Accompanying Lin Shu to the bar, her friends teased: “Can you handle it, Lin? Bringing a kid to a bar?” She handed me a bottle of Wanton Milk: “Young love needs to be watched closely.”
Later, when I brought my girlfriend to meet her, she looked at me and smiled: “You used to call me ‘wife,’ now it’s ‘sister.’ Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”
1
After my parents’ accident, I was taken in by the Lin family.
Everything was still unfamiliar when Aunt Lin and Uncle Lin had to go on a business trip, leaving me and their only daughter, Lin Shu, at home.
The girl was tall, lazily leaning on the sofa, with long, straight legs, a cold expression, and an even more beautiful face.
I was a junior in high school, and she was a senior.
I called out “sister” without any burden.
The other party frowned and said without much expression, “Who’s your sister?”
I whispered a “you,” put down my school bag, and before I could even sit on the sofa, Lin Shu suddenly spoke: “I…”
I was startled and stood as straight as a poplar tree.
She was speechless for a moment: “My mom said we had a childhood engagement?”
I nodded: “It was set by grandma when she was young, with Grandma Lin.”
Without this connection, I wouldn’t have been able to come to the Lin family.
“What era is it, still having childhood engagements? I don’t want it, do you?”
Her pupils were extremely light, looking at me against the light, which always made me feel oppressed.
I shook my head: “I don’t want it either.”
She curled her lips: “Alright, from now on, we’ll live our own lives without interfering with each other. Got it?”
I nodded.
After speaking, Lin Shu got up and went upstairs, and I quickly grabbed my school bag and followed: “Sister… Lin Shu, where do I sleep?”
“Across from me.”
I thanked her and quickly went downstairs, carrying my school bag and dragging my suitcase upstairs.
“Don’t disturb me.”
The door across closed with a “bang.”
Aunt Lin had prepared everything for me in advance, with a clean and tidy bed, new clothes and pants in the wardrobe, and a desk.
I tried to do some homework but couldn’t concentrate, feeling hungry, so I went downstairs to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and found it full of drinks with not a single piece of vegetables.
I went back to get some money and went out to buy groceries.
This is a villa area, and after wandering around, I didn’t see any stores, let alone people, so I had to go back.
After hesitating for three seconds, I went to knock on the door, and it took a long time for it to open. Lin Shu was wearing headphones around her neck, and her face showed impatience at being interrupted: “Didn’t I say…”
“I’m hungry.” I was a bit embarrassed.
She paused, looking at me strangely: “Do you need to be fed at your age?”
I was speechless: “There’s no food in the kitchen.”
“Then go buy it, go out, turn left, then right, and walk straight for about a kilometer, and there’s a supermarket.”
I bought the food and came back, knocking on the door.
“What’s wrong again?”
I blinked, always feeling like Lin Shu’s gaze wanted to eat me: “Do you want to eat?”
“Can you cook?”
“I can.”
“Eat, why not eat ready-made meals?”
“After eating my food, you have to take me to school on Monday and introduce me to the teacher.” I finished speaking, seeing her staring straight at me, and unnaturally averted my eyes, “I don’t know the way.”
Moreover, in the new school, I don’t know anyone.
Lin Shu was amused: “You’re quite aggressive, alright, deal.”
“Thank you, sister.”
I quickly went downstairs.
After my parents’ accident, I was taken away by my grandmother and lived in my uncle’s house. At first, it was fine, but as time went on, my aunt looked at me with disapproval, and even my grandmother was disliked because of me. Later, after my grandmother passed away, my aunt had no scruples.
Once I was falsely accused of stealing money, got beaten, resisted, and was driven to stand outside the door, not allowed to eat.
So when Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin came to find me with a letter from my grandmother, I went with them without hesitation.
It couldn’t be worse than at my aunt’s house.
Except that Lin Shu didn’t seem to like me much.
When I finished washing the vegetables, someone suddenly stood at the kitchen door.
I was startled: “When did you come?”
“At your speed, you won’t be able to eat until night, get out.”
“Then I’ll help you.”
“No need.”
I had to go out, sit on the sofa, play with my phone, and occasionally glance at the kitchen.
Half an hour later, Lin Shu and I sat down to eat face to face.
I picked up a piece of food, my eyebrows and eyes all scrunched up, I’ve never eaten anything so bad.
You can’t cook, you say it, I can, why do you have to compete with me?
This dish can poison a pig, right?
Lin Shu didn’t realize how bad the food she cooked was: “Can you eat it just by looking?”
I averted my eyes, very tactfully: “The food you cooked is quite special.”
“Since it’s special, eat it all.”
I widened my eyes, she put down her chopsticks: “I gave you my first time…”
Realizing she said the wrong thing, she roughly rubbed my head: “Anyway, don’t leave any leftovers.”
2
Fortunately, there were eggs, I made myself a bowl of fried rice with eggs, cleaned up the kitchen, and went upstairs.
Lin Shu went out, and I was comfortable alone, did some homework, washed up, and went to bed.
Sleeping in a daze, there was a knock on the door.
I yawned and opened the door, Lin Shu saw me, her gaze swept up and down, and the words on the tip of her tongue got stuck.
After a while, she stuffed something into my hand and warned with a dark face: “Don’t dress like this at home!”
I looked down, I was only wearing shorts.
Well, I didn’t do it on purpose.
“However, the front and back are the same, withered like a monkey, nothing to see.”
I: “…”
For the sake of the barbecue, I won’t argue with you: “Thank you for bringing me a midnight snack.”
“You’re thinking too much, it was for the dog, but the dog was asleep.”
“Where is there a dog in the house?”
Realizing Lin Shu’s malicious smile, I raised my voice in anger: “Lin Shu!”
She drew out a “oh”: “Not calling me sister anymore?”
I won’t call you sister.
Lin Shu is very annoying, but the barbecue is very delicious.
3
The next day was the weekend, but I still got up early. When I went downstairs, I heard a commotion in the living room, all girls’ voices.
I hesitated whether to go down or not, and the people in the living room saw me and looked over.
Three seconds later.
“Damn, Lin Shu, why is there a guy coming down from your house so early in the morning? What did you do to him?”
“Animal, you start so young, no wonder you kept disconnecting from the game yesterday, you were actually…”
“Shut up, all of you.” Lin Shu kicked over and frowned, “Come down.”
It was too awkward, but I still went down. Lin Shu’s friends should be older than me, so I greeted them all as sisters.
They were delighted and stuffed drinks into my arms.
“Hello, little brother.”
Lin Shu suddenly reached out, pulled me to her side, took a drink from my arms, twisted open the lid and took a sip, with a ruffian-like air: “How many good sisters do you have?”
“Sister Lin, why are you bullying him?”
Lin Shu looked at me with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “Am I bullying you?”
This person is too bad.
Actually, I’m not such a docile boy, but living under someone else’s roof, I have to behave.
So, I smiled and said in a tea-like tone: “Sister is the best to me.”
After saying that, I almost threw up.
Lin Shu was obviously shocked by me, her eyes looked like she saw a ghost, and she dragged me to the garden and whispered a warning: “In front of others, speak properly!”
I blinked: “Okay, sister.”
“Alright, program, in just one day, you’ve grown so bold, dare to get on me.”
“I didn’t ride on you, don’t talk nonsense.”
Lin Shu was rarely choked, then suddenly laughed, took a step forward, her voice playful: “Call me sister again?”
Too close, so close that I could hear the heartbeat in the girl’s chest, and the light fragrance coming from her body.
I held my breath and stepped back: “Sister.”
After calling, I turned around and ran away.
I’m full of courage.
Behind me, Lin Shu “tsked” and a barely audible voice came into my ears.
“Little wild cat.”
4
Lin Shu and her friends were barbecuing in the yard.
The food was ordered and delivered, ready to be grilled.
A few girls are really not good at barbecuing, they are not careful, and they are playing with their phones while barbecuing, the meat is charred.
I looked at the third chicken wing that was thrown out and sighed, it would be a long time before I could eat: “Let me do it.”
“Okay, little brother, watch out, I’ll relieve you after I finish the game.”
I grilled a plate and put it on the table, and Lin Shu came out just as she changed her clothes.
White dress, wet hair, very cold when not speaking, full of distance, I asked: “What do you want to eat? I’ll grill it for you first?”
“Sister Lin, your brother’s skills are pretty good, it’s delicious.”
Lin Shu picked up the plate: “If you want to eat, grill it yourself.”
“Sister Lin, it’s not moral for you to take it all, is it?”
“My brother grilled it for me, do you have an opinion?”
After speaking, she pulled out a chair and sat down, seeing that I didn’t move: “You eat a piece first.”
I had an illusion that the emperor, before eating, let the eunuch try the food first, afraid of being poisoned.
I rolled my eyes, sat on the chair, and in a bad mood, put on gloves and grabbed a chicken wing: “Lin Shu.”
She looked up at me, and I took the opportunity to stuff the chicken wing into her mouth.
My finger touched her soft lips, like an electric shock, I shivered, my hand touched the water cup on the table, and a cup of hot water spilled all over her.
I saw her body obviously stiffen, and I quickly took paper towels to wipe for her.
My hand just touched the cup, and I was dumbfounded.
The water cup fell right on the spot, not biased at all… My face turned red little by little.
I have never felt the water cup so hot, I don’t know whether to take it or not.
I swallowed, and with a look of death, I moved away the water cup.
I seemed to see her move, but I didn’t see clearly, my head was held, and I was passively looked up and looked at her.
Four eyes looked at each other.
Lin Shu’s dark eyes were fierce and fierce, but her voice was a bit hoarse: “Staring at a girl there, what’s wrong with you? Get up.”
She pulled me up and let go quickly, strode towards the room.
The other people were puzzled: “Why is Sister Lin going? Isn’t the game still on?”
“Her pants are dirty…”
After speaking, I followed her upstairs.
After waiting for a while, Lin Shu came out, saw me standing outside, not as fierce as before, a bit improper: “Haven’t seen enough?”
I choked, looked at the ceiling, looked at the ground, but not at her: “No, no burns, right?”
Lin Shu is an only child, if she gets scalded, I’m done for.
Lin Shu didn’t speak for a long time, I thought she wouldn’t speak, and I heard a deliberately lowered voice in my ear: “How about, you check it for me?”
5
She is indeed a high school girl, daring to say anything.
I simply pretended to be foolish: “Okay, I can also wash your pants by hand.”
As soon as the words came out, Lin Shu’s eyes changed a bit, looking like “you have a big problem”.
Three seconds later, she gnashed her teeth: “Disappear for me right now!”
I ran into the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, and felt the heat on my face gradually recede.
…
On Monday, I got up early, and Aunt Lin had already made breakfast.
I finished eating, and Lin Shu came downstairs, her hair was messy, and she looked sleepy.
She casually picked up a bun, swallowed it in two bites, and drank a cup of warm water, the whole process took less than a minute: “Let’s go.”
I just understood why Aunt Lin let me eat without waiting for her.
I hurried to follow.
Seeing her take out a bicycle, I was dumbfounded: “Where do I sit?”
Lin Shu “oh” sounded: “You can chase from behind.”
I almost couldn’t catch my breath, and I saw her support half of her body, patted the back seat: “Right here, sit or not.”
Of course, I can’t let a girl carry me.
I switched places with her, and fortunately, Lin Shu didn’t say anything.
When I held the handlebars and felt the soft hands on my waist, I felt awkward.
“Did you take a shower this morning?” I made a topic.
“Did you see it?”
I almost fell down: “No, the smell of your body wash is similar to mine.”
I guess Aunt Lin prepared the same one for us.
Lin Shu lazily “oh” sounded: “So, you have my scent on you?”
Is this something that can be said?
Wait, what kind of improper topic is this?
What am I talking about?
I might as well not talk, until I arrived at school.
Lin Shu’s mouth is a bit poisonous, but she didn’t miss anything she should do, showing me the way, going to see the head teacher with me, and then went to morning reading.
I was taken to the new class and became deskmates with a girl named Li Jun.
After chatting with Li Jun for a class about gossip, we became bros.
After class, she came back from the bathroom and stuffed a meal card into my hand: “Lin Shu asked me to give this to you.”
“Did she say why she’s giving it to me?”
“Probably afraid you won’t be able to eat. You just got here and might not know that our cafeteria doesn’t take cash. The teacher who handles meal cards is only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so you won’t be able to get one today. By the way, aren’t you two boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“My cousin.”
“What a pity, close relatives can’t get married.”
“…”
6
After dinner in the afternoon, Li Jun and I went to the playground to play ball.
“The two stages when girls look the best are high school and college, with one face more tender than the other. Let’s relax so we have energy for evening study sessions. You see, these boys are all here to relax,” Li Jun said.
I smiled, my gaze attracted by a tall, thin girl in a blue and white jersey.
She made a three-step dunk, and the boys and girls around me went crazy, shouting “Come on.”
Infected by the atmosphere, I whistled.
Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent, making my whistle sound particularly loud.
Not just the boys, but all the girls on the playground looked over.
“Hey, Lin Shu, another guy has gone crazy for you.”
The girl in the blue and white jersey was none other than Lin Shu, right?
She could actually play basketball?
Our eyes met, and her lips curled.
She was indeed very beautiful, but I could clearly see the ill intent in her eyes.
I pretended to be calm: “Let’s go, head back.”
“Aren’t you going to watch? Lin Shu is good at basketball, and she’s handsome.”
“Do you find your own sister handsome?”
“No, I think my sister is like a brutal empress in menopause.”
“I feel the same way.”
7
After the evening study session, I didn’t wait for Lin Shu and went home by myself.
After finishing a test paper, there was a knock on the door.
I opened the door a crack: “What’s up?”
“Come out.”
“I’m afraid of the dark.”
Lin Shu was a bit speechless: “When were you afraid of the dark when you whistled on the playground?”
“It wasn’t me!”
She drew out her phone and played a recording of someone whistling in a way that was unmistakably mine.
The sound of my whistle echoed through the second floor.
“…”
“Good boy?” Lin Shu chuckled.
I always felt like she was being sarcastic.
“…”
“From now on, don’t whistle at girls in school. If I see it, I’ll break your legs.”
8
Lin Shu went to school with me in the morning and waited for me to come home after the evening study session.
Over time, many boys found out that Lin Shu had a transferred cousin.
So, the love letters that they didn’t dare to give her directly were all stuffed into my hands, and the gifts that they didn’t dare to give in person were all delivered through me.
What’s even more outrageous is that someone called me in the middle of the night, asking me to check if Lin Shu was asleep. If she wasn’t, they wanted me to take a candid photo of her and sent me two hundred yuan.
I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to respect this two hundred yuan.
I decisively knocked on Lin Shu’s door: “Do you want to make some money?”
“Are you short of money?”
“It’s very simple, just let me take a photo of you, and you can earn 50, it’s a good deal, right?”
“How about a nude photo?”
My eyes lit up, and I took out my phone with great restraint: “That’s really embarrassing.”
Lin Shu pulled her lips, gestured for me to come over, and as soon as I ran over, she snatched my phone. I tried to grab it back, but she pinned me down with one hand and swiped through my phone with the other: “I’m only worth 200?”
“Give it back to me.”
“I’m in your photos, and you’re making money off me quite smoothly, aren’t you?”
“Lin Shu!” I pounced on her like a cat whose tail was stepped on, and she was caught off guard. She fell to the ground with me on top of her, and the phone slipped from our grasp.
I was a bit dazed from the fall, but my first thought was relief that she hadn’t seen the messages I’d been exchanging with Li Jun; they were utterly disgraceful.
“Get up.”
Lin Shu’s voice sounded a bit different.
I “oh”ed and got up, but before I could regain my senses, Lin Shu pushed and dragged me out.
The door closed with a “bang,” almost hitting my nose.
The next second, the door opened, and the phone was handed out.
For no apparent reason.
Suddenly, she got angry.
The next day during morning reading, I found 500 yuan tucked inside my English textbook.
Aunt Lin always gives me money in red envelopes, but only Lin Shu would put it in my book.
I mentioned I was broke last night, and she took it to heart, afraid I might not have money to spend?
I felt an indescribable taste in my heart, with an uncontrollable emotion slowly overflowing.
9
Half a month later, Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin came back and brought gifts for each of us.
Lin Shu took her share upstairs and was stopped by Aunt Lin: “Help your brother with his.”
“Auntie, I can handle it.”
“Has your sister been bullying you?”
“No, my sister even bought me a bicycle.” I added unnaturally, “She also gave me money.”
After the photo incident last time, she didn’t ride bikes with me anymore.
“Just take it if she gives it to you. Seeing that you two get along so well, I’m relieved. We are family, don’t be a stranger with your sister, if anyone dares to bully you at school, just tell her.”
“Okay, Auntie.”
Lin Shu suddenly laughed, obviously mocking me for being one person outside and another at home.
“Why are you laughing for no reason?” Aunt Lin asked.
“Nothing, just remember，I had a guy whistling at me when I was playing ball.”
This joke is not going away, is it?
Auntie frowned: “You are not allowed to provoke boys!”
“It’s the boys who are not supposed to provoke.”
“What?”
“Mom, I’m going upstairs to do my homework.” Lin Shu didn’t continue the topic and looked at me with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, “Brother, aren’t you coming up?”
Up.
I followed her with a sullen face, and before entering the room, I bowed to her: “I’m sorry, sister, I shouldn’t have sold your photo for money, and thank you for the meal card last time.”
“Kowtow and I’ll forgive you.”
I instantly got angry: “I didn’t really sell it, I returned the money.”
“So that’s settled?” I was a bit confused, “You’re not thinking of some weird trick to deal with me, are you?”
“Want to know?”
I didn’t speak, and Lin Shu added: “I advise you not to be curious.”
“???”
“The things a high school girl thinks about are dirtier than a toilet.”
10
Soon it was the weekend, and Lin Shu made plans to go out with her classmates. Aunt Lin, who was watching a drama, pulled out some money from her wallet and stuffed it into my pocket: “Go out and get some snacks you like with your sister.”
“Mom, we’re a group of girls, it’s not right to bring him, a guy, along.”
“Why can’t a guy have fun with you?”
Lin Shu still took me with her.
Outside the door, I said to her: “You go have fun, I’ll hang out for a while, and we can contact each other by phone when we’re heading home?”
“Mom said you have to follow me.”
I was a bit speechless: “I haven’t seen you listen to Aunt Lin so much before.”
“Who let me have a family business to inherit? If I don’t listen to her, she won’t support you, are you responsible?”
“…”
At the entrance, I found out that one of Lin Shu’s classmates had a birthday.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I should have bought a birthday gift; it’s not good to show up empty-handed.”
“You’re with me, why would you need to buy a gift?”
That works.
Anyway, everyone thinks we’re cousins.
She opened the door and went in, and I followed closely. There were quite a few people in the private room, boys and girls, mostly her classmates.
Suddenly, Lin Shu’s words at home popped into my mind.
She probably didn’t really want to bring me, but it was hard to refuse.
I chose a corner to sit in, and a guy got up and went over, standing in front of Lin Shu, his face flushed: “Lin Shu, won’t you sit next to me? I saved a seat for you.”
There were teasing noises around.
Amidst the noise, only the two of them stood, like protagonists in a movie.
I don’t know why, but I felt a bit down, and I strangely found that I didn’t like that guy, and thought my emotions were really inexplicable.
Thinking too much also made my stomach uncomfortable.
At that moment, Lin Shu suddenly spoke: “Sorry, already taken.”
The room fell silent for three seconds, and her friend nudged her: “When did this happen? Don’t tell me you’re making it up? There’s not a single guy around you, not even a male mosquito.”
“Brother Cheng, have you seen Lin Shu’s boyfriend?” The guy suddenly turned to me.
I “ah”ed, how would I know, afraid of saying the wrong thing, so I just looked at Lin Shu.
But she didn’t give any hints, so I made it up: “Can’t remember, maybe there is?”
The surroundings turned into a mess, all teasing her.
The discomfort in my heart grew heavier, and I couldn’t stand it for a moment, so I got up and went to the bathroom, washed my face, and finally felt better.
But my head hurt a lot.
I sent a message to Lin Shu: “I’m leaving first.”
The other party replied in seconds: “???”
Leaving so soon made me seem quite moody, I explained: “I’m not feeling well.”
The other party didn’t reply, I put away my phone, and left the building.
I was about to scan my phone to pay when a dark figure loomed over me, and I was startled: “Lin Shu? Why did you come out?”
“Aren’t you not feeling well?”
Realizing she might come back with me, I waved my hand hurriedly: “No need.”
“Let you go home alone, my mom would kill me when she gets back.”
It turned out she was afraid of Aunt Lin.
I felt a bit down: “I’m not sick.”
She looked up at me.
“It’s just a headache.”
“Is it very painful?”
I “mm”ed: “It’s okay.”
“Then go home and take some medicine, I’ve called a taxi, it’ll be here soon.”
“What about your classmate’s birthday…”
“The gift has been given, it’s fine to go back early.”
11
In the taxi, Lin Shu and I each occupied one side, with enough space for two more people in between, which made the driver laugh.
“Did the young couple have a fight?”
I glanced at Lin Shu, she had no intention of speaking, so I explained: “We are not a couple.”
“Haha, my wife said the same thing at first.”
“She is my sister.”
I was not giving up.
The driver laughed even harder: “I sometimes deliberately call my wife ‘sister’ too.”
“…”
I had a poker face.
But Lin Shu, she laughed a couple of times: “She does love to call me ‘sister’.”
“…”
I went home and took a bath, then curled up in bed.
As I was about to fall asleep, Aunt Lin brought me a bowl of hot ginger soup.
“Did you catch a cold from the headache? Lin Shu just came to me and said you were not feeling well.”
My eyes were a little moist, when I was at my aunt’s house, no matter how sick I was, I couldn’t get any care.
“Thank you, Aunt Lin.”
Before, when my mom was around, she would cook this for me when I had a cold and headache.
“Remember to take your medicine, if it doesn’t get better after taking it, just call me.”
I watched Aunt Lin’s back as she went downstairs, and suddenly I wanted to call out to her.
I wanted to tell her that I’m not as docile and temperless as I appear.
I love to get into trouble, I’m mischievous, and sometimes when I fail exams, I get scolded by the teachers, but I’m afraid she’ll be disappointed if she knows I’m disobedient and unreasonable.
My aunt said that I was a burden, and if I didn’t restrain my character, no one would want me.
Tears dropped into the ginger soup, causing very subtle ripples.
Suddenly, the door across opened.
My embarrassed appearance was just caught in Lin Shu’s eyes.
She came to me, bent over to look at me, and asked uncertainly, “Did my mom scold you?”
“How could it be?”
She was silent for three seconds: “Does it hurt a lot?”
“It’s not really, just don’t stand so close to me.”
I can’t say that I was almost moved to tears, it’s a bit embarrassing after all.
“No need to get up so early tomorrow.”
Perhaps because I was living under someone else’s roof, I basically didn’t sleep in and would help with household chores as much as I could, although in the end, they were all interrupted by Lin Shu and not completed.
“Got it.”
“What are you getting up so early for? In just a few days, you’ve aged ten years. If this continues, before you graduate from high school, you’ll be as haggard as the old men dancing square dances downstairs.”
“…”
12
The next day I didn’t get up until ten.
I had a dream where Lin Shu came into my room, covered me with a blanket, and kissed me.
What kind of dirty thoughts do I have in my head? I actually had such a dream.
I washed the bedsheet early in the morning.
What’s even stranger is that Lin Shu seemed to have insomnia, with big dark circles under her eyes.
We went downstairs one after the other.
I thought Aunt Lin had gone to the company, but to my surprise, she was in the kitchen,bringing out a bowl of chicken soup: “Finish the soup to replenish yourself first.”
“Mom, where’s mine?”
“Didn’t you say you’re on a diet and don’t want to drink chicken soup?”
Even though that’s what she said, Lin Shu also had a bowl.
After I finished eating and took the bowl inside, I heard the sound of a chair scraping against the floor, very harsh.
Lin Shu frowned: “Mom, why didn’t you discuss this with me?”
“Ah Xu has always lived at home, and I never treated her as an outsider. Besides, your childhood betrothal was never taken seriously. Ah Xu is alone, and I thought about transferring her household registration into our family to be your brother. What’s so bad about that?”
Transferring the household registration.
Aunt Lin is very kind to me, and I actually would like to.
But when I saw Lin Shu, the emotions that had been tangled in my mind became clear.
I don’t want to be her brother.
But if I don’t transfer, will Aunt Lin be disappointed?
I can’t say that I have a crush on Lin Shu, right?
At my age, in my situation, I can’t bring myself to tell Aunt Lin.
Before I could figure it out, Lin Shu suddenly said: “Anyway, I disagree. Either I move out, or she doesn’t transfer in, but we can’t be on the same household registration.”
Her voice was cold and fierce.
“You child…”
“Auntie Lin.” I hurriedly went out, “It’s okay, it’s good enough as it is, no need to transfer.”
I felt relieved and sad.
Relieved that I wasn’t officially her brother, so I could secretly like her, and sad that Lin Shu might not be willing to accept someone suddenly added to the family.
Aunt Lin glared at Lin Shu, and comforted: “Don’t listen to her, she doesn’t mean it.”
“It’s really okay, and my parents died in the line of duty, if I transfer the household registration, I’m afraid I won’t get bonus points for college entrance exams, the pressure after transferring schools is pretty big, I’m really afraid I won’t get into a good university, it’s more secure with the bonus points.”
My gaze inadvertently met Lin Shu’s.
Her dark eyes were brewing emotions I couldn’t understand.
My heart was pricked, and a dense pain spread: “Aunt Lin, I’m done eating, I’ll go upstairs and do some homework.”
“Go ahead.”
Passing by Lin Shu, I saw her body move, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.
13
After the household registration issue, Lin Shu and I were in a cold war.
She didn’t talk to me, and I was holding back.
One day, our physical education class was rescheduled to be with Lin Shu’s class, with the same teacher, after the warm-up activities, the physical education teacher let us free activity.
Li Jun and I bought two bottles of iced black tea and walked around the playground while drinking.
When we got to the basketball court, she reminded me: “Isn’t that your sister? Someone is delivering water to her even during a physical education class.”
Lin Shu was playing basketball, tall and thin, with a face that seemed to have a built-in filter, very eye-catching in the crowd, probably finished half of the game, and a guy was delivering water to her.
I just glanced, and Lin Shu’s gaze met mine, her dark eyes deep and bottomless, I moved away.
This is deadly.
Unnecessarily anxious.
I pulled Li Jun: “Let’s go, let’s go.”
I took a step, and my way was blocked by a slender figure, Lin Shu just finished playing ball, all sweaty, the fragrance unique to a young girl came over, my heart suddenly beat very hard: “What’s up?”
“Only bought one bottle?”
“Did you say you wanted to drink it?”
“Wouldn’t you give it to me if I don’t drink it?” Lin Shu’s expression was a bit cold, “Which time did I buy things and not buy double? Do you have a conscience?”
Seems like it.
No matter if I eat or not, Lin Shu would buy it first and then give it to me.
“Do you want to drink something? I’ll go and buy it for you now?”
She grabbed the milk tea from my hand and drank more than half of it: “By the time you buy it, I would be thirsty to death.”
I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything.
“It’s really bad.”
The iced black tea was stuffed back into my hand.
I looked at the iced black tea that I had drunk from, and my ears climbed up with heat.
“How about you finish it?”
“Are you disgusted with me?”
“No.”
Lin Shu directly stuffed the iced black tea into my mouth: “If you’re not disgusted, finish it.”
After she left, Li Jun held back but couldn’t help it: “Your sister actually doesn’t mind you? Anyway, my sister would never eat what I’ve eaten.”
14
After the iced black tea incident, the heavy stone in my heart disappeared.
During the last evening study session, I sent her a WeChat message: “Meet at the school gate?”
She quickly replied: “Something came up, I called my mom, she will pick you up, don’t run around.”
We chatted for a few more sentences, and the English teacher came in, so I put away my phone.
After the evening study session, I went home, had a late-night snack, and returned to my room. On my bed were neatly folded clothes, as well as newly bought clothes, just my size.
Before, my mom used to buy new clothes for me often.
Later, at my aunt’s house, she said that boys grow fast and it’s a waste of money, so she didn’t buy new clothes for me, just gave me the ones my cousin wore.
Aunt Lin just brought in a cup of milk, with a red envelope pressed at the bottom: “Next time we’ll go together, and you can pick your favorite color.”
“Okay, but Aunt Lin, I have money, my parents left me a large sum of compensation, all on my card.”
“It’s not the same,” she rubbed my head, “This is pocket money, you and your sister both have it.”
After Aunt Lin left, I took out the money, as usual, a thousand, counted the red envelopes in the drawer, and there were already five.
Recently, there have been many exams at school, a big one every five days, and a small one every three days. Our headteacher, who is our math teacher, gave us last year’s college entrance examination math papers to do.
After marking, the class was full of wails.
Li Jun came over and said, “Wow,” I got 122, and she only got 66, the gap is too big, right?”
Li Jun’s other subjects are good, but math is a weak point, I was about to comfort her, and she pulled me: “Six six is smooth, very auspicious, this time 66, next time 99, let’s go, I’ll treat you to eat the chicken you like outside the school.”
Just outside the school gate, she pointed to the opposite internet café: “Isn’t that your sister?”
Lin Shu went into the internet café with a few guys.
Then, the headteacher passed by us and went straight into the internet café.
“Wow, if this is caught by the headteacher, it will be criticized publicly, right?”
The last time someone sneaked out to surf the internet, they were called to the school in front of the whole school to read a self-criticism.
Neither Li Jun nor I brought our phones, I took off my school uniform and handed it to her: “Watch this for me and went to the back of the internet café to intercept people. As soon as I arrived, I saw Lin Shu coming out. She seemed surprised to see me and pulled me away.
“Bold now, dare to go to the internet café? Are you eighteen? Did the internet café manager even give you a computer?”
I was speechless: “Sis, I came to find you. You guys went into the internet café, and the headteacher followed right after.”
She paused for a moment: “The headteacher asked us to help catch people.”
I felt like a fool.
“Afraid I’ll get caught?” Lin Shu raised her eyebrows, “Aren’t you ignoring me?”
“It’s you who started not talking to me first.”
When I mentioned this, I remembered the day Lin Shu coldly refused to let me transfer into her family’s household.
She obviously thought of it too, and her expression became unnatural: “You…”
“I know,” I tried to make myself look as usual, “Are you worried that I’ll compete with you for the family inheritance?”
She rarely choked for a moment: “God damn competition for the inheritance.”
After she finished, she looked at me with a serious and solemn expression.
I rarely saw her so serious, which made me a bit at a loss.
“Cheng Xu, I don’t dislike you, and I don’t want you to transfer your household registration because I don’t want you to be…”
“Cheng Dayong!”
A loud voice from the alley interrupted Lin Shu.
The person rushed over anxiously and squeezed Lin Shu aside: “There you are? Your school doesn’t allow outsiders, and your phone and WeChat have changed. I’ve been waiting at your school gate for several days and haven’t seen you.”
It was Zhou Ya.
My neighbor.
We grew up playing together.
“How come you’re here? Don’t you have to go to school?”
“Oh, my dad’s job transfer, I heard you’re here, I begged him to transfer me too, it’s just the procedures are a bit troublesome, and my student status hasn’t been transferred yet, my dad asked someone to help me with it, it’s estimated that I can start school next Monday, which class are you in? I’ll go to your class then.”
Zhou Ya finished and then noticed Lin Shu, frowning at her: “Who are you? Weren’t you just confessing to him?”
My heart skipped a beat, as if something that had not been broken was poked open a little: “My sister.”
“I knew it, who confesses in this烂 place? There’s not even a flower, more like deceiving feelings.”
Zhou Ya smiled and extended her hand to Lin Shu: “Hello, I’m Zhou Ya, Cheng Xu’s childhood friend.”
Lin Shu glanced at me and casually extended her hand: “Lin Shu.”
Zhou Ya started laughing, but after three seconds, her body twisted like a worm: “Ouch, ouch, let go!”
“Sister is quite weak.”
Zhou Ya paused for a while, puzzled: “Weak where?”
Lin Shu was about to speak, but I quickly stood between them and said to Zhou Ya: “We have classes in the afternoon, and tomorrow is Saturday, I’ll treat you to your favorite spicy crab, let’s go.”
“Why wait until tomorrow, I’ll wait for you at your school gate, let’s go for barbecue after your evening study session.”
15
I wanted to say something more, but Lin Shu dropped a “he’s not going” and roughly pulled me away.
We entered the school, and Lin Shu took me to the small forest in the school, a place where many couples love to come at night, but it’s basically empty during the day.
“Are you close with that girl?”
This question sounds so awkward.
“She is the daughter of my mom’s colleague, we lived in the same neighborhood before, we’ve known each other for a long time.”
Lin Shu sneered: “You even know she loves to eat spicy crab?”
“I also know what you like to eat, and I’ve only known you for a few months, but I’ve known her for over a decade.”
Lin Shu fell silent, and the coldness on her became even heavier.
“How about you join us for barbecue tonight?”
“No time.”
16
Lin Shu is angry again.
I sent her WeChat messages and she didn’t reply to any.
I sent so many that I got angry myself, it’s inexplicable.
I invited Li Jun to have barbecue with us tonight, and told Aunt Lin first, and then sent a text message to Zhou Ya, she replied quickly: “I’ll find a place first.”
After the evening study session, Zhou Ya was already waiting.
She chose a place not far from the school: “Isn’t your brother coming?”
“She’s busy.”
Still no reply.
I went to the bathroom in the middle, and when I came back, Li Jun and Zhou Ya were already acquainted.
“Cheng Xu is my big brother, you don’t know, when we were kids, he was the king of our neighborhood, he was very good at fighting. I was thin and small back then, I followed him. When I was in elementary school, I watched idol dramas, my dream at that time was to be the woman of the big brother.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” I kicked her, “You change boyfriends like clothes, pretending with me.”
“So, I consider you as a friend, friendship will never end, I’m so smart, Cheng Xu, look at that person, isn’t it your sister?”
I turned my head, not far away, Lin Shu and her classmates were walking this way.
They chose a side seat, Lin Shu acted as if she didn’t see me.
“Sister Lin, your brother.”
Lin Shu then lazily glanced at me.
We combined two tables and ordered a dozen beers.
“Cheng Xu, do you want a cup or a bottle?” Zhou Ya asked.
“He doesn’t drink,” Lin Shu said coldly.
“Still, don’t drink alcohol.”
“Li Jun, I don’t know, but Cheng Xu, I know him too well, he stole his dad’s white wine in junior high, and brought it to me to drink, I got drunk but she never did, I learned to smoke because of him, and it turned out his dad saw it and beat him up.”
My teeth were clenched.
I knew Zhou Ya’s chatter was bound to cause trouble.
I kicked Zhou Ya, but she didn’t react, instead Lin Shu looked over, her gaze heavy.
“Is that so?” she said.
“Yes, yes, when we were in second or third grade of elementary school, a few boys were downstairs, comparing who could pee farther, and then his dad took him back and beat him up, haha…”
“Drink your alcohol,” I glared, Zhou Ya has no sense of timing and wants to keep talking.
“The time in the second year of junior high, he was catching grasshoppers in the grass, and the next moment he touched dog poop…”
I couldn’t bear it anymore.
My fingers were cracking, and I saw Lin Shu cover Zhou Ya’s mouth.
Zhou Ya’s sitting posture was not correct, and with Lin Shu’s cover, she had no support and fell into her arms, looking at each other, the surroundings were eerily quiet.
Lin Shu pushed Zhou Ya away and wiped her hand with a paper towel in disgust.
“Damn, I almost turned…”
As soon as Zhou Ya’s voice fell, Lin Shu got up like she saw a ghost: “You guys eat first, I have a curfew at home, I’m going back.”
I didn’t want to stay either, and coming out to have barbecue with Zhou Ya was a mistake.
“When did Sister Lin have a curfew?”
It was already eleven o’clock when I got home.
I went upstairs and opened the door, and Lin Shu across the way suddenly called out to me: “Cheng Xu?”
“Huh?”
She looked at me meaningfully: “Pretending to be good?”
17
Zhou Ya transferred to our school on Monday, but she didn’t get into our class, she went to the one next door.
She didn’t have a meal card and used mine, but she talks too much. She argued with Li Jun about whether black sesame seeds are the seeds of dragon fruit, and when they couldn’t figure it out, she called me by my nickname “Cheng Dayong,” and I heartlessly slipped away.
I grabbed two bottles of yogurt and went to the senior high department, hanging around the door of Lin Shu’s classroom for a while.
Lin Shu didn’t know if she had finished eating or hadn’t gone yet, sitting on the desk, explaining problems to a guy.
Anyway, Lin Shu knows what kind of person I am, I’m going to break the jar, and I plan to call her out directly, when someone patted me.
It was her classmate.
“Junior Cheng? Looking for your sister? Wait a bit, see, the school grass, using the excuse of asking your sister math questions, actually wants to chase your sister, if he catches up, you will have a brother-in-law.”
Damn brother-in-law.
“Lin Shu!”
I called out directly.
I don’t want her to explain problems to other guys at all.
I’m just so stingy.
Lin Shu heard it, and both she and the guy turned their heads, the guy was indeed handsome, and the two of them together, indescribable match.
My heart was even more blocked.
She got up and came out: “Why are you here?”
The yogurt suddenly didn’t want to give it to her.
Polite and gentle to people’s school grass, when it comes to me, it’s cold.
“Came and don’t speak, what’s wrong with you?”
For some reason, I exploded immediately: “Who doesn’t have a problem, go find who.”
After saying that, I turned around and ran downstairs.
18
I thought Lin Shu would at least chase me, but in the end, I ran to the playground, and there was no one.
I’ve checked my phone eight hundred times, not to mention a call, not even a WeChat message.
I was so angry that I wanted to smash my phone, but I was reluctant, my eyes were even redder, but the yogurt still couldn’t be opened, and I twisted my foot on flat ground, it hurt so much that I couldn’t stand up.
I limped into the infirmary, got treated, and then limped back to the classroom.
“You can’t ride a bike with this foot, can you?”
“I can’t ride anymore.”
“Fortunately, you still have your sister, and tomorrow is the weekend, you can rest for two days.”
In the afternoon, Lin Shu finally sent me a WeChat message, just one sentence: “Don’t wait for me tonight, go back early.”
I wanted to tell her that I twisted my foot, but I didn’t want to say it immediately.
During the afternoon math class, Li Jun came back from the bathroom and said to me in a mysterious way: “Guess who I just met in the bathroom?”
“The head teacher?”
“The school grass, he said his birthday is tonight, and he mentioned your sister, saying that your sister will also go, and he plans to confess to your sister on his birthday, I have a feeling that you are going to have a brother-in-law soon.”
No wonder she let me go back first, it turns out to celebrate the school grass’s birthday.
My heart was sour, in order not to let myself think wildly, I was reciting English words during the break.
But in the last class, I really couldn’t hold on.
My foot didn’t get better, and it was more swollen.
I asked for a leave, Li Jun wanted to accompany me, I refused, and I borrowed 100 from him, plus mine, only 250.
The card was at home, I didn’t want to go back and forth, and besides, Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin were not there, I was afraid it wouldn’t be enough, so I borrowed another 250 from Zhou Ya.
I went to the hospital to take a picture, sprained the ligament, got some medicine, and after all the trouble, it was completely dark.
Lin Shu’s call came at this time.
The first one I hung up, she called again quickly.
I answered, her voice was a bit too cold:
“Where are you?”
She was a bit noisy around, after a while, I heard the sound of the cold wind, should have changed places.
“At school.”
“I’m at the door of your classroom.”
19
I waited on the spot for half an hour, and Lin Shu came, it was a little rainy outside, her hair was a bit wet, and she was chilly.
Seeing my swollen foot, her expression was hard: “How did it happen?”
“I twisted it accidentally.”
“Go home first.”
She came to help me, I was surprised and exclaimed, and I hooked her neck steadily.
By the time I got home, my face was already red.
She took out the ointment and applied it for me: “Didn’t you eat dinner?”
“No.”
I felt that she was angry again, but she just went downstairs without saying a word, and after a while, she brought up a bowl of tomato and egg noodles.
Lin Shu can basically not cook, but this bowl of tomato and egg noodles, I think it’s very delicious.
I slurped it up, she moved the bowl, pulled a chair and sat by my bed: “Full now, can you tell me now? Twisted your foot, didn’t call me, didn’t tell me, and the money was borrowed from others, right?”
“If I hadn’t come over today, how were you planning to go home?”
“You’re angry for no reason, not answering the phone, not replying to messages, do you know this is very worrying?”
“You’re the one who’s angry for no reason, it’s clearly you who doesn’t want to talk to me, and now it’s my fault for not looking for you?”
Lin Shu was angry and laughed: “Be reasonable.”
“I’m not reasonable, you’re reasonable, the school grass is reasonable, go to him, didn’t you want to celebrate his birthday? Why did you come to find me?”
After I yelled at Lin Shu, she didn’t react for a long time, just staring at me.
Realizing that I had said something I shouldn’t have in my anger, I was flustered and helpless: “Get out.”
“Are you jealous?”
“I’m not, I don’t have, don’t talk nonsense, I’m going to sleep.” I angrily pushed her, didn’t move, and was caught by the wrist.
“Cheng Xu?”
She called my name, her voice low and husky, it’s getting darker now, in the dim light, her eyes are half probing and half restrained, and a trace of imperceptible emotion.
I was inexplicably panicked: “Let go of me.”
“I’ll let go if you answer me.”
Usually, I’m quite bold.
But at this moment, I suddenly dare not say it, and I don’t want her to know the secret I’ve been hiding in my heart.
“Today when you came, he just asked me about the homework, that problem only I can do, I just simply explained it to him.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“At that time, I knew you were angry, but I didn’t think of it elsewhere.”
“I’m not going to celebrate his birthday either. He did invite me, but I refused.”
“Cheng Xu?”
She called my name again.
Every time she called my name, my scalp would tingle.
But if I didn’t respond, she would act like she wouldn’t continue talking.
I “mm”ed, and she suddenly laughed, her grip on my hand loosening a bit:
“Have you thought about which university you want to apply for?”
“No.”
“Then apply to the same university as me?”
My mind went blank, and I looked at her in surprise.
“Deal. I’ll wait for you in college.”
The next moment, Lin Shu put her phone into my hand: “Check it yourself.”
“What should I check?”
“Whatever.”
I checked it out.
“0823.”
It’s my birthday.
After unlocking the phone, I saw her wallpaper was a photo of me. I don’t know when it was taken. In the photo, I was looking at her with a bright smile.
My fingertips were burning.
I didn’t look anymore, I handed her phone back to her, she grabbed my phone, raised her eyebrows and asked me: “Password?”
I told her a number, she naturally changed the password: “1129, remember it.”
It’s her birthday.
“I can’t remember.”
“Stubborn!”
I retorted: “You too, the most stubborn part of you is your mouth.”
21
We didn’t break the last layer.
But the way we interacted changed a lot.
There were only a few days left for the college entrance exam, her studies were getting heavier and heavier, and I didn’t dare to disturb her. However, she always ran to my room: “Let me sit for a while.”
“It will be seen.”
“I’m tutoring you, what are you afraid of? Do you think I want to do something to you?”
Auntie Lin’s voice rang out just in time:
“Ah Xu, are you asleep?”
I was startled, and Lin Shu, with a malicious glee, held my hand tightly and wouldn’t let go.
“No, Sister Lin is teaching me math.”
After saying that, I pinched Lin Shu’s waist hard.
She suppressed her voice: “I’ll deal with you later.”
Aunt Lin left after putting down the milk, and told us to go to bed early.
Time passed very quickly, the college entrance exam, the results came out, Lin Shu was admitted, and I was about to enter my senior year.
Senior year started early, the night before, Lin Shu moved all her notes to my room.
“No early romance!”
I laughed, and she laughed too: “Didn’t you say you bought me a gift?”
I took out a box from the cabinet and handed it to her: “I didn’t know what to buy, so I bought a gaming laptop.”
“You bought such an expensive thing?”
“I have money.”
“I would be happier if you gave me something else.”
“What?”
“A hug.”
I didn’t speak, and she didn’t force it: “Go to bed early, you have to go to school tomorrow.”
She was about to leave, looked at the floor for a while, and gently hugged her, but she held me when I let go: “Hug for a while longer.”
“Lin Shu?”
“Don’t speak.”
“Why?”
“I can’t help but want to kiss you.”
I didn’t speak anymore.
She laughed: “Why are you so obedient?”
22
On the day Lin Shu went to college, I took the opportunity at noon to see her off, and then came back to class.
She sent me a message, saying she left me a birthday gift.
I went back and opened it, it was a necklace. I didn’t dare to wear it, hid it in the cabinet, and occasionally took it out to look at it.
After Lin Shu went to college, Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin took turns to pick me up and drop me off, no matter how busy they were, there was always one person at home with me. When I came back from evening study, I could always eat a hot late-night snack.
At first, I was in contact with Lin Shu a lot, but in the second half of the semester, my studies got busier, I didn’t take my phone to school, and she was sometimes busy too, so we often only chatted a few sentences for several days.
When I was in the third mock exam of senior year, my grades dropped. With this score, I couldn’t go to Lin Shu’s school at all. I had been studying hard during this period.
The headteacher came to me and asked if I was under too much pressure. Aunt Lin also comforted me.
I wanted to hear Lin Shu’s voice, but I was afraid she would worry if she knew.
I was bored and brushed her Moments, and I saw her high school friend post that Lin Shu was in the hospital.
I packed up and told Aunt Lin that I was going to Li Jun’s house to do homework, took my ID card, and went straight to the high-speed train station.
Four hours of high-speed train.
After getting off the high-speed train, I called her: “Lin Shu, which hospital are you in?”
“What hospital?”
“I saw your friend post, aren’t you in the hospital?”
“Don’t tell me you came to our school.”
Half an hour later, Lin Shu appeared in front of me.
“Cheng Xu, what day is it today?”
“Saturday.”
“You have class in the morning, did you cut class?” She was suppressing her anger, and her face was very bad, “You didn’t call, just ran here? Do you know how many days you have for the college entrance exam? What if I’m not at school? What if I have something going on? What are you going to do?”
“You should buy a ticket and go back now.”
I didn’t move.
She reached for my school bag, I don’t know where my temper came from, and I threw the school bag on the ground: “I’m not leaving.”
“Cheng Xu!”
“I messed up the third mock exam, I don’t know what’s going on, it was all good before, I studied hard, I’m under a lot of pressure, I’m afraid I won’t do well, I’m afraid I won’t get into your school, the headteacher talked to me, I’m upset, and I don’t know what to do, and then I saw your friend post, you’re in the hospital, I just wanted to see you…”
“I didn’t cut class, I came after finishing the morning classes, I did papers and memorized words on the high-speed train… Lin Shu, I want to see you.”
Lin Shu was silent for a moment, then she took my hand and put her arm around my waist, “Then I apologize?”
“I’m also at fault.”
“My mom said you’ve been studying hard these days, I didn’t dare to disturb you, afraid to distract you, this morning mom called and said you messed up the third mock exam, your mood is very wrong, I had things this week, I didn’t know you would come.”
“Stay for one day, don’t read books today, let’s go for a walk? I’ll send you back tomorrow?”
I nodded: “One hour of walking is enough, I brought papers, my physics exam was a mess, you’re good at physics, you help me with some tutoring.”
Lin Shu laughed: “So you came to me for tutoring, okay.”
“But aren’t you sick?”
“Just a bit of gastroenteritis.”
I saw puncture marks on her hand:”Did you rush over from the hospital?”
“I just finished my IV drip, shall we get you some food first?”
“Does it still hurt?” I felt a bit of heartache.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
That night, I worked on papers all night, and the next day on the high-speed train, I started to catch up on sleep.
The fourth mock exam went very smoothly.
22
It came to the college entrance exam.
The first day went smoothly, after coming home and having dinner, I just returned to my room when Lin Shu’s call came in.
“Have you just gone upstairs?”
“Yep, was just about to call you.”
She laughed: “How was it today?”
“It went very smoothly.”
“My mom just called me and said that after the exam, she would take you out to play.”
Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin are very good to me: “I’ll come find you.”
The other party didn’t speak for a while.
I nervously squeezed my phone: “Also, last time I went to find you, you rushed me away.”
The other party laughed: “I’ll wait for you.”
We didn’t talk too late, I went to bed on time at ten.
Early in the morning, Aunt Lin took me to the exam venue, half an hour before the exam started, she made a phone call, there was an urgent meeting, she looked at me with some hesitation.
“It’s okay, Aunt Lin, our headteacher is also here, I can go in by myself later.”
“Alright, I’ll pick you up after the exam.”
I stood there waiting, when someone suddenly snatched my transparent pencil case.
There were pens inside, and my admission ticket.
“Aunt?”
“Aunt came to see you, is this the last subject, right?” She opened the zipper and took out my admission ticket.
My heart leaped to my throat, the headteacher was not far away, I kept looking over: “Aunt, why are you here?”
She laughed: “Nothing much, I went to your parents’ workplace to ask, I heard your parents have compensation money, right? Each person has hundreds of thousands, lend Aunt a hundred thousand to fix the house, your cousin is about to get married, if the house is not fixed, no one will marry him, and your cousin is going to high school.”
“I didn’t bring it, how about you wait until I finish the exam, and I’ll withdraw it for you?” I didn’t refuse directly, I was afraid of causing any trouble.
“Alright, then sign this first.” She smiled and took out a promissory note from her pocket, very standard, obviously well-prepared.
The amount was clearly ten thousand.
If I don’t sign, she might really not give me back my admission ticket.
If I sign, I would owe her ten thousand, she treated me like that, and still wanted my parents’ compensation money, I don’t want to give her a penny.
“Sign quickly, finish signing and you can go in for the exam, you have good grades, you can’t be late for the last subject, it would be such a pity if you don’t get into a good university.”
She was threatening me.
At this moment, the headteacher came over, saw that my face was not right, and asked: “What’s wrong?”
“You are her headteacher, you came just in time, her parents owe me money, I’m here to collect the debt, let her give me the money first.”
The headteacher frowned: “This parent, can we talk about it after the child’s college entrance exam, please give her back, she’s about to be late.”
“That’s not okay, if I give it to her, what if she doesn’t pay me back? Will you pay it back for her?”
My aunt was unyielding, the headteacher also looked at the promissory note, gasped, and pulled me aside.
“We have to go in soon, it won’t be solved in a short time if it’s made into a fuss, and it will only make things more complicated, and what if the admission ticket is accidentally torn by her? The promissory note amount is huge, it can’t be compared to your future, if you miss the last one, you might have to repeat a year, you’ve been performing very steadily in the previous subjects, as long as you perform as usual in the last one, a key university is guaranteed, think about it well.”
I nodded and signed the promissory note, got back the crumpled admission ticket that my aunt was holding.
When I entered the exam, my aunt patted me on the shoulder triumphantly: “Do well in the exam, Aunt will wait for you right here after the exam.”
I glared at her angrily, the headteacher impatiently pulled her away: “Cheng Xu, don’t get distracted, do well in the exam, if anything happens, the teacher will take care of it for you.”
23
After the last exam, I looked around when I came out of the exam room.
I didn’t see my aunt, I saw Lin Shu.
“Dumbfounded?” She held my hand, “I called my mom, I’ll wait for you, let’s go home for dinner.”
My aunt appeared at this time.
She looked at Lin Shu and me holding hands and laughed: “This is the Lin family’s child, right? You two are together, isn’t the Lin family’s money all yours, what’s the big deal about giving Aunt ten thousand?”
“What ten thousand?”
“You’re dreaming, I won’t give you a penny.”
My aunt immediately got anxious, took out the promissory note: “It’s written in black and white, you owe me ten thousand, if you don’t pay me back, I can sue you, and you won’t be able to go to college.”
Lin Shu finally understood what was going on: “She asked you for money?”
I nodded.
“Before entering the exam?”
“She snatched my admission ticket…”
Lin Shu’s face turned completely black, I quickly held her back: “Don’t be impulsive.”
“I promised my mom I wouldn’t fight, but I’m breaking my word today!”
Perhaps because her eyes were too cold, my aunt shrank back in fear: “The police are right next to us, if you dare to touch me, I’ll sue you and have you put in jail!”
“Why don’t you try to sue?”
The LV bag hit my aunt, and both Lin Shu and I were stunned for a moment.
The scene was very chaotic.
Aunt Lin suddenly appeared and got into a fight with my aunt, I only knew before that my aunt would pull hair when fighting.
I didn’t expect that Aunt Lin would do the same.
I took the opportunity to snatch the promissory note from my aunt’s hand and tore it to pieces, my aunt was so angry that her eyes turned red, and she pounced on me to hit me, Lin Shu grabbed her hand, her eyes bloodshot.
“If you dare to touch him, try it?”
24
We were invited to the police station.
My aunt managed to reverse the black and white with her own strength, making the entire police station filled with her voice.
Aunt Lin rolled her eyes: “We didn’t start a fight against one, right? If you don’t believe it, check the surveillance, my bag is broken, and my hand is scratched, she has to compensate, if she doesn’t compensate, she can’t leave.”
“You’re lying.”
“I decide, Mrs. Lin is not lying.”
The headteacher had taken a video at some point and handed it directly to the police, she also recorded my aunt snatching my admission ticket and threatening me before entering the exam.
Because of the family relationship between me and my aunt, and because the promissory note was torn by me, the police mainly mediated, taught my aunt a lesson, and she had to compensate and be punished, and that was the end of it.
When leaving the police station my aunt gave me a vicious look: “I don’t have money to compensate for the bag anyway.”
“That’s fine, I’ve finished my college entrance exams, and when my cousin takes the exams in the future, I’ll go and ‘greet’ her as well. And I heard that the father of your future niece-in-law is a civil servant, maybe I’ll have a cup of tea with him someday.”
“You…”
“Say another word?”
My aunt met Lin Shu’s fierce gaze and didn’t dare to curse at me anymore. She reluctantly took out all the money she had and went to the bank to withdraw the rest to compensate for Aunt Lin’s scratched bag, grumbling as she left.
I called my uncle, and he said he didn’t know about this incident. He also asked how I did on the exam.
“Ah Xu, come home for a meal, and I’ll have your aunt apologize to you. By the way, give me the Lin’s address, and I’ll go to make an apology in person.”
My uncle is actually kind to me, but he’s afraid of his wife and doesn’t dare to go against my aunt. She says one thing, but with one glance from my aunt, he doesn’t dare to make a sound, and in the end, I’m the one who gets bullied.
“No need, Uncle, I’m doing fine.”
25
Because of what my aunt did, I felt quite guilty, especially since Aunt Lin got into a fight for me.
On the way back, I was a bit uneasy.
“Mom,” Lin Shu called out.
Both Aunt Lin and I looked at her.
Aunt Lin was stunned for a moment, looked at her and then at me, and then realized, “Oh my dear, I forgot to ask you, were you scared?”
I wanted to say no, but then I thought about it and honestly nodded my head: “A little bit.”
She lovingly pulled me over and patted my hand: “When your headteacher called me, I was terrified. Thankfully, it’s all over now. Don’t be afraid.”
Not being comforted was better; as soon as she comforted me, my eyes turned sour.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Lin, for getting you into a fight…”
“What’s there to be sorry about? If it weren’t for the exams today and the police outside the school, I would have beaten her until she couldn’t get up.”
I laughed, looked forward, and just caught a glimpse of Lin Shu’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
Our eyes met, and I felt my face getting warm.
26
When Lin Shu went back to college, I went with her.
Upon arrival, we entered the community, opened the door, and entered the house, and I realized, “You’ve already rented a place?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to come find me?”
As a guy, I could just find a hotel to stay in.
Renting a place is a waste.
Lin Shu seemed to think of something, put my luggage down: “I told my mom that you wanted to work-study, and we’ll go back together when I’m on holiday.”
…
I took a turn around, there were shampoo, body wash, skincare products in the bathroom, a razor in the cabinet, and a pair of blue slippers on the floor.
In the kitchen, there were pots, bowls, and everything needed.
Lin Shu seems careless and unmindful, but she is very attentive.
I took a picture of Lin Shu’s back, but I didn’t want to block anyone else, so I posted it with a caption, including the location, trying to hide the truth.
“Thank you, Lin Shu sister.”
I blocked her alone.
Li Jun already knew about Lin Shu and me.
She commented in seconds: “Wow, the plan to tackle has been put on the agenda.”
Zhou Ya replied to her: “Tackle who? What’s the date?”
Li Jun replied: “Idiot.”
Zhou Ya: “Tackle an idiot? Why tackle an idiot?”
I was very amused, and these two didn’t reply anymore, probably chatting privately.
27
After tidying up, Lin Shu received a call, it was her roommate inviting her out for the evening, I said to wait a moment, she looked at me.
I nodded, and she replied with an “Okay.”
I changed clothes and went out for dinner with her.
After dinner, I went to line up to buy milk tea, and she sat on a stool not far away waiting for me.
Two guys came over, one of them was quite handsome, and looked at me with ill intent: “What’s your relationship with Lin Shu?”
They must have seen us.
I was about to speak when he said, “Lin Shu is my girlfriend, stay away from her.”
I “ah”ed, pretending to be surprised: “What? You’re also her boyfriend?”
The other party was stunned.
I continued: “Then you should know that Lin Shu snores when she sleeps, it’s really annoying, I can’t persuade her, you should persuade her next time, this habit is really bad.”
When Lin Shu came over, the two guys had already left. She saw me laughing and poked the milk tea to feed me: “What are you thinking about that’s so funny?”
“Does Lin Shu snore when she sleeps?”
“What do you think?”
I laughed again: “Then she starts today.”
28
When I followed Lin Shu to meet her roommates, I didn’t expect there to be so many people.
A big table, more than a dozen, with some guys bringing their girlfriends.
Her friends teased: “Can you handle it, Lin Shu, bringing a kid to a bar?”
She looked at me and laughed: “Young love needs to be watched closely.”
“Damn, you beast, you don’t even spare those who just finished the college entrance exam?”
“What did Lin Shu say when she asked for leave? She said her brother couldn’t do without her for the college entrance exam, and she had to go back.”
Lin Shu held my hand tightly and relaxed: “Everyone knows he’s my brother, watch your words, if you scare him off, I won’t let you off the hook.”
More teasing followed.
Aren’t you guys addicted to the brother-sister act?
“Can the brother drink alcohol?”
“No.” Lin Shu somehow got a can of Wanton Milk and handed it to me, and her friends laughed again.
I was defeated, I felt like I’ve lost all face seeing her friends, and she didn’t seem to realize it at all, after having some drinks, she turned her head to look at me, her eyes bright and unrestrained: “Was I wrong? Haven’t you called me sister?”
Really, she’s too bad.
“Sister.” I deliberately called her very obediently.
She was stunned, as if she was paralyzed.
I smiled, tilted my head and called softly again.
She suddenly got up, her eyes dark as ink: “I’m going out for some air.”
I sat alone playing with my phone, a guy came over to talk to me, I recognized him as the school grass who had asked Lin Shu questions before.
Still very handsome.
“Junior.”
He held a drink, I was embarrassed to clink glasses with Wanton Milk, so I poured a glass, he finished it, and I had to follow suit, it’s been a long time since I drank, and my chest felt hot.
“I actually envy you, I’ve liked Lin Shu for a long time, always catching up with her pace, that time in senior year, I wanted to confess to her on my birthday, so I invited her, but she refused me, then I heard that she ran half the city to buy a necklace, I thought it was for me, but it wasn’t, now I think the owner of the necklace must be you, right?”
The necklace was indeed for me, and there was an abbreviation of English letters on the back of the necklace.
Jc.
“I got into her university, and she still rejected me. She said I was very good, but she liked a guy a long time ago. She waited for him to get into university and wanted to marry him. I was shocked at the time, who thinks that far ahead in college?”
“Senior, I wish you find your happiness soon, and thank you for sharing this with me.”
He smiled, looking at a girl not far away, his eyes full of light: “I’ve found it, and I wish you both happiness as well.”
29
Later in the night, the whole table started playing games.
Lin Shu was really unlucky.
Her roommate looked at me, then at her, and excitedly asked: “Is your first kiss still there?”
Others were not satisfied: “What a bad question you asked? Let me, how many guys have you had a crush on since school?”
It was obviously a provocation, but I really wanted to know too.
I wanted to know if Lin Shu had liked anyone else?
Lin Shu laughed and looked at me directly: “One.”
A group of people teased ambiguously: “Continue, continue.”
The next round I lost.
“Let me, let me.” One of the guys put his phone on the table and played a video from the forum, it was the moment when Lin Shu was buying milk tea and a guy came to ask me about that time.
The air was filled with my proud and complacent words:
“Well, you should know that Lin Shu snores when she sleeps, it’s really annoying, I can’t persuade her, you should persuade her next time, this habit is really bad.”
I didn’t expect the school’s 5G internet speed to be so fast?
I couldn’t look at Lin Shu at all.
Her roommate laughed slyly: “Brother, does Lin Shu really snore when she sleeps?”
A group of people were laughing.
Help!
I looked at Lin Shu guiltily, and she laughed, took out her phone and seemed to be doing something.
A minute later, her roommate exclaimed, handed me the phone to see: “Brother, you look at it yourself, I’m too ashamed to read it.”
The guy who posted the video wanted to slap me in the face, but there were many people discussing under the video that I was wishful thinking. Unexpectedly, Lin Shu replied with her own ID.
“Not only does she snore, but she also grinds her teeth.”
It was like eating a popping candy, the sweet and greasy taste burst in the mouth, with a bit of joy.
30
We played until 12 o’clock, and then we went back.
The street lamp stretched our shadows very long, I was walking in front and talking to her while looking back, she was lazily following.
Perhaps because I played relaxed today, or perhaps no matter what I did or said, Lin Shu was with me, I seemed to be that fearless Cheng Dayong again.
There was no sadness and helplessness when my parents just left, nor the sensitivity and caution when living under someone else’s roof.
It seems that growing up a few years makes everything easier and natural.
“Lin Shu.” I called her very loudly.
She looked up at me, her eyes dotted with starlight: “I’m not deaf.”
I “oh”ed, slyly looked at her, and said softly: “I like you.”
She suddenly stopped, at a not close or far distance, just looked at me like that.
After a long time, she said: “I didn’t hear you.”
I turned my head and left, Lin Shu caught up in a few steps, held my hand, as if testing, the next second, wrapped around my waist: “I didn’t hear you.”
I refused to say it again, she pinched my face, and said fiercely: “If you don’t say it, I’ll deal with you.”
31
Back home, Lin Shu said she bought me a gift and let me open the drawer to see for myself.
It was a pair of couple’s rings.
The style was simple and generous.
Inside the ring was engraved with the abbreviation of our names.
“Cheng Xu, let’s get married.”
“…”
Isn’t it a confession? Why is it a marriage proposal? I just finished the college entrance exam.
If it weren’t for her being sober, I would suspect that she got the wrong person.
“From the moment you came to my house, I have seriously thought about it, if I were to get married in the future, then the partner must be you.”
“I want to become a family with you, on the same household registration, but the premise is that you are my husband. Cheng Xu, I have liked you for many years.”
My nose turned sour, I didn’t think it was for this reason, but at that time, I was too insecure, I was afraid that it was my wishful thinking: “Actually, I didn’t want to be on your household registration back then either.”
Lin Shu’s eyes flickered: “The home will be yours in the future, and I will be yours too.”
“Do you have to go back to the dormitory tonight?” She suddenly added.
My voice was a bit hoarse: “Do you know what it means to ask this now?”
Lin Shu’s eyes were wandering: “I’ve passed my 18th birthday, I know.”
“Don’t provoke me.”
She was unapologetic: “I will provoke you.”
That night, Lin Shu did not return to the dormitory.
The light above cast a residual shadow.
The next day, Lin Shu slept until noon.
When I came in, Lin Shu rolled her eyes and turned her back to me. I laughed and pinched her face: “Do you still want me to call you sister?”
She took a long time to say two words: “Pervert.”
I “oh”ed, and showed her my red wrist: “Are you sure it’s me?”
She didn’t speak.
32
Soon my admission notice came down, the same school as Lin Shu.
Lin Shu was on vacation, and I went home with her. Aunt Lin said she would cook for us today. When we got home, no one was there, they should have gone grocery shopping.
After a day of traveling, I was a bit tired, and as soon as I opened the door, I was about to go back to sleep.
“Wait a minute.”
Lin Shu pulled me over, and I stood on tiptoe to kiss her.
I pushed her: “Don’t mess around, Aunt Lin and Uncle Lin will be back soon.”
“Wouldn’t that be exciting?”
I stared at her expressionlessly for three seconds: “Exciting?”
She laughed: “There’s something even more exciting, want to try?”
She came to kiss me again, and as our lips just touched, I caught a glimpse of a figure in my peripheral vision.
I quickly pushed her away, and looked at Aunt Lin standing at the end of the corridor with a sense of horror:
“Aunt Lin, I’m…”
On the contrary, Lin Shu, as if nothing had happened: “Mom, why are you so quiet when you come upstairs?”
Aunt Lin was also embarrassed, she coughed lightly: “Get ready and come down.”
After saying that, she turned around and went downstairs.
I was even more flustered, and a little scared: “What should we do?”
Aunt Lin has always been very good to me, treating me like her own son. Now that Lin Shu and I…
I don’t know if she would be willing, nor do I know what kind of look she would give me.
Lin Shu seemed to see the panic in my heart, thought for a while, and comforted, “If my mom is really angry, I’ll say it was me who seduced you.”
“Does it make sense for a slap to be loud by itself?”
“As long as you don’t reject me.”
I went downstairs and saw Aunt Lin rush into the kitchen in a flurry.
When we reached the door, Aunt Lin was pulling Uncle Lin’s arm while washing vegetables, excitedly saying: “Old Lin, Old Lin, your daughter canstarted chasing boys now.”
…
33
Aunt Lin and Uncle Lin had no objections and were actually pleased.
At the dinner table, the atmosphere was very harmonious.
“I said, that girl refused to let you transfer your household registration, she must have had a crush on you back then, just like her mom.”
I was embarrassed to say that I had a crush too.
After dinner, Aunt Lin and Lin Shu were watching TV in the living room, and Uncle Lin and I were washing dishes in the kitchen, he whispered: “Actually, I’ve known for a long time that the girl likes you.”
I was quite surprised.
“Your Aunt Lin told me, do you remember when you had a headache? You had just arrived, your Aunt Lin was afraid that if we were too caring, you would feel pressured, and she was afraid that you would suffer in silence, so she went to check on you in the middle of the night, and it turned out that girl was in your room covering you with a blanket, and she even snuck a kiss before leaving.”
So, it wasn’t a dream.
When I secretly fell for her, she had liked me for many years.
…
University started, Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin took me there.
Lin Shu was speechless: “Do you guys have to make such a fuss? I didn’t see you this excited when I got accepted.”
Uncle Lin mercilessly exposed the truth: “Are you complaining that we’re not excited enough? You’re complaining that we’re in the way of your romance.”
I laughed beside them.
Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin accompanied me to register and then took a walk around the school.
After dinner, they said they were going to take a stroll.
“Let’s go back to school too.”
“Can we not go back on the first day?” I was a bit reluctant to part with her.
Lin Shu was about to nod, then suddenly remembered something and refused, “No way, you need to meet new friends.”
“Alright.”
I walked her back to her dormitory: “Ungrateful little thing.”
She ran inside and then came back out, I was still standing there, she stood on tiptoe and gave me a kiss, I’m not usually shy about showing affection, but I’m not good at serious sentimentality: “Lin Shu, thank you.”
“For giving me the best girlfriend.”
And thank you, for giving me a home.
When I was at my darkest and most helpless in life, you’ve always been with me.
34
Zhou Ya and us got into the same city for university.
The day she came to find me, Lin Shu and I were about to go out for a meal.
Zhou Ya has always been a bit off, Lin Shu and I held hands in front of her so many times, and she still couldn’t figure it out.
“Lin Shu, why are you always holding Cheng Xu’s hand, let go.”
Then she put her arm around my shoulder.
I moved her hand off.
“He needs to find a girlfriend, if he can’t find one, will you compensate? But if he really can’t find one, he can settle for me, I’ll manage.”
“I’ll compensate,” Lin Shu put her arm around my shoulder, “You used to call him ‘hubby,’ now it’s ‘brother,’ isn’t that a bit inappropriate? Aren’t you planning to change it back?”
…
Zhou Ya was stunned for several seconds, staring at Lin Shu: “You’re the idiot?”
Lin Shu gave her a cold face: “You’re the idiot.”
I coughed lightly, remembering the post I had blocked her from seeing: “The idiot is really you.”
(End)
