"Second Brother, have some water, eat some fruit."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Wen Zhiyu nodded his thanks.
Wen Zhiyan smiled, "Second Brother, we've seen all sorts of doctors over the past five years, and the results have all been more or less the same. I don't think there's any need to continue looking. Besides, I'm used to how things are now."
"But..." A hint of hesitation and nostalgia flickered across Wen Zhiyu's face. "This isn't how you should be."
Wen Zhiyan shook his head. "Second Brother, I'm doing well now. I have An An, and Miao Miao. It's Second Brother who..."
"Me?" Wen Zhiyu chuckled, "How did the topic suddenly turn to me?"
"I heard about you and Xie Wanqing."
Wen Zhiyu's action of drinking water paused. He smiled wryly, "You know me, I never wanted to get married."
To be alone, go to work, and go traveling when I have free time. He couldn't imagine having another person by his side.
"As for Mother," Wen Zhiyu looked troubled. "I'm thinking about when to discuss with Xie Wanqing and agree to Mother's request first. After she finishes her surgery, I'll leave."
"Where are you going?"
"Who knows." Wen Zhiyu smiled and shook his head. "The world is vast, there's always a place for me. And I mainly came back this time to see you. Seeing that you're living well, with a partner and friends, Second Brother can rest assured."
"Second Brother."
"Alright, you know that Second Brother's biggest wishes are two things: first, that you are safe and healthy, and second, An An. Now that I see both of you are well, I am content."
"Second Brother."
"Good boy, why are your eyes getting red?" Wen Zhiyu patted Wen Zhiyan's shoulder with a laugh. "Don't worry, your Second Brother is here. If anyone bullies you in the future, call me, and Second Brother will get justice for you."
"Who dares to bully me."
"Second Brother, Wen Zhiyan, dinner's ready."
Wen Zhiyu got up and pushed Wen Zhiyan toward the dining room. "Sister-in-law is really good. I've seen you cook on the variety show, and I didn't expect it to be even better in real life. It looks, smells, and tastes exquisite."
"It's just that the ingredients at home are more plentiful than those on the variety show," Fang Miaomiao said with a smile.
Second Brother, he's exactly like he is in the books.
Benevolent and upright. Just standing there, he made the surroundings feel comfortable.
After the three of them had lunch, chatting and laughing, Fang Miaomiao cleaned up the dining room, and Wen Zhiyan and Wen Zhiyu went to the study.
"Second Brother."
"Wen Corporation, you really don't plan to take it?"
Wen Zhiyan shook his head. "Wen Corporation has major problems now, and reforming it is very difficult."
He had tried. Even expanding the hotel business overseas and shifting the focus hadn't solved Wen Corporation's internal issues.
Instead of dragging it out, it would be better to break and rebuild.
"You're a man of ideas, but will this offend Third Brother?"
Wen Zhiyan's hand paused, then quickly recovered. "Third Brother will understand."
Wen Zhiyu's eyes flashed with a hint of regret upon hearing this. "It's your decision. I also plan to leave after Mother has her surgery."
"So soon?"
Wen Zhiyu spread his hands playfully. "It's already been slow. Otherwise, I'm afraid Mother will rush me to have children with Xie Wanqing as soon as she's discharged."
"Second Brother."
Wen Zhiyu's eyes curved with a smile. "Go on."
"Actually, you don't have to go this far."
Wen Zhiyu continued to pour tea for Wen Zhiyan without pausing. "Using your own marriage to save Mother's life is enough. As for you, don't listen to Mother too much. It's not a good thing."
Wen Zhiyan smiled. "I haven't."
They wished for his death, so why would he listen to them?
"That's good." Wen Zhiyu breathed a sigh of relief. "When Mother asks you to contact me, you absolutely cannot give her my address, or I'll have to bother you two every day."
"Don't worry, I won't."
"Good brother." Wen Zhiyu downed the last of his water. "I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
"Second Brother, will we see each other again?"
Wen Zhiyu smiled and looked at Wen Zhiyan. "You're almost thirty years old, why do you still call me Second Brother?"
Who knew what the future held?
After seeing Wen Zhiyu off, Wen Zhiyan stood motionless in the living room.
"What's wrong?" Fang Miaomiao asked with concern.
"Second Brother."
"Perhaps Second Brother leaving is the best choice for him."
"Do you think it's my existence that made this family like this?"
Fang Miaomiao playfully flicked Wen Zhiyan's forehead with her finger. "What are you saying?"
These were clearly the parents' issues.
Although she had never met her own parents, her grandmother had always told her that there were no bad parents in the world, and that parents loved their children the most.
She had believed this implicitly as a child.
Only as she grew older did she realize that parents could also make mistakes. Some would apologize to their children, while others wouldn't, instead stubbornly insisting, "It's all for your own good."
Look, Wen Zhiyan and his mother were like that. To put it more harshly, it was hatred.
Ran Lian hated Wen Zhiyan as a child.
"Wen Zhiyan, not every parent loves their child."
You were just unfortunate enough to have been born to such parents.
"I know." Wen Zhiyan held Fang Miaomiao's hand. "You don't think I'm sad, do you?"
"How could I? My Wen Zhiyan is so handsome, even if he's sad, he's the most handsome person in the world."
Wen Zhiyan didn't know whether to laugh or feel sad. "You really know how to talk."
"I think so too."
"But, Miao Miao, why didn't you let me tell Second Brother about my legs earlier?"
After his accident five years ago, although Second Brother said nothing, he knew Second Brother felt guilty. After Wen Zhiyu left the Wen family and went abroad, he had been tirelessly searching for doctors to treat his legs.
If he had told Second Brother, Second Brother wouldn't have had to work so hard.
"Why are you suddenly so sentimental?" Fang Miaomiao pushed the wheelchair towards the living room. "I didn't say you shouldn't tell Second Brother, I just felt it wasn't the right time."
The perpetrator behind the scenes hadn't been found yet. If they spoke now, wouldn't it alert them?
"Miao Miao, our people have vaguely discovered who is responsible for this."
"Are you sure?"
This matter couldn't afford any mistakes.
Wen Zhiyan remained silent.
"So, listen to me, we can't talk about this yet."
She had a feeling that if this matter were revealed, it would be very disadvantageous to them.
"You," Wen Zhiyan nodded, "are even more cautious than I am. Don't worry, I won't mention my legs to anyone until all those people are caught."
"Good boy."
Fang Miaomiao couldn't resist and reached out to stroke Wen Zhiyan's face.
Wen Zhiyan's old face blushed. This Miao Miao, the longer they were together, the more her 'domineering' side became apparent. She would casually touch him, but when he tried to touch her, she would be hesitant and hide under the covers.