The Thirty-Eighth Chapter: A Sudden Turn of Events

  While the servants were preparing dinner, An Shouping and Lin Tao had not yet come out of the private room. One of the four doormen walked to the door of the private room to ask for instructions from An Shouping, who then made an internal phone call to instruct the cooks to prepare carefully, and later called Grandfather again. Grandfather was entertaining outside, so he sent one of his stewards to open the door for them.

  After opening the door, Lin Tao couldn't help but punch An Shuo Ping hard: "You bastard, what's wrong with you? Why does it have to be your old man's fingerprint to open this lock? Are you purely fooling me? Didn't your housekeeper come and unlock it as soon as they arrived?"

  Looking at Lin Tao's puffed up appearance, An Shuo Ping couldn't help but burst out laughing again for his own mischievous prank.

  "You laugh, you dare to laugh, watch me knock your front teeth out." Lin Tao and Mu Xingchen had been together for so many years, although they were also as close as brothers, but he had never spoken to him like that before. It was probably because of that one layer of invisible yet eternal master-slave relationship, but it was different with An Zhuo Ping.

  An Shuo Ping is also a member of the aristocracy, but his family has always been merchants, unlike the Mu family. Mu Xingchen's grandfather's older brother was a true veteran revolutionary who participated in the revolution since the Long March era. Although Mu Xingchen's grandfather Mu Zhongnian was an entrepreneur, his eldest son went into politics, so to say, Mu Xingchen also has some connection with the red descendants.

  As a result, the family education of the An family is not as strict as that of the Mu family, and the concept of door-to-door is much less. Moreover, An Shuo himself is also open-minded and unrestrained, and does not want to have so many poor lectures, so Lin Tao with him together seems very casual.

  "Alright, alright! You're just talking big, we were getting along fine inside earlier, you'd already made up your mind to let go. Don't try to be a hero now! I just let you out, what can you do? Can you go to Xingchen's face and tell him seriously that you also like that girl, and want to compete with him fairly? Hmph! You don't have the guts, all you know is to show off in front of me!" An Shuo Ping pushed Lin Tao away disdainfully. He had long since seen through Lin Tao's soft nature, and was certain he wouldn't dare to compete with Mu Xingchen.

  Lin Tao's face changed color in an instant, and his eyes, which always shone with a warm light, lost their luster in the same moment. Yes, An Shuo had spoken the truth - even if he could have walked up to Mu Xingchen just now, what good would it have done? He was never going to say those words out loud no matter what.

  Seeing Lin Tao's despondency, An Shuo Ping's heart also surged with a pang of sorrow and regret, realizing that he had spoken too much. All these years, Lin Tao's meticulous care for Mu Xing Chen was something he had witnessed firsthand, and the brotherly affection Lin Tao showed was truly moving to him. However, some things were indeed forever unchangeable.

  "Tao'er... don't be sad, I think that girl isn't anything special either, she's just showing off, she's not suitable for you, really!" An Shuo Ping walked to Lin Tao's side and gently patted his shoulder to comfort him.

  "Hey! I'm fine, am I the kind of person who easily falls in love with a woman?" Lin Tao felt warm-hearted towards An Zhuo Ping's kind comfort, and he was also very aware of his own personality flaws. He didn't dare to openly express himself in front of Mu Xingchen, also because of a sense of self-inferiority. All these years, even if Mu Xingchen treated him like a brother, the two people were close, but it would never improve his family background and status. Meng Jun was such an elegant and noble girl, originally she should be matched with Mu Xingchen, a young master from a wealthy family, originally she should be taken care of by Mu Xingchen, a prince-like figure, what qualifications did he have to compete with Mu Xingchen? Moreover, he had once sworn in front of Old Master Mu that he would take care of Xingchen for the rest of his life and forever protect his big brother.

  "Alright, that's good. What's the point of finding a pretty girl? I'll introduce you to several more later." An Shuo Ping hugged his brother tightly, and at this moment, he really made up his mind to find someone suitable for Lin Tao. An Shuo Ping was indeed a kind-hearted person who always put his brothers' affairs in his heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken out all the good things like Mu Xingchen said.

  "Come on! Taotao, let's go see the excitement! This time, our fearless and reckless Star Master has finally been taken hostage!" An Shuo Ping shook off his earlier restraint, grabbed Lin Tao's hand and said with a smile.

  "I'm not going, you shouldn't go either, or Sixth Master will scold you again!" Lin Tao however managed to struggle free from his grasp. Although he also wanted to know how Meng Jun was doing now, reason ultimately triumphed over his emotions.

  Since you've chosen to let go, then stay far away! The taste of love is bitter, it's better to stop oneself from getting a shallow taste of it!

  "If you don't go, I will!" An Shuo's little kid got excited again, he asked another question, seeing Lin Tao was really determined, he turned his head and left by himself.

  Looking at An Shuo's calm back, a strand of heavy melancholy floated between his clear and handsome eyebrows. Moreover, a thread of sorrow crept onto Lin Tao's heartstrings. At this moment, his deeply furrowed brows perfectly matched the poetic phrase: "This feeling cannot be dispelled, only to lower one's head but raise one's heart."

  Perhaps Lin Tao had overestimated his composure and underestimated the magic of love. Can the pace of love be easily stagnant?