Su Youli’s schedule was very regular. As soon as it hit 7:30, he stretched and woke up. He nestled in his big brother’s arms and reached out to pinch his nose.
“Big Brother, get up.”
Shen Yan was resigned to his fate. His Youyou was perfect in every way except that he never slept in.
“Baby, you’re still young. You don’t have to be so self-disciplined.”
Su Youli tilted his face up, still looking a bit dazed from sleep. “What’s self-discipline?”
Shen Yan, with his eyes closed, explained in simple terms. The little one had a limited understanding and wasn’t interested in his brother’s words. He climbed out from under the covers, put on his clothes, slipped his little feet into his slippers, opened the door, and went out.
By the time Shen Yan got dressed and went out, the little one had already washed up, was holding the food bowl Grandpa Tian had given him, and was feeding the chicks and ducklings. After that, he helped Grandpa Tian sweep the yard. When the cameramen arrived and saw this, they exchanged glances.
Why did this scene feel so familiar…
They had just finished breakfast when the production team’s task card arrived.
“Big Brother, what does it say?” The little one leaned over.
After reading it, Shen Yan’s expression was hard to describe. He looked at Su Youli with a bit more concern.
“Youyou, the task card says today you’re the big brother, and I’m the little brother…”
Su Youli tilted his head. What did that mean?
Shen Yan explained what a role swap meant. The little one immediately understood and even raised his hand to answer. “Youyou will be the big brother, take care of Little Brother, and earn food for him!”
Shen Yan felt a headache coming on, remembering how his back had almost given out from working in the fields the previous two days.
Surely the production team wouldn’t actually send Youyou to harvest corn? His little shoulders probably couldn’t even carry five ears.
But the mission’s protagonist, Little Friend Su Youli, was full of confidence. He puffed out his chest and began acting all grown-up. For as long as he could remember, all the children he knew were older than him. Almost everyone took care of him. What child didn’t want to grow up? The little one thought the director’s game design was simply wonderful.
They were returning to Beicheng at noon, so time was tight. The production team didn’t arrange any group activities today. The director hoped that through some interesting segments, the audience could get to know these four families better.
Before Shen Yan had even fully recovered, a pair of little hands reached out in front of him. “Big Brother—I mean, Little Brother, eat this. Your Youyou gege peeled this egg for you~”
The little one almost slipped up. Big Brother wasn’t Big Brother anymore; he was the big brother now. The corner of Shen Yan’s mouth twitched, and his handsome face momentarily cracked.
“Thank you, Youyou,” Shen Yan said, taking the egg.
The little one pouted and watched him, not giving in.
With no other choice, Shen Yan corrected himself. “Thank you, Youyou… gege for peeling the egg for me.”
The little one, having become the big brother, had sparkling eyes and swung his little legs under the stool. It felt so good to take care of ‘Little Brother’ with his own strength. His sense of accomplishment skyrocketed. While Shen Yan ate the egg, the little one sat beside him, occasionally raising his little hand to wipe ‘Little Brother Shen Yan’s’ mouth with a tissue.
Grandpa Tian, watching from the side, was amused by the brothers’ interactions. Since he was the big brother now, Little Brother just needed to play. The task of packing the luggage was all up to Youyou gege. Having been a child who put away his own toys since he was six months old, packing luggage was very simple for him.
At least, that’s what the little one thought. The muddy clothes from yesterday hadn’t been washed. Brother Xiao Tang had thoughtfully separated them in a clean bag and placed them on the cabinet. The little one, who wasn’t even as tall as the bed, was lying on it, struggling to remove the bedding.
But it was obvious that removing the bedding was far too difficult for a short-armed child. The little one turned his body and saw ‘Little Brother’ sitting on a stool by the door, resting his chin on his hand, watching him with an expression that seemed to be waiting for him to ask for help.
He was the big brother! How could he ask Little Brother for help!
Little Brother just needed to play and not do anything. The little one really had the makings of a big brother. He crouched down, took off his shoes, and climbed onto the bed. The three-head-tall little one squirmed on the bed, crawling around to find the zipper, then pulled it open with a zzzip.
But his abilities only went so far. Su Youli sat on the bed, remembering how two days ago his big brother had reached out with both hands, grabbed the corners of the duvet, given it a gentle shake, and the cover was on. He spread his hands wide, knelt on the bed, stuck out his bottom, and moved to the other side, grabbing one corner of the duvet with his little hands.
“Phew~” He got it.
But when he tried to reach out with the other hand to grab the other corner as coolly as his big brother, disaster struck. The little one looked down at his own palm in disbelief. It was the first time he clearly understood just how short his arms were. It was like when he tried to wash dishes like Kunkun. Not only did he fail, but he also broke a bowl.
Same thing now. He couldn’t put on the duvet cover. Because even though he was the big brother, his body was still very small. Shen Yan sat at the door with his legs crossed, having watched the whole thing without a word. Youyou was simply adorable. His expression when he discovered his arms were too short to reach both corners was so vivid and cute. The little one sat on the bed and thought for a moment. He ran his hand over his head, revealing his little white forehead.
“Little Brother Shen Yan, can you help your big brother?”
Shen Yan almost choked. He raised his eyebrows. “…Of, of course I can.”
Youyou gege was very pleased with his answer. Little Brother was supposed to help Big Brother with things. The way he sat on the bed, deliberately acting mature, was hilarious. Several cameramen couldn’t help but smile. After Shen Yan removed the bedding, the little one took it very seriously. The entire sheet and duvet cover could completely cover him. The little one jumped and crawled on the bed, taking ten minutes just to fold the bedding. During this time, Shen Yan’s hands were very itchy. He watched the little one’s little bottom stick up in the air from his earnest folding and thought helplessly,
At this rate, we’re definitely going to miss our flight.
But even thinking that, Shen Yan didn’t disturb the little one. The parenting manual was very clear: no matter how well or poorly the little one did, don’t interrupt or discourage him when he’s focused. The bedding was folded crookedly. Su Youli proudly looked over at ‘Little Brother.’
Shen Yan, who had been secretly helping to pack the suitcase, felt the little one’s gaze and immediately praised him supportively. “Youyou gege, you’re so amazing!”
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