Lu Xiaoxiao had managed to pull herself together and keep acting mainly because Lu Jiaoyue had already soothed the Tibetan mastiff.
The heroines of stories like this were usually just like Disney princesses, born with a natural affinity for animals. In Lu Jiaoyue's hands, that terrifying-looking dog became incredibly docile, lying obediently on the ground and wagging his tail.
She had dared to throw herself into Lu Xunli's arms because, at this point in the original story, this eldest brother was the member of the Lu Family closest to the original Lu Xiaoxiao.
After all, she was the little sister he had lived with for so many years, so Lu Xunli did have some affection for her. Besides, their considerable age gap meant he was mature enough not to hold prejudices against her like a brat such as Lu Yubai. He was reasonable whenever anything happened, too.
Seeing him frown, Lu Xiaoxiao doubled down on playing the victim. "Boohoo, Xunli, I feel like I can't breathe. My heart's about to jump out of my chest. I feel awful, boohoo."
Lu Xunli immediately grew anxious at her words. He reached out to steady Lu Xiaoxiao by the arm, and his disapproving gaze swung straight toward Lu Yubai.
He was just about to reprimand him when he suddenly heard Lu Xiaoxiao speak again.
[Ahem, sorry, Xunli, I'm lying. I'm fine. But holy shit, I really was scared half to death just now. How is Lu Yubai still such a little terror at his age?]
"...?"
Lu Xunli froze and looked down at Lu Xiaoxiao, only to find her still clutching his sleeve and crying. Her sobbing had never stopped; she didn't look as though she had spoken.
Lu Xiaoxiao waited a moment without hearing Lu Xunli say anything, then looked up at him pitifully and called again, "Xunli?"
Only then did Lu Xunli snap out of it. He said coldly to Lu Yubai, "Lu Yubai, I need an explanation."
[Yes! My big brother's got my back! You're the best, Xunli!]
When that second inner voice rang out, Lu Xunli deliberately glanced at Lu Xiaoxiao out of the corner of his eye. She still hadn't opened her mouth.
That confirmed it. For some unknown reason, he had suddenly gained the ability to hear his little sister's thoughts.
"X-Xunli, what are you doing home at this hour?" Lu Yubai scratched his head with an awkward smile. His earlier brazen tone became much more subdued. "I was just playing a joke on Lu Xiaoxiao. How was I supposed to know she'd get so scared...?"
As the eldest son of the Lu Family, Lu Xunli had already spent several years gaining experience alongside Lu Yuan at the Lu Company. Spending so much time with his father had led him to unconsciously pick up most of Lu Yuan's mannerisms. When his expression turned cold, he was quite intimidating.
Clearly unconvinced by Lu Yubai's explanation, his tone grew colder still. "Who in this family doesn't know Xiaoxiao is afraid of Lightning? It's only a joke if both people find it funny. Otherwise, it's offensive."
Lu Yubai hung his head. Knowing he was in the wrong, he hemmed and hawed without daring to argue, like a puppy with his tail tucked between his legs.
Satisfied, Lu Xiaoxiao gazed at Lu Xunli with stars in her eyes.
[Exactly! Look how reasonable our big brother is! Xunli, you have to teach him a proper lesson. This jerk doesn't just disrespect me-he bullies his classmates at school, too! He's awful!]
At that thought, both Lu Xunli and Lu Yubai froze.
Lu Yubai panicked. On the one hand, he wondered how Lu Xiaoxiao knew about what had happened at school. On the other, he felt wrongfully accused.
Surely something that minor didn't count as bullying! Besides... besides, the other guy had provoked him first!
At that thought, a protest slipped out before he could stop himself.
"Hey! Don't you..."
After just a few words, he suddenly realized he would expose his mind-reading ability if he continued, and hastily stopped himself.
Having superpowers was cool, sure, but what if his big brother thought he was crazy?
At that thought, Lu Yubai gritted his teeth and forced his words in another direction. "Y-you... don't act so pitiful, okay? Lightning didn't hurt you at all. I was watching!"
Lu Xiaoxiao raised her voice. "Who says he didn't? His paws practically landed on my face! It hurts so much. He must have broken the skin!"
As she spoke, she tugged at Lu Xunli's clothes, signaling for him to look at her neck.
Lu Xunli checked and found that a small patch of skin had indeed been scraped.
Lu Yubai immediately leaned over to look as well. When he saw the tiny scrape, which hadn't even bled and was almost invisible unless you looked closely, he was utterly speechless.
"You're blowing this way out of proportion! Any later and the wound would've healed already. How is this anything but an act?"
Rather than argue, Lu Xiaoxiao buried her head in Lu Xunli's chest and resumed her whimpering.
Tears were a schemer's best weapon. There was no need to win a war of words.
Besides, she trusted that Lu Xunli had plenty of strength and ways to deal with him.
Lu Yubai: "..."
Lu Xunli's expression was grim. After hearing Lu Xiaoxiao's thoughts, he knew perfectly well that she was fine. Still, her distress at being frightened by the dog was real, so he let her carry on.
What concerned him more now was the matter Lu Xiaoxiao had inadvertently revealed: Lu Yubai bullying his classmates.
In Lu Xunli's mind, although his younger brother was unruly, troublesome, and difficult to discipline, he was merely immature, not genuinely malicious.
He really didn't want to believe Lu Yubai would pick on the weak at school.
He had wanted to question him immediately, but he had only heard it unexpectedly through Lu Xiaoxiao's thoughts and had no actual evidence. After considering it, Lu Xunli held his tongue, deciding to investigate first and then speak to his brother in private.
Regardless, Lu Yubai was in the wrong today, and he needed a warning.
"Apologize to Xiaoxiao right now," Lu Xunli said. "If you can't control your pet and anything like this happens even one more time, I'll discuss giving Lightning away with Father. I mean it."
Lightning had lived with the Lu Family for many years. Lu Yubai had watched him grow up, and the two shared a deep bond.
Hearing his eldest brother's stern warning, Lu Yubai genuinely became a little frightened and immediately said to Lu Xiaoxiao, "I'm sorry."
Lu Xiaoxiao couldn't have cared less about his apology, but seeing Lu Yubai submit was rather satisfying, so she made a show of magnanimously forgiving him.
Of course, that was only on the surface.
Once she returned to her room, Lu Xiaoxiao immediately asked the system, "Can I exchange points for living things?"
The system grew a little wary. "What are you planning to do?"
Lu Xiaoxiao said, "Never mind that. Lu Yubai's scare tactics are way too lame. I'm going to give him an upgraded plus version and teach that kid there's always someone better out there."
The system: "..."
It couldn't understand how its host could still be so childish when her combined ages across two worlds made her old enough to be Lu Yubai's mother.
It felt like a squabble between kindergarteners: if you hit me once, I have to hit you back, and then the two of them would fight endlessly over who got the last hit.
But the system didn't dare try to dissuade her, afraid Lu Xiaoxiao would redirect her grudge toward it.
And so, that very night, Lu Yubai's screams rang throughout the Lu Family home.
When Lu Yuan and Song Zhilan, awakened by the noise, reached his room, they found Lu Yubai huddled in a corner, crying so hard that bubbles of snot rose from his nose. He screamed himself hoarse, insisting he had found a snake under his covers.
Everyone searched the room thoroughly for ages without finding any sign of a snake. They all reassured Lu Yubai that he had probably had a nightmare and become confused.
Lu Yubai insisted it hadn't been a dream and made a fuss, refusing to sleep alone.
In the end, the farce concluded with Lu Yuan giving Lu Yubai a beating.
Her work done, Lu Xiaoxiao slipped away, keeping her deeds and glory to herself.
Before you continue