Everyone knew Mu Rulan doted on her brothers, but only the twins understood that while she was affectionate, she wasn't indulgent. In fact, she could be so strict at times that it scared them—scared them into fearing she might abandon them. Because of this, the unruly twins, who no one else could control, obeyed only their sister.
The two boys stood stiffly, their backs turned to Mu Rulan, seemingly sulking and refusing to look at her. Mu Rulan, however, didn't bother to comfort them. Instead, she returned to her desk, put on her glasses, and focused on her work, occasionally answering calls and giving instructions like a successful businesswoman.
Her voice was soft, with a gentle quality that could make one's heart itch pleasantly. Even when scolding someone, it sounded tender. Yet, the two boys facing the wall felt a deep unease. Their fists clenched and unclenched as time passed, and Mu Rulan showed no intention of addressing them. Finally, the more rational but still immature Mu Rulin made the first move.
He turned and walked over to Mu Rulan. His face, though bruised, was still strikingly handsome and youthful. His pale lips pressed together as he spoke, "Sis, don't be mad. I was wrong."
Mu Rusen, on the other hand, was furious inside. Mu Rulin, you traitor! We agreed to make Sis come comfort us this time! Mu Rusen had a fiery temper and could hold a grudge for days, but he never dared to stay too angry with Mu Rulan. He was afraid she might stop caring for him, stop loving him. He was even more afraid that his twin brother would steal her affection.
So, he also turned and rushed over, directly wrapping his arms around Mu Rulan's neck. At fifteen, the handsome boy was already over five feet seven inches tall. He pouted, "Sis, I'm sorry. Don't be mad. We were just really angry, that's all. Sis~"
Mu Rulin stood on the other side of the desk, watching silently. His eyes, which should have been hidden behind glasses, darkened slightly, and his thin lips pressed into a tight line.
Mu Rulan, shaken by Mu Rusen's embrace, had to put down her pen. She looked at her brothers. "Alright, then tell me. Lan Yiyang just transferred here two days ago. What did he do to make you beat him up like that?"
At the mention of the transfer student, Mu Rusen's face immediately soured. "That jerk…"
"Hmm?"
Mu Rusen quickly corrected himself. "That transfer student is awful! You have no idea, he actually said… never mind, he just cursed at us." He seemed to remember something, glancing at Mu Rulan with a hint of grievance before lowering his head.
Mu Rulan sighed, bending down to pull out a first aid kit from under the desk. She stood up, dipped a cotton swab in antiseptic, and tilted Mu Rusen's chin up. The motion was smooth, something only siblings would do in private. Otherwise, it might have looked more like a couple's interaction than a sibling's.
Mu Rusen's heart soared at the touch. "Sis…"
Mu Rulan made Mu Rusen sit in her office chair. Though a year younger, he was already taller than her, making it easier to apply the medicine this way. As she tended to his wounds, she softened her tone to scold him. "You only know how to throw tantrums. Did you even think about how inappropriate it is to fight at school, especially right before the festival? You even sent someone to the hospital. Thankfully, it's not life-threatening, or Mom and Dad would've really punished you… Does it hurt?"
Mu Rusen, usually the first to charge into fights with his friends, immediately grimaced and exaggerated, "It hurts so much, Sis. It's killing me. Please blow on it."
Mu Rulan's heart ached at his words, and her movements became even gentler as she softly blew on his wounds.
Mu Rusen looked up at Mu Rulan as she leaned over to tend to him. From this angle, he thought his sister looked absolutely beautiful. She was always so pretty, kind, and occasionally adorable. He often thought to himself that he wanted to keep her at home forever, never letting anyone marry her. If anyone dared to try, he'd fight them to the death! She was his. This thought only grew stronger as he got older, and he never found it inappropriate, even though she was his biological sister.
But it was this precious sister of his that the damn transfer student had dared to talk about behind her back, even openly expressing his desire to… When he and Mu Rulin overheard that, they immediately pounced on him without a second thought. They were so furious they could've eaten Lan Yiyang alive!
Mu Rulin stood quietly outside the desk, watching the scene with a sense of discomfort. He was used to holding back his emotions and was generally calmer, but today, he couldn't stay composed. The moment he heard Lan Yiyang's words, he wanted to beat him to a pulp. Their sister, so kind and pure, didn't deserve even a speck of tarnish!
"Rulin, come here," Mu Rulan called after finishing with Mu Rusen, shooing him away. Mu Rusen reluctantly stood up, glaring at Mu Rulin as he did.
Mu Rulin ignored the glare and walked over without hesitation, sitting down. His tightly pressed lips relaxed slightly, and his expression softened. Suddenly, he remembered something. "Sis, Rusen's in love."
Mu Rulan was surprised, and Mu Rusen immediately blushed and shouted, "You jerk, what are you talking about?!" He glanced at Mu Rulan, his face red with panic, though he didn't understand why he felt so flustered.
"You said it yourself. Didn't you say you liked Zhou Yaya?" Zhou Yaya was a new transfer student in the class next door. She carried herself like a queen, exuding an air of cold elegance despite her young age. She walked with such grace and confidence that she left an impression on everyone. However, she barely acknowledged the boys. Once, Mu Rusen, on a whim, whistled at her as he passed her class, and Zhou Yaya simply gave him a cold look. That one glance had sparked something in the fifteen-year-old boy.
Mu Rusen's expression tightened as he fiddled with his fingers, glancing between Mu Rulan and Mu Rulin. He thought back to Zhou Yaya's icy gaze, which felt as sharp and captivating as Cupid's arrow, piercing his heart. Maybe… he really was in love.
"Sis…" He was afraid Mu Rulan would disapprove of him dating so young, even though among their elite circle, fifteen wasn't considered too early. Still, he cared deeply about her opinion. If she said she didn't like it, he would drop the idea immediately.
Mu Rulan paused, then smiled. "It's fine. As long as my brother is happy, that's all that matters to me."
Mu Rusen was deeply moved. He circled the desk and hugged Mu Rulan's waist, unwilling to let go. He wanted to cling to her, to have her love and care for him forever, to never leave him. "Sis…"
"But Zhou Yaya is known as the Ice Queen. If Rusen tries to pursue her alone, he'll never succeed," Mu Rulin added, glancing at the hands wrapped around Mu Rulan's waist.
Mu Rusen looked up, pouting slightly. "Sis, you have to help me, or I'll lose face in front of my friends."
Mu Rulan affectionately patted his head. "Alright."
Mu Rusen's face lit up with a bright smile, his metaphorical tail wagging behind him. "I knew Sis would agree to anything for me!"
Mu Rulan didn't respond, simply continuing to stroke his head with a soft, warm smile that was utterly captivating.
Yes, she would agree to anything for him, showering him with unparalleled love and indulgence. She would give him whatever he wanted.
Because…
—When you want to harm someone, give them what they desire. Make them depend on you, trust you, and make it so they can't live without you.