Chapter 87 : Thinking of Making an Instant Explosion for My Brother
anwhile, elsewhere.
From the corridor on the second floor of the hall, the entire party could be seen at a glance. The crystal chandelier cast a warm halo of light, and guests moved between long tables filled with desserts.
Langdon Perry stood behind the railing, posture straight. He wore a suit today, his thick hair ticulously combed back.
Although a smile rested at the corner of his mouth, it lasted only until his younger brother Nock swayed into view.
Facing this younger brother who spent all day idling about with no discipline or purpose, he truly could not maintain a good mood.
“Brother, why did you call ? I was busy,” Nock said as he walked beside Langdon, leaning crookedly against the railing while his gaze drifted downstairs.
Hearing this, Langdon looked at his brother’s hands stuffed in his pockets and his sa frivolous deanor. His brows imdiately twitched. “Busy? You an pressing your warm face against cold indifference, acting like a clown or a bootlicker and disgracing the Perry Family?”
“You saw that? Do not talk nonsense, I was not—”
“Enough. Are the rumors about you still not nurous enough?” Langdon folded his arms, disappointnt evident in every word, speaking with the gravity of an elder brother.
“Those are just trivial matters…”
“Trivial? The reputation of the Perry Family is never trivial. Listen carefully. I do not care how you behave outside, but starting today, you are forbidden from pestering Miss Vivian.”
Langdon took a deep breath and continued rcilessly, “If there is another ti, I will make clear to Father all the things you have done.”
“Why?! I like her. What is wrong with that?!”
“Because I am your brother! I am doing this for your own good!”
SLAP!
The wooden railing trembled from the force of his palm. Nock froze for a mont, staring unwillingly at his brother.
Light shone from the side, casting deep shadows across Langdon’s face, making him appear harsher than usual.
In Nock’s mory, his brother had always been the most outstanding person in the family — whether in academics, business, appearance, or deanor, he was the one everyone praised.
Father would always pat his shoulder and say, [This is the heir of my Perry Family], while Mother proudly showed guests the honors Langdon had received.
And Nock himself? He barely counted even as a fringe — at most a vague and dispensable figure within the family background.
Did he resent it?
He did, but he did not resent his brother. On the contrary, he respected him sowhat, because every ss he caused outside would be cleaned up afterward. It was very convenient.
Accustod to such a fearless life, he naturally walked further and further down the road of “not outstanding,” the distance between him and his brother becoming ever clearer.
Now being ordered like this, Nock found it hard to accept. He had finally felt genuine attraction once, yet it was to be cut off by his own brother.
But because of Father’s pressure, if those past deeds were exposed, the lightest punishnt would be months of confinent, and the worst would be expulsion from the family.
Blocked from approaching the person he liked, his already questionable mind began to wander. Finally, he muttered unwillingly in a low voice:
“Tsk… you say it is for my good. Are you not actually interested in Vivian too? Quite shaless to compete with your younger brother.”
“What did you say? Brat, dare say that again?” Langdon imdiately flared with anger.
No reply ca from his brother — he even glared fiercely before turning to leave.
“Get back here! Tsk… just wait to be confined!”
…
Only echoes lingered in the corridor. When the piano music from downstairs rose again, his tightly drawn brows eased, frustrated by iron that refused to beco steel.
He loosened his fist, rubbed his temples, and released a belated sigh.
Subconsciously, he reached into his trouser pocket but did not find what he wanted. Just as he felt troubled, the butler appeared.
It was the sa middle-aged man who had delivered the ssage earlier. Like tily help in falling snow, he respectfully presented a finely cut premium cigar with both hands.
“Eldest Young Master, please calm yourself. Perhaps the Young Master spoke only in anger?”
“Hmph. Do you think I do not know him?”
Langdon held the cigar between his lips, slightly lowering his head to et the offered lighter. After taking a drag, he slowly continued, “Later, send soone to keep a close eye on him. If he still refuses advice, report to
imdiately.”
“As you command. Only… there is one thing I do not understand…”
“Speak directly. There is no need for such caution between us.”
The old butler nodded with a smile. “If the Young Master truly has affection and genuine feelings for Miss Vivian, why stop him?”
“There is no ‘if.’ That boy is rely captivated by appearance. Have you ever seen him truly persist in liking anything? Let alone a person.”
Langdon answered decisively, allowing no doubt. After all, no one understood Nock better than he did — not even their parents.
Yet sothing still puzzled the old butler. Seeing his hesitation, Langdon quickly realized what he was thinking.
He did not explain imdiately. Instead, he looked again toward the first-floor party, his gaze returning to the sofa corner he had been observing. The smile reappeared on his face.
The old butler followed his line of sight — it was Miss Vivian sitting alone on the sofa. He could not help wondering if the younger master’s guess had been true.
But Langdon’s next words dispelled the absurd notion.
“Do you think Miss Vivian is beautiful?”
“Of course, Young Master. She stands above ten thousand others. Even God would surely look twice,” the old butler answered honestly, then added, “Perhaps… only soone as outstanding as you would be the most suitable match.”
Langdon paused. The remark nearly made him laugh, and the cigar almost slipped from his fingers.
He steadied it quickly and shook his head, the curve of his lips aningful.
He considered himself worthy of being called excellent, confident in his appearance as well, and admitted Vivian was indeed as the old butler described.
But… he had never thought of being “matched” with her.
“You misunderstand. Miss Vivian is indeed beautiful, but whether we are suited… if you ask …”
His words stopped in a chuckle. After a while, he spoke mysteriously, “You see a beautiful flower waiting to be plucked, but I see a different scene.”
“A flower that beautiful needs another flower equally, or even more outstanding, to complent it. Two twin blossoms growing together and reflecting each other — that is truly pleasing to the eye.”
“Please forgive . I do not quite understand…”
“It is fine.” Langdon patted the old butler’s shoulder, his smile widening. “You are of age, so naturally you cannot understand what we young people think.”
The damned generation gap.
The old butler was left bewildered. Flowers… should they not be picked?
In his view, a beautiful young lady should naturally be matched with an excellent young master — that seed only proper.
A pity.
Clearly soone who had never tasted fine cuisine, while Langdon had tasted too much. Now encountering sothing rare, even harboring the slightest possessive thought would be a violation of morality.
What could be more interesting than watching flowers spark against each other?
As if recalling sothing, Langdon suddenly asked, “By the way, where is Miss Baifuli now?”
“Young Master, Miss Baifuli found the party too noisy and is currently in the lounge.”
“Good. I should inform her that her younger sister has arrived. Bring the finest bottle of red wine and co with .”
“Yes, Young Master.”
…
Reviews
All reviews (0)