Chapter 97 Part 1

When Fu Si Heng returned holding Tao Zhi, Fu Zheng had already thrown two tantrums at the Tao family home.

The first round happened when he went to the fields and found no little animals. Father Tao and Mother Tao wouldn’t let him go back, so Fu Zheng got so mad that he rolled around in the dirt, got bitten by some bug, and wailed in pain.

Mother Tao coaxed him for a long time. With no other choice, she ended the fieldwork early and took Fu Zheng home.

But when they got back, there was no one at the house.

The bodyguards in black clothes and Young Master Fu were all gone. Even her Little Zhi was missing.

Mother Tao stood there stunned for a while before hurriedly asking the neighbors. They said Little Zhi had been carried away in a black car. Mother Tao was so scared her mind went blank; she nearly thought it was a child trafficking scam and rushed to find the village chief.

After hearing the story, the village chief reassured her not to worry and guaranteed it was definitely not a scam.

Mother Tao barely calmed down. Once she did, she convinced herself that traffickers wouldn’t leave her another kid behind. With heavy steps, she went back to coax Fu Zheng and make him some food.

Fu Zheng refused to eat and kept crying and demanding to go home, rolling around the house again.

The couple watched this scene, their headaches growing worse by the second.

They had never dealt with such a rowdy child before.

It really… turned them into brand-new parents.

With all that fussing, they wanted to give him anything just to make him quiet down.

But they didn’t dare.

Because Young Master Fu had specifically instructed them not to spoil Fu Zheng.

Luckily, Fu Zheng was young and cried himself out, soon falling asleep on the floor.

When he woke up, he complained of hunger but then rejected the food as disgusting and refused to eat.

The Tao parents were at a loss.

Aside from Fu Si Heng’s instructions, they truly didn’t have anything tasty at home.

They had even specially sliced some preserved pork that day, but the little young master still turned up his nose at it. He was hungry yet unwilling to eat.

Mother Tao sighed and could only coax him that they would buy something good tomorrow.

Fu Zheng didn’t want the flatbread; he wanted it now.

And so he starved for another two hours.

Finally, he agreed to eat a little. As Mother Tao fed him, she kept glancing at the door, relieved to finally see her obedient child return.

A car horn sounded from the courtyard outside. Mother Tao immediately stood up, not even minding Fu Zheng anymore, and hurried to the door.

Under the dim yellow light, she made out a figure. Looking closely, she saw it was Young Master Fu getting out of the car holding Tao Zhi. Her child was obediently nestled in the young master’s arms.

“Mommy!” Tao Zhi shouted joyfully when he saw his mother.

After calling out, he turned to Fu Si Heng.

He wanted to get down from Fu Si Heng but didn’t struggle. Instead, he hugged his neck and said nicely, “Brother, put me down. Mommy’s here.”

Heartless little thing— the moment he saw his mom, he wanted to leave.

Fu Si Heng huffed and bent down to set him on the ground.

The five-year-old little peach immediately ran to his mom and nuzzled into her arms.

Mother Tao’s worries from the afternoon finally settled.

Though the village chief had assured her that the Fu family young master wasn’t some trafficker, as a mother, having her perfectly good, obedient child suddenly taken away with no return was truly frightening.

It was hard not to worry.

Mother Tao half-squatted, stroked Tao Zhi’s hair, and asked, “Where did you go?”

“Brother took me to eat and play outside,” Tao Zhi said from his mother’s arms. He looked up at his father behind her, who wore the same worried expression but wasn’t good with words.

“Sorry about that.” Fu Si Heng realized his actions had caused trouble. “I saw there wasn’t much food at home, so I took him out to eat.”

They had also played outside for a bit, which was why it was so late now.

“I—”

Before he could finish, Fu Zheng came running out.

Fuming mad, Fu Zheng yelled at Fu Si Heng the moment he saw him: “Fu Si Heng! Why did you leave me here! I want to go home! I want to go home now!”

He charged straight outside, aiming for the car.

Father Tao reacted quickly and grabbed him.

Fu Zheng shrieked and demanded Father Tao let go.

Fu Si Heng: “.”

This brother—even one glance was too much.

His gaze naturally shifted back to Tao Zhi.

What a completely different kid from Fu Zheng.

Not only was he pretty and cute, his personality was impeccable.

Soft and sweet like cotton candy, and so thoughtful.

Fu Si Heng had never taken care of a child like this.

Sure enough, when Father Tao let go, Fu Zheng lunged at him, hugging his leg and hitting him.

“You bad guy, bad guy, bad guy… I’m telling Mom when we get back…”

Tao Zhi watched this, his brows furrowing in distress. He softly called out, “Brother.”

Fu Si Heng didn’t even glance at Fu Zheng. He casually picked him up by the collar and tossed him to the bodyguard nearby.

He looked at Tao Zhi. After hesitating a moment, Tao Zhi walked over to him.

Fu Si Heng bent down and picked him up again.

“Little Zhi…” Mother Tao was stunned.

This child was so well-behaved and easy to handle—miles better than Fu Zheng.

After spending an afternoon with him, Fu Si Heng realized what hellish days he had endured before.

Little milk bun versus little demon king.

Anyone knew which to pick.

“I want to go home!” Fu Zheng wailed from the side.

This time, Fu Si Heng glanced at him.

Shifting his gaze from the little bundle in front of him, he generously looked at his own brother.

After one afternoon, the little young master’s arms and legs were already covered in red marks.

Mosquito bites he had scratched open, all messy.

But Fu Si Heng felt no pity.

When he turned back, though, Tao Zhi’s gaze softened something inside him.

Those pretty black eyes held a hint of worry.

His fine brows were furrowed, flicking between Fu Zheng and Fu Si Heng. His little hands gripped Fu Si Heng’s clothes tighter.

Fu Si Heng had originally planned to drop him off and leave, but now he changed his mind.

Such an obedient child living with his brother for a week—wouldn’t he get bullied badly?

Fu Si Heng felt he needed to stay.

–

This decision left Father Tao and Mother Tao puzzled at first.

But on second thought, it made sense.

They were brothers, after all. No matter how much he wanted his brother to toughen up, he still cared deep down. It was reasonable not to trust strangers with him.

They agreed and gave up Tao Zhi’s room for the brothers. Tao Zhi slept with his parents.