The events from last night were still fresh in Yu Yingze’s mind. Unlike Yu Mingxi, he didn’t have the same level of patience or temperament.

Just the thought of having to babysit this little one gave him a headache.

“Yingze,” Yu Mingxi squatted beside him, gripping the straps of his backpack and solemnly holding his brother’s hand. “Yuanyuan is still young. She’ll be really bored staying at home alone. Dad and I won’t be here, and everyone else has their own work to do. Please, as a favor to me, can you look after her?”

“But I’ve already made plans to hang out with Tian Bin and the others…”

Yingze didn’t dislike Yuanyuan, but he was resistant to the idea.

He was used to playing with boys his age and had never had to take care of a little sister, let alone any younger kids.

His older brother was gentle and caring, but Yingze knew he couldn’t be as good at it as Mingxi.

But with Dad and Mingxi both gone and the other servants busy, there was no one to keep a constant eye on Yuanyuan.

Young children needed supervision; one moment of carelessness and they could get hurt.

Yingze still remembered when he was younger, how he loved climbing onto tables and accidentally knocked over a cup of hot water. Thankfully, his older brother had pulled him away just in time, avoiding a potential disaster.

Glancing sideways, Yingze saw Yuanyuan, who was behaving herself for now. Against his better judgment, he reluctantly agreed to the task.

“Alright.” Looking into his brother’s trusting eyes, Yingze couldn’t bring himself to say no.

“Thanks, Yingze. When I get back, I’ll buy you your favorite spicy fries.”

“!!!” A delicious bribe worked instantly. Yingze visibly relaxed, trying to hide his excitement as he nodded. “Make sure to give them to me secretly though. Dad will scold me if he finds out.”

“Don’t worry, I got it.”

With that, the two brothers shared a knowing smile, and Yu Mingxi left, feeling reassured.

“Big brother, come home soon! Otherwise, Yuanyuan will miss you so, so, so much!” The little one chased him to the door, even running out to the courtyard, waving energetically toward the gate.

But she didn’t leave the yard. Instead, she clung to the edge of the ornate archway, watching him.

The sight nearly broke Mingxi’s heart.

He walked a few steps and turned back. As soon as Yuanyuan saw him look, she waved again, beaming with a bright, adorable smile.

The sun cast a warm glow on her innocent, cherubic face, like a tiny fairy emerging from a garden—a picture-perfect moment capable of delivering a cuteness overload.

No, he couldn’t afford to be soft-hearted now.

Mingxi feared that if he indulged any further, the sun would set before he even left the villa.

Yuanyuan stayed at the gate, her little head resting on the edge, waiting eagerly for her brother to turn around and play their game of back-and-forth.

But…

In the end, her brother left without looking back.

Ugh, so sad. Being home alone is really boring.

“Hey, Yingze! Are you up yet?!”

Several figures, much taller than Yuanyuan, appeared at the gate. Their loud, booming voices rang in her ears like thunder.

Her head buzzed, and she rubbed her ears. “Who are you guys?”

Only then did the boys notice the cute little girl by the gate. They all froze in unison.

“And… who are you?” one of them asked, still startled.

“My name is Yu Yuanyuan. Are you here to see Second Brother?”

The boys exchanged glances. They had never heard of Yingze having a younger sister.

Could she be a relative?

“We’re looking for Yingze,” one of the boys stammered.

Yuanyuan took a deep breath, paused for a dramatic two seconds, then turned toward the house and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Second Brother! A bunch of handsome guys are looking for you!”