When Yuan Luoyi returned to the Yuan residence, she encountered Yuan's Father at the front door. He had just returned as well and was handing his windbreaker to the butler.
According to Yuan's Mother, he had recently been to the northern region, where the winds were strong. He had to conduct weapon experiments outdoors, which was quite arduous. He had lost some weight, making his features look chiseled and pronounced.
Yuan Luoyi noticed that despite the extensive outdoor activities, Yuan's Father did not seem to tan. The Yuan family members appeared to have a genetic disposition against tanning.
At that moment, Yuan's Father had a stern expression with furrowed brows, indicating he was in a bad mood. When he saw Yuan Luoyi, his brow furrowed even tighter.
His tone was as severe as ever: "Why are you returning home so late?"
Yuan Luoyi said, "I was held up by school matters."
"Don't be so late next time."
"Okay."
"Do you have a lot of homework today?"
This question was not an issue for Yuan Luoyi since Class D had no homework assignments. However, she could not let Yuan's Father know that she was slacking off in Class D, so she began to lie smoothly.
"Quite a lot. For English, I need to memorize a 500-word passage. For Math, I have two units of exercises to complete. For Chinese Literature, there are five reading comprehension passages. There are also three sets of comprehensive practice tests, but I've already finished one set at school."
Yuan's Father nodded, relieved to know that his daughter was not idling her time away in Class D.
For prestigious families like the Yuans, examination education was not particularly significant. Attending school was merely a formality for the offspring to experience the ordinary masses.
The Yuan family had its own independent methods for nurturing their offspring, but Yuan's Father did not intend to subject his overly delicate younger daughter to those grueling training regimens. His only requirement for her was to avoid idleness.
Yuan's Father placed his hand on Yuan Luoyi's shoulder: "Let's go eat dinner. Your three older brothers are here."
As he mentioned "three older brothers," Yuan's Father's voice suddenly turned cold.
Yuan Luoyi understood why he was in such a foul mood. Each additional son doubled Yuan's Father's worries, even if the sons were grown adults, they were still nothing but trouble in his eyes.
The Yuan family members, after all, repelled each other like the same poles of a magnet.
Whenever Yuan's Father saw his mischievous sons damaging his collectibles during their "rambunctious phase," he would feel a tinge of murderous intent. However, his profound paternal love would temper the force of his strikes, granting his sons the precious opportunity to live.
Nevertheless, Yuan's Mother adored children, so Yuan's Father had to accommodate her wishes. After marriage, she bore him five troublesome brats and one concerning daughter.
Walking beside Yuan's Father, Yuan Luoyi appeared even smaller. Yuan's Father was truly imposing; even at 11 years old, Yuan Luoyi could be scooped up like a kitten if he so desired.
Upon entering the dining room, Yuan's Father caught sight of his three sons and sighed.
He first approached Yuan's Mother, leaning over the table with one hand propped on it, and affectionately nuzzled her face: "Good evening, my lady."
Then, he straightened up, pressed his thin lips tightly, and cast an icy gaze over Yuan Ao, Yuan Fa, and finally resting on his third son, Yuan Yong.
Little trouble, medium trouble, big trouble.
He needed strong liquor.
He rapped his fingers on the table, and the butler respectfully stepped forward.
Yuan's Father said, "Bring a bottle of high-proof whiskey from the cellar."
Unlike the suffering Yuan's Father, Yuan's Mother was brimming with excitement. She clasped her hands together and beamed: "How wonderful! With all the children gathered here, it feels so warm and cozy—just like a real family!"
"Why don't we do this! Since Yong is home for a few days, I'll call Si and Rui back too! We can have a grand family reunion and go on a trip together!"
Yuan's Father motioned for the butler, who was about to leave, to stay put and added, "Make it two bottles."
The three older brothers remained silent. Sharing a meal together was already their limit; going on a trip would be a mental torture.
Especially for the third brother, Yuan Yong, he had returned solely to spend more time with his younger sister. He had no desire to associate with his blood-related siblings.
After handing her schoolbag to the maid, Yuan Luoyi did not sit in her usual seat but chose to sit between her eldest brother, Yuan Ao, and Yuan's Mother.
The food began to be served, dish after dish, quickly filling the long dining table. The chef had outdone himself today, preparing an array of classic delicacies.
The second brother, Yuan Fa, and the third brother, Yuan Yong, simultaneously eyed a rack of lamb. Its marbled fat and meat glistened with oil from the roasting, looking incredibly appetizing.
Brotherly affection was an impossibility.
Their dinner knives were planted on either side of the rack, silently challenging each other.
Observing these two brats, Yuan's Father began planning a long trip, at least a month away from home. That deep underwater demolition experiment sounded promising; he could avoid them at a depth of one thousand meters below sea level.
Meanwhile, Yuan Luoyi kept eating, with Yuan Ao and Yuan's Mother constantly piling food onto her plate, which was why she sat there.
Soon, Yuan Luoyi was so full that she began to hiccup and slumped in her chair, feeling drowsy.
Yuan's Mother took out her phone and started researching travel guides: "This place looks so beautiful! I haven't been there yet. Everyone can go together this weekend."
Yuan's Father immediately responded, "I have to go underwater this weekend."
Yuan's Mother said, "You can't go."
"It's a very important underwater demolition experiment. If I don't go, they might encounter danger without proper technical guidance."
"Just tell them you'll catch a severe cold this weekend, the kind that requires ICU treatment, and won't be able to participate in the experiment."
The physically robust Yuan's Father silently sipped his whiskey.
Observing Yuan's Father's troubled expression, Yuan Luoyi suddenly realized that she knew very little about him.
Partly because he was often away on business trips, and partly because he always maintained a stern demeanor with Yuan Luoyi, limiting his questions to inquiries like, "How are your studies going lately?"
When she was young, Yuan Luoyi had witnessed Yuan's Father's outbursts, not directed at her but at her second brother, Yuan Fa.
It was terrifying.
Even the naturally optimistic Yuan Fa could not remain optimistic.
Unlike the mutual destruction between brothers, Yuan's Father's wrath was like a volcanic eruption, with molten lava spewing forth to obliterate his son's very existence.
So, even before Yuan's Father took action, Yuan Fa had returned the toy to Yuan Luoyi and sincerely apologized, vowing never to take his sister's toys again.
Yuan Luoyi also knew that Yuan's Father had a strained relationship with Grandfather, and the two had not been in contact for years due to many unpleasant incidents between them.
After pondering for a moment, Yuan Luoyi said, "Grandfather hasn't come for a long time."
Yuan's Father paused with his knife and fork, his face darkening, "He's unwell, so he can't come."
In the dining room, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Yuan Luoyi felt that Yuan's Father wasn't telling the truth. It wasn't that Grandfather couldn't come, but rather that he wouldn't allow Grandfather to come. And the other family members silently abided by this unspoken rule.
