After Youyouâs return, their home finally got back some of its energy. This vitality was difficult to describe in words. At least Yun Shishi came to an end of a long bout of insomnia, and she could finally sleep peacefully at night.
At night, the boy was reading. He had a habit of reading, which Gong Fan never had.
Little Yichen sneaked into the room and saw that he was engrossed in his book. He didnât have the heart to disturb him. Instead, he moved a chair next to him and watched him quietly, his chin resting on his hand.
Out of the corner of his eye, Youyou saw him come in. He thought the boy was here to disturb his reading and pester him to play. However he was surprised to find him sitting quietly by his side without making any such request.
He put the book aside and looked at the boy in surprise. âWhat do you want?â
Little Yichen looked at him lazily with his chin still on his hand. âYou know what I envy most about you?â he said with jealousy.
âMmmm?â
The boy answered truthfully. âNo matter which personality, Gong Fan or you, you excel at learning. Why donât I have a talent for learning?â
Youyou smiled at that. âNo matter which personality, we have clever brains. I quite envy you too, actually.â
âOh?â When Little Yichen heard that Youyou was actually envious of him, he asked eagerly, âWhat do you envy about me?â
âI envy you for your stupidity.â
Little Yichen looked bewildered.
Huh?
......
???
Stupidity?
The boy said matter-of-factly, âYou know how it is! Fools are blessed in a certain way. Those who are usually a little dumber donât think too much, and they donât worry too much. You see, the smarter they are, the more worries they have. Itâs the fools who are happy every day. I wonder what theyâre so happy about.â
Little Yichen said nothing.He thought Youyou was going to compliment him. But he had instead shot him in the knee.
So angry.
Little Yichen crossed his arms sulkily and glared at his brother. âIâm your brother. How is it that you have the heart to bully me?â
The boy raised his eyebrows but said nothing more. A sudden thought struck him, and he asked suspiciously, âDo you know the girl who shares my desk?â
âEh? Do you mean Qingâer?â
Youyou racked his brain, trying to recall her name, but he couldnât. âSeems like it.â
After his return, he went back to school without delay. He was now in the fourth grade. When he went to school today, for some reason, the girl sharing his desk seemed to treat him in a special way.
âShe seemed afraid of me at first, but⦠I saw there was something special in the way she looked at me. I canât describe it. It feels strange.â
âWell, Qingâer likes you.â Little Yichen smiled. âIn the past, when you werenât around, Gong Fan was famous as the Ice Prince in school.â
âPrince?â Youyou chuckled at that.
Were young girls these days so chuunibyou that they used the word âprinceâ to describe a boy?
Youyou was curious. âWhat was Gong Fan like in school?â
âHe⦠wasnât very talkative. Heâs cold to everyone but scores excellent grades. Heâs the kind of guy who can easily top the class.â
Little Yichen paused and continued, âThese days, there are a few reasons why a girl might like a boy: good looks, good grades, good family background.â