“Li Moying!” The Old Madam came out looking for Wanwan and happened to see the third-ranked grandson, Li Moying, jumping right over Wanwan’s head.
Furious, she walked over, grabbed a feather duster, and struck him.
“You’re the third brother—how can you bully your youngest sister? What if you kicked her while jumping over her?”
Li Moying was only thirteen this year. He was seven years younger than his eldest brother from the same mother, and although he also had a second brother six years older than him, people always singled him out to compare with Li Mocheng.
Because of this, he had been rebellious since childhood. Whatever Li Mocheng had, he disdained even more.
And whatever Li Mocheng didn’t have—even flaws—he accepted them all.
Of course, if Li Moying only had many flaws, he wouldn’t have earned the title “Big Demon King.”
Now, as he was being punished by the Old Madam, he neither dodged nor cried out in pain. Instead, with an indifferent gaze, he said matter-of-factly, “I know what I’m doing.”
The Old Madam grew even angrier and hit him harder. “You still dare talk back? We hired so many teachers for you—have you learned nothing? Jumping over your sister is improper!”
“She drools… dirty.” Li Moying glanced at Wanwan once, then quickly looked away, as if even a second longer would contaminate him.
The Old Madam’s face darkened. She took out a handkerchief to wipe Wanwan’s mouth, only to find a faint mark—nothing like the exaggeration he described.
When she turned back to continue scolding him, Li Moying had already disappeared from the hall.
“That third one—he’s infuriating!”
As she muttered to herself, suddenly a soft little hand wrapped around her leg.
Wanwan looked up at her with blinking eyes and comforted her, “Grandma, don’t be angry. You should live to be a hundred.”
The child’s innocent words instantly warmed the Old Madam’s heart. She crouched down, hugged her tightly, and kissed her cheek.
“Good child, you really are Grandma’s little joy!”
…
In the blink of an eye, Wanwan had been in the port city for over a month.
During this time, she spent most of her days with the Old Master and Old Madam—bringing them joy while also learning many things.
At first, Zhang Nan had been anxious, afraid her daughter might not behave well and earn the elders’ dislike.
But as time passed, she realized Wanwan had fully integrated into the Li family and was even more favored than herself, so she stopped worrying.
One morning, the Old Master and Old Madam went out to visit an old friend, leaving Wanwan temporarily with a servant to play in the courtyard.
Li Mocheng was preparing to attend a business association meeting on behalf of his father. Taking a shortcut, he passed through the side courtyard.
When he saw Wanwan in a pink princess dress squatting under a big tree playing, he subconsciously slowed his steps.
Wanwan heard the footsteps behind her and instinctively turned around. When she saw it was Li Mocheng, her big dark eyes lit up.
“Big Brother!” She ran toward him on her short little legs.
He was so tall that even when she stood straight, she barely reached above his knees. She had to tilt her head all the way up to see his face.
Afraid she might trip, Li Mocheng stopped and bent down to steady her.
“Slow down.”
Wanwan smiled sweetly and asked in her soft voice, “Big Brother, where are you going?”
Over the past month, she had seen him many times. He was always gentle when speaking to her, unlike Third Brother, who only ever acted fierce.
So Wanwan wasn’t afraid of him at all—she would even ask him to hold her sometimes.
Looking at the tiny girl in front of him, Li Mocheng remained patient despite being in a hurry. “Big Brother is going to a meeting. I’ll come back and play with you later, alright?”
“But Big Brother, the little bird wants to find its mommy.” Wanwan raised her hand and pointed at the old elm tree in the courtyard.
Following her finger, he saw a sparrow’s nest in the tree, with an adult sparrow anxiously flying around.
Wanwan ran to the base of the tree, picked something up in her small hands, and ran back as if presenting a treasure.
“Big Brother, look!”
Li Mocheng focused and saw a baby sparrow—dark purplish-black, its eyes half-open. It had clearly fallen from the nest some time ago.
He frowned slightly. “You want me to put it back in the tree?”
“Mm!” Wanwan nodded firmly.
He sighed. The words of refusal were on his lips, but seeing her hopeful eyes, he couldn’t say them.
At that moment, the driver, who had been waiting for a long time, came over to remind him, “Young Master, we’re running out of time. If we delay any longer, we’ll miss the meeting.”
Hearing this, Wanwan slowly lowered her hands, and the hope in her eyes turned into disappointment.
Seeing this, Li Mocheng decisively took the sparrow and said to the driver, “Wait outside. I’ll be there shortly.”
He then strode to the elm tree, grabbed a sturdy branch, and quickly climbed up.
The moment the baby sparrow returned to its nest, Wanwan clapped happily.
“That’s great! The baby bird found its mommy! Big Brother is amazing!”
Perhaps it was the first time hearing such straightforward praise—Li Mocheng smiled faintly.
When he climbed back down, his suit was already dirty. He had no choice but to return to his room and change into a new one.
Passing through the courtyard again, Wanwan ran toward him excitedly on her short legs.
But this time, he couldn’t stop. He gently ruffled her hair and said, “Stay here and play nicely. Big Brother has to go to work.”
“Mm, Wanwan will be good!” she nodded.
But his tall figure had already disappeared beyond the courtyard.
Li Mocheng got into the car, and the driver couldn’t help complaining.
“Young Master, Master specifically told me yesterday that you must not be late today. Look at the time now. Delaying such an important meeting for a child—it’s not prioritizing properly.”
“Are you blaming me?” Li Mocheng had a good temper, but that didn’t mean anyone could criticize him.
Realizing his mistake, the driver quickly corrected himself. “I’m sorry, Young Master. I was just anxious and spoke out of turn. I didn’t mean anything else.”
Li Mocheng was not someone who held grudges. Since the driver admitted his mistake, he let it go.
Soon, the car sped toward the alley near the meeting venue. Just as they were about to arrive, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, stopping the car in the middle of the road.
“Young Master, look!” The driver’s eyes were filled with fear.
As Li Mocheng lowered the window, a strong smell of blood hit him.
And before his eyes—on the street in front of the meeting venue—lay bodies scattered in all directions.