After he left his new son's room, Xia MingWen strode to his study. He sat down behind the dark mahogany desk, and leaned back in his chair. He organized the information about Ning An while sending a text to his eldest son Xia JianYu.
Shortly after, his son Xia JianYu walked through the door. Xia MingWen carefully examined his eldest son as he sat down.
Xia JianYu was just ten years old this year, but he was very tall for his age and his serious personality lent him a maturity far above his peers. Though he inherited his father's excellent looks, his face was permanently frozen in ice year round. The only time it appeared slightly thawed was in front of his father.
His mother had passed away in a car accident shortly after his birth, so the two of them had always been extremely close.
He wasn't against his father's remarriage, he hoped that he would be happy and have someone to share his life with. Xia JianYu knew however, that it would take a period of adjustment to get used to sharing his father with some strange woman.
His serious temperament was formed when he realized how much of a burden was carried by his father, and how hard he worked in order to have time to spend together. Xia JianYu hoped to grow up fast and share some of his father's work so that he could relax.
At this time Xia MingWen coughed awkwardly, unsure of how to broach the subject he wanted to bring up. He wasn't certain yet of his son's feelings about his new wife, who told his son to never change his expression? He felt like Sherlock Holmes everytime he tried to gauge his son's opinion, not letting go of any detail no matter how small.
He decided to just jump right in and get it over with. It would just get more awkward the longer he hesitated.
"Xiao Yu, do you remember when I said that we were going to pick up your new brother today?" After receiving a nod of acknowledgment from his son he continued, "Well he, An An that is, has had a very hard life. His grandmother didn't take care of him very well, and um she…."
He trailed off uncertain of how to explain to his son about Ning An's life experiences. Xia JianYu seemed to realize his dilemma, leaning forward he grabbed the papers off of Xia MingWen's desk scanning them over.
As he read, his forehead began to wrinkle. By the end of the report the temperature around him seemed to have dropped.
Xia MingWen sighed to himself internally, ah my son is truly a little adult. He is so cute with that serious little face, I wish he was dressed in a little suit then he would be a miniature version of an overbearing president. Ahhh, I want to pinch his little face!
He quickly snapped himself out of his fantasy and addressed his son, "As you can see Xiao Yu, he really needs someone to watch over him. Although I will of course be there, I think he needs someone closer to his own age to spend time with him. Will you?"
In fact, besides helping Ning An he also hoped that the experience of taking care of the younger boy would soften Xia JianYu's icy temperment.
Xia JianYu focused on his father for a moment before seriously replying,"Of course I will. He is my little brother now, I will protect him."
After this promise he got up and left the study, intending to meet his new brother. Still in the study, Xia MingWen was staring dazedly after him slightly sad. Ah but I still wanted to talk to you. Have you forgotten Daddy already? Sob, sob.
Xia JianYu followed a maid's direction to Ning An's room, knocking softly on the door. No one answered. He frowned slightly, knocking a little harder. Still no answer, he decided to just walk in.
After opening the door he saw no one in the room. His frown deepened as he carefully examined the room. He was just about to find a servant and inquire of the boy's location, when he faintly heard the sounds of breathing.
Pausing, he strained his hearing before determining the source. He walked over to the bed, then leaned down to peer under it. Sure enough there was a small ball of blankets curled up, Ning An fast asleep clutching his teddy bear.
Before Xia JianYu's grown had a chance to smooth out, he noticed that the boy had tear stains streaking down his face and his eyes were slightly red and swollen.
Xia JianYu carefully reached out and gently pulled the sleeping boy out from under the bed. Ning An was very small and thin, making Xia JianYu afraid that he would break at the slightest roughness. He tried to place him on the bed without waking him, but the boy was clearly insecure and woke up with a fright despite his clear exhaustion.
Ning An stared at him in shock, squeezing his teddy bear hard, those large round eyes opened wide. Xia JianYu froze. He wasn't sure what to do. He knew he needed to comfort the boy, but his mind was filled with the time he accidentally made a little girl cry just by glancing at her. Ning An was clearly so small and soft, what if he made him cry? Xia JianYu was unsure if he could handle such a grim situation.
Still, he tried to imitate his father and soften his attitude in a valiant effort to comfort Ning An. "An An, I am your new Big Brother Xia JianYu. I came to meet you, don't be afraid." He remembered his father calling the boy An An. That was a good name, cute just like Ning An.
Ning An seemed to calm slightly at his words though he was still holding his bear tightly like a shield. He nodded slightly as he relaxed. Xia JianYu was relieved, he moved out of the way so Ning An could sit on the bed.
As Ning An shifted he hissed in pain, drawing the concern of his new brother. Xia JianYu hurried to his side searching for where he was hurt. Something at the back of his collar drew his eye.
He lifted the flustered boy's shirt, only to be shocked by the sight. The entire back was covered in bruises of every shade, some places had even broken the skin with dried blood littering the wounds.
Taking a shaky breath, Xia JianYu messaged the housekeeper to bring a first aid kit. Reading the report was one thing, seeing the injuries were another. He felt a deep sense of distress and responsibility begin to weigh on him. He vowed to himself that he would protect An An from now on, he wouldn't let him get hurt ever again.