TLSMLMMM Chapter 13

Hearing Si Yunyi call his name, Yan An immediately broke into a smile and obediently sat across from him.
“Brother Yunyi.”

Si Yunyi pushed the stack of cards toward him, removed his glasses with one hand, and looked at Yan An.

Yan An instantly understood—Brother Yunyi was giving him a chance to play the game. Happily, he held the cards, shuffled them, glanced at one, then looked back at the man opposite him.

“A girl with a dog.” Si Yunyi’s voice was cold and steady as he fixed his gaze on the boy.

Yan An flipped another card and looked up.

“A wheat field.”

“The deep sea.”

“The sun.”

“A crying child.”

“Money.”

…

Si Yunyi’s words came faster and faster, and Yan An’s hands sped up to match. When Si Yunyi said, “An injured person,” Yan An placed down the very last card in his hand.

Over twenty cards had been revealed, and Si Yunyi hadn’t guessed a single one wrong.

“Uncle guessed so fast! Every single one right!” The second brother, who had been watching behind Yan An, clapped in amazement. He suddenly realized that those two times years ago when their uncle had “lost” to him were probably deliberate.

“Most people, when they see certain images, will show similar reactions. You wanted to beat me, so when you saw positive images, you deliberately put on an expression of fear or sadness.”

Si Yunyi picked up the deck and tapped it against the table.

“Do you know what that means?”

Meeting his gaze, Yan An suddenly felt guilty.

“Uncle didn’t guess wrong even once! That means Yan An can’t fool him!” Si Xuanxuan said cheerfully, answering for him.

“So.” Si Yunyi’s knuckles whitened as he pressed the cards hard against the table.

“Do you dare to repeat, right here in front of me, what you just told Si Beiyuan?”

The nephews froze in shock, turning to look at Yan An, who squirmed in his seat as though sitting on needles.

“Say it, Yan An.” Second brother Si Beiyuan, who was closest to him, urged when he saw his uneasy expression.

“I—I’m not really sure about that…” Yan An’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, and he didn’t dare meet Si Yunyi’s eyes.

“Lies.” Si Yunyi’s tone was like ice.

As the looks from the Si cousins gradually shifted, Yan An clutched the edge of his chair tighter, forcing himself to speak again.

“I know… a little. But the marriage alliance, that really was Chu Junlie’s idea.”

“Lies.” Si Yunyi’s gaze bore into him, the cold pressure radiating from him making Yan An’s face turn pale.

“In fact—it was all my mother’s idea. I really didn’t mean to lie to you, I’m so sorry!” Yan An’s tear-brimmed eyes turned to Si Yunyi, his nose flushed red, as if his tears were about to fall.

“Up until now, not a single word from you has been the truth.”

Seeing the anger in his nephews’ and nieces’ eyes, Si Yunyi rose, no longer willing to waste time.

“Brother Yunyi!” Yan An also jumped to his feet, and this time, tears burst forth in his eyes.

“Do you know why I did all this? It’s all because I like you!”

“I didn’t want to marry into the Si family because none of the candidates was you. I kept coming to the Si house just so I could see you. I badmouthed Chu Junlie only because I wanted you to hate him and look at me more!”

Yan An choked on his sobs, staring straight into Si Yunyi’s eyes.

“Brother Yunyi, you can tell—so tell me, am I speaking the truth now or lying?”

Si Yunyi was quiet for a moment. Looking at Yan An’s tear-streaked face, he spoke calmly.

“This is nothing but extreme greed and selfishness. Don’t put it under the name of love. You know perfectly well I have never liked you, yet you’ve gone so far as to hurt others because of it. My advice: go see a psychologist.”

“I won’t!” Yan An wiped away his tears and reached toward the man, only for Si Yunyi to coldly sidestep him.

“Brother Yunyi, how am I worse than that idiot from the countryside?” Yan An’s tears flowed endlessly. “Why would you rather bring Chu Junlie into the family than accept me?

Brother Yunyi, are you really willing to let Chu Junlie’s filthy hands touch you?”

Every gaze in the recreation room turned toward the cold, refined man, their feelings complicated.

Si Yunyi lowered his eyes and put on his glasses. Under the lights, the chain on them swayed slightly as he spoke, each word distinct.

“That’s my business.

It has nothing to do with you.”

Yan An finally broke down, sobbing as he rushed out of the recreation room. The moment he opened the door, he saw the person he hated most—Chu Junlie—standing there with a tray of freshly peeled oranges, not knowing how long he’d been waiting.

“It’s all your fault!” Yan An’s eyes went red as he shoved at him, but Chu Junlie simply shifted aside, effortlessly avoiding the attack.

“You—!” Yan An’s anger only mounted, but then he caught sight of Chu Junlie’s dark, steady eyes fixed on him. Chu Junlie tilted his hand, letting the tray of oranges crash to the floor.

Before Yan An could react, he felt a sudden, hard shove against his chest. Off balance, he fell straight into the mess of peeled oranges, his clothes soaked with sticky juice and pulp.

Hearing the commotion, everyone inside rushed out. They saw Chu Junlie standing there, looking helpless, while the oranges lay scattered and Yan An sat on the ground, covered in juice, crying pitifully.

“Brother Yunyi, Chu Junlie pushed me on purpose!” Yan An sobbed.

The Si cousins hesitated for a beat. The third brother immediately rolled his eyes, dragged Chu Junlie to their side, and snapped at Yan An.

“Seriously? You still have the nerve to pull this act? We all saw what you’re like just now. You think you can trick us again?”

“Come on, even TV dramas wouldn’t bother with such cheap framing tactics,” the eldest scoffed, turning his head away.

“Beiyuan!” Yan An cried, turning to the one cousin who had once spoken up for him. But even Si Beiyuan’s eyes were distant now.

“Yan An, I never imagined you could be this kind of person.”

“No, it’s not like that, it really isn’t!” Yan An protested, tears streaming, but his words sounded hollow.

Si Xuanxuan dragged over all the gifts Yan An had brought and dumped them beside him. Si Beiqi, meanwhile, eyed the oranges on the ground, swallowing hard and nearly crouching to pick one up before his elder brother scooped him into his arms.

“Let’s go. Leave him to put on his own show.” The eldest led the way, carrying Beiqi back inside.

As everyone turned away, Yan An’s tears poured even harder. Chu Junlie was the last to reenter the room. When he turned to close the door, he gave Yan An a slow smile.

The door shut, the light and that smile cutting Yan An off from the others. He sat frozen on the ground, stunned.

How dare he?

That imposter!

Inside, with the door closed and the unwelcome one shut out, Chu Junlie looked at the others, guilt flickering in his eyes.

“I’m sorry… all the oranges are gone.”

“It’s fine.” The eldest patted his shoulder, but quickly pulled back, reminded that this person was now to be their future uncle-in-law.

“Future uncle-in-law, you don’t know—after you left, Yan An tried to slander you again. Luckily Uncle saw through it, or we might’ve been fooled once more,” the third brother said cheerfully, circling around him.

“The oranges don’t matter, we can eat them another time. Uncle-in-law, show me how you hit the bullseye with darts.”

Looking at their friendlier expressions, Chu Junlie’s eyes brightened. He quickly ran to Si Yunyi, his dark eyes clear and shining with joy.

“Mr. Si, thank you.”

Si Yunyi glanced at him, picked up the book he’d left unfinished, and replied flatly.

“It’s fine.”

“Mr. Si, they want me to teach them dart-throwing. Can I?” Chu Junlie tilted his head up, gaze burning but obedient, like a big dog wagging its tail, always seeking his master’s permission before acting.

“Go ahead.” Si Yunyi lowered his eyes to his book again, long pale fingers turning the page.

Chu Junlie looked at him one last time, reluctant, before heading over to the cousins to teach them the trick he had just figured out.

Hearing his lowered voice, Si Yunyi lifted his eyes from the page, watching the man surrounded by his nephews.

The last time he’d guessed wrong in this card game was in prison.

His opponent had been a serial killer with congenital antisocial personality disorder.

Unlike most people, such individuals couldn’t show normal reactions to certain images.

When Chu Junlie saw the picture of a bound, bleeding person, his expression hadn’t wavered at all, as though he were looking at an object devoid of meaning.

If Yan An was a little devil, then Chu Junlie was a being a thousand times more terrifying.

But did that matter?

No.

It didn’t matter.

Si Yunyi lowered his gaze again, continuing to read his book.

His own life might only have three years left—so what if he was raising a wolf as if it were a dog for three years?

Sensing something, Chu Junlie turned his head toward the man beside him, who was quietly reading with lowered eyes. Pale fingers pressed against the page, a few strands of ink-black hair draped over his long neck. The chain of his glasses framed a side profile both refined and noble, his aura cold and restrained—like the moon hanging high in the heavens, bright and untouchable.

With Chu Junlie’s help, several of the younger members of the Si family had made great leaps in their dart skills. When it was time to see the two off, they were a little reluctant to part.

Si Yunyi accompanied Chu Junlie back to his rented apartment, reminding him of the rehearsal for the engagement banquet tomorrow, and to remember to bring the engagement rings.

At once, Chu Junlie’s eyes lit up. He fumbled at his chest and pulled out the familiar velvet ring box, opening it in front of Si Yunyi.

Si Yunyi took one ring from the box. Perhaps it was an illusion, but it seemed to carry the warmth of Chu Junlie’s body—heated, with a temperature no metal should have.

He slipped the engagement ring onto the middle finger of his left hand, testing the fit. Chu Junlie lowered his gaze, staring intently, a radiant smile blooming on his face.

Mister Si’s hand, wearing a ring, was truly beautiful.

The size was just right. Si Yunyi slid it off and placed it back into the box.

Chu Junlie noticed the faint imprint left on his finger—“CJL.”

That was his own name, imprinted on Mister Si’s body.

His eyes couldn’t move away from the man’s hand, warmth rising in his chest, spreading in waves.

Just this alone filled him with a swelling sense of satisfaction, a burning desire to respond.

It was already late. After a quiet goodbye, Si Yunyi returned to his car. Chu Junlie’s gaze followed it until it disappeared. He couldn’t wait to pull out his own ring, slip it on, clench his fist, then spread his fingers, savoring the subtle pressure of the band.

Looking in the direction where the person in his heart had gone, Chu Junlie lowered his head to stare at the ring, wishing he could wear it forever, never letting it slip off even for a moment.

Carrying the glow of the ring back inside, Chu Junlie tilted his head toward the dim light, watching the way it caught and reflected.

But the noise of his arrival startled something. A sudden “rustle, rustle” sounded from inside the rental room. Chu Junlie’s smile faded as he followed the sound. A gray rat darted out, scurrying wildly around the room.

Reluctantly, he put the ring back, then turned his head—and spotted a slice of steamed bun soaked with pear water in the corner, already half-gnawed by the rat.

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