Many years later, at the Ling family residence.
"Making a fuss so early in the morning, don't you know I didn't sleep well last night?"
The roar was accompanied by the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. A beautiful girl, about eleven or twelve years old, came downstairs with her hands on her hips.
She was wearing pink cartoon pajamas, her smooth black hair casually let down, and her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll.
But at this moment, she was glaring fiercely at a three-year-old toddler in the dining room.
Her furious yell brought everything in the villa to a halt, creating a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard.
Seven-year-old Gong Leyu clasped his arms coolly and said to his younger brother, "I told you not to cry. Now look, you've attracted your sister."
(Gong Leyu, seven years old.
Second young master of the Ling family. Reserved and humble, but sharp-tongued. He loves fighter jets, tanks, and the like. His knowledge base has been strong since childhood. He has been recognized by military experts from a young age.
His disposition is as indifferent as his father's. He loves to exercise and train with his maternal grandfather.)
Three-year-old Ling Lejing's expression immediately changed. Tears still on his face, he flashed a flattering smile at Ling Leyou and sweetly called out, "Sister, sister, hug me."
(Ling Lejing, three years old.
The youngest young master of the Ling family. He has a bad temper and cries a lot. His skills include crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang himself.
He is most afraid of his sister, Ling Leyou, because his sister really hits him hard.
He is also a picky eater, meaning he dislikes eating. Every meal is a torment, and he can end up malnourished from his own struggles.)
Ling Leyou was not swayed. She looked at Ling Yuchen, who was holding a bowl and feeding his youngest son, and said in a very calm voice,
"Did this little rascal not eat properly again?"
(Ling Leyou, eldest daughter of the Ling family.
Her personality is domineering, flamboyant, and confident, yet bright and kind.
Though only a teenager, she is already accomplished in various arts, proficient in many musical instruments, and has won numerous awards. She is a child star, debuting at the age of six, with many representative works.)
Ling Yuchen was clearly troubled, with the top two buttons of his black shirt undone.
This youngest son of his was impossible to reason with or appease. He would act as if he didn't care if he was killed or executed, but he just wouldn't eat.
Now, at just three years old, he was already malnourished from hunger.
If he didn't get him to eat, he would be lectured by his wife, scolded by his parents, and beaten by his grandparents...
Ling Leyou glared and walked towards them.
Ling Lejing immediately trembled with fear, crying and urging Ling Yuchen, "Dad, Daddy, I'll eat, hurry and feed me, feed me... I want to eat, *sob sob sob*..."
Ling Yuchen quickly scooped a spoonful of rice and put it into Ling Lejing's mouth.
Ling Lejing ate it in large mouthfuls, swallowing it down after only a couple of chews.
The reason Ling Lejing feared his sister so much was this:
Once, when he refused to eat and made a mess with his food,
He happened to provoke his sister. Ling Leyou was the most unfortunate, as she had food thrown all over her face.
Ling Leyou was truly angered. Disregarding the grandparents and great-grandparents who were protecting the youngest,
She dragged Ling Lejing into the bedroom and beat him, swelling his face.
She taught him a lesson through sheer force.
From then on, Ling Lejing feared this sister the most. While the elders might have been threatening him, his sister's punishments were real!
Ling Leyou remained silent, simply standing there with her arms crossed, her gaze extremely indifferent.
Under her watchful eyes, Ling Lejing wolfed down the entire bowl of rice.
Ling Yuchen's furrowed brow visibly relaxed, as if a great task had been accomplished.
"No noise, no fussing, no refusing to eat. If you dare disturb my sleep again, I'll kill you!!"
Ling Leyou was truly enraged.
She hadn't slept properly for about three nights, pouring all her energy into catching up with a film's progress.
Now that she could finally get enough sleep, she was woken up by crying and commotion early in the morning.
Ling Yuchen placed the bowl aside and said, "Go to a hotel to sleep, it's quiet."
"I won't, I'm used to my own bed."
Ling Leyou yawned and walked away. Before leaving, she glared at Ling Lejing again, her eyes full of warning.
Ling Lejing became as dejected as a frost-beaten eggplant, not daring to cause any trouble.
Ling Leyou slowly ascended the stairs, with only one thought in her mind:
Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep until the end of time, until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble.
Her words were more effective than a royal decree.
Ling Lejing dared not make too much noise, and naturally, everyone else moved about quietly and deliberately.
Ling Yuchen instructed the nanny and housekeepers to watch the children, then put on his suit jacket and left for work.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky
That Gong Zhi Jing finally woke up.
She was now a night owl, staying up late writing scripts and novels, rushing to meet deadlines. After all, nights were when her inspiration flowed freely!
And several of the plays Ling Leyou starred in were adapted from her novels.
She rubbed her eyes and walked downstairs in a daze, remarking with surprise, "What's with the unusual quiet today? Did the sun rise in the west??"
Normally, she would have been woken up by the little one's wails.
Ling Lejing immediately complained with a wronged tone.
"Mommy, Sister was mean to your little baby."
Gong Zhi Jing didn't fall for it at all. She glanced at him indifferently and said, "What good deed did you do to make your sister angry?"
"Baby didn't eat, cried loudly, and disturbed Sister's sleep, so Sister got angry."
"And did you finish eating?"
"I finished."
Gong Zhi Jing very gently stroked her son's head. His soft hair felt so tender.
She squatted down and said earnestly, "Little Bao finished his meal, that's great! But crying and making a fuss isn't good, and disturbing Sister's sleep isn't good either. But I know Little Bao can definitely correct it! Right?"
"Little Bao is great, Little Bao will correct it!"
Ling Lejing smiled exceptionally happily. He reached out to give a "thumbs up" gesture, but he couldn't quite control his fingers.
His index finger always popped out with his thumb, making the gesture look a bit strange.
"Self-praise!"
Gong Leyu scoffed at the two of them, slinging his schoolbag over his shoulder and heading out.
Ling Lejing didn't understand his meaning, but he knew that whatever his brother said couldn't be good.
Immediately, he retorted, "You're the one who's..."
Gong Zhi Jing frowned and looked at her second son, asking, "Why aren't you at school yet?"
"It's Saturday today, Mom. If you haven't woken up, go back to sleep."
Gong Leyu said coolly and turned to leave.
Before Gong Zhi Jing could ask where he was going, she shook her head helplessly and called Gong Ye.
The call was answered quickly, and Gong Ye's refreshed voice came through.
"Hello, Zhi Jing?"
"Dad, Leyu just left. Please call me when he arrives."
"Okay."
Every Saturday and Sunday, if Gong Leyu left the house, it was to go see him.