Chapter 14 (1 Update)

A servant saw the young master and the new madam crossing paths and, fearing something might happen, quickly put down their work to rush to the back garden to find the butler.

The living room was now left with only Xu Qingying, Jiang Yuexiao, Zhi Li, and Lightning—three people and one dog.

The atmosphere was quiet.

Xu Qingying recalled Jiang Yuexiao’s dislike and hostility toward the original host in the plot and worried he might say something unpleasant to Zhi Li. She quickly stepped beside Zhi Li, wrapping an arm around the child’s shoulders, and said softly, “Sweetheart, go back to your room and change your clothes first. Also, take a look at the decorations in your—”

Before she could finish, her peripheral vision suddenly caught a shadow darting downward at incredible speed, as if carried by a gust of wind.

Xu Qingying never expected Jiang Yuexiao to release the locking button on the leash without warning.

Lightning, who had been barking nonstop, gained freedom from his young master’s grip. Still yapping excitedly, the agile dog sprinted forward, charging straight at Xu Qingying!

Jiang Yuexiao, who had also spotted Xu Qingying, felt fury boiling in his chest.

This woman, Xu Qingying, not only mocked his family behind their backs and schemed for their money but also brought her own child into the Jiang household while he was away!

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

True to his name, Lightning dashed like a bolt of lightning, reaching the bottom of the stairs in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Yuexiao glared coldly at Zhi Li, who was nestled close to Xu Qingying, his expression dark. *This brat is standing so close to Xu Qingying—if she gets caught up in this, it’s not my problem!*

As Lightning’s owner, he knew the dog wouldn’t bite without an explicit command. Letting Lightning loose was just meant to scare Xu Qingying—

“!!!”

Jiang Yuexiao’s eyes widened in shock. Why wasn’t Lightning charging at Xu Qingying but instead heading straight for the little girl?!

And this little girl—why wasn’t she crying and running away? Instead, she was foolishly running *toward* Lightning!

Couldn’t she see how fiercely Lightning was baring his teeth? A dog that size could easily knock her over with just a couple of paw swipes!

The situation unfolded too quickly for Jiang Yuexiao to react in time.

He watched helplessly as Lightning’s paws nearly brushed against Zhi Li’s wine-red plaid dress and roared angrily, “Lightning! Sit!”

“Woof!” Hearing his master’s command, Lightning skidded to an abrupt halt and obediently sat down, his front paws just resting on Zhi Li’s tiny shoes.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuexiao’s tense heart finally settled, though his expression grew even colder. He tugged on the leash, intending to pull Lightning back.

One tug.

No response.

Two tugs.

Still no response.

Jiang Yuexiao: ???

Ignoring the leash’s pull, Lightning lifted his furry head, his blue eyes fixed adoringly on Zhi Li. “Woof! Woof! Woof!” *The little master who plays fetch with me is finally back!*

Feeling Lightning’s enthusiastic welcome, Zhi Li stretched out her small arms and hugged the dog tightly, her palms gliding over his glossy fur.

She cheered, “Lightning, I’m back!”

Lightning responded eagerly, “Woof!” *Now let’s play fetch again!*

The girl and the dog embraced each other, a picture of perfect harmony.

Jiang Yuexiao: …

Jiang Yuexiao: !!!

Under the towering dome, the crystal chandelier cast a bright glow, illuminating the heartwarming scene of a child hugging a large dog.

Jiang Yuexiao was stunned, utterly disbelieving.

A hug?

Lightning, you actually let this child brought back by that bad woman hug you???

Coming to terms with reality, Jiang Yuexiao’s face turned as colorful as a spilled paint palette, and even his short brown hair bristled with anger in a few places.

If eyes could shoot fireballs, he would have roasted Lightning to a crisp right then and there!

Could this dumb dog even recognize its real master? Did it forget who rescued it from the pouring rain? He’d only been away for a few days—how could it defect to the enemy camp so easily?!

Zhi Li, distracted by hugging Lightning, had already forgotten her intention from moments ago to ask the unfamiliar little brother’s name.

She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a newly bought rubber ball, holding it up cheerfully to Lightning. “Lightning! I got you a gift! Lots and lots of gifts!”

“Woof!” Lightning’s blue eyes lit up at the sight of the ball.

It wagged its tail excitedly, even turning its head to tug at the leash, urging its little master on the stairs to let go so it could play fetch with this new little master!

Traitor!

You absolute canine traitor!

Jiang Yuexiao was so upset he nearly toppled backward on the stairs. With a huff, he threw down the leash and stomped upstairs, determined to give that dumb dog Lightning the cold shoulder it deserved!

Oblivious, Lightning barked joyfully, bouncing in place. “Woof! Woof! Woof!” Let’s play ball!

When Wei Liang followed the sound of Lightning’s barks, he happened to see Jiang Yuexiao storming away, his face resembling a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Wei Liang waited silently in the living room until Xu Qingying finished giving Zhi Li a few instructions and left. Then, he approached Zhi Li and remarked pointedly, “Zhi Li, your brother left already. He hasn’t even greeted you since coming home, has he?”

Brother?

Zhi Li’s attention snapped back, her expression blank with surprise. “That really good-looking unfamiliar little brother just now is my new brother?!”

Oh my goodness!

I actually have such a handsome new brother!

Wei Liang nodded. “Yes.”

As he spoke, Wei Liang kept his gaze fixed on Zhi Li’s face, as if waiting to see if she would burst into tears after being disliked by Jiang Yuexiao.

Instead, he saw Zhi Li heave a sigh of relief, patting her little chest repeatedly with her small hands.

“Thank goodness.”

Wei Liang was puzzled. “Thank goodness for what?”

“Thank goodness I bought a gift for him!” Zhi Li felt a twinge of guilt—after all, the red paper money she’d given to Uncle Chen the cameraman had been taken from her brother’s stack. Thankfully, she’d later used the black card to buy him a watch.

Wei Liang: ???

Before he could ask further, Zhi Li clapped her hands happily. “And before leaving, my brother even left Lightning here to play with me! He’s so nice!” This new brother wasn’t at all like the one in Cousin’s dream who shunned me. Who would leave their dog to play with someone they wanted to push away?

Wei Liang: …

Couldn’t she tell her brother was trying to scare her with Lightning?

He wanted to warn her, but seeing Zhi Li’s innocent joy—and remembering Lightning’s shamelessly affectionate behavior earlier—he swallowed his words in frustration.

Using Lightning to scare her?

Who would believe that?

Lightning once again brought back the rubber ball it had fetched, dropping it at Zhi Li’s feet and gazing at her eagerly, waiting for her to throw it again.

Zhi Li didn’t disappoint, picking up the ball with seemingly endless energy and tossing it out into the spacious garden.

Watching Lightning dart after the ball, she ran after it too, shouting cheerfully, “Go, Lightning! Charge!”

Wei Liang watched Zhi Li run off, puzzled.

How could Zhi Li adapt to life in the Jiang household so quickly? She wasn’t the least bit reserved or insecure. Even when Jiang Yuexiao looked down on her with disdain or walked away without a word to show his dislike, she didn’t seem upset at all.

Wei Liang clenched his fists at his sides, his eight-year-old mind struggling to recall his first night in the Jiang household.

Jiang Yuexiao had stood on the staircase then, aloof and unwilling to spare even a single word in response.

But—

Wei Liang turned his head to look at Lightning running around the yard.

That night, Lightning had stuck out its tongue at him too. Could it be that Jiang Yuexiao hadn’t been looking down on him but had left Lightning behind to keep him company?

“Wei Liang gege,” Zhi Li called, her cheeks flushed as she ran back. “Do you want to play fetch too?”

Remembering what Uncle Wei, the driver, had said, she added helpfully, “If Lightning doesn’t fetch the ball, I can get it for you! Don’t worry about it being a bother!”

Wei Liang opened his mouth, then after a pause, gave a warm smile. “Okay.”

Under the summer dusk, the tree branches swayed gently.

Lightning dashed after the ball, the wind from its sprint sending waves through the lavender fields, painting the air with purple ripples.

From his bedroom balcony, Jiang Yuexiao took in the entire scene in the garden.

Lightning, Zhi Li, and Wei Liang—two kids and a dog—were playing an utterly childish game of fetch.

Some balls accidentally landed by the pond or in puddles, and Lightning, with its finicky cleanliness, hesitated. Zhi Li would rush over to pick them up and hand them back to Lightning, her bright smile almost foolishly radiant.

Seeing Zhi Li run in his direction, Jiang Yuexiao quickly drew the balcony curtains to hide himself, muttering, “Is this little brat playing fetch with Lightning, or is Lightning playing fetch with her?”

No matter who was playing with whom, Lightning had turned traitor!

Jiang Yuexiao stormed back inside, grabbed a dart from his desk, and angrily hurled it at the target on the wall. “Stupid dog! Traitor!”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the room gradually darkened.

Exhausted from throwing darts, Jiang Yuexiao sprawled out on his bed in a starfish position, too lazy to even get up and turn on the lights.

*Knock knock knock.*

A tentative knock sounded at the door.

“Annoying,” Jiang Yuexiao grumbled, pulling a pillow over his face. “I’m not having dinner! Don’t call me!” He was too full of anger from that stupid dog to even think about eating.

“Woof! Woof!”

The stupid dog?!

Jiang Yuexiao’s eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright like a carp leaping out of water.

In an instant, he dashed from his bed to the bedroom door, stopping himself just before yanking it open. He ruffled his messy short hair, then deliberately schooled his expression into one of cool indifference—making sure he looked suitably aloof—before twisting the doorknob and scolding, “You traitor—”

“Gege!”

A sweet, cheerful voice rang out in the hallway light.

Zhi Li waved her little hand at Jiang Yuexiao, her face blooming with a bright smile. “Brother, thank you for letting Lightning play with me!” After noticing that her brother had specifically left Lightning to keep her company, Zhi Li felt she shouldn’t waste his kindness. She conscientiously played with Lightning for an extra half hour, ensuring the dog burned off all its energy so it wouldn’t wreck the house.  

Jiang Yuexiao stared blankly back at Zhi Li.  

When did I ever tell Lightning to play with you? That dumb dog just defected to your side!  

The retort rose to his lips, but he swallowed it back.  

Zhi Li looked utterly silly playing fetch with Lightning in the garden. He was already grown up—far too mature to bully such a foolish little kid.  

So thought Jiang Yuexiao, the eight-year-old “grown-up.”