Lin ChuSui was lying in bed drawing circles, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She could never have imagined that Xiao Yan would actually fight, let alone that he could dig up all those unknown dark histories about Zhao Xiaolu.
The online forums were in an uproar tonight, with class chats and school groups all discussing the incident.
Zhao Xiaolu was completely done for.
Today Xiao Yan had even dragged Lin ChuSui to the teacher's office to apologize, but as soon as they turned around... he started gathering evidence against Zhao Xiaolu.
His scheming ran so deep, his methods so ruthless, it was unimaginable.
Lin ChuSui thought about what the gossip queen Zhang Cheng Yu had mentioned about Xiao Yan's past - how he had gambled his own life to set a fire that landed his foster father in jail.
This man... She had always taken him for a pure and innocent "little white rabbit", but it turned out he was the devil incarnate!
Lin ChuSui felt a little foolish. She had stood stupidly in front of him today, almost kneeling to Zhao Xiaolu, just to prevent these boys from bullying and beating him.
A man like Xiao Yan could never be bullied by anyone.
[Nancheng No.1 High School Belle Chat]
Lin ChuSui recounted the incident to her friends.
Lu Chi: "It was actually done by Xiao Yan? I thought Zhao Xiaolu had provoked some mortal enemy! What massive grudge could spur this?"
Zhang Cheng Yu: "No grudge or enmity, just because she set up your little sister, and she happens to be ChuSui's only bestie."
Lu Chi: "I'll haul the civil affairs bureau over and have you two married on the spot!"
Lin ChuSui: "He did all this for me?"
Lu Chi: "For who else? Me?"
Lin ChuSui wasn't sure. She felt like a man like Xiao Yan was worlds apart from her. If they hadn't coincidentally become deskmates, the trajectories of their lives... would never have crossed.
He was smart, handsome, and could easily attract a flock of admirers with a snap of his fingers.
Since Elder Lin had left, Lin ChuSui's confidence had mostly dissipated.
She really didn't know what Xiao Yan could possibly like about her.
Lin ChuSui: "I feel like he has some ulterior motive with me."
Xu JiaNing: "A guy who scores 9/10 in maths, what could he be plotting against you - your bad temper or failing grades?"
Lin ChuSui: "I'll have you know my last test score was 57, thank you."
Xu JiaNing: "You're proud of 57 points?"
Lin ChuSui: "One person scored 147, another 150. The 3 point gap between geniuses and gods is the distance between heaven and earth, fish and birds."
Xu JiaNing's sore spot was poked right on, making him snap irritably: "Punk!"
Lin ChuSui: "Somebody's mad now."
Xu JiaNing sent an emoji of "Go crawl away", and exited the chat.
Not two minutes later, Lu TianBai added him right back in, and privately messaged Lin ChuSui:
"Sis, please, I'm begging you! "
Lin ChuSui: "Alright, alright, I won't provoke him anymore."
...
She backtracked and sent Xiao Yan a WeChat: "Forgot to ask, were you injured from the fight today?"
Right after sending, she quickly unsent it.
Why was she inexplicably concerned about him!
But at the same moment of her unsend, Xiao Yan's reply came through: "No."
Two seconds later, he also chose to unsend it.
Even just chatting via text, Lin ChuSui could still feel a certain indescribable awkwardness.
After a while, she asked: "What did you unsend?"
Xiao Yan: "Then what did you unsend?"
Lin ChuSui: "I wanted to ask you to let me copy your math homework, but figured you definitely wouldn't, so asking was pointless. That's what I unsent."
Xiao Yan: "What I unsent was the math homework."
"..."
Lin ChuSui: "Then would you mind resending it?"
Xiao Yan: "I would."
Lin ChuSui: "Nevermind then. "
A few minutes later, Xiao Yan added: "To avoid a beating, you'd kneel and apologize to someone? I thought you weren't the compromising type."
Lin ChuSui: "I did it so a certain someone wouldn't get beaten, okay! "
Xiao Yan: "I know."
Suddenly the atmosphere turned somewhat strange and awkward. Lin ChuSui's cheeks flushed red, and she went to sit by the bay window, letting the breeze blow in and lightly caress her face.
It had rained, and the wind carried specks of raindrops.
A few minutes later, Xiao Yan sent over several pictures in succession. When Lin ChuSui opened the originals, they were the answers to the math homework.
"?"
Xiao Yan: "Repaying my debt."
Lin ChuSui put on an act, politely declining: "Oh no, don't worry about it. No debts here - we're deskmates, it's only right for me to protect you. I'm just that righteous and noble deskmate."
[Xiao Yan unsent an image.]
Lin ChuSui: "Thank you sir! I wish you great fortune and longevity!"
She then quickly saved the remaining homework pics:
"Don't unsend! Don't do it! I kneel to you sir!"
...
That night however, it was Xiao Yan who couldn't sleep.
It had been a long time since he last suffered insomnia, after sending his foster father to jail and gradually emerging from the gloom of his youth. He had new goals then, and his life also began brightening. He never had insomnia again after that.
But tonight was one of restless tossing and turning.
That 30% progress bar contained the sincerity of the little girl's heart that remained unclear to him.
The faster the progress bar ran, the more complicated his feelings grew.
In this world, the most difficult debt to repay was that of the heart.
He suddenly didn't know what to do anymore.
Just then, Lin XiuZe's voice, silent for so long, sounded again:
"The February wind like scissors, for whom does the moon stand in the cold night? Xiao Yan, why aren't you asleep so late into the night?"
Xiao Yan: "I was thinking, the reason Lin ChuSui's classical poetry is so good is that I've finally figured it out."
Lin XiuZe smiled and said: "Xiao Yan, we now share the same body. I know when your conscience pains you."
After the possession, Lin XiuZe came to know all of Xiao Yan's past. Because he had been deceived and hurt before, he no longer understood how to treat others with sincerity.
In his world, there was only deceit and escape, not kindness.
To hand over a sincere heart was as difficult as ascending to heaven for him.
But over this period, his heart... was slowly beginning to waver.
Lin XiuZe: "Xiao Yan, I quite like you."
Xiao Yan: "Thanks, but no need for that. Just say what you want to say."
Lin XiuZe: "I just wanted to ask if you'd like some QQ candy?"
Xiao Yan: "If I eat your QQ candy, I'll have to become good friends with your family's little darling?"
Lin XiuZe: "Becoming boyfriend and girlfriend works too. But only after the college entrance exams - I see good prospects for you there!"
"..."
With the marathon approaching, Lin ChuSui's training had also entered a period of intense preparation. She wouldn't return home until very late everyday.
On the eve of the race, Xu JiaNing happened to overhear a phone conversation between Xu SongBai and their homeroom teacher while passing by the study.
"I won't let her participate in the marathon, even if she can win prizes.
"Even if she just tests into a tier 2 or 3 college, it doesn't matter. She can study finance and accounting, and have a good career path joining the company in the future. Even if you say to let her pursue sports, so what if she gets into a top university? She won't be able to do anything if she joins the company - make her a security guard?"
"This is me considering what's best for the child's future."
"At this age children don't know anything about their interests, they just make a fuss over playtime. Only adults know what's truly best for them."
"Teacher, no need to say anymore. I'm very busy, that's it."
After Xu SongBai hung up, he saw Xu JiaNing and asked: "You're back from school?"
"Mm."
"Have the auntie heat up some food for you. Oh right, your sister's not back yet?"
"No."
"Keep an eye on her more often, with no father and unwilling to listen to me, you're peers - help her more with studying in school."
Xu JiaNing lowered his eyes without answering.
The older generation really could be so naive.
The complex relationship between him and Lin ChuSui, how could it be summed up simply as "brother and sister"?
They didn't know anything, or perhaps they just didn't care.
Xu JiaNing turned and entered his room. Pushing open the door, he saw the guitar that had been forbidden and collecting dust.
He looked back at Xu SongBai and suddenly said loudly: "She's pretty good at athletics, I've seen it. Runs better than a bunch of boys, plays basketball decently too..."
Xu SongBai's expression darkened: "Mind your own business."
Xu Jia Ning pursed his lips and said in a deep voice, "What you consider a successful life may only be one kind. But everyone is different, and she also has things she likes to do. You should allow for diverse lives..."
"Are you itching for a beating again?" Xu Song Bai scolded harshly, "Mind your own business. I'll take care of my sister, don't stand up for her here!"
"She's not your daughter..."
"Shut up!" Xu Song Bai looked really angry as he yelled, "Even though she's not blood-related to me, I will take care of her like a biological father! I won't let her continue to make mistakes on the wrong life path!"
Xu Jia Ning didn't say anything more, turned around and went back to his room, slamming the door shut.
...
Lin ChuSui was a little nervous about the marathon tomorrow. On her way home, she was jogging and doing warm-up exercises.
She really wanted to come in first place.
These past two years, she had lived in a muddled way like a waste, and had never succeeded at anything. Her grades had plummeted.
However, the marathon was something she had once been very proud of. She had gotten a top five finish.
She liked running, liked going around mountains and lakes with her dad, always running under the stars and moonlight.
After her dad left, she stopped running.
She drew a line around herself, put a lid over her head, and shut out all the light that shone into her life.
But now, it seemed the lid had been pried open a little, and a ray of light shone in.
She wanted to run again, win the prize money, and at the same time earn her way into college, and then...
She also wanted to prove something to someone, prove that she wasn't a useless trash.
She was also a very outstanding girl.
That someone always came in first place, so she also wanted to take first place to show him.
Lin ChuSui had just run to the entrance of the residential complex when Xu Jia Ning's bike drifted around the corner at high speed and stopped in front of her.
"Xu Jia Ning, what's wrong with you?"
The sudden braking nearly made her crash into him.
Xu Jia Ning was riding the bike with one foot on the ground. He said, "Don't go back tonight. Get a hotel room."
"Why?"
"Old Xu won't tolerate you going to run the marathon. Tomorrow he'll find a way to stop you from leaving, maybe even lock you in your room."
Lin ChuSui said, "Damn, is Master Xu really that petty?"
"..."
"Don't scold my dad."
"Then why are you helping me?"
Xu Jia Ning shrugged. "To get first place on the midterm exam. Doing good deeds for karma. I just saw a stray dog and fed it."
The corner of Lin ChuSui's mouth twitched. "No need to go that far. Even if you gold plate a Bodhisattva statue at the temple, you can't get first place."
Xu Jia Ning didn't want to battle her with words. "I've given you the heads up. Do your good deed, scram."
Lin ChuSui caught up with him and said, "Then brother, since you’re helping, help me all the way and give me some cash. I don't have any money on me."
Xu Jia Ning felt his wallet and pulled out a ¥100 bill for her.
"Only 100 yuan. I can only stay at an internet cafe for the night..."
"I don't care where you go."
Xu Jia Ning said lightly and then pedaled away slowly at sunset.
Lin ChuSui tilted her head and uncertainly asked him, "We're enemies, right?"
Xu Jia Ning said, "Yes."
"Then why did you report secrets to the enemy?"
"Because I was bored."
Lin ChuSui smiled lightly. "I feel you're not as annoying as the first time we met."
"The first time we met, you snatched my drink. Who was more annoying?"
"But you were badmouthing me on the phone to someone else."
"You stuck gum on my bike!"
"You always looked at me with disdain and contempt."
Xu Jia Ning lazily said, "I always look like this. It's not specifically aimed at you."
Lin ChuSui pouted. "Brother, there's always a higher mountain. Don't be so arrogant. Like on the last math test, the study master got 150, but you only got 147..."
Xu Jia Ning lowered his voice and interrupted her, "If you bring that up again, I’ll kick you off the bike."
Lin ChuSui burst out laughing. Her tinkling laughter accompanied them down the road.
The corner of Xu Jia Ning's mouth also involuntarily curved up slightly.
...
When they passed the bar street, Lin ChuSui saw a girl on the street who looked a little familiar.
She was tall and thin, wearing a sexy grey strappy dress that clung to her body. The hem wrapped around her butt and revealed a pair of long, fair legs.
She seemed to be drunk, holding high heels in one hand and a small bag in the other, staggering down the street.
With such a good figure, slender waist and long legs, anyone passing by would find it hard not to let their gaze linger on her.
Lin ChuSui stared at her for a while, then called out in surprise, "Sister Xiao!"
Xiao Qian looked back and saw Lin ChuSui. Her narrow, phoenix eyes lifted up. "Oh, little Chu."
Xu Jia Ning saw she had met an acquaintance, so he pressed the brake and put one foot down to stop next to Xiao Qian.
"Sister, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Qian was drunk and leaning against a lamppost. "No night class today. I came out for a drink. Don't... tell my brother. He doesn't let me drink..."
"Okay, I won't say anything."
From Xu Jia Ning's position on the bike, his line of sight happened to fall right on the fair and perky cleavage of the tall woman. He then unnaturally averted his gaze.
"Lin ChuSui, she's your friend?"
Lin ChuSui supported the swaying Xiao Qian and explained, "She's Xiao Yan's sister."
Xiao Qian also saw Xu Jia Ning. Her rosy lips curved up even more. She patted his head, "Oh, this little brother is so handsome! Even more so than my brother."
Lin ChuSui said, "Sister Xiao, are you seeing things?"
Xu Jia Ning could compare with Xiao Yan?
Xiao Qian's slender fingers came down and pinched Xu Jia Ning's chin, gently lifting it up. "Mm, more good-looking than my brother."
The faint floral scent from her fair, delicate wrist made Xu Jia Ning's heart beat erratically. And this provocative gesture made even his earlobes turn red―
"Don't... touch me."
Xu Jia Ning awkwardly turned his head away from her hand.
A boy his age was most susceptible to teasing, especially by a ripe, translucent woman like Xiao Qian.
"Are you little Chu's boyfriend?" Xiao Qian hugged Lin ChuSui's shoulder and joked, "That won't do. Little Chu is ours!"
Xu Jia Ning immediately explained, "I'm her brother."
Xiao Qian's brows arched like the moon, frowning and smiling coquettishly. "That's good then."
"Sister Xiao, let me take you home. It's dangerous for you to be out here alone like this."
"Okay, I was about to call a... a car to go home anyway."
"Xu Jia Ning, go on ahead yourself. I'll take Sister Xiao home."
Xu Jia Ning couldn't help but glance at Xiao Qian again. On impulse he said, "She's drunk like this, she'll throw up in a taxi."
"Huh?"
"I can give her a ride."
"What???"
Lin ChuSui was dumbfounded. When did fake gentleman Xu Jia Ning become a real gentleman?
Xu Jia Ning calmly said to Xiao Qian, "Riding a bike, you can also sober up from the wind. What do you think?"
"I want to feel the wind." Xiao Qian sat on the back of Xu Jia Ning's bike, babbling drunkenly, "This brother is more considerate than Brother Yan! Sister likes you!"
The corner of Xu Jia Ning's mouth subtly pressed together. After she was seated steadily, he pedaled the bike and set off―
"Don't move, don't fall."
"Hm?"
"Just... be careful not to fall."
"Haha."
Xiao Qian laughed heartily, throwing open both arms and suddenly bear hugged Xu Jia Ning tightly around the waist. "Like this I won't fall!"
Lin ChuSui was going to do a warm up jog for the marathon anyway, so she simply chased after them.
She tilted her head and saw Xiao Qian clinging tightly to Xu Jia Ning, pressed right up against him. And she was wearing a sexy little strappy dress too.
Xu Jia Ning's face was as red as a boiler, as if it was about to start steaming.
Lin Chu Sui worriedly shouted, "Sister! Don't let him take advantage of you!"
Xiao Qian was completely oblivious, blinking sleepily at Lin Chu Sui: "Little Chu Sui, you run so fast, you'll definitely get first place in the marathon!"
"Sister, you... Oh, don't hug him."
"Let go, let go! Xu Jia Ning, you scoundrel!"
Xu Jia Ning silently quickened his pedaling pace, leaving Lin Chu Sui behind.
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