Little Uncle only took that one step.

The outstretched right leg was firmly planted on the floor. After a good while, it was slowly retracted.

Cheng Huanzhen blinked in confusion.

Was Little Uncle also planning to rush forward?

But the ones rushing forward now were the Fang family’s young master’s relatives and friends.

Could it be that Little Uncle also knew the Fang family’s young master?

But Little Uncle had clearly just returned to the country.

As soon as he returned, he was taken by Grandfather to a family dinner, and then assigned to their house.

He knew Little Uncle’s itinerary for every day since then clearly.

What opportunity did Little Uncle have to get involved with the Fang family’s young master?

Cheng Huanzhen thought hard for a while.

However, Little Uncle was originally a warm and friendly person.

Maybe he just saw the Fang family’s young master faint from crying so sadly and wanted to go forward to help.

After all, Little Uncle was very kind.

His heart was soft.

Thinking this, Cheng Huanzhen quickly resolved the doubt in his heart.

Right, this was a very normal thing.

Nothing strange about it.

Cheng Huanzhen dispelled his doubts and stared intently at Little Uncle’s figure, waiting for the memorial service to end so he could go find him immediately.

After the Fang family’s young master was carried out of the venue due to fainting, the head of the Fang family remained on site. The memorial service continued and soon ended.

Cheng Huanzhen put his hands in his pockets and, the moment the service ended, strode towards Little Uncle.

…

Fang Lian felt that during this period of putting aside work to take care of Xiao Ji, he was about to spin like a top.

He never knew that Xiao Ji could cry so much.

Nor did he expect that Fang Chengyu’s passing would bring such a huge blow to Xiao Ji.

In the first two days after Fang Chengyu’s death, Xiao Ji’s condition was very bad.

He shut himself in his room, refusing to eat, drink, or go out, forcing them to @ their deceased good brother in the group chat to find a solution, which barely managed to lift Xiao Ji’s spirits.

At least, Xiao Ji was willing to open the door, willing to eat, willing to have a few face-to-face chats with them, and could also restart his jewelry work.

However, Fang Lian didn’t expect that when Xiao Ji got busy with work, he had absolutely no concept of time!

One moment he was saying goodnight and closing the door, the next he was secretly working all night in his room. It wasn’t until the clock struck midnight and the sun rose, when he couldn’t stay up any longer, that Xiao Ji would fall asleep at his desk, only to be discovered when they couldn’t get him for breakfast and pushed the door open.

How could this be allowed?

He, his parents, and his sister immediately joined forces to supervise Xiao Ji. And every night after ten o’clock, they would have the housekeeper move all of Xiao Ji’s work supplies out of the room, using this method to prohibit him from working late.

But the prohibition was in place.

The next day, Xiao Ji came out of his room early, with huge dark circles under his eyes, and came to them to get his work supplies back. He looked like he hadn’t slept all night.

Right, if he wasn’t allowed to work all night, then he would have insomnia all night.

Fang Lian’s reaction to this: “…”

If it were him who had passed away, would Xiao Ji cry so miserably and for so long?

…A little angry.

He couldn’t bear it anymore and took the opportunity of the funeral to invite Lin Chen to the scene.

After the memorial service, he arranged to meet Lin Chen. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Chen covered his mouth.

Lin Chen: “A new client has arrived. He’s outside looking for me. Quick, have your subordinates find a way to lead him away, otherwise none of us will be able to leave.”

Fang Lian was startled and immediately did as he was told.

Lin Chen listened carefully as the footsteps outside faded away, then turned back and let go of Fang Lian.

Fang Lian also let out a sigh of relief, then pointed an accusing finger with a pained heart, “Is it fun to attend your own funeral? Is it amusing to make Xiao Ji remember you to this day? Look at how strong Xiao Ji’s after-effects are now. Don’t you feel even a little bit of guilt and heartache?”

Lin Chen replied calmly, “Don’t throw accusations around. Our [Professional Stand-in for a True Young Master] studio has always treated every order equally.”

“Look at the Qi family next door. After the order ended, the father accompanied the child attentively, and the child recovered so quickly and well. Now look at Xiao Ji. As his family and guardians, don’t you reflect on where your own companionship has been lacking?”

Fang Lian reflected… then reacted, displeased, “This is our fault too?”

Lin Chen smiled, “But I also understand that you family members are busy with work and had too little time to accompany Xiao Ji in the past. It’s hard to get good results even if you increase the companionship now.”

Fang Lian: “If you need more money, just say so!”

Lin Chen said solemnly, “So today I am here to solemnly recommend to you a new, highly effective, paid after-sales service developed by our studio.”

He handed over a piece of paper and instructed seriously, “Burn after reading. Pay attention to confidentiality.”

Fang Lian took the paper, and upon looking at it, his brow furrowed tightly.

Fang Lian was angry, “Feudal superstition, this is clearly feudal superstition! No matter how much Xiao Ji needs psychological comfort, he would never believe this kind of thing!”

Lin Chen: “Don’t worry about how Xiao Ji will believe it. Are you buying or not? Time is tight. If you need the service, get the props ready for me within fifteen minutes.”

Fang Lian: “…Thirty minutes, I’ll definitely have someone buy all the props for you!”

…

Fang Ji slowly woke up in the room.

The extreme emotions from his breakdown crying hadn’t fully subsided yet.

He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling blankly, feeling pain in his eyes and head.

…Such an unfamiliar room.

Where was he?

He had just been dreaming, dreaming of his brother again.

Brother was lying on a recliner in the garden, swaying gently, asleep.

He took the bell to find his brother, stayed by his side, wanting to wait for him to wake up.

But before that moment came, the dream ended, and he woke up.

Where was his brother?

The dazed question drifted aimlessly in his mind for a moment.

It wasn’t until his mother’s concerned voice came from the side, along with a glass of warm water brought to him, that he realized from his mother’s attire:

Oh, today is brother’s funeral.

The doctor was chattering about something on the side, but he didn’t listen.

He only heard his mother say, “…Your dad and I will handle the procedures later. You don’t have to go. Let Little Lian take you home to rest…”

Fang Ji suddenly interrupted, “The procedures later?”

Fang Mom explained, “There’s still the burial this afternoon.”

“Burial” was like a keyword.

When it entered his ears, Fang Ji’s eyes turned red again.

Fang Mom took out a handkerchief from her pocket with a headache, intending to catch his tears.

But Fang Ji held his mother’s hand, not letting her wipe them.

He stared with wide eyes and said, “I want to go. What time do we leave in the afternoon?”

Fang Mom said, “Three in the afternoon… Can you go? What if you faint from crying again during the burial?”

Fang Ji was a little agitated, “But this is the last journey I can send my brother on!”

Seeing Fang Ji’s emotions getting agitated again, Fang Mom immediately agreed, “Alright, alright,” and gently pressed him back onto the rest bed.

Fang Mom sighed and coaxed, “We’ll go, we’ll go. We’ll take you.”

Just then, a knock suddenly sounded on the rest room door.

The doctor got up and opened the door.

It was Fang Lian outside the door.

When Fang Lian saw Fang Ji was awake, he asked with concern, “How is Xiao Ji? Are you feeling okay?”

Fang Mom complained, “He refuses to go home and rest. He insists on going to the burial this afternoon.”

Fang Lian frowned. Fang Ji looked up at his second brother sadly.

Fang Lian’s brow relaxed, “That’s fine too. After all, this is Big Brother Chengyu’s funeral… Mom, come out for a moment, I need to talk to you about something.”

Fang Mom was confused but followed him out, telling the doctor to watch Fang Ji before she left.

But why did Fang Ji need watching?

He sat quietly at the head of the bed, took the colorful knitted hat from the side and held it in his arms, staring blankly without a word. He would only occasionally poke the small bell on top of the hat, listening to its soft, dull tinkle.

When Fang Mom returned, she saw her quiet and well-behaved little son.

Fang Mom called out, “…Xiao Ji.”

Fang Ji looked up sadly, still sobbing quietly.

Fang Mom looked furious. She sat down on the edge of the bed angrily. After three seconds of silence, she finally spoke with displeasure, “Little Lian has a friend who is a spirit medium master, said to be able to channel the souls of the dead and communicate with them. This master happens to be in the capital recently.”

Fang Ji blinked slowly and blankly.

Fang Mom snorted coldly, “Little Lian is too worried about you and feels your emotions have been abnormal these past few days. So after you fainted, he got anxious and actually invited this friend over!”

Fang Ji stopped sobbing, “?”

Fang Mom sighed, “I don’t know why Little Lian suddenly lost his mind today and started believing in this kind of thing. Not only that, by the time he came to me, the money was already paid, the contract was signed, and the person has arrived.”

Fang Ji’s tears also stopped, “…”

Fang Mom’s heart softened and she sighed, “Sigh, but it’s understandable. Your second brother hasn’t been eating or sleeping well these past few days because of you. It’s excusable that he’d resort to some unorthodox methods when he’s at his wit’s end…”

Fang Mom looked at Fang Ji gently, “So Xiao Ji, to stop your second brother from worrying, why don’t you just meet him? If you don’t like it, just let him come in and sit with you for a while, have a casual chat. Just consider it putting your brother’s mind at ease.”

Fang Ji: “…”

Fang Ji: “Mom, today is brother’s funeral.”

Fang Mom: “Mmm.”

Fang Ji burst into tears in a second, “How… how can there be such a scammer, taking advantage of people’s grief to cheat them out of money like this!!!”

Fang Mom was gentle, “It’s okay, Xiao Ji. If you really don’t want to try, then I’ll have your brother send him…”

Fang Ji cried out, “I’ll see him! I’ll see him, okay! What channeling, what communicating with the dead, can he really bring my brother back to life to talk to me?! Sob, sob, sob, brother… brother… If… if he dares to lie, I’ll send him to the police station for fraud!!”

Fang Mom: “…Okay.”

Getting her answer, Fang Mom quickly went out to inform them, taking the doctor with her, leaving Fang Ji alone in the room.

Fang Ji sat on the bed in a daze, looking down at the pure white bedding. For a moment, he couldn’t help but pull the corner of his mouth into a self-deprecating smile.

Channeling? …If his brother knew that his second brother had found such a scammer for him, and that he had even agreed to meet, he would probably laugh at him.

Fang Ji sat dejectedly on the bed with his legs drawn up, curled into a ball, his arms hugging his legs, and his chin resting on his knees.

Brother…

Brother.

I miss brother so much.