15 Sulking Xiaser - 4.1 (1/2)

Filled with remorse, Fan Hui Zhong made his way closer and softly called out, ”Xia'er...”

Unwilling to give in despite the obvious guilt her father's feeling, Fan Zhu Xia stubbornly ignored his voice and resolutely kept her face buried in her cousin's chest.

Caught in between father and daughter, Fan Li Jie couldn't help but feel wry amusement at his cousin's antics but he can understand why she's acting like this and ignoring Fan Hui Zhong.

Earlier, when Fan Zhu Xia pounced on top of him and hugged him happily, he saw how happy and relieved she was that he acknowledged her as his cousin.

Frankly, her reaction confused him.

Thinking back to what happened earlier, Fan Li Jie couldn't help but frown slightly as he remembered her answer to his question when she asked.

”It's nothing... It's just...”

When her voice trailed off, he just lifted an inquiring brow before prompting her, ”Just?”

Sighing dejectedly, Fan Zhu Xia made herself comfortable and had curled up to him with half her body lying on top of him before sadly murmuring, ”It's just that something happened earlier and I felt that maybe people here would not be as accepting of me.”

Stiffening slightly, Fan Zhu Xia tried to get up but Fan Li Jie held her down with an arm that he quickly wrapped around her shoulders the moment he felt her body tense.

He could take a guess that she must have remembered or realized something that bothered her, hence the sudden tension her body displayed.

”And why would you think like that? Did somebody do something?” Fan Li Jie asked in a low voice, his tone a touch colder.

”Young Master-” opening her mouth, Fan Zhu Xia tried to explain but she was immediately cut off by an annoyed Fan Li Jie.

”Big Brother.”

A bit surprised, Fan Zhu Xia lifted her head up and looked at Fan Li Jie who was looking down at her with a hard gaze before saying, ”Did I not tell you to call me Big Brother?”

Speechless, Fan Zhu Xia just blinked up at him with her mouth opening and closing as if she wants to say something yet no words came out.

Seeing her up close and looking so bewildered, Fan Li Jie's gaze softened a bit before he asked, ”Well?”

”Oh! Uhh, sorry... Xia'er will remember to address you as Big Brother Li Jie from now on and not Young Master...” Zhu Xia stammered in reply before her cheeks blushed a brighter shade of red as she quickly bowed down her head to avoid his gaze which made his annoyance dissipate at seeing her so flustered.

”Good. Make sure you remember then Xia'er.”

”Yes Big Brother. Xia'er will remember...”

Looking at her bowed head and her pink ears that peaked in between her hair, Fan Li Jie couldn't help but chuckle slightly and softly patted her head as if he was petting a puppy.

It amused him that Fan Zhu Xia didn't even complain and instead just docilely relaxed against him again without making a peep.

Looking at their close proximity and touching bodies, Fan Li Jie couldn't help but feel slightly surprised at himself that he was letting this new cousin of his hug him and that he actually took the initiative to keep her from getting up.

Usually, Fan Li Jie despised contact with other people especially contact with the opposite gender, the only woman he could tolerate before was his mother and yet here he was, actually embracing a young lady and absent-mindedly stroking her hair.

”Xia'er...”

”Hmm?”