No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 33

That manor held many memories for him because it was the setting of his entire childhood.

The person who accompanied him most was not his father, but the butler.

The butler taught him horse riding, shooting, and chess. And his mother taught him Chinese.

From the time he was sensible, the butler was like a kind grandfather, always guiding him, accompanying him almost every moment.

When he left that place and returned to China, his heart was filled with mixed emotions, after all, it was the place where he grew up. But what his father did was unbearable for his mother, and he himself could not forgive it.

Now, he was back, having thought he would never set foot here again.

It was noon when they arrived. The ancient manor gave off an unchanging sense of history.

The sunshine was brilliant, reflecting different angles and colors of light on the water spraying from the fountain.

“Young Master, welcome home.”

The butler elegantly bowed slightly, opening his single hand in a welcoming gesture.

The walls of the courtyard were hung with many full-body portraits of people in luxurious clothing.

The marble floor was polished brightly, allowing one to see their reflection while walking.

At the end of the spiral staircase was his room. His childhood was hidden within it.

The butler looked at Jiang Mu, whom he hadn’t seen in years, with great satisfaction. His appearance was even more outstanding, growing more and more into Cassou’s demeanor, yet retaining his mother’s temperament.

“Grandpa Claude, long time no see. How is your health?”

The butler nodded contentedly. “Of course, my young master. It seems you are still doing very well in China.”

Jiang Mu smiled. “Yes, I am fine.”

Perhaps without the ties here, he would be even better. But ties were always unavoidable things on the path forward.

“The room has been tidied. Nothing has been moved.”

Every step up the spiral staircase seemed to recall every childhood memory. The third floor was his domain.

His beloved deep blue—this floor was the most out-of-place part of the manor. Everywhere else was filled with the beautiful sense of noble history, but this area was painted with a vibrant beauty. This was his private space, the only reason he didn’t find this manor cold and heartless.

The photos on the wall were perfectly preserved: pictures of himself at different stages, with different smiles, but always wearing the same style of small suit, like a little gentleman.

Indeed, this was his curriculum: to be an elegant, well-mannered, and graceful gentleman.

Perhaps being born into such a family was not a choice, but it did not mean his fate was beyond his control.

Now, he was not yet fully fledged, his power was weak, relying on his parents. He could not yet choose what he wanted. But, there was always a “but” at the end.

Cassou was not a man who was merely casually elegant on the surface. He was a Count, living in this noble family, and the commanding tendencies were ingrained in his blood, compelling him to act as he did. Though he was not a good father, he was indeed a good friend in his childhood. Cassou was not suited to be a father.

Perhaps the statement was contradictory, but it was true. However, everything changed after he betrayed the family.

“Oh, my Nelson, you’re finally back.”

The man’s light laughter reached his ears.

Jiang Mu looked down at Cassou beneath the stairs.

Wearing the floral shirt and suit trousers he usually favored, it was hard to see him as a father, as he still looked so young. He never liked to keep a beard, always keeping his face very clean.

“Long time no see, Cassou.”

Cassou smiled, his eyes also full of amusement. “Shall we chat? Your mother shouldn’t be back so quickly, as she’s with your Grandmother Mina.”

He didn’t understand what they were doing, being suddenly called back by his mother.

“Okay.”

Sitting on the balcony, both men drank the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee they liked.

Steam curled over the cups, and the atmosphere was rare and peaceful.

Thinking back to the last time they met three years ago, the atmosphere definitely wouldn’t have been like this.

Cassou looked at the young man beside him. He had indeed grown up, his height was significantly taller, almost matching his own.

His features had matured; the mixed-race appearance was indeed handsome. This was the unreserved praise of a father looking at his child, because this was his own bloodline.

He sensed a change in the child, an invisible change.

“Mu, what are you thinking about?”

Jiang Mu was slightly surprised that he called his Chinese name.

“Nothing, just taking a look around.” He looked at the scenery outside the railing, at the pointed spires of the towers in the distance.

“Hmm, how are things with your little friend?”

The topic changed a bit too quickly. Jiang Mu turned his head to look at him, then slightly curled his lips.

“Not much has changed, just the same.”

“Hey, Mu, you should have half of my blood in you. Why didn’t you get any of my passion and romance? You are like your mother, terrifyingly calm about some things.”

Jiang Mu took a sip of coffee and slowly spoke. “It’s different.”

“Different? How so? Ah, I guess so. You certainly treat your little friend differently.” Cassou smiled playfully.

“I can’t bring myself to say it.”

Cassou chuckled, elegantly picked up his coffee and took a sip, but didn’t say anything more.

Looking out at the bright sunshine, each was lost in his own thoughts.

“Although Rochechouart is an ancient family, it doesn’t mean I am an inherently rigid gentleman. If you like someone, go for it.”

“So, is it because of your nature that you are so universally affectionate?”

That sounds harsh…

Cassou rolled his tongue around his mouth, looking a little roguish, then propped up his head and looked at the young man beside him.

“Universally affectionate? Hmm… perhaps. Otherwise, your mother wouldn’t have hated me and left me.” He laughed somewhat self-deprecatingly.

“Have you ever loved her?”

“Are you talking to me about love, kid?”

“You’re only 20 years older than me, aren’t you? You’re younger than Mom. Did you really plan to have me back then?”

Cassou shrugged. “No, I really didn’t. But I genuinely liked your mother at the time, and I was prepared to marry her, because she was the best choice for a wife.”

“So, only as a wife? Meaning you could still have mistresses?”

Cassou reached out and forcefully ruffled his hair. “The words you say are really stinging, kid. Just like your mother.”

Jiang Mu tilted his head. “It’s the truth.”

Looking at Jiang Mu’s serious expression, Cassou found it somewhat amusing. He didn’t want to admit that this child’s thoughts were sometimes more mature than his, and he thought about issues more deeply. This is indeed an excellent heir.

“Mu, if you return, the position of heir will undoubtedly be yours. I won’t have any more children. No matter how many lovers I have, I still have my limits.”

Jiang Mu finally heard the seriousness in Cassou’s tone.

“But I can’t leave Mom behind. I don’t want her to be alone, especially since you two have separated. Unless she finds her next love, I absolutely cannot leave her.”

“You truly are as ruthless as your mother. What ‘next love’? You completely disregard me.” Cassou took a gulp of the remaining coffee. The bitterness spread in his mouth, reaching his stomach.

“So, Luo Luo, I can’t hurt him because of myself. I’m afraid I’d be too selfish.”

Cassou shook his finger. “Dating so calmly won’t lead to anything. You haven’t tried, so how do you know? I don’t believe he can’t feel that you treat him differently from others.”

Brother, I think you’ve been a little weird lately…

You keep looking at me, and it feels a little awkward…

Involuntarily, he recalled their conversation from a few days ago. Could Luo Luo himself feel something?

It was nighttime in China.

New Year’s Eve was lively. They were eating a rich dinner at home and watching the gala.

“Hey, Luo Luo, why are you eating so little of the sweet and sour fish Mom made for you? Are you feeling unwell?”

Shu Luo shook his head, a slight melancholy in his brows. “No, I’m thinking about Jiang Mu.”

Shu Mama playfully tapped his head. “Oh, you. You’re so old and still so clingy. A’Mu leaves, and you can’t bear it? He’s not gone forever. Look at you. Why aren’t you a daughter?”

Shu Luo wrinkled his nose and took a couple more bites of rice. “What if Brother doesn’t come back after going home…”

Shu Dad was slightly confused. “Luo Luo, what’s wrong with you? A’Mu is just going home for a visit. This isn’t good. You can’t always be clingy. You need to fix that habit. You used to cling to Grandma when you were little, and now you cling to A’Mu when you’re older. How are you going to grow up like this? You’re already in your first year of high school.”

Shu Mama gave Shu Dad a little look and quietly said, “Why so serious? The child is only 14, of course he’s still young. You’re always busy with work and hardly have time to spend with him. He views a mature older brother like A’Mu as a father figure. Don’t criticize the child; look at yourself.”

Shu Dad suddenly softened. Thinking about it, it was true. Because he was busy with work, his neglect when Shu Luo was little even caused the child to fall ill. Even though the branch office was already in Shanghai, he still had to travel abroad frequently and was rarely home. He really hadn’t spent much time with the child growing up, or with his wife.

A’Mu was truly a mature and trustworthy child who knew how to take care of others. He treated Luo Luo like a real younger brother, which was a rare and genuine sincerity.

“Luo Luo, Dad wasn’t criticizing you.” Shu Dad gently said, putting a piece of sweet and sour fish on his plate.

Shu Luo, of course, knew that. He was just feeling a little awkward right now and slightly unwilling to admit it. Habit was truly a terrifying force.

Since they met in 2007 until now, they hadn’t been apart for this long. They were inseparable every day.

This brother was different, truly different. He was conscious of it.

“Come on, Luo Luo, don’t overthink it. You always follow A’Mu everywhere. What if you don’t end up at the same university?”

Shu Luo suddenly thought of Jiang Mu’s ideal. “I’ve decided what I want to study in university.”

“Oh? You decided so quickly?” Shu Dad was surprised. He had an idea so fast?

“Yes, I want to be a doctor.”

This profession made Shu Dad frown, but only momentarily. Actually, he preferred the child to study business management. He had always been paving that path for the child.

“Why the sudden interest in medicine?”

Shu Luo didn’t say it was because of Jiang Mu, but he thought of his maternal grandmother.

“Grandma has a bad heart. I want to study medicine for her.”

“Luo Luo, your thinking can’t be so simple. The future is still far away. You need to think more deeply.”

Shu Luo understood what Shu Dad meant, but he wasn’t really interested in management. Even if he had a capable father and a respectable job waiting for him, that good future would undoubtedly be one that his father had laid out.

Studying medicine, partly because of Jiang Mu, had also awakened something in him.

Shu Mama’s eyes lit up when she heard that he wanted to study medicine because of his grandmother. She gave Shu Dad a disapproving look. “What’s wrong with the child wanting to study medicine? It’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“What about my company? Someone has to take over. I put so much effort into it.”

“Your top management will certainly arrange for more excellent people after you retire, won’t they?”

Shu Dad was truly helpless. His family wouldn’t even agree to him arranging an easy path for his child. His shareholding in the group was substantial, and he would definitely be involved in many future policy decisions, including personnel changes.

“Dad, I want to study medicine. I don’t want to be as tired as you, where you don’t even have time to come home.”

The child’s thoughts were simple, which made it easy to convince Shu Dad.

“Luo Luo, Dad respects your choice. But studying medicine is very tiring. Are you prepared for that?”

Shu Luo was determined. “Yes, I’m not afraid of any amount of exhaustion. I’ve decided.”

Seeing the unwavering look in Shu Luo’s eyes, it was a rare attitude. The saying, “Near vermilion makes one red, near ink makes one black,” was certainly true. Often, the influence of peers was more profound than that of family.

With the topic concluded, they finished their pleasant meal.

Shu Mama went to wash the dishes, while Shu Luo and Shu Dad sat in the living room watching TV.

“Luo Luo, Dad has never had a good chat with you. You’ve grown up in the blink of an eye.”

Shu Luo smiled carelessly. “You’re busy with work. I still have Mom, don’t I?”

“That’s true. I don’t even see Dad a few times a year. It seems Dad was too obsessed with work. Overly pursuing perfection, thinking that to climb higher, you must constantly strive for positions of power. You have to keep going no matter how tired you are. But along the way, I threw away many things, and a lot of time has passed that can’t be recovered.”

Shu Luo listened to Shu Dad speak. He was indeed a liberal arts major; his speech was refined and eloquent.

“Your mother is a great mother, trusting and supporting me without reservation. You are also an obedient child, not bothering or annoying me. But this is also Dad’s regret. I feel like I missed your cutest stage.”

Shu Luo laughed and patted Shu Dad’s shoulder. “Aiya, so Dad wants that? I can still annoy you.”

“Hehe, you’re asking for a spanking.” Shu Dad put an arm around his neck, pretending to be fierce.

“Hehe.”

The family was happy and harmonious.

The night deepened, and faint white snowflakes drifted down.

It was snowing.

Far away in France, Jiang Mu looked out at the bright sunshine. It must be night in China.

Luo Luo, Happy New Year. This is the fourth New Year’s Day we’ve known each other. I hope you’re always happy.

I’m very curious what wish you made. You smiled so brightly when you looked at me.

January 1, 2010

Today is New Year’s Day. It’s a little disappointing that Jiang Mu isn’t around. This is the fourth New Year’s Day we’ve known each other, and he didn’t even call. He’s such a bad brother. He goes home and doesn’t call. He definitely favors his dad over his brother.

I chatted with Dad tonight and realized I’ve been struggling with one question repeatedly: whether or not to follow Jiang Mu. But actually, I’ve just been worrying for nothing. It’s an obvious thing, and I made it so complicated. Starting today, I’ve decided to stick with my big brother Jiang Mu for life. We’re brothers for life, and I’ll trust him unconditionally. Yep, that’s settled. I feel so much better now that I’m clear after struggling for so long. Even Mom and Dad think it’s the right choice, so there’s no need to worry. Brother, Happy New Year. Although I don’t have your number, I’m writing it in my diary so you can’t say I didn’t wish you happy holidays.

I made a wish: to fulfill your ideal for you.

I hope you can be happy. That way, I’ll be very happy too.