SBCEJM -Chapter 199 This is the Real “Brother-Obsessed” Level! Did Feng Zhaoxuan Break Down for Her Brother?

【System, why is my brother collecting all these things?】

Feng Zhaoxuan felt a bit puzzled inside.

【Could it be hoarding tendencies?】

The system fell silent for two breaths, its tone unusually serious.

【It’s not hoarding.】

【When he was five, his grandfather and grandmother passed away one after the other.】

【He suddenly understood—people can just disappear. Once they’re gone, you can’t get them back, no matter how much you want to.】

Feng Zhaoxuan froze for a moment.

The officials in court also froze.

Feng Shuren understood this at five years old?

That kind of awareness… far exceeded children of the same age.

Fang Ziqin couldn’t help glancing at Feng Zhaoxuan a few more times, a flicker of admiration in his eyes.

No wonder he became a Top Scholar.

The gap… was simply too great.

Xiao Juechen’s gaze landed on Feng Zhaoxuan. After a moment of silence—

A five-year-old child already knew to record and preserve things.

That mindset… was not ordinary.

Feng Zhaoxuan’s mind drifted to a blurred memory.

【I remember… my brother and I were five when Grandpa and Grandma passed away.】

That winter, it snowed endlessly.

White mourning banners hung across the courtyard, swaying in the wind like crying ghosts.

Servants wore mourning clothes, walking carefully, even speaking in lowered voices.

Grandfather had died suddenly from an acute illness. The doctor said it was a blocked heart vessel—nothing could be done.

Grandmother passed away less than half a month later from grief.

Her brother didn’t smile much for an entire month.

By day, he forced himself to act like an adult, staying by their parents during mourning rituals and receiving guests who came to pay respects.

A small child in mourning clothes, standing straight.

At night, he hid under the blanket and cried quietly.

She had woken up several times at night, hearing muffled sobbing from the next room.

She herself understood death more lightly than her brother.

Maybe it was personality… or maybe it was because she carried memories from another life.

In short, she wasn’t too devastated.

Watching her brother hold back tears and force composure, she even felt a bit awkward.

She didn’t know how to comfort him.

So she just stayed close to him.

Gave him sweets, played Go with him, even pretended to fall so he would help her up.

She tried every way possible to make him smile.

【Back then, your brother…】

The system’s voice carried a rare trace of emotion.

【He locked himself in his room every night.】

【Holding your grandfather’s smoking pipe and your grandmother’s embroidered pouch, touching them over and over again.】

【He rubbed them so much that even the tobacco oil on the pipe faded from his palms’ sweat.】

【He kept touching those items, trying to remember what they looked like.】

【But over time, the memories started to blur.】

【He even couldn’t clearly remember what his grandparents looked like anymore.】

【He only remembered that grandfather liked teasing him… and grandmother’s pastries were very sweet.】

【Everything else… slowly disappeared.】

The officials reacted differently upon hearing this.

The Minister of Revenue felt his throat tighten, remembering his own late mother, eyes reddening.

He couldn’t even recall her voice anymore.

Only the warmth of her hands… and the faint soap scent on her clothes remained.

The Minister of Rites silently shook his head.

What was the point of a child thinking so much? The dead cannot return; the living must move on.

The Ministry of Works official, however, thought of his own disappointing son, who only knew how to play all day—how could he compare to Feng Shuren?

【After that, he didn’t want to leave his memories to an unreliable brain.】

【So he began collecting every trace that could preserve his family—his father’s whisker, his mother’s embroidery needle, his sister’s lost baby teeth…】

Feng Zhaoxuan’s nose stung. Her throat felt blocked.

So that’s why her brother started fearing loss back then…

He was only five.

In her past life, she was probably still playing pretend games at that age.

【Compared to my brother… I’m really so heartless…】

She silently cursed herself.

【I can’t even remember my grandparents’ birthdays clearly, but my brother even keeps my fallen hair.】

【I’m really not human!】

Everyone present felt different emotions.

So this wasn’t some strange obsession…

It was simply a child afraid of losing, trying to preserve warmth.

Feng Huai’an’s eyes reddened as he recalled those days.

His son, wearing a small mourning robe, standing motionless in the hall, back straight.

He thought it was just grief.

He never realized…

The child was afraid.

Afraid they would leave too.

Feng Huai’an blinked hard, forcing back tears.

Feng Zhaoxuan’s brother lowered his gaze, fingers tightening slightly.

Yes.

He was terrified.

Afraid his parents would suddenly be gone one day.

Afraid his sister would grow up, marry, and forget him.

Afraid that one day he would wake up and no longer remember what his family looked like.

So he had to leave something behind.

Even if it was just a strand of hair, a baby tooth, a painting.

Those were proof that his family had existed.

Xiao Juechen looked from afar, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

This kid… is deeply emotional.

But people like this are also the easiest to be exploited.

He would need to be properly guided in the future.

【Enough, enough!】

Feng Zhaoxuan interrupted the system in her mind.

【If I keep listening, I’m going to cry!】

She shook her head hard.

【No, I need a distraction!】

【System, tell me about my dad’s!】

【Does my dad have any weird habits?】

The officials immediately snapped back to attention.

Right!

What about Feng Yushi?

What secrets was he hiding?

The atmosphere instantly shifted from emotional to gossip mode.

Feng Huai’an felt a chill down his neck.

He glanced at his colleagues.

Every one of them had eyes sparkling with anticipation.

It was over…

All his dignified image was about to collapse.

He started sweating nervously, desperately searching his memory.

What strange habits did he even have?

Drinking? Normal.

Occasionally reading novels?

That… shouldn’t count, right?

Or maybe—

【Host, your father’s habit… how should I put it…】

The system sounded teasing now.

【It’s quite special!】

【And definitely beyond your imagination!】

Feng Zhaoxuan got excited again.

Her sadness instantly switched to curiosity.

【Hurry up, tell me!】

The officials all leaned forward.

The famously strict Feng Daren, the “Iron-Faced Censor”…

What hidden secret could he possibly have?

Xiao Juechen also leaned slightly forward.

Feng Huai’an… let me see what you’re hiding.

Feng Huai’an’s palms were now drenched in sweat.

His reputation… was about to be ruined today!

The system dragged out its tone.

【Your father’s habit is…】

【It will definitely shock you!】

Feng Zhaoxuan couldn’t hold back anymore.

【Stop teasing! Just say it already!】

【I can’t wait!】

【My dad is so serious, he wouldn’t secretly raise ducks, would he?】

【Or cross-dress?】

【Or sneak snacks at midnight?】

The system chuckled.

【None of those!】

Everyone perked up even more.

The Iron-Faced Censor…

What exactly was his secret?