In the quiet of the night, the servants wisely kept their distance, and the flickering lights in the room cast long shadows. The two brothers, who had always gotten along harmoniously, now stood at odds with each other.
Zong Jincheng's face was stern, devoid of either a smile or anger. He truly wanted to be furious, but he suddenly realized he couldn't muster the emotion, just as his elder brother had said.
His brother had taken his book.
On any other day, even if he didn’t resort to whining, he would have chased after him and snatched it back. But now, he was exhausted—his hands, feet, and even his mouth felt heavy. He didn’t want to move, let alone get angry.
And yet, his brother was still bullying him.
The little rascal’s eyes gradually reddened. Feeling wronged, he turned around and headed for the bed, determined to sleep. If he couldn’t read, he could at least recite the text silently in his mind—a trick his brother had once taught him.
Seeing this, Zong Wenxiu quickly went over to pull him back. “Jincheng, don’t be like this.”
Zong Jincheng shook off his hand. “I don’t need you to care about me.”
His strength was considerable, and it would have been easy to break free from someone unprepared. But Zong Wenxiu held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Softening his voice, Zong Wenxiu comforted him, “I know you’re upset. Anyone would be if they were outperformed. But Jincheng, it’s not your fault. You’ve just started studying late. It’s like a child who’s just learned to walk—how could they possibly outrun an adult? It’s an unfair comparison, not a normal way to measure progress.”
Zong Jincheng stood sideways, not responding, but his emotions had reached a breaking point. Tears began to fall, pattering like golden beads onto the floor.
The little troublemaker rarely cried. He was always stubborn and resilient, believing that tears were a sign of weakness and failure. Apart from the time Xu Wan had made him cry by smacking his hand, no one had seen him shed a tear.
Zong Wenxiu’s heart ached.
If it weren’t for their aunt’s reminder, he wouldn’t have known how much his little brother had been suffering.
Every day, his brother exuded confidence and boundless energy, making everyone assume he was mentally strong and capable of handling any setback.
But they had all forgotten—this kid was only eight years old. He was still a child who would cry when he lost.
Zong Wenxiu hugged him, patting his back gently. “Cry if you need to. It’s better to let it out than to hold it in. Keeping it bottled up will only make you feel worse.”
“Brother, even you’re bullying me…” The little troublemaker’s tears fell incessantly, growing heavier with each sob. His once-bright black eyes were now filled with glistening tears, evoking pity and heartache.
Zong Wenxiu quickly reassured him, “I didn’t mean to bully you. I just saw how stressed you were, and I was worried about you.”
The little rascal cried messily, his voice breaking as he finally spoke. “Brother, I’ve never lost before. I’m good at everything—cuju, pitch-pot, even chuiwan. So why am I failing so badly at studying? I can’t catch up to Qin Ye. I can’t beat him. Why am I so stupid? He doesn’t remember me. He insults me. He looks down on me…”
Until he spoke, Zong Wenxiu hadn’t realized how much his brother had been brooding. Qin Ye had become his nightmare.
Zong Wenxiu’s heart ached as he consoled him, “Everyone has their own strengths. If Qin Ye were to compete with you in cuju, he’d definitely lose. You can’t just focus on his strengths and ignore your own. Besides, Qin Ye doesn’t look down on you. He just doesn’t know you yet. Once he gets to know you, he’ll realize how wrong he was to underestimate you.”
As Zong Jincheng poured out his feelings, Zong Wenxiu patiently comforted him. The little rascal cried like a delicate flower drenched in rain, and Zong Wenxiu felt his heart melt.
He took out a handkerchief to wipe his brother’s tears and spoke gently, “Learning is a gradual process. Lately, you’ve been so obsessed with surpassing Qin Ye that you’ve lost your way. I know you’re in a hurry, but the more you rush, the more mistakes you’ll make. Both your body and mind have limits. Too much pressure will only backfire.”
The little troublemaker’s tears continued to flow, no matter how much Zong Wenxiu wiped them away. His face was a picture of pure misery.
Between sobs, he asked, “When will I be able to beat Qin Ye?”
Zong Wenxiu smiled warmly. “I’ve done the math for you. Qin Ye has been studying for five years to reach his current level. You’ve only been at it for six months, and you’re already about to enter the Child Prodigy Class. That’s a difference of four and a half years. But that doesn’t mean the gap between you is four and a half years. According to our aunt and the teachers, we’re aiming to take the imperial exams in three years.”
Zong Jincheng’s voice softened. “So, if I can surpass Qin Ye within those three years, it means I’ve completely and utterly defeated him?”
Zong Wenxiu nodded. “Exactly. The teaching methods in our advanced class are the best in the capital. Your chances of beating Qin Ye are high. So don’t rush. You have three years to steadily improve. When the time comes, you’ll definitely surpass him. And don’t forget, we made a promise to become great officials together and help a lot of people, remember?”
The little rascal nodded.
Yes, he had been so consumed by Qin Ye that he’d forgotten everything else. All he could think about was catching up, but he’d lost his way.
His brother was right. There was still plenty of time. Qin Ye might be the top of the Child Prodigy Class now, but that didn’t mean he’d be first in the children’s exams, let alone the imperial exams.
Zong Jincheng would make sure Qin Ye remembered him as his greatest challenger!
That night, the two brothers shared a bed for the first time in a while. The clingy Jincheng was back, though his voice still carried a hint of tears. Under the covers, he chattered nonstop, venting his grievances and criticizing Qin Ye’s arrogance.
Zong Wenxiu kept agreeing with him. “Qin Ye’s temper is indeed bad, but have you noticed how similar the two of you are?”
The little rascal immediately protested, “Who’s like him?!”
Zong Wenxiu laughed.
His brother seemed to be recovering—he was getting feisty again.
He explained patiently, “You both have tempers. The only difference is that yours shows on your face, while his is hidden inside.”
The little rascal pouted. “That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”
Zong Wenxiu chuckled. “For some reason, I feel like the two of you will become great friends in the future—the kind who admire each other deeply.”
The little rascal exploded, “No way! I’d never be friends with someone so cold, arrogant, and heartless! He’s the person I hate the most in the world, no question!”
Zong Wenxiu raised an eyebrow in surprise. “So, in your grudge book, has our aunt dropped from first place to second?”
He remembered his brother mentioning his list of grudges, where Qin Ye had previously ranked below their aunt.
The little rascal paused, then nodded firmly. “Yes, Qin Ye is now my most hated person!”
Zong Wenxiu couldn’t help but laugh.
But mentioning the grudge book made him feel like his childish little brother was truly back.
A good cry had indeed helped release his emotions.
And a good night’s sleep would help him forget the negativity.
The next morning, before Zong Wenxiu could even open his eyes, he felt his energetic little brother spring up from the bed and shout, “Down with Qin Ye!”
His voice was full of confidence, determination, and vitality.
Good. The proud little troublemaker was back to his usual self.
