Han Suyin walked towards a cradle as she picked the little girl from inside.
Han Jian Yu felt the grip of the little fingers loosening on his index finger and he carefully removed the girl's hand from his.
''She can be your little sister,'' Han Suyin turned the girl's face towards him.
Han Jian Yu looked at the girl who was like a sunflower, smiling and giggling to herself as she looked at him, ''Is she your daughter?" Although he knew it but it was a guess so he decided to confirm it.
''Yes,'' Han Suyin replied as she continued, ''She is Han Mei.''
''Mei,'' Han Jian Yu said before nodding, ''Suits her. She is delicate and beautiful like her name. And she even needs me to protect her. How weak...!'' He stopped mumbling, realizing that the person he was complaining to was the girl's mother.
Han Suyin burst into laughter, instead of being offended, ''You can make her strong and teach her things. I will give that responsibility to you.''
Han Jian Yu seemed to be deep in thoughts as he contemplated over it, ''Will do,'' He reluctantly said as he glanced at the bright smile on the baby girl's face. The faster he taught her things and made her independent, the more chance will be there for him to escape this babysitting job.
He rubbed his palms together, hoping that she can grow up in a few days so that he can set her up for some hellish training.
As if feeling his intentions and burning gaze on her, Little Han Mei shrunk back as she buried her face in her mother's neck before wailing loudly.
Han Suyin was left somewhere between laughter and tears as she noticed the exchange between the pair.
''She is perceptive. I was testing her perception skills,'' Han Jian Yu stiffly said, suppressing his urge to glare at the little girl. How loud and exaggerating was she!
Han Suyin awkwardly nodded, ''Uhh... she is a naughty girl,'' She said to Han Mei, ''Little Mei, should you not greet Brother Jian Yu?"
Han Mei finally stopped wailing as she hiccupped before looking at the boy.
Han Jian Yu did not know if it was his illusion but he felt like she smiled. It was a mocking smile. This little brat-
The plan was simple. To make her independent and strong and leave the Han Family.
But Han Jian Yu's simple plan was filled with obstacles as the little girl was not as simple as she seemed.
The naughtier she was, the colder he became but she was a clingy kid, barely letting him go at any given time.
Han Mei liked this cold elder brother of hers and the first word that she learned to speak was 'Brother'.
The Han Family members were all stunned but everyone was happy at their Little Princess' achievement. They were more pleased that these two kids were getting along well.
But unaware to them, that night, Han Jian Yu was locked in a room and beaten up for the whole night by a few servants, ''What did I tell you? You are a servant. You have to serve her, be her guard and be her loyal dog. Not her elder brother,'' Han Sheng slapped him before he turned around to leave.
At the time of dawn, Han Jian Yu sat on the corner of the dark room holding the picture of his grandparents, ''I will make it here before I come to you,'' He whispered and a determination rose in his heart. He was not here to make relations.
Days changed to weeks and weeks changed to months. Little Mei finally started walking like the other kids her age and her words were more fluent. She learned to speak full sentences and everything was well but the elder brother was colder than before.
Han Jian Yu was determined to not let her close but she was more determined to tear down the walls in his heart and despite everything, she would be clingier than the previous time.
And in the end, Han Jian Yu was wrapped around this little devils' pinky even before he realized it.
A few times, his father would discover him calling her by her name, buying her candies and playing with her, interacting with her like an elder brother instead of a bodyguard.
He would be beaten but that won't change things between him and the little girl like it used to do in previous times.
There were a few times when Little Han Mei witnessed the scene of Han Jian Yu getting beaten. She would then come to check on him whenever Han Sheng was in the mansion.
She wanted to complain to her parents but Han Jian Yu held her back knowing that it might worsen the situation. Other than her and her mother, he did not trust anyone in this family and the least he wanted was to cause them trouble.
*Flashback ends*
''I don't *hiccup* *hiccup* want to hear *hiccup* anymore,'' Yu Mei rubbed her face on Jun Zixuan's shirt, wiping her tears and snot on his shirt.
Jun Zixuan patted her back, ''You mean that she is the daughter of Han Jing and Han Suyin?"
''She is,'' Han Jian Yu paused for a moment before adding, ''I am not her biological brother but the bodyguard who was assigned to protect her," the words tasted bitter in his mouth.
Yu Mei took a deep breath as she rubbed her eyes before standing up, ''Come, let's go,'' She sniffed.
''Where to?"? Both the men frowned.
''To the Han Mansion,'' she responded, ''Nobody gets to beat you. Why don't I remember any of it?''
''You were young when all of it started happening.''
''I don't care. I will avenge you," She looked determined.
There was a moment of silence and Han Jian Yu leaned back on the couch placing a palm on his face. The amount of insecurity and fear he felt before telling this to her was something only he was aware of.
But at this moment, he felt like all of them were ridiculous. Amidst all the things that he told her, she only had her focus on him being beaten. Not on her identity, not on her parents, not on the further truth but on him.
That was some weird feeling to him.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺