Actually, she couldn't be more aware that the three stinky boys had been fond of their sister from a young age. Everyone thought that after Jian Zhiqin got married, they would have a sister, a sister from their own family. The three of them were even more anxious about Jian Zhiqin becoming a father. But lo and behold, it turned out to be another stinky boy.
And the poor little boy born to Jian Zhiqin, just because he was male, had not been spared from beatings by his three older male cousins since he was little.
In their family, boys needed to be raised tough, while girls could be pampered.
The three lads from Qin Xiangnuan's family were treated naturally; she would never prepare everything for them. If they wanted something - fine, they had to earn the money themselves. Their money, like Jian Zhiqin and Taotao back in the day, all started from their first bucket of gold: writing Spring Festival couplets and selling things on street stalls. In fact, the most business-minded was actually Little San, that guy had an exceptionally sharp eye and no one knew where he learned it. He had an uncanny ability to gauge the stock market's trends, so even Qin Xiangnuan, their mother, had no idea how much money he actually had.
The three children were triplets, but their personalities were as different as night and day. Eldest Brother was somewhat taciturn, not fond of speaking, and it's likely he really would, as he thought, eventually go for the judiciary, becoming a lawyer or a judge. The second was quick-witted and sweet-talking, perhaps destined for a political career. As for Little San, he was cut out for business. Among the three, he was the best at wheeling and dealing, having bartered his snacks for other kids' pens and notebooks in kindergarten. Later on, in elementary school, he brought the gadgets he and his brothers wholesale to sell in class. They knew that girls' money was easy to earn, selling things like hair ties and bows, while boys got sold cartoon watches. The three brothers sold from a young age to their adolescence, and after graduating from junior high, they were sent off to military training for a year. When they returned, the kids were leaner and darker but certainly much tougher. By the time they reached their sophomore year in high school, as they came of age, Qin Xiangnuan personally kicked them out of the house, giving each a duplex to manage on their own, and didn't give them another cent to spend.
At the high school department of Ba Yi High School, a teenager rode his bike to the campus. He parked it in the bike shed and took out his mobile phone from his backpack, beginning to press something unknown. The delicate features of the boy, seen through the intricate shadows of the leaves, gleamed like jewels, his skin incredibly fair, even better than a girl's - as if he was naturally airbrushed. The boy walked with one hand in his pocket and the other holding the phone, flipping through it without bumping into anything.
"Tsk, is that the new Fruit 8 he's holding?" A student whispered to the one beside them.
"Yeah, he's gotten a new one again," another student remarked with envy and jealousy, "Last time I saw him with a silver one, and this time, he's carrying a gold one."
"Must be a rich second-generation, right? It's so good to have money," they said, with a tone that was hard to decipher. Was it envy, or something else?
"Yeah," another student chuckled, "We can't compare. Not only is he a rich second-generation, but he's also an official second-generation. His dad's a big shot in Capital City, his mom's a low-profile fashion designer, making custom gowns for A-list stars. They own an entire building, an entire building in Capital City! Even owning one apartment here is tough enough, and yet they have a whole building."
"Besides being rich, what else do they have?" Pure envy indeed.
One student curled their lip contemptuously.
"Not only are they rich, but they've also got looks. Plus, the money is their family's business. Jian Xuan Rui made all his money from the stock market himself. You think he's just fiddling with his phone? He's checking stocks. I've heard they've already moved out of their home, cooking and doing laundry themselves, without any financial support from the family."
"They, how many of them are there?" A few girls who might be new students weren't too clear on the details.
"Triplets, our classmates," another girl jumped in.
"Jian Xuan Cheng, Jian Xuan Mo, Jian Xuan Rui. The two older brothers look exactly alike, but Jian Xuan Rui doesn't resemble anyone else, apparently they're fraternal. Everyone thought they were having twins originally, but it turned out to be triplets; Jian Xuan Rui is the Third. Tsk, that face of his, truly enchanting."
"Such a good life, talented at being born."
The others couldn't help but sigh internally.
This generation was all only children; who could compare to a family that suddenly had three brothers?
Jian Xuan Rui was already tired of hearing those comments about him.
Before the market closed, he quickly locked in his purchases, planning to sell them off in a few days – his piggy bank would have yet another substantial deposit. Right, what to eat when he gets back home, maybe stop by his little uncle's for some delicious food.
He entered the classroom, where his two older brothers were already present.
"Where have you been?" Jian Xuan Cheng squinted, his presence commanding even without anger, perpetually sporting what's nicknamed a "coffin face," which he carried off pretty well. On the other hand, propping up his chin was none other than Jian Family's Second, Jian Xuan Mo, having a face identical to the Eldest, but when he smiles, it was genuinely sweet. Sometimes Jian Xuan Rui wondered what it would be like if their Eldest also smiled like that.
Alright then, he swiftly ducked his head, not daring to think further; the mere thought made his scalp tingle.
It's much better if the Eldest doesn't smile as idiotically as the Second.
He pouted, tall and leggy, and sat directly on the desk, forgetting the time for class while looking at his computer.
Jian Xuan Cheng glanced at his little brother; the look was fierce enough to scare someone into wetting their pants.
"Bro, you don't need to look at me like that, right?" Jian Xuan Rui pointed at his own devilishly charming face, "You think I wanted to look this way. I wish I looked like you, Eldest Brother. But mom made me this way, I know. I'm not your sister, and you've been displeased with me since I was a child, but I can't help it, am I right?"
Jian Xuan Cheng stretched out a foot and kicked the desk fiercely, "Get down, how can you be sitting like that, standing without proper posture, asking for a beating, aren't you?"
Jian Xuan Rui swiftly hopped down from the desk. This big brother of his was all about discipline; he wasn't afraid of anyone at home since his mom spoiled him the most anyhow. But he feared his two older brothers – one with powerful fists and the other with cunning strategies. Poor him, he was the most loved and pampered at home, yet simultaneously, he was the most bullied in secret.
"Eldest Brother, let it be, you're scaring him," Jian Xuan Mo quickly played peacemaker, giving Jian Xuan Rui a meaningful look. Jian Xuan Rui sat down, feeling unjustly treated, and now he knew better than to talk back to Eldest Brother; otherwise, he'd always be the one to suffer.
Just then, his phone rang.
Jian Xuan Cheng gave him another sidelong glance