HPDBC Chapter 110
Chapter 110
Chapter 110 Extra: Trip to the Capital
After visiting Elder Brother Huang on the third day, Jing Yi didn’t assist Xiao An, Dongjiang, Dongshan, and the others with the pearl business. Instead, he stuck to the original plan and took Chuxia, Xiao Shu, An An, and Guoguo to explore the capital.
A knock on the door echoed.
“Come in,” Jing Yi called out.
It was Xiao Shu at the door. After opening it, he hesitated a bit before slowly walking in.
Jing Yi wasn’t very sensitive to the emotions of Xiao Shu, aside from Chuxia, and he jokingly asked if Xiao Shu was feeling bored.
Chuxia, however, noticed Xiao Shu’s uneasiness. Without waiting for Xiao Shu to speak, she asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Xiao Shu? Is there something you want to talk to your brothers about?”
Xiao Shu lightly frowned, seemingly unsure how to broach the subject, and shook his head.
Seeing this, Jing Yi wondered if Xiao Shu encountered some difficulty.
“Xiao Shu, don’t be afraid. If you have something, just tell us. If you’re in trouble, big brother will help you sort it out.” Although Jing Yi had trained Xiao Shu to be independent from a young age, he clearly favored his younger brothers. Besides, the father’s mentality was particularly strong.
He didn’t need to ask if Xiao Shu had been bullied. None of his brothers would mistreat him; they all cared for him deeply.
Chuxia walked over, pulled Xiao Shu to sit at the table, and Jing Yi sat on the other side. The two surrounded him, watching him with concern.
Unlike his usual cheerful and playful self, Xiao Shu appeared a bit shy and embarrassed. He hesitated before saying, “Brother, Chuxia, can I... do something too?”
Jing Yi, upon hearing this, felt a subtle sense of self-blame. He often prided himself on being fair, but he had neglected Xiao Shu. However, he was afraid that expressing self-blame would make Xiao Shu feel worse. So, he pretended to smile and said, “Hey! This is a great thing! I was scared someone had provoked our Xiao Shu without using their brain.”
“Of course, you can. If Xiao Shu has ambition, we will definitely support him!”
Chuxia also smiled gently, touched Xiao Shu’s head as he used to when he was a child, and said, “Xiao Shu, is there something you want to do? Tell us, and we’ll help you plan it.”@@@@
Chuxia, being perceptive, realized that Xiao Shu probably already had some ideas but hesitated to express them.
Hearing the unconditional support from his brothers, Xiao Shu gained the courage to speak, “A few days ago, when we visited Wen Residence, I talked with Master Si Yuan. He first asked about my studies and then shared some information about the capital.”
“After Master Si Yuan arrived in the capital, he opened a new academy specifically for teaching gers and girls.”
Continuing after a pause, Xiao Shu looked at his big brother and Chuxia, seeing their expressions filled with curiosity and encouragement. He continued, “Brother Si Yun mentioned that although there weren’t many students in the first year, as Master Si Yuan’s talent and reputation spread throughout the capital, more and more people came. I heard that this year, there will be poetry events and competitions for gers and girls in the capital.”
Si Yun is the son-in-law of the Wen family and also a student of Master Si Yuan. As the number of students at their academy in the capital increased, Si Yun started teaching under Master Si Yuan’s guidance.
In Xiao Shu’s room:
Dongjiang broke the silence, speaking with a low voice, “Xiao Shu, is it because I didn’t do well enough and wasn’t reliable enough?”
It turned out Xiao Shu had been feeling low these days, and Dongjiang had noticed it. Although he had asked Xiao Shu several times, he always claimed that nothing was wrong. This left Dongjiang feeling helpless and anxious, unable to break through Xiao Shu’s emotional barriers.
Xiao Shu, seeing this, felt a bit rushed but didn’t know how to explain. Afraid of disappointing Dongjiang, his eyes turned slightly red. “It’s not that you’re not good. It’s my own issue.”
“But I can’t make you trust me. Whenever you have something on your mind or need help, the first person you think of is always Brother Chuxia or Brother Yi.”
“It’s not true. I wanted to tell you, but I felt that this matter was absurd. Most people don’t like their husband being in the public eye after marriage, and I...”
“I like it! I like you doing what you love! I like to see you happy! Rely on me and trust me!”
Xiao Shu’s face instantly turned red, his eyes still somewhat teary but this time from shyness. Unexpectedly, Dongjiang, upon seeing this, became even more emotional. Rather than calming him down, Xiao Shu’s heartfelt confession seemed to ignite a deeper, more sincere one from Dongjiang.
“I want to be the first in your heart. I want to be the first you turn to with a smile or tears. Even if you have something on your mind, let me be the first person you talk to. Even if, even if I can’t solve it immediately, please let me accompany you to seek help. Can you do that?”
“Then, can you do it too?”
“Of course!” Dongjiang replied decisively.
“Alright, then I can too!” Xiao Shu, not wanting to show weakness, declared.
“Since you heard that, after we return home, you’re not allowed to be lazy, and don’t complain about me always bossing you around!”
“Definitely not.”
“... Fool, with the atmosphere set like this, don’t you know you should hug me?”
“Hug, hug you?” Dongjiang was shocked. Could things really go like this?
“Yes! Since we’re together, hugging me to comfort me is quite normal!”
“Together?!!” Dongjiang, rarely showing such inner excitement, couldn’t believe such a good thing was happening.
Xiao Shu, with a proud toss of his head, thought it was too troublesome. Everything had to be said by him, such a blockhead!
Before he could take a step, a warm and broad chest pressed against his back, and two strong arms tightly embraced him, as if afraid he might escape.
“Yes, we’re together now. You can’t run away. When we get home, I’ll have my dad and the others go ask for your hand!” Dongjiang said excitedly. His calm and collected demeanor from the past twenty years seemed to have disappeared tonight.
Xiao Shu retorted, “It’s you who can’t run away now.”