Another New Older Brother? - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Disdained Cub

Traffic in City B had been terrible for a decade, with no sign of ever improving.

It wasn’t even four o’clock, yet the city roads were already water-tight with congestion. The flow of cars looked like an exhausted dragon, crawling slowly along. Amidst the gridlock, a pure black Ducati V4 streaked through the gaps like a bolt of lightning. The low roar of its engine made pedestrians turn their heads, their gasps rising and falling in succession.

With a sharp screech of tires, the bike came to a steady halt in front of a detached villa in the East District.

Wen Jue removed his helmet, casually tousling the hairstyle his stylist had meticulously crafted that morning. His dark, silver-studded leather jacket was draped loosely over his shoulders. He tossed his keys into the air—a graceful arc, which were deftly caught by a quick-eyed servant behind him.

Wen Jue stepped through the front door. The massive living room was currently silent. He scanned the area and frowned.

“Where is everyone? Where did they go?” His voice was laced with irritability. He impatiently fished his phone out of his back pocket and dialed the housekeeper, Old Tian.

A ringtone suddenly echoed through the empty hall.

“What is Uncle Tian doing, leaving his phone here again?” Wen Jue muttered, rounding the sofa to grab the device.

His gaze landed on the sofa, and his voice cut off abruptly. A look of astonishment flashed across his handsome face.

On the sofa, a child barely over three years old was curled into a ball. His two small hands were splayed above his head, his bottom was slightly poked up, and his face was flushed red like a sleeping piglet. His breathing was steady and soft.

As if sensing movement, the child’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. He slowly opened his eyes. His dazed dark pupils darted around before locking onto Wen Jue’s stunned gaze.

Sunlight poured through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, making the child’s skin look almost translucent. His eyes were large and round, and paired with his messy, post-nap curls, he looked like a porcelain doll, exquisite and beautiful.

Anyone who saw such a cute child wouldn’t be able to resist picking him up for a hug.

Except for Wen Jue.

Wen Jue had already been traumatized into PTSD by a kid this morning. Seeing this strange little fellow now, alarm bells rang in his head.

“Whose kid are you? Why are you sleeping on my sofa?”

Youyou fuzzily raised his hands, rubbed his eyes hard, and shook his head, finally waking up. He stared blankly up at the newcomer.

Wow, this handsome ‘big bwother’ with the two little fangs is so good-looking!

Wait, he looks familiar.

Ah! I remember! It’s Little Brother! Mama showed me his picture today!

The little chubby boy, who had been waiting alone for too long, saw his eyes light up instantly. He couldn’t wait to kick his short legs and roll off the sofa. He opened his arms toward the older boy, his voice soft, waxy, and sweet enough to melt a heart: “Little Bwother, hug!”

Wen Jue: “…”

Wen Jue, who prided himself on hating children most, looked at this kid smiling with two little dimples and silently retracted the half-step he had instinctively moved forward.

He felt annoyed inwardly but maintained his cool, silent facade, staring directly at Jiang Youyou: “I’m not your ‘Little Brother.’ Don’t shout nonsense.”

A flash of confusion crossed Youyou’s eyes. After staring at Wen Jue several times, he matched him to the person in the photo. He balled his fists, his voice crisp and determined: “You are, you are my Little Bwother.”

“I’m your younger brother! Don’t you recognize the baby?!”

The child’s righteous indignation confused Wen Jue so much he started to doubt himself. He scrutinized the little guy; the more he looked, the more familiar he seemed.

“Are you that…” Wen Jue frowned, searching his memory.

Youyou blinked at him desperately, secretly anticipating: Yes, it’s the baby! Little Brother, I’m your younger brother, Little Pomelo!

Wen Jue looked at the child a few more times and then had an epiphany. “Oh, I remember. You’re that meme-boy, Jiang Youyou, right? I’ve even used your stickers.”

Disappointment was practically written on Youyou’s face. He pouted aggrievedly, turned around, and faced his bottom toward Wen Jue.

Stupid Little Brother. How can you not know the baby?

“Hey, why are you at my house?”

Could his manager, Sister Xin, have sent him for a shoot? Impossible; Sister Xin was always thorough and would have briefed him beforehand. Besides, even for a shoot, he shouldn’t be sent directly to his home.

The child’s voice was muffled: “Mama sent me here. Mama said the baby will live here from now on. But the baby doesn’t want to live here.”

Wen Jue froze. He turned the child around and examined his features inch by inch. The more he looked, the more things felt wrong. A thought surfaced in his mind—first shock, then fury. Forcing his emotions down, he stared strangely at the child’s curly crown, his tone testing: “You… what is Bai Lihui to you?”

Bai Lihui was his uncle’s name; Youyou knew this. Youyou tilted his head and answered honestly: “He is my family.”

Wen Jue’s face darkened instantly.

The signature curly hair, and he looked so much like his father. Family? What other kind of “family” could it be! This was the old man’s illegitimate son from outside!

“Eh? Bwother, why is your face so black?” Youyou watched his brother’s “face-changing” with curiosity. It was magical; he wanted to learn how to do it.

Wen Jue stared at him coldly: “Not just my face, my hands are ‘black’ too.”

Before he finished speaking, he grabbed Youyou by the collar and hoisted him into the air. Caught off guard, the child shrieked in terror, his crying instantly echoing through the living room.

Old Tian, the housekeeper, walked in carrying milk. Seeing this, his face turned pale with fright, and he shouted: “Third Young Master, put the Little Master down immediately!”

Wen Jue turned to Old Tian in disbelief, feeling an unprecedented sense of absurdity. “Little Master” wasn’t him? This little brat had already been accepted by Uncle Tian, the person who usually favored him most?

Old Tian didn’t bother explaining; he rushed to snatch the child from Wen Jue’s hands, carefully checking every part of Youyou’s body: “Little Master, are you alright? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Youyou was clearly terrified. He clung tightly to Old Tian’s arm, his body shaking, unable to speak.

Irritated by the sobbing, Wen Jue barked: “Stop crying.”

“Third Young Master, don’t be so fierce. The child is still small.”

“An illegitimate son brazenly shows up at our door, and I’m supposed to welcome him with a smile?!” Wen Jue’s veins throbbed on his forehead, his voice rising uncontrollably.

“What nonsense are you talking about? This child is your aunt’s son, your cousin, Jiang You.”

The speaker was a middle-aged man in his fifties with a square face and an aura of authority. Behind him stood a tall, slender young man. He was wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal-gray suit, buttoned strictly to the top. His features were deep-set and very handsome.

Bai Lihui gave his youngest son a displeased look before moving his gaze to the child in Old Tian’s arms. When his eyes met the child’s face, he was momentarily dazed. The child looked exactly like his sister, Bai Xi.

As he observed Jiang Youyou, Youyou also tilted his head, looking back with curiosity. Because he was so focused, a held-back tear escaped from the corner of his eye and rolled down his cheek.

Bai Lihui’s heart softened. He used his thumb to wipe the tear away and smiled gently: “Youyou, hello.”

Youyou looked up at the uncle he was meeting for the first time and answered obediently, “Uncle, hello to you too.”

He turned his head to the “unbelievably handsome” older brother, shyly pursing his lips and showing small dimples as he said loudly: “Big Bwother!”

Mama had shown him the photos; the most handsome one was Big Brother. He recognized him.

Bai Wenjin cast a downward glance at him. There wasn’t much movement on his habitually cold face as he let out a brief “Mhm.”

Youyou realized one handsome brother from the photos was missing. He scratched his head: “Uncle, where is Second Bwother?”

“Your Second Brother is still at the research institute; he can’t leave for now. You’ll meet him later.”

Youyou blinked in confusion, nodding as if he understood: “Oh, Second Bwother is a ‘research student’. Second Bwother is so amazing.”

The previously solemn atmosphere was instantly broken by the child’s remark. Bai Lihui looked at this strange little nephew, and a long-lost sense of paternal affection bubbled up. He affectionately patted the round little head: “So clever and quirky, just like your mother.”

Youyou puffed out his chest proudly. He liked it when people said he was like his mother.

Bai Lihui lightly pressed the small head and said to Old Tian: “Take Youyou to wash up and change his clothes first.”

Old Tian leaned down to take Youyou’s small hand and said warmly: “Little Master, shall we go take a tour of your room?”

Youyou looked at his handsome Big Brother and kind Uncle with some reluctance. He wanted to be with them. But he was also a bit afraid of the “stinky” Little Brother, his face was so black and scary.

“Okay.” Youyou opened his arms. “Hug.”

Old Tian chuckled and picked him up. Resting on Old Tian’s shoulder, Youyou watched the living room drift further away. Suddenly, a fierce argument broke out back in the hall.

Youyou looked away, hugged Old Tian’s neck, and asked softly: “Uncle Tian, why doesn’t Little Bwother like Youyou?”

Old Tian paused. “Third Young Master doesn’t dislike you.”

“He does. Little Bwother’s eyes said he doesn’t like me.”

Old Tian stroked the child’s head, comforting him: “Third Young Master just isn’t prepared. Little Master is so good; how could anyone not like you?”

“Look, the Master and the Eldest Young Master welcomed you very warmly.”

It’s not like that.

Youyou hung his head, his long eyelashes trembling, his eyes clouded with mist. Although he was only three, his sixth sense had been very accurate since birth. He could clearly feel whether others liked him or not. If he had to describe it with colors, Uncle Tian was a pink color, Uncle was light yellow, Big Brother was light gray, and Third Brother was dark gray.

Third Brother didn’t like him at all. Actually, Big Brother didn’t really like him either.

Leaving his close parents and being sent alone to his uncle’s house whom he had never met, the child had been anxious for a long time. The relatives he had been looking forward to meeting didn’t welcome him. Youyou couldn’t hold back his emotions any longer; tears rolled down like broken pearls.

“Little Master, why are you crying again? On the way here, didn’t you promise Miss Bai Xi not to drop ‘golden beans’ easily?”

Hearing his mother’s name, Youyou quickly sniffled, trying hard to swallow the rising tears. He nervously grabbed Old Tian’s sleeve and explained stutteringly: “Youyou didn’t cry… it’s… it’s raining outside, and it got in my eyes. Uncle Tian, don’t tell Mama, okay? Youyou is very good and very obedient.”

Mama said if he was good, she and his “Superman Papa” would come to take him home on his sixth birthday. It was okay if Uncle and the others didn’t like him; he was a very strong baby. He would wait for Mama at Uncle’s house.

Old Tian felt a pang of heartache for this three-year-old child acting so strong. “When Miss calls me, I’ll tell her the Little Master is the best, most obedient child in the world.”

With that promise, Youyou felt a bit better. He couldn’t help but ask: “Uncle, when will Mama call you? Is it tomorrow?”

Old Tian gently rubbed the soft, curly hair: “After you finish touring your room, Miss will call.”

Youyou was stunned by the news: “Ah! Uncle Tian, don’t lie to Youyou! Will Mama really, really call? Just in a little bit?”

“Yes, she’ll call in about half an hour.”

Youyou didn’t have much concept of time, but he knew Mama was calling soon. He couldn’t help but open his arms and start running. Soon, they arrived at the door of the new room the Bai family had prepared for him.

Old Tian put his hand on the doorknob and looked at Youyou seriously: “Little Master, are you ready?”

Youyou was made nervous by his expression. He tightened his little face and nodded hard: “I’m ready!”

Old Tian pushed the door open.

“Here comes the surprise.”

Standing outside the door, Youyou took just one look inside and was completely dazed.