Chapter 27: THE SCAR IN HIS HEART

"I'm sorry. It's the hormones," Min Chu shyly utters while simply wiping her tears with tissues in hand. Her nerves finally calm down after sobbing for a few minutes after entering Guan's car.

"Is Brother okay with you following me out here?"

Through the faint light, Min Chu stares at him with wide eyes. She manages a bitter smile, "What do you think?"

"I figured what his initial would be." He clears his throat. "You should head back inside then, or we will be misunderstood…again."

"I won't go back if you're not going with me." Min Chu says, full of conviction.

Guan groans loudly. "You know I don't belong here."

"Who told you that? We've all been waiting for you to return. This your home!"

"Nobody wanted me here."

She sits up straight and turns her waist to face him. She reaches out to touch his arm, squeezing it tightly. "You should have a talk with Father and your Brother."

"What for? They all hated me."

"Come on, they don't."

He gives her a side-eye glance, "Oh, yeah? Tell that to my Brother and Father, then. Can't you see how they look at me with contempt while eating? Oh! Let me give you an example; remember what he did in the hospital?"

She removes her hand and puts it on her lap. Min Chu is getting tired of this conversation. They are only going around in circles for years, and he never listens. She combs her hair back in exasperation.

"I already gave him an earful about that."

Min Chu glances at Guan even though she could only see his side profile, his loneliness is still evident. She could see how helpless he is. It seems like he is not convinced about scolding Guan Qing.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot." Guan has his eyes closed, leaning his head on the headrest, and is waiting for her to ask her question – he is all ears now. He hears her heaving. Feels like she is nervous about asking him. It just made him even more curious.

"Do you…," Min Chu pauses for a while, scratching her chin, "…do you still have feelings for me?"

It was a bold question.

She continues, "Is it one of the reasons why you did not come home? You didn't even go to our wedding," Min Chu fiddles with the tissues in her hand. "And I've been trying to contact you for years but you never responded; not even a single hello."

Guan slowly opens and crosses his arms over his chest. "It was," he mutters, his eyes devoid of emotions while looking ahead.

"Hmm?" she did not hear what he said because it sounds like he was talking to himself.

"I said, it used to."

This time, Guan faces her. Through the dim lights, his eyes dilated to see her face clearly.

"I was angry at Father because of you. I impulsively left because of you. Everything was because of you but…," he momentarily stops talking and clears his throat when his voice suddenly cracks, "I realized it was more than that. I realized I have to step back and accept the truth that you are not for me."

"And all this time, me hating Father is not because of you. It's because I envy how he always favors Big Brother over me when all those times I tried my best to get his approval, and it was all for naught. And now that I'm back, it was all the same. No, it has gotten worse, don't you think?"

Guan has a grin plastered on his face however, it does not indicate happiness. Just then, he realized Min Chu was once again crying a river.

"Uh, I... I'm sorry," he frantically grabs the box of tissue in the back seat, wiping her tears for her.

"When did you become a crybaby, huh?" he teases to lighten the mood and appease her.

Instead, she hugs him and continues crying, making his shirt drenched in her tears.

Guan feels hesitant in hugging her back. And when she feels her hug is not reciprocated, Min Chu tightens her grip around her and bawls her eyes out - alarming Guan. She always gets what she wants, really.

He gently pats her back while she keeps on crying.

"Thank you." He utters out of the blue.

Min Chu pulls away from the hug and is clearheaded now. She sniffs, "What for? All I did was cry."

"Just, thank you." Guan grazes her cheek using his thumb.

Their eyes meet, staring at each other.

"Come on, let's go back."

Guan is the first to break their contact. He did not wait for her answer and went out of the car first.

Min Chu looks up to him as he opens the door from the outside, holding his hand out.

----

Meanwhile, inside the house…

Guan Qing stood in the living room, tensed. His mind is wandering about what Min Chu and Guan are doing outside right now. They have not been back for a while now, and it is making him think of unnecessary things. He trusts his wife; it was his brother that he didn't.

He put great efforts to restrain himself from chasing after her to avoid another scolding from her. They just had a small fight a few days ago about what he did at the hospital. He did not want to stress her over trivial things.

Su Bin felt a headache coming just from watching Guan Qing being restless - walking back and forth in front of him. After Guan left, it was as if all their stomachs turned upside down, and they did not manage to continue eating the scrumptious food in front of them. Niu Yizhang and Choi Minjun went to the study right after the meal. Su Bin massages his temples, closing his eyes as he does. He is definitely going to scold Guan after this.

After a while, they heard footsteps approaching the living room. Their heads turn and saw Min Chu followed by Guan behind her.

Guan Qing's face brightens seeing Min Chu approaching. But his eyes immediately turned dark when he saw the jacket draped around her shoulders - recognizing it at one glance.

"Come on, it's time to take your vitamins," Guan Qing simply removes the jacket and puts it on the couch - aiding Min Chu upstairs to their room.

Guan watches them in silence, ignoring the cold shoulders his brother is giving him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Guan catches Su Bin staring at him intently.

"Like what?"

"Suit yourself."

Guan takes big strides back outside. His business is done in this house.

"Hey!" Su Bin runs after him to his car.

"What is it now?"

Instead of an answer, a fist greeted him. Guan stumbles to the ground after the punch. It was quite strong, and the corner of his lip begins to bleed.

"Ha, haven't done that in a while."

"What the hell are you up to?" he glares at Su Bin while helping himself up.

"To wake you up." Su Bin fixes the crease on his coat.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"You know, ever since you arrived, you've been hot-headed and grumpy that it's frustrating to be around you."

Guan listens as he dusts himself off and wipes his corner lip off of blood.

"You think the world revolves around you?" Su Bin adds.

"What the fuck are you rambling about right now?"

"You know, they say that wounds heal with time, but it's different with you, Guan. Your wounds never healed all this time. You're just good at patching them even if they're festering inside, and it's consuming you. The way you acted a while ago was the proof of that."

"This right here," Su Bin pointed at his chest, "is where you are wounded deeply. The best way to heal is to accept everything, Guan. Let her go!"

Guan's eyes suddenly turn blood-lust to his accusations. "I've accepted everything! And you think this is only about her?! You think you know everything, huh?!"

"Who else do you think it is?! Don't give me that bullshit about your Father forcing you on going to New York because even if the marriage didn't happen, you are still going!" Su Bin pants, not backing away.

That's right.

Guan's trip to New York for his education has long been predetermined just like his brother. They are sent overseas to train and expound their knowledge about managing their business. But Guan changed his course the moment he overheard the arranged marriage between Guan Qing and Min Chu one night.

Feeling betrayed by one of his close friends and the love of his life, he flew to New York with Su Bin ahead of his scheduled departure date.

Su Bin continues, "You said you've accepted everything?" he scoffs, "Give me a break. Your mind did but your heart is still in shambles and longs for her! Whenever you saw them being sweet together your mind starts to blank. Am I right? It's written all over your face and your actions. You think I wouldn't notice?"

"Shut up!" Guan roars. His voice echoed in the courtyard. He gives Su Bin one last push and enters his car.

Su Bin is left chuckling to himself as he watched the car fade into the shadows.

"Third Young Master? Is everything alright?"

The butler, who had heard all the commotion, asks Su Bin full of concern.

"It's fine, Uncle Wang. It's just a minor love spat. You know we have always done that ever since we were kids."

That night, Su Bin decided to stay in the mansion for a night.