She reached out and grabbed his sleeve again, this ti with a soft smile.
"I won’t suffer," she said, "Because I have you."
Yuanfeng inhaled sharply, eyes growing misty again.
"...I’ll buy you ten ice creams after this."
"Deal!" Huaijin grinned.
***
The car drove through the tall iron gates, entering the sprawling estate of manicured gardens, towering trees, and the intimidating old manor.
Servants lined up neatly near the entrance, bowing as soon as the car door opened.
Yuanfeng stepped out with the expression of a man walking into an execution chamber.
Huaijin hopped down beside him, holding his hand.
Inside the manor, the air slled faintly of sandalwood and old money.
And there—
Standing at the top of the stairs, hands behind his back, stern and dignified in a dark traditional robe...
***
Was Chi Wenzhou, or say in short, Grandfather Chi, the patriarch of the family?
His gaze landed imdiately on Huaijin with a complicated expression.
His gaze was heavy and deep as he stared at Huaijin.
And filled with sothing like...
Expectation.
"Yuanfeng. Huaijin," he said with a commanding voice. "You’ve arrived."
Yuanfeng nodded stiffly.
"We ca."
He did not add "against my will," but it was obvious from his expression.
Grandpa Chi’s gaze softened by a fraction when it turned to Huaijin.
"Co here," he said. "I have sothing to discuss with you."
Huaijin blinked.
Oh no.
Here it cos.
The plot.
The family problems, succession issues, and drama.
Of course it was ti to eat waterlons!
She inhaled deeply and straightened her posture, not letting her excitent to show as she looked up at her father.
"Let’s go, Dad."
"Baby... if he tries anything—"
"Dad, breathe."
"I AM BREATHING!"
"Then breathe quietly."
They slowly approached the old patriarch.
And thus—
Her peaceful days ca to a temporary end, replaced by the heavy shadows of the Chi family.
***
Grandpa Chi didn’t reprimand Chi Huaijin at all. He didn’t even frown.
This was surprising, considering that the old man’s eyebrows were notoriously rigid, two knife-sharp slashes that usually rose the mont anyone under the age of fifty so much as breathed incorrectly.
Yet when Huaijin finished explaining why she accepted the variety-show invitation, Grandpa Chi only stared at her for a long mont... then grunted and nodded.
"Since you’ve already agreed, then go. Just rember: If anyone bullies you, hit them back."
The servants standing around nearly dropped their trays.
Second Uncle, in the corner, choked on his tea.
Even Yuanfeng, who had been trying to hide behind a decorative vase, looked like he might faint.
And Yuanying, who stood beside Huaijin in a perfect "I was not eavesdropping, but yes, I was absolutely eavesdropping" posture, blinked rapidly.
"...Grandpa?" she whispered, unsure if she heard correctly.
Grandpa Chi stroked his beard. "What? Should she let others step on her head?"
Yuanying, stunned, shook her head. "No... but usually you scold for hitting people..."
"That’s because you hit people badly," Grandpa Chi replied expressionlessly.
"Your technique lacks firmness. No strength in the wrist. No stability in the elbow. You’d lose to a goose in a fight."
Yuanying froze.
Huaijin covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Even though she was technically six, her ntal age had long since exceeded three world cycles. Of course, she knew Grandpa Chi ant well; this old man was the type who loved his grandchildren so much that he nagged them into excellence.
But the way Yuanying’s face flushed, puffed, and trembled like a kettle on the verge of exploding...
Absolutely priceless.
Still, instead of retaliating, Yuanying sniffed, huffed, and crossed her arms.
"Hmph! I’m supporting Huaijin this ti," she muttered. "She worked really hard... and she even helped earlier. I’m not... I’m not unreasonable!"
Huaijin’s heart lted on the spot.
Ahhh—! What to do with this tsundere little adorable villainess sister!
Such a prickly hedgehog outside, but a soft dumpling inside!
Huaijin reached out and ruffled Yuanying’s hair, ignoring the horrified gasp of the maid nearby. Everyone knew Yuanying hated people touching her hair.
But today, surprisingly...
Yuanying didn’t smack her hand away.
She just blushed and tried to pretend she didn’t like it while definitely liking it.
"Yes, yes," Huaijin teased cheerfully. "Our little Yingying is such a good girl."
Yuanying’s face instantly burned scarlet.
"I—I’m older than you! Don’t call Yingying!"
"Mm-hmm. Yingying~"
"Huaijin!!"
The servants struggled not to laugh. Even Grandpa Chi’s shoulders shook.
This atmosphere might have continued forever...
But then Grandpa Chi clapped his hands loudly.
"Enough! Yuanfeng! You—co with !"
Huaijin blinked. "Eh?"
Yuanying blinked. "Oh no..."
Because whenever Grandpa Chi called soone in that tone...
Soone was about to lose a piece of their soul.
.
.
.
The mont the door closed, Grandpa Chi swung around like an ancient general ready for battle.
His eyes glead sharply.
"Yuanfeng."
Yuanfeng had been prepared.
Or so he thought.
"Yes, Father?" he said politely, voice steady, posture calm.
Then—
"You will return to the Chi Corporation."
Instant refusal burst forth:
"No."
Grandpa Chi slamd his desk hard enough to make the inkstone jump.
"You useless brat! Do you know how ssy the board has beco? Your brothers fight all day and accomplish nothing! I raised three sons and not a single one inherited my brain—"
"Father." Yuanfeng kept the sa gentle smile, but his tone cut through like a blade.
"My brothers can handle the business."
"Handle?!" Grandpa Chi’s beard trembled violently. "Handle?! They’re handling it straight into bankruptcy! Look at Chi Yuantian, last week he approved a project about... about... AR solar-powered dancing teapots?!"
Yuanfeng coughed politely into his fist. "...Creative."
"Idiotic!"
"Still creative."
"And Chi Yuanjie!" Grandpa Chi bellowed. "He spent fifty million investing in a luxury pet hotel for alpacas! Alpacas!! We don’t even have alpacas in this province!"
"...That one I can’t defend," Yuanfeng admitted.
Grandpa Chi stabbed a finger at him. "See?! I need you back!"
"No."
"Why?!"
Yuanfeng straightened his shirt and answered without hesitation:
"Because I have to take care of my daughter."
Grandpa Chi froze.
Reviews
All reviews (0)