Chapter 10 - Ying Di

Early in the evening, the servant called him down for dinner.

Jua Gu got dressed in a simple hoodie and went down the stairs to the dining room. There was a huge mahogany table with at least twenty or so chairs.

Two people were seated at the head of the table.

Beside them sat the young man who tried to kiss him, and opposite to him was the young boy he saved from the kidnappers.

Jua Gu hesitated. 'So where do I sit?' He silently walked to the other side and sat beside the young boy.

It's better to sit here than sit with his potentially new boyfriend.

The young man seemed disappointed by this, but he put on a small smile. "Jua, did you rest well?"

"Hmm, I slept well."

"I talked to your doctors. They said that you're very healthy," he said softly. But then he said something that seemed like he was accusing him of something. "I am; just don't remember anything."

"What do you remember?" the lady who was sitting at the head of the table suddenly talked to him. Jua faced her. She looked to be in her late thirties, but she maintained her skin very well. She had a kind smile on her face.

His lips twicthed. 'She is so fake…' Even so, he smiled, shook his head. "I don't remember anything, not even your names or my family's names."

The young boy beside him flinched. "You don't know my name?! Are you kidding me?"

Jua Gu took a deep breath. "I really don't remember your name. What is it?" The boy glared up at him. "Ying Mao."

"Ying Mao. It's nice to meet you," he held out his hand. The boy gazed at his hand like he was looking at a dirty cockroach. "Yeah, yeah."

"Jua, I'm Ying Di. Do you really not remember who I am?"

Jua sighed. "I don't. Nice to meet you, Ying Di," he said less enthusiastically.

As for the couple at the head of the table, they did not bother to introduce themselves. Jua Gu gazed at the man. He looked about forty or so… he lovingly placed side dishes on the lady's plate. He did not seem to even listen to their conversation. All his attention was on her.

'Weird… his eyes look blank.' The man's eyes were like black orbs without any light in them. 'He… he has been dragged by something.'

The servant brought in five-course meals. Before Jua could even finish it, the plates were taken away, leaving him slightly hungry by the end of the ordeal. The dinner went by quickly.

The man and the lady of the house left without a word, leaving only the youngsters behind.

"Jua…" Ying Di stood up, looking at him.

"Brother," Ying Mao ran to him. "Can we play? I found a new game that is really interesting." The kid clung to his arm.

Ying Di hesitantly looked his way.

Jua silently bowed and left the room.

Ying Mao watched him with a cute frown. "Don't be so close to him, brother. He is weird."

His eldest brother gently patted the top of his head. "Don't say that about him. He is my friend."

"You have a bad taste in friends."

His eldest brother watched keenly as the treacherous boy climbed up the stairs. 'What does he even like him? That boy is troublesome. He is also great at acting. Look how well he pretended to not know me…'

"I need to talk to him," Ying Di ran after him.

"Brother." Ying Mao stomped his feet in frustration and ran after them.

"Jua! Wait."

Jua Gu glanced back with his brows raised. "What is it?"

"I'm… I'm your best friend. Is it okay if we were the same as before…" he grabbed Jua's hand and gave a slightly squeeze. "I really don't want to lose you."

"Brother, what are you saying? He is not worth it," Ying Mao clung to his legs, glaring up at him.

He chuckled softly. "I'm sorry. I can't be the same because I am not the same. The old Jua Gu you knew disappeared long back. I'm the new me. I don't want to be your friend."

Ying Di suddenly rushed up to him and held his hand tightly. "Are you really pretending?" he said in a harsher whisper.

Noticing the chance, Jua Gu curiously gazed at him. "I'm not."

"Very well then… you asked for this, Jua."

"Brother, wait for me…" the younger boy rushed after his eldest brother.

Jua watched them climb the stairs. He was thoroughly entertained. One brother was pining over him while the other younger brother hated him to the core. It was funny, actually.

The eldest brother stopped by the end of the stairs, looking down at him with a strange look in his eyes. He seemed to be waiting for him to pass by.

'What now…' Jua Gu wanted nothing to do with him. So, he walked past him.

Suddenly, he felt someone push him.

He tumbled back and hit the young boy standing behind him. Eyes wide open, he watched the eldest brother smile as they tumbled down together. 'Oh my god… this person is a fucking psycho.'