Chapter 6

After School

"Xiaoyu, you have a great relationship with your brother."

Roxie Lin, a quiet girl who sits beside her.

"I just don't dislike him that much."

"I often see him at the school gate, is he coming to pick you up?"

"Ah... Yeah."

Recently, Samson Nan had been picking her up whenever he had free time.

Either treating her to delicious meals or insisting on bringing her to friends' gatherings.

He said he was worried that she was overstressed from studying and wanted to help her relax.

"Hehe, if people who didn't know better saw you two, they would definitely think you were lovers."

Roxie Lin looked at her, her voice as soft as a mosquito's, her face filled with longing and admiration.

"If only I had a brother like that..."

"Is he really that great?"

She thought Roxie Lin was exaggerating.

"Of course! He's tall, handsome, and treats you so well! You don't know how blessed you are!"

"But he often argues with me and even scolded me recently."

She thought back to their trip to Xiling Snow Mountain, which she hadn't forgotten, even secretly jotting it down in a notebook.

"You should know that most siblings your age don't have such a close relationship!"

"Really?"

"Yes! My friend told me that she and her brother barely ever talk."

"Ah..."

Is that the way it is? She looked out the window.

*Ding ding*

She took her phone out of her backpack.

It was a text from Samson Nan.

"Raina, I can see your classmates are out, where are you?"

Looking through the classroom window, she saw him standing by the school gate, looking around.

"You trying to be a giraffe? Stretching your neck so long."

She typed on the screen with her slender fingers.

He immediately realized where she was hiding, lowered his head, and texted.

"Little one! I suggest you surrender now, we have surrounded the building! There's no good outcome for blind resistance!"

Pff, she laughed out loud, amused by his words.

"Raina, isn't that your brother?"

Roxie Lin noticed the tall, thin figure as well.

"Yes, Ruoxi, I'll be leaving first."

"Ah, let me go with you!"

She excitedly grabbed Raina Nan's hand.

"Huh? Oh."

She didn't understand why the usually shy and frail-looking Ruoxi was suddenly so enthusiastic.

...

"You fell in the toilet or what?! Why are you so slow?!"

He spotted her, and his clear but vacant eyes instantly lit up.

"None of your business!"

She pouted.

"Uhm..."

A weak voice.

"Oh right, let me introduce you, my classmate, Roxie Lin."

She finally remembered Ruoxi, who had been standing behind her this whole time.

Although she had a beautiful and lovely appearance, she was known as the shyest girl in the class.

"Oh, hello."

He grinned, eyes squinting.

"Brother Nan, hello... uhm..."

Roxie Lin looked extremely nervous, her head down, trying to find the right words.

Samson Nan looked suspiciously at Raina Nan.

She shook her head vigorously, indicating that she didn't know what was going on.

"Phone... Can, can I have your phone number?"

Roxie Lin's face turned red, her voice was so soft it seemed to come from her throat.

"Phone? But, but I only have one!"

He became nervous too, not understanding the situation.

"Phone number, phone number! Dummy!"

Raina Nan was even more anxious, afraid that Ruoxi would burst into tears if they said the wrong thing.

"Oh, you can ask Raina for mine."

It turned out to be just this kind of thing, a false alarm.

"I... I wanted to ask Brother Nan myself..."

"Alright then."

He took her phone, dialed his own number.

"Ok!"

She took her phone back, and he'd even inputted his name for her.

"Samson Nan."

She read it silently, then turned around and walked away, forgetting to say goodbye....

Samson Nan and Raina Nan walk together, in silence.

"I mean, your classmate doesn't really like me, does she?"

He suddenly speaks up.

"Hey! People don't usually say that about themselves! What thick skin you have!"

She's speechless.

However, she didn't deny it. Although Roxie Lin's performance just now was awkward, it was also simple and straightforward.

It looked like a prelude to a confession from a girl with budding romantic feelings.

"Raina..."

He becomes serious.

Anxious and inexplicably so, she waits for his next words, his next syllable.

"Am I really that handsome?"

"Go to hell!"

She has to admit; she overthought it.

"Are you even seriously considering it?!"

"What's there to consider? Your classmate doesn't really like me!"

He laughs, not caring at all.

"But it looks so much like..."

"You're still so young, how come your thoughts are so complicated?"

He flicks her forehead with his slender index finger.

On his face, a glow - that's the setting sun.

"Aren't you moved? There are so many boys who like Ruoxi! She's so good-looking..."

She looks ahead, but her peripheral vision is focused on him.

"Come on, I'm not a boy anymore, please call me an old man~"

"Pfft~ Finally, a true word from you!"

She snickers.

Who knows why this man, just over 21, insists on calling himself an old man?

"Besides~"

He stops walking.

She looks back at him.

"I think you look better~"

He smiles, unreservedly.

She panics, for no reason, just unable to look into his eyes.

"Hmph! Good thing you have taste..."