Chapter 2: A Child Bride’s Escape and a Tangled Hierarchy

In the end, those two still chickened out.

Xiao Xi and Shi Meng awkwardly turned their heads. They were met with Sister Yuan’s sharp gaze, which seemed capable of seeing through everything.

Ah, haha…

“Speak up, what are you two planning to do?” Seeing them turn back, Shi Yuan smiled triumphantly, then stretched.

‘Hmm, last night was a bit tiring.’

“That…” Shi Meng stepped forward first. Even though her sister had discovered them, she couldn’t give up. She tentatively asked Shi Yuan, “Sister, my brother and I are going… going to buy breakfast!”

Brilliant idea!

‘Xiao Xi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It seemed his sister was truly determined to save him. Indeed, as long as they could get out, there was still hope!’

“Is that so? Hmph, don’t buy anything from outside. Let Xiao Xi show off his skills~ Let Xiao Meng taste my wife’s cooking~”

Shi Yuan triumphantly embraced the stiff Xiao Xi. She whispered in his ear, “Good boy, wife, go cook.”

Xiao Xi’s body trembled involuntarily. Then… he silently walked towards the kitchen.

“But… I’ve already tasted it many times! Haven’t Mom and Brother Xi always cooked at home?” Shi Meng still wanted to salvage the situation. But when the sound of chopping vegetables echoed from the kitchen, she…

Gave up.

“Hmph, I wasn’t emphasizing how good your Brother Xi’s cooking is. I was emphasizing that he’s my wife now~ Xiao Meng.”

Shi Yuan smiled as she pulled her sister to sit by the dining table. Then, with a blissful expression, she stared at Xiao Xi, who was cooking.

‘So virtuous~’

“Oh right~ Xiao Meng, from now on, don’t call Xiao Xi ‘Brother’. Just call him ‘Sister-in-law’~” Shi Yuan brought up the name change, and Shi Meng’s face was utterly speechless.

‘Shouldn’t a sister-in-law be a brother’s wife? By that logic, shouldn’t I be calling Sister Yuan ‘Sister-in-law’? But Sister Yuan is my actual older sister… And Brother Xi is just my childhood friend; I’m only used to calling him ‘Brother’ because we grew up together. If that’s the case… calling him ‘Brother-in-law’ seems more correct, hmm…’

‘Ah…’

‘This is so confusing!’

‘Sister, what are you even thinking?! The family hierarchy is a total mess!’

“Ultimately, why have I never heard that Brother Xi is Sister’s child bride?” Shi Meng was still somewhat displeased. Not only was Xiao Xi unaware of this, but she herself was also in the dark. Both her sister and mother had been keeping it from the two of them.

“Hmph, I’ve known all along. But I was worried your brother would resist too much, so I didn’t tell him. As for Xiao Meng~ I knew you’d be unhappy.” Shi Yuan was smug about her foresight.

Shi Meng turned her face away, visibly unhappy. “How can I change what I call him when you’ve been hiding it from me all this time? I’m already used to it. Besides, isn’t Brother Xi a boy? Marrying my sister to be her wife sounds utterly fantastical.”

“Oh~ Xiao Meng, you don’t know, actually, your brother in bed…”

“Cough, cough!”

Xiao Xi, carrying breakfast, stood by the dining table, his face flushed. He pouted slightly in embarrassment, signaling Shi Yuan not to speak nonsense.

“Oh my~ My little darling is getting shy now. Alright, alright, I’ll save you some face in front of your little sister Xiao Meng, I won’t say anymore~”

‘Xiao Xi was speechless. She said it, but not entirely; not entirely, but it was no different from saying it completely.’

‘Anyway, judging by Xiao Meng’s expression, she’d probably guessed almost everything!’

Xiao Xi set out their breakfasts. Then, as he wiped the table with a cloth, Shi Yuan suddenly reached out and wiped the sweat from his face…

“Don’t just touch me…” Xiao Xi awkwardly dodged. This sight greatly amused Shi Yuan.

“Call me husband~” Shi Yuan demanded of Xiao Xi in an undeniable tone.

‘Xiao Xi glanced at his speechless sister beside him. Then, he looked at his older sister in front of him, who held an expectant gaze…’

“How about… I still call you ‘Sister’? I also… might, find it a bit hard to change what I call you.”

Xiao Xi recalled his sister’s earlier excuse. He immediately put it to use.

“No way! You called me that last night!”

“I…” Xiao Xi’s face flushed. He vaguely felt a scornful gaze from Xiao Meng directed at him…

‘No, this won’t do! He couldn’t let his sister reveal any more details! He still wanted to be a somewhat manly older brother! Ultimately, it was all the alcohol’s fault!’

“Husband… please eat.”

Xiao Xi conceded, on the verge of tears. Shi Yuan nodded, thoroughly satisfied.

Xiao Xi prepared three portions of breakfast. The sausages were fried until flavorful, and butter subtly oozed from the bread. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, much to Shi Yuan’s delight. She picked up a piece of bread and took a bite…

The chance had come!

‘Sister Yuan had a peculiar habit: she became utterly engrossed when eating. This time, she was savoring the loving breakfast made by her new wife, so she would likely take her time appreciating it. When she was in this state of rapture, she liked to close her eyes, letting her taste buds revel in the deliciousness and pleasure.’

‘Therefore, while her eyes were closed! It was possible, entirely possible, to quickly escape from the dining table, which wasn’t far from the front door, and flee outside!’

Shi Meng seized the opportune moment, frantically winking at Xiao Xi.

“Run, run, run!”

“Alright, alright!”

With just their eye movements, the two had completed their communication. They immediately tiptoed out. Meanwhile, at the dining table, Shi Yuan was still resting her chin in her hand, slowly chewing and savoring her wife’s loving breakfast.

‘Ah~’

‘She really hadn’t married the wrong person!’

‘Xiao Xi was simply an angel on earth~’

‘He was capable in the living room, skilled in the kitchen, and adorable in bed. She truly hadn’t married the wrong person~ She wished she could lock him at home, to cherish and love him for a lifetime~’

Lost in these thoughts, Shi Yuan opened her eyes, wanting to see her wife’s cute eating habits…

Eh?

Where are they?

All she saw was an empty room. Not only was Xiao Xi gone, but Shi Meng had vanished too…

Hiss—

Shi Meng!

‘She must have kidnapped Xiao Xi again! Where did those two run off to?!’

Shi Yuan squeezed the bread so hard that the ham sausage inside fell out…

****

On the other side…

After Xiao Xi and Shi Meng left the house, fearing that Shi Yuan would discover their escape too quickly and give chase, they ran frantically for a thousand meters.

‘Xiao Xi felt he couldn’t even achieve that speed during his school’s physical fitness tests.’

Finally, they arrived outside. Good morning, Lihua City.

People bustled to and fro around them. Xiao Xi and Shi Meng stood on the road, panting.

“Xiao Meng, where… where are you taking me? Shouldn’t we call the police first?” Xiao Xi asked.

“Ah…” Shi Meng thought for a moment, then deemed it unreliable. “This is a family matter, and you haven’t even registered your marriage, have you? Then… they probably won’t get involved.”

“Then what should we do? Seek help from a legal aid center?”

“It’s pretty much what I said before, Brother. It probably won’t work out. And the Shi family… their business empire is so vast, they’ve hardly ever lost a lawsuit. Plus, making such a huge fuss would be incredibly unsightly, don’t you think, Brother?”

Shi Meng looked troubled. After all, this was their Shi family’s private affair, and Xiao Xi was making too big a deal out of it.

‘In her opinion, they needed help, but not from an authority figure. Instead, they needed someone like a neighborhood committee auntie, someone who mediated family problems.’

Thus, she thought of someone. Someone who was very good at this sort of thing, yet was around their age, ensuring there wouldn’t be much of a generation gap!

“Come on, Brother, let’s go to school. I’ll take you to find someone for help!”

Shi Meng pulled Xiao Xi, leading him all the way to school. Xiao Xi suddenly realized, ‘Holy crap, I’m still a student!’

‘After being unconscious in the hospital for several days, he had completely forgotten about school!’

However, both of them were officially on leave, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. They stealthily snuck into the school.

****

“Lihua First High School Volunteer Club?”

Xiao Xi read the distinctive plaque, enunciating each word carefully.