Chapter 10: Poor Little Brother

Ye Kun stared at the blank sheet on the long table, pondering what to draw. Even achieving last place in this contest was a challenge—should he just hand in a blank sheet? No, that would be too obvious, blatantly deliberate. He needed to make it happen without anyone noticing.

He glanced at his younger brother; the boy seemed very earnest. Apparently, his brother was desperate for something that would bring praise from their parents and teacher. As the elder brother, Ye Kun naturally wanted to help him. After all these years, his brother had never once been praised by their parents—it was truly pitiful.

Time ticked by, and Ye Kun still hadn’t started. But when he looked at his brother’s drawing, he saw it was a family portrait. The little one, though his art wasn’t refined and was somewhat hurried, had poured his heart into it. Ye Kun saw himself depicted at the front, his distinctive bald head unmistakable. Evidently, in his brother’s eyes, his status as elder was very high—this was gratifying indeed.

That settled it: he must help his brother this time.

Ye Kun’s right hand moved swiftly, his actions sharp and professional. Unfortunately, his wide sleeves brushed against the ink, staining them with black. His brows furrowed—he was a man who valued cleanliness.

Suddenly, as Ye Kun withdrew his hand, his brush struck the ink box. His lips twitched as he watched the ink box tip over, spilling its contents onto the white sheet.

There was nothing he could do. To avoid getting the ink on himself, he quickly stood, shaking the paper so the ink wouldn’t drip onto his shoes. Kun was intolerant of any stain.

“Ye Kun, have you finished your drawing?” Old Wei on the platform saw him rise and asked gently.

“Uh…” Ye Kun was embarrassed. He had considered ways to come in last place, but hadn’t expected this method. It was as if fate itself had decided he should take the last spot.

Old Wei stood and walked over, his expression sour. In his eyes, Ye Kun was just passing the days, his prospects dim.

But when Old Wei took Ye Kun’s drawing, his slightly squinted eyes opened a little, revealing disbelief.

This child… Could I have misjudged him?

Such skill in art!

Half the paper was stained with ink, but the dark patch formed a table-like mountain, a flowing stream, and clusters of reeds. For a child this young to create such a composition was astonishing.

He’s not here to idle—he’s hiding his talents.

Ye Kun hadn’t seen his own drawing, thinking the ink had ruined it beyond repair, yet the teacher’s gaze was different.

“Teacher, I accidentally…” Ye Kun began to explain, but Old Wei displayed the drawing to all the students, pride in his voice.

“Children, this is Ye Kun’s work. Look at this mountain, look at the water—so vivid! Ye Kun has earned first place in today’s art contest! He shall be commended!”

The students gazed at the picture in the teacher’s hands, feeling it resembled a painting framed at home. Their own efforts paled in comparison.

Ba Wanqing frowned, glancing down at her own work, feeling she couldn’t bear to show it to the teacher.

Yuan Zhen and Feng Dian were dissatisfied—surely something was wrong; it couldn’t be Ye Kun’s own work!

Indeed, Ye Kun himself felt awkward. Was someone switching his drawing? How could he have won first place?

“This painting will be framed and displayed in the classroom. Let Ye Kun be your example—strive to be children of promise.”

Ye Kun: “…”

He could not bring himself to look at his brother’s expression.

Ye Kun felt deeply guilty—this was not the outcome he wanted.

“Ye Kun, you may sit down now. Work hard in the future—I have high hopes for you,” Old Wei said. Then, turning to Ye Qin, he added, “As Ye Kun’s younger brother, Ye Qin, you must follow his lead.”

Ye Kun wanted to cry. Teacher, please don’t rub salt into his brother’s wounds.

He had just said he couldn’t draw, and now suddenly he’d won first place—how could he explain this to his brother?

Sitting down, Ye Kun felt a resentful aura beside him.

He swallowed, slowly turning to look at his brother.

At that sight, his heart nearly shattered.

“Brother, didn’t you say you couldn’t draw?” Ye Qin’s voice was aggrieved, enough to make Ye Kun feel guilty for days.

Ye Kun looked at his brother earnestly. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

“It was all a misunderstanding—I didn’t do anything.”

“But you won first place, and I…” Ye Qin glanced at his own drawing. Compared to his brother’s, it was unpresentable.

Ye Kun was at a loss for words. “Brother, I did not do well.”

“So this isn’t your best work after all?”

Ye Kun: “…”

What else could he say? The more he explained, the more tangled it became.

After school, the two brothers went home with Zhang Tiantian. Today, Ye Qin said nothing, maintaining silence all the way.

Ye Kun wondered how to change the situation—otherwise, his brother might stop talking to him altogether.

At the Ye family residence.

Dongmen Meng held her son’s drawing, smiling in satisfaction. “Qin Qin, this is very good.”

With those words, Ye Qin seemed revived, his earlier gloom replaced by a radiant smile.

Ye Kun heard his mother praise his brother and felt relieved—the situation wasn’t as dire as he’d feared.

“But… Qin Qin, you must learn from your brother. Kun Kun took first place today, and the teacher even sent the gatekeeper to praise him specially.”

Ye Qin’s smile froze instantly.

Ye Kun felt as if he’d rather die—wasn’t this using his brother to praise himself? How unfair!

“My brother didn’t even try and did so well—I don’t think I can keep up,” Ye Qin pouted, looking utterly aggrieved.

Ye Kun wanted to comfort his brother, but the boy had entirely misunderstood his intentions.

“Oh? Is that so?” Ye Ming, nearby, asked in confusion.

Ye Kun quickly explained, “No, I was joking with my brother. The first place today was just an accident.”

“My brother can win first place by accident—how can I ever catch up?”

Everyone: “…”

Ye Kun felt he needed to have a heart-to-heart with his brother. Before they went to school, there was no rivalry at home. But now, with rankings at the private academy, his brother was upset.

He had said he couldn’t draw, yet won first place—this was deceiving his brother.

His brother was surely angry now; he would have to talk things over with him soon.