One Night Stand with My Crush's Younger Brother

Sunny sat in the Empire Orchestra's lounge, trying to move her left wrist.

Thankfully, the bone wasn't injured, just slight swelling and pain.

Jack quickly walked over, handing her a bottle of iced drink. "Apply ice first. You should still go to the hospital later."

"Okay."

Sunny took it and pressed it against her wrist. The coldness against her skin eased the sharp pain.

"I thought everyone had gone to Eva's birthday party. I didn't notice anyone at the door. Sorry you got hurt." Jack scratched the back of his head, apologetically.

He stared at Sunny's delicate wrist for a moment, then shifted his gaze to her face and asked, "Did Eva not invite you?"

"She's not my child. Why should I be invited to her birthday?"

Sunny's voice was sweet and gentle, her words slow and soft, without a hint of malice.

Jack, however, looked embarrassed, not knowing how to respond.

His mind involuntarily wandered to the rumors about her.

As the principal cellist of the orchestra, Sunny not only had exceptional playing skills but also a strikingly beautiful face with an excellent bone structure.

It was said that she had the backing of Boston's capital.

The orchestra had been created specifically for her, a way to keep her occupied.

People in the orchestra often mocked that they were just toys, funded by a powerful person to amuse Sunny.

Not inviting her to the birthday party was clearly a sign of exclusion.

Jack secretly looked down on her as a "captive bird," but outwardly, he courteously invited her.

"They might have forgotten. I know where it is, do you want to come with me?"

Sunny remained calm and replied lightly, "There's nothing special about birthdays. Funerals are more interesting."

Jack was choked by her words, feeling a chill run down his back.

After briefly applying ice, Sunny left the orchestra as planned. In the elevator, she opened her phone, where a conversation with Colin's assistant appeared on the screen.

"Miss Garcia, there's an event tonight. I'll send someone to pick you up."

"No need, I'll take a taxi. Please send me the address."

"Location"

Empire Manor, located within the second ring road in a traditional courtyard, with red walls and grey tiles, exuding elegance and privacy.

The courtyard was filled with vibrant, blooming begonia flowers. When the wind blew, petals fluttered, filling the air with fragrance.

The sound of a pipa, like pearls falling on a jade plate, floated softly in the air as Sunny stepped through the door, her pace neither fast nor slow.

The east wing was decorated with ancient charm. A large screen partitioned the inner room. She quickly explored. The screen was made of rosewood and inlaid with treasures, while the furniture was yellow pear wood. Antique porcelain and calligraphy were displayed on a side cabinet.

The room was elegantly furnished, with a faint sandalwood scent in the air.

The noisy crowd fell silent for a moment when Sunny entered.

The people in the room were all young aristocrats from Beijing, and as soon as they heard her entrance, their eyes turned toward her.

"Sister Sunny looks even more beautiful than before, truly a great beauty," someone teased.

"Of course. Mr. Stuart takes such good care of Sunny in every way. The Northern District relocation project is starting, and Sunny is a great contributor!"

This flattery was mixed with something more, hinting at something deeper.

However, the man in the main seat seemed indifferent, showing no emotion.

After many years, Sunny had become accustomed to being surrounded by the gazes of others, but she still felt a momentary nervousness when facing Colin.

He had removed his coat and was wearing a well-tailored white shirt with a vest, looking incredibly handsome and noble.

Seeing that Sunny didn't approach immediately, Colin's calm gaze landed on her face, his voice low and steady.

"Sunny, come here."

Sunny walked over, lowered her head slightly, and called out softly, "Brother."

She then sat down gracefully beside Colin.

Boston, the capital of power, was home to many aristocratic families. At the very top of the pyramid were families with deep roots.

As the heir to the Stuart family, Colin was born with a status that made him untouchable.

Few women had the privilege of receiving special treatment from Colin.

The people in the room were surprised, their eyes scanning Sunny. With her strong yet delicate features and natural beauty, even in simple clothes and light makeup, she stood out in the room full of opulence.

But... what use was beauty when compared to power?

The influential people around her were the real factors that made her extraordinary.

Ignoring the scrutiny, Sunny quietly massaged her wrist.

"What happened to your hand?" Colin noticed her movement and asked casually.

The warm breath brushed past her ear, causing a slight itch. Sunny's fingers curled slightly, her gaze lowered as she replied, "I hit the door, it's nothing serious."

Colin looked at her for a while without speaking.

After a moment, someone invited Colin to the entertainment area to play a few rounds of cards.

He wasn't fond of playing cards.

Out of courtesy, Sunny smiled lightly and said, "I'll go."

Colin raised his eyes and glanced at the card table. The cards were neatly arranged in all four directions. A young girl was sitting in the southern section, skillfully drawing and playing cards, occasionally chatting, always with a gentle smile on her face.

Her gameplay had no strategy, relying purely on instinct, but her luck was surprisingly good.

Even the worst cards in her hands could be turned around.

After the third round of cards, as the deck was being shuffled, Sunny instinctively turned to look toward the main seat.

It was empty.

Colin had already left without her noticing.

Tonight, the leaders of the television station were hosting guests in the grand hall of Empire Manor.

The servers, who usually appeared formal and proud, now greeted the guests with no trace of their usual authority, their energy all focused on their smiles, willing to lower themselves.

This made people curious about which important person could command such respect from the big shots.

The magnificent reception hall was full of leaders who were drunk and unconscious.

The important guest, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, the door to the west wing was pushed open from the outside.

Aiden quickly stood up, and everyone in the room turned their attention to the man who had suddenly appeared.

He had an impressive height, wearing a black shirt with two buttons undone, exuding laziness, but what caught the eye was his flawless appearance.

Unfortunately, his aura was so strong that anyone who met his gaze quickly looked away.

As soon as Richard sat down, someone came over to offer him a cigarette. His long fingers held it, and the strong scent of perfume in the room gave him a headache. He waved his hand.

"Get out."

"Don't be so boring," Aiden said, putting his arm around his companion's shoulder with a half-squinted smile. "Even if we're talking business, let's do it in a pleasant way."

"Why don't you finish your fun first?" Richard looked at his watch. "I'll come back in a minute."

Aiden's face turned pale for a moment, but after a few seconds, he relaxed and said, "In business, it's better to stay on good terms and not embarrass anyone."

He gestured to his companion, who immediately followed his cue and left.

Richard flicked the ash from his cigarette and smirked, "I thought you were already cured."

Aiden didn't expect Richard to continue to provoke him, but he couldn't get angry. He gritted his teeth and said, "This is the L25 bidding information."

Richard took the file, flipping through it casually, the paper rustling gently.

The cigarette never made it to his lips as he kept tapping it.

Aiden said, "You left the military district early, didn't you just come for this piece of land?"

Richard raised an eyebrow, his gaze unintentionally drifting toward the window. He saw a couple tangled in a conversation.

The girl was polite and respectful, while the man was persistent.

After a moment, the girl's delicate face started to resemble someone else's.

Richard glanced again.

Tch, it really was his older brother's nightingale.

The loud song came to an end as Sunny left the side room. The evening breeze blew a few strands of hair from her forehead.

The courtyard was illuminated by warm orange lights, which reflected off the crimson corridor. Sunny walked slowly down the passage, her phone buzzing with a message.

She stopped and opened WeChat to check.

It was from Colin's assistant.

"Miss Garcia, Mr. Stuart had to leave unexpectedly. Please enjoy yourself, and someone will take you home later."

After replying, Sunny put her phone away.

She stood on the white jade steps and gazed into the distance. The night sky was lonely, the dark canopy resembling thick ink spilled across the heavens.

"Sunny?" A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.

Turning, she recognized the speaker as David, the young master from The Brown family.

His attire was extravagantly disheveled, and he wore a drunken smile as he stared at her.

The heavy scent of alcohol hit her, and Sunny subtly raised her hand to cover her nose.

David flirted, "Next week, I'm hosting a gathering. Will you come and perform?"

The beautiful woman before him, graceful and stunning, was undeniably alluring. He had been eyeing her for a while.

"The orchestra charges a high appearance fee," Sunny distanced herself from him coldly.

"Money? That's no problem," David said, his face full of mockery. "Whatever Mr. Stuart offers, I'll double it for you."

A hint of cleverness flashed in Sunny's eyes as she calmly replied, "You'll truly double it?"

David thought she had given in and beamed with pride. "Of course! I always keep my word."

"Then, please feel free to cut off your own legs. Whenever you pay me, I'll perform for you."

"You...!"

David, embarrassed and enraged, was about to explode but suddenly began to laugh instead.

"Sunny, the wise recognize the situation. Mr. Stuart will abandon you within a month. Why not join me now?"

Sunny didn't want to waste time arguing with a drunk. She stepped away to leave.

"I warn you, don't get ahead of yourself!" David shouted angrily.

A proud young master like him could never tolerate a woman ignoring him.

Just as Sunny walked past him, David reached out to grab her shoulder. But before he could make contact, Sunny swiftly extended her leg and kicked him straight in the knee.

There was a loud 'thud' as he fell to the ground, screaming in pain.

"Ah!"

David tumbled down the steps, his knees crashing hard into the solid ground, and a sharp pain shot through his bones.

He lay on the ground, sprawled among the wilting, fragrant petals, hearing Sunny's innocent yet startled voice.

"My goodness, what should I do? I thought it was a rat!"

"Are you blind!? You can't tell the difference between a rat and a person!" David roared in fury as he painfully struggled to get up.

The evening wind cut through the air, intensifying the pain in her wrist. As Sunny started to walk away, her wrist was grabbed.

Coincidentally, it was the injured hand.

Sunny frowned and turned, preparing to retaliate, but someone approached from behind and effortlessly twisted David's hand off her wrist.

She turned around to find a tall, slender man standing near the crabapple tree, his high cheekbones and narrow, slightly upturned eyes giving off an aura of coolness. His presence seemed to emit a faint glow, exuding an aggressive charm.

With a single glance, the pressure from his presence was palpable.

She froze for a moment, forgetting about the pain.

Richard leisurely released his grip, and David staggered back a couple of steps, barely managing to steady himself.

"David, have you lost your mind? Daring to stir trouble beneath the emperor's feet."

Richard's profile was hidden in the dappled light and shadow as he spoke. His voice carried a relaxed, mocking tone, but it sent a chill down one's spine.

David's eyelids twitched as he immediately became clear-headed, his astonishment evident.

He quickly retracted his crude behavior, looking terrified as he said, "Brother Richard!"

Hearing the words "Brother Richard," a chill ran through Sunny's heart as she finally remembered who he was.

Richard, Colin's younger brother.

She hardly had any interaction with him.

The last time they met was two years ago on a private yacht in Chicago. At that time, he wore a floral shirt, a cigarette hanging from his lips, his hands in his pockets, casually leaning against the railing, casting a nonchalant glance through the crowd.

He was the epitome of a carefree playboy.

His facial features resembled Colin's, but his style was quite different.

Richard's sharp black eyes lazily glanced at Sunny. She quickly lowered her gaze, assuming a meek demeanor as if the girl who had just knocked an adult man to the ground with a fierce kick wasn't her at all.

Her hand trembled slightly as she pressed it down.

No shaking, no shaking.

"You're doing well..."

She kept her head down, not looking at them, as she heard David apologize and retreat, the sound of his footsteps gradually fading.

The quiet courtyard was left with only the girl and the flowers.

Sunny let out the breath she had been holding.

She looked down at her wrist and sleeves, inspecting her injury.

Her wrist was visibly swollen and red, the joint aching, and even her arm felt weak as though it might fail her.

Sunny felt like she was turning into a modern-day Venus.

She walked out the main gate of the courtyard, but the driver had not yet arrived.

In the second ring road, it was difficult to hail a cab at this hour.

During the brief wait, Sunny decided to visit a 24-hour convenience store on the corner of the street.

The store didn't sell medicine, only food.

She bought ice cream and rice balls. The ice cream was meant to temporarily dull the burning pain, while the rice balls would satisfy her hunger.

Time passed quickly, and as she exited the convenience store, she walked back along the street. The area was relatively quiet, with only luxury cars driving by.

A red Flag L9 with tinted windows passed by and smoothly stopped beside her.

In this precious part of town, the dark-colored car looked like a beast lurking in the shadows.

A young man, not the usual driver, got out of the car. His appearance was calm and clear.

"Miss Garcia," Henry said respectfully, opening the car door for her.

Sunny was halfway inside when she noticed another figure seated in the car, eyes closed in quiet rest.

The man leaned against the seat, his high cheekbones and sharp nose creating a striking profile. His handsome face exuded a lazy, relaxed air.

As she recognized him, her pupils dilated slightly.

The person Colin had sent to pick her up was none other than Richard!

If life had a progress bar, Sunny would definitely drag it back to before she got in the car.

But unfortunately, there was no going back.

The interior of the car was spacious, the leather seats fine and soft. Sunny sat upright, almost against the door.

The car smoothly entered the traffic flow, and time seemed to slow down.

Inside the quiet car, there was a faint scent of alcohol mingling with an unidentifiable fragrance, and the faint trace of tobacco lingered in the air.

Her wrist throbbed with pain, but she couldn't afford to focus on the strange scent.

Her fingers were trembling. She held her left wrist with her right hand.

Richard lazily lifted his eyelids, his dark eyes scanning her hand.

Outside, the city night glowed in a cascade of lights.

The car moved smoothly, but the pain made Sunny unable to focus on the strong presence beside her.

Henry turned the wheel, suddenly pulling the car to a stop at an intersection.

Sunny was puzzled.

"Are we there already?"

When Henry got out of the car, Sunny thought he was attending to some personal business, so she relaxed and leaned back against the seat.

She glanced sideways.

Richard's high nose bridge split the light filtering into the car. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be taking a nap.

Six minutes later, Henry returned with a bag branded with a pharmacy logo and handed it directly to Sunny.

"Miss Garcia," he said.

"Thank you," Sunny instinctively took the bag.

She opened it and, aided by the dim streetlight, she saw it contained bottles and jars.

Swelling medication and ice packs.

Sunny felt puzzled.

After a moment of contemplation, she understood.

It must have been Colin's orders; otherwise, how would they know her hand had been injured?

The sleek black luxury car merged with the dark night, speeding along the elevated highway before finally stopping at the apartment building where Sunny lived.

"Thank you for tonight," Sunny got out of the car and sincerely thanked him.

"Close the door," Richard spoke lazily without opening his eyes, his tone cold and indifferent.

Sunny closed the door and stood there watching the car disappear into the distance.

The fully armored, extended Lincoln was a symbol of prestige.

At the front, Henry handed a document to the man in the backseat.

"As you expected," Henry said, "Miss Garcia was the one who persuaded Mr. Johason to sign off on the demolition agreement."

The company had long been eyeing the demolition project in the northern district, but it had faced strong resistance. It couldn't proceed smoothly.

Earlier in the year, the leader of the resistance, Mr. Johason, had written a lengthy letter to the authorities in fine handwriting, outlining his firm stance against the project.

Mr. Old Stuart had personally intervened, advising that the northern district should be left alone for the time being.

Henry wondered how Miss Garcia had managed to convince such a hard-headed individual.

He wiped his nose.

Would the boss think he was useless and send him packing to the construction site?

Richard remained unfazed, lightly flicking the document and casually tossing it aside.

It landed right where Sunny had been sitting just moments ago.

The light turned green, and with no further instructions from the boss, Henry started the car and sighed in relief.

The pain relief from the ointment worked immediately. Within two days, Sunny's hand had swollen down significantly, and there was no more pain when she moved it.

She was still in school, so for convenience, she mostly stayed in her apartment.

On Monday, Sunny went back to school to take the final exam for her professional course. After completing this course, her credits would be mostly sufficient.

After the exam, she left the science building and headed to the nearest cafeteria for lunch. After eating, she placed her tray in the return area and was about to head back to her dorm.

At the south entrance of the cafeteria stood two acacia trees, an area once used as the entrance to the Royal Military Bureau.

Sunny stood in the shade, and senior Grace messaged her asking where she was and if she was free, with an urgent need for help.

Sunny replied she was at the cafeteria and free.

Grace asked her to come to the auditorium.

A major figure was visiting the dean today, donating a huge sum, and students were needed as volunteers. The outstanding Grace had stood out and gotten the rare opportunity. However, she suddenly remembered her paper for a class was due in two hours and hurriedly looked for a study room, typing away furiously.

"Sunny, the leaders remember my name. If I leave a bad impression, I'm worried it will affect the selection for awards. Please help me out, and I'll treat you to a meal another day. Please!" Grace's voice message sped through with urgency.

"Will your appearance give me away?"

"No, he's face-blind and doesn't really remember faces!"

"Alright, I'm coming over now." Sunny had left casually today, not bothering to dress up, just in a simple linen white shirt and jeans.

Now it worked out well.

The cafeteria was about 500 meters from the auditorium, and Sunny arrived quickly. After getting prepared and understanding the tasks, she and a few other volunteers entered the auditorium.

The senior figures in suits were gathered around a man who sat comfortably on a black sofa, his well-fitted suit highlighting his broad shoulders and long legs as he expertly handled conversations from all sides.

The LED strip lights glistened like golden water ripples, casting a glow over Richard.

Nearby, students couldn't help but glance at him but quickly looked away, afraid to stare too long.

The Stuart family had some connections with Principal Pu's family, as their ancestors had served together in the military. Thus, their families had always been on good terms.

Although this event appeared to be a charitable donation, it could also be seen as a political alliance.

Usually, events like this served water, but due to the high profile of the visitors, they couldn't allow such a VIP to drink something so casual.

Sunny was serving tea, focused on her task.

She noticed Richard's gaze briefly land on her, then linger.

In her field of vision was his pale, slender fingers, with rounded mother-of-pearl nails. Further up, he wore a delicate bracelet with two red jade pendants shaped like cherries.

Richard slightly lifted his eyelids, and his gaze slowly moved from the papers in his hands to her face.

His intense stare made Sunny try to calm herself.

"Sneaking out?" His voice was cold and lazy, tinged with subtle mockery.

Sunny raised her eyelashes, quickly meeting Richard's eyes before lowering her gaze again.

The man was in a custom black suit, tied with a perfectly neat Eldredge knot. His eyebrows were sharp, and his deep-set eyes had a hint of a smile, resembling a cold, aloof CEO.

Sunny had been with Colin for nine years, and their relationship had a significant gap in status. There were rumors that she was just Colin's kept woman, worthless.

As the second son of The Stuart family, Richard represented their power and, naturally, didn't appreciate her.

Sunny's long lashes trembled almost imperceptibly, and she responded calmly, "Students naturally stay at school."

"When will you graduate?"

Sunny didn't understand why he was asking but still answered honestly, "Next year."

At this, Richard seemed to smile lightly.

Sunny returned to the volunteer gathering room, Room 909, where the other volunteers were excitedly chatting.

"That man is just ridiculously handsome!"

"He looks like a male star who lives off his looks, but even they pale in comparison. He's way more handsome and elegant!"

"He's definitely good-looking, absolutely out of this world. Even I, a guy, feel a little moved."

"Oooh~"

"Oooh what? I'm not gay, I'm straight as an arrow!"

The gossiping never stopped, lively and noisy.

Meanwhile, Sunny was calmly drinking water, completely uninterested.

"Sunny, you're here too, that's great!"

It was Paul, a former member of the folk music band, and one of her roommates. They had played together at the school anniversary ceremony.

One time, Colin came to visit Sunny at school, and Paul saw them. He knew about their close relationship.

"Can you confirm if that man is Richard, the second son of The Stuart family?"