Niannian listened attentively. He was a good listener, he only listened, offering no opinions or comfort. Strangely, his lack of comfort was exactly what comforted Ji Shiyu.
Ji Shiyu just wanted a silent listener to vent his frustrations to. Unfortunately, everyone around him found him noisy and would tell him to shut up after just a few sentences.
Rarely encountering a listener like Niannian, he was overjoyed. After pouring out his grievances, he looked at Niannian again and suddenly found the child quite likable.
Ji Shiyu extended his hand toward Niannian with a bright smile. "I think you’re great. I’m sure we’ll become really good friends in the future."
Niannian: "..."
Niannian cooperatively raised his hand, but before he could touch Ji Shiyu’s fingers, Ji Shiyu quickly grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously.
He didn’t understand, how could Ji Shiyu’s attitude toward him change so quickly?
Just moments ago, he had been glaring fiercely at him, and now he was saying they would become good friends?
[Little Yu, your standards for good friends might be a bit too low!]
[Friendship is all about fate. Some people can’t connect even after spending a long time together, while others become close friends in just a few days.]
[I’ve noticed, Xiao Yu’s criteria for a friend is: someone who can tolerate his complaints!]
[Hahaha, no wonder he likes sticking to Xiao Ze. In his eyes, Xiao Ze’s indifference means he’s willing to listen.]
"My granduncle’s cookies are really delicious. I brought two packs when I left home. I originally planned to give one to Ji Suize, but he’s been so mean to me that I don’t want to give it to him anymore. This pack is for you, my good friend." Ji Shiyu dug out two small pink bags from his little backpack and tossed one to Niannian.
Niannian opened it and saw the bag was filled with cookies of various shapes.
"These were made by Auntie Wang. Her cookies are the best. Try one!" Ji Shiyu said, grabbing a cookie and stuffing it into Niannian’s mouth.
The cookie was crispy, coated with powdered sugar on the outside and filled with a secret strawberry jam. It was different from any cookie Niannian had tasted before, the tartness of the strawberry balanced the sweetness of the cookie, creating a unique flavor he really liked.
"Delicious, right?" Ji Shiyu could tell from Niannian’s expression that he enjoyed it. He popped one into his own mouth, then grabbed another and fed it to Niannian.
Niannian had been caught off guard earlier, but this time, seeing Ji Shiyu's gesture, he obediently opened his mouth, waiting for Ji Shiyu to feed him.
When Ji Suize focused on something, he paid no attention to his surroundings, even sounds were automatically filtered out. After meeting Niannian, Niannian became his only exception.
Sensing the person beside him constantly moving, Ji Suize finally shifted his attention away from the book.
In just a short moment of inattention, Ji Shiyu, who had been fierce toward Niannian earlier, had completely changed.
Ji Shiyu’s arm was now affectionately wrapped around Niannian’s, and he was enthusiastically telling Niannian about his family’s puppy.
“Xiao Feng is really smart. I searched for a long time but couldn’t find my toy. Xiao Feng understood what I was saying and found it for me in the grass in the garden…
Niannian listened with great interest. As Ji Shiyu grew more excited, he took out his phone and showed Niannian a photo of the puppy.
“Xiao Feng” was a Samoyed. Though called a puppy, it was already taller than Ji Shiyu. It smiled adorably at the camera, living up to its nickname “Smiling Angel.”
Niannian let out a “wow” and praised, “It’s so cute.”
Ji Shiyu beamed with pride. “If you come to my house, I’ll let Xiao Feng play with you. Of course, you have to play with me too. I’m Xiao Feng’s owner. As long as you’re friends with me, Xiao Feng will naturally welcome you.”
Before Niannian could respond, an arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him into Ji Suize’s embrace.
Ji Suize narrowed his eyes, casting an unfriendly look at Ji Shiyu.
Ji Shiyu nervously swallowed. “Big Brother, did Niannian and I disturb you?”
Paper and a pen were on the coffee table, but Ji Suize hadn’t written anything. For once, he spoke up. “You disturbed me.”
Ji Shiyu: “…”
It’s you.
The statement didn’t include Niannian.
Ji Shiyu understood the deeper meaning behind Ji Suize’s words and covered his mouth with his hand. “I won’t speak anymore. You can continue memorizing.”
Only then did Ji Suize shift his gaze back to the book, keeping his arm firmly around Niannian’s waist.
Niannian wanted to say something, but seeing Ji Suize’s intense focus, he swallowed his words. He didn’t want to disturb Ji Suize while he was studying.
Someone poked his shoulder. Niannian turned to see Ji Shiyu raising an eyebrow at him and mouthing a few words: Let’s go out and let him study in peace.
Niannian understood Ji Shiyu’s meaning and tried to break free from Ji Suize’s embrace. As soon as he removed Ji Suize’s arm, it wrapped around him again.
Ji Suize asked, “What are you doing?”
Niannian replied, “Big Brother is studying here. Brother Xiao Yu and I will disturb you if we stay.”
“You won’t disturb me,” Ji Suize said, tightening his grip on Niannian’s waist even more.
Niannian: “…”
Ji Shiyu chimed in, “Niannian and I will be noisy if we talk. Why don’t you study first? Niannian and I will go downstairs to play for a while. You can find us when you’re done.”
Niannian nodded repeatedly. Ji Shiyu had expressed exactly what he wanted to say.
In just a short while, not only had Ji Shiyu’s attitude changed, but even his way of addressing Niannian had shifted. It was as if he and Niannian were long-time friends with a particularly close bond.
Ji Suize’s eyes darkened. “Niannian won’t disturb me.”
Ji Shiyu grinned and pointed at himself expectantly.
Ji Suize glanced at him. “You will.”
Ji Shiyu’s smile instantly vanished, and he protested, “How could I possibly disturb you?!”
Ji Suize replied, “You’re disturbing me right now.”
"..." Ji Shiyu hooked his arm around Niannian's, pouting angrily, "Then I won't disturb you. I'll take Niannian downstairs to play."
Ji Suize reached out and pulled Niannian's hand from Ji Shiyu's grasp. "His foot is injured. It's inconvenient."
Unaware of Ji Suize's displeasure, Ji Shiyu patted his little chest. "Don't worry, I can carry him on my back! I saw a small cart downstairs, wherever he wants to go, I can push him there!"
Ji Suize: "No need."
Ji Shiyu: "We're brothers, no need to worry about troubling me. I'm happy to take care of Niannian. I already consider him my good friend."
[Ji Shiyu, stop talking already! Can't you see your cousin is already upset?]
[You're no 'timely rain', you're a torrential downpour, practically drenching yourself in the storm!]
Ji Suize looked down at the little one in his arms. "Do you want to play with him?"
Niannian sensed Ji Suize's mood shift, but he couldn't figure out the reason behind it.
Ji Shiyu was right, they would disturb Ji Suize if they stayed here.
After much thought, Niannian chose the same response: "Big Brother, I'll go downstairs with Brother Xiao Yu first. Once you're done reciting, we can play together."
Ji Suize had already been looking down. As Niannian finished speaking, his thick eyelashes drooped, casting two lonely shadows beneath his eyelids. The light in his pupils seemed to extinguish in an instant.
"I can't concentrate when you're not by my side." Ji Suize's voice was soft, as if he had unintentionally revealed his true feelings. After speaking, he seemed to realize what he had said, a hint of embarrassment flickering across his face.
"Go play with Xiao Yu." Ji Suize released Niannian readily, lowering his head even further. His overly long bangs brushed against his eyelashes, and the lonely shadows trembled slightly, echoing in Niannian's heart.
Niannian suddenly remembered his past self, longing for companionship yet forced to hide all his feelings, trying hard to appear strong.
The current Ji Suize seemed so much like his former self.
Niannian didn't pity himself, but his heart ached for Ji Suize before him. He couldn't just leave him alone.
"I'm not going anywhere." Niannian wrapped his arms around Ji Suize's arm, his soft voice tinged with comfort and affection. "I'm staying here to keep Big Brother company."
Ji Shiyu looked bewildered. "Niannian, aren't you going to play with me anymore?"
Rarely speaking up for Ji Shiyu, Ji Suize patted Niannian's back. "Go play with Xiao Yu. I'll be fine on my own."
Niannian had been somewhat hesitant before, but now he was firm. "No, I want to stay with you!"
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