Echoes of My Heart

Chapter 3

No one said being in love was easy. It's even harder when it's one-sided. But falling for your brother? That's not just tough—that's a whole new level of messed up. Even for Xiao Yuan.

But how could one not fall for such a man? Even at a young age, when he was still growing up, his brother ensured they had a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and a sense of security.

His adoptive brother was a pillar of strength, always protecting them from harm. He even took a brutal beating, risking his life, to shield Xiao Yuan, to get him back.

That kind of unwavering dedication left an indelible mark on Xiao Yuan's heart.

His Gē wanted to keep him in his life.

His Gē fought for him, even when Xiao Yuan was ready to give them up so that his Gē could be free.

He wasn't a charity case.

He was a part of the family.

He was a part of Wei Qian Gē.

Don't get him wrong, he knew he was loved and wanted, but he still felt more like an outsider playing house with the "Wei Siblings". But that fight, with Le Gē's man, changed his outlook on how things with Wei Qian were.

And in that moment, when Wei Qian did everything in his power to win Xiao Yuan, something shifted inside Xiao Yuan. Something he couldn't point out for a long time, but felt it. Something that grew as the time passed by, growing stronger, firmer. It's roots sank so deep into his being that he couldn't get it out even if he tried.

Something he didn't know he was nurturing, something that made his whole essence revolve around one person.

Xiao Yuan couldn't pinpoint exactly when his feelings began to change. It wasn't love at first sight; in fact, it started with a simmering resentment for being a charity case—a "come close to me and I'll break your face" kind of feeling.

But as time passed, those feelings evolved. Even though he tried to control them, it was unmanageable.

He watched his brother's every move, the way he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders without complaint, and the quiet moments of vulnerability he seldom showed.

A deep-seated admiration grew within Xiao Yuan, an appreciation for the man who sacrificed so much for him.

Eventually deciding to be Wei Qian's pillar of support when he needed to slow down and lean.

Gradually, the lines between admiration, gratitude, and love blurred, morphing into an intense, complex emotion that he could no longer ignore.

The conflict within him was a storm, tearing him apart from the inside for years. It started with him lashing out on himself for thinking of such things against a kind soul who gave him a new life. The self-disgust, self-loathing and anger kept him up at nights, suffocating him, drowning him.

He wanted to scream it out loud and ask for help, to have someone help him understand the depth of his emotions, the weird wiring of his mind and thoughts. Beyond dealing with his emerging homosexuality, loving his own brother really fucked with his mind.

The combination of these feelings left him feeling utterly lost and isolated, unable to find solace or clarity.

Xiao Yuan's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. On one hand, he yearned to talk to someone, to unburden his soul and make sense of the chaos within him. But on the other hand, the fear of judgement and rejection kept him silent. The taboo nature of his feelings made it impossible for him to confide in anyone. He felt trapped in a prison of his own making, with walls built from fear, shame, and guilt.