I Fell In Love With My Friend's Younger Brother Who Has A Low Sense Of Presence. - Chapter 21:
Chapter 21: Heartache
Su Shixiao: “Yes.”
Su Shizhi would rather he work at their family company than suffer any grievances at someone else’s company. “Then why don’t you come work at our family’s company? Wouldn’t that be more comfortable?”
“Working at Brother Yanzhou’s company is quite good, and he takes good care of me,” Su Shixiao added. “Besides, I want to find work related to my major.”
Su Shizhi wasn’t as close to his second younger brother as he was to Xiao Bei. He always treated him with a certain carefulness, perhaps because he often neglected him in childhood. However, Xiao Xiao wasn’t particularly intimate with anyone in their family, always maintaining a faint sense of detachment. Su Shizhi didn’t dare to dictate his affairs. “Mhm, then if you’re wronged or something happens, you must tell me.”
Su Shixiao smiled, “Okay.”
Because of Nan Fengge, Nan Yanzhou had been diligently going to work and clocking out for the past two weeks. After finishing all his work, he was restless with a burning desire to go out and play. It was incredibly difficult for him.
This Tuesday, he finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. He asked Assistant Cheng to cover for him. He was going out to race with his friends right now.
Assistant Cheng looked troubled, “CEO Nan, I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if Second Young Master Su comes up later…”
“So what if he knows? What can he do?” Nan Yanzhou was irritable. “Just tell him I’m in a meeting or in the bathroom, whatever works. Figure it out yourself. I’m leaving.”
With that, he walked out directly, leaving Assistant Cheng behind, rubbing his forehead.
Since it was his grandmother’s 70th birthday in a few days, he had already painted a portrait for her as a gift, but he still wanted to buy her other presents. So, as soon as he got off work, he went to the mall to personally select a gift for his grandmother. After searching for a long time, he still hadn’t found anything satisfactory.
Returning home, Su Beibei happily ran up to him when he saw him, “Second Brother, why are you so late coming back?”
Su Shixiao, whose arm was being hugged, smiled helplessly, “I went to the mall to choose a gift for Grandma, but I couldn’t find anything I liked.”
“I bought mine a few days ago. I asked someone to buy a massage chair from overseas,” Su Beibei was very excited.
Su Shixiao looked at him. If he had a tail, it would surely be wagging happily. “Mhm, that’s a pretty good gift.”
“Of course it is.” Su Beibei lifted his chin haughtily, then pulled him to the sofa. “Second Brother, what do you think? Am I suitable for acting in idol dramas?”
His younger brother’s looks were among the best in the entertainment industry, with an unmistakable noble, young master aura. “Suitable, yes, but if the script is too melodramatic, you shouldn’t go for it. Your face doesn’t suit cheesy dramas.”
“Right?” Su Beibei questioned. He thought for a moment and said, “I read the script, and it was okay, except that four boys all like the female lead. They said I would play the male lead.”
Su Shixiao slightly rubbed his forehead. “…That plot is old-fashioned and melodramatic. Even if the female lead was a celestial being, it’s impossible for four guys to all like her. Plus, the script probably makes the four guys incredibly talented. That’s too fake. You really shouldn’t act in a script like that. I’m afraid your brain will turn stupid from acting.”
Su Beibei hung his head in disappointment, “Fine. Big Brother wouldn’t let me act in it either. I didn’t really want to go in the first place, I was just a little curious.”
Su Shixiao patted his head, “Don’t worry, there are good idol drama scripts out there too. Let your team keep an eye out, and go audition when there’s a good script. You still have school now, so there’s no rush.”
“Mhm.”
After talking to his brother for a bit, Su Shixiao returned to his room. After showering, he lay in bed scrolling through his social media feed.
As he scrolled, he saw that Nan Yanzhou had skipped work again this afternoon to hang out with his cronies, which was within his expectation.
He had thought Nan Yanzhou would only stay put for a few days before skipping work again, but he hadn’t expected him to last two weeks.
He hadn’t really intended to control Nan Yanzhou anyway. Last time, he just wanted to scare him a little. He knew he couldn’t control Nan Yanzhou; to him, he was just a dispensable employee. He wasn’t going to impose himself and annoy others.
Time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was Grandma Su’s 70th birthday. Su Shixiao rushed to the banquet as soon as he got off work. As he left the company, he saw a car stop in front of him. Rolling down the window, he saw Nan Yanzhou inside.
“Get in. It just so happens that I’m also going to Grandma Su’s birthday, so let’s go together.”
Su Shixiao refused, “My gifts are still in my car, Brother Yanzhou. You go first. I’ll drive myself over.”
“Alright.” Nan Yanzhou didn’t say anything else and drove away.
When Su Shixiao arrived at the banquet, many relatives and business friends had already arrived.
He first went with his gifts to find his grandmother. Grandma Su was currently talking to Grandpa Su. He stepped forward and smiled, calling out, “Grandma.”
Grandma Su was very happy to see him, “Xiao Xiao is here.”
“Mhm.” Su Shixiao gave her the gift, “Grandma, this is my gift for you. I wish you good health and a long life.”
“Good, good, good,” Grandma Su happily accepted the gift, “Two gifts. Our Xiao Xiao is thoughtful.”
Nan Yanzhou saw Su Shixiao arrive and, bored, followed behind him. Seeing that Su Shixiao was going to find his grandmother, he didn’t want to interrupt and found a place nearby to sit down. Watching their interaction, Nan Yanzhou sensed a slight distance.
A few minutes later, Su Beibei and Su Shizhi also arrived. Su Beibei immediately ran up and hugged Grandma Su, sweetly calling out, “Grandma, happy birthday! I hope Grandma is happy every day and stays healthy.”
Grandma Su stroked his hair with doting eyes, “Good, good, good. Just seeing you makes me happy.”
Su Beibei remembered the gift he bought for Grandma, immediately let go of her, turned around to take his gift from his older brother, and handed it to Grandma Su, “Grandma, this is the gift I bought for you. See if you like it.”
“I like it, I like it.”
Su Shizhi also gave his prepared gift to Grandma Su. Grandma Su gave him a hug, “Thank you, Shizhi.”
Su Shizhi patted her shoulder, “Grandma, if you’re happy, we’re happy.”
Grandpa Su watched them with a kind, loving expression.
Su Shixiao was used to this scene; he didn’t know how many times he had experienced it. He had lost count, but his heart still felt a little sour.
Su Shixiao stood quietly to the side, almost like an outsider. Nan Yanzhou watched the completely different attitudes of Grandma and Grandpa Su towards Su Beibei and Su Shixiao. While they were still affectionate towards Su Shixiao, they weren’t as close and enthusiastic as they were with Su Beibei. The difference was very clear. Su Beibei was indeed the beloved young master of the Su family.
Seeing Su Shixiao standing quietly on the side, watching them show affection with little to no presence himself, Nan Yanzhou felt a pang of heartache for him.