CHAPTER 227: CHAPTER 216: YOU TWO WILL GET ENGAGED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH (SECOND UPDATE)

Tong Airui and Tong Aino walked in side by side.

Yi Luowa sneaked a glance at Tong Aino, then looked at Tong Airui. "Impressive! Grown adults, and now you’re learning to eavesdrop?"

Yi Luowa excitedly ran over to open the box and picked out two pairs she liked. "Clearly, these were bought when you were older. Much classier than the last box. Fourth Brother, leave the rest here. That way, I can grab them whenever I need them."

Yi Luowa pouted. "Poor Ai Ni and You Jia."

"Connie, poke him back!" Yi Luowa popped out from under Tong Airui’s arm again.

This made Tong Aino furious. He reached out to grab her. "If you’ve got guts, don’t hide!"

"Wonder who he’s fighting with now?" Tong Airui asked, chuckling as he noticed his mother rushing over.

Yi Luowa said this while pulling Connie to hide behind Tong Airui.

"Very fun!" Tong Airui grinned and kissed her cheek.

Long Che scowled at him. "Is this how slow you act on missions too?"

Connie looked confused, staring blankly at Tong Aino.

Yi Luowa sat on the couch and opened the album. The first photo she saw was of two naked little boys sitting side by side on a carpet. "Fourth Brother, who are these two?"

Connie quickly replied from behind Tong Airui.

Tong Airui walked over suspiciously and saw her finger pointing at a certain spot on one of the boys. He quickly pulled her hand away. "Wrong target! That’s Fifth Brother!"

Yi Luowa pouted as she walked out. "Scaring me is fun, huh?"

Yi Luowa zipped right back into the bathroom.

"Haha..." Yi Luowa burst out laughing, collapsing onto the couch. "Who’s the genius that took such a brilliant photo of you both?"

Yi Luowa instinctively glanced at him and quickly said, "Let’s skip the real thing. That could lead to trouble."

Tong Aino’s mouth twitched. "You two talk so loud, practically broadcasting through loudspeakers. Do we even need to eavesdrop?"

Yi Luowa giggled. "Probably a jinx."

Yi Luowa’s heart raced, and she nodded.

"With your Uncle Carlos." Tong Yao whispered. "Take Luowa upstairs to play. Don’t waste time listening to his rant."

Connie secretly tugged on Yi Luowa’s arm. Yi Luowa smiled and nodded.

Yi Luowa pouted. "I don’t care if you heard me. Even to your face, I’ll say it: You’re such a tsundere! Definitely need someone to knock some sense into you, especially Connie!"

"Pervert? Say that one more time! When did I ever act like a pervert?" Long Che’s bellow echoed from the study, causing Yi Luowa to abruptly fall silent.

"Won’t you act serious for a second?" Long Che glared at his son. "That moron just said he wants to set You Jia and Ni’er’s engagement for the end of the month. I only suggested waiting a bit, and he started cursing me a shameless liar who doesn’t keep his word!"

"You can still laugh? Things didn’t work out, and you’re having the time of your life, huh?" Tong Airui grumbled as he pinched her nose.

Yi Luowa pouted. "Whatever the case, you pressured him into saying something genuine today. If he’s letting Connie intern at his company, it means he’s serious about her."

"Honey, don’t leave tonight, okay?" Tong Airui murmured softly into Yi Luowa’s ear during a pause for air.

"They’ll be like this their whole lives." Tong Airui shook his head helplessly. "With that temper of his, only someone like Connie can tolerate him."

"Doesn’t seem possible. School’s starting soon, and I won’t have many days to accompany Uncle Yi and Huo Li. If I don’t return, I’ll feel a little guilty."

Yi Luowa glanced at him, her face flushing. "Then recover while I’ll go fix my hair."

Yi Luowa hesitated briefly before taking her hand away. As she did, Tong Airui lowered his head and kissed her. Pouring his longing from the past few days into the kiss, he quickly elicited a response from her, and the two passionately embraced, forgetting the world around them.

Yi Luowa asked with a sly grin, looking mischievously at Tong Airui.

Tong Airui watched her dash into the bathroom, feeling sour. His dad was his real dad, his brother was his flesh-and-blood brother, but they were men! Couldn’t they show him some mercy?

"Ah... I’m wondering how I’ll make it through the days ahead. I’m the eldest son here, can’t even move out on my own, and if this keeps up, I’ll lose all my energy!"

Tong Airui handed it to her. "This one should be all the photos from when we were living in Z country."

Tong Airui inhaled a deep breath and sat up. "Honey, you must be either a psychic or a jinx!"

Yi Luowa poked his hand with her fingertip. "Both! Just let me look, come on! Move your hand!"

Tong Airui closed the album forcefully. "I’d like to know who pulled this off too!"

"Just kill me instead!" Tong Airui groaned and kicked open the door, taking her hand as they slowly headed downstairs.

"Dad and Uncle Carlos are probably arguing about Ai Ni and You Jia’s engagement." Tong Airui said as he pushed open his bedroom door, ushering Yi Luowa inside.

"Still not coming out?" Tong Aino reached out to pull her out. "Do you even know what role you’re playing right now?"

Tong Airui smiled with satisfaction.

Tong Airui sighed. "When will you ever belong to me, all to myself?"

Yi Luowa giggled and followed Tong Airui upstairs.

After dawdling in the bathroom for a while, Yi Luowa finally came out once her face was less red.

Yi Luowa pouted again. "Lucky me I have a strong heart, otherwise with you scaring me every day, I’d have kicked the bucket by now."

Tong Airui tossed the album aside. "If no trouble happens soon, the whole family’s going to think you’ve worn me out!"

Tong Airui raised his brow slightly. "Where’s the fight? Is summer in Mayland and S-Country getting ready for war finally?"

"A bit to the right, a bit to the left, lower—ow! That kills!" Yi Luowa slapped him hard. "You’re so heavy! Get off me!"

Connie hesitated, wanting to step forward, but Yi Luowa grabbed her again. "Let him talk properly first. If he keeps talking like this, we’re not stepping out."

"If you haven’t had enough, I’ll show you the real thing later." Tong Airui joked with a sly smile.

Tong Airui ran a hand through his hair. "Give me a sec to recover."

Tong Airui leaned close to her ear and whispered something.

"Don’t! I haven’t finished looking yet!" Yi Luowa said, laughing as she sat up and tried to smooth her hair off her face.

Yi Luowa noticed a large photo album in the cabinet and smiled. "Can I see this album?"

In Tong Airui’s heart: crack! His mood shattered into tiny pieces.

"Sure!" Tong Aino burst out laughing at his older brother’s frustrated tone. "Hurry up! Dad’s ready to kill someone. Show up late and he’ll have you two as scapegoats!"

Yi Luowa peeked out from under Tong Airui’s arm and stuck her tongue out at Tong Aino. "Serves you right! Bully me again, why don’t you!"

Tong Airui effortlessly caught it and handed it to Yi Luowa. "From Dad to you. Eat up."

"Brother, Dad’s calling you both downstairs!" Tong Aino’s voice floated in through the door crack. Always at the crucial moment! That damned kid again!

"You shameless pervert!" Yi Luowa exclaimed, quickly covering her mouth. She remembered her father got into a fight earlier over the word "pervert." If he heard her say it, he’d start another argument.

Yi Luowa chuckled. "Easy. Practice abstinence!"

Tong Airui chuckled and patted Yi Luowa’s cheek. "What he means is that we’re in the way."

Yi Luowa playfully swatted his hand away and sat up. "Go downstairs and check it out."

"Well, this question..."

"You haven’t finished or just can’t get enough?" Tong Airui held the album down firmly, refusing to let her continue.

Tong Airui mischievously bit her hand and said, "Don’t bother covering up. Dad can’t hear you."

Tong Airui slapped his hand away, loudly questioning him: "Did your sister-in-law say anything wrong about you? You keep teasing people, then act aloof afterward. Connie’s not just any ordinary girl. How are you going to explain yourself in the future? I’m giving you a night to think carefully about your next steps."

"Got guts! Daring to talk back to my dad. I’m flattening him now!" Tong Airui pulled Yi Luowa to sit down and cheerfully asked, "Dad, did you send him a challenge already?"

Tong Aino poked her forehead. "A third wheel!"

Tong Airui looked at her and let out a bitter laugh. "Honey, you came out too soon. Just when I had cleared my thoughts, they came flooding back again."

Tong Aino pointed at her. "Seriously! What can I even say to you? Can’t you make some decisions yourself? Tomorrow, you’re coming with me to the company. The family already has places for interns, so why are you messing around at Uncle Yi’s?"

"As long as they can be together, that’s what matters. Get through these few years, and once they’re married, they can live their own lives. They’ll be fine. Just look at Big Sis and Monica; isn’t that how they survived too?" Tong Airui opened his cabinet and pulled out a box. "Here’s a box of teddy bear hairpins. See if there’s any you like?"

Tong Airui quickly let go and rubbed her head gently. "Where did I pull? Is it here?"

"Tong Aino, do you believe I’ll kill you?" Tong Airui growled through gritted teeth.

"You brat!" Long Che grabbed an apple and threw it at him.

Tong Airui laughed. "I’m joking. Come out. Let’s go downstairs to hear Dad’s lecture."

Connie glanced at Tong Aino but retreated again.

"Then let’s leave!" Yi Luowa said, pulling Tong Airui out of the side room. "Fourth Brother, do you think Fifth Brother will treat Connie better in the future?"

Yi Luowa furiously hit Tong Airui, who had already pounced on her.

Tong Airui agreed and put the box back.

Yi Luowa watched him step closer, her lips quivering. After a while, she stammered, "Fourth Brother, don’t get serious. I mean... there are so many people at home. Fourth Brother... my own brother... ouch! You’re pulling my hair!"

Tong Aino’s eye twitched, and he turned to Connie. "Why are you hiding behind my brother? Am I going to eat you? Come out!"

"Let them handle it themselves." Tong Airui chuckled. "Honey, can you not go back to the hospital tonight?"

Long Che glared at him. "This month’s end, you and Luowa are getting engaged too!"