Our Entire Family Has Secrets [Transmigrated] - Chapter 22
Yuan Qifeng was approached by Han Banlan as he was preparing to leave.
He wasn’t interested in young girls, especially since she was wearing the same school uniform as his younger brother. Unless he was a scumbag, he wouldn’t make a move on a young girl like her.
He was about to reject her when he saw Lin Shuanghuai.
Although he didn’t recognize the face, the scent was very familiar.
He had smelled it on Yuan Bozhu before.
This scent wasn’t something that could be detected by smell; it came from the blood, from an indescribable other dimension.
The energy field around Lin Shuanghuai was slightly different from that of ordinary humans.
Others couldn’t detect it, not even beastmen, who couldn’t distinguish such a subtle difference.
But Yuan Qifeng could.
Or rather, among the few rare species left in this world, only Yuan Qifeng could.
He had a special ability that allowed him to sense the dormant bloodline in those who had not yet awakened.
No matter how ordinary these people appeared on the surface, as long as they harbored that ancient power, they could not escape Yuan Qifeng’s nose.
The closer they were to the awakening period, the more obvious the scent.
And Lin Shuanghuai’s scent was one he had smelled once on his brother.
However, he was cautious and didn’t approach Lin Shuanghuai directly.
When Han Banlan struck up a conversation, he pretended to be surprised and shy, as if he had never been approached in his life, and said, “Really? You want to invite me to play games with you?”
Han Banlan, who usually was loud and brash, appeared a bit reserved in front of the boy she liked. “Yes, is that okay? Are you waiting for a friend? I can wait with you.”
“I’m waiting for my brother,” Yuan Qifeng said, glancing at Lin Shuanghuai out of the corner of his eye. “He goes to the same school as you.”
“Wow, really?” Han Banlan was very surprised. “How come I’ve never seen a student as handsome as you at school?”
Yuan Qifeng smiled, “He’s quite low-key.”
“But your brother must be very handsome. Handsome guys can’t keep a low profile!”
“Not necessarily,” Yuan Qifeng thought of something and smiled. “No matter what the secret is, if you want to hide it, you can. Even a handsome face.”
“You’re so funny, big brother.”
After Han Banlan said this, Xu Zhilong, standing next to her, got goosebumps.
Han Banlan glared at him and continued chatting with Yuan Qifeng.
Yuan Qifeng responded fluently, occasionally making a small joke, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
At one point, his gaze accidentally met Lin Shuanghuai’s.
It was a scrutinizing look, full of vigilance and probing, with a coldness in his eyes that made one nervous.
It was very incongruent with Lin Shuanghuai’s seemingly kind and harmless face.
Yuan Qifeng almost thought that Lin Shuanghuai had discovered his intentions—to accept Han Banlan’s approach just to observe Lin Shuanghuai up close.
But he quickly dismissed this idea.
Lin Shuanghuai looked at him with an undisguised wary gaze and then pulled Han Banlan aside, whispering, “This guy seems unreliable.”
Yuan Qifeng stood by, his handsome smile stiffening a bit, and tried to inform Lin Shuanghuai, “Classmate, I can hear you.”
Unexpectedly, Lin Shuanghuai didn’t seem to mind and even looked up to smile at him, “I know.”
However, Han Banlan was the type who, once she decided on something, rarely anyone could stop her.
Even though Lin Shuanghuai reminded her, she still insisted, “I really like his face.”
Lin Shuanghuai nodded helplessly but still didn’t feel comfortable leaving Han Banlan alone.
So he looked at Yuan Qifeng again and said, “Then, how about we all go together? You don’t mind, right?”
“Of course not, I haven’t hung out with young people in a long time.”
In theory, Yuan Qifeng should have been happy.
His target was Lin Shuanghuai, and staying together made it easier to observe.
But as soon as Lin Shuanghuai’s eyes looked over, Yuan Qifeng inexplicably felt a chill down his neck. The more Lin Shuanghuai smiled, the more Yuan Qifeng’s scalp tingled.
A strange kid.
He had a face that looked easy to get along with, but he was actually a difficult type to deal with.
For the next period of time, Yuan Qifeng seemed to just hang out with them normally.
He didn’t even talk to Lin Shuanghui, acting as if he didn’t care about him.
Finally, after Yuan Qifeng scored 100 basketball shots in a minute, hit 10 bullseyes in a row with perfect accuracy, and broke the highest punching machine strength record, he completely won over Han Banlan.
At the same time, he managed to annoy Yu Yangen, who lost to him in the punching game, to the point where Yu went off to play the claw machine.
“Wow! You’re amazing!”
Han Banlan was genuinely impressed.
The type she liked had always been the same since she was young: manly men.
But what “manly” meant was up to her interpretation. Sometimes, being tall and well-built was manly; other times, being quiet and reserved but helping her with homework was manly.
Now meeting Yuan Qifeng, he was the epitome of “handsome,” “strong,” and “mature,” all mixed together, almost making her swoon.
She looked at Yuan Qifeng with starry eyes and asked, “What shall we play next?”
Yuan Qifeng stood by the punching machine, first glancing at Lin Shuanghuai, then casually asked Han Banlan, “Your classmate doesn’t seem to like playing games. He hasn’t really participated since we got here.”
Han Banlan replied, “Huier doesn’t dislike it; he’s just bored with it. We used to go to arcades often, and except for the punching machine, he broke records on everything else.”
Raising his eyebrows with interest, Yuan Qifeng said, “Really? There are many activities here. Let’s find one he hasn’t played before. Otherwise, he’ll be bored.”
Lin Shuanghuai wasn’t that into games and was about to refuse when Yuan Qifeng said, “It’s okay, little guy. You don’t have to compete with me. Breaking my records is tough… Just enjoy yourself and don’t be nervous.”
“…”
Lin Shuanghuai wasn’t very competitive.
But this remark still annoyed him.
He lifted his eyelids and, with a half-smile, asked, “Which game do you want to play?”
“Do you know the most famous attraction in this arcade?”
“What?”
“Simulated free fall.” Yuan Qifeng smiled nonchalantly, pointing in a direction, and said,
“It’s advertised as indoor bungee jumping, but the gameplay is different. You jump from a height of twenty meters in an enclosed space surrounded by foam and safety nets. It’s not dangerous, but it’s very challenging because many people get scared when they hear there’s no safety rope. So far, except for the demonstration staff, no customer has played it.”
As soon as Yuan Qifeng finished speaking, Han Banlan laughed, “Ha! You picked the wrong game. Huier is the least afraid of heights. He even went paragliding by himself before!”
But Yuan Qifeng wasn’t disappointed. He continued to look at Lin Shuanghuai and said, “That’s even better. You should like this game.”
Lin Shuanghuai didn’t think much of it, as he wasn’t afraid of heights at all.
He accepted the suggestion and went with Yuan Qifeng to the high-altitude jump attraction.
Han Banlan and Xu Zhilong, seeing the height, got scared and said quickly, “You two play; we’ll wait for you downstairs!”
With that, they hurried to the elevator and went down without looking back.
At the drop point, besides a few staff members, only Lin Shuanghuai and Yuan Qifeng were left.
“You two are so brave! You’re the first pair to challenge this today,”
A staff member said while explaining the gameplay. “If you successfully complete the task, you’ll receive a big gift package from the arcade!”
Lin Shuanghuai seriously looked at the safety manual. This attraction wasn’t dangerous at all. Although jumping without a safety rope sounded terrifying, a closer look revealed that the entire fall was protected by nets, and the bottom layer was soft, thick foam pads.
To Lin Shuanghuai, this high-altitude fall was no different from a slide
Just a vertical one.
Yuan Qifeng, however, said with great interest, “Little guy, do you know that during intense activities, the adrenaline your body produces changes a lot of things?”
Lin Shuanghuai looked at him inexplicably.
“Your heartbeat will speed up, your blood will flow faster than usual, your brain will react more quickly, and your limbs will be stronger. Under the stimulation of hormones, your body undergoes huge changes in a very short time, making everything different.”
Yuan Qifeng read from his phone, then concluded, “You become someone beyond your imagination.”
A staff member added, “Yeah, many people play this kind of game just for the thrill!”
Lin Shuanghuai didn’t delve into the meaning of this statement and only said, “I’ve never thought about what kind of person I am.”
Yuan Qifeng said nothing more and looked away.
Among the two, Lin Shuanghuai was the first to jump. He didn’t hesitate at all and, when the staff asked for the third time, “Are you really ready?” he just jumped.
The staff were stunned. Yuan Qifeng, leaning on the side, was also taken aback, then burst out laughing, covering his face. The staff didn’t understand why he was laughing. “Sir? What’s the matter?”
“Really,” Yuan Qifeng said cryptically, “how can there be such a person…?”
He looked incredibly smart and alert, but in reality, he was so simple that it made you feel a bit guilty. If he really awakened some latent power during the fall, this kid might not even realize it.
However, Yuan Qifeng had no choice but to do this.
The little conscience he had left wasn’t enough to make him stop.
But until the end, when Lin Shuanghuai successfully fell, nothing happened.
Yuan Qifeng couldn’t really describe what he felt.
He didn’t know whether to regret not seeing the other’s bloodline, or to be relieved that he didn’t force Lin Shuanghuai to awaken in such a situation.
The goal was achieved, but Yuan Qifeng himself didn’t jump.
He didn’t like the feeling of weightlessness, so he calmly took the elevator downstairs and said to everyone, “I lost. I don’t have the courage like the little classmate.”
“It’s okay! It’s totally normal to be afraid to jump, I was scared just standing there,” Han Banlan comforted Yuan Qifeng, saying, “Huai’er is the rare one, right? Look at him, he looks like he can’t wait to jump again.”
Lin Shuanghuai smiled beside them.
Falling from a height didn’t make his heart race or feel uncomfortable; instead, it gave him a feeling of total comfort and freedom.
Moreover, he had no adverse reactions after jumping down. The staff didn’t even have time to rush over to get him; Lin Shuanghuai had already climbed up by himself, acting as if nothing had happened.
“This win or loss doesn’t count,” Lin Shuanghuai sincerely said to Yuan Qifeng, “You can pick something else.”
“…” Yuan Qifeng laughed.
Probably because his younger brother had been so steady from childhood and never got bullied by him, Yuan Qifeng suddenly felt a sense of adult guilt—he was completely bullying a kid just now.
“Let’s not compete anymore, let’s find something everyone can play,” Yuan Qifeng said to Han Banlan.
In the end, Han Banlan decided they should go racing.
They walked toward the racing track, passing by the claw machine area, intending to call Yu Yangen, and happened to hear Yu Yangen’s voice:
“Hey, hey, hey! Look who’s here!”
Lin Shuanghuai immediately saw Yuan Bozhu.
He probably didn’t even notice that his expression instantly became radiant, completely different from his earlier uninterested demeanor.
However, just as he was about to speak, with only the word “Yuan” out of his mouth, he heard Yuan Qifeng speak first:
“Ah, I thought you’d call me first. It’s tough for you to walk in with so many people around.”
Lin Shuanghuai was stunned for a moment, then saw Yuan Qifeng walking over to Yuan Bozhu.
The two looked very different at first glance.
From head to toe, Yuan Qifeng was meticulously groomed, with handsome features and an attractive aura, standing anywhere like a human billboard, strikingly eye-catching.
On the other hand, Yuan Bozhu appeared low-key, and at a glance, it was hard to say what his advantages were.
If Yuan Qifeng hadn’t mentioned waiting for his brother, no one would have thought of them as related.
Standing together, logically, Yuan Bozhu should have been overshadowed by Yuan Qifeng’s brilliance.
But strangely enough, this Yuan Bozhu, who had no apparent advantages, didn’t seem dim at all.
He was taller than Yuan Qifeng, with a tall and lean physique, exuding a calm aura unique to him.
It felt like anyone approaching him would be subtly drawn into a state of tranquility.
No matter how flamboyant Yuan Qifeng was, standing next to Yuan Bozhu, he suddenly seemed subdued.
Han Banlan excitedly grabbed Lin Shuanghuai’s hand, whispering, “Oh my gosh, they’re brothers!! Ah, ah, ah, how is this possible! I could never have imagined! Help, help, help, did all the good genes go to the older brother?!”
Lin Shuanghuai coldly brushed her hand away, saying, “Stop talking nonsense.”
Clearly, Yuan Bozhu was also very handsome.
Taller than Yuan Qifeng.
More composed than Yuan Qifeng.
Cooler than Yuan Qifeng.
And even more handsome without his glasses.
But Lin Shuanghuai didn’t say any of this, he just silently followed.
The message Yuan Bozhu sent him gave Lin Shuanghuai the courage to greet him.
He thought, since Yuan Bozhu cared about his performance at the freshman welcome party, it meant he intended to come.
So, that meant… Yuan Bozhu already somewhat considered him a friend.
Seizing the moment, Lin Shuanghuai was good at that.
***
Yuan Bozhu knew Yuan Qifeng had more than one secret.
Moreover, since last month, his odd behavior had extended beyond their home.
On Yuan Bozhu’s eighteenth birthday, just past midnight, he had already fallen asleep in bed.
Yuan Qifeng quietly opened the door and entered.
Not only him, but also Yuan Wanjiao.
Yuan Bo Zhu is very good at pretending to be asleep. As long as he wants to, no one can tell if he’s already awake.
“Is he asleep?”
“Yes, he’s sleeping deeply. Looks like he’s dreaming.”
“Are you still going to test him?”
“Why not? Just in case.”
“If he hasn’t awakened by eighteen, there’s no chance at all.”
“Then it’s over?”
“It’s already over.”
The two of them exchanged a glance, and finally both coldly laughed.
“You said it’s over, so you can get out of this house.”
“If anyone’s leaving, it’s you.”
“Your organization is nothing but a cult. I’m advising you for your own good, you’d better leave soon.”
“I have nothing to say to a traitor who sides with humans.”
“Idiot.”
“Witch.”
After that day, they rarely came home.
Yuan Bo Zhu knew what they were looking for. There were many sixteen to eighteen-year-olds in Qiancheng City, and they wanted to find one of them.
But which one exactly?
Could it be Lin Shuanghuai?
But what would they do once they found them?
He didn’t know.
“Is that your friend?”
Yuan Qifeng raised an eyebrow, his gaze wandering between Lin Shuanghuai and Yuan Bozhu.
Then he smiled meaningfully.
“Yuan Wanjiao, that night, it couldn’t have been—ah ow!”
Yuan Bozhu, expressionless, stepped on Yuan Qifeng’s foot, ignoring his cry of pain completely.
Glancing at Lin Shuanghuai who was trying to greet him, Yuan Bozhu quickly made a decision.
He grabbed Yuan Qifeng: “We’re going home.”
“Huh? Aren’t you going to have a meal with your friend?”
“No.” Yuan Bozhu paused, but in the end didn’t look back: “Not a friend.”
Han Banlan saw Yuan Qifeng being dragged away, but didn’t chase after him.
She leaned against Xu Zhilong, bewildered, and said, “Why did I feel so moved just now, but seeing his playful look, he doesn’t seem cool at all?”
“It’s normal. Men always put on a show in front of women. If you’re close, their true nature comes out.”
Xu Zhilong said, “If you like cool guys, you’re bound to be disappointed. There’s no cool guy who’s consistent inside and out.”
At this moment, the melancholic Lin Shuanghuai walked towards them and said, “I’m going to do the free fall again.”
“What?!”
“Try other games, there are so many things here.”
Lin Shuanghuai didn’t care. He was about to head towards the elevator alone and said, “I’m very sad. A sad person needs to do something that makes their adrenaline rush to be happy.”
After leaving the game city, the excitement faded.
Yuan Bozhu waited for Yuan Qifeng to get the car, standing in a deserted corner.
He did something somewhat rude to Lin Shuanghuai again.
He ignored Lin Shuanghuai’s enthusiasm right to his face, denying Lin Shuanghuai’s efforts.
The phrase in his phone, “Sincerity can move mountains,” became somewhat ironic.
Yuan Bozhu thought, he was not a mountain, and did not need the other’s sincerity to move him.
It was clear Yuan Qifeng hadn’t gotten the information he wanted from Lin Shuanghuai today. Whether he would continue to approach him in the future, Yuan Bozhu didn’t know.
With his finger on Lin Shuanghuai’s profile picture, Yuan Bozhu decided to directly refuse the party invitation.
In one year’s time, he would leave Qiancheng City No.1 High School, and they would no longer have any connection.
The Yuan family was an extremely dangerous and complex little world, and no one else should be dragged into it.
With a soft sound, it opened its eyes.
In the next moment, its tightly folded wings spread wide, and the raven soared into the sky.
Finally, it landed on the top of the shopping mall, circling, not moving forward.