Shen Yu felt wronged at being unable to squeeze into their circle. Remembering the homework waiting for him, even the food in his mouth lost its flavor.
Trying hard to suck in his belly, Shen Yu pouted and slurped a bowl of fish soup, doing his utmost to ignore his father's worried expression as he hesitated over what to say.
Though the roast meat smelled wonderfully rich, Shen Yu swallowed his last two mouthfuls of rice in bitter misery, dusted off his backside, and trudged dejectedly to the study to do his homework.
Shen Jin set down his bowl and chopsticks after him. Thinking of his bonus older brother's interactions with Ji Cიცen, he followed uneasily. "I'm done eating."
Left behind, Shen Jun continued drinking his soup quietly. Unlike Shen Yu's whirlwind eating or Shen Jin's brisk efficiency, Shen Jun did everything at an unhurried pace, taking after Lin Yujing's placid temperament.
Shen Changgeng looked at Shen Jun with fatherly affection, the ache in his heart finally easing considerably. At least one of the three children was normal.
"Little Jun, don't push yourself too hard at school either." Shen Changgeng looked kindly at his scholarly-looking son, afraid the boy might go to extremes. "Sometimes you need to relax too."
"Why didn't you say that when I was in school?" Shen Xingshuo sat with one leg crossed over the other. Seeing his father "encourage learning" like this, his eyes nearly popped out in surprise.
"Were you anything like him?" Just looking at his second son gave Shen Changgeng a headache. "Even three people couldn't keep you in place. Watching you do homework every day was like guarding a prisoner."
Knowing he was in the wrong, Shen Xingshuo promptly shut his mouth. His younger brother was right there-he had his pride too,