A screech echoed from Miss Jun's room.
The older brother, who Fang Chengyu considered thick-skinned, was gripping the door frame tightly.
"Why are you closing the door? What are you up to?" he asked warily in a low voice.
Miss Jun, who had just closed the door, stared at him skeptically.
"Weren't you going to say something to me?" she asked.
"What would I have to say to you?" Zhu Zan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Then what are you doing in here?" Miss Jun frowned.
Only then did Zhu Zan come to his senses. Straightening up, he patted the door and laughed.
"Am I interrupting your sibling bonding moment?" He raised an eyebrow knowingly, "Feeling awkward about your roles now, aren't you?"
Realizing what he meant, Miss Jun immediately swung her hand to smack him on the head.
"Do you think about anything serious for even a moment?" she asked irritably.
Zhu Zan yelped again and jumped back, but Miss Jun had already turned and walked away.
"Shoo, shoo, get out," she said.
Scared now? Panicking, aren't you? Zhu Zan snorted, swaggering over to a chair and plopping down into it.
"Prepare the bed," he declared. "This Young Master is taking a nap."
Miss Jun sat herself down on the bed.
"Go ahead—if you dare come over, I'll see you out," she taunted.
What on earth! She really dares to say anything. Zhu Zan glared at her, spat out a quick curse, then strode out of the room in large, deliberate steps.
"All bark and no bite!"
A smug sound trailed from Miss Jun behind him.
Zhu Zan abruptly spun around and stormed back to the bedside in a few hefty strides.
"Nap? Fine! Who do you think is scared? Watch me do it!" he asserted.
Miss Jun looked at him calmly, extending her hand to gesture. "Be my guest."
With his hand resting on the side of the bed, Zhu Zan glanced at the richly adorned quilt, feeling the multiple layers of soft, fluffy bedding beneath his palm, with a faint fragrance wafting in his nose.
This was truly the kind of bed one would lie down on and never want to leave.
But for him, it felt like a bed of nails. He hesitated, refusing to commit to sitting down, let alone lying on it.
"So, are you sleeping or not?" Miss Jun asked again.
Zhu Zan slapped the bed and stood upright.
"Stop trying to trick me with such cheap tactics," he said. "I won't fall for it. Don't dream of getting your way."
Saying this, he spun and stormed out once more without the slightest hesitation, disappearing through the doorway in no time.
Miss Jun finally burst into laughter, flopping back onto the bed with arms outstretched.
.....
...….
"Brother?"
As Zhu Zan stepped out of the house, a voice suddenly emerged from the shadows, making him jump.
"Is scaring people something you siblings enjoy doing?" He frowned at the figure standing under the tree in the courtyard. "Why aren't you asleep yet? What are you lurking around here for?"
Fang Chengyu stepped forward into the light.
"Did I disturb you, Brother?" he asked apologetically. "My health isn't great, and Jiuling told me to be more active, so I've made it a habit to move around at night."
Really now? That kid—though he always wore an innocent, straightforward expression—was sharper than anyone else.
Never mind what Zhu Zan had dealt with back in Runan; even now, it was well-known that much of what happened was orchestrated by him. Naive youth? Whoever believed that was the truly naive one.
Zhu Zan chuckled, stepped closer, and threw an arm around his shoulder.
"Hey, kid, you like your sister, don't you?" he asked, looking down at him with a serious face.
"I do," Fang Chengyu replied.
Without a hint of hesitation, without even the faintest embarrassment or awkwardness, as if it were the most natural answer in the world, as if he'd been waiting to reply to this question all along.
Truly, the apple didn't fall far from the tree—this family was equally unabashed and entirely unserious.
Zhu Zan found himself momentarily caught off guard.
Perhaps it was this slip-up that led to an impulsive statement he would forever regret.
"Listen, kid, I don't like her. If you do, just stick to her. This way, you and I both get what we want, and she can stop tormenting herself. Everyone wins, don't you think?" he said casually. "What say you?"
"Alright," Fang Chengyu nodded earnestly, without a second thought.
...….
By the time morning light flooded the Jiuling Hall, the place was bustling with activity.
"Are all these really going to be loaded up?" Seventh Chen looked at the cart piled high with gifts, clicking his tongue in surprise.
"Yes, though I'm not sure if it's enough," Fang Chengyu said, a bit nervously.
"Young Master, in all my years in the capital, I've never seen anyone give away this many presents," Seventh Chen said with a laugh.
Fang Chengyu also laughed.
"After all, we're going to the Duke of Chengguo's residence," he said. "Jiuling, she..."
"You don't need to worry about this," Zhu Zan interrupted bluntly. "We're the ones who owe her. You could bring one cart, and my mother would end up sending two carts back."
Fang Chengyu obediently responded with an "Oh."
"Alright," he said, nodding.
As Zhu Zan walked off, Fang Chengyu sidled up closer to Miss Jun.
"Actually, that's not why I'm bringing so much," he whispered. "I want to make sure you look impressive."
Miss Jun suppressed a smile.
"Showing off your wealth?" she teased quietly.
Fang Chengyu chuckled slyly.
"Showing off how rich you are, Jiuling," he said.
Miss Jun laughed out loud.
From ahead, Zhu Zan glanced back and scowled. Look at them, two peas in a pod.
Miss Jun and her group arrived at the Duke of Chengguo's residence to find its main gates flung open to welcome them. The Duke and his wife treated Fang Chengyu as an honored guest rather than as a junior.
"Today's glory is largely thanks to you, Young Master Fang," the Duke said. "Without you, our soldiers could not have turned the tide in battle, nor could the refugees have escaped with their lives."
Faced with such high praise, Fang Chengyu neither looked uneasy nor overly elated. Instead, he smiled humbly, modesty balanced with just the right amount of pride.
"It's all thanks to Jiuling's guidance," he said shyly, remaining firmly by Miss Jun's side.
Every moment, he placed Miss Jun front and center. It was said she had saved his life, and to see him repaying her so earnestly was truly rare.
The Duke smiled warmly.
"Well taught, and well learned," he said.
"Such a good child," Madam Yu couldn't help but chime in with joy. "I've always wished to have such an obedient and sensible son."
One Miss Jun was already enough, and now another one—and this one obedient and sensible? Liars, the lot of them.
Zhu Zan coughed.
"Mother, am I not obedient and sensible?" he muttered quietly. "You don't have to lie just to compliment someone else. It feels so insincere."
Madam Yu shot him a glare.
"Go check if the banquet is ready. Why are you still standing here?" she scolded.
It seemed that in this household, his role was perpetually to serve and run errands. Throwing up his hands, Zhu Zan grumbled a couple of words before leaving.
The feast this time was even more cheerful than the one for Miss Xiao. Although Fang Chengyu was reserved and didn't speak much, every word he said warmed their hearts. Madam Yu, in particular, couldn't stop beaming and repeatedly invited him to stay over as a guest.
"Where he stays isn't important," the Duke interrupted, setting down his bowl and chopsticks. "The most pressing matter now is the imperial reception and conferring of titles."
"The more we've done, the more we should claim credit," Miss Jun said.
Fang Chengyu didn't say anything, only nodding along silently.
"There'll be no trouble with the imperial audience or awards. It's what comes after that matters," Zhu Zan commented. "To gain, one must be prepared to give."
"What is owed must be claimed. Fear of loss cannot deter rightful action; such things must still be taken," the Duke said, turning his gaze toward Miss Jun. "That's why I plan to request recognition for you as well, Miss Jun."
Recognition for Miss Jun?
Miss Jun's current status as the Duke's daughter-in-law meant that their accomplishments were shared collectively. To separate them was to imply they weren't one family.
Zhu Zan's eyes lit up, and he sat up straight in his chair.
Miss Jun frowned.
"Isn't that inappropriate?" she said.
...
...….
(While writing this, I couldn't help but think of Ranma and Akane—you dare me to kiss? Fine, let's kiss! Then they freeze, bluffing and scaring themselves into more chaos. They must've kissed a hundred times like that and still left it ambiguous at the end. Silly, silly Ranma. He's my favorite, truly. Hehe… Even though I don't write romance, I guess I do have a soft spot for it.)