Shi Jin didn't even look at him. His voice was raised high, pacing nervously in circles and occasionally pointing a finger at his face. He spoke quickly, "Cry? Yes, I shouldn't cry. What's the use of crying in the face of your malice? To deal with a despicable person like you, just curse them! Fatso? So what if I'm fat? Personal attacks are the lowest form of behavior that only talentless people resort to! Do your fans know how bad you really are? Don't you think you're being too harsh on yourself when you say these things?"

Memories and emotions flooded in like a tide, and the scene around him changed again. It was a mansion, a hospital, and every terrifying sound of a door opening.

"Yes, I'm fat and stupid, but isn't it you who intentionally or unintentionally made me this way? If I become smart, you will blame me for being too smart. Admit it, you're jealous of me, afraid of me, want to get close to me but also afraid to do so. Of course, I am different from you. I am human, and you are devils. How could we be the same?

"Ha, the funniest thing is that you actually think I am pitiful? I have lived for more than ten years, even if it's just an illusion, I have grown up in a loving environment. And what about you? Each and every one of you is immersed in interests and hatred, with no warm memories in your decades of life. The truly pitiful ones are you!"

Rong Zhouzhong tightened his fist and turned his head away from his gaze. "Are you trying to drive me crazy? Are you disappointed that I haven't become a monster like you, consumed by hatred and turned into a cold-blooded person? Do you dream of me seeking revenge on you, so that you can say, 'Look, that innocent guy who was protected by Shi Xingrui has finally become like us. He's no longer special.' I can almost hear the excitement and trembling in your hearts!"

"I'm not like that," retorted Rong Zhouzhong, a ninja in the middle.

"You're not?" Shi Jin turned around as if he had heard a fairy tale, grabbed his collar, and looked into his eyes. "If not, why are you so eager to turn against me, so eager to show me your malice? Hating someone for over a decade in your heart, and suddenly seeing the possibility of getting a response to that hatred, with your linear and idiotic thinking, how could you care about anything else? Cucumber pillow, huh? You couldn't even wait for your father's death, as soon as you knew he was dying, you rushed to bring the declaration of war to me. Your thoughts were almost written all over your face!"

His innermost thoughts, which he least wanted to be scrutinized, were exposed by the person himself.

Riled up, Rong Zongzhong retorted, "No, you're the idiot!"

"No, I'm the idiot, and you're the moron. We're both equally stupid, and you have no right to act superior!" Shi Jin threw him to the ground again, standing tall and looking down at him coldly. "I won't die. I'll live longer than any of you. You'll never have the chance to say 'you're finally going to die' to me. Only I can say that. And let me correct your mistaken belief: the Shi family didn't just have me as a child. If it weren't for me, you and the others wouldn't even exist! Be grateful to me. If I hadn't been born a few years later, you all would have been shot against the wall, you sissy!"

Sissy-

The words were like a direct hit, leaving Rong Zhouzhong in disbelief. He got up from the ground with an expression of anger and frustration, taking deep breaths and trying to suppress his rage.

"You're just a pretty face," said Shi Jin, not stopping for a moment. Each word was heavy and seemed to release all the pent-up anger in his heart.

"People with sharp tongues will have their tongues cut out after they die."

"You're the one who's hateful and pitiful!"

"When you're on your deathbed, I'll set off fireworks to celebrate."

"I'm not the extra kid, you all are!"

Rong Zhouzhong looked at him with a slightly open mouth, unable to believe that these words were coming out of his mouth. Although he should be angry, he strangely couldn't muster up any fire in his chest. Suddenly, Shi Jin approached him again.

Rong Zhouzhong regained his senses and took a step back, trying to hide his sadness with a tough exterior. He frowned and said, "What else do you want to say? If you want to fight, I won't hold back this time."

Shi Jin suddenly reached out and patted his heart, giving him a wicked smile. "It must be uncomfortable to be scolded like this, right?"

Rong Zhouzhong's expression tightened, but he refused to admit it.

"You deserve it," Shi Jin added in a low voice, full of malice.

"You—" Rong Zhouzhong was really angry and raised his hand to grab Shi Jin's wrist.

But Shi Jin dodged his hand and took a step back, saying, "I don't accept your apology. Some hurts can't be erased with just an apology."

As soon as he saw the serious look in his brother's eyes, the anger in Rong Zhouzhong dissipated. He realized something and pulled at the corners of his mouth, saying, "Is that so...? So you're not planning on accepting me as your despicable brother anymore?"

"But we're even now," Shi Jin said, looking at Rong Zhouzhong's disheveled appearance. The memory of his brother's arrogant and hurtful words slowly faded away. "You insulted me, and I insulted you. You hurt me, and I hurt you. We're even now. I'm tired, and none of you are worth the effort."

Rong Zhouzhong's sinking heart suddenly stopped and he looked up at his brother, a faint glimmer of hope rising within him. He stammered, "So, you mean...?"

"Also, I don't know how to apologize. You'll never hear a sorry from me," said Shi Jin as he walked towards the door, his hand on the doorknob. His voice suddenly lowered as he added, "Goodnight, Third Brother."

Click.

The door opened and closed.

Rong Zhouzhong stared at the door in disbelief. His eyes widened gradually, and after a while, he suddenly lowered his head and squatted on the ground. He wanted to curse, but instead, a few drops of uncool tears rolled down his cheeks.

"You little brat..." He rubbed his face vigorously, feeling both angry and amused. "You hold grudges more than I do. What do you mean you don't know how to apologize? You beat me up today, and it hurt, you know..." He lay on the ground, looking up at the movie screen. In the film, the older brother was venting his malice towards the younger brother who already knew the truth. His heart trembled with disgust as he clicked his tongue and quickly fast-forwarded the movie to the end.

On the edge of a cliff, the younger brother hugged the older brother, wanting to fall off the cliff together. The older brother dropped his weapon, hugged the younger brother from behind, and closed his eyes with satisfaction. They both leaned back and fell into the abyss together.

He watched attentively, then suddenly turned his head and scoffed at the boredom. He turned off the screen and looked at the cake on the table that was missing two pieces. He picked up the plastic knife used for cutting the cake, dug out a big piece, and stuffed it into his mouth.

At this moment, he finally understood what Shi Jin wanted to change. The child who was softer and kinder than anyone else, yet stronger than anyone else, had tortured himself to the point of madness in his efforts to change the possible future where everyone held hatred and hurt each other, leading to a mutual destruction.

Hatred and redemption, among the six children of the Shi family, the seemingly powerful five brothers all chose the easiest path of hatred, only the child who was hurt the most chose the most difficult path of redemption.

"Too foolish." He choked on his words as if he had been choked by a cake, his voice slowly becoming hoarse and emotional. "He's really an idiot."

He lowered his head and covered his eyes with his hand.

......

Before dawn, the sky was at its darkest. The thought suddenly popped into Shi Jin's mind as he walked down the stairs of the villa and looked out into the seemingly endless black night. He quickened his pace and headed towards the direction of the master bedroom on the first floor.

As he opened the door, he was surprised to see that the lights were on. His heart raced as he stepped inside.

Suddenly, a pair of arms reached out and pulled him into an embrace.

Shi Jin stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at the person holding him.

"Take a warm shower first," Lian Jun said, as if he had known that Shi Jin would come rushing back. Without asking any questions, he held him close and gently kissed his forehead. Then, he took his hand and led him towards the bathroom with the door open behind them. The bathroom was filled with steam as the bathwater had already been prepared, along with his pajamas and various toiletries.

Shi Jin was a bit stunned as Lian Jun pulled him under the showerhead.

"Take a quick rinse before soaking in the bath," Lian Jun helped him undress and turned on the showerhead, not minding if his own pajamas got wet. He stood next to Shi Jin and carefully washed his body.

As the warm water soaked his skin and Lian Jun's hands, coated with shower gel, gently roamed over his body, Shi Jin's body gradually warmed up. His fingers trembled as he watched Lian Jun's serious expression, and he couldn't help but embrace him.

Lian Jun naturally hugged him back, soothingly stroking his back. His heart suddenly felt at ease. Shi Jin tightened his arms around him and buried his face in his shoulder, apologizing in a low voice, "I'm sorry for making you worry."

Lian Jun comforted him with a kiss, silently consoling him.

"I won't do it again," Shi Jin rubbed his forehead against Lian Jun's shoulder before stepping back slightly to look at him. He squeezed out a smile and said, "You're the most important to me. You're my precious treasure."

"You're using the wrong words again," Lian Jun laughed and reached out to tug at his face. "Staying up late is a bad habit. I'll punish you by sending you to train with Number Two. Do you agree?"

"Agreed!" Shi Jin nodded vigorously, holding the person tightly as if he wanted to embed him into his own body. He repeated, "You're the most important to me. I will adjust myself and not let you worry anymore."

Even if it was just for this person, he could not let himself be consumed by those inexplicable emotions any longer.

He thought about how he had made a terrible attempt this time. Unconsciously, he looked at the progress bar in his mind and realized that it had dropped to 60 at some point. It had dropped... He was taken aback for a moment, then pursed his lips. So, it was true after all?

He tightened his grip on the person's hand, leaned his head against his body, and felt the warmth emanating from him. A previously vague guess in his mind slowly became clear.

In his heart, he muttered, "Xiao Si."

Regardless of whether the other party would respond this time, he spoke with a certain tone, "This final deadly factor comes from myself, no, more accurately, it comes from the original owner, right? It's such a simple truth that what can kill a person, besides external dangers and enemies, is also the inner self."

This time, Xiao Si finally broke the silence and spoke firmly in a low voice, "Jin Jin, you will live on and have a very happy life."

"Of course, I will live on." Shi Jin pressed his weight onto Lian Jun, his embrace so strong it seemed like he could break him, "With Lian Jun here, no one can defeat me." Including himself.