Brrr…

Cring…

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Ever since the carpenter and his team started working, the peaceful wooden cottage turned into a living hell.

Han Sheng Ming slammed his storybook shut in annoyance. It was nine in the morning, yet the workers had already begun working. Staying near the cottage was unbearable.

The harsh sunlight impaled the ground. Han Sheng Ming was sitting under a mango tree and was saved from the sun’s fiery gleams by the soothing shade.

When he looked to the left, he saw Han Luo playing with the light and the shadows. As the gentle breeze blew and the leaves danced, the light also played hide and seek with the shadows. Little Luo giggled and ran after the light. She didn’t want the light to escape from her.

Han Sheng Ming serenely smiled at her. He had opened his mouth to call for her, but the land phone’s sharp ring suddenly resounded. Han Changhong had set up a land phone in the cottage so that his son could contact anyone at any time.

Han Sheng Ming darted into the cottage and picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Sheng Ming, what’s that loud sound?” The Tang Family’s only heir was on the other end of the call. He hastily covered his ears.

Han Sheng Ming enthusiastically exclaimed, “Yujin! I asked daddy to build a dollhouse in my cottage.”

The young heir, Tang Yujin, felt as though the sky had collapsed on his head. “What? Why would you need a dollhouse? Have you started playing with dolls like your sisters?” He couldn’t imagine Han Sheng Ming playing with dolls. Even the slightest thought about it sickened him.

Han Sheng Ming realized that his friend was mistaken. “No,” he cried out, “it’s for little Luo Luo!”

Tang Yujin frowned. He knew that out of his two friends, Han Sheng Ming is the eldest child and that he has two sisters; one is three year old Luilui, and the other is two year old Wanwan. Tang Yujin had never heard of little Luo Luo – or whatever. “Little Luo Luo? Who’s that?”

“My new sister!” Han Changhong taught his son to call Han Luo his sister, and obedient Han Sheng Ming always followed his father’s orders.

Tang Yujin blinked in bewilderment. “Huh?”

Han Sheng Ming didn’t notice his friend’s confusion, so he changed the topic. “Why did you call me?”

Tang Yujin remembered why he called his friend. “I was bored and called Xiao Yuan to come. Now I called you. You should come and stay here for a few days, and once those people finish working, you can go back home.”

“Can I bring my little Luo Luo?” Han Sheng Ming excitedly asked.

Tang Yujin was his close friend, and he wouldn’t mind if he tagged along with his sisters. But the problem lies somewhere else. “Um… your sister… is she allowed?”

Han Sheng Ming retorted cheerfully, “Of course she is! She is a good girl who doesn’t disturb me even when I’m reading!”

Tang Yujin was deep in thought. He then decided to reply, “That’s what little girls do. They sleep all the time. I don’t have diapers or baby food to feed her.”

Han Sheng Ming reassured his worried friend, “Don’t worry! She can eat what we eat ’cause she’s not picky.”

“Are you trying to kill your baby sister?” Tang Yujin gasped. “She can’t eat big boy’s food! And if you really do want to bring her along, bring her nanny too. My ears drums are hurting so I’m hanging up. Hurry up and come!”

“But little Luo Luo doesn’t have a nanny… hey Yujin? Yujin! Aw… why’d he hang up so soon?” Han Sheng Ming dashed back outside, also feeling as though his eardrums were about to explode. He then walked towards Han Luo and stood beside her. “Little Luo Luo, do you want to go somewhere with me?”

“Okay!” Han Luo gave him the cutest and the most captivating grin.

“All right! Let’s pack our bags.” Han Sheng Ming carried her back into the main house. His butler swiftly packed both of their bags and soon they were ready to leave.

But when they were climbing down the stairs, they were faced by Du Liu. She gave Han Luo an unsettling glare. ‘That girl is always close to my son! Her only talent is sucking up to people. How uncouth!’

Her eyes then landed on four year old Han Sheng Ming. She suddenly smiled. “What are you up to, Sheng Ming?” Du Liu’s eyes glanced behind the two children, only to see her son’s butler. He had two bags with him. “Are you going somewhere?”

Han Sheng Ming said, “Yes, mommy. I’m going to Yujin’s house. He invited me to go there. I’ll be staying there for a couple of days.”

“And you aren’t possibly taking Xiao Luo with you, are you?” Du Liu narrowed her eyes and darkened her glare at Han Luo. She believed that because of this child, her husband left early without having breakfast. She was offended. She was disturbed.

Han Luo flinched at her auntie’s resentful eyes and hid behind her cousin for refuge.

Han Sheng Ming replied, “Of course I am! Little Luo Luo has nobody nice to play with so I’m taking her with me. We can play there together.”

Du Liu felt her hands start to sweat. The Tang Family was traditional and very prominent. She didn’t want Han Luo to get close to them, especially when her own daughters could not. Her view on Han Luo was fixed – she lacks good qualities and is a mere waste of space. Han Luo’s very presence would disgrace the Han Family. “What are you talking about? Luilui and Wanwan are nice enough to play with her. They can all play at Luilui’s dollhouse together.”

Han Sheng Ming sighed. “There is no way I’ll let little Luo Luo play with Luilui! She didn’t even say sorry after breaking the doll.”

Du Liu’s head had begun to heat up, feeling as though her mind had become molten. “Didn’t your daddy buy dolls for her? Did she tell you that Luilui didn’t apologize? Looks like Xiao Luo is only good at complaining.”

Han Sheng Ming protested, “Luo Luo didn’t say anything, mommy. I saw that Luilui never came to say sorry.”

Du Liu said, “Just give it a rest, Sheng Ming. Luilui is your sister.” She is losing her temper.

But ardent Han Sheng Ming didn’t like this discrimination towards Han Luo. He wanted to treat all his sisters equally, but his mother’s hellish hostility towards Han Luo made this difficult. “And so is Luo Luo! Little Luo Luo is younger than Luilui!”

Du Liu got mad. “Sheng Ming! You –”

“Madam, you have a call from the Lady of the Song Family.” The maid had cut off Du Liu before she could speak any further. A sudden wave of silence subdued the tense atmosphere.

“All right.” Du Liu quickly turned to face her son. “If you want to take Xiao Luo there, go ahead and do it! But you have to take Luilui and Wanwan with you as well. They are your sisters too – don’t forget that.” She then had left with the maid.

The butler hesitantly stepped forward and softly asked Han Sheng Ming, “Young master, what should we do?”

Han Sheng Ming whispered, “What else is there to do? Let’s use the back door.” He grasped Han Luo’s hand and went downstairs.

————-

In the Tang Mansion, a beautiful melody could be heard from outside; it was Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 being played by a four year old boy. After he was done with the last note, the boy looked at Tang Yujin. “What did Sheng Ming say?” His tone was rather gentle and composed.

Tang Yujin answered, “He said that he was going to bring his newborn sister.”

“…”