Chapter 20: Soft-hearted Xiaojie
212.
I still spent most of my time working at the sect, so I gave Jason some guidance and then left. Dick split his time between Blüdhaven, Wayne Manor, and school. Barbara was only occasionally at Wayne Island, but she spent most of her time at home and school.
Because the short-distance teleportation array is very convenient, they will still go back to the manor for dinner.
What this means is that after Dick and I left that morning, Bruce and Jason were the only ones left on Wayne Island besides Alfred. Alfred spent most of his time taking care of the manor, while Bruce snored happily in his bed. No one was watching Jason all the time.
This gave him an opportunity.
Jason, the ruthless guy who dared to pry off the tires of the Batmobile at the age of 12, is not only smart but also has excellent hands-on skills.
So, when I finished my work in China and returned to Gotham to have lunch, it was reasonable to run into Jason, right?
213.
I had just teleported out when I stared into the eyes of Jason, the dog who had sneaked down.
He looked at the sword in my hand and the long gown I was wearing.
I looked at him with the hood on and the crowbar in his hand.
We just stared at each other in silence for ten seconds, neither of us moving.
Ten seconds later, we walked away quietly as if we had never seen each other. I went to change clothes and he continued to explore the secret base.
214.
When I changed my clothes and walked leisurely to the kitchen to drink a cup of hot tea made by Ah Fu, Ah Fu just walked up from the basement with his usual elegant smile on his face.
"Ah Fu." I picked up the teacup and asked with a hint of meaning, "Is there something going on in the basement?"
"It's not exactly bustling," Ah Fu said slowly, "but a young master has shown a keen interest in some of the 'hidden spaces' of the manor."
I paused while sipping my tea and raised an eyebrow. "Young Master? Jason?"
Ah Fu nodded slightly, "He did show a certain curiosity."
"Then what?"
"Then I happened to be inspecting the facility, and I told him that some areas in the basement weren't suitable for casual entry." Ah Fu spoke calmly, but I could clearly detect a hint of humor in his tone. "Of course, he immediately apologized and claimed he was just lost."
I almost couldn't hold back my laughter. "You got lost in the basement and almost found the Batcave, right?"
Ah Fu did not answer directly, but gave me a meaningful look.
215.
Later, Jason showed up at the lunch table as if nothing had happened. He ate intently, but I could clearly sense that he was stealing glances at Bruce—more specifically, at Bruce's hand, which was occasionally writing something.
"Xiaojie, is there something wrong?" I deliberately broke the silence.
"Nothing," Jason replied quickly, then lowered his head to continue eating.
Bruce raised his head and glanced at him calmly, seemingly not caring about his little action.
But I know Bruce must have noticed it - this man is always like this, appearing calm on the surface, but in reality, nothing can hide his sharp eyes.
"Jason." Bruce suddenly spoke, his voice gentle but with a hint of meaning, "If you're interested in certain places in the manor in the future, you can ask me or Alfu to show you around. You don't have to explore on your own."
Jason paused with his fork in his hand, then nodded quickly, "Okay."
Bruce lowered his head and took another bite of his food, as if he had just mentioned it casually.
But Xiaojie's ears turned red.
Oh, so cute.
216.
After lunch, I found Bruce in his study, looking over a thick file.
"He's going to find out soon," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "Are you ready?"
Bruce raised his head, a hint of helplessness flashing in his deep blue eyes, "It's only a matter of time before you find out."
He knows it himself, but he still insists on pretending. I really don’t understand what’s the point.
"So what are you going to do this time?" I smiled. "Continue pretending to be 'an ordinary wealthy person from the Wayne family'?"
"Try to postpone it." Bruce's tone was calm, but there was a hint of fatigue between his brows. "He just got here and needs more time to adjust. Exposing too much truth will only catch him off guard."
"That's true," I nodded, then deliberately lengthened my voice. "But you know he already has a lot of questions in his mind, right? The sudden disappearance of the peregrine falcon, the identical-looking eldest daughter of the Wayne family, the facilities in the Batcave, your daily whereabouts, and even the number of people in our family is exactly the same as that of the Batman's family... Oh, and he was just staring at your hand holding the pen."
Bruce frowned slightly, but soon relaxed, "Jason is a smart kid, but smart kids sometimes need a little guidance."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Looks like you're going to use your 'Wayne cover-up' again."
"Whatever happens." Bruce closed the file, his eyes calm and determined. "I'll make sure he feels safe here."
If you don't feel safe in Batman's house, then I don't know where else in Gotham is safe.
"Hope your cover can last a little longer."
After all, Dick and I spent the whole day betting yesterday.
If Xiaojie hadn't exposed Bruce today, Barbara and I would have won.
I waved my hand at him. "I'm still on Barbara's side in this bet—three days, at most."
Bruce didn't answer, but just gave a meaningful smile.
217.
Then I wandered into the hall to see if Jason would continue his underground adventures, but I found him sitting on the sofa, intently studying a book on gardening.
"Hey, little gardener, why are you working so hard?" I raised my eyebrows and walked over.
Jason raised his head, his expression a little subtle. “You talked about so many plants last night that I can’t remember them all, so… learn more.”
"You're a beginner after all, so I understand." I smiled and sat down next to him. "My explanation from yesterday should be enough for you to digest in a week, right?"
He lowered his head, flipped through the pages, and said in a muffled voice, "Hmm...it's actually quite interesting."
I looked at his slightly shy face and thought to myself that this kid was a typical example of someone who was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. He looked nonchalant on the surface, but in reality he was extremely serious.
"Would you like me to show you around the greenhouse again?" I asked. "This time I can show you how to care for the plants."
Jason paused, as if considering it seriously, and finally nodded slightly, "Okay."
"Okay, remember to bring some snacks and water." I stood up and ruffled his hair. "Gardening is a physically demanding job."
218.
However, the trip to the greenhouse did not go as smoothly as planned.
Not long after we set out, we ran into Dick.
What's going on? Doesn't he have to go to high school? Do you have a teacher to supervise him and make him go to class?
He was wearing a fitted casual outfit, and I couldn't stand the sight of him looking so ostentatious. When he saw us, his eyes lit up and he said, "Where are you going? Take me with you."
"Greenhouse." I answered casually, glancing at him. "Dick, you... didn't come here for exercise, did you?"
"Hey, I'm a hardworking brother." Dick smiled brightly, his blue eyes shining like the summer sky. "Of course I have to come over and play with my little brother."
Jason's expression was a little subtle for a moment, and to be honest, my mood was also subtle, but Jason didn't say anything in the end, just silently followed us to the greenhouse.
219.
When we got to the greenhouse, I began to explain the habits of plants to Jason seriously, while Dick interjected from time to time.
"These are orchids. They like semi-shaded environments..."
"Oh, yes, Xiaojie, this flower is especially beautiful when it blooms!"
"This is a vine, it needs to be fixed with a bracket..."
"It climbs very fast, like some people climb stairs as a child."
"Dick!" I finally couldn't stand it anymore and turned to glare at him. "Are you here to cause trouble?"
"No, I'm helping." Dick said innocently, patting Jason on the shoulder. "What do you think, little hedgehog?"
Jason raised his head and glanced at Dick with a complicated expression, "...It's quite lively."
This answer made me hold my forehead, while Dick looked proud and said, "See, he thinks it's funny too!"
Please, people just don't have the heart to tell you the truth and hurt you. Do you understand? It depends on the atmosphere.
I decided to stop arguing with Dick and continued to work on the plants with Jason. He gradually relaxed and even asked a few questions.
220.
After the greenhouse tour, Jason held a small pot of newly planted plants, obviously very satisfied with his results.
"Where should we put it when we get back?" I asked him.
"My room," he answered crisply, then glanced at Dick and said, "You're not allowed to touch it."
"Is that how Jason sees me? My brother is so sad!"
"Okay, okay..." Dick raised his hands, his blue eyes full of smiles, "I will never touch your things."
"...better." Jason muttered softly, but the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
Jason... was conquered so quickly... and he's still a bit of a tsundere person, even though he's so arrogant. It shouldn't be this fast, right? No, could Robin be a factor?
It’s so abominable, the peregrine falcon is obviously the most handsome!
But Dick hurried back to school for class, barely managing to balance.
221.
However, Xiaojie didn't plan to expose Bruce right away in the afternoon. Seeing his conflicted look, I guess he didn't plan to expose Bruce tomorrow either.
Did he realize that just by this distress he had exposed himself completely?
But, it's really cute!
He wanted to balance the relationship between us, and he might even have reserved a plan for himself to be exposed the next day. This is too much like Bruce's style of trying to keep things balanced.
But what Xiaojie didn't know was that we weren't really betting, but were just using this little joke to see when he would be unable to hold back and ask.
After Bruce is really exposed, he may feel that he has done something great, but he doesn't know that we have already prepared the expression of "Oh, you finally found out".
222.
In the evening, when I was about to deal with sect affairs, Dick had already returned from get out of class.
He had just walked out of the teleportation circle, with his signature bright smile on his face, and his blue eyes shone like sunlight on the lake.
"How's it going?" he asked me impatiently, "Has Xiaojie exposed Bruce yet?"
"Not yet." I leaned back in my chair leisurely, holding a cup of spiritual tea. "But I don't think he will expose Bruce today."
Dick raised an eyebrow slightly, "You don't think today?"
"It's possible." I looked at him and smiled. "Xiao Jie is a soft-hearted child. He doesn't want any of us to be sad. Maybe he will delay it for a while."
"Hmm." Dick nodded, a hint of pride on his face. "He really does like me as a brother."
"Don't be too happy too soon." I warned, "Xiao Jie is not someone who can be easily seen through."
"We'll see." Dick grinned and ran straight to Jason.
223.
That evening, the manor's dining room was bustling with activity. Jason sat across from Bruce, trying to pretend he wasn't paying attention to his every move. Dick, on the other hand, picked up a steak and enthusiastically discussed the manor's garden design with Alfred.
Barbara and I exchanged a knowing look and made a bet that there would still be no result today.
As dinner was almost over, Jason finally couldn't help but speak.
"Bruce, where did you go this afternoon?" His voice was casual, as if he just mentioned it unintentionally.
Bruce raised his head, looked at him with his calm blue eyes, and replied calmly, "I took care of some work matters."
"Oh." Jason nodded and pretended not to care as he lowered his head to cut his steak.
But his expression revealed his inner struggle - he wanted to continue asking questions, but didn't want to be too obvious.
"By the way, Xiaojie." Dick suddenly spoke, looking at him with a smile, "You didn't run around this afternoon, did you? Some places in the manor are not very safe."
"Of course I didn't run around," Jason replied quickly, a hint of guilt in his tone. "I was just... walking around the garden."
Dick chuckled and said nothing more, while Barbara and I continued to drink our tea as if nothing had happened.
224.
That evening, when I ran into Bruce in the study, I couldn't help but jokingly say, "He almost asked it today. You're really good at handling it."
Bruce closed the file in his hand and leaned back in his chair, a rare look of ease on his face. "He's still hesitant, not sure whether he should ask directly."
"What will you do if he really asks?" I asked curiously.
"Tell him the truth," Bruce said calmly, "but wait until he decides to speak."
I nodded and couldn't help but smile. "You just like this cat and mouse game, don't you?"
Bruce didn't answer, but a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Haha, I was saying, this man just loves playing these little tricks. Damn, are we part of your play too?!
225.
On the morning of the third day, Jason got up earlier than usual and ate breakfast quietly at the table as usual, occasionally stealing a glance at Bruce.
Bruce was still the calm prince of Gotham, flipping through the morning paper gracefully, seemingly completely unaware of Jason's gaze.
Yes, this guy who is addicted to playing with children even went to bed early yesterday and left the night patrol task to us, just so that he could get up early and show up in front of Xiaojie.
The world is becoming more corrupt and people’s hearts are no longer as they used to be.
He has ulterior motives.
Dick sat next to Jason, spreading jam while chatting with Alfred about his studies. Occasionally, he would pretend to pat Jason's shoulder casually and give an encouraging smile.
"Jack, what are your plans after breakfast?" Dick asked.
"Nothing special." Jason answered quickly and lowered his head to continue drinking milk.
"Well, that's perfect." Dick stuffed the last bite of bread into his mouth. "I'll take you to the woods. I heard the squirrels over there are very active."
"Squirrel?" Jason raised his head and frowned. "You want me to feed the squirrel?"
"I'm not feeding it, I'm chasing it." Dick smiled brightly. "When I was a kid, I was the squirrel catching champion."
Jason was clearly amused by his tone, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. "That sounds pretty stupid."
"How will you know if you don't try?" Dick blinked his blue eyes, his face full of anticipation. "Let's go, catching squirrels is an important... uh, training!"
Jason hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, "Okay."
Bruce looked up from his morning paper and gave Dick a cold glance that said, "Are you sure this is your best plan?"
Dick shrugged nonchalantly and pulled Jason out the door.
226.
In the woods, Dick's "training" was exactly what he said it was—chasing squirrels.
Jason was quite serious at first, but seeing Dick running around and jumping onto tree branches from time to time, he couldn't help but stop and watch with his arms folded.
"I think you're the squirrel." Jason looked at Dick in the tree with a calm tone.
"That's called agility." Dick jumped down from the tree, landing firmly on his feet. "As your older brother, I'm showing you how to use the environment to your advantage."
"Really?" Jason snorted, suddenly turning and running. "Then come and try to catch me!"
"Don't run!" Dick shouted and chased after him.
The sounds of their laughter echoed in the woods, and the birds in the distance were startled and flew away, flapping their wings and disappearing into the sky.
I was standing not far away watching this scene and couldn't help laughing.
"They're having a great time." Barbara's voice came from the headphones.
"Yeah." I leaned against a tree, my tone relaxed. "Jason has gotten used to this place. I guess he'll expose Bruce in a couple of days."
"Two more days?" Barbara deliberately stretched out her voice. "It seems he really wants us all to lose."
I chuckled. "After all, Dick has been working so hard lately, Jason will definitely give him some face. The best outcome is that we both lose."
"Let's wait and see." Barbara's voice was filled with laughter, and then the headphones returned to silence.
In the woods, Jason's laughter grew closer, while Dick's shouts faded away.
It seems that Dick really can't catch up this time.
227.
When Jason returned to the manor, he was covered in mud, holding a furry little squirrel, with a rare smile on his face.
"Did Dick fail to catch the squirrel?" I teased him.
"He's too slow." Jason said calmly, but there was a sly look in his eyes. "He's not even as fast as this squirrel."
"Don't listen to his nonsense." Dick wiped the sweat from his forehead and followed him breathlessly. "I just let him go."
If this guy really can't catch up, then I will doubt what he has learned all these years.
He wouldn't do four flips in the air while chasing her, would he?
"Uh-huh," Jason drawled in response, turning and going upstairs with the squirrel in his arms. "I'm going to take a shower."
I looked at Jason's back and couldn't help but sigh, "It seems like he has made this place his home."
"Of course." Dick stretched and smiled proudly, "I'm a good brother."
"Well, good brother." I deliberately emphasized the tone and said teasingly, "But the last time for our bet should be coming soon."
Dick immediately dropped his smile, "...Is he going to expose it today?"
I shrugged and smiled without saying anything.
The result of the bet may be revealed soon.
228.
At noon, sunlight streamed into the dining room through the curtains, and Jason walked downstairs slowly with milk in his hand.
God, he really loved milk.
Hmm... maybe it's to grow taller? After all, I'm his sister, 180cm tall.
He looked no different from usual, his movements still that seemingly casual yet tinged with the caution of a teenager.
"Good afternoon, little hedgehog." Dick had been waiting for a long time and greeted him while eating pasta.
Jason raised his chin as a response, then pulled out a chair and sat down, continuing to wrestle with his glass of milk.
"Any plans for the afternoon?" I asked casually, pretending not to notice him glance warily at Bruce.
"Nothing," he answered quickly, then added, "Maybe I'll go to the garden again."
Bruce was reading the newspaper as usual, turning the pages gracefully, seemingly completely unaware of Jason's stealthy glances at him.
But I know Bruce has been watching all along. His blue eyes hold a bottomless calm, like a lake without ripples.
"The garden is nice." Bruce suddenly said in a gentle voice, "If you need it, you can ask Alfu to help you prepare some tools."
Jason paused, then nodded and whispered, "Thank you."
He was obviously a little uncomfortable. He lowered his head, quickly took a few bites of lunch, and hurriedly left the table.
229.
As soon as Jason left, Dick leaned over and lowered his voice, "I have a feeling he'll expose Bruce this afternoon."
"Don't worry." I took a sip of tea and said slowly, "He's still hesitating."
"What are you hesitating about?" Dick looked confused. "Isn't it just a question of 'Are you Batman?'"
"For him, this isn't just a question." I glanced at Bruce. "He's probably still considering whether asking will get him kicked out."
Dick was stunned for a moment, frowning, "Kicked away? How could that be..."
Bruce put down the newspaper and looked at us calmly, "He needs time to find his place."
"What about you?" I asked Bruce, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to tell him?"
Bruce was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I'll tell him when he's ready."
230.
The day passed quickly.
It's a pity that at the end of the bet, Jason still didn't expose Bruce. He really decided to make both of us lose!
On the fourth day, Jason showed up at the restaurant later than usual, holding a pen in his hand and looking a little serious.
"Bruce." He looked Bruce straight in the eye, his voice low but firm, "Are you Batman?"
The air suddenly became quiet.
Dick nearly dropped his fork, and my eyes widened slightly—he'd just gone straight to the show!
Bruce didn't answer immediately. He put down the papers in his hand and looked up, his blue eyes fixed on Jason quietly, as if assessing his resolve.
After a few seconds, he spoke, his tone calm and gentle, "What would you think if I said yes?"
Jason was surprised by Bruce's response and was stunned for a moment. But he quickly gritted his teeth and said, "Then you're no ordinary person... You didn't just abandon me to some wealthy family, you adopted me yourself."
Bruce raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, "If I were not an ordinary person, would you be afraid?"
Jason shook his head, his voice a little hoarse, "No."
"Very good." Bruce nodded. "So, what's your answer?"
Jason was silent for a moment, then finally looked up with a small, but resolute smile. "My answer is, Batman or not, I'm not leaving."
"Welcome home." Bruce extended his hand and spoke softly.
Jason was stunned for a moment, then slowly shook the hand.
Dick breathed a sigh of relief beside him and couldn't help but let out a huge smile, "Finally, Xiaojie."
Barbara and I looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
"But does this mean we all lose the bet?" Dick suddenly realized and asked us.
"I think Jason wins," I said with a smile. "After all, he chose to reveal the secret at his own pace."
"I agree." Barbara nodded, with a hint of tenderness in her eyes. "He deserves this victory."
Jason raised his head, looked around at us, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth - in that smile, there was a sense of belonging to home.
231.
After revealing Bruce's identity, Jason's attitude didn't seem to change much.
He did not ask for more details, but just ate quietly and arranged his plants as usual, and even took the initiative to help Ah Fu clean the kitchen.
However, he would occasionally look at Bruce with a slightly smug look, as if to say, "I know, but I won't say it out loud."
Bruce's attitude towards him hadn't changed much either; he continued to offer gentle guidance and calm observation. But occasionally, I'd notice a rare hint of relief in his eyes when he looked at Jason—a relief that finally didn't have to pretend anymore.
As for Dick, he looked happier than anyone else.
"I've always said that Xiaojie is smart, right?" He would brag in front of me every day. "He's much smarter than I was when I was a kid. How long did it take me to understand Bruce's identity?"
"We're letting you off the hook, aren't we?" Barbara joked as she sorted through the documents. "I was really worried you'd cry if you thought about it too long."
"Stop ruining the show!" Dick slammed the table and glared at Barbara deliberately.
Jason sat nearby, listening to this "family drama," and couldn't help but chuckle secretly.
232.
A few days later, Jason came to me on his own initiative, with a serious look on his face.
"Sister Leona." He stood in the doorway, his crowbar in hand. "I want to learn more."
"More things?" I raised an eyebrow. "Like?"
"Fight," he said directly. "I want to become stronger."
I looked at him, my eyes fell on his stubborn expression and his still relatively thin body, and my heart suddenly felt complicated.
Poor little bird, he must have never had enough to eat before. Maybe when he was in Crime Alley, he would be beaten, insulted, and robbed of his food and weapons by those thugs.
"Jason," I said, my tone softening. "Why are you in such a hurry to become stronger?"
He was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Because... I want to protect this family."
I was stunned for a moment, then I couldn't help laughing, "Okay, little hedgehog. Since you want to learn so much, then sister will teach you well."
He raised his head, with a faint but bright light in his eyes, "Thank you."
"But you have to be prepared." I teased him deliberately, "My teaching method is not as gentle as Dick's."
He was slightly stunned, then nodded stubbornly, "I'm not afraid."
"Very good." I reached out and ruffled his hair. "Starting tomorrow, get ready for real training."
233.
The next morning, Jason's voice could be heard from the training grounds: "You said you wouldn't be gentle, and this is what happened?"
I stood by, crossed my arms, and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to do this? This is just a basic warm-up."
Jason gritted his teeth, readjusted his posture, and a fierce determination to win ignited in his eyes, "Come on!"
Dick peeked over at us and couldn't help but smile and shook his head, "The little hedgehog is indeed different."
"It's not your turn to judge yet." I glanced at him, then said to Jason, "Ten more sets, and then we'll start the actual competition."
Jason took a deep breath and nodded vigorously, "Okay!"
The air in the training ground is filled with the sweat and stubbornness of the young people.
As I looked at Jason, I had a vague feeling that his future might be brighter than any of us could imagine.
234.
In the days that followed, Jason's growth was tangible. While his crowbar remained his "best friend," he gradually mastered more combat techniques and even began to actively seek advice from Dick.
Dick was very proud of this. "See, I told you I'm a good brother, right? Xiaojie is becoming more and more like me."
"Really?" I asked back with a smile, "You taught him darts, and he's still poking the target with a stick."
"That's his obsession with the stick." Dick stroked his chin, looking serious. "But it doesn't matter. When he feels ready, he'll naturally pick up the darts."
"Are you sure you're not going to wait until he thinks darts are too expensive?" Barbara leaned lazily aside, puncturing Dick's fantasy.
Jason listened to the teasing, but just lowered his head and continued practicing, unable to help but smile.
235.
One night, Jason came to me with a complicated expression.
"Sister Leona." He said hesitantly, "If... I mean if, one day I do something wrong, will you forgive me?"
I was stunned for a moment, then looked at his cautious expression and softened my tone. "Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is whether you try to correct them."
He bit his lip, "But some mistakes are... hard to correct."
"Then we need to give it a try." I walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "Jason, no matter what you do, remember, we are your family."
The struggle in his eyes subsided a little, and he nodded, "Thank you."
"But seriously, why are you asking?" I asked, only half-jokingly. "Are you planning on breaking someone's tire again?"
He was amused by what I said and shook his head, "No."
236.
A few days later, Jason finally formally proposed that he wanted to join Bruce's mission.
"I'm ready." He stood in front of Bruce, his tone firm.
Bruce put down the pen in his hand and looked at him quietly, "Jason, do you know what this means?"
"I know." Jason gripped the crowbar tightly. "I know this is dangerous, but I'm not the street thief I used to be. I can help. I can protect everyone!"
Bruce was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Okay, I'll consider it. But you have to undergo a complete test. Only if you pass it, I will allow you to participate in the mission."
"No problem!" Jason's eyes flashed with excitement, "I can do it!"
Dick and I stood by and watched him, full of fighting spirit, and we couldn't help but feel proud of him.
"This guy..." Dick muttered softly, "He's becoming more and more like me."
"Yeah." I nodded with a smile, "But I hope his crowbar doesn't become the second protagonist."
When Jason heard what we said, he turned his head, raised the crowbar, and showed a small smug smile, "If you are envious, just say it."
At this moment, I suddenly realized that Jason had not only adapted to this family, but had also begun to truly integrate into it.
He may not be perfect, but he is brave enough, and this family will always support him.
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