Stuffing toads into mouths at three

The group headed back the way they had come. Chi An and Fu Yanci led the way, with the Ren siblings close behind, while Chi Shuran and Song Wenjing brought up the rear.

Sneaking a glance at the two men in front, Chi Shuran lowered her voice and said to Song Wenjing beside her, "This is all your fault! All you ever do is laugh! Nine years of compulsory education, and 'ha' is the only word you learned to say!"

Not to be outdone by Chi Shuran's criticism, Song Wenjing glared back through gritted teeth and retorted, "It's not your brother getting messed with, is it?!"

"If you saw your brother getting messed with like that, wouldn't you laugh?"

Without realizing it, their arms pressed together, and they began a silent contest of strength.

"You look human, but you've got a dog's brain."

There was unmistakable disdain in Chi Shuran's eyes, her brows slightly furrowed and a barely perceptible sneer on her lips. "Seeing your brother getting messed with like that, shouldn't you feel embarrassed?"

"And you actually laughed at him. I can see you brothers aren't all that close."

Putting a little more strength into her arm, Chi Shuran gritted her teeth and rammed back.

Song Wenjing suddenly gave a smug smile, confidence flashing in his eyes. "A girl trying to compete with me? I could hold back thirty percent of my strength, and you still couldn't push me."

As he spoke, he secretly braced one foot against a stone behind him, using its support to add to his strength.

Chi Shuran sneered and replied fearlessly, "When I was stuffing toads into people's mouths at three, you were still crying for your mommy!"

[They're both such posers. One's secretly bracing himself against a stone, and the other's clenching her free hand into a fist. What are these two even competing over? No matter who wins, won't they both end up on the ground anyway?]

[We don't dare ask, and we don't dare say anything. What if Chi Shuran stuffs toads into our mouths?]

[That's pretty wild. Being in the beginner protection period sure is nice. You're not afraid of anything. No wonder Chi Shuran could pick up dog poop and bring it home thinking it was a rock. I bet she was planning to keep the toad as a pet too.]

[Aren't these two a little too focused? Have they really not noticed everyone else has stopped to stare at them?]

[A second of silence for Song Wenjing first. Our crown prince's hot-tempered personality is about to come out again.]

[Is nobody going to spare a thought for Ren Anwen and Ren Wuyang? They look like they're genuinely about to die.]

[This variety show has shown me the gulf between the different tiers of older brothers in this world: a sharp-tongued king of snark, a hot-tempered raging maniac, and a weakling who calls for his little sister whenever anything happens. Older brothers really are a diverse species.]

[Ren Wuyang: Boohoo-you've got such a filthy mouth! I'm telling my little sister!]

They had walked all the way to the task location, with the voices behind them growing louder and louder. Finally unable to stand it any longer, Fu Yanci turned around. The veins at his temples seemed to throb, and his hands clenched into fists inside his trouser pockets.

Once Ren Anwen and Ren Wuyang saw Fu Yanci's expression, they moved a large step aside in unison, exposing the two still bickering behind them.

No longer watching what the others were doing, Chi An walked beneath the eaves to one side and asked the staff sitting there for a chair. He sat down right beside Fu Yanci, then picked up the plastic bag on the suitcase and took out two apples, giving one each to Ren Wuyang and Ren Anwen.

"Don't mention it. I earned these through my hard work. Remember to let me witness some of your hard work next time."

"Oh, oh, okay. Thanks."

Accepting the apple with both hands, Ren Wuyang took a bite. While the others weren't paying attention, he secretly leaned toward Ren Anwen's ear and whispered, "Sis, Chi An talks on such a sophisticated level. You really can learn things here. You weren't lying to me."

Noticing the strangely quiet atmosphere around them, the two still locked in their contest looked up in unison-

In that second, just that one look was something they would never forget after seeing it-that feeling of wanting to die!

Song Wenjing said, "We're done for."

Their hearts lurched, and they quickly separated and stood properly. Seeing Chi An sitting nearby eating an apple, Chi Shuran was just about to head over when Song Wenjing grabbed her and yanked her back.

"Don't even think about running! You're trying to back out now? Dream on!"

Two people taking Fu Yanci's temper was definitely better than one. Besides, half of this had been Chi Shuran's fault in the first place!

Fu Yanci said, "Come here."

Shuddering, Song Wenjing silently stepped back and pulled Chi Shuran directly in front of him as a shield.

"He's calling you. Hurry up and go."

"Who is he? Do I know him? Wasn't he calling you just now?"

Looking at Song Wenjing with unfamiliarity and confusion, Chi Shuran pointed at Fu Yanci standing ahead and took two steps back. "Sorry, my intermittent face blindness is acting up. Do we know each other?"

"If we do, let's talk next time. That man seems to be calling you. I'll go find my brother first."

Song Wenjing said, "Fuck!"

"Since when did you have acting skills like these?!"

"Song. Wen. Jing." Fu Yanci enunciated his name one syllable at a time, his smile dangerous as he walked toward Song Wenjing, step by step.

"Bro!"

"Bro! Bro! Bro! That villa in the south district!"

"That restaurant in the north of the city!"

"Those sapphire cufflinks from the day before yesterday!"

"I'll expose something embarrassing about myself!"

By the end of his shouting, Song Wenjing had closed his eyes in despair, cursing Fu Yanci every way he could think of.

Fu Yanci said, "Talk."

"You're ruining my career!" Song Wenjing stubbornly tried to fight for another chance, protesting with his neck stiff.

Fu Yanci said, "Then by default-"

"Ah! No! Shut up! I'll talk!"

Hurriedly shouting to cut off whatever Fu Yanci was about to say, Song Wenjing drew a deep breath and looked around at the staff watching the show and the cameras pointed at him.

"Fu Yanci, you're done for!"

Rattling off those words, Song Wenjing faced the camera and raised his voice. "I!"

"...When I was little, I was using a computer with someone else and accidentally clicked on something I shouldn't have."

"Fuck." Gritting his teeth, Song Wenjing forced himself to continue.

"My mom asked why none of the people in it had clothes on, and I told her the internet was too slow and their clothes hadn't loaded yet!"

Finishing the rest in one breath, Song Wenjing immediately ran beneath the nearest tree and clutched his head with both hands. "Ah!!! I can't go on living!!!"

Chi Shuran said, "One more thing I can hold over Song Wenjing!"

"Enjoying the gossip about your own brother?"

Her gloating didn't last long. At the familiar voice beside her, Chi Shuran's upturned lips froze awkwardly in place, and she held her neck stiff, not daring to turn around.

"Do you think you can hold something over me now too?"

Holding his half-eaten apple, Chi An propped up his chin and looked at Chi Shuran, whose back was to him. His gaze lifted, meeting Fu Yanci's as the latter walked back toward him, and he gave a slow, unhurried yawn. "Add another year. She's yours for four years."