Roses in Flames

Madam Xiao shuddered, her breath seemingly stopping.

She stared intently at her eldest son, who had always been gentle and polite since childhood. Her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand. The next second, her blood rushed to her head, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

She forcefully smashed the blue-and-white porcelain cup in her hand to the ground, the crisp, piercing sound breaking the deathly silence.

"Xiao Yi, how dare you!" Madam Xiao's voice was shrill and almost cracked. "Who gave you the right to be so disrespectful and unfilial in front of me? I went through so much trouble to bring you into this world, and this is how you repay me?"

"You said you wanted to take your younger siblings away from the Xiao family, fine, let's see if you can still be so glamorous after you leave the Xiao family. Without the Xiao family, what are you?"

Xiao Yi's eyes narrowed dangerously, his gentle mask shattering to reveal a sharp, cold glint within. He showed no sign of backing down, pulling out a document and tossing it onto the tea table. "Your father can run wild outside, yet he dares not have an illegitimate child. Who do you think stood up for you?"

Madam Xiao's face turned deathly pale.

"If I take my younger siblings away from the Xiao family, you should be the one who's most afraid. Without the support of the three of us siblings, could you still stand firm in this family?"

Madam Xiao felt her blood run cold, her legs went weak, and she slumped heavily into a chair.

She looked up and stared in horror at her eldest son.

Her once gentle and refined eldest son, who never raised his voice to her, had somehow become so sharp and cold, like a devil who had walked out of hell.

"Ah Yi, are you... threatening me?" Her voice trembled, and even her fingertips shook.

Xiao Yi opened her thin lips and said word by word:

"It's not a threat, it's a warning."

"Ah Lin, Huan Huan are not objects for you to consolidate your position or weigh the pros and cons. They have their own lives and the right to pursue happiness. If you interfere again, I will not show any more consideration for our mother-son relationship."

Xiao Yi stood up from his chair, his long, well-defined fingers fastening the buttons on his unbuttoned suit jacket. It was a simple action, yet it carried a powerful aura of authority that made Madam Xiao almost unable to breathe.

He looked down at Madam Xiao, whose face was drained of color, and said with a slight parting of his thin lips, "Let me remind you one last time. Now it is you who need to rely on the three of us siblings, not the other way around. I hope you can understand this soon."

Xiao Lin, who had been silent until now, also stood up.

His gaze was fixed on Madam Xiao, whose face was deathly pale. His voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth. "If you go to her again and cause her even the slightest grievance, I will not come back."

Watching the two brothers leave, Madam Xiao felt as if her blood had turned completely cold.

In fact, the eldest son was right. The three of them, siblings, were her source of strength in the Xiao family.

She had no husband's favoritism, no family support, and if she lost the protection of her three children, she would have nothing left.

……

After finishing her dessert, Ye Yuntang kept glancing at the villa gate out of the corner of her eye.

Xiao Lin and his older brother have been inside for half an hour, why haven't they come out yet?

Will Madam Xiao get angry and come out to cause trouble for her?

Will the Xiao family make things difficult for Xiao Lin?

She was very uneasy. After waiting for a while, she finally saw two tall and upright figures walk out.

Xiao Lin and his elder brother were similar in height, both with broad shoulders and narrow waists, upright posture, and outstanding good looks.

Brother Xiao Lin has a gentle and refined temperament. His eyebrows and eyes look gentle, but they also hide a strong and calm demeanor.

Xiao Lin, on the other hand, is handsome and cold, with a powerful aura that keeps strangers at bay.

One is gentle, the other is cold; one is elegant, the other is sharp. Their styles are completely different, yet equally outstanding.

Seeing Xiao Yi and Xiao Lin come out, Xiao Huan got out of the car on her own initiative. "Second sister-in-law, see you at the restaurant later."

After Xiao Lin got into the car, he looked at Ye Yuntang and said, "Don't worry, my mother won't bother you anymore. My grandfather and older brother are on my side."

One sentence shielded her from all the storms.

Ye Yuntang's long eyelashes trembled, a hint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes. "Your grandfather and eldest brother... really won't have any objections?"

Xiao Lin replied decisively, "No."

He paused, then reached out and took her slender, white fingertips into his palm.

"Yuntang, in this society, being divorced is not a disgrace, much less a stain." He looked at her with deep, affectionate eyes. "You are a forensic doctor, you have your own profession, your own skills, and your own unique strengths. Don't belittle yourself or feel inferior to others because of a failed past."

"You should be bright and confident, and I hope you always will be. When you're with me, I hope you can stay bright and confident, instead of feeling inferior and timid."

"What I want is not you who compromises and treads carefully, but the you who shines and deserves to be loved."

Xiao Lin's words flowed like a warm current through Ye Yuntang's heart.

Something felt hot and churning in her chest, and she was completely shocked.

She never expected that he would understand her, be considerate of her, and be so tolerant of her.

He wouldn't judge her by worldly standards, wouldn't make her bow down in matters of the heart, and wouldn't let her suffer in front of his family.

With his broad, sturdy shoulders, he shielded her from all the wind and rain.

His resolute actions gave her a profound sense of security.

The grievances, embarrassment, and bitterness he felt during his mother's talk that morning vanished in an instant.

My nose stung, and tears welled up in my eyes.

It wasn't sadness, but rather the touching feeling of being well cared for.

She couldn't hold back any longer, wrapped her arms around his neck, and threw herself into his arms.

She looked up at him, her voice slightly choked, soft and delicate, "Xiao Lin, how can you be so good to me?"

Xiao Lin raised his large hand and gently stroked the back of Ye Yuntang's head.

The two were very close, and he could clearly smell her faint fragrance, mixed with the scent of dessert she had eaten, so sweet that it made his heart tremble.

He looked down at her, his voice low and husky, and asked, "What did you eat just now?"

Ye Yuntang nestled in the man's arms, "A small green grape flavored cake."

"Is it tasty?"

Ye Yuntang nodded, her beautiful eyes sparkling, a smile playing on her lips. "It's delicious. If you like it, I'll buy it for you next time."

Xiao Lin didn't speak. His dark eyes gazed intently at her beautiful, rosy lips, and he swallowed softly. "I want to eat right now."

Ye Yuntang frowned slightly. "But... I've already finished eating."

He didn't say anything more.

The next second, he lifted her chin with his long fingers, wrapped his other arm around her waist, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.

Ye Yuntang was stunned for a moment.

He forcefully entered her lips and teeth, sucking and entwining them.

He savored and devoured the sweet, soft flavor, which still carried the aftertaste of green grape cake.

Ye Yuntang's breathing instantly became erratic.

The thought of her older brother's car, which was right next to them, and the possibility that her brother and sister might see them kissing inside the car, made her heart race and become erratic.

She placed her hands on the man's shoulders, her face flushed, and pushed him away.

"Don't kiss here, someone will see."

It was rare to see her blush so deeply, and a smile played on his lips. "Weren't you supposed to be pretty bold?"

Ye Yuntang glared at him, annoyed. "That depends on the occasion, you know?"

When it was just the two of them, she could act recklessly.

But when there are other people around, she still pays attention to boundaries.

Xiao Yi's car had already started and left.

Xiao Huan sat in the passenger seat, rolled down the window, and waved in Ye Yuntang's direction, "Second sister-in-law, see you later."

Seeing Xiao Huan's smiling face, Ye Yuntang guessed that she had probably seen Xiao Lin kissing her.

Ye Yuntang glared at the man who started the engine. "How embarrassing."

"What's so shameful about it? It's normal for me to kiss my girlfriend. If they're so capable, they should find someone they like and kiss in front of me."

Ye Yuntang, "..."

Why did she think she could detect a hint of smugness in his tone?

On the way to the restaurant, Ye Yuntang would glance at the man driving from time to time.

The light and shadow swept across his angular profile, highlighting his high nose bridge and sharp jawline. Even just a side view was enough to make him so handsome that it was impossible to look away.

Xiao Lin noticed Ye Yuntang's gaze and raised an eyebrow slightly. "What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?"

Ye Yuntang's ears burned. "I'm just curious, when did you tell your family about us?"

Xiao Lin looked straight ahead, his voice low and gentle, "I told my older brother when you first agreed to be my girlfriend."

Ye Yuntang paused for a moment, then remembered Xiao Huan's words. She muttered softly, "Huanhuan said you even posted my photo in your sibling group chat?"

Xiao Lin hummed in agreement.

Ye Yuntang frowned slightly. "When did you take this picture? I had no idea."

Xiao Lin's lips curled slightly. "The time my grandfather inspected the place, the one where you were wearing a police uniform."

Ye Yuntang's eyes widened immediately. "How could you take pictures of me without my permission? You never even showed them to me! You're such a straight man, you didn't take a really bad picture of me, did you?"

Xiao Lin's smile deepened, and a gentle tenderness welled up in his deep eyes. "You're not ugly. You're beautiful no matter what."

Ye Yuntang glared at him and said in a coquettish voice, "Stop lying to me. Don't take pictures of me secretly next time."

Xiao Lin nodded, "Okay, next time I'll film openly and honestly."

While waiting at a traffic light, Xiao Lin took out his phone and added Ye Yuntang to the group chat for the three siblings.

When Ye Yuntang saw the notification, her heart skipped a beat.

The group only had Xiao Lin, Xiao Yi, and Xiao Huan in it; even Xiao's parents and Grandpa Xiao were not there.

This is the most private and intimate little world belonging to the three siblings.

And he, without any warning, pulled her in.

Ye Yuntang was both surprised and embarrassed. She looked at the driver beside her and said, "Why didn't you discuss this with me beforehand? Is it inappropriate for me to join now?"

Xiao Lin freed one of his large hands from the steering wheel and firmly grasped her hand in his palm. "What's wrong with that? The three of us siblings have already agreed that once we've found someone we like and our other half, we'll just add them to this group."

Ye Yuntang bit her lip. "But..." Her cheeks flushed slightly as she retorted softly, "We haven't reached that point yet, have we?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the man pinched her finger hard.

"It hasn't reached that point yet?"

He glanced at her sideways, his gaze intense. "In this life, you are mine, and I am yours. Don't even think about getting rid of me."

Ye Yuntang's long eyelashes trembled slightly. She lowered her head in a panic, letting the sweetness in her heart spread freely.

At that moment, she never imagined that he would be the one to break his promise later.

After Ye Yuntang joined the group, she took the initiative to say hello in the group.

Xiao Huan immediately replied enthusiastically.

Xiao Yi also took some time to send two words in the group: "Welcome."

The car eventually stopped in front of a quiet private restaurant in the middle of the hustle and bustle.

This place is not open to the public; it's a high-end private kitchen with a members-only system.

The courtyard inside is secluded and quiet, with wooden windows and black tiles, exuding an antique charm and understated luxury.

After getting out of the car, Xiao Lin naturally took Ye Yuntang's hand and led her to Xiao Yi and Xiao Huan, who were waiting at the door.

"Yuntang, this is my older brother, Xiao Yi. Brother, this is my girlfriend, Yuntang."

Xiao Yi had gentle features and a humble smile. Every gesture he made was perfectly polite. "Sister-in-law, don't be nervous. Just treat it as a family meal."

Ye Yuntang felt a warmth in her heart. She nodded gently and softly called out, "Big Brother."

Xiao Yi nodded and led the group into the reserved private room.

The private room was elegant and quiet. The four of them sat around the table. Xiao Lin was aloof and taciturn, Xiao Yi was gentle and composed, Ye Yuntang was a little reserved, and Xiao Huan was the most lively.

Xiao Huan stared at Ye Yuntang with sparkling eyes, liking her more and more as she looked at her. Her face was full of smiles. "Second sister-in-law, you are so beautiful. You are such a good match for my second brother."

Ye Yuntang smiled, "Huanhuan, you're very pretty too. Did you get a boyfriend in college?"

"Not yet. I'll only start dating if I meet someone exceptionally handsome and exactly my type."

After the dishes were served, Xiao Lin picked up some tender fish that Ye Yuntang liked, removed the bones, and put it in her bowl. Then he peeled shrimp for her.

Ye Yuntang felt a little overwhelmed by his care and whispered, "I can do it myself."

"It's alright, you eat yours, I'll take care of it." His tone was natural, his movements meticulous and patient, avoiding the scallions and ginger she didn't like, taking meticulous care of her.

Xiao Huan's eyes lit up. "Wow~ My second brother used to never serve food to others, but it turns out that even a straight man can change when he's in love."

Xiao Yi sat to the side, watching with a smile the whole time. He spoke gently, "Don't be shy. The person that A-Lin has chosen is the person that our Xiao family has chosen."

After saying that, he paused, looked at Xiao Lin, and said with the certainty of an older brother, "Treat her well and don't let her suffer any injustice."

Xiao Lin looked up and met Xiao Yi's gaze. He nodded, "Okay."

After finishing his meal, Xiao Yi gave Ye Yuntang two things before leaving.

One was a red envelope with a gold foil stamping effect, and the other was a neatly sealed document bag.

Xiao Yi spoke gently, his eyes smiling, "It's a small token of my appreciation since we first met."

Ye Yuntang tried to refuse, but Xiao Lin held her hand, saying, "It's from my elder brother, so accept it."

After getting into the car, Ye Yuntang looked at Xiao Lin and asked, "May I open it and take a look?"

Xiao Lin nodded. "Of course."

Ye Yuntang was the first to open the file bag.

Inside were two VIP front-row tickets for her idol Chi Wangjingbei's concert.

Before Ye Yuntang could recover from the shock, the check for one million eighty thousand yuan in the red envelope made her hold her breath again.