“–Rest assured, someone is following…”
Su Tang’s little hand trembled slightly.
His expression shifted from the curiosity of an onlooker eating melons to the bewilderment of realizing the melon was about his own brother.
“Li—Li who?” Su Tang’s lips quivered slightly as well.
“Li Xingchuan, of course!” Li Qian repeated.
Watching Su Tang’s frightened expression, he kindly smiled to reassure him: “The name sounds more tyrannical than Xu Meng’s, but don’t worry, he’s in the third grade and we’re in the first grade, we won’t run into him.”
At lunchtime, Li Qian played the role of a sunflower once more, his gaze revolving around Su Tang as he giggled foolishly.
Yet Su Tang seemed somewhat preoccupied and uncharacteristically didn’t giggle along with him.
Su Tang quickly waited for his brother to arrive.
Like a small tail, Li Qian trailed along one side, recounting the news to the two of them with silly glee:
“…Rumor has it that Li Xingchuan plowed through obstacles, charged into Class 10, and had a tug-of-war with Xu Meng using a desk. Ten people helped Xu Meng pull, and none of them could beat Li Xingchuan alone. No sooner said than done, Li Xingchuan grabbed the desk in one fierce motion and hurled it downstairs with a loud ‘crash’!”
Li Qian acted it out vividly, just like his roommate’s description: “That third-grade building shook several times along with it! Yesterday everyone ran outside to look because they thought it was an earthquake!”
Furrowing his brow, Li Xingchuan asked: “Is that so?”
With a worried expression, Su Tang glanced at Li Xingchuan, his small hand instinctively gripping the corner of his clothes in a hesitant, unspoken manner.
As Li Qian kept talking, his voice gradually lowered.
Because he noticed—several times when they passed by students who were slightly taller, those students would stop in a hurry or with extreme politeness, stepping aside to clear the path.
Widening his eyes, Li Qian turned his face toward Su Tang, lowering his voice in astonishment: “Oh my goodness… is looking pretty endowed with this kind of ‘perk’ too!”
“I’m really… gaining insight today.”
Until—
After the three of them sat down, a tall kid passing by Li Xingchuan greeted him with a smile, calling out “Brother Li.”
For a full second, Li Qian turned to stone.
Stealing a glance at Li Xingchuan, he saw that the other person was lowering his head with absolute focus, peeling shrimp shells for Su Tang without even lifting an eyelid.
Hurrying closer to Su Tang, he asked in a breathy whisper: “Is your brother… by any chance called…”
Su Tang answered in a tiny voice as well: “…Li Xingchuan.”
“I wanted to tell you earlier, but seeing how passionately you were talking… I didn’t want to pour cold water on you so fast.”
“Oh my god…” Taking a sharp intake of breath, Li Qian lowered his voice even further, “This isn’t cold water, this is boiling water, boiling water! To think that I, Li Qian, have actually acquired ‘connections’.”
“Life is about to get good!”
Su Tang widened his eyes.
He watched as Li Qian suddenly straightened his posture, used a napkin to carefully wipe away the grease from his mouth with great solemnity, and then turned toward Li Xingchuan, shouting excitedly—
“Brother Li!”
“Turns out you’re the legendary Brother Li! I truly had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai!”
Pressing his lips into a straight line, Li Xingchuan thought: This person is so noisy.
Arriving at the nap room, Su Tang lay in Li Xingchuan’s arms, keeping those clear eyes wide open as he stared unblinkingly at him.
Lowering his gaze to meet Su Tang’s stare, Li Xingchuan explained: “They’re just calling names on their own. I never agreed to it.”
Of course, Su Tang knew his brother hadn’t agreed.
He had seen it all clearly during lunch.
In a soft, sweet voice carrying a trace of worry, he asked: “Did Brother get hurt yesterday?”
Chuckling lightly, Li Xingchuan replied: “How could that be.”
“Was Xu Meng hurt badly?”
“He won’t die.”
“Brother, I know you were definitely venting my anger, I’m so happy.”
As if genuinely happy, Su Tang’s eyelashes fluttered the next second: “However.”
Biting his lower lip, Su Tang watched a thin layer of watery mist gradually gather in his eyes: “I was also scared.”
“Afraid that Brother would accidentally hurt himself, or really beat someone up severely. If Uncle Li sends Brother to a ‘special hospital’, or, or gets arrested by the police uncles… what will I do in the future? How will I go to school, how will I eat, how will I sleep…”
His voice was plaintive, carrying a child’s unique, unvarnished dependence and terror: “Can Brother… not fight anymore in the future?”
Gently patting his slender spine, Li Xingchuan softened his tone considerably: “I promise you, I’ll go easier on them from now on.”
Closing his eyes, Su Tang twitched his little nose slightly—
He always felt like something was off.
Brother clearly promised him, yet why did it feel like he hadn’t promised anything at all?
Yet Brother’s embrace was truly warm, and the familiar sense of security quickly enveloped him.
Heavy drowsiness washed over him, and before long, Su Tang curled up against Li Xingchuan’s chest, his breathing growing even and steady.
Confirming that Su Tang had fallen soundly asleep, Li Xingchuan slowly opened his eyes.
He had his own considerations in mind as well—
He had to find a way to make Su Tang bolder and more unrestrained.
Otherwise, just blowing a little wind would be enough to frighten him.
How could a little cat raised in fear and anxiety ever grow up healthy and happy?
Li Qian had a big mouth and couldn’t keep secrets.
Within a single day, the entire first grade knew—
The best-looking Su Tang in Class 2 was the younger brother of the third-grade “head honcho” Li Xingchuan.
A few days later, the first grade’s “grade belle” quietly changed.
Because everyone belatedly realized that the pretty little classmate in Class 2 was actually better-looking than every single girl in the grade.
The former “grade belle” cried for several days, and finally ran over to Su Tang’s desk with red eyes, asking tearfully: “Can you… give the ‘grade belle’ title back to me?”
Su Tang frantically waved his hands: “I’m a boy, I don’t want to be the ‘grade belle’ either… I’ll give it back to you, really!”
Unfortunately, consensus among the two “parties involved” didn’t work, and the “masses” refused to buy it.
And so—
Su Tang’s title of “grade belle” followed him all the way up through the grades, into the second grade, third grade… until it swept across every single grade he passed through.
Because he “monopilized the charts” for too long, it eventually upgraded into Qinghe Elementary School’s universally acknowledged “school flower.”
And Li Xingchuan, quite naturally, “promoted” from the third-grade “head honcho” to the overlord of every grade.
Equally because of his “reign” lasting too long, he firmly secured the position of Qinghe Elementary School’s “school bully.”
——Yet all of these are stories for another day.
In his second year of schooling at Qinghe, Su Tang welcomed his first Halloween in life.
Prior to this, he didn’t even know such a holiday existed.
It was a sunny weekend after Su Tang entered the second grade.
Before the sky was fully bright, Li Xingchuan woke up. Turning his face, he caught the faint light filtering through the gap in the curtains and saw Su Tang curled up beside him, his breathing light and steady, one hand still unconsciously grasping the corner of his pajamas.
Supporting Su Tang’s small hand, he moved it away with a very gentle motion.
Then carefully crawled out of bed.
Tucking the quilt back in for Su Tang who was still sleeping soundly, he stealthily climbed out the window to leap down from the second floor, swaggering back to his own home.
——It wasn’t that he couldn’t use the door.
It was because he knew full well Su Tang shouldn’t be startled during sleep, having grown used to being careful.
Besides—he liked climbing walls; it was one of his few remaining recreational activities.
In front of the villa, a Rolls-Royce seemed to have been waiting quietly for a long time. Jogging over, Li Xingchuan asked loudly toward Steward Ye, who was standing by the car giving instructions to the driver: “Is everything ready?”
“Everything is ready, Young Master.” Steward Ye bowed slightly, then lightly tapped the car window to summon someone down. “This is the technical instructor sent by the customization team, here to familiarize you with the operation first.”
Li Xingchuan had customized a wolf-shaped steel giant toy standing 2.3 meters tall and about 1.5 meters tall when crouching down.
Imposing and majestic, it also housed a cockpit inside that could capture the driver’s movements.
——This steel beast consumed nearly half of Li Xingchuan’s savings.
Ever since paying off that massive debt a year ago caused by impulsively dismantling his home, aside from regularly purchasing seasonal new clothes and new toys for Su Tang, Li Xingchuan hadn’t spent a single penny on himself, saving every bit entirely to use for this Halloween.
This giant steel wolf was not only imposing, but it could also pull off plenty of tricks.
It could shoot lasers, spew mist, and emit a thunderous, deep, and majestic roar fierce enough to rattle the wilderness, realistic enough to pass for the real thing and awe the entire venue.
Li Xingchuan had even spent extra money specifically to adjust the sound effects system.
——In case Su Tang got scared, the roar could be lowered instantly.
Early in the morning, Li Xingchuan drove the steel wolf running back and forth across his lawn, the rumbling commotion quite substantial.
After finishing breakfast, Li Shengilan stood in front of the villa’s entrance and called Steward Ye: “What’s that commotion.”
Steward Ye’s voice came through immediately: “It’s the toy ordered by the Young Master arriving, he’s currently getting familiar with the controls.”
He promptly added: “Today is Halloween.”
No sooner had his words fallen than an armored divine beast appeared in Li Shengilan’s field of vision.
Flashing past in an instant.
Li Shengilan saw it clearly this time.
It was the kind of mecha design typical of amusement parks used specifically to interact and take photos with visitors.
Lifting a hand, Li Shengilan pinched the bridge of his nose: “Keep an eye on him.”
“Don’t let anything go wrong.”
“Rest assured, someone is following.”
Su Tang woke up naturally at nine o’clock.
Lingering in a daze for a good while after opening his eyes, he rubbed them and called out “Brother~” to Li Xingchuan, who was looking at him sideways.
His voice was soft, sweet, and carried a slight rasp.
Gently tousling his soft hair, Li Xingchuan said: “You need to eat an extra bowl of rice today, going out to play consumes a lot of physical energy.”
Obediently replying “Okay,” Su Tang couldn’t help wondering in his heart: “‘Going out to play’—such a wonderful thing—is actually physical labor?”
Upon following Li Xingchuan to “Wonder Valley,” the largest amusement park in Shengjing—
Watching his brother go to “use the restroom” and suddenly transform into a giant wolf upon returning, Su Tang finally understood a little!
Climbing onto his brother’s back was indeed a labor-intensive task for his short little arms and legs.
Seeing Li Xingchuan’s post-transformation appearance, Su Tang’s two pretty eyes instantly lit up like they were filled with stars, leaving him completely dumbfounded. Subconsciously covering his mouth, he began spinning excited little circles around the magical giant wolf before him.
Li Xingchuan’s voice, processed and carrying a slightly deep electronic texture, sounded: “Tangtang, come up.”
Straining on tiptoe to reach with his hands, Su Tang found he couldn’t reach no matter what.
Li Xingchuan lowered his front limbs: “Grab the safety harness and come up, buckle up after sitting down. Just like when you’re in a car.”
Dressed in a plush cartoon cat jacket, Su Tang was clumsy in his movements and still couldn’t get up after trying a few times. He fumbled and reached to take it off.
“Don’t take it off,” Li Xingchuan immediately spoke up to stop him.
Then raised his volume to shout: “Steward Ye!”
Steward Ye had wanted to help for a long time, but didn’t dare to intervene rashly. Hearing the call, he hurried over.
Carried by him, Su Tang sat up and was properly fastened with the safety harness.
Once he was seated, Li Xingchuan finally set off.
Su Tang discovered that all along the way, people were screaming and rushing over to take photos with them.
Some even chased after them shouting:
“Look, there’s an NPC over there!”
“What kind of crossover is this, so handsome?”
“Did some new anime come out?!”
Both a bit shy and nervous yet filled with boundless eagerness, Su Tang felt like his heart was harboring a hundred happy little birds flapping their wings to fly out.
He couldn’t help extending his small hand to touch his brother’s cold yet majestic mecha shell gently, then curiously touched it again, and cherished it once more… before uncontrollably giggling “giggle-giggle,” his laughter crisp and soft like honeyed sugar.
Following closely behind, Steward Ye captured exciting moments nonchalantly with his mobile phone.
Carefully filtering through those majestic and astonishingly handsome footage of the giant wolf, he sent them to Li Shengilan.
At the same time, he couldn’t help pondering inwardly—
I need to save these photos properly.
Whatever movements that steel wolf made outside, the young master in the cockpit inside had to mirror simultaneously.
However majestic and carefree it looked carrying Su Tang around for a stroll right now, the person inside the cabin was currently climbing just as hard and looking just as “wretched”…
These were all precious “materials.” When the young master grew up, in case he ever wanted to destroy this “dark history,” he would undoubtedly shell out a hefty “hush money.”
Yet, to little Su Tang, these sights were infinitely sacred and grand.
——That was the first time he climbed an un-climbable object, sitting upon the back of a giant wolf that could only emerge from fairy tales, accepting the warm and pure envy and amazement in countless gazes.
That was the first time he ignorantly stepped onto a path that might rebel against a destiny of cowardice and inferiority.
Because ever since then, whenever he encountered moments of sadness or retreat, this sunny day in his memory would automatically surface. He could seemingly feel the warm sunlight spilling over his body once more, while the silent and reliable steel giant wolf beneath him carried him steadily across all obstacles.
During the Chinese New Year of Su Tang’s second grade, his small wardrobe was already stuffed to the point of overflowing by Li Xingchuan.
When Li Xingchuan was still burdened with debt, he kept things simple and purchased ready-to-wear garments.
Once unburdened and light of body, he began having Steward Ye periodically measure Su Tang’s height and dimensions, embarking on the customization route.
He even invited an old-school artisanal shoemaker who custom-made shoes for Li Shengilan to their home to measure Su Tang’s tiny feet.
Grandpa Su felt terrible about the money and tried to persuade him countless times: “Tangtang is right in the middle of growing up, he won’t be able to wear these many times before he outgrows them… what a waste… besides, these clothes are only worn on Sundays or holidays, he still has to wear his school uniform normally… he can just directly wear your leftover hand-me-downs that fit him a bit better.”
Not knowing how to explain, Li Xingchuan could only give a dry, honest truth: “Grandpa, I have money.”
——Because he needed to spend money on Su Tang, his trust fund truly generated meaning.
Because he needed to earn money for Su Tang, his peace treaty with Li Shengilan continued to this day.
Had it not been for Su Tang’s appearance that day, he wouldn’t have developed an interest in “money.”
He wouldn’t even have developed an interest in “schooling.”
He could still recall how devoid of interest and thoroughly gray his life was back then. Every day he was either arguing with Li Xingchuan or finding ways to torment Li Shengilan.
Yet now, just like the “normal people” Li Shengilan spoke of, he had things to look forward to and a splash of color.
Grandpa Su still felt a deep ache in his heart.
Carefully folding up piece by piece the brand-new clothing that Su Tang had outgrown due to his height spurts, he sorted them neatly into storage bins.
Quietly calculating in his heart: Such good fabric, such delicate workmanship, later on if any relative in the family has a child of similar age, they can continue wearing them.
——Just like in the past when he truly couldn’t afford new clothes for Su Tang, the items the child wore were all hand-me-downs sent over by relatives.
Unable to out-stubborn Li Xingchuan and lacking the heart to let new clothes pile up chaotically, Grandpa Su had no choice but to clear out the storage room next to Su Tang’s that was originally piled high with sundries, repaint and redecorate it, and convert it into Su Tang’s exclusive little walk-in closet.
However, he still had to go tidy it up periodically.
Because Li Xingchuan was fiercely insistent on not letting Su Tang do chores. Yet… he himself couldn’t do them well either.
Clothes and cabinets handled by him broke down very easily… Li Xingchuan had too much strength and was hyperactive. Grandpa Su suspected whether those hands of Li Xingchuan were storing up force every second of the day.
Under Li Xingchuan’s care—which was even more grandfatherly than his actual grandpa—Su Tang carefree strode all the way into the fourth grade.
However, Su Tang’s fourth grade happened to coincide with Li Xingchuan’s sixth grade.
Although Qinghe International School featured both middle and high school departments, they were located on completely separate campuses. This meant that once Li Xingchuan graduated from the elementary department, even if he remained within the Qinghe system, he would have to transfer to study at another campus.
In other words, the moment Li Xingchuan entered middle school, the two of them would have to separate.
At the mere thought of this, Su Tang felt incomparably anxious.
Thus, when sleeping in his brother’s arms at night, he began suffering from insomnia and couldn’t fall asleep.
Even Li Xingchuan reading stories to him yielded minimal results.
Li Xingchuan discovered Su Tang had something on his mind when he caught Su Tang turning sideways to secretly wipe away tears while pretending to be asleep. Pulling Su Tang to turn him around, he asked softly: “Is someone bullying you?”
Opening his watery eyes, Su Tang shook his head.
Thinking it over, Li Xingchuan guessed: “Got into trouble?”
A trace of a smile surfaced: “Can you cause trouble now? Brother will clean it up for you.”
Clutching the corner of Li Xingchuan’s shirt, Su Tang whispered: “Brother is graduating soon.”
Smiling again, Li Xingchuan said: “So it’s because of this. I’ve already thought it through. As soon as I finish sixth grade, I’ll repeat a grade. If I repeat two grades, won’t we graduate together?”
Opening his oversized eyes wide, Su Tang parted his mouth.
Freezing for a good while, he said with a worried expression: “You can’t do that, Brother… My grandpa says going to school is a very important matter. He also says a person’s time is precious. You can’t waste it.”
Coaxing him, Li Xingchuan said: “I like wasting time.”
“Close your eyes and sleep.”
Who would have thought Su Tang would burst into tears from anxiety: “You can’t, you really can’t, Brother.”
Flustered and out of ideas, Li Xingchuan had no choice.
He could only go along with Su Tang’s words: “Alright, alright, no repeating grades, no repeating.”
One day after returning home, a frustrated-looking Li Xingchuan summoned Dr. Chen over.
“Dr. Chen, I’m graduating soon.”
“Uh-huh, congratulations.”
“What I want to talk about isn’t ‘graduation,’ it’s Su Tang. Come on, help me guess what he’s thinking. He’s afraid I’ll leave, and if I leave he cries, but he’s also afraid I’ll repeat grades for him, and if I repeat he cries. You’re a psychiatrist, tell me, what do I have to do to make him happy?”
Rubbing his chin in thought, Dr. Chen chuckled lightly: “A lack of security, I suppose. Afraid that once you enter middle school, you’ll recognize a new younger brother.”
“How is that possible.”
“I know it’s impossible, but Su Tang is afraid. Whether he admits it or not, it’s likely for this reason. You can give him a promise, guaranteeing there won’t be a new younger brother. Then tell him—you’ll be waiting for him at a certain middle school. He’ll definitely be happy.”
That same afternoon, Li Shengilan’s study door was knocked on by Li Xingchuan.
Li Shengilan had long since grown accustomed to Li Xingchuan’s habit of only visiting when he needed something.
Cutting straight to the point: “What is it?”
Striding over, Li Xingchuan sat down casually on the sofa opposite Li Shengilan’s desk: “Does Qinghe Middle School require taking an exam? Or can anyone enter as long as they pay money?”
Lifting his eyes toward him, Li Shengilan said: “Money is enough.”
Seeming relieved, Li Xingchuan said: “Then it’s nothing. I won’t disturb you.”
Calling out to stop him, Li Shengilan said: “But No. 1 High School, and the No. 1 High School Su Tang will attend in the future—money won’t work.”
Half of what he said was true, half was false.
Carrying a deliberate purpose.
Yet at this moment, Li Xingchuan failed to perceive it keenly.
Sure enough, stopping in his tracks, Li Xingchuan turned around: “What do you mean by ‘Su Tang will attend’?”
Adjusting his glasses frames, Li Shengilan spoke in a calm tone: “Judging by how Su Tang steadily secures the grade’s number one spot on every exam—there’s no way he’ll ever go to Qinghe Middle School in the future.”
Chuckling, Li Shengilan carried an ambiguous meaning: “Even if Su Tang were willing to go to Qinghe Middle School, the teachers and principal at Qinghe Elementary wouldn’t agree—it takes them how many years to cultivate a living signboard, they’ll definitely send him off to the best educational institution with a grand fanfare.”
Turning his face away with a trace of anger, Li Xingchuan asked: “What does whether they agree or not have to do with Su Tang?”
“Even if Su Tang gets into No. 1 High School, he’ll still follow me to Qinghe!”
Suddenly, Li Shengilan chuckled again.
“What are you laughing at!” Li Xingchuan demanded.
Looking through his cold lenses straight into his eleven-year-old son, Li Shengilan said: “I’m laughing at how you’re nothing much after all.”
“——Didn’t you want to give your good friend the absolute best of everything?”
“Letting him settle for second best with you… is it because you can’t get into No. 1 High School, so you have to drag your friend down into the mud with you?”
Storming furiously into the gym with his boxing gloves on, Li Xingchuan beat up his small punching bag until it burst.
Watching fine streams of sand drift down to the floor, reduced to ignored dust, he suddenly felt as though struck by lightning once it finally registered in his mind what Li Shengilan meant.
That’s right, what on earth was he doing?
Didn’t he want to give Su Tang the best?
His clothes were, his shoes were, his food and daily items were all the best!
By what right could Su Tang attend a good school, yet he wanted to drag him along to loaf around?!
——Li Xingchuan, are you even a fucking human being?!
After this day, Li Xingchuan changed completely into a different person.
In the past, he used to finish his homework first, grab a brand-new game controller, and stand in the doorway asking Su Tang over and over: “Are your questions done yet?”
“…Are they done yet?”
“…Done yet?”
Now, the roles had reversed, and he was frantically churning through problem sets, problem sets, and more problem sets.
Meanwhile, Su Tang had already finished everything else, standing quietly on tiptoe behind him, hugging his little fox plushie and asking cautiously: “Brother, are you done with your homework?”
Finally, after being left hanging a dozen or twenty times, Su Tang couldn’t hold back anymore, taking a step forward to peer around curiously and ask: “Brother, are you doing test papers? Do you graduates have this many test papers?”
Instead, turning around and patting Su Tang, Li Xingchuan spoke in a gentle tone: “Tangtang, go play games nicely by yourself for a bit. Brother will come find you after churning through two more sets of papers. Alright?”
Widening his mouth, Su Tang stood frozen in place.
An utterly earnest thought popped up in his mind—
“Goodness, i-is this really his brother?!”