Cheng woke with a scream from another nightmare.

Nightmares.

They have been constantly invading this sleep for so long, he breathed heavily as his body was covered with sweat, before he slowly got down from the bed and walked towards the balcony he opened the window and let the fresh air in he took a deep breath before walking out in the cold balcony, without any garment on his upper body.

He stood there for a long time before a maid came in and greeted him and he didn't think that it was important to return the greeting so he ignored her existence like the world ignores his.

After some time he got fresh and did his daily exercise before drinking some alcohol,  a knock on his door gained his attention, and once he saw who it was he just rolled his eyes and looked away, "Get lost, Mr. Linwood" He said 

The old butler sighed, "Young master the breakfast..."

Cheng glared at him, "Is the old hag there?" he asked rudely.

The butler straightened his goggles before saying, "If you are asking about your grandmother then yes..."

"Then tell them that I am not coming," Cheng answered, he thought that the butler left but to his annoyance he was still there, "Is there anything else left? Mr. Linwood?" 

Mr. Linwood smiled before he said, "Your bother is returning today...and your elder sister has asked you to come."

Cheng smiled, Yanli would never have asked him to come knowing how uncomfortable he gets, she never lets him do anything that he does not like and the same goes for Zhan as well.

That's why he was the closest to both of them, "Alright then, I will be there."

The butler in an elegant manner before he left.

~~~

As he had promised he indeed came for the welcome of his brother, Yanli smiled at him, "I am glad you came."

Cheng smiled as well before his grandmother said, "If he can't do even that much for his elder brother then he is worthless."

Yanli's smile dimmed but she didn't say anything while Cheng just rolled his eyes he was used to this, in the meantime, a messenger came, "Marchioness, The duke is also with Commander."

Yanli smiled and nodded and ordered the servants to make the preparations for duke's welcome.

While Cheng eagerly waited for their arrival, it's been a while since he had met Yibo as well, last time when he and Yibo met it didn't go well. And after that he pushed everyone away other than his brother and sister who forced their way into his life forcing themselves inside the walls that he was building between him and the world.

Yanli suddenly smiled, "They are here." 

Cheng also saw the trio and he smiled when he saw Zhan, who smiled as when he saw his brother waiting for him clearly very happy because Cheng never likes to come out of his shed, but for Zhan and Yanli he can.

But then Cheng saw Yibo and then his eyes landed on a small creature sitting in front of Yibo, he leaned towards Yanli, "Sister is that the duke's son?"

Yanli nodded, "The Duke's son Simon."

Cheng's eyes were on Simon for some time before he smiled bitterly, "He has grown up."

Yanli smiled and nodded.

Once Zhan reached home he hugged his sister and then his brother, "How have you been?" he asked Cheng.

Cheng replied, "Splendid."

Yanli then greeted and welcomed Yibo, "I hope your journey was good, duke." then she looked at Simon, "Hello young master...how have you been."

Simon smiled, "Lovely, Ms. Marchioness."

Yanli smiled, while Yibo looked at Cheng who gave a look to Zhan, "Why didn't you tell me that, duke will come as well?"

Zhan just shrugged, before anyone could say anything, their Grandmother Mary, spoke, "Duke and young master Simon it's so good to have you to here, please come inside." she then gave a look to Cheng who inhaled and forcefully smiled before looking at Yibo and the tiny creature in front of him.

"Greetings duke, it's an honor to have to grace us with your presence..." he then looked at Simon who was looking at him and smiling brightly like too brightly, looking at him with shiny and hopeful eyes that were making him really uncomfortable he is not sued to people looking at home so fondly, so he just gave him a look and smiled.

Yibo came forwards and extended his hand, "It's nice to meet you, young master...it's been a while."

Cheng shook hands with him and nodded, "Indeed."

After they went inside, Zhan grabbed his hand, "There is something I want to tell you." he said to Cheng, "what is it?"

Zhan pressed his lips together before pressing his forehead as if trying to decide how to say whatever he wants to say, Cheng, waited patiently before Zhan sighed, "Let's go inside."

Cheng stopped, "What happened? is it something serious? did something happen? someone died or what."

Zhan smiled, "That would have been even easier to tell, but this is something that is making me nervous."

"Are you planning to revolt or what??

Zhan grabbed Cheng's hand, "Let's go inside."

~~~~

Yibo was sitting in front of Yanli, and her grandmother, as the tea was being served to him while Simon was munching on snacks eagerly waiting for Yibo to say what he wanted him to say.

While Haoxuan just stood behind quietly, Simon offered him snacks as well that he politely declined.

"So Marchioness, I came here to talk about something."

Yanli nodded, thinking that it was something serious while her grandmother also had a serious expression, "Yes duke?"

Yibo sighed, as he looked at Simon who smile it was so fun to see Zhan and Yibo so nervous, while he was enjoying but he knows that his enjoyment won't last long because very soon his own hellish days are going to start, but he will enjoy for now.

Yibo spoke, "I want a teacher to train my son."

Yanli and her grandmother exchanged glances, before Yanli spoke, "Would you like me to suggest someone to you?"

"Actually we have already decided who it's going to be."

Yanli's grandmother Mary smiled, "Do you want Yanli or maybe Zhan to be the teacher, if it's any of them then I must say that it's a great choice. My grandchildren will be delighted to teach young master Simon."

Yibo sighed and took a sip of his tea while Haoxuan smirked, before Simon spoke, "I don;t want them as my teacher."

The two looked at them before Mary asked, "Then who do you want as your teacher? you have already decided?"

Simon smiled, "Yes, it will be..."

~~~~"

"WHAT!" Cheng yelled and Zhan flinched while Cheng stood up and glared at Zhan, "Have you gone mad brother? you want me ME! to be a bloody teacher?"

Zhan sighed, "Yes..."

"You have lost your mind you want me to interact with that creature and teach him? huh? "

Zhan stood up as well, "He is not a create just eight-year-old child..."

"AS IF I FUCKING CARE!" Cheng yelled at the top of his lungs while Zhan closed his eyes and flinched this is what he expected, while Cheng took a deep breathe, "Brother, I am not going to teach some tiny whiny bratty child no matter what, and not just him I am never going to be anywhere near him it any other human!"'

Zhan spoke, "He is not a whiny bratty child..."

"That's not what you said a few days ago."

"Well I am saying now, and can't you don this much fo..."

"NO!" Cheng declined right at his face, "I am not going to teach anyone...tell this to the duke and that brat as well."

Cheng said and turned but stopped when he saw Yibo and in front of him Simon.

Simon must have heard everything and so did Yibo because currently, Yibo was glaring at him as if he was going to kill him while Yanli was also behind looking worriedly at him whereas Mary was pale.

Haoxuan however was enjoying this.

But Simon was looking at him with a smile as if he knew that this was going to happen and his eyes damn his eyes they held hope as if he was sure that Cheng will say yes.

Cheng walked towards Yibo, "Good that you are here Duke, now that you are here yourself I will say this directly to you...I will not listen to this request of yours I decline it."

Yibo glared at him before he moved forward, "Lord Cheng, I think due to the long isolation from the outside world you have forgotten who I am."

"I know who you are duke, you are the almighty, wealthy, powerful, duke of the north who has the power to shake the entire empire, challenge nobility, royalty, and temple, but guess what?"

Cheng paused before he smirked, "I don't care...and if you want to kill me for my offense then you can behead me right here right now, they don't call me a mad dog for no reason."

Cheng looked straight into Yibo's eyes challenging him who glared at him Yanli and Zhan looked back and forth between them before Yibo took out his dagger Zhan quickly stepped in front of Cheng while Yanli did the same, standing in front of her brothers.

"Duke, please forgive my brother, he is...." Yanli closed her eyes as if the words that she was about to say were hurting her physically, before she spoke with a whisper, "He is not well."

Zhan gulped while Cheng looked down and smiled, "You heard her duke I am not well I am a mad dog, a person mentally disabled, and what kind of a father you are to send your son to me?"

Zhan grabbed his hand, "Cheng stop."

"I didn't say anything wrong."

"I didn't anything wrong."

Yanli and Zhan's expression looked pained while Yibo was also looking at Cheng with a straight face but his eyes held pain when he saw Cheng and Cheng hated to see that so he just looked down and anywhere else.

While Mary spoke, "Yes duke my youngest grandchild is mentally ill he is a threat to everyone around him. Asking him to be the teacher of your son is going to put young master Simon in danger.

He needs to stay in a cage....because he is..."

"Grandmother!" Yanli said in a louder voice, which made Mary shut up, and cower with fear when she saw Yanli's glare, Zhan and Yibo were also glaring at her. 

"I was jus..." she tried to justify but Yanli interrupted her.

"I am the head here. And you can go inside since you are of no help to anyone here."

Mary looked at Yibo, "Duke I was saying that because I was worried about young master Sim..."

Yibo stopped her, "Leave that job to me, lady, I am enough for that job, and I know what I am doing so please leave."

Simon was not smiling anymore instead he spoke,  "Father this lady insulted my teacher...I don't like her."

Cheng looked at the child, "She said the right thing Child."

Everyone looked at him while he looked at Yibo, "You go and find someone else...and don't bring this up ever again. As she said I am an animal and I deserve in my cage."

With that, he was gone.

While everyone had a pained look Simon just smiled, it was going to be tough but he will use his charms to convince Cheng to be his teacher after all in last life Cheng was like an elder brother to him and he still is.

In this life it was Simon's turn to help his elder brother.