Chapter 13: Little Dog

Chapter 13: Little Dog

Li Su was totally thrown off by Song Wuyi's words.

Only then did he realize what Song Wuyi meant by becoming a family.

"You want me to go to school with you, eat and live with you?"

Song Wuyi ruffled Li Su's hair and replied, "Isn't your mom also looking for a school for you? Instead of going to a place full of strangers, it's better to go with me."

Li Su was a bit stunned. "That's true..."

So his mom had already been planning this.

That day, when his mom mentioned boarding school and staying at a friend's house... it turned out she'd already talked it over with Wu Yi.

"Just that I'll be with you during the school term. I can still come home on breaks, right?"

Song Wuyi paused.

"Mm-hmm."

Li Su thought about it—his mom sending him to the Song house was probably to help him adjust.

His mom had already decided.

Seeing the doubt in Li Su's eyes, Song Wuyi put his hands on Li Su's shoulders and said seriously, "Didn't you already decide to be my family? You called me 'brother.' If you don't stay with me, then calling me 'brother' and this 'family' thing don't mean a thing."

"That's... true."

"Li Su, I only have you."

The more sincerity in Song Wuyi's eyes, the more Li Su's heart wavered.

"Alright... alright, I promise you."

.

Li Su couldn't focus on reading comics anymore.

He thought: if he went to the same school, whatever Song Wuyi was studying would soon be his workload. That made him nervous but also curious.

He leaned over the desk and watched Song Wuyi work on his homework on the computer.

"I always do my homework in notebooks."

"We do too," Song Wuyi said. "But some assignments need a computer."

Li Su asked, "Like what?"

Even if Song Wuyi explained, Li Su wouldn't get it.

Li Su just leaned in to look at the screen. It looked like a test interface with basic info.

Li Su pointed at the name box, surprised.

"Song Wu... what's that character?"

"Yi. Like the word for 'left behind.'"

Li Su suddenly realized, "So you're not called 'Wu Yi'—it's the other 'Wu Yi'!"

Even though Song Wuyi's name seemed quite meaningful, Li Su had always thought it was just a reference to Labor Day.

Song Wuyi smiled. "Call me whatever you want. I'm still your Wu Yi."

Li Su rubbed his nose. "That's not right. I only called you that 'cause I didn't know. Now that I do, it feels low-class."

Song Wuyi laughed. "You care about that kind of thing?"

Li Su pouted. "I'm afraid it makes you sound cheap. How can the Song family's young master be called 'Wu Yi'?"

Song Wuyi ruffled Li Su's hair. "Didn't you just call me 'brother'? From now on, don't call me by my name. Just call me your brother."

Li Su chuckled. "Actually, I'm used to being the one called 'brother.' It feels weird to suddenly call someone else that."

Song Wuyi narrowed his eyes and said something that seemed random to Li Su.

"If Li Shuo and I both fell in the water, who would you save?"

Li Su was surprised Song Wuyi would ask that, but he answered fast, without hesitation.

"You."

Song Wuyi frowned, not happy with the quick answer.

"Why?"

"Because Li Shuo can swim, but I can't. And Li Shuo would never save anyone but me. So if I jump in to save you, Li Shuo will jump in to save me. That way, Li Shuo pulls me, and I pull you—everyone's saved!"

"..."

That answer seemed like it was ingrained in his bones.

Unless he knew Li Shuo inside out and trusted him completely, he couldn't have given that answer that fast.

Song Wuyi sneered to himself, and his attitude toward Li Su grew a bit colder.

Noticing Song Wuyi seemed to be ignoring him, Li Su, unsure what he'd said wrong, decided not to push it. He quietly slipped away from the desk and nonchalantly left the study.

Even though his mom sent him to keep Song Wuyi company, Song Wuyi didn't seem to need anyone.

And Song Wuyi was way tougher than he'd thought. Li Su had assumed that because of trauma, Song Wuyi might be moping around—skipping school like him and staying home to recover for two months.

But instead, Song Wuyi was not only fine but also killing it in school!

Comparing yourself to others just makes you feel bad.

Li Su suddenly felt competitive and decided to go back to his room to do his own homework.

Li Su opened his backpack, but it was stuffed with only comics and snacks. His mom hadn't packed his homework.

Li Su laughed to himself. Li Shuo had probably already done his homework.

Thinking about Li Shuo, Li Su's feelings got complicated.

He knew Li Shuo too well.

Li Shuo was extremely possessive—he couldn't stand anyone else except Li Su, even their own parents.

If not for Li Su having once asked Li Shuo to make two friends at school, Li Shuo probably wouldn't have minded being a lone wolf.

Li Su considers Song Wuyi a brother. Will Li Shuo go along with that?

But Li Shuo listens to him a lot and probably won't contradict him. Who knows, they might even swear brotherhood like the three heroes in the Peach Garden!

With that thought, Li Su gradually fell asleep in anticipation.

In the evening.

The gloomy rain that had been falling all day finally stopped.

Song Wuyi took Li Su to the garden.

Five Border Collies were gathered around the fountain drinking water. Li Su was a bit afraid of big dogs and didn't dare get close.

Song Wuyi called over the servant who fed the dogs and took a bag of feed from him.

"Feed them, and they will come to you."

Li Su was a bit nervous. In his palm were the bone-shaped cookies Song Wuyi had put there.

The five Border Collies seemed to smell the scent; their eyes turned and locked onto Li Su.

Song Wuyi beckoned with his finger, and all five Border Collies ran over in unison.

Li Su hid behind Song Wuyi.

Well-trained, the five Border Collies sat in a neat row in front of Song Wuyi. But since Song Wuyi had no reward feed in his hands, they craned their necks to look at Li Su behind him.

Song Wuyi turned sideways. "Don't be afraid, they won't bite you."

Song Wuyi's voice was calm, but it inexplicably made people feel at ease, as if his word was law, and what he said wouldn't happen was certain.

Li Su held onto Song Wuyi's arm and carefully extended one hand, tossing out a cookie.

Before the cookie even hit the ground, a Border Collie opened its mouth and caught it.

"Wow, so amazing!"

Li Su acted as if he had discovered a new world. He threw the cookies in his hand one by one, and not a single one fell to the ground; all were caught with perfect accuracy by the Border Collies.

Li Su was extremely excited.

As Song Wuyi had said, after being fed, the Border Collies became very close to Li Su. The taste of the cookies lingered on Li Su's palm, and the five dogs took turns licking his palm.

Li Su loved it.

The five dogs made Li Su reluctant to leave.

Song Wuyi followed Li Su, watching him race with the dogs.

They were all small dogs,

But it was Li Su who was adorable.

.

On the third-floor balcony, Ji Baimei and Song Xianting stood side by side.

Song Xianting watched Li Su lying on the wet lawn, the five dogs surrounding him and licking him from head to toe.

"So dirty."

Ji Baimei shot a sidelong glance at Song Xianting.

"Song Wuyi is a little lunatic. Best not to touch his things."

Song Xianting gave a half-smile and met her gaze.

"What is his?"