Chapter Forty: What It Means to Be Brothers

It was already a strange thing for Long Fei to become Ye Qian’s bodyguard, but Long Fei let it happen, simply wanting to see what trick Ye Wentian was hiding up his sleeve. From Ye Wentian’s glance just now, Long Fei discovered that Ye Wentian was also a master who concealed his abilities, his skills far superior to those of the assassins from earlier. Why did he hide this, though? And what exactly did he hold in his hands that could draw the gaze of such a powerful, mysterious force?

Everything remained unknown, and questions crowded Long Fei’s mind, yet he did not ask. He had a feeling that Ye Wentian would one day tell him all the answers, that the truth would come in time.

Ye Wentian seemed to have guessed Long Fei’s thoughts and spoke seriously, “Long Fei, do you have many questions in your heart?”

Long Fei nodded, not denying it.

“It’s not time to tell you yet. When the moment is right, you’ll know everything. But remember this: you must protect Xiao Qian’s safety. She is very important to you, and she will be of immense help to you!” Ye Wentian furrowed his brows, his tone mysterious.

Long Fei was taken aback, but Ye Wentian had already walked away after saying this.

The driver who had just been rescued from the Xiali car by Long Fei was finally revived. He felt incredibly lucky—his car had exploded, yet he’d suffered only minor injuries. Of course, he understood that it was thanks to Long Fei.

Before Long Fei crashed the car into the two assassins, the driver had been scared out of his wits by the brutal scene, and his fear of those killers had sunk deep into his mind. But when he awoke, those three assassins, who had held the advantage, had already been slain one by one by Long Fei, and their deaths were ghastly.

Thinking of Long Fei’s driving skills, and then his terrifying martial prowess, the driver—who’d finally managed to leave the underworld—now felt his ambition rekindled. He rushed to Long Fei, his face flushed with excitement, body trembling, voice quivering, “Boss, please accept me! From now on, I’ll be your most loyal follower. I’ll go through fire and water for you without hesitation. My admiration for you is like the surging river, endlessly flowing, and like—”

“Enough, you lunatic!” Long Fei quickly cut off the driver’s flattery. This man was truly disgusting—how could a man be so revolting?

Long Fei rode with Ye Qian to Dream Garden. As soon as they reached the entrance, they were met by Qi Yufei, who had rushed out upon hearing the news. Seeing her daughter safe, Qi Yufei couldn’t hold back her tears. It was the first time Long Fei had seen Qi Yufei cry since he’d come to Dream Garden, and in his eyes, her tears hurt him deeply.

Mother and daughter entered the house together. Qi Yufei glared fiercely at Ye Wentian, whose eyes avoided her gaze, but as soon as Qi Yufei’s figure disappeared at the doorway, he quickly looked back.

“Let’s sit here for a while, lest we get scolded again if we go inside,” Ye Wentian, evidently experienced, sat with Long Fei in the open-air plaza, instructing the bodyguards to brew coffee for both of them.

Long Fei took a sip—the taste was rich, with a faint fruity aroma. The world knew that Jamaica produced nine hundred tons of Blue Mountain coffee annually, and ninety percent was shipped to Japan. The chance to buy a single barrel from the remaining ten percent was extremely slim, yet Long Fei was certain he was drinking Blue Mountain coffee now. Not only because he’d once drank it like water in Jamaica, but also because he recognized Ye Wentian’s status.

Still, Long Fei didn’t feel this coffee was as good as the authentic Dahongpao from the cliffs of Mount Wuyi—absolutely not.

Just like Rolls-Royce cars and Stradivarius violins, when something gains the reputation of “the best in the world,” that reputation shapes its own identity, becoming an eternal legend.

Blue Mountain coffee was just such a legend.

“Do you have something to say?” Ye Wentian’s gaze was sharp, immediately sensing that Long Fei had words on his mind.

Long Fei wasn’t surprised. After much hesitation, he said, “Actually, I can tell you care deeply for your wife—perhaps even more than for Ye Qian.”

Ye Wentian was startled by Long Fei’s probing gaze and didn’t hide his surprise, “You can even see that? I’m really starting to appreciate you, Long Fei. Work hard—don’t let down the expectations behind you, nor us.”

Long Fei didn’t quite understand Ye Wentian’s words, but he wouldn’t ask. Instead, he continued, “But I don’t get why you deliberately keep your distance from your wife in public.”

“You really want to know why?” A sudden tenderness appeared in Ye Wentian’s eyes.

Long Fei nodded, “I’m just curious. You don’t have to tell me.”

“All right, I’ll tell you. Perhaps you’re the only one who truly understands me. She’s the woman I love most in this world. Winning her wasn’t easy—it was luck, really. So I cherish her all the more. And because I love her so much, I deliberately keep my distance. But I think she understands my feelings.” Ye Wentian’s words left Long Fei confused for a moment.

“If I didn’t do this, perhaps those people wouldn’t have targeted only Xiao Qian today. Do you understand?” Ye Wentian’s expression grew grave. “But if they dare lay a hand on her, I’ll make them pay dearly. No one can take her from my side—not even him!” Ye Wentian’s aura burst forth, moving Long Fei—this was the real Ye Wentian, like a lion awakened from sleep.

Long Fei was further convinced of Ye Wentian’s extraordinary nature, his heart tightening as he continued to probe, “But do you think this is fair to Ye Qian?”

“Xiao Qian?” A hint of gloom and guilt flashed in Ye Wentian’s eyes. “Maybe it’s not fair to her, but I love her very much! Whatever she’s wanted since childhood, I’ve given her. I just hope she can be happy now.”

Suddenly, Long Fei felt a little sympathy for Ye Qian. It seemed the Ye family’s situation was more complicated than he’d imagined. Another question lingered: why didn’t Ye Wentian share a room with Qi Yufei? But he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

Taking a gentle sip of coffee, Ye Wentian suddenly sighed, as if speaking to Long Fei, or perhaps to himself, “In this life, everyone must bear responsibility for society and for others. No one can escape the whims of fate. Whether you want to or not, some things you simply must do.”

Long Fei increasingly felt that Ye Wentian wasn’t truly happy. He had wealth, power, a beautiful wife, and a daughter, yet Long Fei pitied him—a feeling that made no sense to Long Fei himself, but he couldn’t shake it.

“Long Fei, do you think brotherhood is more important, or love?” Ye Wentian lowered his head and asked softly.

Long Fei replied without hesitation, “Love!”

Brotherhood—what was it? When you had no lover, brothers could give their all for you. Of course, Long Fei said this because he had to choose one or the other. If asked, he would say both mattered. Thinking of Dogzi and Iron Bull, warmth surged in Long Fei’s heart—they should be back soon. It had been over three years since he’d seen them; he wondered if they were even stronger now.