There was still quite a distance to the Marquis Manor, and the little troublemaker, being quite perceptive, naturally didn’t get out of the carriage. Instead, he let out a deliberately haughty hum and turned his head toward the window.
Xu Wan, addressing Zong Wenxiu, who had returned empty-handed from the hunt, said, “Don’t take today’s events too seriously. The hunt is more about participation. Our goal was just to relax and enjoy the ride. By the way, if you find it too noisy, next time we’ll have Jincheng take you to the football field. It’s much quieter there.”
Zong Wenxiu, ever warm-hearted, replied earnestly, “Thank you for your comfort, Madam. I’m not upset. My brother even caught a fox for me.”
Zong Jincheng snorted at Xu Wan and said, “Taking credit for someone else’s effort.”
It was he who had first suggested playing football, and now this woman made it sound like he was taking Zong Wenxiu there for her sake.
Xu Wan shot him a glance. “You’re quite good at using idioms now, aren’t you?”
Zong Jincheng puffed up with pride. “Of course! I’m going to be the top scorer in the joint exams.”
“Oh,” Xu Wan rolled her eyes and didn’t continue the conversation.
The little troublemaker was waiting for Xu Wan to praise him or comfort him, just as she had done with Zong Wenxiu, for only catching a small fox during the hunt. But no matter how long he waited, it never came.
Her! Was she only going to comfort Zong Wenxiu?
What about me? I’m right here!
I didn’t win the hunt either, and I’m upset too!
The little troublemaker’s gaze at Xu Wan shifted from hopeful to angry, and finally to sheer frustration. Yet, she didn’t even glance at him, closing her eyes to feign sleep instead.
Zong Jincheng: “!!” She’s so annoying!!
Xu Wan earned another harsh mark in his grudge book. By the time they reached home, the little troublemaker was the first to get out of the carriage, letting out a loud, exaggerated hum.
Xu Wan: “…” Such a childish way to seek attention.
Zong Wenxiu hesitated and said, “Madam, I think my brother also wants your comfort and praise.”
Xu Wan smiled. “I know.”
Children’s thoughts are the easiest to guess, especially when it comes to the little troublemaker. His desires were as clear as day.
“Then why… Don’t you like my brother?” From Zong Wenxiu’s perspective, Xu Wan seemed very attentive to his brother.
No, she was extremely, extremely, extremely attentive.
Xu Wan patted his head and said, “That rascal has a certain charm that makes people quickly like him, obey him, and protect him.”
Zong Wenxiu nodded in agreement.
He already liked his brother very much and wanted to do everything for him.
Xu Wan continued, “But once you start obeying him, he’ll push his luck, testing the boundaries step by step. It’s human nature, but he just shows it more clearly.”
Zong Wenxiu: “…Really?”
Xu Wan patted him again. “Just wait and see. Let’s go home.”
That evening, after dinner, the two brothers coincidentally went to study together.
Their three private tutors were off for the day, so the two of them practiced writing silently.
The little troublemaker had a pen dipped in colorful ink in his mouth, chewing on it from time to time. His lively nature made it impossible for him to sit still. He couldn’t maintain a proper sitting posture for more than a quarter of an hour before he started fidgeting—sometimes slumping over the table to write, sometimes asking for a cushion to be placed on his chair.
This time, he had the table and chair moved behind Zong Wenxiu, leaning against his back while writing. But even this wasn’t enough to keep him still. He would bump into his brother occasionally, move away, and then suddenly lean back again.
Zong Wenxiu couldn’t take it anymore. He stopped writing and turned around. “Jincheng, stop moving around while you’re writing.”
The little troublemaker, fully immersed in his writing, hadn’t even noticed what his body was doing.
He looked up, confused. “Brother, what’s wrong?”
Zong Wenxiu: “…”
He hadn’t expected to understand Xu Wan’s words so quickly.
Agreeing to sit back-to-back with his brother while writing had been a mistake from the start.
Once you give in to his demands, his unreasonable requests multiply, and they’re often wrong. At first, Zong Wenxiu thought they were minor issues and let them slide, but those small mistakes grew until they became unbearable.
Zong Wenxiu took a deep breath and patiently explained, “You should sit properly. A messy posture not only makes your handwriting look bad but also harms your spine.”
The little troublemaker straightened up and glanced at his spine… which he couldn’t see.
He shrugged. “It’s probably fine. The doctor checks on me regularly.”
Zong Wenxiu: “…”
Alright.
He decided to play his trump card. “You’re disturbing my writing.”
His brother had just defended him in front of Wei Xinglu earlier that day, so surely he cared about his feelings. This should work, right?
But the little troublemaker froze for a moment, then looked deeply hurt.
His dark eyes shimmered like a pitiful puppy’s as he said in a soft, pleading voice, “I’m sorry, brother… I just can’t help it.”
“I…” Zong Wenxiu’s words of reprimand got stuck in his throat.
Who could possibly scold such an adorable brother?
How did Xu Wan manage to stay so firm-hearted??
The little troublemaker continued, his voice as soft as a kitten’s purr. “I just feel so calm and relaxed when I lean on you while writing. It’s not the same as leaning on Shunzi.”
Zong Wenxiu’s heart melted.
My brother depends on me!
He trusts me more than Shunzi, who’s been taking care of him for years!
How could I have been so harsh to tell him he was disturbing my writing?
Zong Wenxiu was already mentally berating himself.
It must be my fault. How could my brother be wrong when he’s so reliant on others?
He’s just a child!!
After a moment, Zong Wenxiu convinced himself. “It’s fine. Let’s keep writing.”
The little troublemaker beamed. “Brother, you’re the best!”
Shunzi: “…”
I told you Zong Wenxiu wouldn’t be able to resist.
From the moment he decided to be kind to the little troublemaker, he was destined to be manipulated, intentionally or unintentionally, at any moment.
He never stood a chance.
For the rest of the session, Zong Wenxiu continued to suffer from the disruptions, but every time he thought of stopping his brother, the thought of how sad he’d look made him hold his tongue.
This round: Soft-hearted brother, fails to discipline.
The next day during class, Xu Wan noticed their odd seating arrangement and immediately put a stop to it:
“What kind of behavior is this, sitting with your back to the teacher? Shunzi, move him back. If he dares to move the table again, I’ll have it welded to the floor so he can’t budge!”
Zong Wenxiu thought to himself, it’s only Xu Wan’s iron will that can keep his brother in line.
The little troublemaker wailed loudly, “This is exploitation! Tyranny! I protest!!”
Xu Wan could hear him even with her ears covered.
