"Then do you know," Qian Renxue began again, her voice frighteningly calm, "whether my grandfather asked for my opinion before deciding he wanted to take you as his son?"
"I don't think so." Jiang Lan thought it over.
"Then do you think I'd agree?"
Jiang Lan tilted his head and studied her for a moment before answering honestly. "Whether you agree doesn't matter. Family seniority is an objective fact."
Qian Renxue smiled. She walked to the side wall of the study, took a decorative sword from its rack, and drew it. The polished blade reflected her gentle smile.
Jiang Lan backed up half a step, his little hand groping behind him for the door handle.
"Dear niece, calm down."
"Call me that again. I dare you."
"Sister Qian Renxue." Jiang Lan changed course at once, plastering on an ingratiating smile.
Qian Renxue came toward him with the sword.
Jiang Lan turned and ran, his short legs pumping furiously. But the study was only so big. When he reached the door, he found Doro blocking it. The little white fluffball was braced against the door, looking at him with an innocent face.
"Doro, move!"
"Doro." Doro shook her head.
That roughly translated to, Call her sister first.
Jiang Lan panicked and looked back at Qian Renxue. She was only three steps away, the sword's tip glinting coldly in the sunlight.
"Sister! Sister Qian Renxue! Pretty sister! The prettiest sister in the whole world!" Jiang Lan rattled them off in one breath, his voice cracking.
Qian Renxue stopped.
She looked down at the child in a penguin suit huddled by the door, desperation written all over his face. Then she extended the sword another half inch and waved its tip in front of his nose.
"Are you ever calling me 'dear niece'