All Hail Cousin Brother

135 Wishful Life

She had changed so much in just two months. Nanny Xu’s upbringing was one thing, but wasn’t this also the reason?

It was just a dream. In this lifetime, she had made up her mind to stay far away from Song Mingzhao, so she did not want to be too close to the Zhenguo Marquis Residence.

However, the relationship between the Yu Residence and the Zhenguo Marquis Residence was very important. The marriage between the two families was a situation of mutual benefits. It involved the conflict of the royal court, and the factions were not something that a young lady like her could control.

Therefore, she could not avoid the Zhenguo Marquis Residence.

In addition, there was no way to avoid the personal relationship between Grandmother and Grandmother Song.

Suddenly, someone knocked on her forehead. Yu Youyao covered her forehead in pain. She looked up and saw that her cousin had arrived.

Her cousin’s gaze was dark and oppressive. Yu Youyao panicked for a moment. She blinked and called out softly, “Cousin!”

Her voice was so soft that it made Zhou Linghuai’s heart tremble. “Why are you in a daze?”

After school, Zhou Linghuai came to the Jade Courtyard as usual, but what greeted him was not the little girl’s cheerful voice calling him “Cousin”.

He pushed the wheelchair into the study quietly and saw the little girl sitting by the window. Her bright eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of ashes. They were empty and filled with pain and despair. Even her young face was pale, revealing a sense of panic and helplessness that did not match her age.

He almost thought he was mistaken.

In his eyes, Yu Youyao was a carefree little girl.

Her eyes would glow like the sparkling stars in the sky. Even in the endless night, they could decorate the night and dazzle the stars.

Her smile was clean and bright, like sunlight. It was warm and could melt the cold and ice of winter.

She had a strong and vigorous vitality that could even reignite the dead.

However, he saw the despair of falling into the mud and shattering into pieces in such a young lady.

Zhou Linghuai’s breathing slowed down as he gently rubbed the top of the little girl’s head. “What were you thinking about just now?”

“N-nothing.” Yu Youyao pursed her lips and lowered her head. She twirled the long and narrow leaves of the ink orchid with her fingertips and was silent for a moment. Then, she looked up at her cousin and smiled. “Cousin, I’ve just read the Four Systems of Mourning and Spring and Autumn. There are many things I don’t understand.”

Nightmares were different from reality.

At least, there was no cousin in the nightmare.

With her cousin around, she definitely wouldn’t be as miserable as she had been in her dream.

Besides, she was only ten years old now. It was too early to talk about marriage.

Old Madam of Zhenguo had always been very close to her. Perhaps it was because the medicine she had given her previously had eased her cough, so she had given her an expensive gift.

Why should she worry unnecessarily?!

The last time Song Mingzhao was at the Precious Peace Temple and had come to greet her grandmother and Grandmother Song, she had deliberately observed Yu Jianjia.

Although Yu Jianjia was careful to hide it, she was still attracted to Song Mingzhao like in the nightmare. She could plan for the future just based on this.

In the nightmare, her grandmother had arranged a marriage for her, and she had accepted it passively.

In this world, she was unwilling to be involved with Song Mingzhao, so she naturally wouldn’t accept it passively. Since things hadn’t reached that stage, there was no need to be too conflicted.

No matter what, her cousin would definitely help her.

After figuring this out, Yu Youyao smiled. “Cousin, I’ve memorized everything I don’t understand. I’m just waiting for you to come so I can ask for guidance.”

The little girl’s voice was cheerful and sweet as she happily went to get a stack of paper from the desk.

It was as if the helplessness and despair from before was just his imagination. Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but clench his fists tightly.

However, since the young lady did not want to tell him, he naturally would not press her.

After handing her notes to her cousin, Yu Youyao poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to him politely. “Cousin, have some tea to moisten your throat first.”

Zhou Linghuai’s expression softened. He took the tea from the young lady’s hands and took a sip. He placed the teacup on the table and read Yu Youyao’s notes while explaining the mistakes.

One spoke while the other listened. Unknowingly, it was lunchtime.

“Cousin, let’s go eat.” The little girl’s voice was cheerful as she walked behind her cousin and carefully pushed the wheelchair.

Zhou Linghuai spun his wheelchair with both hands and cooperated with her. His gaze fell on the green stone floor. At some point, a thick dark green carpet had been laid out. The threshold at the door had also been changed to a low ramp like in the Green House. The eight tables had been changed to round tables. Some fragile ornaments had also been changed.

In the courtyard, the annoying flowers and trees had been shoveled one by one, and the narrow curved path had been changed to a patterned and slippery limestone surface…

For a moment, he realized that the small courtyard that belonged to the little girl was filled with his traces.

Zhou Linghuai felt a lump in his throat.

When they entered the side hall, Nanny Xu had already asked someone to set up a meal. There were five dishes and a soup, all of which were Zhou Linghuai and Yu Youyao’s favorites. The color, fragrance, and smell of food whetted their appetite.

Unknowingly, everyone in the Jade Courtyard could even grasp his taste very accurately.

Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but turn to look at the little girl.

The little girl’s eyes were always filled with joy. Her eyes were bright like stars decorating the night sky, and her smile was pure and bright.

Just like the day she entered the residence, the little girl had recited the Medicine Master’s Scripture: “The body is like glass, clear inside and out, pure and flawless.”

Zhou Linghuai suddenly thought of the little girl he had seen previously. Her eyes were empty and filled with despair. Her bright face was filled with despair.

Zhou Linghuai’s smile faded bit by bit, and he suddenly closed his eyes.

“Cousin?” The little girl’s soft voice sounded in his ear.

Zhou Linghuai suddenly opened his eyes and saw the little girl squatting in front of him. She was looking at him worriedly and asking, “Cousin, you suddenly look so bad. Are you feeling unwell?”

Zhou Linghuai’s eyes were deep and unfathomable as he stared fixedly at the little girl—

His heart was satisfied—

He hoped that he could protect her from the wind and rain with his flesh and blood, protect her clothes from dust, protect her from frost, and protect her for a lifetime.

He wanted to protect her body which was like glass, clear inside and out, pure and flawless.

Seeing that her cousin was silent and staring at her without blinking, Yu Youyao’s heart skipped a beat. Previously, in the Precious Peace Temple, she had accidentally stopped her cousin in his tracks, and he had looked at her with such an unfathomable gaze.

Feeling a little uneasy, Yu Youyao called out softly, “C-cousin, what’s wrong?”

Zhou Linghuai’s tightly pursed lips relaxed and his expression faded. “I’m fine. I just suddenly thought of something else.”

Seeing that her cousin had returned to his usual self, Yu Youyao smiled. “Cousin, you looked so scary just now. Don’t scare me like this again.”