four people look over strangely.
You XiaoMo didn’t notice at all. He picked up the red braised pork in his bowl and placed it in his mouth before revealing an extremely satisfied smile. He had really missed it too much!
All four of them just happened to witness this reaction, and they were immediately stunned.
This time, not only did You Bo sense the similarity, even the other three felt the same way. That satisfied expression was simply the exact same as their younger brother (son). If it was just one time, there was still a possibility that it was just a coincidence, but when similar circumstances appeared one after another several times, that couldn’t be called a coincidence any longer.
You Bo’s eyes grew deep as he stared at You XiaoMo’s face, his expression unreadable. You Lu, who was across from him, glanced at him with a thoughtful look. It was as if there was something settling down in his black eyes.
At this point, Mama You suddenly put down her chopsticks. When everyone’s attention focused on her, she said, “I’m sorry, my body isn’t feeling very well. I’m going upstairs first. You all take care of the guests, don’t neglect them.”
As she spoke, she stood up and left. You Rong smiled apologetically at the two of them briefly before he instructed the two brothers to take care of them, and he chased after her.
In the end, only four people were left at the table.
You XiaoMo was thick-skinned, and he didn’t notice the change at the dining table. He just took it as Mama You’s mood still not having recovered yet, so she abruptly left. Even though he really wanted to ask what happened, asking that rashly definitely wasn’t very appropriate. He could only use food to tide himself over, so he used his eyes to hint at Ling Xiao to get a few more pieces of red braised pork for him.
When Ling Xiao received the signal, the corner of his mouth curled slightly before he continued to get pieces of red braised pork for him. Nearly half of the pan of red braised pork was now in You XiaoMo’s stomach.
You Bo and You Lu didn’t reveal any more strange expressions. The two of them ate silently, heads lowered. You couldn’t tell what they were thinking at all.
You XiaoMo ate happily and nearly forgot that he was in ‘somebody else’s’ house. He only chose what he liked to eat. He discovered that many of the dishes here that Head Chef Lin made were all what he liked to eat. What he didn’t know was that, every time he ate from a dish, You Bo and You Lu’s eyes would darken some more.
Ling Xiao saw everything, and he couldn’t help but reveal a faint smirk. However, he didn’t warn You XiaoMo. Instead, he helped him get food very enthusiastically, feeding his wife until You XiaoMo’s stomach was round. You XiaoMo put down his chopsticks and burped without any regard for his image.
After dinner, they rested for a while in the living room before they went to their rooms under the direction of Butler Tan.
Papa You arranged two rooms for them. Originally, Butler Tan wanted to bring Ling Xiao to his own room, but Ling Xiao said, “I can stay in the same room as him. Sorry for the trouble, Butler Tan.”
Butler Tan stared blankly for a moment. He didn’t expect the young people nowadays to be so unrestrained in their sexuality. Even though he found it quite odd, he wasn’t some stubborn narrow-minded old person. In any case, they were neither related nor friends, so he told a subordinate to bring the pillow, blanket, and toiletries from the other room over.
You XiaoMo’s face was red. Even though the You family no longer recognized him, in his mind, they were still his family. When Ling Xiao said this in front of Uncle Tan, he was suddenly a little embarrassed. Only when Uncle Tan left did he shout at Ling Xiao, “Be a little more lowkey next time! This society’s acceptance rate towards same sex couples still isn’t very high.”
“You’re lying.” Ling Xiao glanced at him before pushing open the door and entering.
You XiaoMo clutched at his hair. He wasn’t lying, this was also part of reality. He followed him in and was about to explain to him again when Ling Xiao suddenly made a ‘silence’ gesture.
“What’s wrong?”
“Listen closely.”
You XiaoMo instantly perked up his ears. The entire villa was nearly silent, but a voice burst into his mind very quickly. There was no way the typical person could hear it, since the voice was still quite far from them. In addition, the other person wasn’t speaking very loudly, but clearly he and Ling Xiao were not ordinary people.
What made him greatly surprised was that the owners of the voices were actually Papa and Mama You. Mama You’s voice was a bit choked, as if she was crying again. To the side was Papa You’s gentle and comforting voice. You XiaoMo had always been a little envious of their enduring love.
Back then, he had thought about if there was a day he took a wife, he would definitely love her dearly just like his father. But ever since he and Ling Xiao got together, it seemed like he was the one being loved dearly. He was at a loss of what to do!
Just as he was regretting, Mama You suddenly spoke. The first thing she said stupefied him.
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.