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Ye Qiu got up from his seat and walked out of the the loud stadium and into the quiet hallway. It was his assistant.

"I told you not to call unless it was important, so what is it?" The assistant answered and Ye Qiu almost dropped his phone.

He released a shaky sigh "O—okay. Where is she... okay. Okay I'm coming!" he ended the call and looked around rapidly. Where was his brother? Ye Qiu ran around all the hallways, but he still couldn’t find the backstage entrance. He was getting frustrated, but then he remembered there was a way backstage near the stage. It would be hard, but it’s the only way.

Ye Qiu entered back into the stadium to be greeted with erupted cheers. He glanced at one of the big screens. It was a replay of his brother’s temporary character and a rookie’s. This was what? His fifth challenge already? Unfortunately he couldn't accept more. 

Ye Qiu had a plan. His brother wasn’t anywhere seen at the moment so he quickly descended down the stairs and headed toward the backstage entrance. Before he arrived, he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. He planned to just walk in, act like his brother. 

A guard held his arm out “Stop. What are you doing here?”

“That’s Ye Qiu” the other guard said.

“Ye Qiu?”

“Yeah. Who else can come in and out of here with a mask?”

“Oh! I’m sorry” the first guard bowed in apology.

Ye Qiu chuckled “Its alright” he said with a slight nod “I’ll be on my way then.” The guards let him enter afterwards. Okay. He needed to find his brother. No more wasting time. Ye Qiu ran around looking for his brother or Excellent Era’s practice room. He wasn’t sure where he could be, but that was one possibility. 

“I would like to challenge Senior Ye Qiu!” a voice played on the nearest tv. Dammit! Where was his brother?!

"Ye Qiu! There you are” a staff member said as they ran toward him.

“We need you on stage! Let’s go!” she said before pulling him away.

“Ah–I—“ How can he deny? Wait. This is the perfect chance. Ye Qiu didn’t say anymore and let himself be led. He stood there quietly until he got his chance.

“Any words to the rookie?” the host asked.

Ye Qiu accepted the mic “Yes” he turned to the kid “Sorry. I cannot fight you or continue the event. Something important came up.” Ye Qiu handed the mic back and left the stage. He needed to find his brother! 

Han Wenqing and Ye Xiu stared at the tv in the hallway they were in. Ye Xiu wanted to a smoke break and Han Wenqing came to chat. 

“That’s not you” Han Wenqing said.

“That is not me” Ye Xiu agreed before finishing his cigarette and running off. Han Wenqing followed while Ye Xiu hastily put on his mask and team jacket.

Ye Xiu and Ye Qiu meet just in front of the backstage entrance. Unfortunately for them, so did the entire stadium. The camera was on Ye Qiu for the abrupt news when suddenly Ye Xiu appeared into frame.

“Great. You’re here, let’s go” Ye Qiu said before grabbing his brother’s wrist to enter backstage. He wanted to bolt out as soon as possible. 

Another unfortunate thing for them was that Han Wenqing was there. The two barely moved for a second when Han Wenqing appeared. All three were visible to the audience, but not audible.

“Who are you?” Han Wenqing directed this question to Ye Qiu.

“None of your business” Ye Qiu snapped before trying to more around the man. Han Wenqing, however, didn’t allow that.

“You’re not going anywhere before you tell me who you are and why you’re taking Ye Qiu with you.”

“I said it’s none of your business!” Ye Qiu said angrily.

“Guards!” Han Wenqing shouted for the guards as he glanced in their direction before facing the two masked men again. The two looked almost identical, bangs brushed down, black medical mask, white t-shirts and blue jeans. Although the jeans were slightly different shades and that Ye Qiu (Xiu) was wearing his red and white Excellent Era team jacket. He would've been confused if he didn't follow Ye Qiu (Xiu). 

“No!” Ye Xiu exclaimed, raising his free hand to stop the incoming guards.

He turned to Han Wenqing “I know him. It’s okay.”

Ye Xiu turned to his to his brother “What are you doing here?”

Ye Qiu didn’t face his brother and looked away instead “We don’t have time for this!” he yelled with a voice crack on the last word.

“Just—let’s go!” Ye Qiu pulled his brother for them to go.

“Wait—“ Ye Xiu grabbed his brother’s wrist, the one Ye Qiu was holding him, with his opposite hand to stop him. Ye Xiu pulled Ye Qiu in front of him and held him by the biceps so they were face to face. 

He saw his brother’s eyes shine with tears that were about to break any second “What’s wrong?” he asked concerned.

Ye Qiu felt the tears fall. The tears fell and so did he. He choked out a sob and lowered his head to hide the fact that he was crying.

“What’s wrong di? What’s wrong? Are you okay? Di—“ Ye Xiu spoke frantically, voice growing more alarmed as he spoke. Ye Qiu's grip on his brother's wrist had loosen so Ye Xiu freed his hand.

Ye Xiu gently lifted up Ye Qiu’s face “Tell me what’s wrong” he said gently. Ye Qiu lowered his head again, but this time it was to lean on his brother’s shoulder. 

“I’m—I’m just tired” he said choking out another sob. He ripped off his face mask, finding it hard to breathe, and cry, in it. Ye Xiu immediately wrapped Ye Qiu into a hug.

“I don’t know how to do this anymore” he cried as he returned the hug, burying his face in his brother's shoulder.

“It’s okay…” Ye Xiu tried to soothe “I’m here, it’s okay.” Ye Qiu pulled himself out of the hug and glared at his brother, eyes full of fury.

“But you weren’t!” he exclaimed. 

“It was always hard, living the life we were born into.” Tears continued to fall as he spoke.

“But you were there” he paused “then you weren’t.” He rubbed his tears away angrily.

“THEN YOU WEREN'T!” he repeated.

“YOU LEFT! YOU JUST LEFT ME WITH A SIMPLE NOTE! AND THE LIFE YOU LEFT?!?!? IT JUST GETS HARDER!”

“Didi….” Ye Xiu said softly in a heartbroken tone. 

"YOU—YOU TOLD ME TO STAY ONLY FOR YOU TO LEAVE! YOU LEFT ME!"

"YOU LEFT ME ALONE!" he emphasized the last word, choking out a sob "WITH—WITH ALL THE PRESSURE! MOTHER.. FATHER.. THE COMPANY... THE PRESS.. THE RICH SNOTTY BRATS AND ASSOCIATES!"

"WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS TOGETHER! BUT...." his voice lowered down immensely "now... now I'm alone."

"I'm alone and everything.... everything is just... so difficult.." he cried out before shoving his face in his hands and lowered himself to the floor, feeling exhausted. Ye Qiu cried and cried, and his sobs were absolutely heart wrenching.

Ye Xiu lowered himself to his brother's level and wrapped his arms around him. Tears have been silently falling down his face since his brother started yelling.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I never realized how hard it's been for you.." Ye Xiu let out a shaky sigh "Let's get out of here..."

"Your mother is still in critical condition" the doctor informed the two brothers in front of him. Their eyes were puffy and red, but he didn't mention it since their mother had a heart attack, it made sense. 

"If nothing happens after 24 to 48 hours, she'll be moved out of the CCU and can start recovery."

"Thank—Thank you Doctor" the one who introduced himself as Ye Xiu said.

"Can we see her?" his brother, Ye Qiu, asked.

The doctor nodded "A nurse will bring you there."

The two stayed in their mother's private room for hours in silence, hoping she'll wake up. Their father was out of the country for a business meeting and had booked the earliest flight home once he heard the news. He'll arrive in a few days, it was the fastest route. Unfortunately she was still asleep by the end of the day and the two had to leave. They could have stayed, but they both had responsibilities. Plus staying wasn't going to help them or their mother.

Ye Xiu headed out first and headed outside where Driver Deng had just arrived for them. 

Ye Qiu quietly closed the door "Ge" he called out. Ye Xiu stopped in his tracks and slowly turned back. He thought his brother would've still wanted some more quiet time.

"I'm—I'm sorry" Ye Qiu apologized as he made his way to his brother until they were facing each other "I—I shouldn't have yelled at you. Or got angry—"

"Hey, no it's okay" Ye Xiu reassured.

"No. No it's not. I got angry and yelled at you when we should've been coming to the hospital. I wasted time—"

"Didi no, it's okay. I'm not mad at you, but I'm mad at myself. I didn't—I never realized how much you were affected once I left. I wasn't a good brother and I'm sorry. I'm the elder brother, but I didn't act like it. I'm sorry you didn't get to lean on me once I left. I—I should still been there for you regardless. And.... and I'm hoping you'll believe me when I say that I promise I'll be here from now on.... whenever you need me. I'll even get a phone."

Ye Qiu chuckled at his brother's last sentence, he sounded so serious "Of course I believe you. And it's not entirely your fault. I was at fault too. I could've reached out sooner, maybe tell you sooner... rather than exploding at you at one of your events" he winced remembering back. 

Ye Xiu laughed "It's alright. I'll take care of it."

What he meant is that he won't answer a single question anyone asked about who was with him and what happened. The press, Excellent Era, the Pro Players.... they'll get over it eventually. They're used to him not answering what he doesn't want to answer anyway. Why they keep trying, he doesn't know.

It doesn't matter though. What matters is them.

"Okay. Let's go ge" Ye Qiu said with a smile.

They'll heal.

"Yeah" Ye Xiu said returning a smile and wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulders "Let's go."

They're healing.