Chapter Forty-One: Let Me Teach You How to Behave, Father (Part One)

He lifted his eyes, and in the boy’s clear pupils, a storm was brewing, like the surface of the sea right before the onslaught of wild waves. Turning to the side, he fixed his gaze on the odd, unsightly dumpling perched on the girl's shoulder across from him. His eyes grew even darker, unfathomable.

It shouldn’t be there.

If possible, he should be the one by her side at every moment, following her like a shadow, not this bizarre creature.

The worst part was, it seemed no one else could see this strange being except him.

He withdrew his gaze, and on the surface, Ci Mo appeared obedient and well-mannered, the kind that tugged at the heartstrings. In reality, he was already plotting when he might find the chance to get rid of that ugly thing.

Suddenly, as he was lost in thought, his head fell into an embrace filled with a faint, cool fragrance.

Was it… her?

His pupils widened in disbelief, and Ci Mo’s mind went completely blank in an instant.

Like a machine whose parts had suddenly failed, he lost not only the ability to function but seemed to overheat as well.

Zhao Xu didn’t notice the change in Ci Mo. She scooped up the boy squatting across from her as if he were a doll, holding him in her arms. Lowering her eyes to his fluffy hair, she nodded in satisfaction.

That’s how it should be—how could the younger brother be taller than the elder?

“Next time, you just squat there and let me hug you,” she declared with authority, ruffling Ci Mo’s hair.

Ci Mo’s mind had crashed; he could only nod instinctively. His long, dark lashes trembled, and his face blushed as if he’d just been roasted over a fire.

Glancing at the furball still perched on Zhao Xu’s shoulder, a childish sense of rivalry suddenly flared within him.

So what if it could stay on her shoulder all the time?

Right now, the one she was holding in her arms was him.

He cast a disdainful glance at the ball of fur and snorted softly.

The little creature sneezed, shivered twice, and looked around in confusion.

When did the weather turn cold?

“Miss, everything’s been arranged. Will you be going over tomorrow?” The butler’s voice sounded at just that moment.

Zhao Xu released Ci Mo without a second thought and nodded. “Yes, I’ll go tomorrow.”

“Very well.” The butler hesitated, then asked, “This time, young master, when you enroll, will you be revealing your identity?”

Zhao Xu looked puzzled. “Why not?”

When Zhao Si had enrolled before, it was because Shen Lu had interfered that those bullies had tormented her so badly she developed depression.

She couldn’t help her mischievous curiosity; she wanted to see the expressions on those people’s faces when they realized the person they’d always looked down on and bullied was actually someone they couldn’t afford to offend.

Everything Zhao Si suffered in the past, she would personally avenge under the guise of Zhao Si’s distant relative, “Zhao Si.”

The butler hesitated, uneasy. “Young master, are you sure? After all, your former fiancé is also at that school.”

Former fiancé? What on earth?

Zhao Si was full of question marks.

There was so much she didn’t know, but for now, she couldn’t let her ignorance show.

“It’s fine. Just do as I say. Go inform the school now—the sole heir of the Zhao family will be attending their school tomorrow.

Oh, and remember to remind them that I want to be in my original class. If they ask why, just say I want to be with my sister’s former classmates and learn more about her past.”

And perhaps, have a little chat with them about life.

Her crimson lips curved into a wicked smile; at this moment, Zhao Xu looked every inch the little devil.