Work Text:
Nie Huaisang was a gossip in every way possible. He thrived on gossip, no matter where he was, learning everything he could, sewing seeds of chaos if needed, all while playing dumb. His industry, the fashion industry, was built upon gossip in a sense, and he was the king. Nothing got past him, nothing , and those who knew him had a healthy fear of him (besides his family, of course).
While he’s away he gets a bit… disconnected from his family and the internet. It’s not for long, but he lost his phone and works hard to replace it. He had everything backed up, but he did warn his family he’d be offline for a week or so, and he took it in stride. It gave him time to get some work done, and the gossip he needed in his circle was either already his or would be his within the day it started.
That’s why he learns about it through a news article instead of from his brother himself.
“Jin Industries Second Son Disowned, Nie and Lan Industries Losing Their Heir” is the title of the article and Nie Huaisang’s blood goes cold as soon as he reads it. He doesn’t bother reading the actual article and is already yelling at his assistant to get his brother on the phone and a plane ride straight back home within the day. She doesn’t question him despite the look in her eyes and he’s glad his brother picks up right away.
“Huaisang-” his brother starts, sounding exhausted and sad and Huaisang knows he’s made the right choice.
“I’ll be home in two days max, Da-ge,” he cuts him off, heels clicking as he walks around his room to pack. “Tell A-Yao that. I’ll be there in two days max .”
Mingjue sighs on the phone. Not a bad sigh, a relieved one. Huaisang can hear as some of the tension and weight leaves his brother’s shoulders.
“Thank you, A-Sang. Thank you. ”
“Two days max,” is all he can manage to say without tearing up, and then he hangs up, working quickly and efficiently to pack.