NOSPEAK Chapter 1

 Chapter 1: First Encounter

Translator: Abo Dammen

Liu Linfan was 13 years old the first time he met Jiang Sen.

That year, his parents passed away unexpectedly, leaving him to rely solely on his older brother, Ning Yixi. To Liu Linfan, his brother was his only remaining family, the sole pillar he could lean on for the rest of his life.

The summer of that year was scorching. Even with the air conditioner set to 25 degrees, the heat was suffocating. One night, Liu Linfan woke up sweating, his throat parched and his heart pounding. A gut feeling told him something bad was about to happen. He turned to look for his brother, hoping to talk, but the space beside him was empty. His brother wasn’t there.

He called out a few times, but no one answered. The empty house echoed his voice back at him.

He jumped out of bed and searched the house barefoot—through the living room, the bathroom, and the kitchen—but his brother was nowhere to be found. The silence of the night felt like a beast ready to devour him. Liu Linfan stood alone on the cold floor, his heart hollow and lost.

Suddenly, he heard the faint sound of a car engine. He rushed to the window and saw a car parked downstairs. His brother, dressed neatly, got inside. The car began to move, its red taillights glowing like the eyes of a serpent.

"Gege!" Liu Linfan shouted from the window, but his brother didn’t hear him.

The car drove away. Without thinking, Liu Linfan bolted out of the house, not even stopping to put on shoes. Panic surged through him. He’s leaving me behind, he thought.

He couldn’t wait for the elevator, so he dashed down the stairs, taking two steps at a time. But he was too late. The car had already left the neighborhood. Without hesitation, he ran in the direction the car had gone, his bare feet cutting against sharp gravel on the road. Blood mixed with dirt and grass, forming a strange, sticky paste on the soles of his feet.

It hurt, but he didn’t dare stop.

The car carrying his brother gradually shrank to the size of an ant in the distance. Liu Linfan kept his eyes wide open, afraid that if he blinked, the car would disappear. He ran with all his might, shouting for his brother, gasping for air until his throat burned with the metallic taste of blood. His voice cracked, and his body began to fail him. His lungs screamed for oxygen, and his legs gave out. He stumbled and fell hard onto the rough, cold pavement.

His knees and wrists scraped against the ground, leaving bloody gashes. He tried to get up, but his limbs trembled uncontrollably. He managed to lift himself halfway before collapsing again. His breathing was ragged, like a broken bellows, emitting harsh, wheezing sounds.

All he could do was crane his neck to keep the car in sight.

Then, unexpectedly, the car stopped by the roadside. The door opened, and someone rushed out. It was his brother.

Ning Yixi ran toward him, his face filled with worry.

"Xiao Fan!" his brother called, quickly reaching him and helping him up. He brushed the dirt off Liu Linfan’s clothes. "Why did you run out like that?"

Liu Linfan’s legs were cramping, and he could barely stand without his brother’s support. He clung to Ning Yixi, burying himself in his brother’s embrace, gripping his clothes tightly. He swore, his tone scared, "Don’t leave me, gege. I’ll listen to you. I’ll be good. Please don’t abandon me. Please…"

"Why would I ever leave you? I left you a note. Didn’t you see it?"

A note?

"What note?" Liu Linfan asked, confused.

"I put it on the nightstand. I just had to go out for a bit. I was coming back soon."

Liu Linfan shook his head honestly. When he woke up and found his brother gone, and then saw him getting into a strange car, he had panicked. He hadn’t noticed any note on the nightstand.

His clothes were stained from the fall, and his knees, wrists, and feet were bleeding. There were even shards of glass embedded in the soles of his feet.

"Does it hurt?" his brother asked.

"No," Liu Linfan lied. It did hurt, but compared to the fear of being abandoned, the physical pain was nothing.

Ning Yixi wanted to take him to the hospital, but Liu Linfan clung to him, desperate for reassurance. He needed a promise, something to hold onto. So he looked up at his brother and said, "Gege, look at me."

Ning Yixi obediently met his gaze.

At that moment, Liu Linfan cupped his brother’s face and spoke softly, "Gege, you’re not allowed to leave me."

The words hung in the air, light but resonant.

“...” Ning Yixi froze momentarily, then chuckled and kissed the top of Liu Linfan’s head. "Okay, I won’t leave you."

With that promise, Liu Linfan buried his face in his brother’s neck, guilt overwhelming him. "I’m sorry, gege."

"Don’t be silly. What are you apologizing for?" Ning Yixi patted his back, amused and oblivious.

But Liu Linfan knew he had done something wrong. He could only apologize silently.

To an outsider, the conversation might have seemed like a younger brother seeking comfort and a promise from his older sibling. But Liu Linfan knew the truth. He had cast a "spell" on his brother—a spell called the word spirit.

He had never told anyone about this ability, one that seemed too fantastical to be real.

—If he looked directly into someone’s eyes and issued a command, no matter what it was, they would obey.

But this power wasn’t perfect.

When he first discovered it, he thought it was a gift from the heavens, a way to control his fate and life. He had been smug and reckless, reveling in his newfound ability.

But nothing in life comes without a cost. For everything gained, something of equal value must be lost. That was the balance.

Later, he learned the limitations of this power through the ultimate price—his parents’ lives.

The word spirit could only be used once on a single person, and its effects were temporary. Once the time limit expired, the spell would break. He had no control over how long it lasted, it was all up to fate.

The longest-lasting word spirit he had cast was on his parents: "You are not allowed to divorce." That spell had held for three years.

The shortest had lasted mere moments.

He didn’t know how long the word spirit he had cast on his brother would last, but he hoped it would keep Ning Yixi by his side forever.

He was selfish. He didn’t want to lose anyone important ever again. The pain was too much to bear.

"Yixi."

At that moment, Liu Linfan heard a unfamiliar male voice.

It came from behind his brother.

He looked over and saw someone he hadn’t noticed before—a young man who had followed Ning Yixi out of the car.

This person looked about the same age as his brother, maybe a little taller. He walked over, listened to Ning Yixi’s explanation, and said, "Let’s go to my place. We have a doctor there who can take care of your brother."

"Thank you, Jiang Sen," Ning Yixi said gratefully.

And so, still in his brother’s arms, Liu Linfan met Jiang Sen for the first time.

Liu Linfan’s injuries were superficial, but the glass shards in his feet made walking difficult. Ning Yixi wanted to carry him, but Jiang Sen beat him to it, hoisting Liu Linfan onto his back.

Ning Yixi thanked him.

It was the first time Liu Linfan had been carried by someone other than his brother. He felt awkward but endured it. Up close, he noticed a pleasant scent coming from Jiang Sen—a fragrance he had never encountered before. It made him feel a little dizzy.

From what his brother said, Jiang Sen was only a year older than him, a classmate and his best friend.

And, as it turned out, Jiang Sen’s family was incredibly wealthy.

That day, Liu Linfan saw a mansion larger than anything he could have ever imagined.

Jiang Sen’s home was bustling with people. As soon as they entered, almost everyone turned to look at Jiang Sen, and by extension, at Liu Linfan on his back.

Feeling self-conscious, Liu Linfan buried his face lower.

A beautiful woman approached Jiang Sen and spoke to him. Ning Yixi greeted her as "Auntie," and she smiled and nodded in return.

Jiang Sen called for the family’s private doctor and handed Liu Linfan back to Ning Yixi. "Wait for me upstairs," he said.

Following the doctor, they went up to the second floor. Liu Linfan, still on Ning Yixi’s back, glanced back and saw Jiang Sen disappear into the crowd in the living room.

He was smiling and talking to people, but his demeanor seemed polite yet distant.

"Why are there so many people here?" Liu Linfan asked.

Ning Yixi explained, "Today is Jiang Sen’s birthday. They’re here for his birthday party."

"Oh." Liu Linfan’s gaze lingered on the beautiful woman beside Jiang Sen. "Who’s that pretty auntie?"

"That’s Jiang Sen’s mom. Make sure to greet her properly next time, okay?"

"Okay."

When Jiang Sen came upstairs, he brought two slices of mousse cake—one for Ning Yixi and one for Liu Linfan.

Liu Linfan took his piece and ate it slowly, savoring each bite.

He sat on the sofa, his feet bandaged. The doctor had already removed the glass shards.

Ning Yixi explained why he had left in the middle of the night—he was gonna go to Jiang Sen’s house to celebrate his birthday.

Originally, Ning Yixi had declined the invitation, saying he needed to stay home to take care of his brother. But Jiang Sen, unwilling to let his best friend miss the party, had shown up at their house in the middle of the night, insisting that Ning Yixi come.

Ning Yixi had planned to stay for just a slice of cake and return quickly. Seeing Liu Linfan sleeping soundly, he hadn’t wanted to wake him and had left a note instead.

But as soon as he left, Liu Linfan had woken up and chased after him, leading to this mess.

After that, Jiang Sen didn’t return to the party.

The three of them retreated to a room filled with electronic gadgets—game consoles, racing car models, and more. Liu Linfan and Jiang Sen played racing games together, and for a while, Liu Linfan forgot about the pain in his feet. Jiang Sen even put on a movie and brought out snacks and drinks.

That day, Liu Linfan had a lot of fun.

Jiang Sen was like a prince from a fairy tale—handsome, kind, and incredibly wealthy. His house was filled with servants, chefs, and even a private doctor. His wardrobe seemed endless, with new outfits every day.

And he was really good at video games.

Liu Linfan thought Jiang Sen was amazing.

In the days that followed, Liu Linfan saw Jiang Sen frequently.

With their parents gone and Ning Yixi still a student, life was tough. But Jiang Sen, using his wealth, helped them in both obvious and subtle ways, making their lives a little easier. He never asked for anything in return.

Ning Yixi was deeply grateful to Jiang Sen.

So was Liu Linfan.

He knew Jiang Sen was their benefactor.

During the summer, Jiang Sen would invite them to his house to play.

In Jiang Sen’s backyard stood a large loquat tree. One day, Liu Linfan noticed it was heavy with golden fruit. When no one was looking, he climbed up to pick some.

But getting up was easier than getting down.

He sat on a branch, clutching the trunk, his legs trembling. The height terrified him, and he didn’t dare move. He didn’t want to call for help either, afraid of getting scolded for picking fruit from someone else’s tree. So he stayed there, stuck, for half an hour, until Jiang Sen found him.

Jiang Sen climbed up and rescued him.

His knees and thighs were scraped from the rough bark. Jiang Sen gently cleaned the wounds with iodine and softly scolded him, "If you want loquats, just tell me. I’ll have someone get them for you. You don’t need to climb up yourself. What would you have done if I hadn’t found you? Don’t do this again."

He wasn’t angry, and Liu Linfan felt a warmth in his chest. Tears welled up unexpectedly.

"Why are you crying?" Jiang Sen asked, startled, wiping his tears away.

Liu Linfan sniffled, "I’m sorry. I just wanted to pick loquats for my brother. He likes them… I’m sorry…"

Jiang Sen chuckled and reassured him, "It’s okay. We’ll wash the loquats and give them to your brother. The ones from this tree are really sweet."

They ended up picking a whole basket of loquats.

When Ning Yixi heard what had happened, he was both amused and concerned.

Before they left, Liu Linfan took a loquat from his pocket, peeled it, and shyly offered it to Jiang Sen. "Jiang Sen-gege, you have some too."

His voice was still thick from crying, his eyes red and watery as he looked up at Jiang Sen.

Jiang Sen stared at him for a moment, then leaned down and took a bite, his teeth grazing Liu Linfan’s fingertips.

At that moment, Liu Linfan thought Jiang Sen was the second-best person in the world, right after his brother.

It was the first time he had called someone else “Gege."

And it would be the last.

After that day, Liu Linfan didn’t see Jiang Sen for a while. Jiang Sen stopped inviting him over, and their encounters became rare.

One ordinary Saturday, Liu Linfan woke up to find Jiang Sen sitting on their living room couch. Excited, he rushed over to greet him and even brought out a plate of loquats he had bought with his pocket money. He carefully washed them and offered them to Jiang Sen, expecting him to take one as he always had.

But Jiang Sen just glanced at the plate and smiled, "I don’t like loquats."

Stung by the rejection, Liu Linfan later broke a plate while washing dishes, cutting his finger. Blood gushed out as Ning Yixi frantically searched for a bandage. Jiang Sen, sitting nearby, remained silent, absorbed in his phone.

Jiang Sen seemed different.

Liu Linfan couldn’t shake the feeling.

As time went on, it became clear that Jiang Sen had changed. Every time they met, things ended badly.

Jiang Sen began to pick on him, mock him, and say hurtful things, as if he enjoyed riling Liu Linfan up. It felt like Jiang Sen was treating him like a stray cat or dog—something to tease for amusement.

Liu Linfan hated it.

He thought he must have done something to upset Jiang Sen, but Jiang Sen’s attitude toward Ning Yixi remained unchanged.

Liu Linfan couldn’t understand why Jiang Sen was so polite to everyone else but so harsh with him.

As he grew older, Liu Linfan began to understand things he hadn’t grasped as a child. He finally realized the truth.

It wasn’t that he had done anything wrong.

Jiang Sen’s harsh words, his teasing, his provocations—it was all because Jiang Sen simply didn’t like him anymore.

He didn’t know why Jiang Sen had suddenly started to dislike him, but the reason didn’t matter.

Later, he learned from his brother that Jiang Sen had dated many girls in college, changing partners frequently. He was the kind of person Liu Linfan despised—flirtatious and unfaithful.

The perfect image of Jiang Sen in Liu Linfan’s mind shattered. He no longer looked forward to Jiang Sen’s visits and didn’t want to see him anymore.

Just as Jiang Sen disliked him, Liu Linfan now disliked Jiang Sen in return.

Author’s Feed:

This is a story with an age gap (six years). The ML has ex-girlfriends, and the MC has ambiguous relationships later on, but there are no intimate scenes.

The story follows a pattern: early-stage "romance," mid-stage pursuit by the MC, and late-stage pursuit by the ML. It’s full of drama and clichés. If that’s not your cup of tea, please don’t force yourself to read it.

The brother isn’t a pushover.

This story is long, with many twists and turns. If you’re impatient, you might want to wait until more chapters are out. It’s a bittersweet tale, and I hope you enjoy it. Please consider leaving a comment or a star. Thank you! bows