Chapter 48: Brother Is Not an Outsider

Sui Sui said she couldn't finish it.

Feng Xuanrui originally wanted to make a bold declaration: "I've got this!"

But, after looking at the big bowl in front of him, the words Feng Xuanrui had on the tip of his tongue just wouldn't come out.

In the end, Liu Dafu cheerfully asked the shopkeeper for two small bowls, letting the two children pick food into them to eat.

After finishing, they would pick more.

That way, although the big bowl still had leftovers, they hadn't been messed with, so others could also pick from it.

Feng Xuanrui actually didn't care about these leftovers.

No one knows how much is left over daily at the prince's residence.

But his sister was watching.

Moreover, Uncle Prince Qing was still there.

Prince Qing had been leading troops abroad for years, living a life much harder than other princes.

Therefore, he still quite disliked waste.

Along the way, Feng Xuanrui, brought by him, gradually developed the good habit of cherishing food.

The problem of not being able to finish was solved, and everyone's attention returned to the noodles.

After Sui Sui picked some into her small bowl, she used chopsticks to lift two noodles and put them in her mouth.

Upon entering the mouth, the first thing tasted was naturally the freshness of the mutton.

The noodles boiled in meat broth were already infused with fragrance, and after being doused with hot oil, the flavor became even richer.

The fresh aroma lingered between lips and teeth, making a slight turn, then came the noodles' firm yet smooth texture.

After being rinsed in cold water, the noodles were firm and delicious.

Taking a bite, there was a slight bouncy feel against the teeth.

Sui Sui was directly stunned by this texture; her bright black eyes showed a look of surprise.

Feng Xuanrui took a mouthful of noodles and bluntly exclaimed, "Delicious!"

Liu Dafu and Qing Shan brothers also nodded in approval.

Prince Qing showed no reaction; good or bad, as long as he could eat his fill, that was enough for him.

However, to appear more congenial, Prince Qing hesitated a moment, then nodded and said, "Hmm."

Liu Dafu, watching from the side, couldn't help but want to roll his eyes.

He wanted to say: "Your Highness, if you can't praise, don't force it."

Also, don't force yourself into an atmosphere that doesn't fit.

Thinking that the other person was a prince, Liu Dafu thought it over and finally decided: just bear it.

The fresh, fragrant, smooth, and firm noodles made everyone break into a sweat.

After eating, their stomachs felt warm and they were full.

Their bodies felt hot, yet comfortable.

The sky was overcast with dark clouds, but the street was steaming hot.

The overcast weather didn't affect the business of the breakfast street; there were plenty of people coming and going.

Many merchants sat there exchanging information; although they felt the overcast made the road hard to travel, they didn't develop too many worries over it.

If you can let go, you can last long.

Sui Sui and Feng Xuanrui followed the adults back to the inn.

Because the weather was bad, Liu Dafu didn't let them go out to play.

Fortunately, there were many toys previously sent by Sun Ronglin; Sui Sui and Feng Xuanrui played together with them, which could also pass the time.

As for the Nine Linked Rings, Feng Xuanrui no longer wanted to touch them.

As for the bold vow he had made earlier to definitely solve it?

Feng Xuanrui said: "What does what Feng Xiao Liu said yesterday have to do with today's Feng Xiao Ye?"

No, not at all.

So, I don't understand, can't do it, don't know, I give up!

Sui Sui had previously learned from the bedtime story teacher, but……

She didn't learn it.

Now the little girl also feels guilty, not daring to mention it at all, not even daring to look at the Nine Linked Rings, for fear that if her brother brings it up, she still won't be able to do it, leaving the two of them embarrassed.

Besides the Nine Linked Rings, there are also the Lu Ban Locks.

Actually, they are all educational little toys; for the two kids, the difficulty is not small.

Feng Xuanrui originally thought that switching to another one would make it doable.

The fact proves……

None work!

The siblings played from dawn until dusk.

In the end, they didn't even figure out a single plum blossom lock.

Finally, Feng Xuanrui was so angry he almost threw the things away!

But thinking that it was a gift his sister received, although he felt a bit resentful inside, he ultimately couldn't bear to throw it away.

Seeing her brother's grim expression, Sui Sui thought it over, gently moved closer, and softly coaxed: "Brother, don't be angry; let me tell you a bedtime story."

Bedtime story?

Last time's story, Feng Xuanrui couldn't figure it out.

He felt that today's this one, he definitely could!

Feng Xuanrui nodded in agreement, and Sui Sui happily let out a little cheer in her heart.

Then, the little girl sat there obediently, speaking softly: "A long, long time ago, in a big forest, there lived a mermaid..."

After listening, Feng Xuanrui felt doubtful: "What is a mermaid? Is it also a kind of fish? Is it tasty?"

"Eh? No, fish live in water, don't they?"

In the Zhuangzi outside the city, there's a pond with quite a few fish; when cooked, they're very tasty.

……

Sui Sui's current train of thought hasn't truly matured yet.

It belongs to the kind of frequent mix-ups and nonsensical talk.

Originally, her story logic was already very confused; now, after being interrupted by Feng Xuanrui, Sui Sui became even more bewildered.

In the following time, Sui Sui told Feng Xuanrui a story: the mermaid ate a poisoned apple, then lifted her tail and fanned to fly the prince away, and was then fished up by Uncle Dongpo.

Feng Xuanrui:?

Huh?

How does it sound? Something seems off.

Feng Xuanrui really wrote his doubt all over his face.

His greater doubt was: "Little sister, where did you hear this story from?"

How could it be so bewitching?

Upon hearing the older brother's question, Sui Sui instantly grew nervous, pressing her lips tightly together.

She thought: Le Le said, must not reveal its existence!

So, she couldn't say!

Feng Xuanrui was just doubtful, and asked casually.

Sui Sui didn't say anything, and Feng Xuanrui figured it out himself, thinking maybe someone in the old village had been spouting nonsense, letting Sui Sui overhear it.

Sui Sui was frightened to the point of being snappy.

The storytelling hadn't really begun before it ended.

The two kids quickly washed up and went to sleep.

Feng Xuanrui is carefree and fell asleep especially quickly.

As Sui Sui turned over, her older brother's faint snoring already began.

Hearing that sound, Sui Sui felt very reassured.

She anxiously asked the system: "I…… was I almost exposed?"

The system didn't expect a five-year-old child to be able to keep the secret.

The reason it doesn't want others to know of its existence is simply that it doesn't want others to think Sui Sui's body or identity is abnormal, and then harm her.

If it's someone close, actually knowing wouldn't have much effect.

But……

Can just the two kids keep the secret?

The system no longer holds optimistic thoughts.

It doesn't want to put too much pressure on Sui Sui, so it quickly soothes the little child with a gentle voice.

【It's okay, the older brother isn't an outsider.】

To Sui Sui's ears, this sentence meant that Le Le's secret could also be shared with the older brother.

But the older brother can't see Le Le; Sui Sui thought: If I say it, the older brother might not necessarily believe me, right?

Realizing this, Sui Sui felt inexplicably a bit lost.

The system couldn't bear to see the little child upset, smiling as it asked her: "Bedtime story time has arrived; would you like to hear a story?"

The second watch is at 19:00.

(End of chapter)