“…,” Duan Fei didn’t argue with him anymore. He suddenly calmed down, lowered his eyes, and with the gentlest tone he could muster, said, “If this is really what you want to do, and not just a way to humiliate yourself to spite Grandpa, then I apologize for my previous inappropriate comments.”
Duan Pei was instantly shocked, but Duan Fei continued explaining, “…I thought I was being fair and unbiased, but maybe I was influenced by others, thinking you were just wasting your life. I’m not saying you have to sacrifice yourself like a friend of mine did, dedicating everything to others. I just hope you cherish your time and yourself, doing things that are meaningful. And as long as you like it, then it’s meaningful.”
“The younger brother is way more mature than the older one. Compared to him, the older one seems like he didn’t even graduate middle school,” Hedgehog suddenly whispered in Xiao Zhenyun’s ear. “No wonder their grandfather favors the younger brother. If I were him, I’d also prefer the younger one.”
With red eyes, Duan Pei turned and yelled angrily, “I can hear you!”
Xiao Zhenyun raised an eyebrow. His terminal buzzed, and when he looked down, he saw a message from Si Di. The wolf pup with mismatched eyes was spinning in circles. The message said that Xiao Jingfeng had tasked him with handling the disappearance of the grandson of the military commander and that he couldn’t come to meet him.
Xiao Zhenyun: No, if your task goes smoothly, we’ll meet soon.
Si Di: …
Si Di: What do you mean?
Xiao Zhenyun: Duan Fei and Duan Pei are both with me. If you need to prioritize the task my Uncle gave you, I can have Hedgehog knock them out right now.
Si Di: …
Si Di: Weren’t you pretty supportive of Duan Pei? Even helping him send out messages behind Hedgehog’s back. How come, as soon as the chairman gives an order, you become a heartless task machine?
Xiao Zhenyun: I support my family, not necessarily the reason.
Si Di: Indeed, you’re really a family man.
Xiao Zhenyun: And who’s the family here?
Si Di sent a gif of a wolf pup shaking its ears.
Si Di: No need, I’ll try to mislead the people from the commander’s side, divert their attention and search areas in the opposite direction.
Xiao Zhenyun: Not coming to break up the couple?
Si Di: No, ever since I met you, I’ve done too many wicked things. From now on, I’ll do more good deeds and accumulate some merit.
Xiao Zhenyun: …
Si Di: Buddha bless.
Ending his text conversation with Si Di, Xiao Zhenyun turned his attention back to the brothers, whose relationship seemed to have eased slightly. He felt that while Duan Fei always wore a stoic expression, he was straightforward in his words and actions, making him easier to communicate with. Considering the deep resentment and misunderstandings between them, it was clear just how difficult and stubborn Duan Pei had been in the past—so much so that it took something as serious as a brain tumor diagnosis for him to start opening up.
“One good news and one bad news,” Xiao Zhenyun said.
“Start with the bad news,” Hedgehog decided for the brothers.
“The bad news is that the Commander has already teamed up with the union to search for his precious grandsons.”
“Are you sure it’s both of us?” Duan Pei was skeptical. “The notice only mentioned Duan Fei, right?”
Xiao Zhenyun didn’t bother hiding the truth. “You’re right, it’s only Duan Fei. I was trying to be considerate of your feelings, but if you insist on the truth.”
Duan Pei: “…”
“What’s the good news?” Duan Fei asked.
“The good news is… Si Di’s Storm Team is handling this in the union. For an extra ten percent fee, they’ll never find you two.”
Duan Pei: “…”
Duan Pei: “Our Duan family’s money didn’t come from thin air. We earned it by risking our lives as soldiers.”
At the mention of money, Hedgehog’s ugly greed became apparent. “What about your master? Let him pay up.”
“If he wants to make money, he has to train other dogs. Then I would rather he be poor for the rest of his life,” Duan Pei was exceptionally candid about being a dog for others.
Duan Fei silently watched Xiao Zhenyun as he turned away to pour hot water. He slowly approached and unexpectedly spoke, “Chairman Xiao.”
Xiao Zhenyun instinctively looked up. A chill ran from his feet up to his spine and to his head. Despite feeling as shaken as if caught in a typhoon, Xiao Zhenyun maintained an impeccable facade. He turned to Duan Fei, smiled slightly, and said, “Mistaken identity again?”
Duan Fei’s gaze fixated on Xiao Zhenyun’s legs, his piercing stare almost making Xiao Zhenyun scald his throat with the hot water. “Excuse me, Mr. Shu… is there something wrong with your legs?”
“What?” Xiao Zhenyun put down the teacup. “What could be wrong with my legs?”
“Before we came, the sentinel told us this was your place and that only you have the key.” As Duan Fei spoke, Hedgehog and Duan Pei fell silent, their eyes on the two of them. “There are three pairs of slippers at the entrance, all showing signs of wear, indicating that you have a habit of changing shoes when you enter. Even the sentinel, as a guest, changed his shoes, but you didn’t. It’s not that you did nothing at all. I noticed a brief pause when you first entered, as if you suddenly remembered something and stopped a habitual action… I wonder if it’s because you’re hiding something under your pants that you don’t want others to see.”
Duan Fei’s eyes darkened. “Like, say, prosthetic limbs?”
Damn, it’s been too long since I’ve dealt with smart people, Xiao Zhenyun thought, feeling a bit out of practice. Handling people like the little dog was much easier—they never required him to fabricate elaborate excuses, as they would fill in the blanks themselves.
“You’re overthinking it,” Xiao Zhenyun resorted to his most shameless yet currently effective tactic—denial. “Student Duan, you have a keen eye, but you’re being overly cautious. Guessing that my legs have issues—are you trying to prove I’m Xiao Zhenyun?”
Xiao Zhenyun sighed deeply. “I wish I were. God knows how much I envy him. They say love doesn’t follow a strict timeline, but I lost because I was a step too late…”
This threw Duan Fei, who had never been in a relationship, off track: “…”
“Would you mind showing your spiritual body? It’s irrefutably authentic.” Forced into a corner, Duan Fei played his final card. This was somewhat rude among special individuals. Duan Pei quickly lowered his head and tugged at him, “Xiao Fei…”
Duan Fei realized his mistake and lowered his gaze as well. “Sorry… maybe I’m just too suspicious. But if it’s not, then you must have your reasons for not admitting it. Since Captain Si is in contact with you, I won’t press further… I’ll keep your secret. Besides, if you need anything, please let me know. My life was saved by Xiao Jiali, and I owe him a lot. He would probably want me to repay that debt to you.”
Dealing with smart people is always more pleasant! They know when to stop. Unlike those clueless types who keep digging and gossiping all day long, saying his older brother is a fickle scumbag who loves new things and hates old ones, not worthy of being a protagonist.
As for Xiao Jiali, even though the world no longer has the little bird, his legends remain everywhere. Xiao Zhenyun planned to give Xiao Nian another nudge tonight, to test the waters and try for another shot at resurrection.
Just as he thought of Xiao Nian, Xiao Nian arrived.
Before night fell, the administrator’s barrage of video calls reached Xiao Zhenyun before his intended wind did. Duan Fei and Duan Pei had gone out to eat together, and Hedgehog, with nothing better to do, was wandering around. Xiao Zhenyun was alone in the room when he answered the call, only to be bombarded by Xiao Nian’s questioning, “Xiao Zhenyun! What have you done this time?!”
“What did I do…?” Xiao Zhenyun was bewildered. “I haven’t seen Si Chu in a month. If you’re accusing me wrongly, you’d better apologize quickly.”
“Alright, I’m sorry. I admit I also have some responsibility in this,” Xiao Nian surprisingly apologized meekly. “But you’re primarily responsible, and I only share a minor part.”
Xiao Zhenyun was confused, “What do you mean?”
“I kept a close eye on the master-slave gathering, ensuring to prevent Si Chu and Ye Feiran from causing trouble. I never expected the issue would be with your target…” Xiao Nian covered his face. “Why didn’t you tell me he’s Commander Duan’s grandson, Duan Pei?”
“I didn’t know beforehand either,” Xiao Zhenyun protested his innocence. “Is Duan Pei an important character in the novel?”
Xiao Nian hesitated, “Not a main character, but he did something significant.”
In the original plot, the mission to escort the commander to the gathering and bring back Duan Pei wasn’t carried out by Hedgehog. Hedgehog’s lowering himself for such a task was meant to train Xiao Zhenyun, but in the novel, these two had no connections, so it was another ordinary hired team that took the job.
Due to the smaller gap in strength between non-S-class sentinels and ordinary people, Harold Xiu and Duan Pei managed to put up a fight against the hired team. The conflict was intense, and the outcome was tragic—Harold Xiu was shot dead, and Duan Pei was sent back to the Duan family half-alive.
Harold’s death intensified Duan Pei’s hatred towards his grandfather. Previously, his resentment stemmed from a desire for his grandfather’s approval, a complex mix of love and hate, losing to Duan Fei. But after Harold’s death, only pure, unadulterated hatred remained.
Duan Pei recuperated for a month and then plotted for another month before burning down the entire Duan family mansion.
Duan Fei, being at the National Defense University, was unaware of all this. By the time he found out, most of his relatives were already dead.
The investigation of this incident, in cooperation with the union and the police, was led by Si Chu. After a thorough investigation, he concluded that the culprit was Duan Fei’s brother, Duan Pei. Duan Fei, unable to accept this, fought fiercely with Si Chu.
After the incident, Duan Fei’s personality changed drastically. Deep down, he knew Si Chu was right, but he couldn’t accept it, so he chose to avoid reality, insisting that the police and union’s investigation was flawed and repeatedly demanded the case be reopened.
Of course, the protagonists of love and justice eventually managed to touch this troubled soul. Once Duan Fei resolved his inner conflicts, he became Si Chu’s close friend and reciprocated by offering significant help in many subsequent operations.
Xiao Zhenyun remarked that with Duan Fei’s impressive title—being a military cadet who could rival a sentinel—it wouldn’t make sense for him not to have important roles in the story.
Now the issue was how to quickly make this rising star in the military, who still had both parents alive, into an orphan.
“Should we set his house on fire to fill in this plot gap?” Xiao Zhenyun suggested. Xiao Nian crossed his arms, “I’m fine with it. I have no morals. But can you do it? Can your conscience handle it?”