I Raised Her Myself

When Lu Li was five, she followed her elder sister into the Prince of Qian'an's manor as a bride. A year later, her brother-in-law and elder sister died in an accident, leaving her an orphan with no one to depend on in the manor.

When the second young lord, Gu Zhixing, returned, Lu Li was dressed in mourning and weeping before the coffin, her tiny body trembling.

She was not even half as tall as Gu Zhixing. Kneeling there, she looked like a little ball of fluff, her whole body soft and babyish, shoulders bobbing as she cried, like a custard bun who'd been terribly wronged.

Gu Zhixing asked, "Who is she?"

The steward replied, "She's the younger sister Lady Lu brought with her."

Gu Zhixing understood and ordered, "Poor thing. Send her out and find her a good place to stay."

But the little girl cried until she couldn't catch her breath, then toppled to the ground with a thump and passed out.

The steward spread his hands. "Young Lord, it seems we can't send her away..."

Gu Zhixing had the little custard bun taken away to rest. "We'll arrange for her to leave the manor after her sister's funeral."

On the day the eldest young lord of the Prince of Qian'an's household was buried, the little custard bun cried harder than anyone. She walked along sobbing, calling out in her baby voice, "Sister, brother-in-law."

Her little legs could barely keep up. At the burial, she was exhausted and fainted with another thump, right on the freshly piled grave.

The steward: This is...

What could Gu Zhixing do? He could only take her back and keep raising her.

He figured he could send her away once she was healthy again.

But the little custard bun was just too adorable, obedient and sweet. Every day she'd wait for him at the door and chase after him, calling him "Big Brother" in a sugary voice.

The little girl was terribly clingy. If she couldn't see Gu Zhixing, she'd cry, and she missed her big brother so much she couldn't sleep.

Tsk. How could a frail little girl who fainted at the drop of a hat possibly get by without him? What if she worried herself sick? How would he treat that?

Gu Zhixing thought it over.

Forget it. He'd just keep raising her!

2025/1/15

Theme: Cute, sweet, and adorable.