1716 The Feeling Is Mutual
Hexin shook her head. “I don’t have anything to say.”

Long Yin paused. “Are you afraid of me?”

Hexin wanted to deny this immediately, but when she looked into his sharp eyes, she held herself back and asked instead, “Do you wish for others to be afraid of you, Big Bro Long Yin?”

Long Yin turned away and looked to the front. “That depends on the situation.”

“Huh?” Hexin did not understand.

“If it was my family, I would hope that they won’t be afraid of me,” Long Yin replied softly.

When she heard this, Hexin understood what he meant and she looked at him with slight surprise.

She had not expected the usually cold and distant Big Bro Long Yin to have such a gentle side.

“Do you understand?” Long Yin could not help smiling at the expression of the young lady who looked like she understood him.

“Yes.” Hexin nodded.

Looking at the mature expression on the young girl’s face, Long Yin could not help reaching out to rub her head. A smile appeared on his lips. “Such a mature look for someone so young.”

Hexin was taken aback and her little face slowly turned red. She twisted her handkerchief and said in a soft voice, “The feeling is mutual.”

Long Yin did not expect this response.

He was suddenly reminded of a few years ago when he was younger. His mother would always rub his face and tease him for being a dignified miniature old man.

This girl was clearly being sarcastic with her reply!

However, he did not get angry over this. He glanced at her and said with a laugh, “It’s nice to see you like this.”

Hexin was startled by this.

Long Yin explained, “Compared to when you’re treading around so cautiously, it’s nicer to see you this way.”

“Oh,” Hexin said. She was not used to him being friendly.

Grand Phoenix Palace.

Lu Liangwei was relieved to see Hexin managing to get Long Yin over.

She quietly observed her son with a glance and was slightly surprised to see a cheerful and relaxed look on his face despite his minimal expression.
Her son did not look that way when she left the imperial study that morning.

What exactly did Hexin say to him to put him in such a good mood?

She put aside her curiosity and greeted them. “Sit and let’s have lunch.”

Yaoyao helped the servants serve the dishes.

When she saw her royal brother walk in with Hexin, she purposely said teasingly, “Looks like Hexin has the greater calling power. The moment you called out to him, Royal Brother came out.”

This made Hexin a little embarrassed. “It’s lunchtime now. If you went to fetch him, Big Bro Long Yin would have come too.”

Yaoyao chuckled and said, “That isn’t necessarily true. I went to fetch Royal Brother before. He ignored me back then and I ended up making the trip for nothing.”

At this point, she felt a sudden knock on the head.

Yaoyao grabbed her head in pain and looked at Lu Liangwei to complain, “Mother, Royal Brother hit me.”

Before Lu Liangwei could defend her, Long Yin quickly interjected, “You deserve to be hit for making up stories.”

Yaoyao made a face at him angrily. “Can’t I even make a joke?”

Lu Liangwei was slightly exasperated as she looked at the pair of siblings. She said to Hexin, “Just ignore them, Xinxin. Let’s sit and enjoy lunch.”

“Alright.” Hexin sat down obediently.

Long Yin and Yaoyao took their seats as well.

Yaoyao pouted as she looked at the table full of dishes. She glanced at Long Yin and said in a slightly jealous tone, “Mother is playing favorites. She cooked lunch for you today. Even Father doesn’t get this privilege.”

“You’re being ridiculous! You sound like you’ve never had my cooking before.” Lu Liangwei pinched her cheek. “Cheeky little thing!”

“You’ve had a tiring day, Mother.” Long Yin picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of chicken in her bowl.

Lu Liangwei was pleased by this. She took her chopsticks and placed his favorite food in his bowl as well. “You should eat up too.”

“I want some too, Mother.” Yaoyao immediately picked up her bowl and pushed it in front of Lu Liangwei.

Before Lu Liangwei could give her any food, Long Yin quickly gave her a piece of duck and then gave Hexin a piece of chicken.

Yaoyao looked into her bowl and then later looked at Hexin and Lu Liangwei’s bowls. She was puzzled. “Why am I the only one who got duck?”