Passion Raga Novel (Completed) - Chapter 20

“This person is the one sent by Brother Tangyun? Seeing him like this, he has a very good impression and seems trustworthy. Yes, please take good care of our Xinlu. As you know, he’s a very precious child.”

Yuri silently watched the man who extended his hand for a handshake and burst into hearty laughter. After a brief moment, Yuri simply said, “I will bear that in mind,” and shook his hand perfunctorily for a short while. Ling Xinlu, subtly turning his head away, twisted his lips silently, a fleeting glimpse that Yuri caught. A momentary contempt flashed across his mouth and vanished.

However, ……this. Again.

The instant Yuri fleetingly saw Ling Xinlu’s smile, Ling Xinlu’s gaze flew to Yuri. Realizing immediately that Yuri had seen the cold contempt on his face, he blatantly scowled.

Even if he wasn’t trying hard to hide his true feelings which were only visible for such a short moment that it was hard to notice why did this man always have to see them? He glared at Yuri with a harsh look.

I’m not looking because I want to, Yuri replied with a troubled look in his eyes, quickly turning his head away.

“……Well, I’d like to talk more, but I have business to attend to, so I must go. Mr. Ling Xinlu, I truly hope you recover quickly. Yuri, I’ll contact you later then.”

James gave a brief greeting and a slight bow to Ling Xinlu’s relative, then picked up the bill and left. Following him, the relative, who had been looking around for a moment, once again put on an exaggeratedly pleased smile, bid farewell to the two, and turned to leave.

And in the café, where quiet piano music flowed, only the two people remained and a subtle silence lingered.

Yuri was looking in the direction the two had left, even though they were already out of sight, before turning his gaze to Ling Xinlu. Ling Xinlu had been looking at Yuri with a displeased expression for a while now, as if scrutinizing every corner. Yuri blinked and tilted his head.

“Since you’ve come all this way, would you like to sit for a while? The piano music is nice, and the coffee is delicious. ……I didn’t eat the macarons, but if it suits James’s taste, they must be good.”

“………”

“……..?”

In front of Ling Xinlu’s gaze, which continued to stare intently at Yuri’s face without answering, Yuri slowly raised his hand and felt his own face, still facing him. Has something been smeared on it? James hadn’t said anything.

“I was thinking about what part of your impression was good.”

Ling Xinlu blurted out. Good, my ass, he scoffed, turning away as if he had no interest in coffee, piano, or macarons. Yuri quickly followed him as he walked straight towards the elevator.

“Indeed, he was always a terrible judge of character. Calling someone trustworthy who only gossips about others behind their backs.”

His monologue was in a low voice, not deliberately meant to be overheard, but since they were the only ones in the non-stop elevator going up to the suite, Ling Xinlu’s words were heard clearly.

At the sneering remark that lumped his cousin and Yuri together, Yuri felt as if someone was poking him in the back of the neck, and he briefly looked up at the ceiling.

……No. Although I did talk about him when he wasn’t there, I didn’t badmouth him.

……Well, words like ‘vicious’ were included, but it was all meant to be good, including those. Could it be that this man, who is a genius at reading the atmosphere and subtext of words, just happened to miss it then?

……I had no intention of badmouthing him at all.

As Yuri, with an impassive face, pondered whether he should apologize amidst the series of thoughts, or if it would be better to pretend not to know, Ling Xinlu’s cold gaze flew towards him. This man, who was also a genius at reading people’s expressions, sneered and muttered.

“It would be more entertaining if you had actually badmouthed me. Don’t you know that clumsy flattery is more embarrassing than slander? Why would you humiliate me in front of that pig-like guy, of all people?”

Pig-like guy? Does he mean that somewhat plump cousin who just left? But humiliated? I had no such intention at all. As Yuri, rarely flustered within his expressionless face, hesitated, wondering what to say, the elevator stopped at their destination floor. And Ling Xinlu, who briefly confirmed Yuri’s bewildered impassivity, must have become quite accustomed to reading Yuri’s expressions by now. He checked Yuri’s face, and only then did his mood seem to improve slightly, as he subtly curved his lips and stepped out of the elevator.

“……….”

Yuri sighed as he watched Ling Xinlu’s back as he lightly nodded to the bodyguard who was waiting at the door and opened it for them to enter.

Even though he liked that side of him, he was, in any case, a spiteful man.

“Stand on the left. Don’t get in my sight, it’s annoying.”

Ling Xinlu, who was standing in front of the terrace, looking down at the hotel view and lost in thought, unbuttoning his shirt, suddenly glanced at Yuri, who was standing a little behind him, and frowned displeasedly, cutting him off.

Yuri nodded slightly and quickly moved a few steps to the opposite side. He often makes mistakes due to his habit of standing closer to the door than the client.

Even though he would still hear his presence and sounds, it seemed he was displeased with him being in his sight at all. Yuri scratched his head a little awkwardly. He had experienced dislike directed at him countless times before, but the dislike from someone he liked felt particularly significant.

Standing silently a little behind Ling Xinlu, who was looking down at his feet, lost in thought, Yuri also followed his gaze and looked regretfully at the empty pool below. Then, as if shaking off that lingering feeling, he opened his mouth.

“Your cousin, he resembles Ling Tangyun quite a lot.”

Although he was plumper than Ling Tangyun, his nose and mouth resembled him. Anyone could tell they were relatives at a glance. In fact, that cousin looked much more like Ling Tangyun’s biological brother than this pretty young man in front of him.

Ling Xinlu scoffed.

“My eldest brother would hate to hear that. He hates that guy. Though he hardly likes anyone.”

Even his wife only married him for money, he added, his tone scathing.

“He has every right to hate him. His attitude towards people is either obsequious or arrogant, one of the two. I don’t particularly like my eldest brother either, but he’s still better than that disgusting guy. At least he’s not humanly repulsive.”

Yuri said nothing.

For some reason, his heart suddenly felt heavy.

It wasn’t because he recalled Ling Xinlu, who had generously bestowed his flawless, bright smile even upon that repulsive cousin. He already knew that was his personality, and it didn’t make him feel particularly new.

What suddenly came to mind was Ling Tangyun’s attitude, which he subtly revealed when he occasionally, rarely, spoke about Ling Xinlu.

It wasn’t to the extent of dislike or hatred, but a hint of awkwardness and discomfort had fleetingly shown at least, it never seemed like he had affectionate interest in his younger brother. The feeling Yuri had sensed was probably not wrong.

He knew that family relationships vary greatly in the world, and he also knew that countless families were worse than strangers and while they weren’t worse than strangers what should he say?

Yuri briefly thought of the word ‘pitiable’ and then shook his head.

That’s not it. It’s ‘what a waste.’

If I were in his place, I could have embraced and caressed that lovely younger brother to my heart’s content. Ling Tangyun’s position as the ‘biological brother,’ who was rightfully in a position to do so but didn’t, felt like such a waste.

Yuri’s silence seemed subtly heavy and long.

Ling Xinlu, who had tilted his head slightly, turned sharply and scrutinized Yuri intently, every corner of his expression.

“You’re thinking something strange again, aren’t you? Something that would be unpleasant to hear.”

Yuri imperceptibly flinched. But as if he noticed even that, Ling Xinlu’s eyes narrowed.

Should he say this man was good at reading expressions, or that he himself was easy to read? But he had only heard the latter from a very small number of people so far, so it seemed more likely to be the former.

Yuri was silent for a moment, facing Ling Xinlu who was staring intently at him, then suddenly spoke.

“Are you debating whether to hear it or not?”

Ling Xinlu, who was met with a counter-question, frowned. What kind of guy is this? He glared at Yuri with such eyes, but soon confidently lifted his chin. Yes, since he’d heard that much, he might as well hear it, what he was thinking displaying exactly that attitude.

“It’s nothing much. My being your… …No.”

Yuri, who was about to speak, hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. He felt like Ling Xinlu would scoff with a look of utter disbelief if he heard it. Or perhaps he might even get angry, thinking, ‘How dare someone like you.’ Sometimes, it’s better to leave what you don’t know unknown.

However, the position of someone who starts to speak but then stops awkwardly is different. When Yuri’s words trailed off midway, Ling Xinlu immediately glared.

“What is it? I already guess it’s nothing worthwhile, so go on.”

Ling Xinlu pressed, as if determined to settle it, saying that although he expected to hear something quite unpleasant, the possibility of continuously imagining unpleasant things in his head was even more dissatisfying.

Yuri rubbed his temples with a troubled, impassive expression and then opened his mouth bluntly, “It’s nothing much.”

“I just… briefly wondered what it would be like if I were your brother.”

As the words left Yuri’s mouth, the expression vanished from Xinlu’s face. A hint of surprise, as if he had heard something he hadn’t even imagined, something that didn’t fit any of his guesses, flickered in his round eyes.

It would have been good then. Even now, I could have caressed his head, blinking so adorably. Yuri clenched his fingers, which were involuntarily twitching. And he gazed intently at Ling Xinlu.

Blink, blink. He paused for a moment, as if reflecting on what he had heard, then slowly, finally, relaxed his shoulders. With a sigh that sounded like utter disbelief, “Ha…” escaping him.

“There are so many folk tales about receiving divine punishment for excessive greed that I can’t even count them on two hands, just thinking about them right now. You didn’t read many fairy tales when you were young, did you?”

“I preferred stories of heroes that gave courage and hope.”

Should I just hit him here or not? The thought flowing behind his innocent-looking face seemed almost visible. And it wasn’t that it was scary or worrying, but rather amusing, and Yuri unconsciously softened his gaze. Yes, truly, it would have been good if I were his brother.