Chapter 7: Serves You Right, Brother!

The night was deep, but the suburban villa remained brightly lit. From the direction of the secluded ancestral hall came faint sounds of Shen Jici’s pained cries and screams mixed with angry curses.

Li Fuling sat on the spacious living room sofa, his fingers unconsciously picking at the fabric of the couch.

Madam Yu was carefully applying cool medicinal liquid with a cotton swab to the bruise at the corner of his mouth and the scratches on his arm.

Hisss— Li Fuling inhaled sharply as the medicine stung.

Does it hurt badly? Madam Yu frowned deeply, her voice filled with heartache and displeasure. Jici really doesn’t know his own strength! Look at these injuries.

Li Fuling shook his head, his voice somewhat hoarse. It doesn’t hurt, Mother.

Truthfully, he was no longer angry, just deeply perplexed.

He was merely an adopted child, while Shen Jici was the legitimate biological son of the Shen family. Why would Father and Mother, especially Father, punish Shen Jici so severely for his sake?

This unreasonable kindness instead made him feel a trace of unease.

He lifted his clear but confused eyes to Madam Yu’s gentle profile and asked softly, Mother, why… are you so good to me?

Madam Yu set down the cotton swab and gently stroked Li Fuling’s soft hair with her warm palm, sighing. Silly child, what nonsense are you saying? Since we adopted you, you are our child. We just want to be good to you, to make up for the hardships you suffered before.

I didn’t suffer, Li Fuling lowered his head, staring at the fine patterns on his new pajamas. The orphanage was a bit cold in winter, but… I had many good friends there.

Madam Yu took the opportunity to ask, Then did A-Ling make any new friends at school today?

At the mention of school, the light in Li Fuling’s eyes instantly dimmed. Those sharp words, malicious stares, the stains on his chair…

Scene after scene flashed through his mind, making his heart feel clogged with damp cotton—heavy and suffocating.

He pressed his lips together and didn’t respond.

Sensing his despondency, Madam Yu comforted him gently. It’s only the first day of school. It’s normal that everyone isn’t familiar with each other yet. Our A-Ling is so well-behaved and sensible. Take your time, you’ll definitely make good friends.

Li Fuling nodded gloomily.

In a few days, Madam Yu tried to change the subject to cheer him up, I’ll have someone bring some better flower seedlings. A-Ling can plant them again. Mother promises your brother won’t be allowed to ruin them this time.

Unexpectedly, Li Fuling shook his head. There’s no need, Mother. It’s fine not to plant them. Growing flowers… is actually quite tiring. I’m content just looking at the remaining roses in the garden.

Seeing how heartbreakingly sensible he was being, Madam Yu could only sigh softly and pull him into her arms. Our A-Ling is just too understanding.

Late at night, the punished Shen Jici was ordered to stay overnight in the ancestral hall to continue his kneeling penance.

Tossing and turning in bed, Li Fuling couldn’t escape the echoes of Shen Jici’s resentful screams in his mind.

Eventually, he quietly got up, took a soft down comforter from the closet, and tiptoed toward the ancestral hall.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, he found the ancestral hall illuminated by flickering candlelight, the air thick with the scent of incense and a faint, elusive trace of blood.

Shen Jici wasn’t kneeling properly on the meditation cushion at all. He was sprawled inelegantly on the bedding spread across the floor, continuously hissing through his teeth as he cursed under his breath: Damn old man… hit like a fucking savage…

Li Fuling approached hesitantly, clutching a quilt in his arms.

Hearing the movement, Shen Jici whipped his head around. The ferocious anger on his face in the candlelight instantly transformed into pure disgust when he saw it was Li Fuling: Why you?! You bastard, isn’t it enough that you got me beaten like this? Now you came specifically to laugh at me?!

He struggled to stand but jerked the wounds on his back, making him grimace in pain. He could only pound the ground angrily with his fist.

Seeing him immobilized, Li Fuling crouched down and gently placed the soft quilt beside his hand, his voice faint as a mosquito’s hum: …I’m sorry.

These three words made the enraged Shen Jici freeze abruptly. His expression stiffened instantly, and he scanned Li Fuling up and down with a strange look in his eyes. Are… are you sick?

This reaction made the guilt in Li Fuling’s heart instantly replaced by indignation. He couldn’t help raising his voice in complaint: Why are you still cursing at me! You were the one who cut up my roses first! I only hit you because I was furious. I never expected…

He paused, the following words difficult to utter.

Never expected Father would beat you so severely.

Shen Jici guessed what he was about to say. His face suddenly turned livid, and he roared at Li Fuling:

GET OUT—!!!

Li Fuling flinched. Why are you trying to scare me?

Shen Jici was practically going mad with rage, his chest heaving violently as he glared daggers at Li Fuling, grinding out a threat through clenched teeth: Are you leaving or not?! If you don’t get out now, once I recover, I’ll beat you up!

Seeing him pinned in place by pain and looking utterly wretched, Li Fuling pressed his lips together. Instead of leaving, he leaned closer.

Lowering his voice further with a hint of well-meaning reminder: Keep your voice down. Everyone’s asleep. If you’re this loud and accidentally wake Father again…

He deliberately paused before slowly adding, …you might get beaten again.

This precisely struck Shen Jici’s sore spot. He gritted his teeth so hard they creaked, but truly didn’t dare shout anymore. He could only murderously glare at this seemingly innocent little brat before him.

Watching Shen Jici’s utterly stifled expression, the resentment that had clogged Li Fuling’s heart over the destroyed roses finally eased slightly.

Serves you right for cutting my roses! I hope you choke on your anger!

Shen Jici stared at him venomously. This damn little brat came specifically to mock me and provoke me on purpose.

Li Fuling slowly pulled a small round container from his pajama pocket—the same cooling ointment Madam Yu had applied earlier.

The next second, a slightly cool small hand gently lifted his disheveled clothing at the back.

Shen Jici was both shocked and furious. What are you doing?! My mother already applied medicine!

Li Fuling completely ignored his roar, dipping his fingertips into the glossy white ointment and carefully spreading it over the swollen, purple whip marks.

Keeping his head down, he explained quietly, You kept squirming earlier and rubbed all the ointment off. I’m reapplying it for you, or it’ll hurt even more tomorrow.

Smear it, then smear it again—are you three years old? Shen Jici’s words remained sharp, but his body relaxed slightly under the gentle, cool touch.

Hearing his harsh tone, Li Fuling pressed her lips together and suddenly increased the pressure, pressing firmly but not too hard on what appeared to be the most severe wound.

Hiss—! Shen Jici gasped in pain, about to cry out.

But Li Fuling, as if anticipating this, immediately stopped him, Don’t shout! Father will hear.

Shen Jici indeed stifled the sound and endured it.

He snorted coldly, buried his head in the meditation cushion, and fell silent.

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