Chapter 26 A Strange Man

"Haaaah... haaaah..." sweat dripped down from the small body and moistened the carpet beneath him. Already on the verge of collapse, but through sheer willpower, he persevered until told otherwise.

Just as he was about to falter, the person supervising him snapped his fingers.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳...

His arms finally gave way and allowed himself to flop onto the floor. Even through the exhaustion, he let out a satisfied smile. Panting like a puppy, he cried out happily, "I... haaaah... haaah... did it..."

The supervising figure put down the book he was marking, walked towards the tired boy, and squatted next to him. Full of appreciation for the exhausted boy's effort, he ruffled the small boy's head with affection.

"Good job, Rai," the man whispered.

Rai looked up from under his messed up bangs and saw the affectionate smile his teacher was giving him. It immediately filled him with warmth and renewed his energy. Although his arms were actually aching in pain, he still strived to get back up. "I'm okay! What's next?"

Xiaolang looked at the struggling kid and chuckled to himself. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘦.

He understood for a newbie, there was only so much Rai could do in a short amount of time. It was enough to develop his body's core and endurance. He'll teach a few more moves the next time they meet. For now, they should go back to the books.

In the end, this was his acknowledged little brother. There was more than one thing he could teach.

He sat back down on the bed, picked up the book he put down earlier, and ushered the sweaty kid to him. He had checked the previous calculus book Rai had completed and was delighted to see almost no mistakes. If the kid was this fast at catching up, with the right teacher, who knows how many more advanced subjects he could master.

𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘢𝘪 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨...

The young boy walked up to his teacher and gazed at what he was holding. He asked curiously, "Are you going to teach me more advanced mathematics?"

During their short time together, Rai realized how absolutely cool his teacher was especially when he was suddenly made to practice physical body training. Seeing him overpower his first brother like that was a tremendous eyeopener on how strong the quiet man actually was. Yet nothing of the sort was obvious from his appearance. There was definitely a bunch of muscle hidden under the big brother's heavy clothing.

He concluded that maybe his teacher was from a bad neighborhood, compelling him to be physically fit.

To be able to be so smart and strong at the same time, Big Brother Lang was amazing! The respect in his heart outstripped the respect he had for anyone else in his short life.

"How did I do?" the little boy asked, hoping for some more praises.

Due to not being very verbal, Xiaolang used more body language than he usually would and allowed himself to show approval through physical touch. He rubbed Rai's head again. "Mm."

Rai beamed happily even as his hair was constantly ruffled. Gone was his usually cleanly combed hair, now whenever he was with his teacher, he had on messy black locks instead. But it didn't matter. He who was rarely ever shown affection, suddenly understood what it meant to be cared for.

𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳... 𝘈𝘩. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘺...

At the same time, Xiaolang was also thinking to himself.

𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮...

He looked around the small room. It was obvious what Rai's favorite color was. Almost the entire place was dyed in it. Blue. A Northern color.

He rolled his eyes internally.

𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

.....

One hour later.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘪 𝘵𝘰𝘰.

He pat the focused Rai beside him and tapped his own watch, indicating it was time for him to go.

"Already?" the boy sighed despondently. If it was possible, he would have Big Brother Lang stay here, or better yet, he would leave with him. "Then... I'll show you out."

They had spent only a few hours together today, but so much had happened within that short span of time. They both stood up from the bed's now crinkled blue sheets and prepared to leave.

It was already dark outside, meaning none of Rai's siblings should be around to bother them this time. They were either cooped up in their rooms or outside doing something unpleasant.

After leaving the safety of his room, Xiaolang noticed how Rai had become a little nervous and vigilant. Every time the kid was out and about, he must have been picked on by his family.

They left the corridor, climbed down the stairs, and were passing through the common hallway. It was the pathway one would use after coming in from the main entrance. As an obvious show of prestige, it had many portraits of past clan heads and notorious elders hung upon their walls. Below them were also listed the numerous meritorious deeds towards the clan. The latest one was Zhou Liuxian, Rai's father.

"I know you must be busy after coming to the North... but I hope I can see you often..." the boy whispered. He glanced at the big brother's face and hurriedly added, "to-to learn from you."

Seeing him, the older one couldn't help himself. 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩... 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳.

"Mm," Xiaolang nodded at his cute little brother.

Rai's mood lifted immediately, with a noticeable skip appearing in his step.

However, before his joy could continue further, he noticed a light on from a door opening at the corner of his eye. It was the lounge door.

𝘖-𝘖𝘩 𝘯𝘰!

He trembled violently. There was only one reason for that room being used.

"Big Brother Lang!" he whispered anxiously. "Hide, please!"

There weren't many places to hide in the hallway but that didn't matter. The big brother HAD to remain unseen. He pushed the confused Xiaolang behind one of the pillars and hoped he would stay put.

"No matter what happens, please PLEASE stay hidden," the boy begged with weary eyes.

Xiaolang was speechless and confused. What was going on? He watched Rai shake violently and couldn't help but want to hug him if he could. But the more prominent emotion he was feeling was anger. His little brother was absolutely terrified. What or who could turn a ten-year-old boy into such a state.

Rai must have noticed the anger on his face and begged again, "Big Brother Lang, please! Promise me! You can't come out, not this time!"

The desperation in his eyes was undeniable. If Xiaolang didn't promise him this, he felt he would be doing an injustice. But at the same time, should he not interfere? As Xiaolang, a fake identity, maybe not... but as a big brother...

"Please..." Rai whimpered.

𝘏𝘦... Xiaolang bit his lip and nodded.

The little boy sighed in relief, letting out a small smile and look of determination. "I'll be back."

He turned around and scuttled away, getting as much distance away from the big brother as possible as to not give attention to the area. The manor was too big and the hallway too long. If there was an option for both of them to go to a different area, he would have already brought Big Brother Lang there. But in this long hallway towards the entrance, there was nowhere to go unless they run.

Too much noise would alert the figure coming out of that room, which was the last thing he wanted.

The door had opened earlier but no one had yet to come out, which was good news. Nonetheless, he could still hear a conversation going on between someone and that man. Maybe if Rai could get to the other side of the door fast enough, he could get the big brother's side to be less conspicuous. After all, the man in that doorway was an individual always suspicious of everything.

He should get to the other side and walk backwards so it looked like he was coming from the other direction.

Not wasting time, Rai shuffled quickly and reached the door. He sighed in relief.

𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦...

Just as he was turning his body around to start walking backwards, the door fully opened right in front of him, causing him to be face to face with a tall and brooding middle-aged man.

"F-father..." he choked.

This man was the Zhou Clan head, his father, and the man whose acknowledgment he did his hardest to earn yet till this day has never received. Others may wonder why he would care so much for a man whom cared nothing for him at all. But Rai didn't have a choice, for he had no one else to rely on in this world.

The towering man carried a heavy aura as he stared at the small boy in front of him. He furrowed his eyebrows fiercely at this sudden intrusion and parted his lips, "You. What have I said about calling me that."

"I-I'm sorry Clan Head!" Rai bowed his head deeply. He tried hiding his eyes behind his bangs as he usually did until he realized he hadn't fixed his hair yet from when Big Brother Lang rubbed his head. His hair was messy and could no longer hide his expression.

"What are you doing here? And what is with that unpresentable hair of yours!" the man known as the clan head, and Rai's father, berated disgustedly. While it was true the hair was disheveled, it shouldn't have mattered at home. However, it did matter in the Zhou manor, because his unique eyes would be visible to members of the Zhou Family and their workers, plus the one man who abhorred seeing them the most. They were the symbol of Rai's illegitimacy and Liuxian's past mistake.

The boy quickly fixed his hair back in place and racked his brain for an excuse. "I-I just got home from playing outside. I will go now."

"Stop right there."

Rai paused his steps. His heart was beating at a rapid pace but he tried his best to remain calm, if not for himself, for his teacher hiding not too far away. He faced his father with his head low and palms sweaty. Thankfully, this time his bangs were in place to cover his expression if needed. "Yes, Clan Head?"

The man crossed his arms and eyed him suspiciously. "Are you lying to me?"

Rai's heart skipped a beat. "No, Clan Head. I would never do such a thing. I was just-"

"QUIET!"

The boy froze timidly.

"Already daring to talk back. Being in the South so long has degenerated your manners!" the Clan Head barked furiously. He raised a single hand as if to hit him. "Am I to discipline you again, Leixue!?"

Rai held back a terrified whimper and flinched in preparation for the impact. He was both terrified and worried, not only for himself, but for the big brother hiding in the same hallway. His teacher was strong and kind but he realized he was also impulsive.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨! 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵!

Just as the raised hand was about to move, a voice stopped him.

"Clan Head?"

Rai lifted his head and looked through his bangs.

An unknown young man had suddenly appeared from the door behind his father. He looked clean and well mannered, the expensive suit he wore suggesting himself to be a business partner. However, his age appeared too young for such an assumption.

𝘛𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯... 𝘈 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳?

"I'm sorry, I heard some commotion. Am I interrupting something?" the unknown young man asked apologetically. He glanced at the nervous boy, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

"Nothing important," the Clan Head snorted and disregarded the small boy awaiting his judgment. "Just disciplining a child."

"Is this your son? He looks very much like you," the young guest commented pleasantly. "He's sure to grow up quite the handsome young man."

It was an undesired truth. While the illegitimate son of Zhou Liuxian looked the least like him in comparison to his other children, the similar black hair made people make the connection between them faster. His exotic looks and unique eyes also indicated how much more handsome he would look as he got older as well.

"Hmph. I've had enough for tonight. Let's reschedule our meeting, Jinyu," the Zhou Clan Head had lost his mood. Being the highest authority, he waved everyone off. "Leixue, send the guest out!"

Rai jumped in surprise. "Ah..."

"Send the guest out!"

"Yes, Clan Head!" he stammered quickly. "T-this way Mr..."

"Bai Jinyu," the young man smiled at him crookedly.

"Mr. Bai Jinyu..." he walked towards the exit with the guest in tow, as he peeked behind him from time to time to see if his father had left.

As they walked further along, Rai managed to assure himself that Big Brother Lang would be okay. He just had to hurriedly send this guest off and secretly go back to him at the pillar.

"You seem to be troubled, young master."

The voice broke Rai's thoughts as he automatically responded, "I'm not a young master."

"Oh?" the young guest looked at him curiously, but there was a strange glint in his eyes. "You are the Clan Head's son, aren't you. That makes you a Zhou Clan young master. Wouldn't it be unfair not to be?"

The boy's head lowered as his pace quickened. For some reason, he felt eerily uncomfortable with the stranger's eagerness. "That's just how it is."

They had reached the door by then, and Rai was wishing the strange man would hurriedly leave so he could go. It was a bizarre feeling. This person was also a Southerner like Big Brother Lang, but he could feel an unusual sense of aversion.

"This is the exit. Please have a safe trip back, Mr. Bai Jinyu."

Instead of walking out the exit, the guest looked at Rai with a charming smile. "You don't need to be so formal with me, Zhou Leixue. I am not your father. I know he doesn't treat you right. If there's anything I can do to help, just contact me."

He took out a piece of paper and wrote his number on it. "Take it. Don't worry, I won't tell him anything."

Rai doubtfully accepted the paper and answered him, "Thank you."

"No problem!" Right before he stepped out, the young man known as Bai Jinyu lowered his head to whisper in the boy's ear. "I can help make you the next Clan Head if you want..."

Rai's eyes widened at the sudden declaration. Before he could say anything, the strange man gave him a wink and walked away.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥... the boy shook his head at the thought. Even he didn't know what he wanted yet. 𝘖𝘩! 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨.

Just as he turned around, he hit face-first squarely into another person's chest. In a panic, he stepped back ready to apologize, when he realized who it was. "B-Big Brother Lang?? What are you doing here??"

However, the older brother didn't respond, whether verbally nor with any actions. He just stood completely still.

"Big Brother Lang...?" Rai looked up and felt his heart shiver.

His kind teacher was glaring menacingly at the direction Mr. Bai Junyi had left in. His expression appeared so terrifying that Rai couldn't help but hold his tongue from disturbing him.

𝘞-𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨? the frightened boy thought to himself. Even at the restaurant or with his first brother, his teacher had never expressed such animosity.

Suddenly, he noticed the big brother mutter something. Although he couldn't hear it clearly, he did catch one word said through gritted teeth.

"...Yijun."

.....