Chapter 2: Elder Brother

Newborns are naturally sleepy, so after Bai Qiyi had mostly figured out what was happening, he couldn’t help but drift off into a deep slumber. When he opened his eyes again, a child’s face appeared before him. The child looked about eight years old, dressed in a dark green brocade robe, with skin as pale as snow. What was most striking was the pair of dark green eyes—extraordinarily beautiful.

When the child saw Bai Qiyi awake, the stern expression on his little face softened with curiosity. He leaned closer, his emerald eyes lively and inquisitive, and finally couldn’t resist poking Bai Qiyi’s wrinkled face. Bai Qiyi watched him and chuckled a few times, prompting the child’s lips to curve into a faint smile as he gently called out, “Little brother…”

“Chen’er, do you like your little brother?” At that moment, Helian Jia awoke. She carefully picked up Bai Qiyi and asked Beigong Juechen with a smile. Beigong Juechen pressed his rosy lips together and, after a moment, nodded. The smile at the corner of Helian Jia’s eyes grew warmer. She took Beigong Juechen’s hand and said softly, “Since you like your little brother, you must protect him well, understand?” Beigong Juechen nodded, but then said something that left Helian Jia both amused and exasperated. “Mother, why is little brother so ugly?”

Bai Qiyi’s eyes widened in shock. In his past life, he’d always been considered handsome, so to be called ugly now left him both indignant and helpless. He couldn’t help but complain inwardly: Brat, how many newborns are actually good-looking?

Helian Jia, however, found Beigong Juechen’s words amusing. “All babies look like this when they’re just born. You were just as ugly when you arrived. In a few days, once he fills out, he’ll look much better.” Beigong Juechen nodded stiffly. Gazing into Bai Qiyi’s clear eyes, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s little brother’s name?”

Only then did Helian Jia remember she had yet to name her youngest son. She glanced at Beigong Juechen and simply said, “Why don’t you choose a name for your little brother?” Beigong Juechen looked thoughtfully at Bai Qiyi, frowned in concentration, and then replied, “Qiyi. Beigong Qiyi.”

At hearing this name, Bai Qiyi wanted nothing more than to roll his eyes at the heavens. Helian Jia, seeing Beigong Juechen’s expectant gaze in those dark green eyes despite his serious face, found the name a bit fanciful but nodded with a smile. “Very well, Qiyi it is.” She then lowered her head and tapped the child’s tiny nose, her voice gentle as a lullaby, “Qiyi, little Qiyi…”

Beigong Qiyi gave a symbolic wave of his tiny hand, but soon succumbed again to sleepiness.

Thus, this was the first time Beigong Qiyi laid eyes on Beigong Juechen.

In a blink, five days had passed since the infant’s birth. His face no longer bore the wrinkled, red appearance of a newborn. Instead, his skin had smoothed and softened, turning pale and tender, with a fine layer of hair on his head. His little mouth was slightly pursed, his cheeks as soft as tofu—if you poked them gently, a faint red mark would appear.

Helian Jia sat by the bed, sewing a small red garment for the child. Every so often, she would lower her head to look at the sleeping Beigong Qiyi beside her, a perpetual smile lingering at her lips.

Beigong Li, occupied with managing all of “Li Manor” and his affairs in the martial world, rarely found time to visit. Beigong Juechen, however, frequently came to see his new little brother, unable to resist his curiosity. That noon, after finishing his meal and practicing swordplay for a while, he once again hurried over.

At that moment, Beigong Qiyi was still asleep. The maidservant, seeing Beigong Juechen enter, hurried to greet him and shushed him softly. Beigong Juechen nodded, stepped forward, and asked, “Is my brother sleeping?” Helian Jia smiled and nodded, scooting aside and beckoning him over. “Chen’er, why don’t you come nap for a while, too?”

Beigong Juechen hesitated, then slowly removed his outer robe and gently climbed onto the bed, lying stiffly on the inside. Beigong Qiyi’s tiny hand flailed about, accidentally tugging at Beigong Juechen’s collar. Drowsily, Beigong Qiyi opened his eyes and, seeing a small pink nub before him, instinctively latched onto it.

His gums pressed softly against the small nipple, making Beigong Juechen’s body even stiffer. He looked helplessly up at Helian Jia and called out in a strained voice, “Mother…” Helian Jia was busy sewing, but when she turned and saw the scene, she could only laugh in spite of herself. The maidservant attending nearby also covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.

“He’s probably just hungry…” Helian Jia said, reaching to pick up Beigong Qiyi. By now, Beigong Qiyi was fully awake but mischievously refused to let go of Beigong Juechen’s nipple. Helian Jia, unable to pull him away by force, could only smile helplessly at Beigong Juechen. “Just let your brother suck for a bit…” Beigong Juechen had no choice but to nod stiffly.

Only after Beigong Qiyi had had his fun did he finally release his poor brother’s reddened nipple, which was glistening with saliva. Beigong Qiyi leaned over and licked it clean.

By then, Beigong Juechen’s face was darker than a storm. He leaned back to put some distance between them, then reached out and gently poked the red birthmark on Beigong Qiyi’s forehead, whispering, “You little rascal…”

Beigong Qiyi grinned, accepting the moniker with delight.

Helian Jia preferred tranquility, so apart from a single maidservant, no one else was present in the room. Just then, a maid dressed in a thick pink gown hurried in with news. “Madam, the Master is here!”

Helian Jia nodded and donned a pale purple mandarin-duck shawl. As she finished tying it, the maids all dropped to their knees. Beigong Li entered, bringing with him a trace of the chill from outside. He paused in the outer chamber until the cold had faded, then approached.

“Ali, you came at just the right time. Yi’er just woke up,” Helian Jia greeted Beigong Li with a gentle smile. Beigong Li returned the smile, reached out to touch the fine hair on Beigong Qiyi’s head, and nodded at Beigong Juechen, his smile fading slightly. “Chen’er, you’re here too.”

Beigong Juechen nodded in silence, and the once harmonious atmosphere turned awkward. Beigong Qiyi’s dark eyes darted between Beigong Li and Beigong Juechen, drawing a quick conclusion: it seemed Beigong Juechen did not get along with his father.

Quick to smooth things over, Helian Jia tugged at Beigong Li’s sleeve, smiling, “Ali, look—Yi’er has grown plumper in just a few days.” Beigong Li raised his brows, picked up Beigong Qiyi and bounced him, nodding, “He is indeed heavier.”

Beigong Qiyi let out soft “waa waa” cries and struggled in Beigong Li’s arms, reaching his short little arms only toward Beigong Juechen. Seeing this, the faintest of smiles appeared on Beigong Juechen’s previously somber face, so subtle as to be almost invisible.