Chapter 9 The First Challenge- Ruolan Refuses To Lose

As the weeks passed, the infants in the Leng family continued to grow, but the subtle tension between Qingxue and Ruolan did not fade.

Though too young to speak, their expressions and actions spoke louder than words.

Ruolan was not content with being second.

She had sensed it—that rejection. That moment when Qingxue had pulled away from her touch. It was small, almost meaningless to an adult. But to Ruolan, it had left a mark.

She didn't understand why, but she hated it.

She hated how everyone always looked at Qingxue first.

She hated how her parents compared her to Qingxue, as if she wasn't enough.

And most of all, she hated how Qiuhan never left his sister's side.

Even as babies, there was something distinctly different about the way Qingxue and Qiuhan carried themselves. Their silver-blue eyes were sharp, eerily intelligent for their age, and there was something about them that made people stop and look twice.

Ruolan, on the other hand, had dark brown eyes like her father, an ordinary shade in the family.

She felt like she blended into the background.

She didn't want to blend in.

And so, she decided to prove herself.

---

The Leng family often held gatherings, and today was one such event. A formal yet relaxed afternoon where close relatives were invited to the main house to socialize.

The hall was filled with esteemed guests—uncles, aunts, and even some well-known figures from the business world. They had come to strengthen their ties with the Leng family, knowing that the future of the household rested on the next generation.

And today, that next generation was on display.

The gathering included a small event—one where the younger children would be placed together in a play area, observed by the adults.

Most of the babies were too young to do much except crawl, giggle, and grab at toys. But a few, including Qingxue and Ruolan, had already started standing with assistance.

Ruolan saw this as her opportunity.

She had heard her mother whisper to her father the night before.

"You must make Ruolan stand out. The elders are already praising Qingxue. If we don't act now, Ruolan will be forever in her shadow."

Her father had only grunted in response, but Meiyu's sharp voice had carried through the halls.

"Our daughter is just as good as that silver-eyed girl. We'll make sure they see it."

Ruolan might not have understood all the words, but she understood the intent.

And so, when the play session began, she moved with purpose.

While Qingxue and Qiuhan sat together near the center, seemingly uninterested in the chaos around them, Ruolan crawled toward the nearby table where a servant had set a stack of wooden blocks.

The moment she reached them, she did something unexpected.

She stood up.

It was wobbly, and she had to brace herself against the table, but she managed.

A few gasps came from the adults.

"Oh? Ruolan is already trying to stand?"

"She's quite strong for her age."

Ruolan's tiny lips curled into a small, proud smile.

But she wasn't finished.

With a determined expression, she reached for one of the blocks and, slowly, carefully, stacked it on top of another one.

More murmurs of approval.

"She's balancing them well."

"Such coordination at this age?"

Chen Meiyu's voice rang out, sweet and proud. "Our Ruolan has always been a quick learner."

Ruolan beamed at the praise.

She turned her gaze to Qingxue, silently declaring—See? I can do it too.

But then—

Qingxue reached out her own tiny hand and, without a single sign of struggle, grabbed a block.

Effortlessly, she stacked it.

Then another.

And another.

Unlike Ruolan, who had hesitated between each move, Qingxue did it with fluid precision, her expression calm and indifferent.

Within moments, her tower was taller.

And more stable.

The room fell silent.

Ruolan's hands trembled.

She didn't understand why, but she felt like she had lost.

The admiration in the adults' eyes shifted.

They were no longer focused on her.

They were looking at Qingxue.

Again.

---

As Ruolan stood frozen, her tiny hands tightening into fists, Qiuhan sat beside Qingxue, watching.

He hadn't paid attention to Ruolan before.

But now, as he looked at her darkened expression, something flickered in his gaze.

Disdain.

A baby shouldn't be able to feel such an emotion, but Qiuhan was no ordinary child.

And neither was Qingxue.

He gently knocked over her tower of blocks, causing them to scatter across the mat.

A few adults chuckled. "Oh, looks like Qiuhan wants to play too."

But Qingxue didn't react.

She only glanced at Qiuhan, who gave her a look—one that said:

"There's no need to show them yet."

Ruolan, however, misunderstood completely.

She thought Qiuhan was erasing her defeat.

Her fists slowly unclenched, and the look of loss in her eyes faded slightly.

She didn't know that Qiuhan had no interest in comforting her.

He simply didn't want Qingxue to reveal too much.

Not yet.

---

As the banquet ended and the guests left, Ruolan was taken back to her own courtyard.

She lay in her crib, staring at the ceiling, her tiny fingers gripping the soft blanket beneath her.

The praise she had received earlier felt hollow now.

All she could remember was the way the adults had turned their attention away.

And the way Qiuhan had stood so firmly by Qingxue's side.

For the first time, a tiny seed of resentment took root in her heart.

One day, she swore, she would make them look at her first.

Even if it meant knocking Qingxue down herself.