Chapter Seventy-Six: Brother Tian Ai, You're My Favorite!

Ten years ago, at six o’clock on an unremarkable morning, the sun had yet to fully rise, lingering shyly behind the clouds at the edge of the horizon.

In the Xue family compound in the capital, within the kitchen of the first villa, fifteen-year-old Xue Tian’ai was energetically beating eggs.

By his right hand lay a rolling pin, and on the cutting board, a perfectly round, moon-white pancake rested quietly, its surface gleaming with traces of oil.

“Tian’ai, is breakfast not ready yet? I’m starving!” A girl appeared in the kitchen doorway, her voice touched with languor.

She wore loose, pale blue pajamas, rubbing sleep from her drowsy eyes, her jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Under her graceful brows, long lashes quivered gently.

Her skin was flawlessly fair, tinged with a delicate blush, lips the soft pink of rose petals, dewy and fresh, radiating a pure and unspoiled beauty that words could barely capture.

She was Ye Hairuo, fourteen years old.

“Almost done, almost done! Don’t worry, Hairuo. Go wait for me at the table,” Xue Tian’ai said, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and smiling warmly at her.

“Hurry up—I woke up hungry, you know!” At the sight of his bright smile, Hairuo perked up, her clear eyes sparkling as she waved a tiny fist in mock threat.

“All right, all right, I’ll be quick!” With that, Tian’ai set the bowl of eggs aside, reaching for the oil, salt, sauces, and seasonings to mix up the pancake’s sauce.

“Hehe!” Hairuo watched his back with a silly smile, then obediently went to wait at the table.

Tian’ai sped up his cooking, heating the pan, adding the pancake, topping it with pre-fried chicken strips and sausage, brushing on the sauce, and finally plating the golden-brown result with a satisfied nod.

“Hairuo, it’s ready! Breakfast is served!” Tian’ai announced, carrying the tray out of the kitchen.

Hairuo’s eyes lit up, her gaze sparkling like a starry sky. She had craved Tian’ai’s scallion egg pancakes for ages.

He gently set the plate before her and sat down beside her, watching with fond indulgence as Hairuo seized the pancake and took a hearty bite.

She chewed thoughtfully, but her brows furrowed. Sighing softly, she put the pancake down, looking at Tian’ai with a touch of wounded reproach, her lips pouting dramatically.

“What’s wrong? Is it not good?” Tian’ai’s face showed confusion and concern.

“It’s delicious!” Hairuo replied, but the note of grievance in her tone was unmistakable.

Now Tian’ai was utterly lost. If it tasted good, why the expression? “Is it really delicious, or just pretending?” he pressed.

“Try it yourself!” Hairuo handed him the pancake.

He took it and sampled a bite, chewing thoughtfully, mind racing.

Meanwhile, a blush crept over Hairuo’s cheeks. She had just bitten that pancake, and now Tian’ai was biting it too. Did this count as… as… an indirect kiss…?

Even so, she wasn’t about to let him off the hook—how could he forget something so important? Hmph! She puffed up her cheeks and glared at him, her face adorably flushed.

Tian’ai, meanwhile, frowned for a different reason. He couldn’t detect anything wrong. The sauce was savory, not bitter; the chicken and sausage perfectly cooked, crispy outside, juicy within; the pancake itself springy and soft—there seemed to be no flaw. Yet, something felt off.

“Hairuo… I can’t find anything wrong with it. Can you tell me what’s missing?” he asked sincerely.

“Hmph! I knew it! Didn’t you notice anything missing?” Hairuo slammed the table and leaned in close, staring him down.

“Uh… missing… what?” Tian’ai stammered.

“Do you remember what I like most?”

“Scallion egg pancakes… I’m sure of it…” Tian’ai was still bewildered.

“So you know it’s a scallion egg pancake! Where’s the egg? Where are the scallions, dear Tian’ai? You’ve made a pancake with neither egg nor scallion!” Hairuo tapped him on the forehead, half exasperated, half amused.

“Oh… ah!!!” Now Tian’ai realized the source of that strange feeling. In his haste, he’d forgotten to add the eggs and scallions!

“Uh… hahaha, my mistake!” Tian’ai laughed awkwardly—he, who could complete missions for Sirius with ease, was tripped up by something so trivial.

“Hmph! You just don’t care about me! You big oaf!” Hairuo huffed, hands on her hips, and sat back down.

“How could that be? You’re my dear little sister!” Tian’ai hurried to comfort her, seeing her puffed-up expression.

“That’s better.” Hairuo relaxed her pout, then muttered softly, disappointed, “Only a sister…?”

“Hm? What did you say, Hairuo?” Tian’ai hadn’t caught her last, barely audible words.

“Nothing! Silly Tian’ai! Mean Tian’ai! Oaf Tian’ai!” Flustered, Hairuo’s face reddened further.

“Well, I’ll make you a new one!” Tian’ai sighed gently, standing and picking up the unfinished pancake.

“Hey! Tian’ai, it’s fine today. I forgive you. No need to make another. I’ll just eat this one! But tomorrow, you must make me one with both egg and scallion!” Hairuo hurried to block him as he moved toward the kitchen.

“But this pancake…” Tian’ai hesitated.

“No more buts! As long as you make it, I’ll love it!” Hairuo snatched the pancake from his hand, cheeks glowing, and sat down again.

Looking at the bite mark on the roll, her face turned crimson, and she hesitated, unsure where to begin.

“Should I make another after all…” Tian’ai suggested gently, seeing her hesitate.

“I said no, and I mean it!” With closed eyes and a rosy face, Hairuo took a determined bite.

Watching her, Tian’ai smiled softly and sat down, content to watch her eat.

“Tian’ai, do you have a day off tomorrow?” Hairuo asked, looking at him with hopeful eyes.

“Yes, I do. Sirius has no tasks for me, so I can spend the day with you.” Tian’ai’s gaze was warm and gentle.

Since the night the Ye family was wiped out, young Hairuo had lived with the Xue family, becoming the adopted daughter of Xue Xiwen and, by extension, Tian’ai’s foster sister.

And Tian’ai had often sworn to bring the Ye family’s killers to justice, to avenge her parents and kin.

To his foster sister, his childhood companion, Tian’ai was endlessly indulgent—whenever Sirius had no tasks, he would rush home to be with Hairuo and cook for her.

“Then, Tian’ai, I want scallion egg pancakes again tomorrow—don’t forget the eggs and scallions!”

“Don’t worry! Tomorrow’s pancakes will have both,” Tian’ai promised with a radiant smile, patting his chest.

“Tian’ai, you’re my favorite!” Hairuo beamed back, her smile blooming like a flower.

…

That night, in the Xue family compound’s conference room.

“What? The Ye family’s massacre was due to our own intelligence failure?!” Xue Tian’ai, having overheard something outside the door, burst in in shock.

“Tian’ai, listen to me—” Xue Xiwen’s face changed at his sudden entrance.

“I just want to know if what you said is true!” Tian’ai demanded, eyes bloodshot. He had been there that night, young as he was, and remembered every horrifying detail—it had been nothing less than hell.

“Tian’ai…” Xiwen faltered under his gaze.

“Uncle, is it true?” Tian’ai turned to Xue Xiwu.

“That… sigh…” Xiwu had no words.

“Uncle San? Uncle Si?” Tian’ai’s eyes brimmed with sorrow as he looked at Xue Xishuang and Xue Xiquan.

Feeling his gaze, both men lowered their heads in silence.

“Grandfather?” Tian’ai’s voice trembled, his sorrow growing hollow.

Seeing the devastation in Tian’ai’s eyes, Xue Renhai felt as if something had struck his heart. At last, he gritted his teeth and said, “Yes. That year’s tragedy was due to our mistake.”

“Heh… hahahaha… so it was our own family’s error… heh, haha!” Tian’ai laughed bitterly, then his face twisted with anguish. “Then why do you show no guilt toward Hairuo? How can you handle the Ye family’s bodies so calmly? Why? Why?!”

That night was a nightmare he could never erase. Now, to learn that the horror—Hairuo’s orphanhood—was all due to his own family’s mistake—how could he not grieve?

“Tian’ai, calm down—” Xiwen tried to console him.

“Calm down? My mother died because of your mistake! Hairuo too—because of your mistake! How am I supposed to calm down? Tell me!” Tears welled in Tian’ai’s reddened eyes.

Unable to bear it any longer, he kicked the conference room door open and fled.

Now he didn’t know how to face the girl who always greeted him with “Tian’ai, you’re my favorite!” He couldn’t bear to look at that smiling face, radiant with happiness as she ate his pancakes.

So, Tian’ai ran.

I’m sorry, Hairuo. It seems tomorrow’s pancake will have neither egg nor scallion.