"Yeah."
The woman nodded. "You looked so fierce just now, I almost thought you were going to hit your little brother."
The woodcutter looked a little surprised.
"Did I really look that fierce?"
The woman nodded.
Yes.
That was exactly how fierce he looked.
The woodcutter raised a hand and rubbed his face.
"I wouldn't hit my little brother."
"Unless he really couldn't tell right from wrong..."
The woodcutter's expression shifted.
For example...
If his little brother broke the agreement between them, he might really have to hit him then.
Hopefully, he could knock some sense into his little brother.
The woman froze.
Then she shook her head.
"It won't come to that."
"I hope not."
The woodcutter didn't want it to come to that, either.
If it really did...
The woodcutter reached up and rubbed his temples.
He shook his head.
Don't overthink it.
For now, he would just take things one step at a time.
At least he had succeeded in taking the first step.
Hopefully...
His little brother would honor their agreement.
Four months from now, he would give him back a normal, well-adjusted little brother.
"He will."
The woman smiled.
"We have to believe in him."
"He was just overwhelmed by his failure for a while."
"Once this period passes..."
"He'll slowly return to normal."
"He might even regret how he's acting now."
"Mm."
The woodcutter smiled.
"You're right."
"My little brother is a smart man."
"He'll come around."
"It's just..."
The woman furrowed her brow slightly.
"Four months..."
"That doesn't leave him much time to study..."
She meant the time until the next exam.
"Yeah."
The woodcutter nodded.
There wasn't much time.
"But what if he fails again—"
Realizing what she'd said, the woman immediately