My Royal Stepbrother's Obsession - Chapter 6 - You Didn't Call Me That Last Night

“I was just curious.”

Wen Xingluo maintained her composure, “Or perhaps, does the Heir Apparent think that I had tampered with things in advance, and then deliberately saved Fourth Young Master Xie to win the favor of Grandmother and the Fourth Young Master? But I’m just a fourteen-year-old girl; I don’t have such deep scheming and cunning.”

Xie Guanlan asked playfully, “Don’t you?”

In the midst of the tense atmosphere, Xie Shian came running in with a plate of freshly made pastries. “Wen Xingluo, try the jujube paste cake from Grandmother’s courtyard! It’s better than anywhere else!”

Wen Xingluo took a deep breath, suppressing her annoyance towards Xie Guanlan.

She picked up a piece of jujube paste cake, “Thank you, Fourth Young Master.”

“Oh, come on!” Xie Shian scratched his head sheepishly, “Why do you call me Fourth Young Master? Just call me Fourth Brother! After my mother passed away, Father never remarried until he suddenly married your mother. I couldn’t accept it at first, so I disliked you as well. Now I know you’re nice, so I don’t dislike you anymore. I’m willing to be your brother!”

Under the candlelight, the boy’s eyes were bright, like a rebellious little dog being petted.

“Fourth Gege¹,” Wen Xingluo called out crisply.

Xie Shian had never been anyone’s brother before, and his ears turned slightly red as he earnestly responded, “Yes.”

Xie Guanlan chuckled lightly, leisurely putting down his book.

Only then did Xie Shian notice his presence.

He quickly offered the jujube paste cake, “Big Brother, would you like a piece too?”

“There are matters at the Yamen.”

Xie Guanlan took the cloak handed over by a maid and left Pinecrest Courtyard directly.

After he left, Xie Shian sneakily pulled Wen Xingluo aside, “Next month is Grandmother’s sixtieth birthday. What are you planning to give her?”

“Sixtieth birthday?”

“Yes! Father plans to organize a grand celebration. All the notable officials and wealthy merchants in the county will be there to celebrate.”

Wen Xingluo curled her fingers.

She didn’t have much cash on hand and couldn’t afford an expensive gift.

She could embroider a “Magpie Bringing Longevity” picture, but unfortunately, her embroidery skills weren’t up to par.

“Actually, I’m not well-off either,” Xie Shian said, troubled, “Father always withholds my monthly allowance, so the gift I buy will definitely not compare to those of my three brothers. Wen Xingluo, why don’t we pool our money to buy one together?”

Wen Xingluo thought for a moment, then nodded, “Alright.”

Since there was no need to attend the academy the next day, the two agreed to meet at the gate at the hour of Si to go to Jinli Street and pick out a gift together.

The next day.

Wen Xingluo and Xie Shian went to the most famous jewelry shop on Jinli Street.

Xie Shian picked up a hairpin and held it up to Wen Xingluo’s head, “This looks good on you.”

It was a pure silver hairpin, with two lifelike filigree butterflies on the pinhead, their wings fluttering.

Wen Xingluo had never seen such a unique silver hairpin before and curiously took it, “Let me see.”

“Wen Xingluo?”

A surprised voice suddenly called out.

Wen Yueyin walked over gracefully, with Wen Rulei following behind.

Wen Xingluo hadn’t expected to meet them here and greeted them politely yet distantly, “Sister, Third Brother.”

Third Brother?

Xie Shian perked up his ears, his gaze critically sweeping over Wen Rulei.

Wen Yueyin smiled gently, “Xingluo, I saw this butterfly silver hairpin first.”

Wen Rulei snatched the hairpin with annoyance, “Wen Xingluo, why do you always have to compete with your sister?! She saw this hairpin as soon as she entered the shop, and you just had to take it!”

Xie Shian laughed in anger.

He pulled Wen Xingluo behind him and snatched the hairpin back, “Who are you two? Daring to snatch something from my sister’s hand, do you have a death wish?!”

Wen Rulei asked discontentedly, “And who are you?!”

Only then did Wen Yueyin notice Xie Shian.

She was taken aback.

In her past life, none of the four young masters of the manor ever looked at her directly, let alone treated her as a sister.

But in this life, why was Xie Shian protecting Wen Xingluo?

Not only calling her sister but also accompanying her shopping!

“Who am I?!” Xie Shian’s eyes were rebellious, “Wen Xingluo, tell them who I am!”

Wen Xingluo said, “Third Brother, he is Xie Shian, the Fourth Young Master of the Prince of Zhenbei’s Manor.”

Although Xie Shian was the same age as Wen Rulei, he was half a head taller, exuding an imposing presence. With his hair tied with a jeweled purple gold crown, wearing an eight-treasure ruyi gold necklace, and dressed in a goose-yellow robe with auspicious magpies and floral patterns, he appeared even more noble and arrogant, creating a stark contrast with Wen Rulei.

However, Xie Shian was not satisfied with Wen Xingluo’s introduction.

He pinched the girl’s sleeve and whispered, “You didn’t call me that last night…”

The little dog was aggrieved.

Wen Xingluo felt a tingle on her scalp and had to add, “He’s also my Fourth Brother in the manor.”

Xie Shian was still dissatisfied, “They have three brothers, and our manor has four brothers. If we call them all by order, how can we distinguish them?”

Wen Xingluo thought for a moment and added a surname, “You’re Xie Fourth Brother.”

Xie Shian rolled his eyes, “That’s awful! Wen Xingluo, if you can’t think of a better name, I’m not done with you today!”

Wen Xingluo braced herself, “Then… Fourth Gege?”

The girl’s voice was soft and sweet like a juicy green pear.

Xie Shian’s lips instantly curled up, “Barely acceptable.”

Their whispering was all seen by Wen Rulei.

He clenched his fists secretly, a strange feeling welling up in his chest.

Although he disliked Wen Xingluo, how could she call someone else brother?

Wasn’t it disgusting and sickening!

He scanned Wen Xingluo from head to toe.

Compared to her previous plain clothes at the County Yamen, she was now dressed in a chest-high skirt of apricot pink with a hundred butterflies, and her little face seemed more round and charming.

Actually, during the days Wen Xingluo was gone, his life was a mess.

He had to practice martial arts every day, and his clothes were always dirty with sweat and mud. Wen Xingluo used to wash them by hand, making them look new every time.

But now those maids were lazy, washing them poorly, making his clothes look yellow, dirty, old, and wrinkled.

Wen Rulei clenched his fists, sneering, “Wen Xingluo, you’ve climbed up the social ladder now, and you look down on us siblings!”

Wen Xingluo replied earnestly, “Before Mother went to the manor, she let my sister and me choose who to go with her. It was my sister’s leftover choice that was given to me. How did it become me climbing up the social ladder?”

Wen Rulei was furious, “You dare talk back now?! I see you’ve entered the manor and become so arrogant that you don’t even know your own surname! Wen Xingluo, if you don’t want me to hate you, hurry back home and wash my clothes! Besides the ones soaking in the tub, wash all the others in my cabinet too! If you do it well, I’ll forgive you!”

Upstairs, leaning against the railing.

Xie Guanlan stood with his hands behind his back, coldly observing the scene below.

The shopkeeper approached him respectfully, “Heir Apparent, the jade has arrived. They are extremely rare and precious, suitable for gifting to the Matron at the birthday banquet. Would you like to go in and select now?”

Footnote:

1. Gege(哥哥):Intimate form of “Gege” (brother), using reduplication and his birth order (Fourth). More affectionate and dependent than simply “Ge” (brother).