Chapter 33 The Brightest

"What?"

Everyone in the room, including Rai, couldn't help but be startled by such a laidback question. The smallest two children looked at each other with twinkling eyes, thinking maybe they had a chance.

Zhou Liuxian couldn't help but speculate his intentions even further. Was he choosing on a whim? Or did he already have someone in mind and this was merely perfunctory?

"You heard me correctly," Li Tian chuckled with charm. "Tell me your favorite food, and if I happen to like the same thing, you will be chosen."

How easygoing could one be!?

Was this how all the truly elite made their decisions?

The first son, Liuren, stepped out again in confidence. He had eaten some of the best food in the world at least once. The Li Clan heir in front of him, also being of similar status, should have the highest taste. As long as he chose the right one, or something close enough to it, he should get chosen.

In the end, he decided to pick a Northern Huaxia food he was most familiar with that was also known as one of the most distinguished they had. "Brother Li Xiao Tian, my favorite food is one of the North's best, the Northern Grilled Lobster Almas Cavier. While it isn't the most expensive on the market, I believe it to be the most exquisite in both taste and esthetic."

Hearing the choice of food, Li Tian couldn't help but give a low chuckle. Wasn't this the exact same thing he wanted to eat the moment he arrived North?

If this was the old him, and he really planned on deciding based on a whim, he might have actually gone with the first son. Unfortunately now, that was never going to happen.

However, his sudden chuckle gave the boy a sense of accomplishment, making him think his position was already a given. He walked back in place with pride.

The only daughter felt a little nervous after her elder brother's turn but she still felt her choice was the best. "Brother Li Xiao Tian, my favorite food is Edible Bird's Nest. No matter what dish is made out of it, the high nutritional value it represents is undeniable. Not to mention, it is especially good for one's beauty."

She spoke with eloquence and calm, a unique sense of maturity coming from her tender babyface. As expected, her answer also conveyed the intelligence she possessed.

Li Tian nodded lightly at her, inciting her puffy cheeks to flush with a smile.

Next up was Rai, the third child in line. No matter how he wished to not stand out, it was clear how distinct he was in comparison to his siblings. The most obvious reason being appearance-wise, not only was he the only one with ebony black hair, his clothes lacked the lavish feel his siblings' did. But the other trait that made him feel catch one's eye was the clear difference in personality. He exuded no confidence, nor was there any desire for attention.

Ironically, in a setting where everyone did their best to get ahead, his scaled-down traits were what made him stand out the most.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯... Rai was never pampered, and although he did receive a certain amount of allowance, he never had the luxury of trying expensive dishes. If anything, he ate whatever was available and that he could afford on a menu. The most expensive food he had ever tried was probably a steak he tried ordering in the South. Thus, he never thought of a favorite food before.

𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩. 𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

He nervously fiddled with the piece of chocolate he transferred from his previous clothes.

𝘈𝘩... 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸.

"Mr. Li Xiao Tian... My favorite food is chocolate... be-because..." he forgot to think of the reason why he would like such food so his voice slowly got tinier as he said the first thing that came to mind. "t-the person I like gave it to me..."

Right as the words came out of his mouth, he felt the heat reach his ears. How could he have said something so embarrassing!

And to Li Tian at that!

He shyly lifted his head to see the young man, known as the most pompous heir to the Li Clan, give him a short but warm smile. As soon as he noticed it, it disappeared.

Li Tian waved his hand to beckon the next child forward.

Rai hurriedly went back in a daze to hear his siblings snigger at his ridiculous answer.

"Not bad, Leixue. You're playing your role right," his first brother mocked him.

Rai ignored him as he wondered if he saw correctly. It didn't seem like any of his other siblings noticed it...

.....

After every child had said their answer, the Zhou Clan head finally spoke, "How is it? Did you find their answers satisfactory?"

"Hmph..." Li Tian grunted impassively. "It wasn't anything unexpected but I've made my decision."

"Oh? That's good then. Tell us and let everything be over with," Zhou Liuxian said. The topic was already starting to annoy him, especially with how nonchalant the young man was acting. As long as one of his children was chosen, the details could be left to those under him.

It was a good deal no matter how one looked at it. The only problem was the Li heir's attitude.

The Zhou Clan children looked at the visitor with hope, thinking themselves to be the best choice. Only the third child looked at the floor, waiting to be dismissed.

Li Tian surveyed all of them before stopping his eyes on the black-haired timid middle child. "I choose your second son, Leixue."

"What!?"

Not a single person in the room was excluded from blurting out the question, not even the second son himself.

"Brother Li Xiao Tian, was my answer not satisfying?" the first son dared to ask begrudgingly. There was no way a simple answer like 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 could be any good!

He couldn't accept this! Even his sister had a better answer!

Zhou Liuxian wanted to demand an explanation immediately but as an experienced man, he knew this wasn't the situation for it. If he fought and lost to another clan's heir before his own children, where would he put his face?

Li Xinya definitely sent this Li heir with questionable intentions, but now he felt like they had just become a little more clear.

𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘯... 𝘏𝘮𝘱𝘩! 𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳... 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦...

"Nothing will change my decision," Li Tian replied succinctly to the first son's question.

"But to choose Leixue over me, I demand an explanation!" the Liuren started to become a little more forceful. He was also a clan heir, the first in line to boot, his standing was supposed to be way higher than a mere last in line like Li Tian.

Oh was he wrong.

Zhou Liuxian realized how his son had gone out of line but didn't move to stop him. He could use this to test the waters of the current visitor.

"An explanation?" Li Tian's eyes grew sharp and vicious. The sudden change in his expression caused the young children to shudder involuntarily. He stood up and walked towards the children, before standing straight in front of the first son. "A mere heir dares to demand me of anything?"

"I...I..." Liuren wanted to voice himself out more, but the words were caught in his throat. The pressure he felt was too heavy for him to even look away.

Li Tian turned his gaze away and sauntered past him, "Alright then. That was supposed to be the only chance but seeing as none of you are smart enough to understand my decision, I'll ask a proper question this time with only one correct answer. But I'm sure only Leixue will get the answer. This is the last chance I give. It will prove to all of you his worthiness." He stopped in front of Rai whom had his head lowered the whole time, afraid to meet his gaze.

"H-how are you so sure that he's the only one that can answer it?" the only daughter mustered her courage to ask.

Li Tian grew a small but charming smile, "Because unlike the rest of you, his eyes reflect intelligence."

The words rang through the rest of them silently as they processed it in any way they could.

𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦? 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦! 𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺! the girl denied the claim in her mind. She was the one with the best grades and scientific achievements!

Before any of them can say much, Li Tian continued, "I'll give all of you a chance to answer, but once the correct answer is said, then that is the end."

𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘓𝘦𝘪𝘹𝘶𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, the first son thought and turned to glare at his brother.

The flustered Rai accidentally caught his first brother's look and turned to look back at the floor immediately. They were never going to let him go.

The exchange did not go unnoticed by Li Tian. He held back his hands from getting violent and said in his deepest and most overbearing voice, "The question is, what is it that lives if it's fed, and dies once you give it a drink?"

The question startled and stumped the children.

𝘈 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦? they all thought.

The first son wasn't smart enough to answer such a question but he racked his brains regardless. The daughter was even more frustrated after finding out it wasn't an academic question.

The two youngest siblings looked at each other indicating they didn't even understand the question from the get-go.

Only Rai was lost in thought and suddenly felt calm from his thinking.

Seeing him like that, Li Tian's smile became a little wider. "Anyone have an answer yet? You don't need to take turns for this one. Just say it if you have it. 𝘐𝘧 you have any idea what it is, that is."

He let out a condescending laugh unabashedly, fueling their drive to prove him wrong even more. However, even after a couple of minutes, no one gave an answer.

"Alright then. I'm taking Leixue with me," Li Tian put his hand on the child's shoulder, prompting him to walk ahead in unconsciously.

Before they got any further, the first son snapped out of his stupor and rebutted, "But Leixue didn't give an answer either! How is he any smarter than us?"

Li Tian shook his head apathetically and looked at the boy under his hand. "Tell them what the answer is, Leixue."

Startled, Rai looked up at the young man holding on to him and stuttered, "I-I don't-"

But he stopped when he noticed Li Tian's expression shift. It reflected support, encouragement, eagerness and warmth. It seemed like a lot of hope was on him.

Was it really okay for him to answer this question?

He turned his face to catch his first brother's threatening look, his sister's look of disbelief, the confusion on his younger siblings, and the stoic face of his father. No one wanted him to answer...

But...

Wasn't he targeting to become Clan Head now?

For Big Brother Lang?

He had to take a step forward sooner or later. Why can't it be sooner?

He steeled his resolve and spoke, "The answer is fire. Feeding a flame will make it burn brighter, but giving it water will cause it to extinguish..."

"Hahahahahahaha!" Li Tian burst out laughing beside him, startling everyone in the room. "Well done, Leixue!"

He rubbed the kid's head, messing up his hair, and turned to the Zhou Clan Head. "There you have it. This boy is the brightest amongst your children, Clan Head, thus supports my decision to take him in."

Zhou Liuxian looked at his bewildered child and back to the decisive Li Tian before letting out an annoyed sigh. There was no changing that person's mind. "Well then, should we have lunch together to celebrate?"

"No need. I have plans to have lunch somewhere 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳," the Li heir's condescending tone was prevalent when denying the offer. It was as if just being in this area was beneath him. "Leixue will be with me at all times and will only be returning to sleep."

He was determined to leave immediately.

The brat's tone made Zhou Liuxian seethe in anger but the humiliating words were not enough for him to take issue from it with the opposing clan. The youngster was either actually smarter than he let on or he had someone behind him guiding his words and actions.

There were a few more words exchanged, coupled with the resentment of a few children before Li Tian walked towards the exit with Rai in tow.

His hand never left Rai's shoulder.

The boy walked along while still being in a daze at what was happening. With his hair messed up now, he could see ahead of him clearly as they walked out the door towards the convertible parked right in the driveway.

"Get in," the dominating voice commanded him.

Rai followed the orders immediately and opened the passenger door, sitting on the comfortable seat.

Li Tian waited for nothing and started the engine right away.

As they drove off, Rai turned back to see his family staring at him with unreadable expressions.

With himself still at a loss, he tried his best to gather his thoughts.

Simply out of nowhere, he ended up being dragged out of the house by one of the most famous people in Huaxia.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯...?

.....