Safely back home, Little Qiu shed her school uniform and slipped into casual wear, a simple white apron tied around her waist. She turned to Brother Ouyang with eager anticipation.
“What would you like for dinner, Brother Ouyang?”
“I’ve already eaten. Don’t worry about me—just cook whatever you want.”
*He’s eaten again…*
Hearing his reply, a trace of frustration flickered in Little Qiu’s heart. It reminded her of that familiar scene when Brother Ouyang first moved in—trying not to trouble them, bottling everything up inside. She longed to dig to the bottom of what was wrong but held back her curiosity. Her brother had said everything would come clear when Brother Ouyang was ready to talk.
Pouting slightly, Little Qiu gripped her spatula and lectured earnestly, “Skipping meals isn’t good! Outside food can’t beat home cooking. Look how thin you’re getting—you’re almost as slim as a girl!”
After two refusals, Little Qiu couldn’t help wondering if her cooking displeased him. She covered her mouth, a hint of sadness welling up.
“Brother Ouyang…”
“Hmm?”
“Is my food really that bad?!”
“Absolutely not!” Brother Ouyang blurted out, seeing her downcast face. He hurried to explain, “It’s just…”
He’d hidden his condition to spare her worry, but now he confessed the truth about why he couldn’t eat.
“You idiot, Brother Ouyang!”
“Ow!”
*Clang!* The spatula slammed against his head. Rubbing his scalp, Brother Ouyang looked up dizzily to meet Little Qiu’s furious glare.
“No more lying to me, got it?!”
“Okay…”
Unable to promise that, Brother Ouyang could only agree not to deceive her on certain things. He still couldn’t reveal he wasn’t her real brother—he wanted to protect her as family. Then her words struck him:
“We’re family. If anything happens to you, I’ll be heartbroken.”
At “family,” a tiny warmth stirred in his chest. He offered a slight, kind-hearted smile and replied firmly, “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Later, they sat on the couch watching TV. By 9 PM, Brother Long still hadn’t returned. Little Qiu hugged a pillow, curled up on the sofa, and stared glumly at a glass on the coffee table. Memories of school lately made her uneasy.
“Lately, I’ve tried blocking out Tianyu Wei’s annoying voice, but he keeps whispering in my ear that I’ll be his wife, his property—that he’ll inherit Xiaomo someday…”
She clutched the pillow tighter, torn between fearing something was wrong with Xiaomo or that a real lunatic had appeared.
“I won’t let him have his way. Don’t worry.”
Hearing this, Brother Ouyang’s anger flared. She truly despised rich, powerful bullies—especially that guy who abused his strength. *What’s so great about a Bloodkin Prince? He makes me furious!*
“Is something wrong with my brother?”
Seeing her worry, Brother Ouyang shook his head. “Brother Long will be fine.”
He hid the truth to spare her anxiety. During his three days at the castle, the Wei Power Group had sought to expand. Niu Wei personally visited Xiaomo to pitch an investment. Securing Xiaomo would be like a leech slowly draining its resources. But Xiaomo had always operated independently, never partnering with anyone. Naturally, Brother Long refused.
Niu Wei’s mood shifted instantly. As he left, he threw back a warning:
“I’m not here to negotiate. I’m here to inform you—I’ll take everything you own.”
He stretched a hand toward the building, purple sparks erupting from his palm. “Within a week, I’ll destroy Xiaomo completely.”
Xiaomo’s twelve officers each governed a street in the Northern District, handling crises immediately. The day after the failed talks, Officer Niu was ambushed on his way home, severely injured. He remained unconscious in Xiaomo’s private hospital. His district was temporarily handed to Officer Hu, doubling Hu’s workload and straining Xiaomo.
“Were others attacked after that?” Brother Ouyang asked, sensing Brother Long’s heavy mood.
“No. But fear is spreading in Niu’s district—that’s the real problem.”
“Was it Niu Wei?”
“We can’t jump to conclusions without proof.”
Brother Long walked to the window, gazing toward Little Qiu’s school. “Niu Wei transferred his son there. I’ll monitor the other districts and merchants. I know you’re not mobile right now…”
“Little Qiu’s my sister too. I’ll protect her,” Brother Ouyang interrupted firmly.
Snapping back to the present, he noticed Little Qiu squinting at him curiously.
“What’s on your mind, Brother Ouyang? And you didn’t bring me any snacks from your trip.”
“I rushed back and forgot,” he said with a nervous chuckle.
“Forgot? You always bring me treats! You’ve changed!”
“Not at all.”
Brother Ouyang’s mind flashed to the crying maid wax figures, the Wolfkin blood meals, and that Bloodkin Prince who’d treated him like prey. His blood pressure spiked. Keeping a straight face, he shrugged. “That place only has creepy wax figures and awful local snacks. Nothing worth bringing.”
“Oh… okay.”
Little Qiu yawned wearily. After pouring out her worries, the tension from school melted away, replaced by drowsiness.
“I’ve got class tomorrow. Goodnight, Brother Ouyang.”
“Goodnight.”
After she left, Brother Ouyang entered his room and flicked on the light. A black package sat on his desk—no sender address or name. His heart tightened.
He’d said he never wanted to see that person again, yet everything here reminded him of the guy. Scratching his head, frustration bubbled up—he wanted to forget but couldn’t.
Only one person would leave this here: that intruder again.
Worried it held something strange, Brother Ouyang opened it with trembling hands. Inside lay the latest HUAMEI phone and a newly issued ID.
“Phew… just Brother Long’s gifts.”
Relief washed over him. Powering on the phone, he found a text:
【Meet at Xiaomo after Little Qiu sleeps. Urgent matters. —Long】
Slipping out quietly, Brother Ouyang sensed something following him en route to Xiaomo.
“Ouyang Qingdan, Xiaomo’s second-in-command? Just the lapdog trailing Xinglong Xiang. If we hospitalize him, our negotiation success rate jumps by half.”
“Exactly. That’s why we’re staking out here—to eliminate him.”
Brother Ouyang’s instincts were right. Two unseen figures whispered behind him. He walked on casually, until they closed in…
