Da Ge

Chapter 14
Ma Zi seemed aware that Wei Qian might be lurking at his doorstep, waiting for him, and thus decided not to return home at all.kAVfGErDtPTISqgjwPHIlRKjdOShDF

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He even stopped visiting the hospital, only sneaking in to make payments when his account was nearly empty. Ever since Wei Qian spotted him at a nightclub, he had been steadfast in avoiding him.MxCUvhOjmNZhFjxCutWBMsDJhYLCQK

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One evening, when Wei Qian was off duty, he and San Pang found themselves wandering near Ma Zi’s home for what felt like the umpteenth time. Snatching a cigarette from Wei Qian, San Pang squatted down, fixated on an anthill, and remarked, “The guy’s really good at hiding, huh? Hey Qian, do you think if he’d used his brain like this back when we were in school, he’d still be unable to count?”sBDHMcxTSfnJVKQiBSQiKWGmyUvquS

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Wei Qian, annoyed by his chatter, snapped, “Shut up, will you? Why so much talk?”uGnXTZszEqJNLEojNlSUMIjGznYogS

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San Pang clutched his chest, “You young bastards, think you’re all grown up and don’t need to listen anymore? When I was looking after you, it was all piss and shit…”XXUBqfTYKlfDfAlcFGIfjdGxkiZbNb

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Wei Qian gave him a chilly look.DYwXOSYqLVPmTrqFkunFUFXjPpwwGt

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San Pang abruptly stopped, then after a moment, jokingly yet meaningfully said, “Have you noticed you’ve been more irritable lately? Been eating too much spicy beef?”fDpFyGpVIxvwjVLOCumvfDCvghaJor

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Wei Qian ignored him. At that moment, Wei Zhiyuan appeared at a third-floor window, pointing in a specific direction and mouthing something to them.nhulVAhvUjtVHSaBtoOhfvTyiuMtlp

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San Pang commented, “What’s that monkey doing, clinging to the window like a gecko?”rkODDCPkPatoOkNWuwHGdVEWFeGZOM

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Wei Qian grabbed San Pang and pulled him into a nearby alley, whispering, “I asked him to keep watch for me.”wKGebAiDnzHOJnrpvsmjmPwDQeyevW

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San Pang was astonished, “All this, and you even bought him a telescope?”NSWZnaQzyoekpBYZeZlmsthXYWclIN

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Wei Qian replied, “No, he found some convex and concave plastic lenses somewhere and made one himself with cardboard.”NcuLhFdntcuGnyDvgNVIeVgmHSkHMS

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San Pang, filled with admiration, exclaimed, “That’s brilliant, clever and skilled, a born scientist… Holy shit, what’s this?”TsymTWUehZDmiPtGoGaWrUZlRxbCaX

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Wei Qian picked up a sack and a roll of rope from the corner, handing the rope to San Pang, “Hiding from me? Let’s tie him up.”YOjjKBUmgVYKAjWdtjKTUrWAHYQjBW

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San Pang, looking down at the rope in his hands, was filled with a profound sense of admiration, “Incredible, for murder and kidnapping, truly the making of a hero from the tales of Mount Liang!”YxPIBPAiOykapQNgVDePMULBCXNRFt

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Wei Qian took a couple of steps before it dawned on him, “Are you calling me a bandit?”WCuiOuxgFWfzsqYTqcvnsUXRtAAijA

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San Pang retorted, “Oh dear, you really know yourself well.”sXAoZKVKZjTJXKoKCGpclqKqmltOTn

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Wei Qian was silent.OmIAoVKpKAFUlDxLEdYqTLzHyRUdRy

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San Pang didn’t like him, thus he would often find reasons to poke fun at him every now and then. Wei Qian was aware of this but didn’t mind.cKvingZTjfUpDVSEjHMSUzuHXYoiCC

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He was on his own path, indifferent to life or death, without regret or resentment.JUBBDcHvaYtQfaxjvhGCiFklLECqaM

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Yet, like a solitary figure braving the rain, amidst the cold and the mud, if someone showed him a bit of warmth, he found it comforting rather than objectionable.jHTaDTewuHrWNzpNjsgbzIaVimNawy

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Mazi sneakily observed from a distance, making sure both the fatty and Wei Qian were away, before sneaking back home like a thief. Nervously trembling, he fumbled for his keys while looking around suspiciously. Finally, he inserted the key into the lock and sighed in relief.TLMYjoeYbmmkXHfjINvVlccVoLYZNP

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But his relief was short-lived. Suddenly, he was pushed against the wall, a knee against his body and hands gripping his arms like iron clamps. Soon, Mazi’s hands were tied.oDfmCIrAEQyMmemGkfAcaqslUZKxhG

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A sinking feeling overcame Mazi, accompanied by an uncontrollable urge to urinate, fearing he had been caught by the police, thinking, “I’m done for.”qUmymgovZUTNnqRRimNqOZgELFdBPA

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Wei Qian and San Pang escorted Mazi to Wei Qian’s house.vGWflRThHatCgeHKbdzAEZrbvpjkgm

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Song Xiaobao curiously looked at the tightly bound Mazi and shouted, “Kidnapping! Surrender and you won’t be killed!”yOeAgLmjmClqrwUwZAGzVEEkMjdvQU

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San Pang bitterly smiled, “My dear sister, you really know how to stir up trouble.”eblqDRcpqxjLSqUlhrqqZyzZFeVSjY

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Wei Zhiyuan quickly pulled her aside, pushing her into a room and imitating their brother, “Have you finished your math homework? I won’t let you copy.”mGtOZzvxIEisWNrdxQQhjsgMCCksWk

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Not being able to copy homework was a major issue for Song Xiaobao, who pouted and lost interest in the kidnapping.aYaKPGAaqvyNHJIRbFbKxVKCjYxtqW

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Wei Zhiyuan pushed her into the room, glancing outside through the crack of the door. San Pang, noticing this, quickly gave a thumbs-up as encouragement. Wei Zhiyuan smiled back amiably, still waiting for his brother’s reaction.eLmhnWFnVrffQaPjxdaPSxcLcFsiqd

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Wei Qian pulled out a box of the mint candies given for free at nightclubs and tossed it over, bringing a broad smile to Wei Zhiyuan’s face as he caught it eagerly, then contentedly closed the door and left.HFKutlhcCyMPKiSXvimkGZqnpBUMVM

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This scene seemed very familiar to San Pang, who later realized it resembled a standard dog training gesture—Wei Zhiyuan was just short of catching it with his mouth.bXIWgAYiOcRjHydTJLCllIVvtwUwgE

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“You,” San Pang said to Wei Qian, shaking his head, “are so immoral that even your ancestors are grilling kebabs on their graves.”STFcjwnqmSxFZlbSvIpojGJMoVslcS

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Then they both removed the sack from Mazi’s head.MlfLWaOTaliItkTpnJgmVmRTscKPnX

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Neither expected Mazi to be this frightened—his eyes were scattered, and it took him a while to recognize them. After a moment, his gaze finally focused, and he took a deep breath, legs giving way, and he collapsed onto the ground.yCvwJBHaDUutyRTtKqEWPEqheirkaL

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“My god,” San Pang squatted down, scrutinizing his pale face, “even your acne turned white with fear. How many bad deeds have you done, brother?”aSOCDoqkGBqdpcmQdRBjJSukYtGYyv

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Wei Qian had no intention of mincing words. He tore open San Pang’s defenses: “Who was the person you met that day? What did he give you? Why did he give you money? And why did you run away upon seeing me?”fFsdVyyhyTDNAoYQejTYYBzcnSpMMD

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San Pang urged him to slow down, joking that they shouldn’t fry the guy’s brains.RyulRlPTveGXHkzVOQEaTkBFYhCNEg

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“Burning them would be better!” Wei Qian retorted, grabbing Mazi’s collar. “Are you going to spill it yourself, or should I search you?”miLLtTyLpdqHqmuZVieYxqICPcXWbH

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Mazi, facing his brother up close, found his tongue tied, unable to utter a word. He could only gaze deeply at Wei Qian, his eyes reflecting a profound sadness that was nothing short of heart-stopping.dWddNURliZEgIFXwYnFFtWOhHoaoUE

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Wei Qian, unmoved by Mazi’s distress, made good on his word and began to search him, swiftly finding several small packets in Mazi’s pockets.aQysHhKoppUxqoXHhcJBFneBxPGGaK

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Wei Qian knew all too well what those were. He could never forget his mother’s dying moments, haunted by her gaunt face. Yet, for a moment, he found it hard to believe. After a brief pause, he slowly opened one of the packets. The fine white powder inside confirmed the grim reality he couldn’t escape.JjjzFZmTORAxbiWefVNfIWgntccwEU

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“What is this?” Wei Qian demanded, his voice suddenly shifting, “What the hell is this?!”xmhnSVsbvIrjSreHCXypYvKpzcJPYu

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A tear trickled down Mazi’s cheek, like a turtle gasping for breath on the parched bed of a dried river.lbEujQqJIXODSYkmXNRnqZDarXSRKb

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In a burst of fury, Wei Qian leaped up to deliver a kick, but it was a miss. San Pang quickly dragged him back onto a sofa, struggling to hold him back as Wei Qian fought to break free, ranting about how it might be cleaner and more environmentally friendly to just kill Mazi.xGUtgZNlNrquzYEtpnXnWhoybLvFtO

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As a non-combatant, San Pang couldn’t hold him down for long, hurriedly reminding Wei Qian of the children still inside the house, pleading not to incite violence in their presence.dtsaQXkLuqcNBwcYOKoCeOrkWSvxZR

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This plea miraculously calmed Wei Qian down. He instinctively looked back at the small house, spotting the door cracked open with two pairs of little eyes sneakily peeping out. The kids, startled by Wei Qian’s gaze, slammed the door shut in a panic.PnTzokcTkHiTJETZLJxyjKDXJDRsKP

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Half of Wei Qian’s rage dissipated with a mix of frustration and relief.GKQjAmxlNkhCWjJCkcodLMKdsbalrH

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Meanwhile, Mazi couldn’t hold back any longer. He seemed to carry the desolation of the entire world in his chest, lying down sideways, his hands still tied, curling up like a shrimp. He began to bang his head on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, as if this was the only way to vent even a fraction of his inner turmoil.gxovIMiZuFUHHUfREKEMrzLLWNYrYs

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San Pang released Wei Qian and squatted down, his chubby fingers accidentally brushing the powder spilled on the floor.RlnFwvmQIPxXbgkfDNyHTYCAEnWszX

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He waited quietly for Mazi to cry it out until the sobs subsided. Then softly, he inquired, “This is heroin, isn’t it?”HqOLGJIPXZihQwwJlGLvVDHvnmedlh

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Mazi could only cry, unable to speak, as San Pang looked away, struggling to hold back his tears, his lips pressed tightly together.MFBRInpfFBEdpCfvNXyTcDWyvSvPWo

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San Pang’s voice was hoarse, revealing the burden of unspoken worries. He struggled to continue, taking deep breaths that made his broad back rise and fall like bellows, before finding the strength to voice his fears, “But this is a dead end, brother. I can’t watch you walk down a path to your doom. If our mother finds out, she would hang herself on the hospital’s heater tonight. How could you… How could you all be so thoughtless?”kTjLxIKlmOVQdamsnFKHHwBmSCyqFa

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Wei Qian remained silent, his face stoic, while Mazi’s tears seemed to have dried up, lying there listlessly without any response.gxnFkGIfTCAHxocztoCKrpDKdfNDtk

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San Pang discreetly wiped his eyes, hiding his tears from view.qWImuXnPsCbZbuDXMQyfvwYsHGjsRm

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The three sat in silence in the cramped living room until Wei Qian abruptly approached the bedside table, pulling open a drawer to reveal a small stack of RMB, his recent savings. He stuffed the money into Mazi’s pocket, where he usually kept his drugs, and declared with determination, “San Ge still has parents; he can’t make decisions for their family. In our house, I’m in charge. See this house? If we sell it, how much would it be worth? How long could it sustain our mother? When the money runs out, just tell me. If I have money, I’ll give it to you; if not, I’ll sell this place.”ltjnwNkwOlasjEXnjfkmNuTHNqsyOw

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Mazi’s gaze slowly lifted to them, his eyes bloodshot.rGmGZRgcweLOuozaWDvRhXBAglKmOD

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Wei Qian, growing impatient, rebuked, “What are you looking at? Crying over every little problem, what will become of you two? Is it just about the money? Is it?”CBSzUjYDpfjkpzDMKeoQwPksvVaziD

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He couldn’t continue.FARTzqUjQKHujtIEiCBdYoCInLFQkV

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Indeed, what’s so great about money? But the truth was, they were penniless.ECUKIulhYBsqaVfuzPThtZgdKBYcky

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Wei Qian sat down on the worn sofa, trying to calm his racing heart, hearing the sound of a trapped beast within his chest.UJsnucMFeLZzAThLiFJVIGgYcePsld

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San Pang sighed, untied Mazi, helped him up, and flushed several packages of “white powder” down the toilet.uAdVCGXNYuvBEFEDzgoGcSAIxsnSdX

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That night, after accepting the money from Wei Qian and San Pang, Mazi left without a word.anuvSoGJulYxiWZRgnEYOqFBuvVKTd

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He stopped in front of the building, at the spot where he and his mother used to fry dough sticks, then suddenly halted, looking up at the building and shouting, “Ah!”XfnJrhcdDWLKTQSBFzdtWKaVmBYqdg

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Wei Qian and San Pang rushed to the window to look down.YHCseroCQnEbRdxIbZsZrVHmubMhKe

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Mazi knelt down abruptly, curling into a ball, showing his deep gratitude and loyalty with a solemn bow to his brothers. Then, he stood up, wiping his forehead smeared with mud and grass, and walked away.ufbNspTjuAcRLoXTKhYbwmfAvrnIHa

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Inarticulate when it mattered most, he had no other way to express himself.hFvKrcYZmUVuNHoGVPvXJBAceJqWVe

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A new moon rose in the sky, nearing fullness, hinting at the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival.enHJKLgELNsgCEuesOnJMNryAeKBrW

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The freak who specialized in bullying kids was never found. Probably, even the freak hadn’t anticipated that among the soft and easily bullied kids, there would be a warrior like Wei Zhiyuan, ready to fight to the death. It’s likely that Wei Zhiyuan gave the freak a poke that left him impotent on the spot, and the freak never showed up again after that.QyoHEXqnZcFEfxmMYgUjzpXcUfQdFy

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During the first week of the August Festival, Wei Qian experienced a significant setback, a reminder that life is fraught with challenges, especially when one is trying to make a name for oneself in the ruthless world. This was the first time Wei Qian had been cut with a knife. He was carried back, covered in blood from superficial wounds, which was enough to terrify anyone.ZJVfjyMGbcHDDcxtwdlqDbrVKYPJcM

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Despite collapsing eventually, he had held his ground during the confrontation. Le Ge was profoundly grateful and recognized his potential, rewarding him generously with a holiday bonus. He advised Wei Qian to take a paid leave for a couple of months before returning.zrEUkxcmItxYOBfafjJuldDBtCjzOt

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While money could console Wei Qian, it couldn’t ease Xiao Bao’s heart. Having never seen so much blood, Xiao Bao was like a mouse startled by a bamboo explosion, crying thunderously, which annoyed Wei Qian immensely.GLmHWSBawRsBhudvjCLGxFxLpptFbq

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San Pang had become their full-time caretaker, comforting Xiao Bao and assuring her that her brother was tough and would be fine.TSgvJCPvSvoFDlpkOQIxeVIFUhtbJH

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Xiao Bao, amidst her sobs, feared for her brother’s life, to which San Pang responded dismissively, urging her to be more optimistic. Her mention of Wei Qian rolling his eyes back was met with San Pang’s heavy sigh, explaining it was her hysteria causing it.MwxQwZHBWABqrKFEubErBvxnhQBvbL

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In contrast to her dramatic reaction, Xiao Yuan’s response was much more subdued. He remained silent, squatting beside Wei Qian’s bed like an unnoticed spirit, as Wei Qian, troubled by Xiao Bao’s cries but reluctant to scold her, tried to distract himself from the chaos.myqrrrRqDhHgcATJNwfMjfMJdRSTQC

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Wei Qian extended his hand, wrapped in gauze, and roughly touched Wei Zhiyuan’s head, forcing his face up by grabbing the back of his head: “Hey, why are you looking down? Picking up money or what…”nusXBNwfeKGgsVeJJEQHtZAooCqRLX

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Wei Qian’s words suddenly stopped as he saw Wei Zhiyuan, who had been bowing his head, with red-rimmed eyes, silently shedding tears “pitter-patter,” tightly biting his teeth and clenching his small fists, looking both heartbroken and furious.WbTgSICbEOhNmnSslGfFjOwdrRrnmE

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That year, Wei Zhiyuan was not yet ten years old. He had grown taller but had not yet entered the rapid development phase of adolescence. The clear yet unbearable heartbreak and anger he felt was because he thought he was a burden to his older brother, making him work so hard for a little money.FgjWWbizLGKlUlovGmkUhHCgGVBaQj

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Only children who grew up coddled in a honey pot don’t wish to grow up, and Wei Zhiyuan was not one of them. At that moment, he hysterically wanted to become strong, hysterically wanted to become a real man.gwpnJOXWMCVYMxJMBerfwXgdGhcyOi

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Song Xiaobao’s loud crying only made Wei Qian feel helpless; however, Wei Zhiyuan moved him deeply. Wei Qian, rarely soft-hearted, moved aside to make a small space for Wei Zhiyuan and gestured with his hand: “Come here.”fMGuuSyRAZWptbqSGhdCYahEFBBGXb

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Wei Zhiyuan obediently climbed onto the bed and carefully nestled into his arms.kvNdEbJorbHDuBHxdkypdaIQRjQRWZ

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Song Xiaobao looked at them eagerly: “Brother, I want to sleep with you too.”PeQMoezPssLcpTscOoFwehoOngygmy

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Wei Qian had no way to resist her gaze and compromised: “Alright, come here too. But I warn you, Song Xiaobao, this is the last time. You’re a girl, it’s not proper to always sleep with boys. How old are you, don’t you understand anything?”nUtLZGanPRDIktvAhbXzEXRRbamLar

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San Pang clicked his tongue in amazement. The little wolf cub, Wei Zhiyuan, clung to Wei Qian’s clothes like a boneless cat, sticky to the point of annoyance, while on the other side, Song Xiaobao became a parrot, repeating the same phrase over and over: “Brother, let’s not do this anymore, we mustn’t do this anymore.”sfBHznRWGfNUOkuWCmRPGZgaPSPImq

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Despite Wei Qian’s notoriously low patience, he remarkably didn’t lose his temper with the two of them.lsWxvZqcHRxZqLaJjBRQJtHSiBDDgg

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At first, every time Xiaobao said something, Wei Qian would respond. Later, when he realized her words were becoming repetitive, he couldn’t help but laugh in frustration: “Just go to sleep, no more talking!”zwJObQevveWSTeQNPBHCPtAWeXABBl

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Xiaobao: “Brother, you mustn’t do this anymore.”rKktsPwCbwdVftXsoMOmoGYMLtVEzp

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Wei Qian: “…”qGZZXYGTUcHbDDQRXMRLoctQbuzEAa

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He sighed, reluctantly sat up, and began to pat Xiaobao, coaxing her to sleep: “Alright, I’ll listen to you, you’re the boss, okay?”fWROrBeizCknxNbgKOZwoOuhOLxLks

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San Pang quietly locked the door behind them and left. He suddenly felt that things were not so severe. With the bonds of these two children, Wei Qian would unlikely reach a point where he’d become estranged from all kin.nqBUUlXYCaLBbzkQuJZEXMAailjtKA

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