Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

Qi Yi bent down and instructed, "Xiao Ye, your grandfather and I are going to discuss important matters with our guests. Go back to your room and stay there. Practice the violin you were asked to review earlier. Your mother will check your violin practice later, and there's an exam in a few days. Understand?"

"Father, I understand. I'll go back and practice now."

Words devoid of emotional fluctuation are like a dry well, devoid of any personal thoughts. And shouldn't most children be resistant to these extracurricular learning activities?

Besides, when a child comes to visit, shouldn't we let her come over and play with us?!

This is so abnormal.

After responding, Qi Xinye walked steadily toward her room.

Well... although it has nothing to do with Yu Zhe, Yu Zhe is just curious, and his instincts drive him to go and see.

"Brother Yuzhe, do we want to play hide-and-seek or cards? I just got two decks of cards!"

"Mmm, that's really amazing, Yun'er is so capable, she even managed to get the playing cards."

Yu Zhe patted her head perfunctorily as a compliment, which Mo Lingyun appreciated, and she chuckled twice.

Yu Che pouted, clearly unwilling to back down.

"Brother...can I go and get the chess pieces..."

"Yuche, don't be stubborn... You're not interested in chess, are you?"

Yu Zhe sighed and spoke to the two of them.

"We'll play for a while longer. Come with me, I want to go take a look over there."

Bonus Chapter: Qi Xinye (3)

The two thought Yu Zhe had discovered something fun.

After following them, they actually walked from the house they had just left to the house next door.

Then they followed behind a little girl until she went into her room and closed the door. Yu Zhe then stopped the two of them in the hallway outside.

"You two wait here, or you can go play in the yard outside for a while, but don't go too far. I'll come find you in a bit."

"Huh?" Mo Lingyun quickly grabbed him. "Brother Yuzhe, where are you going? Let's go play guessing!"

"Is it well hidden? There are lots of fun things to do."

"That's why I said I'd be back in a bit... I'll be right back."

"No! You're definitely going to find that girl and won't play with us anymore!"

Yu Che was startled when he heard this.

Yu Zhe looked at Mo Lingyun speechlessly.

"..."

You might think Yun'er is too young to understand anything, but sometimes she suddenly says things that are hard to understand.

How can you expect Yu Zhe to explain this? Because he is genuinely curious about the child's situation.

There was no other way but to send Yu Che.

"Yu Che, do me a favor, can you play with Yun'er for a while?"

"No..." Yu Che rarely refused, "Brother is going to play with other children..."

"No, I didn't! I just wanted to ask a question, and I'll come out after I'm done."

Yu Zhe could only use the second option: "Yu Che, you're a little older than Yun'er, so you're the older sister. Playing with your younger sister for a while is a big help to me, so can you help me out?"

"this…"

Yu Che glanced at Mo Lingyun beside her. She was being so loud and boisterous, it seemed like she was making things difficult for her brother.

If I were like her, wouldn't I be considered immature?

Isn't this "aiding and abetting evil"?

Thinking about it, that was indeed the case, so Yu Che turned to Mo Lingyun and said, "Stop fooling around. Brother said he'll be back in a bit, so let's wait a while. I'll take you to play in the yard."

"Sister Yuche?"

Wow, you were on my side just now!

Seeing the current situation, Mo Lingyun had no choice but to lean against the wall and sulk.

"Let's not go play for now. Let's wait here for Brother Yuzhe to come back and then we can go play together."

"Okay, okay, I'll just go in and say a few words, I'll be right back."

Having finally managed to get their permission, Yu Zhe quickly turned around and knocked on the door.

After hearing a series of light footsteps approaching, the door opened from the inside, and the little girl stood in the doorway.

When she saw that the person knocking on the door was Yu Zhe, she was obviously a little surprised, and then immediately lifted her skirt slightly and gave a proper bow.

"Hello, Young Master Su, may I ask what brings you here? Ah... if you're looking for some snacks, I can take you to the kitchen..."

This is so standardized...

Of course, Yu Zhe wouldn't miss the fleeting glint in the child's eyes when he saw him earlier.

Everyone is like this; even children are immediately struck by Yu Zhe's stunning good looks.

Yu Zhe could hardly believe that this was a child about his age, but it was true.

"No, that's not it," Yu Zhe replied. "Miss Qi, I just have a few questions I'd like to ask you. Is now a convenient time?"

"Then let's go to the meeting room..."

"No need, it's just a few minor issues, we can talk about it here."

This doesn't sound like a conversation between children at all, and it's happening right here.

Feeling the double gaze from Yu Che and Yun'er on his back, Yu Zhe felt a lot of pressure and corrected himself.

"Ahem... How about we go to the room to talk?"

"Please...please go ahead."

Qi Xinye quickly stepped aside to let Yu Zhe into the room.

Yes, Yu Zhe certainly knows that it's impolite to barge into a girl's room.

But what can we do when we're all just kids?

Yu Zhe may be quite mature for his age, but he knows he's still a child, so he doesn't have many taboos.

After entering, Yu Zhe closed the door, blocking the view of the two girls outside.

Then he turned his head and cut to the chase: "I have a feeling that you're afraid of me, Miss Qi? You've been so cautious in your speech since just now."

"Oh no...you're overthinking it."

And the use of the formal "you" is just so unnatural.

Yu Zhe has a way of getting her to tell the truth.

He sighed and said, "I feel like you're trying to keep me from getting angry, but if you don't answer my questions properly, I'll get really angry."

"I…"

Qi Xinye was very troubled, but since Yu Zhe said so and his eyes were very serious, she could only tell the truth.

“Young Master Su… there’s really nothing special. It’s just that my dad said today’s guests are very important, and there are children coming too. He said I absolutely mustn’t upset anyone. Later, he was still worried, so he told me to go back to my room and stay there… so when you came, you gave me quite a surprise…”

Your father's way of handling things is really extreme... In order to ensure that the child won't cause trouble, he simply doesn't allow his daughter to play with the children of important guests?

Solving the problem at its root is fine, but in reality, it can create even bigger problems.

“I was just kidding, I won’t be angry,” Yu Zhe explained first.

"My name is Su Yuzhe, and I'm seven and a half years old. What about you?"

"Qi, Qi Xinye... is nine years old."

"Hmm? Then I have to call you 'sister'?"

"No, I don't deserve it! You...you can call me whatever you like."

"..."

So, Yu Zhe was curious about this aspect of her; even though he already knew he wouldn't get angry, he still spoke so cautiously.

Moreover, from the moment she entered the room, Qi Xinye maintained the proper posture of a young lady, her hands slightly lifting the hem of her skirt without moving an inch.

Are you really not tired?

"Sister Qi Xinye, you don't need to stand like that. Aren't there chairs over there?"

"But...but my family told me that these are the rules...and I can't break them."

So what if we don't follow the rules?

"I will learn many more things... violin, piano, calligraphy."

"..."

That's pretty ruthless.

But you need to know

The two words that Yu Zhe hates most are "rules".

Yu Zhe, who is not even eight years old, has run away from home several times because he is dissatisfied with the rules set for him by his family.

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished, but excessive rules are shackles that restrict people and make them feel uncomfortable.

Seeing Yu Zhe deep in thought, Qi Xinye tilted her head and asked, "What are you doing...?"

“I’m younger than you, so you don’t need to call me ‘you’ (formal). Just call me Yuzhe.”

"Okay, okay, Lord Yu Zhe."

"Do you... really have to use such honorifics? Is this a rule in your family?"

"Yes…"

Yu Zhe was getting a little bored; his initial curiosity was gradually turning into annoyance with the rules.

He pointed to the violin sitting next to the table.