Translator: Lynn
During that time, Big Brother Jian hadn’t yet assumed the role of a senior sibling; he was merely in the third grade of elementary school. A while back, his mother had been expecting a baby, and everyone took the liberty to inform him, “From now on, your parents will shower love on the baby and forget about you.” This proclamation stirred deep resentment within Jian Bin. Clenching his tiny fists, he vowed silently that one day, he would make sure that the newcomer recognized who held the reins in the family hierarchy!
Eventually, the baby arrived, a boy, and Boss Jian Bin found himself unenthusiastic about the outcome. In truth, he had ardently wished for a younger sister. Girls were easier to manage, endearing and docile, while younger brothers were nothing but mischievous. Observing his infant sibling’s visage, resembling that of a monkey, he made a face of disdain and remarked to his mother, “Give him to someone else.” Both parents shared a chuckle, though no one heeded his words. Alas, the young lord’s sentiment was clearly disregarded.
Not long after, Jian Bin began to discover the charms of the little bundle of joy. The infant had transformed, becoming fair-skinned, tender, and chubby. Though unable to converse, whenever someone stood before him, he would gaze unwaveringly with those large, brilliant black eyes. Any motion would entice him to observe keenly; his gaze followed unerringly, a thoroughly amusing spectacle. Deliberately dangling a tiny toy before the tot, Jian Bin would incite a stream of babbles, little arms reaching out, and miniature legs kicking fervently, all futile attempts. Pride filled Jian Bin’s heart; he was clearly mastering this game of intrigue!
Whenever a relative visited, they would playfully jest with Jian Bin, “Little Bin, now that you have a younger brother, your mother won’t dote on you anymore, so why not give him to me?” Quick to action, Jian Bin would zealously shield the crib, warding off all potential intruders.
In the span of several months, his younger sibling began to utter single words, making interactions even more delightful. Upon returning from school, Jian Bin would provoke his baby brother, coaxing him to utter the word “brother.” The ensuing sight of his sibling’s smile was utterly endearing; a gurgle of “Brother—Brother—” would escape the young one’s lips. Jian Bin’s heart swelled with pride, leading him to share his toys with the toddler. Though his mother often reclaimed most of them, as his plastic robots posed a potential hazard to the baby.
As his sibling matured, crawling and eventually wobbling to stand, Jian Bin took on a vigilant role, watching cautiously to prevent any tumbles. To his delight, his brother was an obedient child who seldom cried. On the occasions when a fall occurred, instead of tears, giggles ensued. How peculiar. Even though Transformers were immensely entertaining, the little one had little interest in them, preferring instead to drum away on the toy piano gifted by their mother. With time, his brother’s clumsy steps evolved into a penchant for playing with sand. Armed with a tiny shovel, he’d move sand about, crafting miniature sand dunes or depositing them into plastic buckets. This fixation persisted even as he ventured into kindergarten. Children, Jian Bin mused, were fascinating in their innocent perplexity.
My younger brother was subjected to bullying! In the neighborhood, a mischievous troublemaker named Ah Ren dared to torment his little sibling and snatched away the toy truck he had given to his brother for sand play. His younger brother, teary-eyed and irate, was deeply upset. Fueled by anger, Jian Bin took it upon himself to confront this little rascal. However, he didn’t use force against him, but rather, he cleverly appeased the little troublemaker with the smallest and least attractive toy car. This mischievous boy was bulkier than his brother, implying he might be tougher. When the time comes for school, he planned to enlist the naughty boy as his younger brother’s guardian. This strategy would hopefully protect his sibling from being bullied during kindergarten days.
His brother had always been gentle; if you asked for a kiss, he’d grab your cheeks and deliver a playful “smack.” However, he remained compliant. A loyal follower, he constantly trailed behind, a fact that filled Jian Bin with immense pride. This dynamic persisted until his brother’s entry into elementary school, a day marked by anguish. On that fateful day, his parents were involved in a car accident, leading to the loss of his cherished family. The once-joyful household seemed to crumble in an instant. While his younger brother wasn’t very mature, he did grasp the truth that their parents would never return. Initially, he wept for his mother, struggling to sleep through the night. But, seeing his brother’s sorrow, he adapted, slowly adopting an adult-like demeanor. Suppressing his tears, he would embrace Jian Bin and whisper gently, “Brother, Jiejie won’t cause any trouble in the future. I’ll listen to you, so don’t be sad.”
Jian Bin held his younger brother close. His sibling’s resilience showcased a remarkable maturity; he couldn’t help but feel that he should be braver. He believed that his parents were watching over them from the heavens, and it was his duty to look after his younger brother. Grandparents stepped in to care for them, continuing until Jian Bin entered university and returned to the town to live with his uncle.
Jian Bin worked diligently, securing a position with his present company soon after graduation. His unwavering effort propelled him to his current standing. Though their parents’ savings and compensation were sufficient for their living expenses, Jian Bin aspired to provide his brother with a better life, devoid of worries. Thus, he toiled assiduously to ensure his brother would never have to suffer. His younger sibling was also fiercely competitive, gaining admission to a prestigious university. He was most receptive to Jian Bin’s guidance and did not succumb to the rebellious tendencies often seen in contemporary youth. Jian Bin assumed that life would unfold in this manner: his brother would marry a gentle and lovely wife, have adorable children, and he would revel in his role as a delighted uncle. How splendid! Little did he anticipate his brother meeting Long Zichen.
What a baffling existence! Amidst a world full of people, why did this individual latch onto his brother, derailing his path? To add to the frustration, his brother, who used to listen intently, began to offer retorts and even engage in cold wars with him. It was utterly exasperating for Jian Bin.
However, there wasn’t much he could do. He couldn’t make his brother unhappy, especially when that guy seemed genuinely kind to his brother. Thus, he reluctantly accepted the situation, at least for the time being. In truth, Jian Bin entertained fantasies of their relationship fizzling out soon. Could these two coexist harmoniously for long? Moreover, that Long guy appeared to be neurotic, far from someone who could be taken seriously. It was only a matter of time before his brother would presumably lose interest.
To his surprise, they hadn’t reached a rough patch even after seven years, defying the common “seven-year itch.” And now, they’ve gone a whole decade without any turbulence, leaving Brother Jian somewhat dejected.
Well, enough dwelling on the past. After all these years, it’s evident that Long Zichen is truly devoted to his brother, and his brother is genuinely happy. Consequently, he can admit that Long Zichen is his brother-in-law. Just as Xiao Qi would say, he’s indeed a “son-in-law,” and Jian Bin is more than content with this arrangement.
Translator’s Notes:
Thank you for reading! This is the first novel that I’ve completed translating, even though it’s not my first project. Hope this novel is able to make your day! If you like my translation, please let me know if you have any other projects you want me to pick-up/translate^^
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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