Chapter 63 - SIXTY-THREE

Chapter 63: Chapter SIXTY-THREE

Over and over again, Xin Linhua stabs the food in front of him like he has a personal grudge with it.

His eyes are resentful, his entire body radiates a ’touch me not’ persona, he’s clearly angry at someone else, but he’s taking it out on the food before him.

Across the table, both Xin Linhua and Xin Linge exchange glances.

Their little brother had called them out of the blue, requesting to eat dinner with them.

He didn’t return to the family estate, instead he called them out to a familiar restaurant.

Ever since the dinner started, Xin Linhua had barely eaten anything. Over and over again, he mutters to himself in a low voice, seemingly cussing someone out.

"What’s going on with you?"

"Nothing." Xin Linhua replies harshly.

"Woah." Xin Linge raises his hands "Don’t take it out on me, little brother."

"Hua’er." Xin Linhai places his chopsticks down "If something’s wrong, just tell us."

"Did something happen at the institute?"

At the mention of that place, Xin Linhua’s movement pauses. His eyes darken immediately.

"Oh, seems like we guessed right." Xin Linge leans forward "So, who pissed you off? Another Gao or someone else?"

"I heard the Gao family had a hidden son." Xin Linhai speaks slowly "Apparently, he came for you. He’s the reason everyone knows about your abilities now."

"Yeah, the Gao bastard is an asshole." Xin Linhua nods "But he’s not that bad. We’ve gotten past that. Besides, sooner or later, they were bound to find out. It just happened earlier than expected."

"Okay, so it’s not the Gao. Then who is it?"

"A blindfolded little–" Xin Linhua almost snaps the chopsticks in half.

"Blindfolded? Your Sentinel?"

"Yeah!" Xin Linhua flies into a rage "What does he mean by that!? Of course I have every right to worry about him! He acts like he’s some damn cat with infinite lives or something! Asking me not to meddle in his affairs!? Fine! I won’t!"

The two brothers watch in astonishment.

It’s rare for Xin Linhua to open up to them, so they’re happy he’s doing that. But to think the reason he called them out was so he could brood and vent about some institute issues to them.

"You guys fought? I never thought I’d see the day."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you’re like a mother hen, you don’t let people get too close to him." Xin Linge rolls his eyes "I mistakenly called him by that nickname you gave him and you shut me down immediately."

"And weeks ago as well. In the rift." Xin Linhai continues from where his brother left off "The moment we arrived, you hid him behind you. We didn’t notice he was there until we were about to leave."

Xin Linhua almost chokes on oxygen. Gao Shi’s words claws its way towards the surface of his mind.

"Hell no!" He shoves it down back.

"What?"

"It’s nothing. Just remembered something unpleasant."

"So you fought with him..." Xin Linhai mutters "Hua’er. Have you ever thought of changing Sentinels?"

Xin Linhua pauses. He had resorted to shoving food into his mouth to drain out other things, but his brother’s words...

"What do you mean by that, Elder brother?"

"Xin Linhua. I want to be selfish for once and ask you to do something for me."

"Brother–"

"Break off your pairing with him."

__Bam!

Xin Linhua slams the chopsticks down on the table. His Hazel eyes radiate so much emotion, it’s hard to keep them in check.

"Brother...not you too." Xin Linhua grits out "Why would you say something like that? Break it off? No!"

"Why are you so fixated on him?"

This is probably the first time Xin Linhai has ever spoken so harshly to his little brother. Not in two decades has he ever raised his voice or changed his time when speaking to Xin Linhua.

The first time that happens, it has something to do with Xin Linhua’s Sentinel.

Seeing the look on his brother’s face, the determination to rip Xin Linhua away from his Sentinel– the latter grips the edge of the table in a hard grip.

"Why can’t I be fixated?" Xin Linhua questions "I chose him myself. No, the exam was conducted and my wavelength matches his perfectly–"

"Yes, and every other Sentinel in the institute as well." Xin Linhai cuts him off "Whatever Rank you want, you can have. Whatever ability you prefer, you can choose yourself."

"Why...?"

Xin Linhua stands up so fast, the chair scrapes back and lets out a screeching noise.

"Why does everyone want to take him away from me?" Xin Linhua stares into his brother’s eyes "I know you have a good reason. You always do. You wouldn’t deny me anything, so why start now!?"

His outburst shakes his brothers. It’s not like the past, where he yells and throws things around in a fit of rage.

He’s calm, far too calm. His eyes are cold with a sharp killing intent. His body shakes with a pure and calm rage.

"I don’t know..." His brother replies calmly "There’s something about your Sentinel, Xin Linhua, there’s something about him."

"What is it!? He’s blind. He can’t even tell colors apart. He’s a pale and frail human. I mean, yeah, he’s strong enough to clear rift and fight with me when he’s in a bad mood, but that’s it! Why does everyone make him out to be an abomination?"

"What if he is?"

"What...?"

Xin Linhua’s anger dies down real quick. His face goes blank with confusion.

"What if he is?" Xin Linhai repeats "What will you do then? I stood in front of that kid, and the pressure I felt from him was like no other. It’s not something anyone can detect, but I did, because of my Rank."

"That proves nothing."

"Xin Linhua. I can’t see through him."

"He’s not a window you look through!"

"But he’s human, yet he doesn’t feel like one." Xin Linhai stands as well "You Sentinel is hiding so much from you, and probably the institute as well. There’s something about him that doesn’t seem quite right."

"No..." Xin Linhua shakes his head "You’re saying that to make me–"

"The most vulnerable part of a human are the eyes. They don’t lie, but he covers them and I couldn’t see beyond that blindfold. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t see beyond a human’s outer shell."

"That’s enough!" Xin Linhua steps back.

"Xin Linhua." Xin Linge finally intervenes "If the entire world lies to you, big brother will never do that. Your Sentinel...may not be who he says he is."