Helan Zong commented, "He's completely different from his uncle and aunt."
When he had gone to pick up Lu Shuo, that couple, besides praising Lu Shuo, had also described all the hardships of taking care of him, and had also praised their own son, as if hoping he would take the whole family away.
Helan Zong couldn't be bothered to waste words with them. Seeing that they were indeed struggling, he gave them a banknote.
At the time, he had worried that Lu Shuo might be dazzled by the capital's splendor and lose his integrity—after all, tales of upstarts getting above themselves were common. If that day came, he would have been in a dilemma, not knowing what to do with the son of his benefactor.
But fortunately, up until now, Lu Shuo's behavior had never caused him trouble.
Although he felt Lu Shuo was a bit too humble—children could be more straightforward, there was no need to be so exaggerated—if Lu Shuo himself didn't mind, then let it be.
"I've never heard Third Brother call Second Brother 'older brother' much either," Helan Zhen said blandly. "You two, who don't observe propriety, can actually pay attention to such trivial matters. How strange."
"Who knows if he's really the older one!" Helan Rong slapped the table. "What if we were misidentified at birth? What if I came out first!"
Helan Chang sneered coldly: "I heard you cried more often than I did when you were little, driving Mom and Dad crazy. It should be hard to mistake that."
Helan Rong: "You're dreaming! I heard someone was still wetting the bed at eight years old!"
Helan Chang immediately tussled with Helan Rong.
Helan Zong rubbed his forehead, his head aching from the noise. "If you're going to fight, go outside."
Helan Chang and Helan Rong glared at each other angrily, then went out together.
Helan Zhen opened the window and looked out. "Mm, they're really still fighting."
He closed the window again to keep the cold wind out.
After a while, Zhang Yizhu said, "Call them back in. They'll catch cold."
Helan Zhen opened the window again, but the two who had been locked in combat were now nowhere to be seen.
"Where did they go now?" Helan Zhen said. "I'll go look for them."
Helan Zhen was sitting on the inside, making it inconvenient to get out. Lu Shuo quickly stood up and said, "I'll go."
It didn't matter who went. Helan Zhen nodded. "Alright, you go."
Helan Pei had just finished eating the pile of kernels in front of her and was feeling a bit full. Seeing Lu Shuo heading for the door, she blinked, then quickly left her seat and followed.
Zhang Yizhu: "Hey?"
Helan Zong: "Kids can't sit still. Let them play."
Lu Shuo opened the door, and the biting cold wind rushed in, waking him from the drowsy warmth of the pavilion.
He stepped over the threshold and turned to close the door, only to find Helan Pei following close behind. Startled, he said, "Fourth Miss? Are you coming to look for them with me?"
Helan Pei nodded, stepped over the threshold, and closed the pavilion door for Lu Shuo.
Today was New Year's Eve, so the servants were also given some time off. After finishing the family's New Year's Eve dinner, there was nothing urgent left to do. The corridor was empty; the servants had gathered in the side rooms, playing cards and chatting in small groups.
Lu Shuo looked around but didn't see Helan Chang or Helan Rong. He called out, "Second Young Master! Third Young Master!"
No answer.
Lu Shuo wondered. They weren't in this courtyard—had they gone out? But why?
Helan Pei stood beside him, also looking left and right.
They walked toward the ornamental screen gate, intending to check outside. But as soon as they passed through the gate, two dark figures suddenly sprang out from left and right, roaring and pouncing.
Caught off guard, Lu Shuo shuddered in fright. Beside him, Helan Pei was so startled she jumped, letting out a hoarse gasp. She grabbed Lu Shuo's arm and pushed him in front of her.
Lu Shuo: "..."
Lu Shuo's mouth twitched. "Second Young Master, Third Young Master."
"Ah... Pei'er is here too?" Helan Chang dropped his wild-man pose and straightened up, scratching his head. "I thought it was just you."
Lu Shuo: "...Aren't you two fighting anymore?"
Helan Rong clicked his tongue. "There's no one around to watch. What's the fun in just the two of us fighting? We were planning to hide and scare Big Brother, but then we heard it was you, so we thought scaring you would work too. If we'd known Pei'er was with you, we wouldn't have jumped out."
Helan Pei poked her head out from behind Lu Shuo, wrinkled her nose, and angrily shook her fists at her two brothers.
Lu Shuo: "...Madam sent me to call you back. It's cold outside; you'll catch cold."
"Oh, let's go back then," Helan Chang said.
He and Helan Rong pushed and shoved each other back into the courtyard, each blaming the other: one said scaring Pei'er was the other's fault, the other retorted that he was the one who chose Pei'er's side, so how was it his fault?
Lu Shuo let out a soft sigh and looked at Helan Pei: "Miss, are you all right?"
Helan Pei patted her chest and shook her head.
Then Lu Shuo saw her take a small ceramic whistle from her sachet, wipe it on her sleeve, and quickly run up to the brothers, putting it to her ear and blowing hard!
Fwee—!
A piercingly harsh whistle cut through the night. Helan Chang and Helan Rong yelped in pain, both clutching their heads in agony.
Only then did Helan Pei, satisfied, put away her whistle. Stepping past her two crouching brothers, who were digging at their ears, she skipped back into the house.
Lu Shuo hesitated for a moment, then stayed behind to help the two young masters up.
The three returned inside. Helan Zong looked at Helan Chang and Helan Rong, curious: "Where did you two go? I heard Pei'er blowing her whistle. Did she find you with that?"
Lu Shuo glanced at the wincing brothers and recounted what had happened.
After hearing it, Helan Zong rolled his eyes: "...Serves you right."
Helan Pei pressed her lips together and started giggling again.
Author's note:
None.