My angel will judge me.

part 25

The room was swallowed in half-darkness, shadows pooling in the corners where the lamplight dared not reach. Yibo sat hunched on the edge of his bed, his elbows digging into his knees, his hands clasped tightly together as if holding himself in place. His jaw was tight, his chest heavy. Thoughts stormed through him, thoughts he could neither silence nor settle.

The door opened with a faint creak. Yuan slipped in quietly, his footsteps soft against the floor. He didn’t ask permission, didn’t speak at first—just crossed the space between them and lowered himself beside his brother. For a long moment, there was only the silence of two heartbeats in the same room.

Finally, Yibo turned his head, his eyes sharp and burning. His voice, when it came, was low and edged with anger.

"I warned you,  little one . I told you not to bring him to deda. The plan was simple—he was only meant to watch from afar, to feel the sting of jealousy, to burn in silence. That’s all. But you… you broke it. You brought him face-to-face. Why? Why would you do that?"

Yuan drew in a long breath, his shoulders sinking beneath its weight. His gaze softened, but there was steel hidden in it too.

"I didn’t betray you, bo!"  he said quietly. "I just couldn’t lie to myself any longer. All these years, I thought Papa was selfish. I thought he never cared for Baba. Never cared for me. But last night… I saw the truth in his eyes. I saw the pain he’s carried. And I saw the love he never stopped holding onto. And all this time, I… I was blind to it."

The anger in Yibo’s face faltered, though he did not speak. Yuan’s voice trembled, but he pressed on, every word like a confession bleeding out of him.

"When Baba left, I was sick, broken, so alone. And Papa… he pretended to marry Lusi only for me. Just so I could feel a mother’s warmth again. So I wouldn’t wither away in that loneliness. He sacrificed his happiness to keep me breathing, to keep me smiling. And I—stupid, blind me—thought he was cold. I never realized the strength it took for him to endure all that pain."

Yuan’s throat tightened, but he forced the words out. "As his son, I failed him. I didn’t see him. I didn’t understand him. But now… Heaven has given me another chance. And this time, I’ll be the son he deserves. I’ll bring him back to Baba. I’ll fix what was broken. That’s my promise."

Silence stretched like a thread between them. Yibo’s gaze dropped, his expression unreadable. His voice, when it finally broke through, was softer, yet carved from something raw.

"You say he loves you. You say he gave you everything. And maybe he did. But me?” His lips curved bitterly. “I’m his real son. His blood. And I never received even a fragment of that love."

Yuan turned to him sharply, his eyes fierce with conviction.

"Don’t be a fool, Yibo. How could you have received it? Were you ever by his side? Did he even know you existed? No! He doesn’t even know he has a son. But if he knew—if he knew the truth—he would love you more than me. More than anyone. I’m not even his own flesh and blood, and still he gave me everything. You? You are his child. Can you even imagine what he would do for you?"

The words struck deep. Yibo froze, his breath caught in his chest, his heart thundering in silence.

Yuan leaned closer, his voice gentling into something almost pleading.

"Just give him a chance, bo . That’s all I ask. The past was cruel, the circumstances unfair… but don’t punish him forever for it. He deserves the right to be your deda. And you—you deserve to know what it feels like to be loved by him."

The room grew still again. Yibo’s eyes lowered to the floor, his lips pressed into a thin line. He said nothing, but the silence carried something heavier than words—anger and doubt, yes, but also the dangerous glimmer of hope.