Zichen enters Pearl Mansion, driving his car through the gate and parking it in front of the big waterfall. At night, the waterfall glows with colorful lights placed beside it. the sun has set two hours ago and his work is almost finished as well. 

He got a call from his father earlier and he asked him to come home to have dinner. Zichen did protest but it was an order by his father and he is bound to follow it. he assumes his father must have called him to reconcile with his brother. He does not have an interest in going to join the dinner and fake smiles to his older brother. Just for the sake of his mother, he is here. 

His six feet height emerges as he steps out of the car. Straightening his suit, he heads inside the house. Noticing him, the two maids who are passing by with flowers in their hands, bows to him. their faces change instantly from carefree to stiff and one can see they are intimidated by Zichen.

Ignoring them, Zichen goes to the living room where he guesses his mother must be. The Pearl Mansion is the polar opposite of his villa. the mansion always appears festive and the glow is so strong that it can be outside the gates as well. everything is of royal colors which Zichen finds too bright. There are over more than two hundred vases and in each one of them are different types of flowers. His mother loves her flower and she makes sure, it is changed every alternate day. While this house so bright and colorful, Zichen's is dark and mysterious which one will think before entering inside. 

This house is vast, with more than thirty bedrooms plus guest rooms, it almost is like a five-star royal hotel. He doesn't get why and how his mother manages to live here all on her own. He called her many times before to live with him to have company, but she loves living here and won't go anywhere else. When she asked him the same thing, he refused and so the discussion was closed there. 

Reaching the living room, he hears voices and the one voice struck him. the one which he does not wish to hear or to see his face. inhaling in a deep breath, he strides inside the room. Noticing his presence, his mother's face lights up. "Zichen, my son!" she squeals, her smile wides as she approached to hug him. But Zichen's eyes are on something. A familiar figure sits on the couch and when he turns behind, his eyes lock with Zichen. Zichen narrows his eyes at him, his eyes showing his hatred towards him. 

When his mother hugs him, he does not hug her back because his attention is all to the man who is grinning at him, his brother. Zichen body goes rigid and he steels, ready to leave when his mother stops him. 

Her doe eyes are pleading with him with utmost sincerity, "Please, son." He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. He knew his brother is in town but he isn't expecting to see him today. He should have known why his father would call him. 

Zhi Ruo smiles and pulls Zichen to where his brother stands. His mother gives him an apologetic smile. His lips are pursed together and his eyes narrow and cold. "Your brother came back after a long time, Zichen. Why don't you ask how his stay in France was?" his mother encourages, making him sit opposite to his brother. 

Zichen says nothing and looks anywhere but not at his face. 

Seeing that Zichen will not say anything, his brother, Fu Donghai, starts, "How are you doing, Zichen? Everything's good?" 

Zichen's jaw flexes and he is barely controlling himself. Just for the sake of his mother, he is here or else he would have gone when he heard his voice. "Fine."

His mother is relieved and satisfied that her two sons are somehow talking so to make them more comfortable, she thinks of leaving them alone. "I'll check on the dinner. You two talk" she smiles and leaves the living room. 

When Zhi Ruo is gone, Zichen raises his eyes and looks at his elder brother's face. it's been nine years and he hasn't changed a bit, his almost black eyes still hold the same dullness as if there is no light in them. His Roman nose, thin lips, and face are paler than before. He is now smiling more than he ever has. He is good at pretending, isn't he? Zichen thinks and scoffs. 

"You must be living pretty well, aren't you my little brother?" Donghai, says with a hint of envy and mock. His legs are crossed as he sits facing Zichen. 

"You still are the same. Always shallow and never see the good in others" Zichen bit out, sneering at him. over the years, he realizes that he was better off without a brother. When he saw others with their older brother, he felt envious and he would tear the moment they would see them. now he has grown up and knows what's right and what's wrong. 

His older brother smiles as he shakes his head. "I have changed a lot over the years. You are the one who is the same. You were jealous of me back then and you still are. You just cannot see me happy, can you?" he accuses with a defiant smile. 

"Why do you hate me?" Zichen blurts. This question remains a question deep inside his heart and no one can answer that except the person himself. He once thought his elder brother loves him, but after the incident, he realized he never did. 

As if it's a silly question, Donghai scoffs, "You ask why I hate you? You should know that by now, Zichen. You left me alone in that abandoned house!" he rises from his seat, his face flush with anger pumping into him and his voice is loud enough for the people outside the room to hear. He continues, "For three days, I rot in that place! And only I know what I have ex[erinced there!"

Zichen listens to whatever he is saying. he has reasons to argue on it, to make him know that he is wrong about the whole thing but he keeps his mouth shut. Exhaling out, he gets up and starts to leave because there's no reason for him to stay here with someone who harbors nothing but hatred for him. 

Just as he is starting to leave, Donghai, catches him by his arm, sneering says, "Now you want to leave? Afraid to face reality right? You piece of shit, you ruined my life!" Zichen yanks his arm from his hold and glares at him. he will not say anything, nothing. He chants in his mind over and over to keep his temper under control. "How can a traitor like you deserve to live such a good life?" his brother keeps on accusing him, trying to make him angry. "You were the one who did wrong, yet I was punished!" Getting closer to his ear, he whispers, "You were a bastard, you are a bastard." and it is enough for Zichen to lose his calm. He charges over him by grabbing the collar of his sky blue shirt and shoots him a look. He gives a punch on his jaw and he falls back, faltering. Donghai is not backing away as well, he lunges forward and punches him on his face as well. more punches and curses come and it almost looks wild and intense. 

At that moment, her mother enters with a smile on her face, but seeing her two sons fighting, she shrieks and runs to untangle them. she calls her husband, yelling his name loudly. By the time, he arrives, she tries to separate them but she is too weak to get in between two big men. "Zichen! Donghai! Stop!" she bellows but no one listens.

Blood spills from Zichen's lower as he backs away but he will kick his ass again if he ignites the fire. His father comes running and in a frantic sense. "What happen?" he darts his eyes at the two of them and his eyes widens. "What are the two of doing?" he bellows, narrowing his eyes at the two of them. both his sons glare at each other, their chest rising and falling. 

"I am out" Zichen grits out, shooting a look to his father and then his mother, and turns to leave. His mother protests but she does not press it more. It's better if they do not see each other for now. 

He shouldn't have come here in the first place. The cold air hits the cut on his lower lip and he hisses at the pain shoots but it isn't anything with his head full of rage. Hopping into his porch, he starts the engine and the car starts moving.