duet

"... Xiao Xun."

Xu Liang opened his mouth, but in the end he only uttered two words.

Pei Xun had called him brother many times.When he called people, his voice was very soft, and he would pause slightly between the two words, dragging out a somewhat soft tone.This is a name full of trust and affection. The two people who give and receive the title are not relatives, but they are more than relatives. In the past years, they have grown up together, and they have been with each other for a long time, like hands and feet, like two pedicles. two branches.

If he was more mature and experienced, he might still be able to pretend that Pei Xun just greeted him as usual as in the past - but everyone present knew that this was just self-deception.

They looked at each other, knowing that the other clearly understood the meaning behind the claim.This is a tacit understanding that has been almost engraved in the bones for the past 20 years.

"You know." Pei Xun nodded slightly, as if he had completed the final confirmation, "—how long have you known?"

"Always." Xu Mu said.

Pei Xun repeated: "Always?"

"Yes," he said, "sorry."

He'd always known this day would come.

From the very beginning, he knew that he was a child whose father could not see the light.His father had listed many reasons for not being able to live with him: pressure from his ancestors, a marriage related to commercial interests, and attention from the outside world—he was a person who attracted the attention of the media, so he couldn’t suddenly have an extra illegitimate child... Obedient, never shake your head and say no.So he was placed in a remote house, and his father visited him once a week, and occasionally took him out together. When introducing him to others, he would say: he is a friend's child.

After several years, one day, he was finally taken to the place where his father usually lived.The servant brought over a boy carved in pink and jade. The boy seemed to have rarely seen his peers, and when he saw him, he smiled very sweetly.Then the father came over, stood between the two of them, and said to the boy first: "This is the son of Uncle Xu's family, you should call him brother."

At that time, he had never seen this "Uncle Xu", and he raised his face in surprise when he heard this.Later, he knew that it was a trusted friend of Pei Hong who was willing to recognize this strange "son" for him.From then on, in front of outsiders, his name was "Xu Liang".

Then the father turned his face and said to him: This is my son, Pei Xun.

As early as the moment we met, the lie was already formed.It's just that no one knew at that time what the adult lies would shape in the years to come and what they would destroy in the end.

"...I'm sorry," Pei Xun didn't speak, so he apologized again, "I... thought about telling you. I'm sorry."

Pei Xun looked at him steadfastly, and suddenly laughed.

In the ears of others, this smile is ironic, ridiculing, and must have malicious intentions - anyone can see it like this.Pei Xun stood there with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but he didn't seem to be smiling at all.He had never smiled so badly, and so did his eyes, clearly trying to grab a little focus, but they were still collapsing, collapsing from the inside out, crumbling.

Xu Liu's eyelashes trembled.They were all motionless, standing straight, like two frozen statues.It was Pei Hong who spoke, and he took a step towards Pei Xun: "What do you want to do?"

The voice was low and angry.The brows were furrowed into deep ravines, and the corners of the mouth were also tightly pursed.He just stared at Pei Xun like this: "It's none of your business here - get out."

His language, expression, and body all clearly expressed resistance, separating the three people within close proximity into two parties.Pei Hong stood between the two of them, deliberately blocking Pei Xun's line of sight, as if in a defensive posture.Pei Xun was used to the way he gave orders, but he had never been treated like an enemy like this before. For a while, he was even a little novel, and almost laughed again.

He stood where he was, looking at his two relatives.

That day, he was reminded by Xu Liang, and went to the old house to find the photo album. From the first moment he saw the boy in the photo, he felt vaguely familiar.It's just that at the time he took it for granted that it was like Pei Hong, but now that the truth was clearly laid out in front of him, he realized later that it was clearly the young Xu Liang.

—he should have realized that earlier.

Now, the people in the old photos stood in front of him over 20 years. Even if one frowns tightly and the other lowers his head slightly, the similarities in the faces of the two are still so obvious.This is the cause and effect destined by blood, which cannot be cut off or hidden, and it is clearly raised like pebbles on the river beach—how stupid is he that he didn't realize it before?

...Or maybe, he had realized it a long time ago—he just kept resisting and escaping, and couldn't believe that such a funny thing would happen to him.Until he clicked on the email, all the profile photos of the target person were listed one by one for him to read, but just the photos on the first page were enough to make him dare not look any further—he was all too familiar with them, belonging to "Brother " face, smiling at him.

"What am I going to do?" He seemed to be answering Pei Hong's question, and also seemed to be talking to himself, "I can't do anything."

He can probably guess what will happen here tonight.The male protagonist of the wedding will stand on the stage. He is handsome and generous, has a successful career, has just signed a big deal, and married a well-matched girl, bringing glory to the entire family and business.More importantly, he is obedient and sensible, and has been Pei Hong's right-hand man for many years—how good he is, enough to bear the title of "Pei's son".So Pei Hongjiang stepped onto the stage, and after some courteous remarks, he publicly admitted their father-son relationship: This will be my heir, please take care of me in the future.

What kind of reaction will the audience have?They might be taken aback for a moment, isn't there only one son in the Pei family, why is there another one?But it doesn't matter, they are all here for Xu Liang, and they all have various interests with him. Of course, it is best for him to be the heir.Clap clap, applause rang out, and some people might say: Yes, this is what the son of the Pei family should look like!Others followed suit.

At this time, he, who should have known nothing, was sitting among them. Of course, he couldn't openly criticize him. He could only swallow the bitter fruit alone, pretending not to see the eyes cast on him by the people around him.Those people will observe all this like watching a play, spy on every crack in his face, or contemptuously, or mockingly, guessing his fate in their hearts...

He's been in this ridiculous drama for too many years.Even after such a change, the character will suddenly change from "unsupportable dude" to "abandoned child".He really can't do anything, stand up and make a fuss?Even now he can't do it.This is Xu Liang's wedding, and it is the most important day in his life so far. After so many years of wearing a false identity, he is finally going to be recognized by his family. Maybe he has waited for many years for this; this is his "Brother"'s wedding, even if he suddenly found out such news, like being slapped in the face in public, it would not destroy what that person was looking forward to - he had loved this person from the bottom of his heart, how...how could he be willing.

"It's not that you calculated well," it's not that you won.

Pei Xun smiled and shook his head: "I'm too stupid."

He walked to the side table and put down the bouquet of flowers.Xu Liang subconsciously took a step towards him, as if he wanted to stop something - but Pei Xun turned sideways and reached out to his underwear pocket.

He put things on the table one by one.

A few bank cards - from major banks, which used to be a symbol of his status as "Pei's son"; a bunch of keys - including all the vehicles and real estate in his name, all came from Pei Hong's gift.

"There are still some certificates of property rights, which will be sent later...the formalities will be completed as soon as possible." Pei Xun stood up straight, and nodded to Xu Liang, "Wedding gift."

"What do you mean?" Pei Hong was startled, then he was startled and angry, "Cut off ties with me? Where do you have the qualifications?"

"The expenses you have spent on me over the years, I will remit to you as soon as possible," Pei Xun seemed not to have heard his words, "In the future... well, I won't embarrass you anymore."

This sentence has been stuck in my throat for many years.At this time, I finally said it, as if the long-suffering turbidity had dissipated, and my heart was unprecedentedly clear and clear, which made people want to smile.

Since it is no longer needed, there is no need to occupy this position anymore.

Anyway - finally, for the first time, he can face the fact - I have always been a product of your "last resort".

"You can afford it?" Pei Hong didn't believe it at all, "Where did you get the money? Without me—"

"—I'm not that useless." Pei Xun smiled.

He pushed open the door.

There is a bustling flow of people outside the door.The waiters passed by in a hurry, and many guests came occasionally.Occasionally someone recognized him and turned to whisper to the people around him.Pei Xun passed through them and walked to the door, when suddenly someone grabbed his wrist.

He turned his head.Xu Liang stood behind him, with real worry and anxiety on his face: "Don't be like this...Xiao Xun."

He seemed to have a lot to say, but he fell silent from then on.People passing by gave them curious looks, and Pei Xun waited for a while before saying, "The guests are waiting for you. Go back first."

"What about you?" Xu Liang asked, "Will you come back?"

Pei Xun looked at him.

Like the epilogue of a drama, the protagonists look into each other's eyes and say their final goodbyes.Calm, slow and firm.

For many years, he was trapped in this identity, and he was exhausted.Struggling and resisting were all treated as insignificant trifles; I once bowed to what I thought was a family relationship, and pretended to live unrestrainedly under the surveillance of others, but there was no reconciliation... In the end, this was the only result.

This long farce has gone on for far too long.The acting made him rusty and muddled, and finally... scraped off the rust all over his body, it hurt, but he was free.

Pei Xun gently broke away from his hand.

"No," he said.

"I—do not act anymore."