Married at First Sight

Rowan's family didn't pay much attention to him, especially his mother. She rarely showed concern for him, believing that with eight older brothers to look out for him, he'd be fine. But this also meant Rowan faced a lot of pressure with his studies. Many of his teachers had taught his older brothers before him, so if his grades slipped even a little, they'd compare him to them.

Rowan was always under a lot of pressure.

Despite this, he was still one of the top students in his class and ranked among the top ten in the entire city. Yet, when compared to his brothers, he felt like he fell short.

His eight older brothers had skipped grades throughout elementary, junior high, and high school, while Rowan had to progress at a regular pace after entering junior high. Having one excellent older brother is tough enough; having eight exceptional ones made the pressure even worse.

"Grandma asked me to make sure you're picked up from the airport today," Rowan said. "Since I went home yesterday for the holiday, I thought I'd come to get you myself."

He glanced at the bodyguards following his eldest brother, who were busy carrying the luggage, leaving him with nothing to do.

"Sister-in-law, are you hungry?" Rowan asked Serenity. "I brought some snacks in the car for you. You can have them when we get in. Grandma also asked the chef to prepare a few of your favorite dishes. Oh, and Young Master Julian is here with his fiancée. Grandma's hosting them at home."

Rowan chatted with Serenity as they walked, calling Zachary "big brother" and playfully pinching Sonny's cheek. They strolled side by side, looking so close that anyone who didn't know them might think they were actual siblings. Zachary, holding the still-sleeping Sonny, watched his wife and little brother walk ahead with a hint of jealousy.

Sonny had slept through everything, even Rowan's pinch on his cheek. Zachary thought that with Sonny now so well-rested, he probably wouldn't nap when they got home. And with Rowan there to keep him entertained, the two of them might be bouncing off the walls all afternoon.

Rowan, just starting his vacation, deserved a few days to unwind and relax. Everyone in the family understood this. Education is crucial, but maintaining mental and physical health is even more important.

These days, too many high school students suffer under the weight of academic pressure, parents' constant expectations, and the

demands of school. Some even net

experience severe stress and depression, with tragic cases where

kids feel like there's no way out.

Zachary didn't want Rowan to reach that point. Although Rowan seemed to handle stress well, Zachary knew that if the pressure ever became too much, they could always send him abroad. For now, Rowan didn't have to worry about getting into college-it was just a matter of which university he would choose. He didn't want to go abroad too early, and the family respected his wishes. "Rowan, can you help me hold Sonny?" Zachary called out. "I've been carrying him the whole way, and my arms are getting sore."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Rowan quickly stepped over and took Sonny from Zachary's arms. "How long has Sonny been sleeping?"

"He fell asleep just after we boarded the plane and hasn't woken up since. He sleeps like a log," Zachary said with a laugh, gently pinching Sonny's cheek.

Rowan hoisted Sonny up so that the boy's head rested on his shoulder. As he walked with Serenity, he kept chatting with her, sharing funny stories from his school.

"Sister-in-law," Rowan asked, "when

is my little nephew due? Will he be born after I take my college entrance exams? 'd be great if he waited. until after, so when he's born, he'll see me, his ninth uncle, first. That way, we'll be close right from the start!"

Zachary couldn't help but tease, "My son will definitely see his dad first, not his little uncle. Don't forget, you've got a lot of older brothers and so many elders ahead of you!"