Silent Era - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Bai Sihuan arrived at the door. The servant opened it, and a scruffy-dressed child staggered in, looking around.

Seeing Bai Sihuan, Bai Yuancheng didn’t appear particularly happy. He simply raised his head and called out, “Brother,” as if he’d always been there and that meeting Bai Sihuan was just a coincidence.

Just as he finished calling out “Brother,” Bai Sihuan felt something scurry past his feet. By the time he realized what was happening, Karen had already rushed over to Bai Yuancheng, barking furiously. Bai Sihuan had heard Karen bark before, but rarely had he heard it bark so fiercely. The last time he’d seen it bark so fiercely was when Gu Zhen was plotting against Lin Heng.

Bai Yuancheng took two steps back, staring at the barking dog. He showed no fear, and even chided, “Why is this dog so aggressive? Who teaches it to be so aggressive?”

The servant nearby curled his lips and, while coaxing Karen, led the dog away. Bai Sihuan felt a little embarrassed by his brother’s tone, but he didn’t feel the need to scold him. He sighed and asked, “Why are you here?”

Bai Yuancheng was dissatisfied with the question: “If you can come, why can’t I?”

“Mom doesn’t know you’re here?”

“Of course I can’t let her know. She keeps pushing me to sign up for some Olympiad class. I’m so fed up! What’s the point of studying that? It’s a waste of money. I’d rather spend it on something more interesting,” Bai Yuancheng said, his hands on his hips.

Bai Sihuan frowned, realizing something. “You’re spending the money Mom gave you for classes?”

Seemingly struck by this, Bai Yuancheng lowered his head, coughed, and rubbed his nose. “To be honest with you, brother, I’ve spent all Mom’s money. If I go back like this, she’ll definitely scold me to death. Can you…?”

Bai Sihuan understood what he meant. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the several hundred yuan Lin Huan had given him this morning. He stuffed it into Bai Yuancheng’s hands, “That’s all I have. Take it and go back quickly.”

After all these years at the Lin family, Bai Sihuan still couldn’t shake the feeling of being a dependent. Cheng Sutang had a bad temper. If he asked Bai Yuancheng to stay or go in for a visit, he didn’t know what would happen. So he could only urge him to go home quickly.

“Thank you, brother!” Bai Yuancheng clutched the money tightly, but he wasn’t in a hurry to leave. He paced around the entrance hall.

Bai Sihuan was about to persuade him to leave again when Lin Heng emerged from the living room and asked from a distance, “Brother, what are you doing here? Why haven’t you come in for so long?”

Approaching Bai Sihuan, Lin Heng caught a glimpse of Bai Yuancheng. Though still a young brat, he looked repulsive and completely unappealing.

Lin Heng even wondered how someone as handsome as Bai Sihuan could have such a sharp-nosed, monkey-faced, shifty-eyed brother. What kind of creature had his mother sired?

Noticing the unfriendly gaze, Bai Yuancheng examined Lin Heng curiously. “Who is this?”

Bai Sihuan said, “You should call him brother, too.”

Bai Yuancheng gave a cold “Oh.”

Lin Heng turned and walked back, saying coolly, “Since we’re here, let them in for a while.”

Arriving in the central hall, Bai Yuancheng saw the Lin couple, who had just finished breakfast and were about to leave. He immediately stood up straight and bowed twice, respectfully and fawningly. “Hello, Uncle Lin, Hello, Madam Lin. My name is Bai Yuancheng, and I’m Bai Sihuan’s younger brother.”

Hearing him emphasize the word “younger brother,” Lin Heng snorted coldly and interjected indifferently, “It doesn’t matter who we’re not.”

Despite his pleasant words and respectful attitude, Cheng Sutang remained displeased. Lin Huan, on the other hand, smiled warmly at the son of his former love. Before leaving, he even said in front of the family and servants, “Since you’re here, stay here for a few days. Old Pei, you must treat him well and let him make this his home!”

Cheng Sutang was unhappy and said sarcastically, “If one moves in, he’ll bring another along too. Will the whole family be moving into the Lin family tomorrow?”

Lin Huan soothed, “Sutang, this is Si Huan’s younger brother after all.”

“Heh, he’s that woman’s son. If he really… “Everyone moving in would be just what you want, right?”

Lin Huan awkwardly turned his head away and instructed Lin Siying, “Your mother and I are going to Hong Kong for a few days. Take care of this house and don’t go out and hang around!”

Lin Siying feigned sweetness, “Oh, I see.”

After explaining everything, Lin Huan warmly addressed Bai Yuancheng, “Live well here and have fun. Just treat this place like your home. If you need anything, ask the servants and Old Pei!”

“Hey! Thank you, Uncle!” Bai Yuancheng nodded happily.

Bai Sihuan, seeing the eleven-year-old Bai Yuancheng in this state, felt deeply concerned.

As they returned to the living room, Lin Heng suddenly put his arm around Bai Sihuan’s shoulders and pulled him toward him.

Bai Sihuan groaned in pain and looked at him, bewildered.

Lin Heng raised his eyebrows slightly and said lightly, “You have quite a few brothers.”

Bai Sihuan muttered softly, “It’s not like I want to do this.”

Lin Huan told Bai Yuancheng to treat this place like his own, and Bai Yuancheng did as he was told, commanding the servants even more skillfully than Lin Heng. He was always lazy and arrogant, fearlessly sitting in the spot reserved for Cheng Sutang in the sunroom, even swimming in the pool in the middle of the night. After hearing that the Lin family had a horse ranch, he insisted that the servants take him there. When the horses refused to let him in, he insisted on giving them a lesson.

When the servants tried to stop him, he became arrogant: “I think you all don’t want to do this anymore! Your master wants me to treat this place like my own, and you won’t listen to him? I’ll tell him when he gets back!”

Bai Sihuan had told him several times, but not only did he ignore her, he even lost his temper at her.

In front of Lin Siying, Bai Yuancheng spoke so kindly, calling her “Big Brother” all the time, that Lin Siying felt embarrassed to say anything to him.

For the past few days, Lin Heng had a sullen expression, becoming even less talkative and often lost in thought. At first, Bai Sihuan thought Bai Yuancheng’s presence was making him uncomfortable. Today, when he wanted to ask Lin Heng what was going on, he heard Lin Heng rambling, “I used to think maybe one day my second sister would come back.” After a pause, he continued, “Now I just hope she never comes back.”

Bai Sihuan had thought the whole family had forgotten Lin Xianyan, and Lin Heng was the first to do so. But he hadn’t expected that after all this time, Lin Heng would still bring up his second sister. Lin Heng’s words left him completely baffled.

Lin Siying must have heard this, as she walked towards Lin Heng, “Come with me.”

“Where to?”

“To Panyu Road to buy peanuts.”

“No.”

“You have to go, even if you don’t want to. Let’s go.” Lin Siying grabbed Lin Heng’s arm and left.

Less than half an hour after they left, Lin Musheng arrived at the Lin residence. The servants had all gone for lunch, and the only doorman had gone off somewhere to slack off. It was Bai Sihuan who opened the door for her.

Bai Sihuan was startled upon seeing Lin Musheng.

The left side of Lin Musheng’s face was swollen, the corner of his eye was black, and there was a cut at the corner of his mouth, clearly from a beating.

Lin Siying often said her husband was a worthless person who often beat her, and once he had beaten her so badly that she had to be hospitalized. Bai Sihuan thought these injuries must have been caused by her husband.

Lin Musheng first inquired about where everyone in the family had gone. When she learned that no one was watching, she asked Bai Sihuan, “Do you know where the key to the study is?”

Bai Sihuan shook her head. Lin Musheng didn’t ask any further, but went straight to the utility room to search for the key.

“Sister, isn’t this a good idea?” Bai Sihuan knew the study was where money was hidden, and her elder sister’s sole purpose for coming to the Lin family was to ask for money. Now that everyone was away, she simply took the money. If she were questioned later, she wouldn’t be able to explain.

Lin Musheng ignored his pleas. Not finding a spare key in the utility room, she headed for the storage room. She searched room after room, drawer after drawer.

Bai Sihuan followed her, saying what she needed to say, but he didn’t know how to stop her.

Lin Musheng was halfway through searching for the key when something suddenly occurred to her and she said to Bai Sihuan, “Come with me.”

Bai Sihuan was startled. Seeing her turn and walk towards the sunroom, he hurried to follow her.

“There’s a cellar behind the sunroom. The servants only count the contents once every six months, and this isn’t even close to their day yet. I’ll just take a few things. They won’t notice,” Lin Musheng said as they walked. He paused and added, “By the time they find out, you’ll be in college. It won’t be your fault.”

Bai Sihuan insisted that it wasn’t possible. Lin Musheng acted pitifully, pointing to the wounds on his face and saying, “See these? They’re a lesson he taught me. If you don’t help me today, I’ll be beaten to death when I get back. A little money means nothing to the Lin family, and it’s a minor matter to you, but if I don’t get the money I need, I’ll be dead! I swear, I’m only taking one thing. It won’t hurt the Lin family! If you’re worried, come with me and watch carefully.”

Lin Musheng’s tears and snot were unbearable to Bai Sihuan, who finally gave up and followed him silently.

Bai Yuancheng had just emerged from the guest room, his head bowed in frustration over his depleted savings. He happened upon this scene, his eyes brightening as he quietly followed.

Arriving at the back of the sunroom, Bai Sihuan spotted a door hidden beneath the grape trellis. It was quite large, but normally hidden by the vines, making it difficult to spot.

Half a meter from the door, Lin Musheng paused and pleaded with Bai Sihuan, “Help me open that door! It’s too heavy! I can’t pull it.”

Bai Sihuan hesitated for a moment, but finally, unable to bear Lin Musheng’s repeated pleas, he went up and opened the door.

After letting the basement air out for a while, Lin Musheng decisively ran down. About twenty minutes later, she emerged clutching a painting tightly wrapped in oilcloth.

Bai Sihuan seemed to have a bad feeling and asked, “Sister, what did you take?”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing important. Just a worn-out painting that the Lin family doesn’t want anymore. Okay, I have to go back.” After closing the door and taking two steps, Lin Musheng turned back, wiping tears from her eyes and begging Bai Sihuan, “Please don’t tell anyone I was here, okay? Give me a little dignity.”

Bai Sihuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Lin Musheng breathed a sigh of relief and hurried away. Bai Yuancheng, hiding in the shadows, saw this and quickly crouched down in the flowers.

In her haste, Lin Musheng dropped her key next to the cellar door. By the time Bai Sihuan picked up the key and ran out, Lin Musheng was already far away, only a thumb-sized figure remained.

Bai Sihuan ran toward her and spotted a man waiting for her by the flowerbed outside the villa. They chatted for a moment, then the man took the painting with one hand and grabbed Lin Musheng’s hair with the other, kicking and punching her.

Startled, Bai Sihuan ran even faster, trying to stop the man from punching and kicking her.

From a distance, she could hear the man yelling, “I told you to get the money! You’ve been gone for so long! Don’t you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? What’s wrong? I scolded you and hit you a few times, so what? I’m telling you, Lin Musheng, you’re a fucking slut! You’ve been worn out by countless men before you became my slut! We’re married, and you’re the one who’s suffering! Why are you pretending to be so noble? Who doesn’t know about your affair? You’re still feeling aggrieved now, aren’t you?”

“Stop it!” Bai Sihuan, naturally frail, somehow found the strength to forcefully push the tall man away.

But his swagger barely lasted half a minute before the man suddenly slammed in, slamming him to the ground. “Who the hell are you? Get away! Don’t force me to teach you a lesson!”

Lin Musheng saw the man seemed about to strike Bai Sihuan, so he quickly grabbed his waist and dragged him back. “Alright! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

The man hadn’t been particularly angry at first, but being stopped like that in the middle of the action intensified his rage. He slapped Lin Musheng in the face, “Who’s this guy? Your mistress? You’re so fucking good! You can even eat something so tender! I’m going to beat him to death today!”

Lin Musheng quickly explained, “He’s my brother!”

The man sneered, “Your brother? Do you think I don’t know your family situation? You only have one brother!”

The man’s mention of “one brother” seemed to reveal some secret Lin Musheng had kept. Lin Musheng froze in place, as if struck by lightning.

Her moment of stiffening caused the man to swing his fist at Bai Sihuan. Bai Sihuan, teeth clenched, also furious, stood up and fought the man to the death. Though weak and vulnerable, he could only take the beating, yet driven by his ferocity, he still managed to land a few punches.

However, Bai Sihuan was no match for the stronger man, and by the end, he was powerless to fight back.

At that moment, a bag of scalding fried peanuts suddenly slammed into the man’s face from behind. He cried out in pain, closed his eyes, and stumbled back a few steps. Before he could utter a curse, he was met with a heavy kick in the stomach.

When the man opened his eyes and saw the person before him, his ferocious expression instantly changed, and he felt a sudden sense of guilt. He wanted to find his wife to plead with Lin Heng, but he discovered that Lin Musheng had already fled with the painting.

Lin Heng pointed at him, his expression clearly irritated, but his tone was chilling: “Liu Sheng, you’re so brave.”

Liu Sheng retreated in fear. Lin Heng had practiced martial arts since childhood, and his temper was explosive. He had seen how ruthlessly he could beat someone. Even when he was younger, he could beat him to a pulp, let alone now.

Lin Heng was about to rush over and return the favor he had just inflicted on Bai Sihuan, but Lin Siying immediately stopped him: “Lin Heng, forget it, let’s see where we are.” Holding Lin Heng in place, Lin Siying glared at Liu Sheng and said unceremoniously, “Get out of here! What are you still standing here for?”

Liu Sheng, as if granted amnesty, took off running. He hadn’t gotten far when Lin Siying called out to him: “Wait.”

Liu Sheng stopped, looking at Lin Siying tremblingly.

“Go back and tell my eldest sister not to come to the Lin family again. And you too.”