Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Timmy, You and Master Have a Special Bond
Leon’s mother watched as Ian eagerly ran over to Old Mr. Quill, who handed Ian a gift wrapped in a brocade box, and she couldn’t help but show pride on her face.
He was truly a child of the Kane family.
"Dear grandson, open up and see what your grandmaster has given you as a gift," Old Mr. Quill’s aged hand rested on Ian’s shoulder, his brown eyes always focused on Ian’s small face, growing more fond with every glance.
Ian opened the brocade box, revealing a jade pen inside, entirely green and free of any impurities, made from top-quality jadeite. The pen tip wasn’t steel but a brownish-red wolf’s hair brush.
This jade pen wasn’t new; it was several hundred years old.
"Wow~ The jade pen given by Grandmaster is so beautiful, it’s the most beautiful jade pen I’ve ever seen!" The little boy picked up the jade pen, his handsome little face full of excitement.
Leon’s mother was shaken; she had seen this jade pen before. It was Old Mr. Quill’s most treasured heirloom, passed down to him by his master’s generation.
Usually, Old Mr. Quill kept the jade pen hidden at home, only taking it out for her and Leon to see, without allowing them to touch it.
Why had he suddenly given such an heirloom to Ian as a gift?
Leon’s mother quickly figured it out. Old Mr. Quill dedicated his life to calligraphy and painting, had no time for romance, and had no offspring. His only successor was Leon.
This jade pen, whether passed to Leon or not, would eventually belong to Ian.
After all, her son is exceptional, and so is her grandson.
"Ian, quickly thank Grandpa Quill," Leon’s mother’s eyes were filled with pride.
Kiki was distracted, feeling particularly uncomfortable. Her cool brother had unexpectedly brought that bitch Ivana and introduced her as his wife to Old Mr. Quill. How was she supposed to continue with her plan?
Ian’s smile disappeared, returning the jade pen to Old Mr. Quill.
Old Mr. Quill did not accept it: "Dear grandson, didn’t you like the gift from grandmaster? Why are you suddenly giving it back?"
The little boy raised his innocent little face: "Grandmaster, I am not Ian, I’m Timmy."
Leon’s mother’s expression stiffened, wanting to rub her eyes vigorously. That was clearly her precious grandson Ian! How had he suddenly become Timmy?
Leon’s mother couldn’t fully accept this turn of events.
Old Mr. Quill laughed heartily and said with affection: "Grandmaster knows, every time Ian sees me, he’s just like his father, with a cool face. Where is your bit of liveliness? This jade pen from grandmaster is meant for you. Timmy, you have a special connection with grandmaster."
Old Mr. Quill’s words were profound and mysterious.
Leon coughed twice, stroking his chin. Did he? Every time he saw his master, he was always polite, never with a cool face.
Master must have made a mistake; it must be so.
Leon’s mother was about to faint from anger at Old Mr. Quill’s words, making it seem like Ian wasn’t as good as Timmy was. She would never admit the children she raised weren’t as exceptional as those raised by Ivana.
Leon’s mother’s face felt as if Old Mr. Quill had slapped her hard, causing a stinging pain.
Kiki watched Mirnao with disbelief. She had originally thought he was Ian, favored by Old Mr. Quill, but hadn’t expected him to favor Timmy, the little brat, even more than Ian.
Kiki felt intense discomfort in her heart; why? Why did her cool brother have to marry Ivana? Why did Old Mr. Quill adore Ivana’s little brat?
She should have been Leon’s wife. Her children should have been liked by Old Mr. Quill. Everything wonderful should have belonged to her, Kiki.
"Grandmaster, you shouldn’t talk about my brother Ian like that; he is Timmy’s own brother!" The little boy’s innocent expression was very serious; he was protective of Ian.
Ian: Hmm! The old man says nice things to coax my brother, don’t think he doesn’t know the old man is up to something.
Ian: Fortunately, my brother is good, knowing to defend me, his own brother. Unlike the old man, he doesn’t smile and charm me every time he sees me, trying to trick me into learning calligraphy and painting. Now he’s found Timmy, and he’s kicking me to the curb. The old man is really someone without principles.
Old Mr. Quill laughed again, looking at Timmy with eyes growing more fond. This child was sensible and knew how to defend Ian, showing that he was well-educated by Ivana.
Old Mr. Quill said: "Timmy, let grandmaster ask you, do you like calligraphy and painting?"
Ian let out a "heh."
Old Mr. Quill’s eyes flashed as he glanced at Ian, as if to say: Ian, don’t cause trouble.
Timmy tilted his head: "I don’t know!"
Old Mr. Quill was a bit embarrassed, smiling as he said: "It’s okay if you don’t know, grandmaster can slowly teach you."
Timmy: "..."
Leon’s mother suddenly said: "Old Mr. Quill, didn’t you want Ian to stay by your side to learn calligraphy and painting? I’ve seriously thought about it; it’s great for Ian to stay by your side. My Ian is highly perceptive, just like his father, learning things quickly..."
Leon’s mother adored her grandson most and believed no child in the world could compare to him, refusing to let Tris surpass Ian in Old Mr. Quill’s eyes.
No matter how reluctant she was to let her precious grandson go, she had to take this step to overshadow Tim.
At this moment, Leon’s mother seemed to have forgotten why Ian suddenly became close to Ivana?
Old Mr. Quill couldn’t help but frown, puzzled as he looked at Leon’s mother. Timmy was her grandson too, right? She should be pleased with Timmy becoming his disciple; why suddenly bring Ian into it, eager for him to surpass Timmy?
Old Mr. Quill thought for a while, then made a decision.
Old Mr. Quill asked Ian: "Ian, do you want to learn calligraphy and painting with Grandpa Quill?" If Ian nodded, he’d take both; they seemed to be twins, linked by blood and deeply connected in emotions.
Leon’s mother promptly interjected: "Ian, quickly agree with Grandpa Quill."
Ivana thoughtfully looked at Old Mr. Quill, realizing he had recognized from the start that Timmy wasn’t Ian. Because Ian called him "Grandpa Quill," Timmy called him "grandmaster."
Ivana’s mouth curled into a smile; Timmy was excellent, recognized by Old Mr. Quill, and she, as his mother, felt gratified.
However, Leon’s mother’s attitude made Ivana uncomfortable.
Just as she expected, Leon’s mother didn’t like Timmy, even though he was Leon’s biological son, simply because she didn’t like Ivana, leading to dislike for Timmy as well.
Ian’s response never disappointed Leon’s mother, nor had it ever given Old Mr. Quill hope.
Ian said: "I’m not interested, but I can accompany my brother here to play."
Brother?
Leon’s mother felt as though struck by lightning, seemingly unable to believe that Ian, who was usually difficult for strangers to get close to, would proactively acknowledge Timmy as his brother.