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The person who once lay on a stretcher, covering his eyes with his hand out of embarrassment, now shamelessly feigned fainting without hesitation. Before doing so, he even made sure to bathe and change into fresh sleeping clothes to avoid dirtying the bedding when carried to bed—lest he upset his fastidious wife.
With everything so meticulously planned, what could Jiang Zhiyi do? She had no choice but to let him into the room.
Li Dafeng took Baojia away, leaving behind medical advice: “The patient is emotionally fragile and should be treated gently.”
Jiang Zhiyi looked at Yuan Ce, who lay motionless on the bed, and pinched his nose mischievously.
“Ow—” Yuan Ce opened his eyes, rubbing his nose as if deeply offended. “Didn’t the doctor say to treat me gently?”
A man who endured real blades and spears without a sound was now gasping in pain from a simple pinch on the nose.
“You two are cut from the same cloth—I can’t even be bothered to scold you!” Jiang Zhiyi glared down at him disdainfully.
Yuan Ce chuckled and grabbed her wrist, pulling her down onto the bed. “If that’s the case, why did you still let me in?”
Jiang Zhiyi sprawled awkwardly on top of him, poking his chest with her finger. “I just didn’t want someone stewing in jealousy all night and turning sour.”
“So you really called him ‘Brother’ back then?” Yuan Ce raised an eyebrow.
“I didn’t even remember until Sister brought it up… What can I do about it now? It’s not like I can go back and take it back. Besides, calling someone ‘Brother’ as a child and doing so now are completely different things. Be reasonable!”
“Well then,” Yuan Ce looked down at her, “for every time you called him ‘Brother’ back then, call me ‘Brother’ tonight. That way, we’ll be even. Isn’t that fair enough?”
She knew it would come to this.
“The other person is miles away, busy with countless matters. Do you think he’d even care about these old scores?”
What happens in the privacy of their chambers doesn’t need to involve outsiders.
Jiang Zhiyi smiled, pushing against his chest as she tried to sit up. But halfway through, the arm wrapped around her waist tightened, and Yuan Ce’s fingertips grazed her side teasingly. “Where are you running off to?”
Jiang Zhiyi shivered from the ticklish sensation, her limbs going limp as she collapsed back onto him. “…I need to bathe first.”
Yuan Ce flipped her over, lifting her into his arms as he strode confidently toward the bathhouse. “Perfect. I’m worried you won’t finish calling me ‘Brother’ all night, so we’ll start counting from the bath.”
“Are you shameless?” Jiang Zhiyi lightly punched his chest. “You’re being persistent now, aren’t you?”
Yuan Ce paused mid-step, as if recalling something. “Back when you were pestering me in the capital, I heard someone say that if an unlikable person clings to you, it’s called persistence. But if you find them endearing, it should be called—”
“What?”
“A clingy person.”
Jiang Zhiyi blinked, tilting her head upward. “So back then, did you find me likable or unlikable?”
“What do you think?” Yuan Ce lowered his head, gazing at the woman in his arms. “Clingy person.”
Jiang Zhiyi laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Alright, I’ll allow you to be persistently clingy too. Clingy person.”
________________________________________
On this frost-heavy autumn night, the bedroom, which had been lively for half the night, finally fell silent. The two on the bed embraced in sleep, Jiang Zhiyi nestled in Yuan Ce’s arms. In his warm embrace, her features were tranquil, her breathing soft and steady.
Yuan Ce rested his chin on the crown of her head, slowly sinking into deep slumber with each rise and fall of her breath.
After an unknown amount of time, a sudden flash of light pierced the darkness. Yuan Ce’s eyes snapped open, and through layers of mist, he saw dappled summer sunlight flickering before his eyes. As his vision gradually cleared, he found himself standing before a grand mansion with green tiles, red eaves, and intricately carved beams. A sign above the gate read “Duan Prince’s Manor” in bold characters.
Yuan Ce stood at the entrance, raising a hand to touch the mask on his face. In the reflection of the brass door knocker, he saw the face of his childhood self.
From within the gates came bursts of laughter and joy, drawing him closer instinctively.
Pushing open the heavy red doors, Yuan Ce stepped over the threshold and walked toward the source of the commotion. In the courtyard, a group of children of similar age were playing a game of arrow tossing.
In the center, a boy dressed in opulent silk held a feathered arrow. His phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly as he threw the arrow with precision, landing it perfectly in the mouth of the target.
Beside him, a little girl in a pale yellow dress clapped her hands excitedly. “Big Brother Ayan, you’re amazing!”
Yuan Ce gazed at their bright, elegant attire, then glanced down at his own dusty, mud-streaked outfit. He stopped in his tracks.
The little girl noticed him and turned to the others, asking, “Hmm, who’s that?”
Following her gaze, the group looked over, one by one wearing puzzled expressions.
“Are you here to compete with Big Brother Ayan in arrow tossing?” Little Jiang Zhiyi tilted her head, studying him.
Yuan Ce met her bright, curious eyes and nodded. “Yes.”
The boy referred to as Big Brother Ayan pointed to a pile of prizes. “Pick something you like. If you win, it’s yours.”
Under the watchful eyes of the others, Yuan Ce stepped forward, glancing over the unfamiliar treasures. He shook his head. “I don’t need these.”
“Then what do you want?” Qi Yan asked.
“If I win,” Yuan Ce glanced at little Jiang Zhiyi beside him, “she must never call you ‘Big Brother Ayan’ again.”
“Why?” Little Jiang Zhiyi blinked in confusion, tilting her head. “How I address Big Brother Ayan has nothing to do with you!”
“For no particular reason,” Yuan Ce looked at her. “That’s the prize I want.”
Qi Yan frowned. “And if you lose?”
“I won’t lose.”
“Don’t be so arrogant. My Big Brother Ayan has never lost to anyone!” Little Jiang Zhiyi pouted, hands on her hips.
“If that’s true, then why are you afraid to compete with me?”
“Fine, we’ll compete! Big Brother Ayan, we’re not afraid of him!”
“Then if you lose, you have to take off that mask of yours. Deal?” Qi Yan pointed to Yuan Ce’s mask.
“Deal.” Yuan Ce stepped forward, taking a bundle of feathered arrows from a nearby attendant. After glancing at the target pot, he turned his back to the crowd.
The children gasped in surprise, and before they could discuss what was happening, Yuan Ce had already deftly pinched an arrow between his fingers and threw it backward with precision.
A clear clink rang out as the arrow landed perfectly in the pot. Gasps and exclamations erupted all around.
“Perfect shot through the ear—20 points!” the scorekeeper shouted.
Yuan Ce picked up a second arrow, weighing it lightly in his palm, and tossed it backward effortlessly.
“Consecutive hits through the ear—10 points!”
The children stared wide-eyed as each arrow flew with seemingly no effort. The scorekeeper’s voice grew louder with every toss, and each arrow scored no less than 10 points.
“How can he hit the target perfectly while facing away? Does this person have eyes on the back of his head?”
“Who is this guy, daring to come to the prince’s manor and show off like this?”
“He’s wearing a mask—could he be some kind of demon?”
The boys standing nearby whispered among themselves.
Just as Yuan Ce was about to fill the pot completely, someone defiantly ran forward, grabbed the pot, and moved it to a different location.
Yuan Ce’s ears twitched. He spun the last arrow between his fingers, let it circle once, smirked, and flung it backward with ease.
Another clear clink echoed as the tail of the arrow landed perfectly in the pot.
“Reverse bullseye—120 points!” the scorekeeper announced, his voice trembling with awe.
The crowd collectively gasped, their eyes glued to the pot in disbelief.
Yuan Ce turned around, looking at the little girl who now stood with her mouth agape. “Do you accept defeat?”
“Big Brother Ayan, this… he…” Jiang Zhiyi looked helplessly at Qi Yan.
“I lost.” Qi Yan pursed his lips, glanced at Yuan Ce, then turned and walked away from the courtyard.
The other children quickly chased after him.
Jiang Zhiyi seemed to want to follow, but halfway through raising her little boots, she paused, remembering Yuan Ce. She turned back and said, “Alright, since Big Brother Ayan accepts his loss, I’ll accept mine too!”
Yuan Ce raised an eyebrow. “So will you still call him Big Brother Ayan?”
Jiang Zhiyi wrinkled her nose. “Then what should I call him instead…?”
Yuan Ce hesitated for a moment, thinking deeply. After a long pause, he clicked his tongue. “Never mind.”
“Never mind? What do you mean by that?”
“It means—” Yuan Ce sighed. “You can still call him Big Brother Ayan.”
“You’re such a strange person. Why are you letting me call him that?”
“Because—”
Because in the world where he would leave early, the only person left to protect her and shield her from harm would be Qi Yan.
If calling him “Big Brother Ayan” could ensure she found shelter and protection in a world without him, he’d rather she maintained that bond with Qi Yan than face life’s storms alone.
Yuan Ce reached out and gently ruffled her soft hair. “Because having one more brother means one more person to protect you.”
Jiang Zhiyi seemed startled by the gesture and instinctively took a step back. But halfway through, realizing he meant no harm, she hesitated and asked, “...But doesn’t this mean you’ve won for nothing today?”
“If you call me ‘Brother,’ then I haven’t won for nothing.”
“And which family’s brother are you?”
“My surname is Yuan, and my given name is Ce.”
“Then—” Jiang Zhiyi blinked her bright, sparkling eyes at him. “Brother Ace?”
Yuan Ce smiled warmly at the tiny Jiang Zhiyi before him.
“Brother Ace!” A voice, softer and more mature than that of a child, suddenly sounded in his ear. A warm hand brushed against his cheek.
The mist and summer sunlight abruptly dissipated, and Yuan Ce slowly opened his eyes. He saw Jiang Zhiyi’s silky black hair cascading onto his chest. Turning his head slightly, he noticed the morning light streaming through the window.
Jiang Zhiyi touched his cheek, then felt his forehead, sighing in relief. “Why did you sleep so deeply? I almost sent for your brother-in-law to check your pulse.”
Awakening from the distant dream, Yuan Ce remembered the present day. He pulled her into his arms. “It’s fine. I just had a dream.”
Snuggling comfortably into his embrace, Jiang Zhiyi huffed. “What kind of dream was it that made you so reluctant to wake up, even after I called you so many times?”
Yuan Ce gazed down at her with a smile. “It’s because, in the dream, it was still you.”
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