Silent Era - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

A week later, La Bella delivered the finished outfits. There were two sets in total, one for Bai Sihuan and one for Lin Heng.

The color, style, and pattern of Lin Heng’s outfit perfectly matched Bai Sihuan’s, making them look like a perfect match.

Before leaving that afternoon, the two of them changed upstairs. Lin Siying saw them and thought they were just brothers, asking curiously, “Why didn’t you wait for me to make the same outfit?”

“Why are you joining in the fun?” Lin Heng muttered to himself. He adjusted his cuffs and looked at Bai Sihuan. “Brother, are you dressed yet?”

Lin Siying thought he was calling her “brother.” Just as she was about to respond, she saw him approach Bai Sihuan.

Bai Sihuan shifted his neck awkwardly, holding up a men’s brooch. “I haven’t put this on yet,” he said.

“I’ll put it on for you. Stand still.” Lin Heng took the brooch from Bai Sihuan’s hand and bent down to help him put it on.

A full-length mirror stood before them, and Bai Sihuan intently watched Lin Heng wearing the brooch.

Halfway through putting the brooch on, Lin Heng’s movements slowed, his gaze shifting to Bai Sihuan’s face. Seeing his long eyelashes flicker in the light, his heart fluttered, and he felt an urge to kiss him.

Just as he was about to do this, Lin Heng realized there was an extra object not far from them.

Turning his head, Lin Heng’s cold gaze fell on Lin Siying. Lin Siying, who had just finished adjusting his tie, tilted his head in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Heng asked irritably, “Why aren’t you going downstairs here?”

“Waiting for you guys.”

Lin Heng looked at him, saying nothing.

This expression was all too familiar to Lin Siying. It was the same half-hearted expression Lin Heng wore when he felt someone was in his way but didn’t bother to say anything.

Lin Siying was confused, pondering carefully. Had he been in his way in any way?

Lin Heng’s temper was more unpredictable than the outbreak of the plague. Unable to fathom it, Lin Siying simply said goodbye. “Okay, I’ll go downstairs. You guys hurry up.”

After Lin Siying went downstairs, Lin Heng swiftly helped Bai Sihuan put on his brooch. While he wasn’t paying attention, he leaned down and kissed him on the lips.

Bai Sihuan was stunned for a moment, but now he finally understood why Lin Heng had asked her to come downstairs. He felt uneasy and wanted to say something when Lin Huan called from downstairs, “Heng, Sihuan, are you guys okay? Come down if you are!”

Lin Heng replied, “I’m coming,” and dragged Bai Sihuan downstairs by the wrist.

The family was already prepared and waiting for them.

Just before leaving, Lin Heng asked, “Where are we going for dinner today?”

Lin Huan tutted, “Didn’t I tell you a few days ago? To the deer park.”

“Deer park?” Lin Heng raised an eyebrow, remembering that the family dog ​​loved playing with these animals. He turned back and said, “I want to take Karen with me.”

Before Lin Huan could stop him, he saw him scurrying to find the dog. He frowned and muttered, “You have to take the dog with you. Sihuan, don’t follow him!”

Bai Sihuan was about to follow when his father called him back. He withdrew and remained where he was.

Lin Siying stood beside Cheng Sutang, her expression cold and indifferent, a stark contrast to when she’d been upstairs with Bai Sihuan and the others.

While Lin Heng was walking away to retrieve the dog, Cheng Sutang placed his hand on the back of Lin Siying’s hand and whispered, “Don’t dwell on the past. Be good later, okay?”

Lin Siying was silent for a moment, then a smile formed at the corner of her mouth as she nodded, “Got it.”

Before Lin Heng could retrieve the dog, the housekeeper arrived, calling out, “Sir, Madam, Master, the car is on the way out.”

Cheng Sutang explained that Lin Heng hadn’t emerged yet. Lin Huan, clearly unwilling to continue sitting in the hallway, stood up and walked out, “Let’s wait in the car.”

Cheng Sutang followed suit, walking leisurely beside Lin Huan.

Lin Siying and Bai Sihuan stood in the hallway, waiting for Lin Heng. Within two minutes, Lin Heng emerged, leading Karen, who looked as plump as a gas tank.

Lin Siying urged, “Everyone’s waiting for you! Hurry up.”

“It’s all because of that silly dog ​​sleeping there. Alright, let’s go!” Karen was running so fast that Lin Heng didn’t have time to wait for Bai Sihuan, and hurried out the door with Karen by his arm.

The chandelier in the hallway was turned off, and the light was concentrated entirely on the doorway. The entrance door, framing the sunlight, was like a moving painting, depicting a noble lady in the garden, gentlemen and young masters, luxury cars and dogs, and a bright blue sky.

The atmosphere before the trip seemed good, but Bai Sihuan remained silent. Lin Siying approached him and asked with concern, “Sihuan, what are you thinking about?”

Bai Sihuan walked slowly and whispered to Lin Siying, “It would be nice if Ah Yan was here, but everyone in the family seems to have forgotten her.” He looked at Lin Heng’s smiling face playing with the dog in the distance and couldn’t help but sigh, “Lin Heng must have thought of her as a sister…”

Lin Siying looked at the harmonious scene, her eyes slightly darkening. As if to counsel Bai Sihuan, she said, “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to live a happy life. Feel free to be ruthless. There’s no need to make yourself unhappy.” However, while she said this, she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it.

He recalled something he had said long ago: Siying, Sihuan, perhaps, as he had said, they were true brothers.

“Kingsley will be returning to China at the end of this year. I’ll have to stay for another six months to finish researching a few projects there before returning.” In the car, Lin Siying explained her recent situation in Vancouver and her plans for the future.

“I saw the pictures of you there. What the hell did you dye your hair like? All those red and pink, you couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl.”

It had been a week since Lin Siying returned, and Lin Huan hadn’t had a proper chat with him. It was only during these free moments that he would start harping on past events.

“How long ago was that? Didn’t you dye it back now? It was just for fun back then.” Lin Siying laughed dryly, quickly changing the subject and asking Bai Sihuan, “Sihuan, are you going to college now? Time flies.”

Cheng Sutang chimed in, “Of course it’s fast. Ah Heng is taller than you already.”

At this point, everyone’s smiles faded, and they fell silent. Bai Sihuan felt the sudden silence was a little strange, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

At 3:30 p.m., the Lin family arrived at Deer Park. They were accompanied by several familiar elders whom Bai Sihuan had often seen visiting the Lin residence. Lin Huan and his wife went forward to greet them. Before they could finish their greetings, a portly, middle-aged man emerged, smiling broadly.

Bai Sihuan’s most vivid memory of this man was none other than Mr. Zhu, the Lin family’s “honored guest.”

Behind Mr. Zhu was a boy who looked about Lin Heng’s age. Mr. Zhu introduced him as his nephew, Gu Zhen.

The group chatted as they made their way toward the deer orchard. The elders engaged in conversation, speaking only within their own comprehension. The younger generations walked together, and aside from Lin Heng and Bai Sihuan, there was little to say.

Lin Siying, younger than the elders and the oldest of the younger ones, held an awkward position, leading the younger generation and walking behind the elders.

Bai Sihuan seemed out of place among these people. He was unremarkable, and he didn’t walk with the same pride and dignity as the others. He didn’t even dare to look at the people around him.

Bai Sihuan moved closer to Lin Heng, responding to his words with “hmm, oh, ah” as he observed the conversation between Cheng Sutang and the others.

He learned that this deer farm was an investment by Cheng Sutang and had been on the verge of collapse due to land issues. Mr. Zhu had recently provided some covert support, like a life-saving ginseng for Cheng Sutang, and the farm had finally been revived.

The dinner venue was beside a clear lake. Across the lake lay a forest, where several sika deer roamed. These deer were fearless and would occasionally come out to meet people’s gaze from a distance.

The elders and younger generations sat in separate areas. After taking their seats, the young ladies and gentlemen gradually became familiar with each other and began to chat.

A woman glanced at the children and asked Cheng Sutang with a smile, “Why aren’t your two daughters here?”

“One is married, and the other is away studying. Girls either become more and more restless as they grow older, or they marry and become part of someone else’s family.” Cheng Sutang answered calmly, as if her words were the truth.

Bai Sihuan happened to catch a glimpse of the lady glancing over and whispered to Lin Heng, “Why haven’t I seen that auntie before?”

Lin Heng was about to answer Bai Sihuan when Mr. Zhu’s nephew, Gu Zhen, suddenly appeared beside him and began introducing himself: “Hey! Let me tell you! That woman is Mrs. Chen. She originally had two sons. One was killed by cargo while out at sea, and the other was arrested and executed a few years ago. She’d rarely been seen since then, until last year when a mountain scenic area she invested in became popular and reaped the rewards. Only then did she gradually reappear in the public eye.”

Gu Zhen’s sudden appearance beside Bai Sihuan was a bit disconcerting. He wasn’t sure how to respond. He just wanted to know who the auntie was, not her financial situation. But Gu Zhen, on the other hand, spilled all her private information, leaving him at a loss for words.

Lin Heng felt a surge of dislike for Gu Zhen. He rolled his eyes at him and pulled Bai Sihuan closer, asking him to sit a little closer.

Mrs. Chen, chatting with Cheng Sutang, noticed the relatively inconspicuous Bai Sihuan in the crowd. Remembering that he had come with the Lin family, she couldn’t help but start gossiping: “Hey, Mrs. Lin, don’t you only have two sons? Which one is your relative’s child?”

Cheng Sutang glanced at Bai Sihuan and suppressed her disgust. “Yes, a nephew. His family’s financial situation has been tough these past few years, so we took him in.”

Mrs. Chen took a sip of tea and smiled faintly, “You’re really generous to keep a boy like this at home.”

“No one is as generous as you, Mrs. Chen. You carry a mountain in your heart. Your family… “Not a single child left.” Cheng Sutang knew she had said enough, so she pointed at Bai Sihuan and asked Mr. Zhu, “Hey, Mr. Zhu, don’t you think that child is nice?”

Mr. Zhu wasn’t particularly interested in boys. He glanced at her casually and replied, “I’ve already made a deal with Mr. Jiang. Save this for next time.”

Cheng Sutang deliberately displayed a delighted expression and patted Mr. Zhu’s hand twice. “Thank you so much!”

By the time she had thanked him, Mrs. Chen had already stood up and walked towards the bathroom. Cheng Sutang hurriedly stood up and followed her. “Mrs. Chen, we’re not done yet. I have something to tell you. I saw a red coral plant in Taiwan not long ago. The color would go perfectly with your room…”