Brotherhood at War (04)

“Nonsense. Our Yinyin is so adorable; how could anyone not like her? Tell me, who exactly is that Wang Zirui? Which family does he belong to? I’ll go have a word with him for you. And while I’m at it, I’ll see if he’s blind or not.” Cheng Yu spoke earnestly, with a serious tone.

Sijiu couldn’t hold back and let out a small laugh at his teasing, but the next moment, she glared at him and warned, “Don’t you dare speak ill of Zirui.”

Cheng Yu put on a hurt expression. “Wow~ So now I’m only second place in your heart? That’s so sad.”

“That’s nonsense. You’re clearly third.”

“Oh~ I know who’s first—that little Wang Zirui. But who’s second? Weren’t you and I the best in the world when we were little? You even said you’d be my bride when we grew up. Wow... I’m heartbroken. Not even first, not even second anymore?”

The girl’s cheeks flushed. “That was when I was a child, immature. Wh-what bride? You’re my brother, okay?”

“Well then…”

“Xiaoyu, what nonsense are you telling Yinyin now?”

The two turned their heads together and saw Cheng Ze entering with a tray.

Cheng Yu shrugged. “Second brother, be reasonable. How am I spouting nonsense?”

“Yinyin is still young; don’t fill her head with silly ideas,” Cheng Ze said, setting the tray down. He bent down and lifted Sijiu out of the covers as if pulling carrots from the ground, settling her by the bedside. He then helped her put on a coat, buttoning each button carefully.

Sijiu was slightly defiant. “I’m not little. I’ll be eighteen next month.”

“That’s still young. Besides, you said it yourself—you won’t be eighteen until next month. No early romances.”

Sijiu pouted and, when Cheng Ze looked down, made a funny face at Cheng Yu.

Cheng Ze crouched to put socks on her, then helped her into fluffy slippers. Holding her hand, he led her to the dressing mirror and began to comb her hair.

“Big brother is coming home tonight. How do you plan to explain to him about your fall down the stairs this morning?”

His movements were fluid and practiced—from dressing to combing hair—without causing Sijiu any discomfort.

In just a few strokes, he tied her hair into a bun. Bending down to meet her eye level, his hands resting on her shoulders, he looked at her through the mirror. “What if you hit your head and get even dumber?”

Sijiu looked back at him in the mirror, wearing the familiar pitiful, obedient expression she always used after getting into trouble.

“Second brother... Zege... can you help me? I don’t dare tell big brother.”

Her voice was soft and tender, a boundless display of coquettishness.

Previously, Cheng Ze hadn’t noticed, but now he realized her eyes were truly beautiful—like a shimmering lake sprinkled with starlight, pure and dazzling.

At the same moment, Sijiu was thinking, *This host looks so much like me.*

Even the two small brown moles beneath the outer corners of her eyes were identical.

Sijiu remembered that Cheng Qian had massaged exactly that spot.

Her appearance was only about sixty percent similar to hers originally, but with the soul breathed into these eyes, the similarity rose to eighty percent.

System: *I told you I carefully selected your host body.*

Hmph—still doubting it.

“You’re quite brave when you get into trouble,” Cheng Ze said with a half-amused scowl, tapping her head gently before pulling her up. “Go brush your teeth.”

“Will you promise me or not?” Sijiu was being lightly pushed toward the bathroom but twisted her head back, demanding an answer.

“Have I ever refused you?” Cheng Ze replied helplessly.

Those round eyes curved instantly into crescent moons filled with laughter.

“You’re the best, second brother,” she said happily, turning around to throw her arms tightly around his waist.

Cheng Ze was momentarily stunned, his eyes flickering before he placed his hand atop her head and ruffled her hair.

“It’s rare to be so well-behaved even when you’ve made a mistake. Looks like you realize the seriousness this time.”

Sijiu nuzzled his face. “I was wrong, second brother. I won’t cause you trouble anymore.”

Cheng Yu observed everything from start to finish, a sly smile curling his lips as his gaze flicked toward Cheng Ze.

But Cheng Ze didn’t look his way; instead, he said to Sijiu, “Done acting spoiled? Go brush your teeth quickly—the soup’s getting cold.”