FCC Chapter 34

[Host, wake up!! Two big cats are fighting, aaaah!!! [Hands-over-face panic]]

 

The system, which had just come online this morning, was nearly overwhelmed by the deafening roars of beasts, nearly crashing the database.

It hurriedly floated out the door to survey the situation in the hall, only to discover two shadows—one chasing, one fleeing—with Leihman tagging along to clean up the mess. It all culminated in a one-sided beat down!!

 

What on earth is wrong with this family again!!!

　　How immature can these two be, big and small!

 

“…Mmm.”

 

Despite being nudged repeatedly by the system, Qiu Qiu on the table remained utterly exhausted.

He opened his slightly damp eyes in a daze, lashes wet with sleepy tears that trembled and curled.

 

Last night, Ah Lin had stayed up with him, explaining that last problem for ages…

 

Hugging his eraser, he stared blankly into the distance, his milky-golden wings pressed flat with a sleep crease.

Like a fluffy little ball of fur just waking up, utterly defenseless.

 

[!!!]

 

Aww, Host Baby looks so adorable when dozing off!

 

QvQ

 

For some reason, as the System watched the tiny figure on the desk, its backend logs started spewing random code again. Its mood suddenly soared!

 

So this is the joy of the System nurturing its Host cub in reverse!?

There probably isn’t a happier System in the entire world, right!?

 

“…Second Brother?”

 

Qiu Qiu flapped his wings, snapped back to awareness, and instinctively scanned the room.

His homework was still on the desk, his lightbrain was still on, but Second Brother was nowhere to be found…

After circling the room in confusion, he fluttered weakly toward the door.

 

Where could Second Brother be?

 

“Ah, young master, are you awake? Um, but if you’re planning to go out now…”

 

The servants guarding the bedroom door couldn’t help but suppress giggles as they watched the little one’s tousled head peek through the doorway, eager to find his brother.

However, glancing at the commotion in the hall beyond the door, the servants’ suppressed chuckles turned slightly awkward.

Letting the young master go downstairs now… they couldn’t shake the feeling he might witness something he shouldn’t see…

 

“Waaah~~”

“Second… Second Brother!” QAQ

 

Just then, a lion’s roar that could be described as “heart-wrenching” boomed out.

Qiu Qiu, who was already intimately familiar with his second brother’s beast form from their daily play at home, instantly looked over with tension and worry.

 

Second Brother was in danger!?

 

“Young Master… wait, Young Master!! You absolutely cannot go out yet!”

 

Before the servants could react to stop the little one, the milky-gold ball shot out with a whoosh, rushing toward the main hall.

 

Oh my god, we must contact Head Butler Leihman immediately!

 

The servants exchanged panicked glances before hurriedly pulling out their work lightbrains.

After all, no one could guarantee what would happen if that soft little bundle joined the chaotic battlefield downstairs!!!

Meanwhile, downstairs, Leihman—who had just steadied a painting nearly torn from its frame—spotted the young master tumbling down the stairs like a savior.

 

“Your Highness!! Second Young Master!! Stop fighting, please stop fighting!! The young master has woken up!!”

 

After that heart-wrenching cry, the two figures locked in combat froze instantly.

Even Qiu Yiming’s earlier, almost deliberately pitiful, full-throated “Aaargh!” suddenly lost its edge.

 

“Dad? Second Brother?!”

 

Qiu Qiu stared in disbelief at the scene before him: a ferocious giant white tiger lunging viciously with its claws at the slightly guilty-looking golden lion.

Before Qiu Chongshan could even process it, the second son hadn’t dodged—a single swipe of ordinary force had effortlessly sent Qiu Yiming flying.

 

“Aaargh~~”

 

Qiu Yiming let out a pained cry, tumbling with a thud into the corner. He lay completely still, sprawled out like a golden lion pancake.

 

Huh?

This wasn’t right.

What kind of trick was the Second Son playing now…

 

“Dad! Dad!”

 

Just as Qiu Chongshan was scratching his head in confusion, a voice tinged with both anger and disbelief suddenly rang out from behind him….

 

?

 

Qiu Chongshan slowly turned around, only to find himself unexpectedly locked in a gaze with his own little angel.

The little one’s cheeks were inexplicably flushed, as if overcome with emotion yet unable to articulate it due to tongue-tied awkwardness. Instead, he pouted his lips in slight annoyance.

But then he flew past Qiu Chongshan in an instant.

 

“???”

“Sweetheart, why are you ignoring Daddy?? This isn’t how it’s supposed to be!”

 

Qiu Chongshan, who had been about to chase after him to explain, glanced at the second cub beside him, who was calmly shaking his tail. Suddenly, an unusual anger welled up inside him.

 

*

 

“Ouch ouch ouch… It hurts so much! Wrap it more gently!”

 

In the bedroom, Qiu Yiming lay sprawled across a chair, his head wrapped in layers of bandages. He wagged his tail as the oddly expressionless medical staff continued bandaging his “severely injured” knee.

With layer upon layer of bandages and the visible scrape on his lip, he truly looked pitiful.

 

“…Yes, Second Young Master.”

 

The medical staff glanced at the Second Young Master on the chair, then instinctively cast a sideways look at the First Young Master clinging to the armrest, his expression lonely yet earnestly attentive. Their grip tightened slightly without conscious thought.

 

“Aaahhh—”

 

The bandage landed precisely on the bruised spot on his knee, eliciting a genuine cry of pain from Qiu Yiming.

 

“……”

“Brother…”

 

Startled by the wail, the little one clutching his knees and curled up against the armrest finally couldn’t hold back a low cry.

The unusual commotion instantly drew the attention of Qiu Yiming and the surrounding medical staff.

Beneath soft, milky-golden hair, the usually moist lavender eyes now held a hint of wetness. It seemed another poke might cause a plump, beautiful tear to spill out at any moment.

 

“Miss, could you please be gentler? My brother is afraid of pain.”

 

Landing lightly on Qiu Yiming’s knee, the voice was soft and gentle. Though clearly nervous, the child still looked up at him with a pleading expression.

 

Qiu Yiming: …?

 

Medical Staff: …………….

 

“Of course, young master. We certainly will!”

 

The medical staff looked at the little one before them, their tone softening involuntarily as they carefully adjusted the angle of the bandage.

But the very next second, Qiu Yiming, who had been slumped on the bench, sprang up instantly. As if by telepathy, he scooped his younger brother into his arms.

 

“Oh my goodness, what’s wrong… I’m not dead yet, you know!!! Why are you so upset??”

 

Qiu Yiming frantically cradled the little one in his palms, only then noticing that the corners of the child’s eyes had turned slightly red.

 

“…Brother.”

 

Pulling at Qiu Yiming’s fingers, Qiu Qiu lowered his head awkwardly and rubbed his eyes.

He seemed both embarrassed and saddened.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

The feather-light whisper drifted into everyone’s ears, causing all eyes to turn toward them.

 

“What? What are you apologizing for?? What’s there to apologize for?? Who wronged my little brother?! I’ll beat them up!”

 

Qiu Yiming froze for a moment, then stammered as he scooped up his younger brother, almost reaching out to rub the little one’s eyes himself.

 

“I wrote it secretly. Big brother didn’t tell me to… I didn’t ask big brother either.”

 

I just saw you looked tired…

 

“And I kinda felt like doing homework, so I finished yours.”

 

Teachers never gave him homework before.

Because he was always the one skipped over.

 

“But then I ended up getting you beaten by Dad.”

 

His quiet apology carried a hint of inexpressible melancholy in its trailing notes, his tiny wings gently folding shut.

Yet for Qiu Yiming, cradling the soft little creature in his palm, an inexplicable tenderness suddenly welled up in his heart.

 

“Oh, there’s no need to apologize…”

 

“Your brother is thrilled—it’s his first time.”

 

And while feeling all soft and fuzzy, his mood seemed to lift as light as his little brother’s feathers, making him want to spin around the room ten times!

 

“Does this count as spoiling your big brother? Hehe, worried I’d get too sleepy to finish writing?”

 

Truth be told, this was the first time in his life he’d experienced the feeling of being pampered and cared for.

 

It wasn’t half bad.

 

It was even a bit addictive.

 

Turns out being the best at everything in the universe isn’t all that fun after all. Occasionally being lazy, getting pampered, being treated like a vulnerable person who needs looking after—it wasn’t half bad either.

Especially when it was such a tiny little thing, one that clearly couldn’t even take care of itself.

Lowering his gaze to the little bundle in his palm, Qiu Yiming couldn’t help but offer gentle reassurance. For the first time, his usually careless eyes held a hint of earnestness.

 

“…But… but Brother, you’re hurt.”

 

His leg was broken, and Dad had cracked his skull open.

 

Flustered by Qiu Yiming’s coaxing, Qiu Qiu rubbed his eyes, feeling both embarrassed and guilty.

 

What should he do?

How could he ease his brother’s pain?

And he’d already been beaten.

 

“Oh, I thought you were worried about something else. Look—I’m perfectly fine!”

 

Just as Qiu Qiu felt a pang of sadness again, Qiu Yiming leaped off the bench and demonstrated upright walking on the spot.

 

“Look, look! I can even jump far! I can sprint!”

 

He practically performed a triathlon indoors to prove he was perfectly fine.

 

Medical staff: ………………

 

Qiu Qiu: QAQ?

 

“You really underestimate your big bro, huh? I was just letting Dad vent his frustration. Lately, I’m in a phase of heightened psychic energy. Sure, my temper’s gotten worse, but my abilities have multiplied several times over!”

 

“If I hadn’t gone easy on him this morning, he wouldn’t have caught me, his big brother.”

 

Qiu Yiming tapped his leg with a hint of smugness, then scooped his younger brother back onto the bench.

 

Just so you know, ever since I hit puberty, even Dad has to watch his step around me now! Hahahaha!!!

 

“…”

 

Yet just as Qiu Yiming basked in his triumphant musings, his face was suddenly and unexpectedly stomped on by a soft little foot.

The little guy who’d been cradled so gently moments before took flight from his face, running off without a backward glance.

 

Qiu Yiming: ?

 

My little brother stepped on my face?????! [Shocked and aggrieved]

 

But the foot was so soft, like a little kitten’s.

 

QWQ [Overjoyed]

 

He even found himself strangely craving a few more steps!

 

Medical staff: … 🙂

 

The medical staff nearby watched this scene and genuinely considered administering a reverse poison to worsen the scrapes on this resilient lion’s knees.

 

Meanwhile, outside the Prince’s residence, Sylvester and his entourage stared at the apologetic servant with peculiar expressions.

 

“My apologies, Principal Sylvester! There’s been an unexpected situation at the residence. His Highness and the young master are still preparing. Please bear with us a little longer…”

 

Even the head steward, Leihman, wiped sweat from his brow, utterly overwhelmed.

A chaotic mess of debris—no clue if it’s even been cleaned up yet. This job is just too damn hard for the pay.

If it weren’t for the Prince paying him eighty million star coins monthly, he might genuinely consider resigning and retiring.

 

“It’s fine. Let His Highness and the young master take their time preparing. I came today merely to meet the young master and discuss how to film this year’s recruitment promotional video.”

 

Sylvester smiled gracefully.

 

Yet the elf’s innate psychic abilities made him feel as though he faintly heard inexplicable whispers within the mansion.

 

How could anyone in this world want to be stepped on the face?? It was utterly unrefined. [Elf Smiles in Disdain.jpg]

 

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Efthy: Happy New Year! 🎊