LUO REN still looked like he was pissed about something while Luo Jin was still speechless. Luo Yan could guess what the two were thinking. His older brother must have been probably thinking of Shen Ji Yun ’abducting’ him. Luo Jin, on the other hand, must still be depressed from Su Yuqi scolding him.


    He was right on both counts. Especially when it came to Luo Jin. He was still upset by what happened with Su Yuqi. Of course, he’s not mad at her for scolding him. She was friends with Shen Ji Yun before she even met him. It was natural that she would take Shen Ji Yun’s side over him.


    But because of that scolding, he started thinking whether he was indeed being overdramatic about things regarding Shen Ji Yun and Luo Yan. Every time she bantered with his elder brother, he felt like he was the one being stabbed by her words. Especially when she called them the word ’paranoid’.


    Was that really the case? Was their overprotectiveness turned to them being paranoid? If it was, then how long would it take before they suffocated Luo Yan in the name of protecting him?


    It was a thought that he couldn’t quite get out of his head.


    Luo Yan cleared his throat to get the attention of both his brothers. And they did both looked at him.


    He was actually still wondering what he should do. He was thinking of using his ’charm’ to convince them that Shen Ji Yun meant no harm when he took him away earlier. But then he realized that that would only be a temporary solution. It wouldn’t really solve anything.


    Although he wasn’t really nning to do this right now, he needed to at least made his brothers understand one thing. Because if not, then, he wouldn’t ever have a chance to be alone with Shen Ji Yun. Even inside the game. How could he let that happen?


    "Brother, Ah Jin, I just want you to know that whatever I will tell you next is not forced upon me by anyone. Everythinges from my heart. Think is what I personally think and I’m not influenced by anything or anyone," he started.


    Luo Ren stared at Luo Yan. Seeing the determination inthose big peach blossom eyes, he somehow had a feeling what the other might want to say. His first reaction was to stop him. But then, if he did that, then things would just repeat again and again.


    "Please," he said, telling him to continue.


    Luo Jin also nodded in acquiescence.


    Luo Yan smiled in thanks. And then took a deep breath before continuing, "I know the two of you don’t like Brother Ji Yun. And I also know that your dislike of him stems from me. Because you think that he would take advantage of me or that he would hurt me. But he isn’t that kind of guy. If you can just get to know him, you will find out that he’s a big softie. He had such a warm heart that whatever bad things you might think that he’s capable of, he couldn’t possibly do it.


    "He might have that expressionless face, but really, he’s very thoughtful and caring. From the moment I met him, he had been nothing but good to me. And I’m certain that he would continue to do so in the future. And in of chance that he does hurt me, then it’s probably something he doesn’t intend to do. So, I’m hoping, no, I’m begging the both of you to reserve your judgement and not to think the worst of him. Please."


    Both Luo Ren and Luo Jin were speechless by Luo Yan’s long statement. They were certainly surprised by it. Because it was almost as if he was saying, ’Brother Ji Yun is a good guy so please don’t judge him and make him out to be the bad guy’.


    It was Luo Ren who recovered first. "I agree. We might be too bias of our judgement of him. But we have our reasons for it."


    "And if you understand our reasons, then you would also understand why we’re acting like this towards him," Luo Jin added, more so to himself than to his second brother. So, he could justify the way he often behaved with Shen Ji Yun.


    "I do understand, Ah Jin," Luo Yan said. "It’s because you think he likes me. Like me in a way that could have me hurt in the future."


    Both Luo Ren and Luo Jin looked sharply at their brother. Both their faces were filled with undisguised shock.


    "Y-Yan, do you understand what you’re saying right now?" Luo Jin asked, his tone unbelieving.


    "I do. Ah Jin, really, I’m not so na?ve and innocent as both of you might presume," Luo Yan said. "You and Brother probably think that I have a mentality of a 10-year-old because that’s the age that I fell into aa. But I want you two to understand that I’m not. I have a fully functioning brain that matches my real age. I’m not simply book smart. I understand life. I understand a lot of things. Many, many things. So, I hope you won’t treat me like a kid. I would even be satisfied if you treat me as my age."


    Luo Ren stared at him for quite a long time before responding, "Even if we treat you like a 17-year-old, we will still be protective of you. This... path, the path Shen Ji Yun was trying to take with you, it won’t be an easy one. You will be subjective to many things that might hurt you. Things that might even destroy you. If as you say, that you understand, then you should also understand that we can’t just watch you as you fall to that path of hurt and ruin."


    Yes, Luo Yan understood. He understood everything all too painfully well. But that didn’t mean that he could just back down here.


    "It may be that kind of path. But what if Brother Ji Yun and I could change it? What if we could turn it into something beautiful and magnificent?"