Escaping the Danger, the Younger Brothers' Dreams

Wen Shiming wanted to charge into the sea of fire. Even if he could not save the eldest brother today, being buried with him in the flames would be fine. Wen Shiming climbed up from the ground and, just as he was about to rush inside, a force kicked him back out.

Fu Yanzhi staggered out of the sea of fire. His hair was singed, curled, and charred by the smoke and flames, and a few strands still clinging to pale grey ash trembled gently with his hurried breathing. His face was covered in dark brown patterns formed by the intertwining of soot and tear stains, and only the skin in a circle around his eye sockets, washed clean by tears, revealed an unnatural, ghastly white.

The short-sleeved shirt on his body no longer showed its original color. Jagged holes were burned into the left lapel, with scorched threads hanging from the edges, and faint red burns were printed on his exposed lower arms. The gaps between his fingers were embedded with dust, and with every step he took, tiny sparks fell from his trouser legs like a string of dying stars.

Fu Yanzhi helped up Wen Shiming, who had been kicked to the ground: "You little fool, were you burned stupid? Didn't you see that the place is all fire? Running back in there like that—if you had run back, wouldn't my saving you have been for nothing?"

Wen Shiming felt Fu Yanzhi's hands, and after confirming that the person he touched was the eldest brother, Wen Shiming pulled Fu Yanzhi straight into his embrace. Weeping bitterly in Fu Yanzhi's arms, Wen Shiming cried: "Eldest Brother, I was so scared... so scared... scared of losing you. Eldest Brother, I just remembered everything now. What the sea of fire in my memories was, and who the figures in the flames were. They were... they were my mom and dad. They also died in the sea of fire to save me. I've already lost one family, and I don't want to lose you, Eldest Brother, again."

Wen Shiming sobbed continuously in Fu Yanzhi's arms. Fu Yanzhi placed a hand on Wen Shiming's back to comfort him: "Alright, Third Brother, stop crying. Isn't Eldest Brother right here, safe and sound? Rest assured, Third Brother, you won't lose Eldest Brother. Eldest Brother will accompany you forever, until the day you no longer need me."

Wen Shiming shook his head and said: "No, I will always need Eldest Brother, and Eldest Brother must accompany me forever."

Fu Yanzhi smiled and said: "Good, Eldest Brother will accompany you all forever."

Wen Shiming wiped his tears with his hand and said: "Eldest Brother, I've made up my mind. In the future, I want to be a police officer to protect you all well. Besides, if I'm a police officer, even if there comes a day when you don't accompany me anymore, I can still drag you back."

Fu Yanzhi patted Wen Shiming's head and said: "Good, our Third Brother is the best. From now on, the younger brothers can be handed over to you to protect."

Wen Shiming: "I'll protect the older brothers too."

Fu Yanzhi said with a smile: "Alright, protect the older brothers too. Let's go, Eldest Brother is taking you home."

Wen Shiming supported Fu Yanzhi as they staggered toward home. Suddenly, a black sedan stopped not far from them. The car door was gently pushed open by slender fingers, and a dazzling flash of red reached out first—it was waist-length curly hair that looked like burning, fragmented flames in the sunlight. She stepped out of the car in slender high heels, her skirt fluttering slightly with the movement, outlining the smooth yet tight curves between her waist and hips.

Xiao Yuelan walked straight toward Fu Yanzhi and Wen Shiming, and spoke: "Little Xiaozhi, how did you get hurt like this? Sister's heart aches just looking at you."

Fu Yanzhi raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Sister Xiao, how did you know I was here?"

Xiao Yuelan smiled with her eyes: "It was Xiaoqing who told me his younger brother was kidnapped and asked me to find him quickly. Seeing how anxious Xiaoqing was, I called my older brother and had him use the Xiao family's resources to search. Then my older brother told me you were here and told me to come pick you up."

After hearing Xiao Yuelan's words, Fu Yanzhi thought for a moment. He had still underestimated the Xiao family's strength. If he utilized the Xiao family well in the future, it might help his missions down the line.

A smile of just the right measure curled the corner of Fu Yanzhi's mouth, and he said sincerely: "Sister Xiao, thank you and the eldest Xiao brother for your help this time. If you have any matters in the future, just tell me. Anything I can help with, I certainly will."

Xiao Yuelan patted Fu Yanzhi's arm gently and scolded playfully: "Why are you being so polite with Sister? You're Xiaoqing's eldest brother, after all, so Sister naturally has to help you."

After speaking, Xiao Yuelan's gaze fell on Wen Shiming, and she asked with keen interest: "Is this the younger brother Xiaoqing said was abducted?"

Fu Yanzhi hurriedly introduced: "This is my third brother, Wen Shiming."

A trace of flash crossed Xiao Yuelan's eyes, and she immediately praised: "So young yet possessing such fine bearing, truly not bad."

Wen Shiming's face turned red, and he scratched his head somewhat shyly.

Subsequently, they got into the car together and drove in the direction of the hospital. Fu Yanzhi still had a large number of burns from the fire on his body, and Wen Shiming was also injured.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was somewhat quiet. Xiao Yuelan observed Wen Shiming from the rearview mirror from time to time, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry. Wen Shiming felt somewhat uneasy under her gaze and quietly leaned closer to Fu Yanzhi.

Arriving at the hospital, the doctors immediately examined and treated Fu Yanzhi and Wen Shiming. During the interval of waiting, Xiao Yuelan sat to one side and used her phone to notify Bo Qing that his eldest brother was fine, also informing him that Fu Yanzhi and Wen Shiming were at the hospital.

After the doctors examined Fu Yanzhi and Wen Shiming, they came out of the ward to inform them that the two were in no major trouble and only had some superficial skin injuries.

Before long, Bo Qing and Qiao Shuyan brought the younger brothers to the hospital. The moment Bo Qing saw Fu Yanzhi wrapped up like a mummy, his eye sockets instantly turned red, and he stepped forward quickly to grab his hand: "Eldest Brother, how did you get hurt like this?"

Qiao Shuyan also looked at Fu Yanzhi with concern: "Xiaozhi, what did the doctor just say?"

Looking at their expressions of concern for him, Fu Yanzhi smiled and said: "It's fine. These are all minor injuries. The doctor said that after resting for a couple of days, they'll be completely better—they're just superficial skin wounds."

Qiao Shuyan then looked at Xiao Yuelan, who was sitting on a chair. Walking over to Xiao Yuelan's side, Qiao Shuyan extended a hand and said: "Hello, my name is Qiao Shuyan. Thank you for saving my younger brother."

Xiao Yuelan also extended her hand and shook Qiao Shuyan's hand: "My name is Xiao Yuelan. No need to thank me, I was also saving my younger brother."

Qiao Shuyan said with surprise: "Are you of the Xiao family from Hua City?"

Xiao Yuelan placed a hand on her face and said: "Yes. Since you know my identity, you certainly aren't ordinary either. Let me think—in Luo City, the only ones surnamed Qiao belong to the Qiao Group. What relation do you have to the Qiao Group?"

Qiao Shuyan: "The current president of the Qiao Group. I didn't expect to run into the daughter of the Xiao family here; it's truly a pleasure."

Xiao Yuelan smiled: "I didn't expect my little Xiaozhi brother to know the president of the Qiao Group either."

With that, Xiao Yuelan stood up from the chair: "I still have matters today, so I won't accompany you any longer, little Xiaozhi brother. Take care of yourself, and you too, Little Qingqing—call Sister if you need anything in the future."

Seeing that Xiao Yuelan was leaving, everyone stood up to say goodbye to her. Fu Yanzhi asked Bo Qing to go in his stead to see Xiao Yuelan off. Not long after Bo Qing sent Xiao Yuelan away, Qiao Shuyan also had matters to attend to and returned to the company first. Only the three little ones remained in the room.

At this moment, Kong Fanxing looked at Wen Shiming on the neighboring bed, patted his shoulder, and said: "Third Brother, look at how Eldest Brother is wrapped up like a mummy. How come you didn't get wrapped up like a mummy?"

Wen Shiming raised his hand and flicked Kong Fanxing on the forehead: "You brat, you really hate to see your Third Brother do well."

Clutching his head, Kong Fanxing ran over to Fu Yanzhi's side at this time and said, pretending to cry: "Eldest Brother, Third Brother is bullying me! He hit my head. Eldest Brother, help me get revenge."

Fu Yanzhi smiled and patted Kong Fanxing's head: "Alright, Third Brother wasn't deliberately bullying you either. You only have yourself to blame for teasing him just now."

Wen Shiming snorted: "Who asked him to tease me? His mouth is asking for it, and now he's even running to Eldest Brother to snitch. When I get better, just watch me beat his bottom until it blossoms."

Hearing that his third brother was going to beat his bottom until it blossomed, Kong Fanxing ran straight into Kong Fanyue's arms and said aggrievedly: "Older Brother, you have to protect your younger brother in a moment. I don't want my bottom to blossom."

Before Kong Fanyue could say anything on this side, Li Huanhuan gloated and said: "Sixth Brother, I've never seen a bottom blossom before. When Third Brother beats you, can I go watch?"

Kong Fanxing hadn't expected even his only younger brother to mock him, and he said angrily: "Watch your big head! The moment I catch you, I'll beat your bottom until it blooms so you can watch your fill."

With that, Kong Fanxing chased Li Huanhuan running back and forth around the room. Just as Kong Fanxing was about to catch him—

At this moment, the ward door was gently pushed open, and a nurse walked in carrying medicine: "Come on, it's time to take your medicine."

Fu Yanzhi sat up, took the medicine and water, and was just about to bring them to his mouth.

Kong Fanxing suddenly said: "Eldest Brother, I'll test if it's bitter for you." As he spoke, he reached out to grab the medicine.

Fu Yanzhi quickly ducked away: "Go on, go on! You brat, how can medicine be tested at will?" Everyone was amused by Kong Fanxing's antics.

Watching this scene, Wen Shiming felt a warmth in his heart. The sea of fire he had just experienced seemed not so terrifying anymore. He silently vowed that in the future, he must become an outstanding police officer to protect Eldest Brother and the younger brothers well, and not let his family suffer harm again.

When everyone had quieted down, Fu Yanzhi said earnestly: "Everyone be careful recently. Don't stay by yourselves alone."

The younger brothers nodded one after another, and the warm atmosphere returned to the ward.

Not long after, Bo Qing finished seeing Xiao Yuelan and Qiao Shuyan off and returned. Seeing the thriving, lively scene inside the ward, Bo Qing walked in. Seeing that the second brother had returned, Fu Yanzhi told him to sit on a chair.

Fu Yanzhi looked at the younger brothers and asked: "What do you all want to do when you grow up? I heard Third Brother say he wants to be a police officer to protect us in the future."

Hearing that their third brother wanted to be a police officer in the future, Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan immediately crowded next to Wen Shiming and said: "Third Brother, when you become a police officer in the future, can you arrest whoever you want?"

Seeing Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan's burning gazes, Wen Shiming said: "How is that possible? Even when you become a police officer, you can't just arrest whoever you want. Third Brother can only arrest bad guys."

Kong Fanxing asked: "Then are the ones who bully us bad guys?"

Wen Shiming nodded and said: "Yes, anyone who bullies my younger brother is a bad guy. I'll shoot them dead directly."

Li Huanhuan teased and asked: "Then Third Brother, if I become a bad egg in the future, will you shoot me?"

Wen Shiming: "Of course I won't shoot you. My gun will never be aimed at my family. But Little Huanhuan, if you do bad things in the future, I will definitely beat you up fiercely, make you correct your mistakes, and then go apologize together with you."

Bo Qing laughed from the side: "Our Huanhuan is the most well-behaved and won't do bad things."

Li Huanhuan nodded frantically on the side; he certainly didn't want Third Brother to beat him up.

Fu Yanzhi looked at Bo Qing: "Second Brother, what do you want to do in the future?"

Bo Qing thought for a moment and said: "Eldest Brother, in the future I want to be a doctor like Mom and Dad. Eldest Brother, what are you going to do then?"

Fu Yanzhi replied: "I just want to take good care of my dear younger brothers here."

Fu Yanzhi looked at the twins again: "Then what do Xingxing and Yueyue want to do in the future?"

Kong Fanxing looked at Kong Fanyue, nudged him quietly, and said in a low voice: "Older Brother, what do you want to do in the future?"

Kong Fanyue thought for a moment, shook his head, and said: "I don't know what I want to do in the future."

Hearing that his older brother hadn't figured it out yet, Kong Fanxing sighed and said: "I haven't figured it out either. I was waiting to hear you say yours so I could say the same thing."

Seeing Little Xingxing's hesitation, Bo Qing comforted him: "It's fine if you haven't figured it out. You're still young and have plenty of time to think about it."

Fu Yanzhi joked from the side: "Our Little Xingxing and Little Yueyue are so good-looking, you can become big stars in the future and let more people like you."

Hearing Eldest Brother mention a big star, Kong Fanxing asked: "Eldest Brother, if I become a big star, will a lot of people like me?"

Fu Yanzhi nodded and said: "Of course. Big stars are very popular, after all."

Hearing this, Kong Fanxing jumped to Fu Yanzhi's side: "Then Eldest Brother, I want to be a big star in the future. I want everyone to like me."

Fu Yanzhi smiled and said: "Alright, Xingxing will be a big star in the future then. But being a star is very tiring; you have to learn acting. Can you persist through that?"

Kong Fanxing nodded and said: "I can persist, Eldest Brother."

Fu Yanzhi: "Then once Eldest Brother gets better, Eldest Brother will sign you up for an acting class, how about that?"

Kong Fanxing hugged Fu Yanzhi's neck: "Thank you, Eldest Brother."

Fu Yanzhi was bumped on his wound by Kong Fanxing and winced in pain, and Bo Qing immediately pulled Kong Fanxing away: "Little Xingxing, Eldest Brother still has injuries. You have to be careful, oh."

Touching his head, Kong Fanxing said apologetically: "I was too happy just now and forgot Eldest Brother is injured. Sorry, Eldest Brother."

After recovering for a moment, Fu Yanzhi said: "It's fine, Xingxing, you didn't mean it either. Then does Little Yueyue want to be a star?"

Kong Fanxing shook his head—he didn't want to be any kind of star, nor did he know what he liked.

Bo Qing looked at Li Huanhuan, who had been silent the whole time, and asked: "Then what does Huanhuan want to do in the future?"

Li Huanhuan thought for a moment, touched his own head, and said: "I haven't figured it out either, Second Brother."

Fu Yanzhi said: "It's fine, you can think about it slowly in the future; there's no rush. No matter what you all do in the future, Eldest Brother supports you. Third Brother, once you get better, I'll sign you up for a martial arts class so you don't get abducted and run off with again."

Hearing Eldest Brother call his name, Wen Shiming said: "No, Eldest Brother, they gave me drugs and I passed out before I could even fight back."

Fu Yanzhi said: "That's still because your skills aren't up to par. Look at Eldest Brother's martial prowess, how awesom—"

Before he finished speaking, Fu Yanzhi realized that he seemed to have let a slip of the tongue escape. The original host didn't seem to have possessed this kind of martial prowess before.

When he heard Fu Yanzhi mention his martial prowess, Wen Shiming suddenly remembered: since when had Eldest Brother become so formidable at fighting? Back there with the human traffickers, he hadn't been this strong yet.

Just as Wen Shiming was about to ask Eldest Brother, he saw Bo Qing give him a look, so Wen Shiming stopped asking.

Fu Yanzhi was unaware of what had just happened. While he was still thinking of what kind of excuse to use to gloss over the matter, Bo Qing spoke up: "Eldest Brother must have had his reasons for not displaying his martial prowess before. The younger brothers shouldn't ask."

Bo Qing glanced at the time; it was already eight o'clock. He opened his phone's delivery platform to order food for the younger brothers.

Bo Qing asked: "Is there anything you want to eat? I'll order it on the phone."

Hearing that there was food, Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan immediately said: "Second Brother, we want to eat the bread and meat you ordered last time."

While Fu Yanzhi was still wondering what bread and meat were, he heard Bo Qing's rejecting voice: "No. You already ate a meal of Kenjiji last week, and you can't eat it again."

Fu Yanzhi laughed from the side: "So bread and meat are hamburgers! Second Brother, order it. Eldest Brother wants to eat some too."

Hearing that Eldest Brother was helping them speak, Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan immediately crowded next to Bo Qing, each hugging one of his legs, and said: "Second Brother, just order Kenjiji! Eldest Brother has already agreed. Please, good Second Brother."

Bo Qing glanced at the two little ones on his legs and said: "I can order it, but the two of you aren't allowed to eat any for the rest of the month after finishing this today. Also, Eldest Brother and Third Brother, neither of you can eat any today."

Fu Yanzhi/Wen Shiming: "Why can't I eat?"

Bo Qing looked at them: "You ask why? Look at the two of your injuries—can you eat fried food? Drink some porridge today instead."

Fu Yanzhi/Wen Shiming: ╮(￣▽￣"")╭

Hearing that they were allowed to eat, Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan bounced straight over to Wen Shiming's side and laughed: "Hahaha, Third Brother, you can't eat any today."

Wen Shiming was amusedly angered by the two little ones: "Hmph, I don't like to eat it anyway. Those are things for kids to eat; I'm already an adult."

Kong Fanxing raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Then Eldest Brother just said he wanted to eat it too. Are you saying Eldest Brother is a kid as well?"

Wen Shiming was left speechless by Kong Fanxing's retort, and Fu Yanzhi, whose name had been called, blushed: "Eldest Brother won't eat today either; you guys go ahead."

Bo Qing picked up Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan one by one in each hand and set them down on the chairs: "Alright, be quiet now. Once you finish eating in a moment, I'll take you home. You have classes tomorrow, you know."

After being scolded by the Second Brother, Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan had no choice but to quietly wait for the arrival of the Kenjiji.

Before long, the food was delivered. The entire room was filled with the fragrance of fried chicken, while Fu Yanzhi and Wen Shiming drank seafood porridge in bed, and the three little ones and Bo Qing gnawed on fried chicken to the side.

Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan were left with grease flowing all over their mouths. After eating, Bo Qing threw out the trash and took the three little ones back to the villa. Without Kong Fanxing and Li Huanhuan, the room instantly quieted down, and Fu Yanzhi and Wen Shiming drifted off to dreamland not long after.