"Quick, give me the phone. Let me curse him out." Ji Shulang waved his hand, took the phone from Ji Shuhe, and faced Wen Shaoyu's handsome face without mercy.
"Damn it! Wen Shaoyu, what kind of dog did you raise? He's not a Golden Retriever mix; he's half Husky! He's been sprinting all the way and almost walked me to death!"
Seeing it was Ji Shulang, Wen Shaoyu immediately lay back down, leaning on the headboard, his voice lazy and flippant. "So much nonsense. If you're not good, practice more."
"Are you trying to train me or my sister?" Ji Shulang's eyes darted as if scheming something. "Who usually walks the dog? You know perfectly well! Wen Shaoyu, you have ulterior motives!"
Wen Shaoyu raised an eyebrow without a trace of guilt. "What ulterior motives? Ask her if she's willing."
Ji Shulang looked down and saw his beloved sister holding Lizi's head, rubbing and patting it, whispering that he shouldn't run too fast.
Ask? What was there to ask? Wasn't it obvious!
Ji Shulang really wanted to ask, during the two weeks he'd been absent for tutoring, what shady deal this guy had coaxed his sister into.
Ji Shulang's heart felt heavy, but he refused to give up.
So he crouched down, brought the phone camera close to Lizi, "Come on, say hi to your dad."
Lizi had been raised by Wen Shaoyu and was very clingy. After just one day apart, he was whimpering and acting spoiled at the phone screen.
Afraid Lizi might lick his phone, Ji Shulang held it high. Wen Shaoyu watched from the other side and even fanned the flames, "Lizi, when you get back, remember to ask your uncle to open a can. You need an extra meal on New Year's Eve."
Ji Shulang flinched, "Call me uncle? Call me grandpa!"
"My rebellious son isn't here. I'm left with a golden-haired grandchild who can't speak human and wants to go out to play every cold day. I'm so miserable!"
Wen Shaoyu didn't want to hear him complain. "Alright, I'll send you a red envelope later."
That easy?
Ji Shulang was incredulous. "Damn, really? Are you being so kind? So generous?"
Wen Shaoyu said calmly, "It's only proper to give New Year's money to the younger generation."
"..." Ji Shulang gritted his teeth. "Wen Shaoyu!"
"You'd better stay at your dad's place a few more days. When you get back, I'll beat you up!"
Ji Shulang and Wen Shaoyu argued across the screen the whole way. Ji Shuhe, who had witnessed the entire exchange, was puzzled by boys' insistence on generational titles. She took Lizi's leash and headed toward home.
Somewhere along the way, Ji Shulang suddenly hung up angrily, quickened his pace, and walked ahead of Ji Shuhe. Just as she was confused, Wen Shaoyu's video call came through on her phone.
The wind was gusting. Ji Shuhe shrank into her scarf. "What did you two say? My brother seems mad."
"Why don't you ask me if your brother started it?" Wen Shaoyu frowned.
Ji Shuhe pressed her lips, not answering, and glanced at Ji Shulang's back ahead. She thought her brother was no match for Wen Shaoyu in an argument, so worrying about him was pointless.
But she couldn't say that. If Wen Shaoyu came back in a bad mood, he'd definitely find trouble with her.
Wen Shaoyu saw Ji Shuhe's guilty look as she lowered her eyes. He didn't get an answer, so he spoke first. "Your brother's just looking for trouble. Don't mind him."
Ji Shuhe gave a soft "Oh."
Then why did he call her?
Wen Shaoyu didn't intend to hang up, and Ji Shuhe had nothing else to say. They were silent across the screen, facing each other silently.
The video frame was too close. She couldn't avoid his gaze, and Wen Shaoyu's focused look was somehow captivating. Ji Shuhe felt uncomfortable and looked around, avoiding his eyes.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the empty space and the blinding white wall behind him. She guessed he just wanted someone to talk to.
But she had nothing to say either.
The mutual staring was too awkward, so Ji Shuhe scrambled for words. "Um, have you eaten?"
"Not yet." Wen Shaoyu's expression softened. "Someone in this house thinks he's the emperor. Can't even get a hot meal."
He must be talking about his father. Ji Shuhe didn't feel it was her place to comment, so she changed the subject. "Are you in your own room? Why don't I see Granny Zheng?"
"I'm in the guest room. Granny is resting next door."
Guest room...
Wen Shaoyu answered casually, but Ji Shuhe sensed a lot from the word "guest room."
Returning to his own home, staying like a guest in the guest room, with a stepmother and half-siblings, admonished by his father for every move...
Ji Shuhe felt a weight in her chest and couldn't bring herself to speak.
In fact, his flippant demeanor rarely inspired pity, but Ji Shuhe sympathized with him. Even if Wen Shaoyu said nothing, his embarrassment and helplessness seemed to transfer to her through some shared feeling.
It must be hard, exhausting, but there was nothing they could do.
So since Wen Shaoyu didn't hang up, Ji Shuhe stayed with him.
She couldn't quite explain why she was so tolerant of him. Maybe it was neighborly familiarity, or the bond of fellow sufferers. Though they bickered, many things went unspoken.
"Daydreaming about what?" Wen Shaoyu was sharp. His gaze caught her just as her eyes wandered.
Ji Shuhe prevaricated, "I was thinking... maybe I should wish Granny Zheng an early New Year?"
"Xiao Miaomiao, if you don't want to chat with me, find a better excuse. What's this?" Wen Shaoyu seemed exasperated into laughter. He wasn't really angry, but his smile seemed genuine.
It's called politeness, Ji Shuhe thought.
"Hang up."