Chapter 16: Second Brother
Sunlight scattered through the thin clouds, blanketing the earth in a soft glow.
The mall’s huge, transparent floor-to-ceiling windows let in some of the sun’s warmth, bringing a cozy, pleasant feeling to the people inside.
In the children’s clothing store, Nuonuo was dragging the little dinosaur’s thick tail, playing chase with his brother around in circles. Fei Luo played along, pretending not to see him, as the two of them spun around the assistant’s legs.
The assistant thought to himself that he’d only been talking to the shop assistant for a moment, and these two little rascals were already using his leg as a pillar to spin around. He had no choice but to crouch down and place a finger on Nuonuo’s little forehead.
Silly little Nuonuo was still giggling and trying to walk forward, completely unaware that he was just running in place, his little legs kicking with all their might.
Fei Luo turned to see his brother, paused for a moment, and then slowly caught his brother’s short tail.
“Brother caught me!”
Nuonuo giggled, turned his head, and threw himself into his brother’s arms with a plop.
The assistant sighed and rubbed his forehead. Seeing the shop assistant approaching with some clothes, he looked down at Fei Luo. “Little Luo, you should go try on some clothes too, see if they fit.”
This time, the clothes the shop assistant brought over were all very normal styles, without so many fancy things. Fei Luo had no choice but to nod, taking the clothes and preparing to go into the fitting room.
Nuonuo, the little sticky bun, naturally toddled after him. But just as he was about to enter, Fei Luo, not wanting his little brother to see him undressed, blocked him at the door, the tips of his ears turning red.
Nuonuo stood outside the door in a daze, seemingly not having realized yet that he had been shut out.
The assistant knew that a child Fei Luo’s age already had a sense of shame. He rubbed Nuonuo’s little head to comfort him. “Brother is changing clothes. How about Nuonuo helps uncle guard the door?”
The moment Nuonuo heard he was going to help his brother, he nodded with great effort. “Okay, ya!”
And so, little door god Nuonuo puffed out his little chest, his bright, dark eyes wide, and stood guard at the door with the assistant, one on each side. He even felt quite proud of himself.
Standing at the door and watching the people come and go, the little door god felt he didn’t have enough eyes to see everything.
Of course, in the eyes of others, Nuonuo in his little dinosaur costume was also an adorable sight. Looking at the soft and fluffy Nuonuo, many people couldn’t help but smile. Some even grabbed their companions’ hands, whispering about how many years they’d be sentenced for kidnapping a cub.
“So cute!”
“I want to squish him—I wonder what color burlap sack the little cub would prefer.”
“Pink, right? A little cub should have a pink, tender, and cute color!”
Nuonuo looked at these people, a hint of confusion in his eyes. These adults are so strange, Nuonuo thought, tilting his head.
While seriously fulfilling his duty, Nuonuo kicked his little feet, crouched down with his face in his hands, and watched for a while. Suddenly, he spotted a youth surrounded by a crowd.
The youth had short blond hair, and his fair skin was adorned with two crescent-moon-shaped eyes. His face seemed to have been meticulously carved by God, as beautiful and dazzling as a blooming flower. Perhaps the impact was too great, but many people who saw the youth let out a short gasp and moved to the side.
“Fei Jing! Ahh, this is my lucky day! I can’t believe I’m seeing Fei Jing!”
“He’s so much more handsome in person than on TV. His looks are just out of this world!”
“That’s it, I’m a fan now!”
The pedestrians’ quiet chatter didn’t affect Fei Jing. The staff around him dutifully blocked the fans, protecting him as he walked past.
When Nuonuo saw the handsome blond youth, his little eyes instantly lit up!
It’s Second Brother!
Before, when Nuonuo was bored in the transport pod, he would take out the photos of his family that 006 had given him and study them seriously. His memory wasn’t good, so he had to look at them many, many times to remember what his papa and brothers looked like. And among them, the one Nuonuo remembered most clearly was his second brother!
For no other reason than that his second brother was too beautiful. His features were exquisite and stunning; almost everyone who saw him was amazed.
Appearance was Fei Jing’s greatest weapon in the entertainment industry. From the moment he debuted, he rose to the top. In just one short year, he had become a star popular throughout Yunzhou and Huazhou. The number of followers on Fei Jing’s Weibo was now approaching nine digits, with a particularly large number of “face fans” and die-hard fans.
And this year, Fei Jing was only sixteen. His slightly youthful face had not yet fully matured into the devastatingly handsome appearance he would have in the future.
The quietly-online 006 looked at Fei Jing and silently sighed. Beauty can truly become a weapon, especially in the hands of someone like Fei Jing.
Still in the shop, Nuonuo saw his second brother getting farther and farther away and couldn’t help but feel anxious. He stood on his tiptoes, wanting to call out to him, but there were too many fans crowding around, almost completely blocking his brother’s figure.
Nuonuo didn’t quite understand what a “star” was. Seeing so many people surrounding his brother, he thought something had happened to him and immediately clenched his little fists nervously.
Nuonuo reached out his little hand, wanting to point out his second brother to the assistant uncle, but the assistant was on his phone, frantically dealing with some work, and didn’t notice Nuonuo at all.
Looking at his gradually disappearing brother, Nuonuo quickly dragged his tail and ran after him.
Panting, he ran to the edge of the crowd. Being so short, Nuonuo was completely blocked, making it even harder to see his second brother. Nuonuo jumped a couple of times, like a bouncing little meatball, and anxiously called out for his brother.
The security guards in front were protecting Fei Jing. A girl lost her balance and took two steps back, causing a chain reaction that made the people on the outer layer all lean back.
Just as Nuonuo was about to be pushed out, a pair of hands picked him up. “Why did you run here all by yourself? It’s so dangerous.”
The girl with the wavy hair smiled, looking down at Nuonuo.
Nuonuo saw the woman’s face, and his little body couldn’t help but stiffen. Because he had just seen her at the candy shop entrance, Nuonuo still had a very strong impression of this woman who had glared at him fiercely. Although he didn’t know why she had suddenly become so gentle, Nuonuo still struggled, kicking his little legs, wanting to get down from her arms.
“Wet go of me, ya!” Nuonuo flapped with all his might.
Dan Ran almost couldn’t hold the struggling Nuonuo. She cursed in her heart, took a deep breath, and finally managed to maintain the gentle smile on her face. “Don’t be anxious. How about I take you to find your brother?”
Nuonuo didn’t believe her at all. Although he was small, his perception of emotions was very keen. He instinctively felt that there was something strange about this woman.
006, now online, saw that Nuonuo had been caught and was so anxious it almost released its energy to save him. But 006 had too little energy and didn’t dare to use it recklessly unless it was a critical moment, so it could only fret in secret.
Dan Ran used all her strength to barely hold onto Nuonuo. She looked up at the circle of people surrounding them, bit her lip, and then bumped into someone, letting out a cry as she fell to the ground.
The crowd in front indeed became more chaotic. “Stop pushing, someone fell!”
“Quick, there seems to be a child too, help them up!”
The noise attracted the attention of the program’s crew. Fei Jing, who was still on a live broadcast, glanced back and stopped along with the main group.
[What happened? The scene looks so chaotic.]
[It seems someone got knocked over, not sure what’s going on.]
[I’m so done, the program crew is useless, they don’t even know how to protect our Jingjing! What if something happens!]
Many fans were cursing so harshly that they were muted. Other netizens said to quickly send someone to check, in case someone was really injured.
The program crew quickly sent staff to check the situation, while the director turned to appease Fei Jing. Everyone in the industry knew that Fei Jing’s temper was not good. The words “noble and spoiled” were practically tailor-made for him.
Sure enough, Fei Jing crossed his arms, and although there was a smile on his lips, the look he gave the director was very cold. “What happened?”
The director was almost dazed by Fei Jing’s beauty for a moment, but then he saw his eyes and immediately sobered up. “It seems someone fell, but it shouldn’t be serious. Why don’t you rest for a bit? You must be tired after walking for so long. Should I get you a chair?”
Fei Jing completely ignored the director’s fawning and let out a soft scoff.
Seeing this, Fei Jing’s manager knew that the young master was getting impatient. He quickly handed him a bottle of rose nectar water. “Little Jing, have something to drink to rehydrate.”
Because it was his favorite drink lately, Fei Jing reluctantly took a sip, giving them enough face to wait in place for a while. The manager and the director both breathed a sigh of relief. It really wasn’t easy to placate this young master’s temper.
The commotion behind them quickly subsided. Just as the director was about to have everyone resume filming, the staff member ran over, his expression a little strange.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Ke? Did something happen?”
Since it was a live broadcast, the director was afraid that mishandling the situation would lower the audience’s favorability, so he stepped forward and asked with concern.
The staff member scratched his head, glanced at Fei Jing, and then spoke amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd. “Director, the child over there says he’s Brother Fei Jing’s younger brother.”
The director let out an “ah” and turned his head, voicing the audience’s question. “Little Jing, you have a younger brother?”
Fei Jing also frowned. Not knowing what he was thinking, he smiled again and nodded lightly. “I do have a younger brother. I’ll go take a look.”
With that, Fei Jing pushed through the crowd and walked out.
The cameraman followed Fei Jing, and the netizens online also started discussing excitedly.
[Fei Jing’s younger brother! Oh my god, could he be a little beauty too?]
[A big beauty and a little beauty, swoon—I can’t get the older brother, so the younger brother should be my turn, right?]
[Heh, maybe he’s really ugly. Otherwise, why would Fei Jing hide him so well?]
Almost no information or photos of Fei Jing’s family could be found online. Many anti-fans often latched onto this point to attack him, saying his family was poor and ugly and couldn’t be seen in public.
Fei Jing’s fans were naturally furious when they saw the anti-fans pop up again. They rolled up their sleeves and fought a three-hundred-round battle with the anti-fans in the comments, resulting in both sides getting banned.
Meanwhile, Fei Jing followed the path cleared by his bodyguards and walked over to Dan Ran, who had just gotten up from her fall.
The moment Dan Ran saw Fei Jing, her face flushed hot. It took her a long while to force a shy smile, and she lowered her head to touch Nuonuo’s little dinosaur hat. “Don’t be scared. Your older brother is here.”
Her gentle tone made it easy for the people around to have a good impression of her, thinking she was a kind girl.
When Nuonuo saw Dan Ran touching his head, he bared his teeth at her fiercely. “Baddie!”
Bad person, you made Nuonuo fall!
Nuonuo clenched his little fists and took a few steps back from her.
But after just two steps, Nuonuo’s dinosaur tail bumped into something. Only then did Nuonuo tilt his little face up and look back.
His eyes met the blond youth’s. Nuonuo’s little mouth opened wide, and then he happily shouted, “Brother!”
Turning his little body, Nuonuo happily lunged at his second brother’s legs.
Fei Jing looked at the little one who had appeared, his superior eyebrows raising slightly. This is the child Father brought back?
Fei Jing had been filming out of town and had only returned to Yuncheng this morning for a last-minute program. However, he had heard from his father’s assistant that he had a new younger brother. He just didn’t expect to meet him so unexpectedly. Fei Jing thought for a moment and reached out to pick up the little one.
Although Fei Jing was only in his teens, he was already 1.8 meters tall. Holding such a small child was almost effortless. What’s more, this little one seemed particularly light. He looked chubby, but he didn’t weigh much at all.
Being picked up by his second brother, Nuonuo clutched Fei Jing’s clothes insecurely, leaned against his chest, his eyes moist. “Brother, & people, ya!”
So many people are surrounding Second Brother. Nuonuo was afraid something would happen to him, so he ran over quickly.
Unfortunately, Fei Jing didn’t understand at all. He just blinked his beautiful eyes and said, “Oh? Nuonuo, what are you doing here? Is no one with you?”
Fei Jing didn’t think his father would let Nuonuo out alone. After all, on the phone before, his father had seemed to care quite a bit about this child.
Nuonuo was small, and his speech was unclear. Fei Jing couldn’t figure out what had happened for a long time.
Seeing her chance, Dan Ran spoke up softly from the side. “Nuonuo ran over to find his brother, but he was knocked over because there were too many people.”
She was very clever not to mention that she had protected Nuonuo. After all, there were so many people at the scene who had seen Nuonuo in her arms; she didn’t need to take credit for it.
Sure enough, a very enthusiastic young man nearby spoke up with a smile. “It was this girl who helped your brother. Otherwise, the child would have been stepped on.”
The live chat was filled with Fei Jing’s fans. Seeing this, they all spammed the screen, thanking Dan Ran on Fei Jing’s behalf.
Dan Ran tucked her hair behind her ear and whispered that it was nothing.
A dark glint flashed in Fei Jing’s eyes as he looked at Dan Ran. “Is that so?”
The youth’s voice was as soothing and beautiful as a violin, with a touch of a siren’s ethereal quality that could make one instantly fall for it. At least, Dan Ran’s face turned even redder. She waved her hands and gave a shy smile. “Nuonuo is very cute. Besides, it was really nothing. Of course, I had to help when I saw it.”
The smile on Fei Jing’s lips did not fade. He turned his head to look at Nuonuo’s clean, clear eyes and asked softly, “Nuonuo, did this big sister help you?”
Dan Ran didn’t seem to expect Fei Jing to ask a two-year-old child. The smile on her face almost faltered. She spoke up before Nuonuo could. “It all happened so suddenly just now. I might have held him a bit too tightly. I don’t know if I hurt the little one.”
This was said very cleverly, implying that the child might not be able to distinguish between good and bad, and effectively clearing herself of any blame.
Nuonuo, however, pointed at the big sister and shouted, “Baddie, made Nuonuo faw!”
Just now, Nuonuo had been standing perfectly fine. That person had come up and held him as they both fell to the ground. Although it didn’t hurt, Nuonuo was still a little dazed. Nuonuo couldn’t understand very complicated things. He only felt that Dan Ran, who had glared at him and made him fall, was a big baddie!
A look of apology appeared on Dan Ran’s face. “I’m sorry, Nuonuo. I didn’t do it on purpose. Big sister was really trying to help you just now.”
The director next to them also rubbed his head, thinking it was probably just too chaotic just now and the child didn’t understand what had happened. “Hey, then after the program ends, we can thank this young lady properly.”
Fei Jing completely ignored the director, let out a soft scoff, and his gaze on Dan Ran grew even colder.
Dan Ran met Fei Jing’s gaze, which was as cold as if it contained crushed ice. The romantic and beautiful encounter she had been fantasizing about shattered in an instant. She didn’t know which step had gone wrong to arouse Fei Jing’s suspicion. Glancing around, Dan Ran confirmed that this was a blind spot for the cameras and finally managed to calm her slightly panicked heart.
“I won’t disturb you any longer. You’re in the middle of a live broadcast, right? Don’t let me delay your work.”
The director, hearing this, slapped his thigh, thinking this girl was quite considerate! “Right, right, since everyone is fine, let’s hurry up and resume filming.”
The director had gone through a lot of trouble to get Fei Jing. If this young master decided to quit now, he would suffer a huge loss!
Fei Jing’s gaze grew even colder. He glanced at the potted flowers placed not far away and gave a thin smile. “Why did you make my brother fall?”
Dan Ran followed Fei Jing’s gaze and saw the potted flower. Remembering his ability, her body instantly stiffened.
For this live broadcast, the program crew had specially placed many of his favorite thorny flowers in the corners of the mall. Others might not know, but Dan Ran, who was familiar with the plot, knew that this was Fei Jing’s signature flower. It was as if it were fused into his very bones and blood, able to become his eyes, his arms, and even a tool for killing.
So, the moment Fei Jing stood in front of her, he had already known everything. But he hadn’t said anything, just watched quietly, watching her like a clown, comically performing this pantomime.
The fear that Dan Ran had been deliberately ignoring finally seemed to surface, slowly creeping into her heart.
