Da Bao was good-natured and adaptable. Having fun was the most important thing, and even enduring Er Bao's scorn was harmless and acceptable.
He never took Er Bao's disdainful gaze to heart. Da Bao, holding a somewhat battered Rubik's Cube, was engrossed in playing with it.
...
The next morning, Feng Jin rose early, holding the box with the Rubik's Cube, intending to bring it to Da Bao and Er Bao.
She knocked politely on the door twice, but there was no response. She couldn't help but feel puzzled. It was already late morning, why weren't the two children awake yet? Had they gone out to play?
With a sense of confusion, she pushed the door open and looked around. Her gaze fell upon the bed, and only then did she see the two children sleeping soundly.
Why were these two little ones sleeping so soundly today? It was so late, and they still weren't up. She wondered when they had gone to sleep last night, as their blankets were about to fall off the bed.
Feng Jin shook her head helplessly, placed the box on the desk, and walked to the bedside, tucking the blanket that was about to fall onto the floor back onto the bed.
As she did so, her eyes fell upon the rather ugly and simple Rubik's Cube placed next to their pillows. Her brow furrowed slightly. She knew very well that this Rubik's Cube was not made by her. So, where did it come from?
Curiously, she reached out and picked up the Rubik's Cube beside the bed, examining it closely in her hand. It was well-made, but the craftsmanship was a bit crude.
There were a few minor flaws; it was clearly not as exquisitely made as hers. But who had made it? In this era, besides her, was there anyone else who knew how to make a Rubik's Cube?
It certainly couldn't have been Ling Mo Han. If he had made it, he would never have chosen to give it to the children first. He would have rushed to show it to her immediately.
So, who made this Rubik's Cube? Could it be...
As soon as this thought formed in her mind, Feng Jin immediately dismissed it.
This was completely impossible. How could Da Bao and Er Bao, at their age, make a Rubik's Cube?
Why had she even had such a thought? Had Ling Mo Han angered her brain so much that she was now thinking wildly?
Whoever made it, she could just ask Da Bao and Er Bao about it when they woke up. Thinking about it here wouldn't yield any answers and would just be a waste of time.
As Feng Jin stood up, holding the Rubik's Cube, Da Bao on the bed rolled over, grunted a couple of times, and slowly opened his eyes.
Da Bao looked groggy, clearly not fully awake. After a moment, he vaguely saw Feng Jin.
He thought it was someone else, but it turned out to be Mother. Da Bao instantly relaxed his guard and prepared to roll over and go back to sleep.
Suddenly, he remembered the finished Rubik's Cube on the bed. His sleepiness vanished instantly. Da Bao sat up abruptly and began searching for the Rubik's Cube Er Bao had made, but he couldn't find it anywhere.
His heart sank. This was terrible. Mother must have seen the Rubik's Cube when she came in and put it away.
If Mother found out they had secretly made one, she would surely be very angry and might even punish them severely.
It was over, it was over... It seemed his backside was going to take a beating this time. Da Bao felt like the sky was falling. His mind raced as he conjured countless strategies.
Anyway, Er Bao made this Rubik's Cube. Why didn't he just blame everything on Er Bao? After all, Er Bao was the mastermind, and he was merely someone who had played with the Rubik's Cube.
Mother was so understanding; she would surely pass a fair judgment and not implicate bystanders.
Da Bao suddenly thought of a plan and decided that if Mother asked, he would say exactly that and blame everything on Er Bao.
Then, it wouldn't be his problem anymore. Let Er Bao figure out how to deal with Mother.
Although this was a bit dishonorable, for the sake of saving his own skin, he could only let Er Bao bear the brunt.
It was normal for Er Bao, as the younger brother, to take the blame for his older brother. He could always find a way to compensate Er Bao later. Thinking this, Da Bao's guilt towards Er Bao lessened.
"Mother... listen to me..."
Just as he was about to explain, Er Bao also woke up. Seeing his mother standing beside him, his first instinct was to reach for the Rubik's Cube beside him and hide it.
Feng Jin saw through the little schemes in their hearts at a glance. She picked up the Rubik's Cube from the desk and placed it in front of them.
"What is this? Who among you two can explain?"
She pulled over a chair and sat down, crossing her arms, waiting for their explanation.
"Mother, this was all done by my brother, and it has nothing to do with me."
Da Bao immediately distanced himself, stating that these things had nothing to do with him and that it was all Er Bao's doing.
Suddenly being blamed, Er Bao was momentarily stunned. His gaze shifted to Da Bao. This "old six" was going too far, blaming everything on him. It was truly excessive.
When they were playing, he didn't say anything about not wanting to play. He played more enthusiastically than anyone. Now, he was shifting blame faster than anyone.
Feng Jin's gaze shifted to Er Bao, examining him closely. Was it really Er Bao who had made it?
"Mother, I did it."
Er Bao didn't offer any defense. He simply admitted it. He understood that if he denied it and kept lying like Da Bao, the consequences wouldn't be good either.
It was better to admit it now, and Mother wouldn't blame him too much.
"So, you made this Rubik's Cube too?"
Feng Jin was most concerned about who had actually made the Rubik's Cube. She held the cube and asked Er Bao.
He hadn't intended to hide it from his mother, and now that she knew, there was even less reason to conceal it. He nodded and admitted it.
"Mother, I made it. I hadn't played enough, and Mother took it away, so I made one myself."
Feng Jin was utterly dumbfounded. She never imagined that the Rubik's Cube was actually made by Er Bao. It was too unbelievable.
She took a deep breath, finally digesting this explosive news. Feng Jin sat on the chair and pondered for a long time, unable to fathom how Er Bao had managed to make it.
Seeing Feng Jin's prolonged silence, Da Bao became even more worried than Er Bao.
Mother was so calm. Was this the calm before the storm? It seemed they were truly in for it this time.