Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Fortunately, the injuries were all hidden-covered by sleeves and collar. As long as Ruqin couldn’t see them, it didn’t matter.

When no one pities you, you stop being fussy. Back in the beginning, I wouldn’t have even gotten a full meal in exchange for a body full of wounds.

Now what I’ve gained is far more precious than a meal-a glittering Wenquxing, so bright that little Linfeng Town can hardly contain him.

His father was the youngest Tanhua in Dazhao. He might even surpass the master.

At least, ever since Li Ru accidentally saw him, her attitude toward me suddenly became strange.

It was one afternoon when Ruqin and his classmate were passing by Li Mansion to buy paper and brushes. He had someone call me out for a few words.

Worried that I was being bullied at Li Mansion, it wasn’t his first time ‘coincidentally’ passing by. But this time, he was spotted by Li Ru.

With such outstanding parents, he naturally stood out himself. At just thirteen, he already had the air of a refined young gentleman.

Li Ru had a quick temper. Less than fifteen minutes after Ruqin left, she probed, “Fanxing, is he really your brother? You two look nothing alike.”

After four years at Li Mansion, I knew what she was thinking from a single shift in her tone. Unfortunately, Ruqin’s future wife could lack anything except proper conduct.

Because Madam would certainly not like a daughter-in-law with a wicked heart.

I flexed my hand-the one that copied her texts-and replied coolly, “Young Miss is joking. Even the dragon’s nine sons are all different. I just wasn’t as lucky as my younger brother and failed to inherit our parents’ best traits. It can’t be helped.”

She laughed awkwardly twice and snatched my brush. “Stop copying. Sit and chat. From now on, I’ll copy these myself so they stick in my head.”

In four years at the mansion, from when I saw her in the morning until I left in the evening-ten hours-she had never once let me sit, not even during lunch.

But it was fine. Over these four years, by copying her assignments in her handwriting, I had learned quite a bit myself. A rich young lady who hadn’t absorbed a single line of poetry or literature-her future husband would likely not live up to the hopes of the Li Family or herself.

I’ve always remembered both kindness and grudges, and I prefer to repay them personally.

I thought Li Ru was just momentarily smitten by Ruqin’s good looks, but I didn’t expect the lovesick girl to be so serious. She even disguised herself as a boy and secretly followed me home.

When I caught her, she looped her arm through mine and said, “Sister, we’ve known each other so long and I’ve never been to your home. Won’t you invite me in for a visit?”

Before I could refuse, Ruqin came out with a dark expression.

He glanced at our linked arms and frowned. “After seven, males and females shouldn’t sit together. Young sir, please show my sister some respect.”

The young miss, except for that trip to the capital, had never suffered such an insult. Frightened by his stern face, tears welled up in her eyes. “I-I am the young lady of the Li Family, not some young sir. Stop trying to scare me.”

With that, she ran off without looking back.

After she ran off, a thought suddenly struck me. Yes, we were already thirteen and fourteen. Ruqin was no longer that naive little master.

At dinner, I looked at the two beds separated by a curtain in our single room, thinking about the silver I’d saved over the years for his future arrangements in the capital. Heart aching with the expense, I bit my chopsticks and said:

“Tailor Li on the street corner is returning to his hometown, so his house will be vacant. How about I talk to the landlord about keeping it for us?”

Yes, after seven, males and females shouldn’t sit together. Although reluctant, it was time to rent a house with two rooms.

Ruqin looked at me, puzzled. “Didn’t you say I’d need a lot of money in the future and that we should save wherever possible?”

That was what I’d told him when we moved here. He had just started to show academic results. I thought that even if the law allowed him to take the exams, with the old Xiao Family case, we’d need to spend more on preparations than others. So I even became stingy with his living expenses, just thinking about saving money for a rainy day.

But now we’re not little anymore. In two more years, he’ll be of marriageable age. With my background, girls from good families would mind. I need to be mindful of boundaries.

I smiled and replied, “Didn’t you just say it yourself? After seven, males and females shouldn’t sit together. I’m fourteen this year-it’s long past time. Don’t worry about these trivial matters; your sister will take care of them.”

He was silent for a long time before saying, “Yes, we’re not blood siblings after all.”

I thought he was hurt and hurriedly said, “What nonsense! We are each other’s only kin. You promised me that after a hundred years, you’d let me into the Xiao Family ancestral hall.”

He looked at me, something indescribable swirling in his eyes. “Fanxing, not blood is not blood. You have to remember that. Besides, who says only blood relatives can enter the ancestral hall?”

In that instant, something struck my heart heavily.