An'an, An'an!

"What? Cheating on exams? Skipping class? And insubordinate?"

In this private school called Mingde Hall, Jiang Wang was both shocked and furious.

He'd been uneasy since yesterday, when he heard that An'an's teacher wanted to meet with him as her guardian. It was too easy to connect it to Fang Zehou's threat.

If the Fang Family pulled some small tricks—like using their connections to get An'an expelled from her school—he really wouldn't have a good way to handle it.

He'd even prepared himself to hire a private tutor for An'an out of his own pocket.

But no matter how hard he racked his brain, he never imagined that Jiang An'an's teacher wanted to see him simply because Jiang An'an was misbehaving.

Jiang Wang felt a profound sense of absurdity.

In a school, teachers rapping knuckles, making students stand as punishment, or copying texts as penance—all of that was routine. It was unheard of for a teacher to be helpless against a student. Hadn't he, Jiang Wang, already been accepted into the inner sect of the Dao Academy, and was still being hounded by Iron-Faced Xiao to copy the Dao Canon?

How bad, how disobedient did a student have to be for the teacher to demand a meeting with the guardian?

"Take a look." The old teacher of Mingde Hall tossed over a stack of notebooks. "I punished her by making her copy the Thousand Character Classic. Look at what she copied."

Jiang Wang took them in both hands, glanced through, and was about to say there was no problem—the content was indeed the Thousand Character Classic. But he quickly realized that while the content was correct, the handwriting came in seven or eight different styles.

In other words, even the copying punishment the teacher assigned, Jiang An'an had cheated on.

Jiang Wang just wanted to cover his eyes. He couldn't bear to look. When Iron-Faced Xiao punished him by copying the Dao Canon a hundred times, he never thought to ask for help. He'd done it himself, word by word, staying up countless nights!

How did this Jiang An'an have such a lively imagination?

"She cheated on exams too?" Jiang Wang asked, his voice trembling.

"During a small test, she helped someone else write their answers, and I caught her red-handed." The old teacher's voice suddenly rose. "She didn't even pass her own exam! What right did she have!"

Jiang An'an stood nearby, her little head drooping, putting on a pitiful look as if she was ready to accept any scolding or beating. But those big eyes of hers kept sneaking peeks at Jiang Wang's expression. Whenever Jiang Wang looked over, she immediately averted her gaze.

There was also a little girl in the room, sprawled lazily in an armchair, playing with her fingers. She was probably the classmate who'd asked Jiang An'an to cheat for her... and her attitude was way too arrogant!

Her features were well-formed—skin like congealed fat, delicate brows and eyes. Though not yet fully grown, she was already clearly a beauty in the making. The only flaw was that little nose of hers, tilted way up, making her seem far too proud. The clothes and accessories she wore were all valuable, the spitting image of a little hellion.

Then again... could someone who relied on the failing Jiang An'an to cheat for her really be a good student who loved learning?

Jiang Wang told himself to calm down. His little sister was shy, quiet, well-behaved, and adorable—there had to be some misunderstanding... Misunderstanding, my foot! The evidence was ironclad!

Jiang Wang grabbed Jiang An'an and turned to walk out. "Come home with me!"

The so-called eldest brother is like a father, and if a child isn't taught, it's the father's fault. He decided today was the time to show some parental authority. How had that timid little girl from a few months ago turned into this in just a short time? He resolved to give her a good spanking—at least ten slaps on the hand. Getting beaten at school was too embarrassing, so he'd take her home to do it.

Hmm... three slaps would do. Three was pretty harsh too, enough to hurt for a long time.

Just then, that little hellion jumped up and waved, her voice crisp: "See you, An'an!"

Jiang An'an was being led out by Jiang Wang, one hand in his. She'd already sensed trouble and had been keeping her head down for a while. Now, hearing her friend's call, her other hand timidly rose to respond...

Jiang Wang yanked her arm, cutting off that farewell of friendship.

A few steps out of Mingde Hall, heading south along Black Tortoise Street, they passed by Cai's Mutton Shop.

When she caught the scent of mutton, Jiang An'an deliberately coughed. In the past, a single look from her, or even just a sniff, would make Jiang Wang stop and take her inside.

But today, Jiang Wang pulled her along, walking past without even a sidelong glance.

Jiang An'an understood then—her brother was really angry.

They turned left ahead, entering Greenwood Avenue. Greenwood Avenue led east to its end, where Flying Horse Lane lay. In Flying Horse Lane was their home.

"Bro..." Jiang An'an called out.

But Jiang Wang said nothing.

"Bro..." Jiang An'an gently shook Jiang Wang's hand.

Jiang Wang let out a snort through his nose to show his cold attitude.

Just as they reached the doorstep, Jiang An'an said eagerly, "Bro, let me open the door! I brought the key!"

Jiang Wang unlocked it himself, pushed open the courtyard, and let go of An'an's hand. His voice was deliberately cold: "Get inside."

He couldn't let Jiang An'an think she could just skate by on this. A four- or five-year-old child was at the age where character was slowly forming—he had to teach her a lesson.

Jiang An'an's little hand brushed against Jiang Wang's, and when she saw he truly had no intention of holding it again, she let it fall dejectedly.

But then, as if remembering something, she perked up and dashed ahead.

Jiang Wang followed her into the bedroom, only to see Jiang An'an heading straight for her little bed.

He was about to yell at her to stop.

Usually, whenever Jiang An'an didn't want to do something, she'd flop onto her bed and shout something like, "Oh, I'm so sleepy, I'm asleep," and easily get away with it.

But Jiang An'an suddenly crouched down, her small body slipping right under the bed.

Do you think hiding under the bed will keep me from hitting you? Jiang Wang almost laughed in anger. He grabbed a broom by the door and blocked the front of Jiang An'an's little bed.

But An'an quickly crawled out. She was clutching a small wooden box, her little face already dusty from scuffling under the bed.

She raised the old, small wooden box high with both hands and chirped, "This is for you!"

Jiang Wang leaned the broom against the cabinet beside him, took the small box with some skepticism, and asked, "What is this?"

He opened the small box and saw a pile of stacked silver, gold, pearls, and more—a dazzling array of treasures.

Jiang Wang's heart suddenly clenched. Holding the wooden box with one hand, his voice was unprecedentedly stern: "Where did this come from?"

Jiang An'an had never seen her brother make such an expression before. She panicked instantly, pouting and whimpering, "I... I earned it!"

"Earned it?" Jiang Wang's hands trembled. "Where did you earn it? How did you earn it?"

He flung the wooden box to the ground with a loud crash. "Speak!"

Golden light, silver light, the gleam of pearls—all scattered across the floor.

Jiang An'an was terrified. She burst into tears with a wail: "I helped a classmate with an exam..."

"Helping a classmate with an exam could earn this much money?"

Jiang An'an sobbed: "Qingzhi... Qingzhi is very rich. I helped her with the exam, and she gave me money."

Jiang Wang felt his heart, which had been hanging high in the air, slowly settle back down.

He began to regret it—he had been too fierce just now.

He crouched down, placing both hands on Jiang An'an's small shoulders. She was like a piece of too-delicate porcelain, as if it would shatter with the slightest neglect.

"When did the family ever need you to earn money?" He looked at her, reaching out to wipe her tears. "Your brother has money, lots of money, do you understand?"

Jiang An'an sobbed: "Didn't you borrow money from that pretty-faced guy to buy the house? Borrowed money has to be repaid..."

Jiang Wang suddenly remembered. That day he went to ask Zhao Rucheng for silver and a courtyard, he had carried An'an along with him.

Poor little An'an. Her little box, the heart she had carefully cupped and offered—how sad must she have been the moment it hit the ground?

He looked at her. Tears streamed down her grimy little face, washing out a foundation as pale as snow.

Jiang Wang's nose stung.

His heart suddenly became infinitely soft, yet shattered into infinitely tiny pieces.

(Thank you to fellow reader Xi Zichu for the helmsman support. Thank you to fellow readers Shen Ayao, Loser Azhan, and Yan Ergou for their tips. And... hurry up and give Jiang An'an your recommendation tickets!!!)