Chapter 1019: What It Means To Be a Brother
“In that case…” Ye Shuyun hesitated. “Do you mind children snacks?”
“Of course not,” said Lei Qingyi, waving his hand. He was so hungry he wouldn’t mind eating leftovers from the night before, not to mention children snacks.
“Okay then,” said Ye Shuyun, turning to the kitchen. Soon, she came back with a baby bottle in hand.
She set it down before Lei Qingyi.
“Here. Xunxun fell asleep before drinking her milk, so you can have it.”
The veins on Lei Qingyi’s forehead twitched.
He couldn’t picture himself drinking milk from a baby bottle.
How could you do this to me, Aunt?
In truth, Ye Shuyun had good intentions and simply didn’t think too much into it. The milk will go bad by the time Xunxun wakes up, and it would be a waste to throw it away, so why not give not it to Lei Qingyi? Milk was a snack too, no?
In the end, Lei Qingyi didn’t drink the milk. Disdainfully, he returned the bottle to the kitchen and endured his hunger while waiting for the next meal.
Xunxun was sound asleep, clutching a corner of the blanket with a small hand. Her soft hair had grown to a length where it could be braided.
For the first time, Lei Qingyi understood why his mother was so disdainful towards him.
It was because he had a son! And the naughty boy who was so often spanked would eventually grow up to become an oaf. How could that compare to a pretty, adorable, and thoughtful girl? Little Xunxun was capable of melting the heart of anyone who carried her.
And imagine how things would be when she gets a little older! A pretty little girl in a skirt and a dainty pair of leather boots, clutching tightly onto her father’s hand. How cute would that be!
No wonder everyone in the Lu Family doted on Little Xunxun despite having two boys.
And who could blame them for loving such a pretty child?
“Thank goodness that you are alright,” he placed his large hand on Xunxun’s head. His hand was almost twice the size of her head. “If you weren’t, your Dad might really lose his mind.”
He sighed and stood up. The noodles should be ready soon, if his estimations were correct.
The door shut gently. Xunxun rubbed the soft blanket with her small face.
“Mama…” she muttered softly before dozing off again.
On the other bed, Lu Qi rubbed his eyes and sat up. Then, he climbed off his crib and stumbled towards Xunxun. When he reached his destination, he began patting her shoulders gently.
Lu Yi chanced upon the scene as he stepped into the room. He was surprised to see Lu Qi lulling his little sister to sleep.
Lu Yi stooped down and rubbed Lu Qi’s head. He was a small child, only a few minutes older than Lu Qi and Xunxun, yet he had already learned to take care of his siblings.
“Good. That’s how a brother should be.”
“Papa,” said Lu Qi, reaching for Lu Yi’s hand. His hand was so small he could only grab one of his father’s fingers.
“Mhm? What is it?” asked Lu Yi, bringing Lu Qi to his lap.
All of the Lu kids didn’t like talking, especially Lu Qi. Xunxun was another matter, since she didn’t know how to talk, but Lu Qi knew how to speak basic words. According to Ye Shuyun, Lu Qi resembled Lu Yi the most in terms of personality.
In comparison, Lu Guang was less reticent, and also the most active out of the three.
“Papa, Mama…”
Lu Qi squeezed his hand. “Mama, come back.”
“Papa knows,” said Lu Yi, carrying Lu Qi into his arms and caressing his shoulders. “Trust Papa. Mama will surely come back, because she’s the one that loves and misses you the most. You have my word on that. You are the oldest one here, so you have to take care of your younger brother and sister before Mama comes back, alright?”
“Mhm,” Lu Qi nodded eagerly. His working memory wasn’t very developed at the moment, but he knew he was the eldest and had to take care of his younger siblings. This belief of his would accompany him in his early years, and turn into a conviction later on, so much so that Lu Guang and Xunxun would be more afraid of him as compared to their father or grandfather.
He was very protective, and more high-handed and merciless than his father. Any enemies that fell into his hands would be a shadow of their former self by the time he was done with them.
Of course, Lu Qi only turned out to be like this under the painstaking education of Lu Yi. Like a staked tree, Lu Qi wasn’t even given the chance to veer into the wrong path.
As the eldest son of the Lu Family, he was given the burden of responsibility at birth. At his age, he could not have comprehended the enormity of that burden, and how it would affect his entire life—be it childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
“But you wouldn’t have to worry about that now,” Lu Yi rubbed his head. “What I need you to do now is sleep properly and grow bigger. Understood?”
“Understood,” nodded Lu Qi enthusiastically. He stood up, crawled back into his crib, and covered himself with the blanket with independence beyond his age. Lu Yi sat down beside his daughter and examined her pretty visage. She was looking more and more like her mother. Luo Lin had suggested Lu Yi to groom her into a child star and start taking on commercials, but Lu Yi thought otherwise. He wanted Xunxun to decide her own childhood.
She could play if she wanted to, or study if it pleases her. In short, she could do anything she wants.
It was too early to determine whether Xunxun would walk down the same path as his mother. It was all up to her.
Ever since Xunxun almost got abducted, Ye Shuyun dared not bring them out again. Even when she did, she made sure they never left her sight.
All three of them were precious to her, and she couldn’t live with one less.
She would keep all three of them at home, and away from danger, if she could. That being said, the children eventually had to go out, where they can bask in the sun and relax in the wind and improve their immunity.
Even though the children were well-behaved and wouldn’t raise a ruckus when locked up, they weren’t as lively as before. Recently, Lu Qi and Lu Guang had picked up Xunxun’s habit of standing beside the window.