027 The Growth of Xu Xinqi, Part One

She set down her bowl and chopsticks, one foot propped on the threshold as she watched Xu Xinqi struggle to change his shoes.

"If you dare to step out that door, just try me."

"Sister~" Xu Xinqi cooed, attempting to stir some semblance of affection in her heart. It earned him nothing but an icy glare. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to bolt. Taking two long strides, he leaped into the courtyard and turned back to shout a promise. "I'll be back before dark! Wait for me to catch a rabbit and stew it for you!"

Qu Zhanyi did not give chase; she had already devised a method for "academic reform."

Xu Xinqi returned from the mountains just as night fell, bragging about his spoils before he even stepped through the door. "Sister, look! This rabbit is fatter than the New Year's pig..."

He trailed off when he saw his sister ignoring him entirely, her focus locked on her books without even lifting her head. Realizing she was still angry, he sheepishly rubbed his nose and went to cook dinner in silence.

Dinner was served soon after. Qu Zhanyi remained absorbed in her studies, refusing to touch the meal he had prepared. No matter what Xu Xinqi said, her attitude remained the same: unresponsive and detached. Even when he brought a spoonful to her lips, she would not taste a bite.

Xu Xinqi felt helpless, recalling similar situations from the past. He figured he would wait until her temper cooled by tomorrow to offer an apology and play the obedient child for a few days; that would surely smooth things over. Exhausted from his day in the mountains, he stopped fretting and crawled into bed early.

He didn't know how long he slept. By the time he woke, the sun was high, and his stomach was growling.

*This is bad!*

As soon as he entered the main room, Xu Xinqi knew he was in serious trouble. His sister was in the same spot as the night before, surrounded by a thick stack of books. She hadn't slept at all. Having gone without food or rest to study all night was something that had never happened before.

He leaned in close, asking tentatively, "You didn't sleep?"

Qu Zhanyi didn't respond, which only confirmed his sinking premonition. He hurried to curry favor. "Sister, what do you want for lunch? Your brother's cooking has improved lately; I've learned to make all sorts of things."

Qu Zhanyi shifted slightly to the side, still not saying a word.

Xu Xinqi continued his fawning. "How about stewed rabbit for dinner? I promise I'll make it look beautiful and smell amazing..."

Qu Zhanyi turned a page, acting as if she hadn't heard a word.

Remaining silent when angry was characteristic of Qu Zhanyi. After being ignored multiple times, and given the recent events, fear began to creep into Xu Xinqi’s heart. He quickly declared, "I know I was wrong, Sister. Please, don't do this."

Qu Zhanyi continued to ignore him. All his sweet talk and honeyed words felt like punching into thin air; the lack of reaction made him increasingly anxious. Being young, his psychological defenses crumbled in less than twenty minutes. He crouched beside her like a frightened kitten, his eyes red and tears brimming.

"Sister, I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me this one time. I promise it’s the last time." He pleaded, "I’ll try harder, I’ll study diligently—please, don't be mad anymore, okay?"

The cold-shoulder tactic was working. Qu Zhanyi offered him a cold look. "Are you for real?"

Seeing a glimmer of reaction, Xu Xinqi regained his energy and pledged solemnly, "I am! Starting tomorrow—no, starting today, I’ll start studying!"

Qu Zhanyi nodded with satisfaction and immediately ordered, "Go make me something to eat; I'm starving."

Xu Xinqi wiped his nose, beamed, and ran off to wash the rice. Seeing this, a triumphant look crossed Qu Zhanyi’s face. The cold-shoulder phase was over; now, it was time to "break the hawk."

After lunch, Xu Xinqi dawdled with the dishes. Only when Qu Zhanyi grew impatient, her brows knitting tighter, did he slowly shuffle to the table. She pushed an English textbook in front of him. "Memorize fifty words and two classical poems today."

Xu Xinqi looked as though he had lost his will to live, but he dared not negotiate with a sister who had just emerged from such a cold fury. He droned on, memorizing the words in the textbook with a dull, vacant expression.

Fifteen minutes later: "Sister, I request to go to the bathroom." Qu Zhanyi nodded.
Half an hour later: "Sister, I request to get some water." Qu Zhanyi nodded.
An hour later: "Sister, I think I’m allergic to books. As soon as I open one, I get so sleepy."

He slumped over the table, truly on the verge of nodding off. This was expected. Qu Zhanyi pulled out an awl she had prepared, her voice devoid of emotion. "When it becomes necessary, I will increase the intensity."

"Hehe~ Sister, I just realized I can study again!" Xu Xinqi sat up straight, though he was merely posturing with no real intention of learning. He propped his head up, chewed on his pen, and occasionally glanced at the book, only to forget the contents a moment later. Though his body was present, his mind had flown to the heavens.

This, too, was expected. Qu Zhanyi didn't rush him. As long as he remained at the table and his eyes stayed on the textbook, that was enough. The rest was just a test of endurance.

*Raising a child is like raising a pet; first, you have to establish who is the master.* If you don't define who is in charge, there’s no telling when the pet might bite back.

Blending her past-life experience with the memories of the original Qu Zhanyi, she began the first phase of "breaking the hawk."

It took Xu Xinqi three days to barely learn two poems. He had assumed that after a day or two, his sister would face reality and let him go back to being his usual "uneducated" self. By the third day, however, he lost his cool and kept repeating, "Sister, I’m really not cut out for school!" He received only a lukewarm response; Qu Zhanyi would not allow him to leave the table or the textbook for even a second.

By the fifth day, Xu Xinqi began to drag his feet on everything. A trip to the bathroom took at least half an hour, and he would wash a single head of cabbage until it was practically falling apart. Eating and washing dishes stretched from noon until late afternoon; lunch and dinner had become a single, continuous ordeal. Qu Zhanyi didn't rush him; she wanted to see if he had the patience to procrastinate for an entire vacation.

Sure enough, by the eighth day, his psychological defenses began to crumble again. He deliberately made loud noises with everything he did, constantly explaining to Qu Zhanyi that he really wanted to study hard but just couldn't absorb the information, couldn't understand it...

Qu Zhanyi let him stew for another two days until he finally begged for mercy. "Sister, please, spare me. I’m really not cut out for studying."

Qu Zhanyi lifted her eyelids and closed the book in her hands. "How about this: let's have a competition. If you win, I'll do as you say. But if you lose, even if I tell you to eat dirt, you’ll have to do it without hesitation."