Chapter 56: Still Knows to Call Me Brother

When the man's cold, low voice echoed through the air, Old Master Shen was momentarily petrified, the chess piece in his hand almost slipping from his grasp. Fortunately, his resolve held firm, and he finally placed the piece steadily onto the board.

Shen Chaoxi chuckled softly.

"Grandfather, you've lost again," she said seriously. "I told you not to let your mind wander when playing chess."

Shen Songnian entered, glanced at the state of the board, and couldn't help but comment. Standing beside Old Master Shen, he cast a cold glance at the chessboard, his brows exuding indifference.

Old Master Shen's eyes darkened. "Who do you think is to blame?"

Was it not all his eldest grandson's fault? He and Chaoxi had been playing peacefully, and yet he had to come over and scare him? Still, Old Master Shen studied the board in perplexity.

Sure enough, when Shen Chaoxi placed the final piece, the board was already in a tense situation. Unless Old Master Shen could break her formation, the next move would decide the outcome. No matter what move he made, the result was the same.

He would lose.

Old Master Shen's brows twitched, his kindly face turning serious in an instant.

"So, you've finished dealing with the affairs of the military district and finally remembered to come home?"

"Grandfather, there's no need for sarcasm," Shen Songnian replied coldly.

Old Master Shen lifted his chin with a proud air, as if telling Shen Chaoxi: See, this is how you take the initiative. Find a reason to scold him, and he won't have the chance to lecture you. But Shen Songnian seemed long accustomed to the old man's indulgence and protection toward his sister. He said nothing more, merely glanced at the girl sitting opposite him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You don't even recognize your brother anymore?"

Shen Chaoxi was speechless. What a predicament.

"Brother," she finally called softly, catching his deep, scrutinizing gaze, as if he were still the commander of the military district interrogating a suspect.

"Mm, so you still remember to call me brother," Shen Songnian replied, clearly satisfied with her nervousness.

"That means your injuries aren't serious."

His brows were sharply defined, and even his tone carried a hint of mockery—if this wasn't anger, what was? Nervousness, fear, panic... But how did he determine that her injuries weren't serious?

At that moment, Shen Songnian seemed to guess what she was thinking.

"You didn't damage your brain," he said leisurely. His gaze toward Shen Chaoxi was calm and unruffled, his expression unchanged, as if everything was tranquil. His anger was nowhere to be seen.

Just then, Old Master Shen felt the air was stifling; the summer heat must be to blame. He looked up, glanced at Shen Chaoxi, who kept her eyes lowered, and said, "I'm done playing."

A hint of guilt flashed across his eyes; he didn't dare meet Shen Songnian's deep gaze, so he feigned anger, dropping the chess piece he had meant to place elsewhere.

"Never won much anyway."

"This old man will go take a nap."

He rose from the stone bench, patted imaginary dust from his clothes, and walked away from the pavilion with hands clasped behind his back, never looking back. The old steward hurried after him.

Old Master Shen signaled wildly with his eyes: Hurry up. Walk faster.

Shen Chaoxi was taken aback by the speed at which he rose and left; it was as if his feet were greased, eager to fly away. He slipped off faster than a rabbit. Ha, Shen Chaoxi thought, her mind blank. All right. Grandfather, you truly are something.

The next second, the man's aura turned icy as he sat in Old Master Shen's former spot, brows furrowed, his voice deep and cold.

"Lift your head and look at me."

"Brother," she whispered.

Hearing his authoritative tone—one that brooked no argument and carried the weight of command—she raised her eyes obediently, lips moving in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Now you know to be afraid?"

Shen Songnian's brows moved slightly. Seeing her pale, almost bloodless face, his dark eyes grew colder.

"When you risked your life, did you not feel fear?"

She braced herself for a scolding. Still dressed in her military uniform, sitting before him—was he afraid she wouldn't notice the stars on his shoulder?

By duty and by blood, he was her commander. She had to yield.

"Brother, I was wrong," Shen Chaoxi said, raising her fingers, her expression earnest. "I promise, there won't be a next time."

Seeing her like this, Shen Songnian swallowed the words on his lips.

"Did you see a doctor?" he asked, glancing at her injured leg, his face impassive but his presence chilling. His striking features bore no warmth, and as he spoke, his powerful aura enveloped her.

Shen Chaoxi felt the temperature around her drop noticeably.

It was cold.

Shen Songnian's face showed no emotion, his gaze deep and aloof, lips pressed into a thin line. Though his eyes betrayed no feeling, Shen Chaoxi knew he was angry.

Because he was angry, he scolded her. But also because he worried about her safety.

"I did," Shen Chaoxi replied meekly. She hardly dared to speak more. After all, she had returned with injuries. Her eldest brother only knew about her wounded leg; if they learned what she endured in Dongzhou, the other injuries she suffered... No, thinking about it was frightening enough.

As she pondered, the man's deep voice suddenly broke through, as if he could read her mind.

"Is there anywhere else you were hurt?"

Shen Chaoxi shook her head.

"No," she replied, shaking her head vigorously.

"Really?" Shen Songnian's gaze carried a hint of scrutiny, his eyes darkening, and even the weight of his stare seemed to press upon Shen Chaoxi.

Their eyes met.

"No," she said firmly.

Shen Songnian listened, his expression uncertain, a flicker of something unusual in his deep gaze. But thinking of her current condition, he pressed his lips together, hiding emotions no one else could fathom.

He said, "I'll trust you—for now."

As he spoke, his Adam's apple moved slightly, his heart sinking with relief.

His sister—did she truly think no one could see through what she hid in her eyes? Yet, seeing through and saying nothing, what else could he do but trust her for now?

He couldn't bear to scold her.

"Brother, did you come home because of me?" Shen Chaoxi asked, seeing his icy face, his brows still furrowed, the long-standing hardness in his expression softening for a moment at her words.

"Yes," he replied without expression.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, Shen Songnian's gaze toward Shen Chaoxi sharpened and grew colder.

"The Shen family matter—I will handle it."

"You've been hurt, so you stay home and rest."

The matter concerning Shen Xin—he'd known about it on his way back.

So a trace of complicated emotion flashed in Shen Songnian's eyes.