Obeying is your only choice

Perhaps her sincere call had reached him.

A head peeked furtively out from behind Tang Xianqi's mother, Li Qixian.

He had a tiny face with delicate features and large eyes, his dark pupils bright and glistening as he looked at her curiously.

Tang Tang: ???

Who are you, pretty boy?

This is my socially anxious shut-in of a third brother, the one who practically wanted to cover himself in a sack from head to toe every day?

This, this...

Fraud!

Tang Tang let out a startled "Wah!" and instinctively leaned her little body backward.

This is definitely fraud!

Where's your bowl cut?

Where's your social anxiety...?

Though you do look pretty shy right now.

But this isn't my fat shut-in of a third brother!

Tang Tang shut down.

She knew children were different from adults, but this difference was far too big!

The delicate, beautiful little boy before her and the fat shut-in who always huddled in a corner in her memories were practically two different people!

She couldn't accept it.

Those who heard her thoughts: "..."

So even you get flustered sometimes.

"A-Cheng."

Li Qixian rested a hand on her son's head and gently stroked it. "Don't keep staring at your little sister like that. You've scared her."

The four who knew the truth: "..."

Tang Tang was indeed startled.

But not because he had frightened her.

Tang Xiancheng looked at Tang Tang again, silently nodded, then retreated behind his mother.

"Oh, you."

Li Qixian helplessly pulled him back out. "This is your first time meeting Tang Tang. As her big brother, you should say hello first."

Tang Xiancheng looked at her, then at his brother, who had turned to look at him. He pressed his lips together, lifted his eyes to Tang Tang, and spoke timidly.

"H-hello, Tang Tang."

As soon as he finished, Tang Xiancheng hid behind his mother again.

Tang Tang finally found something familiar about him and waved her chubby little hand.

"Oh, hello."

Your looks are worlds apart, but at least your personality shows some familiar signs.

So shy and socially anxious. No wonder you wouldn't even dare make eye contact when you grew up.

I've lived so many lives. What kind of strange person haven't I seen? Your appearance and personality are just a little different from when you're grown up. No need to hold it against a little kid.

But my third brother really is pretty. No wonder he always dressed like a beggar when he grew up.

With that face, he wouldn't even need a haircut or a makeover. Just take off those enormous glasses, and someone would definitely throw a sack over him and carry him off the moment he walked down the street.

He's just too pretty.

Even after they entered the living room and sat down, Tang Tang never took her eyes off Tang Xiancheng.

Tang Dongcheng was a handsome uncle, and Li Qixian was a renowned beauty. How could their children possibly be anything but good-looking?

If I had what he has, I'd become a huge star.

With a powerful family backing him and people looking out for him, no one in the entertainment industry would dare bully him. That would be far more promising than being a shut-in.

Tang Xiancheng squirmed under Tang Tang's gaze. Hearing her relentless praise made him want to crawl into a hole.

He kept hiding behind the adults, but his little sister's gaze was far too relentless. No matter where he hid or how hard he pretended not to notice, her eyes remained glued to him.

He couldn't ignore it even if he wanted to.

So scary.

"Tang Tang really likes you."

Tang Xianqi brought Tang Tang closer in his arms. "A-Cheng, would you like to hold your little sister?"

Hearing that, Tang Tang actually stretched her short little arms toward Tang Xiancheng.

Hold me, pretty third brother.

She loved cuddling with good-looking people most of all.

Tang Xiancheng practically plastered himself against his mother, shaking his head like a rattle.

"N-no."

Ever since he had entered his uncle's house, he had somehow been able to hear his little sister talking.

Even when her mouth didn't move at all, she kept talking and talking.

This little sister is so strange.

I'm strange, too.

Before they came, his brother had told him that Tang Tang was different from other little brothers and sisters. She sometimes behaved oddly, but he shouldn't be afraid.

He had tried his best.

Even when he heard his little sister talking, he hadn't let it show.

But he really was scared.

Why was his brother still asking him to hold her?

Could his brother be trying to mess with him on purpose?

With Tang Xiancheng refusing, Tang Xianqi could only give up. "Tangtang just wants to play with you. Don't be afraid."

Tang Tang thought, Exactly.

What's wrong with holding me for a moment?

I'm a fragile little baby who's only just turned one month old. It's not like I can eat you!

Tang Xiancheng: "..."

You might not eat me.

But you really are scary.

Suppressing a laugh, Tang Xianqi gathered Tang Tang back into his arms. "Your third brother doesn't know any better. Your eldest brother will hold you."

Tang Tang thought, My eldest brother is the best! Cuddles for my eldest brother!

Fine, don't hold me, then. Do you have to be that scared?

It's not like just anyone gets to hold me, you know.

Look at my scumbag dad. I've never once asked him to hold me.

When a princess offers to let you hold her, obeying is your only choice. Hmph!

Tang Beichen: "..."

Exactly.

When a princess lets you hold her, you should be grateful!

Tang Xiancheng: "..."

My brother was right.

This little sister really is different from other little brothers and sisters.

She's not just strange.

She's so bossy, too!

The more Tang Tang thought about it, the more frustrated she became.

Ever since she was born, everyone who saw her had praised her for being cute and pretty, and everyone had fought for a chance to hold her.

Judging by their reactions, anyone who met her should like her, or at least feel fond of her.

Only this bowl-cut third brother avoided her like the plague!

And to think she had been so enthusiastic at first and showered him with compliments.

They have the same parents, so why is my eldest brother so sweet and caring, while my bowl-cut third brother is so shy?

Can the genetic differences between full brothers really be that big?

Could my eldest brother be so outstanding that he puts too much pressure on him?

Unable to figure it out, Tang Tang stared fixedly at Tang Xiancheng, determined to find the reason.

That shouldn't be it.

My eldest brother is outstanding, but he isn't the showy type. Besides, he's so thoughtful and caring. He wouldn't let something like that happen.

Bowl Cut and my eldest brother seem pretty close. Whenever my eldest brother encourages him to do something, he responds, so he should just be shy...

Could it be that after losing my eldest brother, he no longer had anyone encouraging him with such care and patience, and that's why, twenty-odd years later, he wouldn't even dare make eye contact?

If that was really the case, everything made sense.

The look in Tang Tang's eyes gradually grew sorrowful as she watched him.

Bowl Cut, if you keep being this hopeless, you'll really be letting down my eldest brother's hopes for you.

After all, my eldest brother doesn't have much time left with you.

Tang Xiancheng was dumbstruck.

What did she mean by that?