It's just a toy, why would you care if it breaks?

When Dou Xuan returned home, his mother, Cen Rong, was gesturing back and forth in the living room, holding up a long, silver, rectangular handheld lamp.

Upon seeing him enter, Cen Rong immediately greeted him warmly: "Xuan'er, look at my newly bought quantum moisturizing beauty lamp that cures all ailments!"

Dou Xuan glanced at the lamp in silence. It had a plastic casing and ordinary LED tubes. It was obvious that it was another product recommended by one of her "best friends" to be a rip-off.

He knew his mother too well; she was a beautiful, kind, but somewhat foolish woman. His father, Dou Muxian, had always doted on her and never stopped her from doing whatever she wanted.

"Looks good, Mom." Dou Xuan smiled in agreement, walked over, took the lamp and examined it for a moment: "The design is quite unique. It can be used for self-defense during Star Wars."

Although Cen Rong didn't understand her son's veiled sarcasm, she still pinched his arm and nagged, "Let me tell you, I saw someone recommend it in the girls' group today and immediately placed an order. I'll have your dad take a look later; he's been complaining of neck pain lately."

"Okay, let Dad try it too." Dou Xuan agreed, putting the lamp back on the table. "Mom, I'm going upstairs to talk to Dad about something."

Dou Xuan's father, Dou Muxian, was drinking tea in his study when he saw Dou Xuan enter. He greeted him and asked him to sit down, "You're back? How did the project with Wei Xun go?"

"Everything went smoothly. All the details have been finalized, and we can start preparations next week." Dou Xuan walked to the desk and sat down. "Next Saturday night, Wei Xun and I are co-hosting a thank-you dinner. I came to let you know that we'd appreciate your help in arranging the details of the dinner."

"No problem." Dou Muxian nodded, his tone gratified. "It's a good thing that you were able to reach a cooperation agreement with Xun'er. I'll arrange the banquet, don't worry."

After exchanging a few words about the collaboration, Dou Muxian changed the subject: "By the way, how's Xiao'er doing at the company lately? I see him going to work early every day, full of energy, saying he wants to do well. Give him some practical work to do, don't let him be idle all the time."

When Dou Xiao was mentioned, Dou Xuan couldn't help but sigh: "Dad, don't count on him. He's always causing trouble at the company, good for nothing, but he's number one at stealing fruit from the conference table."

"Oh?"

"Last time I asked him to organize the documents, he mixed important contracts with scrap paper, and the client insisted on reading three pages of a swimming and fitness brochure. ...Dad, it's better to let him laze around like before than to let him cause trouble at the company."

"You can't say that," Dou Muxian frowned. "He used to be unreliable, but now he's more ambitious, which is a good thing. You have to be patient with him. Teach him more, and he'll get it eventually."

He paused, then said, "Also, Xiao'er is already in his early twenties, a grown man. You shouldn't hit him so easily anymore; it's not appropriate. Last time you beat him so badly, he not only didn't hold a grudge, but he also called you 'Big Brother' every day and followed you around. To be honest, Xuan'er, with Xiao'er's current height and strength, he might not be unable to beat you; he just doesn't fight back."

Dou Muxian's words stunned Dou Xuan.

He fell silent and thought carefully.

From childhood, he knew that his younger sister and brother were of average intelligence, but he always spoiled and doted on his sister, while he couldn't help but dislike and scold Dou Xiao.

His attitude was truly unfair, even though they were siblings.

"I understand, Dad." Dou Xuan sighed. "Don't worry about it. I'll find him something suitable to do."

After leaving the study, Dou Xuan went straight to Dou Xiao's room.

The door wasn't locked; he pushed it open easily.

Shawn Dou was hunched over his desk, writing and drawing, his pen moving quickly across the paper, his expression focused.

Hearing the door open, he looked up and saw Dou Xuan. His eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly stood up: "Big brother! You're here?"

"What are you busy with?" Dou Xuan walked over and glanced at the desk.

A large sheet of paper was spread on the table, covered with words written in different colored pens and a table drawn on it, titled "Ranking of the Deliciousness of Dishes in the Dou Group Cafeteria".

"Brother, I spent two days trying every dish in the cafeteria and ranking them according to how delicious they were!"

Dou Xiao excitedly pointed to the table: "Look, this braised pork is first, sweet and sour fish is second, and this stir-fried vegetables, although light, are very refreshing, and are third..."

Dou Xuan looked at this painstakingly compiled but ultimately meaningless ranking list and felt a sense of helplessness.

But he held back and patiently said, "You did a great job, thank you for your hard work."

Receiving the praise made Dou Xiao even happier, and he began to give a long and detailed report:

"Brother, I'm so bored at work! I go to the cafeteria before mealtime every day and I've noticed a lot of interesting things!"

"For example, red spoons are taken the most in the cafeteria, while green spoons are taken the least. I guess everyone likes bright colors."

"Also, when the cafeteria staff arrange the dishes, they put the meat dishes in front and the vegetable dishes in the back. The meat dishes sell much better than the vegetable dishes. If they put the popular vegetable dishes in front, the sales will also improve!"

……

These findings were indeed not of much practical significance, but seeing his excited expression, Dou Xuan still insincerely praised him: "You observed very carefully, thank you for your hard work."

"Really?" Dou Xiao's eyes lit up even more, his cheeks flushed. "Big brother, as long as you think my work is useful, I don't mind working hard! I want to work hard, contribute to the company, and be a career-oriented man!"

Looking at his serious expression and recalling what had happened before, Dou Xuan couldn't help but ask, "You... still can't let him go?"

Dou Xiao's smile froze. After a long while, he said with a mixture of fear and determination, "Big brother, I can't help but think about him... Why don't you beat me up again?"

Dou Xuan's heart clenched suddenly.

He stepped forward, reached out and lifted Dou Xiao's sleeve, and saw the bruises on his arm from when he was beaten up last time, which made him feel even worse.

"I won't hit you anymore." His tone softened. "I shouldn't have hit you. You're all grown up now. From now on, no matter who hits you, you should hit back."

Dou Xiao was stunned, his eyes filled with confusion: "Big brother?"

"I was too harsh on you before, I'm sorry." Dou Xuan's voice was a little hoarse: "My older brother always looked down on you and thought you were useless. I was wrong."

Dou Xiao was even more confused, looking at him cautiously: "Big brother, why are you suddenly being so gentle with me? Is it...is it because I have a terminal illness?"

"Huh?" Dou Xuan, still feeling guilty, was speechless for a moment and rolled his eyes. "Your thinking is so strange. You're perfectly healthy, where did this terminal illness come from?"

"Why is that?" Dou Xiao scratched his head, then his eyes suddenly lit up, before he became tense again: "Could it be that you and my brother-in-law are plotting to murder me and dispose of my body? Brother, I want to see Nan Yan one last time before I die!"

Dou Xuan was completely defeated by him and said irritably, "Don't overthink it. Dad told me to be nicer to you."

"Oh, I see." Dou Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. "That scared me to death. The cafeteria will be making crab roe soup dumplings tomorrow. I don't want to die today; I haven't had enough yet."

Seeing his carefree attitude, Dou Xuan was both amused and annoyed. Suddenly, an idea struck him: "Since you enjoy researching the cafeteria so much, why don't you work in the company's logistics department and manage the cafeteria? What do you say?"

Dou Xiao suddenly looked up, his face full of disbelief: "Big brother, are you serious? You want me to manage the cafeteria?"

"What, you don't want to?" Dou Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"Yes! I'm willing!" Dou Xiao jumped up excitedly, almost bumping into his desk. "Thank you, big brother! I'll definitely work hard and not let you down!"

He finally got a real job, and one that he was interested in.

If he works hard and becomes a career-oriented man, maybe... maybe Nan Yan will see him change.

"Alright, calm down." Dou Xuan pressed him down. "I'll have someone from the logistics department handle the handover tomorrow. Get some rest."

"Okay! Thank you, big brother!" Dou Xiao's face was beaming with excitement.

Dou Xuan turned to leave, but saw Dou Xiao pick up his phone, his fingers flying across the screen, a sweet smile on his lips.

Curious, he leaned over to take a look and saw that Dou Xiao was texting a number saved as "Wife." The message read: "Wife, my brother praised me today and even let me manage the cafeteria! I'll definitely work hard on my career from now on. Goodnight~"

Dou Xuan leaned over and casually swiped his phone screen, seeing that the chat history was full of messages from Dou Xiao, dozens a day. Some shared photos of the cafeteria food, some talked about his trivial matters at the company, and there were also good morning and good night messages, all in an intimate and gentle tone.

But the other party's chat box remained empty; there wasn't a single reply.

"He can't see it, so don't send it anymore," Dou Xuan said in a heavy tone.

He knew without asking that the number labeled "Wife" must belong to Nan Yan.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Dou Xiao clutched his phone tightly to his chest, looking at him warily: "He'll see it! He just isn't replying to me. He hasn't blocked me, which means he still cares about me!"

"Don't be silly." Dou Xuan frowned and reached for his phone. "Why don't you just call and ask him if he wants to talk to you or not?"

"I won't call!" Shawn Dou clutched his phone tightly, his eyes instantly reddening. "I just won't call! I want to text him like this, I'm willing!"

Dou Xuan ignored his resistance, pressed down hard on his shoulder with his right hand, and snatched the phone away with his left.

Dou Xiao struggled to snatch the phone back, but Dou Xuan held him firmly. He could only cry and shout, "Big brother, give me back my phone! Don't make that call!"

Dou Xuan didn't stop what he was doing. His fingers quickly found the dial button on the screen and pressed the number.

"Big brother, no—"

The call connection notification sounded.

The number you dialed is out of service.

Dou Xuan stopped moving.

Dou Xiao stopped struggling, froze on the spot, and tears streamed down his face.

He suddenly broke free from Dou Xuan's grasp, snatched back the phone, and shouted, "I told you not to call! I don't want to know!"

Dou Xuan felt a pang of sadness as he watched his younger brother cry and jump into bed, covering himself completely.

This number is out of service.

Dou Xiao probably already guessed it.