Meng Yan's Transformation

"Zhang Defu, what did your sister tell you last night?"

While Zhang Xiaojuan was speaking, she pulled Zhang Defu to the corner of the west room.

The comic books in Zhang Defu's hands scattered all over the ground. Zhang Xiaojuan's breath brushed against Zhang Defu's face, carrying the coolness of a mint candy.

"Now you stand right here and reflect on your actions!"

As Zhang Xiaojuan spoke, she released her grip on Zhang Defu's hand, but still blocked the doorway with her body, like a moving wall.

Zhang Defu rubbed his fingertips inside his trouser seam, then suddenly whispered, "Sister, didn't I do as you instructed and pester Sister Mengyan to read comic books? I didn't ask the wrong person! I didn't ask Zhan Yingying to read comic books either!"

"You still dare to say you did as I told you to?! You didn't get the wrong person, but the location was wrong!"

As Zhang Xiaojuan spoke, she pressed Zhang Defu's forehead with her finger.

"Isn't it the same to read comic books in any room? In my haste, I was afraid that Sister Mengyan wouldn't agree to read comic books with me, so I just started reading them on the kang in the east room without bringing Sister Mengyan to the west room."

Zhang Defu muttered under his breath.

"How can that be the same? Didn't I tell you—I asked you and Zhan Mengyan to come to the west room to read comic books, so that our Defu brother and Zhan Yingying could have some alone time to chat and have heart-to-heart talks to strengthen their relationship."

As Zhang Xiaojuan spoke, she grabbed Zhang Defu's ear.

"Sister, let go of me! It hurts!"

Zhang Defu grimaced in pain as he spoke.

"It's good that you know it hurts. Next time, if you don't listen to me, I'll pull your ear off."

Zhang Xiaojuan released her hand as she spoke.

"Isn't it the same whether Brother Defu and Sister Yingying are chatting or not? Sister Mengyan and I were reading comic books without disturbing them or silencing them!"

As Zhang Defu spoke, he rubbed his ear, looking puzzled.

“Zhang Defu, you’re really stupid. I shouldn’t have given you this task. It would have been better to let Zhang Deyun handle it. It seems your ears haven’t been hurt enough. Only after painful reflection will you understand.”

As Zhang Xiaojuan spoke, she reached out to grab Zhang Defu's ear again.

"Little Defu, what are you doing?"

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she walked into the west room.

Zhang Xiaojuan's lips twitched, and she took out a piece of fruit candy from her pocket and stuffed it into her younger brother Zhang Defu's mouth.

"Little Defu, this candy tastes good, doesn't it? Little Mengyan, you should have one too."

As Zhang Xiaojuan spoke, she handed Zhan Mengyan another piece of candy. Zhan Mengyan glared at her younger brother Zhang Defu, then turned and went to the kitchen, followed by a dull slam of the door closing.

Zhang Defu sucked on the candy, tasting the sweetness of the strawberry on his tongue, and secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Defu, did your sister Xiaojuan scold you? Why?"

Zhan Mengyan spoke very softly.

Zhang Defu turned around and faced the window, leaving only a stubborn silhouette.

The afternoon sun outlined the thin shoulders of Zhang Defu, which trembled slightly, like a taut string in the wind.

As Zhan Mengyan approached, she could hear suppressed, faint gasps. Several open comic books on the ground were slightly wrinkled.

Zhan Mengyan squatted down, picked up the comic book, and dusted it off. "What's wrong? Is there something you can't tell your sister Mengyan?"

Zhan Mengyan's voice became softer and gentler as she sat down on the low stool next to Zhang Defu.

Zhang Defu's back stiffened noticeably for a moment, then he turned more forcefully towards the window, raised his arm and quickly wiped his face with his sleeve. He didn't answer, only took a sudden breath, followed by a more aggrieved sigh.