Silent Era - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Send someone to give Mu Sheng some money and get the painting back, and let’s just call it a day.” Lin Huan waved his hand, seemingly dismissing the matter.

Cheng Sutang said flatly, “We absolutely can’t just let it go!”

“Sutang, don’t you remember what happened with Madam Yuan in Hong Kong?” Lin Huan lowered his voice and warned, “The Lin family should be more cautious lately.”

Cheng Sutang was stunned, her cheek muscles twitching as she suppressed all her dissatisfaction.

After much turmoil, the matter was finally over. Bai Yuancheng, feeling guilty for betraying his brother, Lin Huan dismissed everyone and disappeared.

Even after everyone had left, Bai Sihuan still felt hazy, as if everything inside had been drained out. He didn’t catch a single word of Lin Siying’s words of comfort. When he came to, only Lin Heng was left by his side.

Lin Heng protected him once again.

It was hilarious to think about it: this brother, who had only lived with him for a few years, was so protective of him, while the brother he’d been with since birth was so eager to push him into trouble.

But Bai Sihuan didn’t laugh. He couldn’t. For the first time, he felt so untrustworthy, so insincere, that when Lin Heng reached out to hold his hand, he instinctively pulled it back.

Lin Heng froze for a moment. Bai Sihuan’s gesture undoubtedly stung him.

Seeing Lin Heng’s expression, Bai Sihuan regretted it. He hadn’t been able to retaliate against those who had truly hurt him, yet he had directed his venom at the only person who had protected him.

Bai Sihuan was at a loss for words, his lips moving for a long time before he managed a “sorry” to Lin Heng. Then, like a deserter, he fled in panic.

After lunch, Cheng Sutang called Lin Heng in for a talk. She kept calling him “that woman,” “that woman is shameless,” “that woman sent her son here just to collect a debt,” and “that Bai Sihuan, just like his mother, is no good at all!”

Lin Heng listened to her rant for a long time, and only after her last sentence did he coldly reply, “Don’t talk about him like that.”

Cheng Sutang’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if she had been slapped. Her sudden surge of emotion was completely out of control, and when she came to her senses, the slap had already landed on Lin Heng’s face.

Lin Heng’s left cheek flushed, but his expression remained impassive. Even though this was the first time Cheng Sutang had been so angry as to hit him, he didn’t believe he was in the wrong.

Looking at this stubborn young man, Cheng Sutang felt an immense pain in her heart, a pain that made her forget the pain in her palm. Her voice trembled, “Heng, do you know how much effort we’ve put into you? For whom do you think your elder and second sisters sacrificed themselves? Why do you think your eldest brother hasn’t returned home, wandering around for so many years?” She patted her chest, her eyes red. “Do you want to destroy me, your father, and this entire Lin family?”

Lin Heng didn’t respond, and he couldn’t say anything. The conversation ended on a sour note.

Lin Heng seemed to sense Bai Sihuan’s alienation from the Lin family and the fear that weighed on his heart. Cheng Sutang constantly wanted to drive him away. The housekeepers and servants never treated him as a young master, and even Karen didn’t consider him a master. While Lin Huan claimed to keep his son at home, he was actually prepared for Bai Sihuan to be kicked out at any moment.

Lin Heng still remembered the numerous arguments his father and mother had before Bai Sihuan arrived. His mother finally relented, thanks to Lin Huan’s words, “If he’s truly accustomed to the lower class and unsuitable for the Lin family, then you can kick him out if you want.”

For years, Cheng Sutang had constantly harped on Bai Sihuan’s “unsuitability.” It was all because of this child, seemingly weak but incredibly resilient. No matter how much he suffered, he kept it bottled up, never uttering a single word of bitterness. If he had Bai Yuancheng’s personality, he would have been kicked out two years ago.

Things were different now.

Lin Heng thought: Now, it was Bai Sihuan who was searching for his own “unsuitability.” He would leave, sooner or later. Just like back then, given the opportunity, he would have left immediately.

Lin Heng feared and worried about that day. He couldn’t bear to leave Bai Sihuan. But then he thought of his elder sister and Ah Yan, two people neither he nor his elder brother had protected, and he wondered: Was it right for Bai Sihuan to stay here? After two days of calming down, Bai Sihuan recalled his actions toward Lin Heng that day and felt a surge of guilt. He sought an opportunity to apologize, but he never found Lin Heng’s free time.

Today, he finally encountered Lin Heng, lost in thought, and Bai Sihuan called his name from the doorway.

Lin Heng glanced at him and asked, “What’s going on?”

Bai Sihuan forced a smile to avoid any awkwardness. “You’ve seemed a little cold toward me lately. Is it because of that day…”

“No,” Lin Heng replied bluntly before he could finish.

This decisive, emotionless response left Bai Sihuan at a loss for words.

He actually had something to say to Lin Heng. He wanted to tell him that he could apply for university in a few days, and that his grades were excellent, allowing him to attend a prestigious local university. Wasn’t that exactly what Lin Heng had been thinking?

But looking at Lin Heng now, it was unclear why he was in a bad mood, or perhaps he was still angry with him. He looked cold and indifferent. Bai Sihuan stood there awkwardly, thinking, “I’d better leave, so as not to upset anyone.”

As if just realizing it, Lin Heng glanced at Bai Sihuan, who was still standing at the door. His tone softened, and he said softly, “Come in.”

Bai Sihuan, who was about to turn to leave, heard this and looked at him with bright eyes, as if he had received a sudden surprise.

Lin Heng asked him to close the door, then waved to him, “Come in.”

Bai Sihuan closed the door and walked towards him with a half-doubted look.

Lin Heng looked Bai Sihuan in the eye and asked solemnly, “Do you like me?”

Bai Sihuan was startled by the question, his face flushing. “Huh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Just tell me, like me or not.”

“…”

Bai Sihuan didn’t answer, and Lin Heng stared at him quietly. The more he looked at Bai Sihuan’s face, the more complicated his emotions became, and his desire to possess him completely grew stronger.

The thought of him becoming someone else’s made Lin Heng’s inner rage grow.

Seeing Lin Heng’s strange expression, Bai Sihuan assumed he was angry again, so he whispered, as if to cheer him up: “Well, like me then.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Heng suddenly grabbed his hand and pushed him onto the bed.

“Lin Heng!” Bai Sihuan tried to resist, but Lin Heng pressed down with his entire body, immobilizing him.

Hearing Lin Heng’s heavy breathing, the friction behind him, and the kiss on his cheek, Bai Sihuan realized the gravity of the situation. Suddenly, panic seized him, and his entire body, from torso to fingers, trembled.

Nervous, afraid, trembling, an unknown fear made even Bai Sihuan’s breathing shaky.

He buried his face in the quilt, his body tense. The “let go” that escaped his throat was like a plea for mercy.

Lin Heng didn’t intend to stop. He kissed his ear and asked, “What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you like me?”

“Yes… but… I’ve never thought of doing something like this with you…”

Lin Heng rose slightly, staring at the waist faintly visible beneath his white shirt. His eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice, “But I do.”

“We can’t…” Bai Sihuan’s words were cut off by a slightly rough, clammy kiss.

After kissing for several minutes, Lin Heng pulled away from his lips, not giving him a chance to object. Listening to his trembling breaths, Lin Heng stripped him clean.

Lin Heng unzipped his pants, pressed Bai Sihuan’s head back, lifted his hips, and roughly spread his fingers, then recklessly tried to thrust inside.

Lin Heng had little knowledge of this subject, though he knew how to spread it. However, his p3nis was too large, and despite his patience, he couldn’t get it in several times, leaving Bai Sihuan’s knuckles white with pain.

Later, Lin Heng simply took some glycerin from the table and rubbed it inside Bai Sihuan. After two more attempts, he finally managed to slip in a little.

Perhaps the previous failure had inflamed Lin Heng’s spirit, but once inside, he thrust all the way in without hesitation. After Bai Sihuan couldn’t help but moan, he thrust forward with a fierce thrust.

Bai Sihuan bit the quilt tightly, daring not to make a sound. Sweat and tears mixed on his face, soaking the sheets.

In the midst of their intense pleasure, Aunt Liu knocked on the door and said, “Master Heng, Madam asked you…”

Before Aunt Liu could finish, Lin Heng barked through the door, “Tell her I’m busy!”

“But Madam…”

Lin Heng grabbed a book and slammed the door shut, “Get out!”

Silence fell outside, followed by the sound of trotting footsteps.

Lin Heng shifted Bai Sihuan into a different position and continued his furious thrusts. He felt an urge to torture Bai Sihuan. He wanted to see her cry, beg for mercy, and willingly obey his every command for the sake of his forgiveness.

But he knew he couldn’t treat Bai Sihuan like this. Driven by this suppressed desire, Lin Heng became even more violent, his movements becoming even more brutal and ferocious.

Bai Sihuan’s gasps were shattered by the impact, and he felt as if his consciousness had been shattered. Lin Heng picked him up and sat him on top, kissing him three or four times. He didn’t know when his mind went blank and his vision went black. In his confusion, he only felt Lin Heng grabbing his hair and whispering in his ear: “I really hope you will die in my arms like this.”