Chapter 18

“Sometimes I wonder… if Raina weren’t your little sister, would you still like her?”

Yun Luojia wasn’t looking at him, so she had no idea what kind of expression he had right then.

Samson Nan stared at the TV without saying a word. The news was looping through the day’s random events—stuff he normally wouldn’t even watch.

Only then did Yun Luojia turn to him, as if she were still waiting for his answer.

“But she is my sister. There is no ‘if.’”

For a second, his eyes dimmed a little.

“Then… do you like her?”

“Isn’t it normal for a big brother to like his little sister?”

He lifted his head to look at her, barely hesitating.

“Is it…”

“Why’re you asking this?”

Now it was his turn to question her.

“Hehe, no reason~”

She started giggling to herself, leaving him completely confused.

“Brocon’s a disease, you know. You should get that checked~”

“Huh?!”

He almost failed to keep his teacup steady, but a second later, his expression smoothed out again.

“Maybe.”

He finally let a faint, self-mocking smile tug at his lips.

“So you admit it… that’s wild.”

She covered her mouth, laughing.

Normally, having a conversation with someone like Samson Nan was actually pretty tough. He never started talking on his own, and if you slipped even a little, the air would just freeze over.

But Yun Luojia was different. She knew him well. Back then, they used to talk about everything and anything.

Beep, beep, beep—

Samson glanced at his phone. A text?

---Message from Little One---

He tipped his head back, eyeing the ceiling. What on earth was Raina up to now?

[Bro, come upstairs.]

[Why?]

His fingers flew over the screen.

[Just get up here!]

Only two words, plus an exclamation mark.

“Sorry, excuse me for a bit.”

He got up and headed upstairs.

Raina’s door was shut. He didn’t bother knocking, just twisted the knob and walked in.

“Little One, you called?”

“Yeah.”

Raina was sitting at her computer desk, her back to him.

“What’s this about? I’m super busy here~”

He walked over with a grin and slapped his palm onto the top of her head.

“Busy checking out women. Yeah, looks real busy to me.”

Standing behind her, he couldn’t see how her expression shifted.

“Can’t be bothered to explain. Spit it out, what is it?”

“This. I can’t do it.”

She slumped over the desk, lazily dragging the workbook out from under herself and handing it to him.

“…”

He hesitated for a moment. How many years had it been since Raina asked him anything about homework?

“Raina, seriously? You’re top of the year with this level? That’s pathetic~”

He glanced at the page. The math problem wasn’t even that hard.

“Mind your own business! If you don’t wanna explain it, then forget it!”

She snatched the notebook back from his hand, a flash of anger flickering across her pretty face.

“It’s not that I can’t explain it… unless…”

He scooted in closer, sitting down and taking up half her chair, leaning so close his lips were near her ear.

“Beg me.”

“You—!”

She was so mad she stomped her foot, then grabbed his waist and pinched hard.

“Ow— I still gotta keep our guest company, you know. I’ll save it for tonight, okay?”

He said it while looping his left arm around her shoulders.

“No way! By tonight I’ll have figured it out already. Why would I still need you…”

She huffed and stepped on his foot.

“Even better. You can just take your time and think it through~”

Samson snickered, sneaking a sideways look at her.

“I don’t care! You pick one.”

She turned her head and locked eyes with him.

“Pick what?”

He was honestly amused. How was he supposed to pick when she hadn’t even given him any options?

“You tell me!”

“Raina, even throwing a tantrum has to have some limits, okay~”

As he spoke, he bumped her shoulder with his own.

“How am I throwing a tantrum? Just asking you about a question is throwing a tantrum now?”

She looked at him, aggrieved, the corners of her mouth trembling slightly.

“Little sisters, huh… the older they get, the less cute they are~”

Samson made a big show of sighing at the ceiling.

“S-So what…”

Raina faltered. For a split second, she actually panicked a little, her voice growing softer and softer.

“I know you don’t like Luojia. But she’s your brother’s friend. Just for that alone, you shouldn’t be giving her attitude. Got it?”

“…”

Samson’s smile faded. He rarely got this serious.

“You always take her side.”

She turned her head away, not wanting to listen to his lecture.

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have stayed home. Then I wouldn’t have to play third wheel!”

“You? A lightbulb? That’s a first—what wattage are we talking here?”

“Get lost!”

She almost burst out laughing, but managed to hold it in. Clearly, that little storm cloud in her chest had finally started to clear.

Raina had always responded better to soft words than a hard push. Samson knew that well.

“Samson! What are you doing up here?!”

Bang—her mom shoved the door open. She looked furious.

He yanked his hand off Raina’s shoulder on reflex.

“How could you just leave Luojia downstairs all by herself and run off?!”

“I…”

“I told him to come up.”

Raina cut in before he could answer.

“Oh, so now you’ve got excuses? How can you be so thoughtless, kid? Your brother’s situation’s got me worrying myself gray, and you’re here making it worse?!”

Their mom had a quick temper. Once she got anxious, she got irritable, and once she got irritable, she started scolding people.

Usually the one getting hit by stray fire was their dad. Later, Samson started getting tagged too. And now, apparently, even Raina wasn’t safe.

“What’re you so worried about? Isn’t Grandma the one worrying…”

She muttered under her breath.

“Talking back now, huh?”

Their mom raised her voice. Raina squeaked and ducked behind Samson.

“Mom, is that really necessary~ Besides, Luojia isn’t that petty. It’s fine~”

Samson tried to soothe her with a smile.

“You’re still smiling? This is all because you spoil her! Look at your sister now—too lazy to come downstairs, doesn’t help with any chores, sleeps till noon every day!”

“No I don’t, just on Saturdays…”

She tried to defend herself.

“I’m not done! And look at how a girl’s dressing at home, like some boy—what is that supposed to be?!”

“…”

Raina didn’t dare say a word, just grabbed the back of Samson’s shirt and tugged hard, begging him silently to bail her out.

“Mom, you’re even gonna control what Raina wears at home? Besides, they’re all my old clothes. It’d be a waste to throw them out. Let her wear them around the house, what’s the harm? It’s not like we’ve got strangers here~”

As Samson spoke, he quietly slipped his hand back and held her small hand tight.

“No wonder those clothes all looked so big. So they were yours. Samson, why is it you never teach her anything good, just drag her into your bad habits?!”

Seeing both of them standing there with their heads down like they were reflecting on their sins, her anger finally cooled a little.

“I’m telling you, you’re gonna spoil her rotten sooner or later. When she grows up and can’t do anything, are you gonna support her for life?”

“I can.”

He suddenly raised his head, the three words steady and clear.

Raina froze. Her first instinct was to pull back the hand he was holding, but he just tightened his grip.

“I can’t even be bothered with you two. Honestly. Get downstairs and eat already!”

Their mom didn’t take his words seriously at all. She turned around and headed downstairs.

…

“Whew, finally done. Come on, food time~”

The smile returned to his face. He tugged her hand, but she stayed rooted to the spot.

“What’s wrong?”

He bent down, bringing his face close to hers.

“Wow, you’re actually reflecting on yourself?”

He lightly tapped the tip of her nose with a laughing look.

“D-Do you mean it when you say things?”

She stared at the floor, voice barely audible.

“What’d I say?”

He tilted his head at her.

“Slip-up! Take this!”

Catching him off guard, she suddenly kicked at him.

Maybe she was out of practice—her movements were stiff and slow, and he caught her ankle easily with one hand.

“Oh, so that’s how it is, Raina—you’re gonna play dirty now?”

“Let go of me!”

“Raina, you’re way too skinny~ Your legs are like twigs.”

Samson laughed, holding her ankle and deliberately lifting it higher. Luckily, she wasn’t wearing a skirt today.

“None of your business!”

She pouted, shoved him away, and started hopping down the stairs, light on her feet.

“You just got scolded. What’re you so happy about…”

He followed behind, completely baffled.

At the bottom of the stairs, he saw Yun Luojia. Maybe it was his imagination, but it felt like she deliberately avoided his gaze.

…

Mrs. Nan had prepared a lavish dinner. She’d heard Yun Luojia liked cream-baked shrimp, so she’d specially learned how to make it. It really was a thoughtful gesture.

But bit by bit, she realized she’d only directed a one-woman show—because neither the male lead nor the female lead had managed to get into character…

The meal was oddly quiet. Not many words were exchanged, and it ended just like that.

By the time they finished eating, it was almost dark. Samson walked Yun Luojia to the door.

“Samson, this is far enough~ You don’t have to send me any further.”

“Sorry. Didn’t really treat you properly today~”

He leaned against the doorframe, hands shoved in his pockets.

“It’s fine~ Auntie’s cooking is really good, but…”

She wrapped her scarf around herself and exhaled a small cloud of white breath.

“We didn’t manage to live up to her expectations~ hehe.”

She smiled, revealing two small, pure-white canine teeth.

He stared at her, a bit taken aback. Luojia was still the same as before—sharp and sensitive.

…

“I probably… can’t beat her.”

She fell quiet, gave him one more look, then dropped that line and walked away…