A single night passed in a flash.

The next morning, Fang Ji dragged his parents, brother, and sister out the door.

For some reason, his parents, brother, and sister all had dark circles under their eyes today. His second brother was the worst off; the deep dark circles paired with his bloodshot eyes made him look exactly as if he had pulled an all-nighter.

Fang Ji was puzzled. Fang Ji pondered. Fang Ji chose to give up exploring the matter.

All morning, Fang Ji waited in anticipation for noon to arrive.

The excessive enthusiasm from his parents, brother, and sister, so different from before, made him a little uncomfortable. He really wanted his older brother to be there with him, to help him process this fiery affection from his family.

Fang Ji waited eagerly until twelve o’clock, then impatiently called the butler to ask if his brother was awake.

However, the butler told him melancholically, “The Eldest Young Master was not in good spirits when he woke up today and couldn’t eat. He has only had a bowl of porridge so far. Little Young Master, you should go have fun with the Master and Madam. It would be better for the Eldest Young Master to rest for another afternoon.”

Fang Ji was aghast. “What’s wrong with brother? Is he feeling unwell? Has the doctor seen him? Is it serious? I should just cancel my afternoon plans and go back to see him now!”

The butler immediately clarified, soothing the Little Young Master, “Little Young Master, don’t worry. This is just the after-effect of the Eldest Young Master staying up late. The reaction is just a bit strong.”

“As long as the Eldest Young Master gets a good rest this afternoon, he will be back to normal soon. You have fun outside. If you cancel your plans and come home because of this, the Eldest Young Master will feel guilty and upset.”

Only then did Fang Ji reluctantly accept the butler’s explanation.

He spent his birthday afternoon with his parents, brother, and sister, continuing to enjoy their rotational enthusiasm.

It wasn’t until dinnertime that he returned home to pick up his brother and head to the venue together.

For Fang Ji, the birthday banquet was undoubtedly a happy occasion.

Especially this year, his parents, brothers, and sister were all in attendance for the first time. He was finally not the lonely kid who could only sit with his friends at every banquet!

But for Fang Lian, this day was truly a bit “unbearable.”

The previous night’s thinking and reflection had lasted until half-past four in the morning.

The time, he could accept.

What truly made him break down was the result of all those hours—there was no result!!

Compared to that, the undercurrents of tension and deceit that had been surging all day, the offline showdown between four top players, was nothing at all…

Oh, no, wait.

There was one thing that was still worthy of stirring his emotions—

Could someone please explain to him?

The things the fifteen-million teacher had told him privately, the methods he had taught him—why did his parents and sister also know them, and even use them more skillfully than he did!!

The huge advantage Fang Lian thought he had suddenly vanished.

Combined with the frustration of not having solved the problem all night, it all mixed into a huge, suffocating knot of anger that made him unable to eat.

He secretly glared at Fang Chengyu at the banquet table, deciding that he absolutely had to go and question him thoroughly after the banquet ended.

The dinner banquet started at seven o’clock.

According to Fang Ji’s usual habit, the birthday banquet would typically last until midnight.

But seeing his older brother looking listless, he was extremely worried about his rest.

So now, at just nine o’clock, not even halfway through, he couldn’t help but persuade his brother to leave early and go home to rest.

Fang Chengyu didn’t want to go.

He said, “Today is Xiao Ji’s birthday. It’s one thing that I couldn’t accompany you during the day, but how can I leave the birthday banquet early at night?”

Fang Ji coaxed his brother, “But you didn’t sleep well last night. If you rest late again today, what if your heart feels uncomfortable?”

Fang Ji said insistently, “If you don’t want to go back by yourself, then fine, Xiao Ji will end the banquet early and go back with you!”

How could Fang Chengyu agree to that?

He couldn’t win against Fang Ji and had no choice but to agree to go home early with the butler.

This scene fell completely into Fang Lian’s eyes.

It wasn’t the first time Fang Lian had seen the interaction between Xiao Ji and Fang Chengyu.

For example, last night, he and his parents and sister had spent so much effort trying to turn Xiao Ji’s tears into laughter. And the result?

The result was that Xiao Ji had turned around and run into the arms of this fake brother, Fang Chengyu!

Never mind him.

His parents and sister must have been furious at that scene last night too!

However, perhaps because he had just undergone the baptism of reflection last night, when he saw the interaction between Xiao Ji and Fang Chengyu now, Fang Lian immediately remembered the question that had tormented him all night.

He had a faint feeling that the answer he had failed to find despite staying up all night might be found in Fang Chengyu.

Look:

A casual word or action from Fang Chengyu could make Xiao Ji laugh nonstop.

He didn’t even need to give Xiao Ji any gifts or spend any money to easily “win over” Xiao Ji to his side.

Why was Fang Chengyu able to do all this?

This might be the answer he was looking for.

Fang Lian keenly realized this. He stared intently at Fang Chengyu, trying to discern something from his interactions with Xiao Ji.

Expression? It was a sufficiently real, caring expression, as if he were truly treating his own flesh-and-blood younger brother.

Words? They were sufficiently gentle words, spoken from Xiao Ji’s perspective, wholeheartedly for Xiao Ji’s sake.

Actions? Look at the jewelry on Fang Chengyu—

On his earlobes, neck, wrists, fingers, waist, thigh, ankle, and in his hair, all the jewelry he wore belonged to Xiao Ji!

This jewelry had been selected by Xiao Ji remotely, directing the butler, on his way home that afternoon.

They were all silent jewelry, extremely rare in Xiao Ji’s collection. In order to assemble them into a harmonious, natural, and beautiful set, Xiao Ji had spent a great deal of effort in the car.

Now, whenever Fang Lian thought about how happy and excited Xiao Ji had been while picking out the jewelry that afternoon, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

But jealousy was jealousy.

Contemplation was contemplation.

Fang Lian felt that whether it was Xiao Ji spending so much time preparing jewelry for Fang Chengyu, or Fang Chengyu fully displaying his affability and concern when facing Xiao Ji, neither would produce any effective gain…

Wait.

Effective gain?

Why did Xiao Ji feel joy and anticipation when preparing the jewelry?

Because he wanted to see Fang Chengyu wearing all the jewelry.

Xiao Ji had never seen it, and Fang Chengyu would surely not let him down.

This was an expectation that was bound to be met.

Then what about Fang Chengyu?

For Fang Chengyu, the greatest effective gain was that sixty-million contract.

Satisfy Xiao Ji, complete the contract.

So how did he satisfy Xiao Ji?

By caring for Xiao Ji, making Xiao Ji feel warmth.

By responding to Xiao Ji’s expectations, making Xiao Ji feel secure and satisfied.

The more Fang Lian thought, the more detailed his thoughts became.

Finally, at a certain moment, a flash of light suddenly shot through his mind!

…It was emotions.

Fang Chengyu was satisfying Xiao Ji’s emotions!

For Xiao Ji, emotions were also a kind of “effective gain”!

“Crash!”

A glass cup fell to the floor and shattered. The piercing sound instantly snapped Fang Lian back to reality.

His parents and sister were also startled by him, asking one after another, “What’s wrong?”

Fang Lian looked down and only then realized that at some point he had forgotten he was still holding a water glass.

His consciousness had slackened, and it had fallen.

But this matter only brushed lightly across the surface of his consciousness. He didn’t even bother with his pants cuff, which had been splashed with water.

His heart was pounding rapidly.

A secret excitement continuously urged him to verify the great mystery he had just unraveled.

He glanced at Fang Chengyu, who was finally turning to leave the main table, and at Fang Ji, who was watching his brother go with reluctance. He made up a random excuse and left the table.

About ten minutes later, Fang Lian returned to the center of the banquet hall from a corner.

He was holding an opaque cup in his hand, his palm covering the mouth of the cup tightly.

He randomly called over a waiter and had him call Xiao Ji over from the main table.

Soon, the waiter brought a bewildered Xiao Ji, followed by three probing and wary gazes, towards his direction.

Fang Ji asked in confusion, “Second Brother?”

Fang Lian led him to a corner with fewer eyes, raised the cup in his hand, and held the pure white, opaque cup in front of Fang Ji with both hands.

Fang Lian’s face was expressionless. He said, “Here, Xiao Ji, guess what’s in the cup?”

Fang Ji was even more bewildered.

A guessing game? Why would Second Brother suddenly do something so “meaningless”?

But during this period, his parents, brother, and sister had already done enough unexpected things, so Fang Ji had somewhat gotten used to such surprises.

He didn’t want to discourage his second brother, so he played along, thought for a moment, and tried to answer, “Jewelry?”

Fang Lian: “Incorrect.”

Fang Ji: “Gemstones?”

Fang Lian: “Incorrect.”

Fang Ji was surprised. “…Cake?”

Fang Lian: “Incorrect.”

Fang Ji wracked his brains. “Water?”

Fang Lian: “Incorrect.”

Fang Ji was puzzled.

He tilted his head and walked around the cup twice, starting to think seriously.

“A drink?” “Incorrect.” “Is it any kind of liquid?” “No.” “Dice!” “Incorrect.”

“Can I shake the cup to listen to the sound?”

“No, that’s cheating.”

Fang Ji said pitifully, “How about you just tell me the answer, Second Brother? With no hints at all, this is way too hard to guess!”

Fang Lian hesitated for a second, then regained his firmness. “No, Xiao Ji, try again.”

“Gold products!” “Incorrect.” “Some company’s cutting-edge high-tech mini phone!” “Incorrect.” “Coins?” “Incorrect.” “Air!” “…Incorrect.”

“…”

Fang Ji guessed everything he could think of that could be put in a water cup.

But incorrect, incorrect, still incorrect!

Fang Ji really couldn’t think of what else his second brother could have put in the cup.

He became anxious and started fidgeting. “Then what is it?”

He pouted and, trying his best to cheat, immediately grabbed his second brother’s sleeve and whined, “Good Second Brother, just tell me~”

A smile appeared on Fang Lian’s face.

This smile wasn’t the standard smile he always put on when trying to get a higher score.

It was a fainter, but more natural smile.

He finally removed the hand that was covering the top of the cup.

Fang Ji couldn’t help but peek into the cup, only to see that inside were rolls of paper tied with colorful thin strings!

Fang Lian had been watching Fang Ji’s expression intently the whole time.

He handed the cup to Fang Ji and said, “There are twenty wish strips in here.”

“No matter what wish Xiao Ji has, write it on here, and brother will do his best to help Xiao Ji achieve it.”

Fang Lian had no script in mind, just saying what came to him, a little nervous. “If Xiao Ji wants brother to accompany you or help you with something, that’s no problem either. Brother will definitely give Xiao Ji a definite time within seven… no, three days. I definitely won’t be like before, saying things I don’t mean!”

Fang Ji blinked, stunned. His eyes reddened slightly, but a brilliant smile bloomed on his face.

He smiled, his eyes curving, and gave his second brother a very pure, sincere smile.

Fang Ji: “Wish strips? That sounds amazing! Thank you, Second Brother!”

From the moment the guessing game started, Fang Lian had been staring intently at Xiao Ji’s expression.

He watched as Xiao Ji gradually became curious, then anxious.

He saw the quiet sigh of relief Xiao Ji let out when he agreed to reveal the answer.

He saw Xiao Ji’s confusion upon seeing the paper strips.

He saw Xiao Ji’s satisfaction when he learned the answer and his curiosity was sated.

He saw the vibrant emotions in Xiao Ji, so different from how he had responded to them in the past few days.

At this moment, the answer finally settled in his heart.

He suddenly understood and was certain that for Xiao Ji, effective gain was not money, not “reaching the top,” not any material thing, but the emotions brought about by their relationship.

Emotions…

Fang Lian handed all the wish strips to Fang Ji.

He savored the good mood he had just felt and suddenly thought, if this feeling could also be counted as a “gain,” then his itinerary for the past few days… perhaps… had also become valuable?