While rubbing his sore behind, Ji Syaoran made his way to his brother's place. He was already here in the same building. It didn't feel right for him to just leave like this. Also, he still had matters to discuss with his elder brother.

"Ran Zi? What are you doing here?" Xiao Zhiren was perplexed seeing him so early in the morning. After all, who in the Ji Family didn't know that young master Syaoran loved his sleep just slightly less than his elder brother.

"Why can't I be here? This is your place which makes it mine as well." Ji Syaoran slid himself in like a worm.

"What's wrong with your face? I thought my brother loved his image the most." Xiao Zhiren didn't want to push him about why he was here. Naturally, he knew Ji Syaoran will crack soon enough. That's why he chose the next important topic of him looking like a sleep-deprived lunatic.

"This look?" Ji Syaoran peeled off his jacket and threw it on the ground like a kid saying, "This is all your fault. No, wait! This is all your boyfriend's fault!"

Xiao Zhiren spurted out his coffee and started coughing with a weird look on his face. "Boyfriend? How many times have I told you to think before speaking?" Xiao Zhiren angrily rebuked him while wiping his mouth to get rid of the remnants of the coffee.

Ji Syaoran fell on the couch leisurely while saying, "Please, don't try to hide it from me. I saw you kiss him last night in the hallway."

Xiao Zhiren immediately understood what was going on. So, he calmly sat beside him and said, "Don't strain your tiny little brain. There is nothing like what you think."

Ji Syaoran's eyes brightened up as he sat straight up and said, "You mean, you still love that thankless girl, right? Please, say yes. I don't want you to love this ruthless guy. It's not that I won't support you but he's... He said he is not interested in you and I don't want you to get hurt."

It took Xiao Zhiren a while to digest Ji Syaoran's rambling but as he did, the light in his eyes had dimmed a bit. "Did he say that himself?" Ji Syaoran frowned and he had to continue, "About... Not being interested in me?"

"Oh, that! Yes. He said it straight to my face. I'm telling you he's ruthless and there is nothing noble about him as well. He literally picked me up and threw me out the door." Xiao Zhiren's lips turned slightly upward when he heard what Ru did. He could literally visualize her annoyed look.

With a sigh, Xiao Zhiren rubbed his brother's messy hair and said, "Who told you to go to him? If you'll spout nonsense, obviously he'll kick you out. Stop assuming things. Rong is straight and I am also straight."

Ji Syaoran felt all his tiredness vanishing as he brightened up but soon frowned again. "Bro, what about the kiss?"

Xiao Zhiren bit the inside of his cheek trying to come up with an excuse. "Umm... That... You can say it was a... Accident."

"Accident?" Ji Syaoran sounded quite curious.

"Yes. An accident." Xiao Zhiren reassured him.

Ji Syaoran stayed quiet for a moment before speaking again, "But bro, I really won't blame you if you fell for him. He looks quite similar to that girl." Xiao Zhiren didn't answer him. "You still only love her, right?"

Xiao Zhiren smiled softly and said, "I do love her and only her. There is no doubt about that."

Ji Syaoran heaved a sigh of relief and felt like a fool for overthinking. He should have come to Xiao Zhiren straight away instead of bickering with Rong. What a pity that he made the wrong tiger angry. Recalling her bloody eyes, Ji Syaoran gulped in fear and a shiver ran down his spine.

"Silly brother, how can I forget her? All I ever wanted was to make her smile. And when she did smile, I fell all over in love with her. No matter what, I'm still at the losing end."

Ji Syaoran looked at his brother's back as he stood up and made his way towards the kitchen.

"Go and freshen up. I'll make breakfast for you as well." Xiao Zhiren told Ji Syaoran while putting on his apron.

"Can I get pancakes? Pretty please."

"It depends whether you plan on looking for Rong again or not?"

"I won't. I promise!"

"Then let me get your pancakes ready."

Ji Syaoran smiled in victory, not knowing that he was the one who was played by Xiao Zhiren. Zhiren knew if Ji Syaoran went again to Ru, her nature won't allow her to let him leave unharmed.