EIP 15

“Sitting on pins and needles”—that phrase perfectly described Zhou Jun’s state of mind. The tension between Yong Jin and his older brother crackled in the air as they exchanged fierce stares. Zhou Jun sat awkwardly between them, glancing from one side to the other. He suddenly realized how ridiculous his earlier comment about having a wife had been.

Zhou Yan looked at his foolish younger brother seated beside Yong Jin. His face was bruised, his clothes clearly borrowed, and his entire demeanor disheveled. Zhou Yan’s expression darkened further. Zhou Jun, sensing the shift in atmosphere, shifted uncomfortably and edged slightly farther from Yong Jin.

The most composed person in the room was, unsurprisingly, Yong Jin. He was on his own turf. With a calm gesture, he lifted a porcelain cup, took a sip of tea, and said leisurely, “Mr. Zhou, for certain matters, considering Jun Jun’s sake, I will not hesitate to help.”

Zhou Yan’s expression tightened, unreadable and strained. He thanked Yong Jin perfunctorily, then stated that he would be taking his useless younger brother to the hospital for a check-up and would no longer trouble Yong Jin with their presence.

As the two of them were getting up to leave, Yong Jin spoke again. “Mr. Zhou, you should know who was behind Jun Jun’s situation.”

Zhou Jun was startled and turned toward his brother. Zhou Yan paused in place but did not meet Zhou Jun’s gaze. Instead, he addressed Yong Jin directly. “There is no need for you to worry.”

He reached out to grab Zhou Jun’s wrist, only to find Zhou Jun resisting.

When he saw the look on his younger brother’s face, full of grievance and a flicker of suspicion, Zhou Yan frowned. “We’ll talk about it at home,” he said sternly.

But they did not even make it home before Zhou Jun began pressing the issue. Sitting in the car, his face serious, he asked repeatedly, “What’s going on?”

Zhou Yan refused to answer. His silence made it clear that he had no intention of offering explanations.

Zhou Jun let out a breath. “Elder Brother, I don’t know what Yong Jin wants with me, but he’s around all the time. If I’m not careful, I might end up being someone’s pawn. Just look at—”

Before he could finish, Zhou Yan slapped him lightly on the head.

Zhou Jun cried out in exaggerated protest. “Are you really my brother? I’m already covered in injuries, and you still hit me.”

Zhou Yan forced a smile, but it did not reach his eyes. “I’m not your brother. Go call Yong Jin your brother instead. ‘Jun Jun’? You two seem to get along quite well.”

Zhou Jun immediately sat up straight. “No, no, no. I only have you as my brother. How can Yong Jin compare to you?”

Zhou Yan, however, was not in the mood to joke. He stayed silent for a long moment before speaking again. “Yong Jin wants to suppress the family business. A month ago, I got wind of something happening at the docks and took precautions. He lost quite a few men in the process. So do you really think he has good intentions toward the Zhou family, or toward you?”

Zhou Jun had suspected something shady was going on, but he had not known the specifics. Hearing Zhou Yan’s words now, he asked cautiously, “Is it about the opium trade?”

Zhou Yan snorted. “Now that Yong Jin has secured some military power, he wants to clean things up from the inside out. Which soldier doesn’t smoke opium these days? He thinks he can manage the people beneath him and cut off the source. It’s not as easy as he thinks. The higher-ups have always turned a blind eye. He’s just being overly self-righteous.”

Zhou Jun felt a strange discomfort. He looked at his brother and said, “Opium is harmful. Have you ever thought about why the British sell it here but do not use it themselves?”

Zhou Yan stared ahead as the car rocked gently. His face showed a long-standing exhaustion. It looked like he had not smiled in years. His expression remained solemn as he said, “This Zhou family is large. Relying on the old businesses is not enough to sustain us anymore. Ever since the foreigners brought in their new, trendy goods, people no longer want what we have to offer. Our silk, wine, and other trades have been declining year after year. I cannot let the Zhou family collapse under my watch.”

Zhou Jun had never involved himself in family matters. He had not known how dire the situation was until now. He had always lived as a carefree young master, detached from responsibility, until he heard his brother sigh.

“I know perfectly well that opium is harmful. But your sister-in-law and the entire family rely on me. I have to protect them.”

Zhou Jun looked at him. A lump rose in his throat. Sorrow and guilt stirred in his chest. “Brother,” he called softly, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

Zhou Yan glanced at him, offering a faint, tired smile. “That’s why I told you to stay away from him. Did you listen?”

Zhou Jun fell silent. He realized now that if Yong Jin wanted to come after him, there was little he could do to stop it. He had not thought things through. He was just a powerless young master. If Yong Jin decided to pursue him, he would have no choice. All he could say was, “Brother, I’ll try not to drag the family down.”

Zhou Yan did not expect much from him anyway. “Just be honest. Don’t cause trouble. If it really comes to that, I’ll send you abroad.”

Zhou Jun had only returned to the country less than two years ago. He had no desire to leave again.

His brother closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat to rest. Zhou Jun sat there feeling restless. Even after all that had been said, he still had no idea who had attacked him that day.

From Yong Jin’s earlier words, it was clear he knew his older brother. Remembering the calculated display Yong Jin had put on in front of Zhou Yan, Zhou Jun finally understood. He was just a pawn, used by Yong Jin to pressure the Zhou family.

The thought made his chest tighten. He propped his chin on his hand and stared out the window, but his mind could not focus on anything outside.

Instead of taking him to the hospital, Zhou Yan brought him back to the apartment and said a private doctor would be coming over soon. Zhou Jun leaned against the door and refused. He said he was not seriously injured and did not need medical attention. All he cared about now was retrieving his German gun, which he had lost. He planned to get a new one from the family when he had the chance.

When he returned home, the housemaid was horrified by the state he was in. She scolded him and fussed over his wounds, steaming several eggs for him and instructing him on how to treat the bruises.

Zhou Jun rolled an egg over his face as he studied his reflection in the mirror. If his face were ruined, how could he go on dates?

He told the maid to inform anyone who called that he was not home, and that he did not know when he would return.

Several quiet days passed. By Friday, Yong Jin still had not contacted him. Zhou Jun figured the movie date was probably off.

He did not feel heartbroken, but a slight disappointment remained. He reminded himself that it had always been a game. Anyone who took it seriously would end up losing.

Yong Jin was like the peach blossom pastry Zhou Jun loved. Sweet, tempting, but bad for his health. Even if he craved the taste, he had to remind himself of the price.

He thought about that cold-faced Major General while biting into a piece of chocolate. He sat barefoot on the sofa, legs dangling over the armrest, savoring the sweetness. A green gemstone anklet knocked lightly against his skin, and for some reason, the touch reminded him of a finger tapping there.

Drowsiness crept in. Zhou Jun fell asleep on the sofa, drifting into a deep slumber. He had no idea what he dreamed about. When he opened his eyes, the sky outside had turned dark, and a soft lamp lit up the room.

Still groggy, he curled into the cushions before stretching out with a yawn. A soft sound escaped his lips as he moved, and the shift startled him. He nearly rolled off the sofa.

Across from him, a man sat in a single chair, reading a book. He was dressed in a clean military uniform. A whip rested on the small table beside him, next to an almost empty box of chocolates.

It was like a horror film. Zhou Jun thought of that movie where a husband sneaks into his wife’s bedroom at night, strangles her with a rope, and tosses her into a well. Cold sweat beaded down his spine. His heart raced as he pressed his hand to his chest.

He stammered out a question. “How did you get in here?”

Yong Jin set down the book. Seeing the fear on Zhou Jun’s face, he spoke in a soft, reassuring tone.

“Mr. Zhou, there is no need to be frightened. You were late for our meeting, and I was worried something had happened again. That’s why I came.”

Zhou Jun swallowed, trying to calm himself. “You called me Jun Jun in front of my brother. Now it’s back to Mr. Zhou?”

Yong Jin looked briefly surprised. Then his brows lifted, and he smiled. His voice softened again.

“I was wrong, Jun Jun.”