System, are you messing with me? - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

The next three days Shu Ning just continued to laze around. Instead of sleeping in Meng Yi's room though, he completely occupied Sheng Su's bed and closet. Since Meng Yi's brother didn't seem bothered about that at all and never seemed to use the bed, Shu Ning saw the room now as his own as well.
But other than sleeping and eating everyday, the boy also continued to post his pictures on Weibo. Shu Ning thought it was fun seeing the number of his followers rise rapidely and having the people fawn all over him again. All the comments he recieved were of woman who wanted to take him home with them and some guys with a protective nature that couldn't help but wanting to be his night in shining armor. Especially the account "Baby Brothers need to get spoiled" activily commented and liked each of the posted pictures making "I love strawberry cake" take over the third place on the hottest searches list.
When the day of Meng Yi's birthday finally arrived, Shu Ning woke up very early to prepare. He had already thought of what he needed to set up, so the preparations went very smooth. Shu Ning bought a strawberry cake from the system store with the last of his points, then he tied some baloons on the handle of the front door and at last the boy decorated the table with a colorful tablecloth, flowers he picked from the garden and a paper crown with the letter thirteen on it.
Shu Ning planned on making this thirteenth birthday of Meng Yi unforgettable. It will be his personal gift to the deceased child.
The whole living room was prepared for the birthday party and only Meng Yi's family was missing for this occation. But Sheng Rui was still on his trip and hasn't even send a message and Sheng Xi was still out of house. So this day would only belong to the two brothers.
After sitting down on the couch to rest, there was a noise from the entrance like a key unlocking the door.
Shu Ning jumped up from his seated position and ran to the door in exitement to welcome his brother home but when he could see the person in the hall, he came to a sudden stop.
It wasn't Sheng Su's face that appeared in his view but that of a handsome young man, that had similar features as Sheng Su but had a big smile plastered on his face.
It was Sheng Rui.
Shu Ning stared at the man in bewilderment for a second and rubbed his hands over his eyes in case he was hallucinating but after opening his eyes again the joyful smile on Sheng Rui's face has just gotten deeper.
"What? You can't recognise your own dad anymore?"
The boy's eyes reddened and glistered with tears when he threw himself into his dad's bossom and wrapped his arms tightly around his back.
It was a wonderful moment for Shu Ning to feel the secure embrace of a father. In his original world he wasn't able to selebrate his birthdays with his dad so he cherished this moment a lot.
The father and son duo continued to hug in the hallway while two other people entered the house behind Sheng Rui.
A woman with a fiery red dress and lips and many golden assesiores and a middle aged man in a black suit walked up to Shu Ning.
"Little Yi. Happy birthday. I hope you don't mind me intruding on your birthday party."
Wang Bao stretched out his arms to the boy to give him a quick hug as well.
"Uncle. You were able to come as well? I'm happy. Very happy. Having daddy and uncle here."
Shu Ning beamed a happy smile at the two men and went to hugg his Uncle that was still waiting with outstretched arms.
After seperating from Wang Bao again Shu Ning's sight finally fell on the quiet woman on the side.
That face was a face he never wanted so see again but his missions were unfortunately related to her as well, so he had to endure her presence as of yet until he could get back at her.
"M-Mother. You..."
"Little Yi. Happy birthday. I'm sorry for leaving you alone with your brother. Oh. And I brought you a present."
Sheng Xi raised the corner of her mouth into a sweet smile but to Shu Ning her grin just seemed vulgar and discusting. He needed to take a few heavy breathers before the nauseaus feeling finally subsided.
A shy smile spread on the boys face as he accepted the box the woman handed to him.
"Let's not stand in the hallway. I extra decorated the living room."
Shu Ning ran upstairs into Meng Yi's room to put down the present and then joined the others on the couch. He chose the seat right next to his father and leaned his head comfortably against the man's shoulder.
"Little Yi is still acting so childish. You are thirteen years old now and still acting so spoiled."
Sheng Rui gently patted the boy's hair as if he didn't just complain about his son refusing to grow up.
Shu Ning just looked at his father with a helpless smile and didn't say anything in return.
"Well my son. I have a present for you as well. But I will give it to you later. Let's wait until your brother comes back. In the meantime you can tell me how school is going."
Shu Ning: "..." ??? School?
System: "Don't tell me that you actually forgott? Sheng Rui extra brought you to the principal two weeks ago."
Shu Ning: "(⊙…⊙ ) Fuck this. I completely forgott. Oh no. What should I do? Why hasn't the school ever contacted me? They should have noticed that I was missing."
System: "The school you enrolled to is a place mostly meant for children of high status with lots if money. So I guess the students have their share of responsibility from their family and only attend lessons when they are free."
Hearing Alpha's analysis of the school calmed him down immensely. If the educational system was really like that then Shu Ning still had a chance to get out of this predicament.
"Dad..."
The boy's eyes turned red instantly and he looked pitifully at his dad as if he had been greatly wronged.
"What's wrong my son?"
"I-I dont't like school."
"Why not?"
"It's too hard. I don't understand anything. I never learned that in the village so I don't know. I don't like being laughed at and the others will look at me with scorn. That's why I didn't go there anymore."
Shu Ning bowed his head down very low and started to fiddle with his fingers in his lap. There was a brief silence in the room and Sheng Rui's eyebrows scrunched together as he looked at the top of his gloomy son's head.
"Meng Yi. Why didn't you tell me about your troubles. If you feel unwell with so many people in class then I will get a privat teacher just for you, ok? So look up at me again and show me your smile. It's your birthday after all."
The boy slowly raised his head again, directly looking into his father's eyes. The youth's eyes were slightly wet with tears but he was tightly biting his lips refusing to let them fall. Such a sight squeezed Sheng Rui's heart painfully.
But before he could coax his child some more, the door to the living room was pushed open and the still missing big brother finaly returned.
Sheng Su surveid the room once before setting his gaze on Meng Yi's body. With majestic strides the man walked up to the boy and wiped over his eyelashes to make the hanging teardrops disapear.
"Don't cry. It's your birthday."
It was a short snd simple sentence totally fitting the aloof appearance of the man.
The boy finally came back from his daze and showed his most brillant smile to his elder brother. It was like all the previous grieviance was completely forgotten and only Sheng Su mattered now.
"Big brother. Welcome back. I missed you so so much."
Shu Ning wasn't acting this time. He was genuinely happy to have this big guy around. It made him feel very comfortable and secure. In Shu Ning's opinion a strong guy can keep him safe the best so better stick with him while that woman was still around.
The birthday party continued in a lively manner after Sheng Su took the place on the other side of Shu Ning. All the people present joked around, happily ate the cake and played some games. Just the sarcastic remarks of Sheng Xi he could have done without.
At night time Shu Ning layed on top of Sheng Su's bed opening his presents. There weren't many gifts in the first place so it didn't take long to unwrap all the presents and spread them on top of the bed.
There were three fantasy books from Sheng Xi, a red envelope from Wang Bao and a key from his father.
That key was the most cherished present of them all because it unloked the door to a villa where Meng Yi's mother used to live so Shu Ning chose a safe spot to store it away.
Sheng Su was sitting on a chair right beside the bed and watched the youth organize his new belongings and putting them away. After the boy climbed underneath the blanket to sleep the man stood up to leave the room but didn't go far before a soft voice called out to him.
"Brother. Where are you going? I don't want you to leave. You should sleep earlier today as well."
To underline the meaning of his words Shu Ning pat the spot on the wide bed beside him.
Sheng Su looked really surprised and continued standing infront of the door in hesitation. The man's face showed a complicated expression that Shu Ning couldn't understand but he didn't have to guess about it long because his big brother finally moved to the side of the boy and lied down.
Shu Ning couldn't help grinning and scooted closer to the other to savour in his warmth.
"Brother...."
The boy stretched out his finger to poke Sheng Su's chest that he was faicing. With a flinch the man caught his hand and looked down at him as if to search his eyes for ultearior motives but he was disapointed by the boy's innocently blinking eyes.
"Brother...."
"Sleep. It's late."
"....Brother...."
"......."
Shu Ning called out a few times more until Sheng Su couldn't stand it anymore and hummed in affirmation.
"Brother. You haven't given me a present for my birthday yet. Can I just wish for something instead?"
"Sure."
"Then. Then I want to go on a three days trip."
Sheng Su abruptly streightened his back and lifted the boys chin to look at his face.
"It's dangerous out there. Where do you want to go?"
"It's very close. Just two hours by car. I will be fine. The place is deffinitely safe and beautiful and fun. So please. Brother."
Shu Ning moved closer to Sheng Su's body and gazed into his eyes with a pleading expression. The man's breathing hitched for a secound but he quickly closed his eyes to escape from the boys watery and bright eyes and sight in defeat.
"Does it need to be three days?"
"Well. Not nesessarily. Two days are ok as well."
"...ok. But only if you take some Bodyguards with you that I choose personally."
"Thank you Brother."
Shu Ning quickly wrapped his arms around his Brothers neck and burried his head in the others chest before closing his eyes and yawning sleepily.
Sheng Su couldn't move his body away from the bed without waking up the boy so he could only close his eyes as well and suppress the turmoil of his emotions. He tried ignoring the warm breath of the youth that landed on his throat but it still took a long while till his restlessness finally calmed down and he could pull the boy into his embrace to sleep as well.