Chapter 9 Cold Distance
The Eldest Young Master started a one-sided quarrel with me.
My heart ached a little, but at the same time I breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
The child was already conceived. If the connection could end here, it might actually be for the best.
The Second Young Master couldn’t stand it.
He stormed into the room, smashed two teacups, and cursed furiously. “Is the Eldest Young Master a dog?!”
“He’s gone mad, biting whoever he catches.”
It turned out that in recent days the Eldest Young Master—who had always kept a low profile—had completely changed.
Whatever the Second Young Master did, he followed.
When the Second Young Master attended lessons, he went too and outdid him in every assignment.
When the Second Young Master went to banquets, he appeared in plain white robes and stole the spotlight from the Second Young Master’s jewels.
When the Second Young Master raced horses, he joined and finished exactly half a horse-length ahead.
Even someone as slow as the Second Young Master noticed something was wrong.
“Eldest Young Master, did I offend you somewhere?”
The Eldest Young Master only brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeve, voice cold. “Things that don’t belong to you—don’t touch them.”
The Second Young Master mimicked me in a mocking drawl. “Don’t~ touch~”
Then he spat a harsh curse. “I even apologized for stealing one of his candies when we were kids and sent him a whole box afterward, but he still won’t let it go!”
A few days later the Second Young Master smashed more teacups. “The Eldest Young Master must have taken the wrong medicine!”
The Eldest Young Master, who used to avoid paying respects to Father and Madam with the excuse of poor health, suddenly became sharp and bold.
He no longer skipped morning greetings. Before dawn he would sit in Madam’s courtyard.
Somehow he carried something on him—every time he arrived, Madam’s little dog barked wildly, disturbing the entire residence.
They couldn’t stop him from coming, so he stood in the yard and shouted, “Is Madam ashamed of her son’s low birth and unwilling to acknowledge him?”
The commotion lasted more than half a month. Madam visibly aged.
At dinner one night the Eldest Young Master spoke to Father. “Father, your son has made some small progress in studies recently and has questions he hopes you can clarify.”
They talked back and forth happily. Father drank several extra cups. “Our Lin family has successors at last!”
Then he glanced down at the Second Young Master gnawing an elbow and scolded him harshly.
The Second Young Master thought the matter was over after the scolding.
But the Eldest Young Master worked diligently day and night, constantly showing off in front of Father. The Second Young Master’s position as the most beloved son grew shaky.
Mentioning this reminded the Second Young Master of the Eldest Young Master’s earlier warning not to touch what wasn’t his. He grew both shocked and furious. “Has he lost his mind?”
“He wants to steal my inheritance?!”