"I want to read on my own and ask Eldest Brother when there's something I don't understand."
Shen Jun wasn't curious about the outside world. His early experiences had worn away his hopes for society, leaving him longing for a quiet, stable life at such a young age.
"That works too. Come to me whenever you need anything." Shen Xubai's eyes held a smile; he clearly supported all his younger brother's ideas.
"You're all still young. There's no rush to learn anything. Of course, you can tell me if you have something in mind. The Shen Family will always have your backs."
Shen Xubai patted his younger brothers' heads one by one, especially the silent Shen Jun and Shen Jin, afraid the two brothers might be bottling something up.
With his younger brother focused entirely on studying, Shen Yu, who had planned to take it easy, felt torn. If he slacked off even more than his younger brother, where would that leave his dignity as an older brother?
Out of the corner of his eye, Shen Jun caught Shen Yu scratching his head in frustration. The corners of his otherwise composed mouth couldn't help lifting again. "You don't have to keep me company."
"How could I do that!" Shen Yu lifted his head and refused with righteous conviction. "An older brother has to set an example."
Shen Xubai knew his lazy little brother all too well. At those words, he expertly said just what Shen Yu wanted to hear. "Little Jun needs a long time to recuperate, but you'll be fine in a couple of days. Decide once you've fully recovered."
With his eldest brother offering him a perfect way out, Shen Yu nodded and took it, quite naturally embarking on a life of taking it easy.
And so the three brothers' summer routine became: studying together in the morning, then Shen Jin practicing sanda in the afternoon, Shen Jun reading, and Shen Yu slacking off while wallowing in gloom.
Thinking of the Shen Family's tragic future, Shen Yu took a vicious bite of ice cream. A second later, the cold had him spinning and hopping on the spot.
"Owww~ Cold~ My teeth~"
He gulped down the ice cream that chilled him to the core. Having learned his lesson, Shen Yu licked it slowly, not forgetting to put his nearly rusty brain to work.
[Sigh, we've found my younger brother. I have to protect him properly.]
Shamelessly giving himself credit, Shen Yu counted on his fingers and planned what to do next.
[The problem is Second Brother. How do I get him to wise up a little?]
[Hehe, I'll tell Dad to kick Second Brother out.]
Imagining Second Shen pitifully waving a white flag, his usually arrogant face wearing a pleading expression, Shen Yu couldn't help chuckling aloud. His cocky laughter echoed through the living room, making it difficult even for Shen Jun to pretend he hadn't heard.
Shen Jin was startled as he came through the door, then cast a quiet look at his unearned older brother, who was acting crazy again.
When Shen Yu looked back at him, Shen Jin adjusted his frame of mind and put on an innocent smile.
"You're back, Little Jin? How was it? Was class fun? Did anyone bully you? Can you beat them?"
Shen Yu's mouth kept busy as he handed over some water, firing off a string of questions, his blinking, wide eyes full of curiosity.
"It's fine." Silently accepting the cup that was almost shoved into his nostrils, Shen Jin took a small sip before answering unhurriedly, "Everything's pretty good."
"You don't have to hide it from me." Shen Yu looked at Shen Jin with tender affection, his eyes full of distress. "I'll go with you tomorrow."
Seeing that Shen Jin was about to refuse, Shen Yu clenched his fists and declared forcefully, "Even if I get beaten up, I can draw away some of their fighting strength."
Shen Jin was speechless. Of course he wasn't afraid of getting hurt. He was only worried... his sanda classmates didn't have a very good opinion of him.
He struck ruthlessly, every move targeting a vulnerable spot.
Although that was what the teacher taught, Shen Jin's crisp, decisive movements still made his classmates keep their distance.
"There's really no need." Shen Jin looked at Shen Yu's frail little frame, and at this unearned older brother who still habitually stood on one foot despite having his stitches removed. In a rare moment of sincerity, he suggested, "You should study properly with my older brother."
Shen Yu pouted unhappily. He had no desire whatsoever to turn things around, become a top student, and get into a prestigious school. Besides, he wasn't a real elementary school student. Studying every day was so boring.
From as far away as the courtyard gate, Shen Xubai saw the two brothers blocking the doorway, one holding a cup and staring blankly, the other pouting aggrievedly. They looked harmonious and... ridiculous.
"Why aren't you going inside? Is there money in the doorway?" Shen Xubai, who had originally intended to move out, had returned to the old family home several days in a row, subconsciously wanting to look after his half-grown younger brothers.
"Nope." Only then did Shen Yu realize he was blocking his younger brother in the doorway. He scratched his head sheepishly, turned, and hopped back into the living room.
Shen Xubai was speechless. He exchanged a look with Shen Jin, who stood beside him holding the cup, then burst out laughing.
Having a silly little ray of sunshine at home really did liven up the atmosphere.
"Eldest Brother, Little Jin." Only after hearing sounds that didn't belong to Shen Yu did Shen Jun come out in his electric wheelchair, a faint smile on his lips.
"What about me?" The overlooked Shen Yu stared at Shen Jun, his bitter expression making him look as though he'd suffered a tremendous injustice. "Aren't you going to welcome me, Little Jun?"
"But you were already home." Shen Jun looked helpless, his voice unconsciously trailing upward.
After spending a few days together, Shen Jun had already figured out the boy's personality. Seeing this, he deftly exposed Shen Yu's little ploy.
"But we weren't together even if we were both home!"
Shen Yu pouted, looking ready to burst into tears at any second. Shen Jun immediately interrupted the boy's performance. "I was wrong. Let's do it again."
Silently steering his wheelchair back into his room, Shen Jun pushed open the door and pretended he had only just seen the three of them. "Everyone's back."
Shen Yu: That sounded way too half-hearted!
Looking at the gentle, elegant Shen Jun, Shen Yu kept feeling that something was off!
He had only wanted to hear Shen Jun call him his older brother, yet after all that, he hadn't gained a thing.
"All right, is Little Yu missing Second Brother?" Shen Xubai rubbed Shen Yu's not-so-clever head. Before even coming inside, he'd heard his youngest brother howling about throwing Second Brother out, but now he wasn't mentioning it at all.
"I guess." Reluctantly admitting it, Shen Yu propped his face in his hands and asked listlessly, "When is Second Brother coming back?"
He remembered that Shen Xingshuo had suffered a setback in the talent competition but had still debuted. He just didn't know how long the auditions would last.
"That depends on the show's schedule. Do you want to go see him?" Shen Xubai had already increased his investment before Second Brother left, so naturally he could get firsthand information.
Seeing Shen Yu looking worried, his face all scrunched up, Shen Xubai felt that if he didn't let his youngest brother go, the boy would probably keep everyone from having any peace.
"A little. Just a little." Shen Yu wasn't one to be coy, and with the Shen brothers indulging him, he admitted it quite naturally.
Beside him, Shen Jun's eyes showed a hint of envy. With such a kind, innocent, optimistic, and cheerful personality, no wonder everyone couldn't help treating him well.
"Then I'll send you over for a visit." Thinking that Shen Xingshuo could also hear his thoughts and would at least be able to avoid some trouble during the competition, Shen Xubai no longer hesitated.
"I made the additional investment in your name, so you're a little investor too, Little Yu."
"Really!" Shen Yu stared at his eldest brother in disbelief with his round eyes wide open. So everyone was this supportive of Second Brother's career.
"Yes." After all, Shen Yu was the key to solving the problem. Shen Xubai rubbed his youngest brother's head. "You're the boss now."
"Hehehe, then Second Brother has to get on my good side."
"Doesn't that make me Second Brother's financial backer?"