Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Wei Lan stared at Yuan Xiao, who was carrying the puppy to the second floor.
She sat on the sofa in the hall and waited to listen to how things would unfold.
After two to three minutes, Wei Lan heard a scream from Fang Yaoâs bedroom. Satisfied, she picked up the magazine on the coffee table and flipped through it.
In the bedroom, Fang Yao leaned against the bed. Yuan Xiao stood in front of him in a daze, holding Snowball in her arms.
âWhy are you screaming? Youâre scaring Snowball.â Yuan Xiao comforted Snowball and patiently rubbed its soft back. It felt especially good.
âWhy did you bring it in?!â Fang Yao calmed down a little. Just now, when he saw that the person who knocked on the door was Yuan Xiao, Fang Yao was surprised and happy. Just as he was about to go forward and hug her, he accidentally touched the puppy in her arms. Fang Yao was really shocked.
âAre you really that afraid of dogs?â Yuan Xiao looked at the puppy curled up in her arms and then at Fang Yao, who was more than 1.8 meters tall, standing by the bed. She felt that the contrast was really too great.
âWho said Iâm afraid of dogs? I just donât like them.â
Looking at Fang Yaoâs stubborn expression, Yuan Xiao found it interesting and walked closer to him with Snowball in her arms.
âWhy not? This little guy is so cute.â
Fang Yao looked at the little white dog in Yuan Xiaoâs arms. At this moment, it was looking at him in a daze, its eyes very obedient and a little innocent. Fang Yao calmed down a little. Just as he was about to raise his hand and try to touch the puppy, he thought for a moment and retracted his hand.
âForget it. You should send it outside.â
Yuan Xiao could tell that Fang Yao actually liked this puppy, but she did not know why he did not dare to approach it.
âIâll hug it. Just touch its back.â Yuan Xiao walked closer to Fang Yao and gestured for him to touch the puppy.
Looking at Yuan Xiaoâs serious expression, Fang Yao finally reached out and gently touched the puppyâs back. The white curly hair was very soft. Fang Yaoâs fingers gently touched Snowballâs curly hair and his heart finally relaxed a little.
Just as Fang Yao was finally stroking the puppy naturally, Snowball suddenly turned its head and licked the back of his hand. The wet feeling made Fang Yao retract his arm.
Realizing that his reaction was too big, Fang Yao explained in embarrassment,
âIâm not afraid. I just donât like dogs very much.â
Yuan Xiao looked at Fang Yaoâs stubborn appearance and took a few steps back. She slowly said, âItâs fine even if youâre afraid. Everyone has something they like, something they hate, and something theyâre afraid of. This is normal.â
Yuan Xiaoâs words comforted Fang Yao. He looked into Yuan Xiaoâs eyes and said with a bitter smile, âIf I could think like you, I would have been happier when I was young.â
Yuan Xiao felt that Fang Yao seemed to have something on his mind. She turned around and sent the puppy out. When she returned to Fang Yaoâs bedroom, Yuan Xiao saw him sitting by the bed with a solemn expression, as if he was thinking about something.
âWhatâs wrong? Are you unhappy because of the puppy?â Yuan Xiao sat beside Fang Yao. She felt a little unfamiliar when she saw his silent expression. âOf course not. I just suddenly remembered something from my childhood.â
Fang Yao smiled and explained to Yuan Xiao beside him, âMy brother used to like puppies very much. On his 16th birthday, Grandpa gave him a puppy as a birthday gift.â
Yuan Xiao felt that the relationship between Fang Yao and Fang Ming was very complicated. In fact, outsiders would think that the two brothers were very close, but Yuan Xiao could tell that Fang Yaoâs relationship with Fang Ming was actually very paradoxical and complicated.
âI was seven years old at the time. Although I didnât hate small animals, I wasnât actually that brave.â
Fang Yao lowered his eyes slightly, looking no longer as rebellious as usual. âAlthough I was afraid, I still wanted to play with my brotherâs puppy because my brother is not afraid of anything. He has always been especially outstanding. Everyone thinks that heâs a genius.â
Yuan Xiao looked at the depressed Fang Yao and felt her heart ache. âAlthough
Brother Fang Ming is outstanding, youâre also unique.â
âBut I wouldnât have thought so when I was young. I think everyone likes my brother. Even I like him very much.â
Fang Yao chuckled and gently placed his head on Yuan Xiaoâs shoulder. âThatâs why Iâm not joking when I say that my brother was the shadow during my childhood. IN/hen I was young, I wanted to compete with him in everything, but
I couldnât compare to him at all. Even my parents seemed to have given up on me. They only have eyes for my brother and wonât care about my results or my emotions.â
Yuan Xiao felt that although Wei Lan loved Fang Yao, she did not give him as much attention as she did Fang Ming. It was precisely because Fang Yaoâs parents did not want to pressure Fang Yao to study that he felt that he was not valued..