Pei Wanyou buried her face in Bai Yanzhou’s chest, her palm resting on his cheek, rubbing it slowly and intermittently.
“I hit you because you kicked me out of the house, not because of Shushu…”
“Is that how your teacher taught you to use the phrase ‘protesting too much’?”
Pei Wanyou haphazardly patted his face before finally covering Bai Yanzhou’s mouth. “You weren’t right either. We’re both equally at fault, so let’s not point fingers.”
This was the good thing about being siblings—no matter how much they fought, they still cherished the bond forged from growing up together. If they were lovers, they would have cut ties long ago.
Pei Wanyou knew she had caused trouble. Bai Yanzhou, who aimed to become the future head of the Bai family, valued face more than anything, yet she had slapped him in public yesterday.
Bai Yanzhou wanted to let go, but he held back.
Back in the main house, Pei Wanyou lay on the bed. “Brother, could you draw me a bath? I want to wash up.” She couldn’t stand the smell.
Bai Yanzhou lay on the sofa, covered with Pei Wanyou’s pink blanket. “Shut up,” he said, then took off his shoes and closed his eyes.
He had been busy with social engagements and searching for someone, exhausting himself until now.
Pei Wanyou let out several dissatisfied “hmphs.” “Remember to apologize to me when you wake up, or I’ll go to the Bamboo Garden this week to see Grandpa and Grandma.”
Bai Yanzhou turned to face the sofa. “Fine. Bring your broken computer along and tell them why I threw you out.”
Pei Wanyou turned over, hugging the blanket. She held a grudge—the kind she would never forget in this lifetime…
At noon, the butler knocked on the door of the main house with a maid. “Young Miss, Young Master, the eldest young master has returned and is having tea in the main hall. He asks you to come over.”
Pei Wanyou was drying her hair at the time. She had just taken a quick shower and changed into clean pajamas. Hearing that the eldest young master had returned, she excitedly threw the towel onto the sofa.
Bai Yanzhou opened his eyes and casually tossed the towel onto the floor. After the commotion yesterday, he had expected this visit sooner or later.
Pei Wanyou was as happy as if it were the New Year. When they were young, Bai Yanzhou, though doting on her, was also strict, often spanking or scolding her.
But her eldest brother was different. He was always gentle and kind. If she had to describe him, he was like the spring breeze.
Bai Yanzhou followed behind her short-legged sister, walking at a leisurely pace. “Think carefully about what to say and what not to say later.”
Hearing this, Pei Wanyou immediately stopped and turned around. “If I don’t complain, I’ll… Hey, let go of me! Stop using your height to pinch the back of my neck. What’s wrong with you? Change this habit.” She hunched her shoulders, looking displeased.
It was the same in bed—she suspected he had a strange quirk.
In the main hall, a man in a white suit sat on a chair. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on his tall, straight nose bridge, with chains draped over his shoulders. He held a cup of light tea, sipping it slowly.
Unlike Lu Shu’an’s gentleness, his gentleness carried no trace of harshness—like clouds or cotton. His long eyes were calm, without a ripple, and held no aggression.
When a maid poured tea beside him, he nodded slightly in thanks.
“Eldest Brother, you’re back from your business trip!” Pei Wanyou hurried over. “I missed you so much, terribly so.”
Xu Lu was the child of her maternal uncle, taking his mother’s surname. Currently, he served as the leader of Team One of the Bai family and was also an international peace negotiator.
Xu Lu smiled and patted her head. “Why have you lost so much weight?” As he spoke, he looked up at Bai Yanzhou. “Is there anything at home that needs help?”
Bai Yanzhou sat down in a chair. Instead of directly asking what had happened yesterday, he inquired whether any assistance was needed.
“Big brother, let me tell you…”
Bai Yanzhou cut Pei Wanyou off directly. “It was just a false alarm. The danger has already been dealt with.”
Pei Wanyou stood beside Xu Lu, turning her head to glare at Bai Yanzhou. The thought of yesterday’s events filled her with resentment. She never dreamed he would actually kick her out.
“That’s good.” Xu Lu picked up his tea and took a sip. “Youyou has a lively personality—she loves to move around and make noise. With all the unrest and conflicts outside lately, and you being too busy to spare time, I was thinking of taking her to stay with me. What do you think?”
Since he had come, it was impossible for him not to know what had happened yesterday. But as family, as the eldest brother, he had to remain impartial.
Bai Yanzhou was extremely busy, and besides, Wanyou had grown up. When they were kids, their squabbles didn’t leave lasting grudges, but now that they were older, things were different.
Pei Wanyou was overjoyed inside. She whispered a suggestion, “Big brother, Brother Bai has a daughter, and she’s absolutely adorable. He’s busy, so why don’t we help take care of her?” Then she lowered her voice even further. “Super cute. I really like her.”
Bai Yanzhou snorted inwardly. Her scheme was quite transparent. “What does her cuteness have to do with you? If you want one, have your own.”
Xu Lu smiled as he looked at Pei Wanyou. She was still childlike at heart. A child wasn’t a doll to be taken away just because she was cute.
“Big brother, since you’re back, why don’t you stay? It would be a great help to me.” Bai Yanzhou didn’t want to let Xu Lu leave. His mind was worth a hundred Liu Yanxings.
Pei Wanyou nodded vigorously. “Big brother, please stay. I’ve missed you so much.”
Xu Lu slowly shook his head. He still had his own matters to attend to.
Bai Yanzhou leaned back in his chair. “She’s been annoying for more than just a day or two. Are you sure you want to take her with you?”
“He’s planning to get a girlfriend soon and thinks I’m in the way.” Pei Wanyou winked at Xu Lu. “Alma from the Sommerfield Family—gentle and beautiful. He’s absolutely smitten with her.”
“Don’t listen to her nonsense.” Bai Yanzhou’s deep eyes darkened slightly.
As the three of them chatted, Alma arrived in the hall with gifts. She first introduced herself, then extended her hand. “It’s a great honor to meet you here, Mr. Xu.”
Rumors outside suggested that the Bai family intended to groom Xu Lu to take over the family.
Previously, the Bai family had followed a “succession” tradition, but during the last vote, Bai Yanzhou had received only five votes. The rest had surprisingly gone to Team One’s leader, Xu Lu.
Xu Lu had even cast his own vote for Bai Yanzhou. Otherwise, with seven votes, he could have directly assumed the position of Bai family head.
It would have been impolite for Xu Lu to remain seated while shaking hands. Pei Wanyou got up and walked over to sit beside Bai Yanzhou, shooting him a glare.
After Xu Lu finished shaking hands and exchanged pleasantries, he turned around to see Pei Wanyou gritting her teeth, while Bai Yanzhou leaned back in his chair, seemingly unaware of what had just happened…
“Youyou, I brought you a gift this time. Shall we go take a look together?” Xu Lu gave Pei Wanyou a meaningful glance.
Before getting up, Pei Wanyou pinched Bai Yanzhou’s leg, leaving wrinkles in his trousers.
Bai Yanzhou’s eyelids twitched from the pain, and his breathing rhythm changed.
Pei Wanyou felt something was off with the sensation under her hand. After standing up, she glanced over: “…”
To avoid her gaze, Bai Yanzhou crossed his legs, but his reaction couldn’t be hidden.
“Yanzhou, discuss with Miss Alma what we’ll have for lunch. I’ll take Youyou to see the gift,” Xu Lu said, extending his hand.
If Bai Yanzhou had no interest in Alma in that way, he wouldn’t have kept her at the Bai residence.
Pei Wanyou made a face at Bai Yanzhou and followed Xu Lu out of the hall.
The two strolled leisurely along the bluestone path, with waves of floral fragrance wafting through the air. Xu Lu adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose.
“Youyou,” Xu Lu spoke earnestly, “Yanzhou hasn’t had an easy time these past few years, and with his bad temper, it might be better for you to come back with me instead of staying here.”
Rumors circulated that he might be stepping over Bai Yanzhou to ascend, breaking the Bai family’s “succession” order to become the new head of the Bai clan.
Since the last vote concluded, he had rarely visited the Bai residence and seldom participated in its important affairs. What others said was beyond his control.
But he had to keep his own conscience clear.
However, with Pei Wanyou living here, he couldn’t avoid coming altogether. He tried his best not to clash with Bai Yanzhou—they were all siblings, and both were dear to him.
“I don’t want to trouble you,” Pei Wanyou said, swinging Xu Lu’s hand back and forth. “You have to support the Xu family, manage the Bai family, and lead the team for peace negotiations. You’re busy enough as it is.”
Another reason was that she didn’t want to leave Shushu.
“You’ve grown up and learned to care for others,” Xu Lu said with a smile, looking at the young girl beside him. Back then, he had eagerly hoped for a sister, and when she finally arrived, fireworks lit up the sky for hours that night.
But compared to him, Bai Yanzhou seemed even happier, holding her in his arms every day, rushing to wash bottles and change diapers.
“Wanyou, do you know who Yanzhou had the baby with?” Xu Lu couldn’t help but feel curious. He knew his younger brother well—if he did something, he would take responsibility.
But so far, no one knew who the child’s mother was.
Pei Wanyou shook her head. “How would I know? But the baby is especially cute.” She looked at Xu Lu with anticipation. “Brother, let’s secretly take the baby away?”
“How many milliliters of formula, how hot the water should be, what brand of diapers to avoid diaper rash—does Youyou know all that?” Xu Lu didn’t refuse directly but asked the key questions.
Pei Wanyou perked up when talking about her daughter. “Water at forty-two degrees, four level scoops for a hundred milliliters…” At this point, she broke into a cold sweat.
Xu Lu lowered his gaze to Pei Wanyou, a faint, ambiguous smile curling at the corner of his lips.
“Ugh, I really want to steal a baby,” Pei Wanyou pouted, wriggling slightly. “How about you have one for me to play with?”
Xu Lu patted Pei Wanyou’s head and silently walked toward his own courtyard.
Pei Wanyou felt uneasy, her heart racing. Her brother had spent time in the military and was particularly observant.
She didn’t dare probe further and waited until just before the meal to find an opportunity to discuss it with Bai Yanzhou.
“What should we do? Do you think big brother might have guessed?” Pei Wanyou’s eyes reddened with anxiety.
Bai Yanzhou was just about to relieve himself when Pei Wanyou cornered him in the bathroom: “Can you step out first?”
“Ugh, what does it matter at a time like this?” Pei Wanyou stamped her foot. “Hurry up and analyze this!”
Bai Yanzhou unbuckled his belt. Couldn’t she see what he was doing?
“Why are you so particular? Unbuckling your belt just to use the bathroom… Hurry up and think of something…” Pei Wanyou was still young and inexperienced. If Xu Lu tried to trick her, she’d spill everything in less than three sentences.
Who could understand Bai Yanzhou’s helplessness? He turned his head and looked down at Pei Wanyou. “What do you think Big Brother would think if he saw the two of us in the same bathroom?”
Just as Pei Wanyou’s hand landed on the doorknob, footsteps sounded outside.
“Yanzhou, are you done?” Xu Lu put away his phone. He had to rush back to the office for a meeting that afternoon.
Bai Yanzhou moved quickly, pulling her into his arms. He covered her mouth with one hand and said in a low voice, “Brother, there’s a bathroom in the courtyard next door.”
Pei Wanyou pressed tightly against Bai Yanzhou, not daring to move. She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why did it feel like… like they’d been caught in an affair?
“I know. Have you seen Youyou? The butler said she came this way.” Xu Lu still wanted to talk to Pei Wanyou and convince her to go back with him.
Bai Yanzhou sighed. “Brother…”
Xu Lu chuckled. “Alright, I’ll go look for her first.” With that, he walked away.
Pei Wanyou turned around, patting her chest. “That scared me to death. Why aren’t you done yet?” As she spoke, she lowered her head.
Bai Yanzhou covered Pei Wanyou’s eyes. “I’ll go out first in a moment.”
Pei Wanyou hummed in agreement twice. Not only were her ears red, but her cheeks were burning hot, and her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat. Logically speaking, they’d already done it before, so why should she feel shy?
No, no, no…!!
“Now I finally understand why you were being so particular,” Pei Wanyou muttered to herself.
Bai Yanzhou released Pei Wanyou. “Don’t look at everything.”
“You didn’t say that back then. You said, ‘Look clearly, who’s… Mmm…'”
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll cut out your tongue and sew your mouth shut. Don’t believe me? Try me.”
Pei Wanyou was feeling smug. He was furious, wasn’t he? Served him right, served him right!
But just then, her phone rang, emitting a series of cheerful tones in the confined space. To Pei Wanyou, however, it sounded piercing…
Because Xu Lu was standing right outside, holding his phone: “…”