Chapter 29: They're Not My Brothers
Chapter 29: They're Not My Brothers
Children's emotions are the easiest to influence.
Laughter is contagious, but crying even more so.
The chubby boy, already feeling wronged by Feng Xuanrui's beating, lost control when he heard the earth-shattering sobs coming from the other side.
He had been crying silently, afraid to make a sound.
Boo-hoo!
His face and stomach hurt so much!
As soon as the chubby boy started crying, the other chubby boys couldn't hold back their tears either.
By the time Sun, the provincial governor, received the news and rushed over, the children had just been soothed.
Sun was aware that this time, the Prince of Qing was here on business, accompanied by the young master of the Qi Wang Manor.
Hearing that his grandson had a conflict and even got into a fight with the young master, Sun's vision darkened.
When he arrived, he put on a smiling face and approached the Prince of Qing. Before he could say anything, the prince spoke in a low voice: "It's nothing serious, just children playing around."
Sun: ?
Huh?
Are you sure it was just playful scuffling? Sun began to doubt his life choices.
Turning his head, he saw his grandson circling around a bald-headed little boy.
His face was bruised with tears streaking down, but he was smiling brilliantly.
Sun: ??
Ah?
At his age, he had rushed over breathless, and now you're telling grandpa that not only are you fine, but you're also making friends?
The resolution of the incident was surprisingly smooth. The Prince of Qing inquired about the cause and context, learning that both parties were at fault. He pressed Feng Xuanrui and the chubby boy—Sun Ronglin, to apologize to each other, achieving a tentative reconciliation.
However, the true reconciliation between the two parties came about because of…
Sui Sui.
Among the chubby boy's friends, one of them exclaimed: "That one who was crying so pitifully is a little girl!"
This exclamation, like a bolt of thunder, left the chubby boys dumbfounded.
"A girl? Where did she come from?"
"There's actually an adorable little girl here?"
"I don't think she's adorable at all!"
…
Half of the chubby boy's friends had a favorable impression of girls.
These boys didn't have sisters of their own, so they envied others who did.
The other few boys, however, clearly had sisters and were suffering at their hands. No matter how their friends tried to persuade them, they refused to find girls adorable.
And then, they all surrounded Sui Sui.
Feng Xuanrui held Sui Sui tightly in his arms, scared that someone might try to take her away!
Sun Ronglin, who had been crying his eyes out just moments ago, was now beaming with joy.
Among the chubby boy's friends, he had received the worst beating, as Feng Xuanrui had been riding on his back and punching him in the face.
But now, he was the happiest of them all: "Is she really a girl?"
As he spoke, he kept staring at Sui Sui's bald head, as if trying to determine the truth.
Sui Sui felt uncomfortable under his gaze and instinctively shrunk back behind Feng Xuanrui.
Feng Xuanrui noticed that even when he held her in his arms, these boys still reached out to touch her. He angrily hid Sui Sui behind him.
But it was no use!
The chubby boys encircled him and Sui Sui, curious and excited.
Sun Ronglin, his face still bruised and swollen, gently poked at Sui Sui's sleeve.
His movement was cautious, as if Sui Sui were not a child but a fragile treasure.
He poked gently, barely brushing Sui Sui's sleeve, but Sun Ronglin was delighted and giggled: "It's a girl!"
Sui Sui scratched her face in confusion, not understanding why he suddenly looked so happy.
How should she put it?
She just felt uncomfortable seeing him like this, and she instinctively shrunk further behind Feng Xuanrui.
After Sun Ronglin poked her, two other chubby boys happily poked at her too.
They didn't actually poke her, but their cautious movements made it clear that was their intention.
Indeed, they were mostly poking at air, but even so, they were happy.
"Hehe, little sister!"
"She's a girl!"
"The little girl is actually quite cute."
"Hey, where's her hair?"
"Did that little bully shave it off?"
"Probably. I heard some bullies can be really mean to girls. He must be one of them!"
...
Feng Xuanrui, who had been labeled as the little bully, received death glares from the three chubby boys.
Sun Ronglin even seemed reluctant to stop there and wanted to take further action.
He thought for a moment, his face still sore from the beating, and proposed to Feng Xuanrui, "How about we fight again? If I win, you give me the little girl, okay?"
Feng Xuanrui flew into a rage at the suggestion of taking his sister away from him.
He threw a punch, knocking Sun Ronglin down and making him cry again.
With tears streaming down his face, Sun Ronglin persisted, "Then how about you lend her to me for half a month? I just want to know what it's like to have a little sister. Please? I got beaten up for her, boo hoo!"
Feng Xuanrui roared like a little lion, "No way! Absolutely not! Sui Sui is mine!"
Sui Sui stood behind Feng Xuanrui, nodding obediently. "Yes, Sui Sui belongs to Gege (older brother)."
Sun Ronglin, still crying from the punch, heard this and turned to look at her. "You're called Sui Sui? Like the 'Sui' in 'Sui Sui Ping An' (a peaceful year)?"
The other two chubby boys, who looked identical, joined him and asked, "It has to be that 'Sui,' right? What other 'Sui' could it be?"
...
The three chubby boys surrounded Sui Sui, occasionally commenting and showing concern for her daily life.
Although Sui Sui didn't sense any malicious intent from them, her brother was clearly unhappy.
So, she held onto Feng Xuanrui's clothes tightly, looking at everyone warily without saying a word.
Even though she remained silent, it didn't dampen the chubby boys' enthusiasm.
When Sun, the provincial governor, arrived, this was the scene that greeted him.
Sui Sui's current appearance couldn't be considered pretty.
However, her eyes were like black grapes—lively and sparkling like a galaxy of stars.
Sun had only intended to glance at her, but he found himself looking again and again...
Then, he couldn't help but exclaim, "This child is quite adorable."
Prince of Qing: ???
Where is she adorable? She hasn't gained much weight since we started taking care of her.
She still looks thin and frail.
Adorable?
I don't see it.
Feng Xuanrui was already annoyed by the three chubby boys' interest in his sister.
Now, with Sun's comment, he became even more alert, glaring at Sun like a little wolf cub. He growled, "Are you going to try and take my sister away from me too?"
Before Sun could respond, Sun Ronglin ran over to him, eyes sparkling with hope. "Grandfather, I want a little sister."
Afraid that his grandfather might misunderstand, Sun Ronglin turned to the side and pointed at Sui Sui, who was standing a short distance away. "I want one with eyes as beautiful as hers. If she could be just like this little girl, that would be perfect."
Feng Xuanrui: ???
You guys are going too far!
In the past, everyone had disliked Sui Sui.
Her uncle disliked her for eating too much, and her aunt disliked everything about her.
Her cousins—the boys disliked her because she was a fatherless wild seed, and the girls thought she was dirty. Even the younger male cousin disliked her because she wasn't strong enough to be a horse for him to ride on.
She had never encountered a situation where so many people liked her and wanted to take her home.
At that moment, Sui Sui felt bewildered and anxious. She clutched her brother's clothes tightly, not wanting to leave his side.
She thought that no matter how many people came to take her away, she didn't want to go with them.
Because they weren't her brother.
And she liked her brother.
(End of Chapter)
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