Chapter 105

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"I'm back."

She came home and glanced at the shoes placed by the entrance.

Among them was a pair of her brother's basketball shoes.

Usually at this time, her brother would not be home because he was busy with basketball training and would only come home around 8 o'clock in the evening.

The shoes lying quietly on the ground seemed to remind her that her brother had been suspended from school...

Yesterday, after receiving the notice of suspension, her brother was scolded by their mother to an extreme extent. He was locked in his room for reflection and was told that he wouldn't be given any food until he had truly reflected on his mistakes...

However, her brother came out of his room in less than 10 minutes, claiming that he had "repented".

He even ate three full bowls of dinner...

...

"Xiaoyu is back, come and have dinner."

Father walked out of the kitchen, wearing an apron which was a rare sight. He had two plates in his hands.

"Oh..."

Did Dad cook today?

"Alright, you two, come and have dinner."

He called out to her mother and brother who were sitting on the couch.

"I have no appetite!"

Mother's face didn't look good as she stared at the TV.

"Eat~ Eat~"

However, Samson Nan suddenly stood up and walked towards the dining table.

"Samson Nan, how can you still have an appetite to eat?!" Mother slammed the table and shouted, her eyes widened.

"Mom, I still have to eat, don't I? I need to grow, and I get hungry quickly~" Samson Nan said as he rubbed his belly.

"I see that you haven't truly reflected!! Do you think being suspended from school is a trivial matter?!"

"Ah, didn't he already reflect on it yesterday? Let's eat first, and talk about it after dinner~"

"..."

Father quickly approached, pushing his mother's shoulder and leading her to the dining table.

"Xiaoyu, what are you still standing there for? Come and sit down for dinner~"

"Oh..."

Seeing this situation, she hesitated to sit at the table.

No one in the family spoke as they ate, and the only sound in the spacious dining hall was the clinking of the chopsticks against the bowls.

"Tomorrow"

Suddenly, her mother's voice broke the silence.

"You're coming with me to the hospital."

"Why do I have to go to the hospital?"

Samson Nan stopped eating and looked up at her.

"To see that child you beat up."

"I'm not going."

His reply came without any hesitation.

"What? Say that again!"

"I! Am! Not! Going!"

"Alright! You dare to say that you have reflected on your actions! Is this how you reflect?!"

Upon hearing his response, her mother immediately became furious.

"..."

Father and Raina Nan sat on the side, watching them without daring to make a sound.

Samson Nan seemed determined and slammed his chopsticks on the table.

"Why can't I beat that jerk who bullied her?! "

He pointed at Raina Nan and shouted at his mother as if ignited.

"A fight is a fight! Don't give me those hypocritical reasons! I've seen you bully your sister all the time!! How about now? You suddenly remember that you have a sister?!"

"Well..."

He was at a loss for words.

Silent, he didn't say anything further.

"Alright, alright~ Why are you two arguing again? This matter is already in the past, let's not bring it up again!"

Seeing that they had again reached a deadlock, Father quickly intervened.

"Samson Nan, regardless of the reasons, fighting is ultimately wrong. You still need to continue reflecting on this matter!"

Father said, sending him a meaningful glance.

"Yes..."

After responding, Samson Nan continued eating with his head down.

In fact, when Dad asked how that person bullied Raina Nan yesterday, Samson Nan didn't fully reveal the truth. He only told him that the person tried to make fun of Raina Nan because of his size...

If he were to tell his parents that the jerk even grabbed Raina Nan's clothes and intended to do something bad, things would escalate and it might not be good for Raina Nan...

"You guys enjoy your meal~"

He was the first to put down his chopsticks.

"Where are you going?"

Mom lifted her head and looked at him.

"Back to my room, to reflect on my actions~"

He stood up and glanced momentarily at Raina Nan before turning his head.

He walked towards the stairs.

"..."

"Xiao Yu."

Mom looked at Raina Nan after he went upstairs and spoke.

"If you encounter these kinds of situations again, remember to come back and tell your parents, okay?"

"Oh..."

She nodded lightly.

"Your brother is reckless, causing trouble again, right?"

"Stop talking..."

Dad lightly nudged her with his arm.

"I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault. I'm just reminding you to always tell us if something happens, understand?"

As mom spoke, she added a few pieces of meat to Raina Nan's bowl.

"Okay..."

"Be good~"

She looked at the food in her bowl and realized she had no appetite.

Feeling guilty, but unable to say anything...

After finishing the meal quickly, she went upstairs with her school bag.

When she passed Samson Nan's room, the door was closed. She hesitated for a moment, then walked past the room.

After a few steps, she stopped and turned back, standing at the door.

Knock, knock.

She lightly knocked on the door twice.

"No lock..."

She heard his voice from inside.

Only then did she twist the doorknob and push the door slightly.

With some hesitation, she peeked inside.

She saw Samson Nan lying on the bed, holding a comic book in his hand.

When he saw her, he continued reading the comic without saying a word.

"What's up?"

"..."

She didn't speak, just stood there at a distance, partially blocking the door, looking inside.

"..."

He sighed softly, then spoke after a while.

"Come in."

"..."

She was startled for a moment before quietly walking in.

"Sit here~"

Samson Nan lay on the bed, shifted inside, and patted the edge of the bed.

Even though there was a chair right next to it...

"Oh..."

She hesitated and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"What's the matter? Tell me."

Samson Nan didn't look at her, but kept his eyes on the comic in his hand.

"Um..."

She slightly trembled her lips.

"I'm sorry..."

After thinking for a while, she managed to blurt these words out...

"..."

He turned his face slightly and glanced at her.

"Don't call it 'um'."

"Ge, gege..."

"..."

A moment of pause.

"Why apologize? It should be Chen Guangyan, that idiot, apologizing. Next time, I'll bring him here to apologize to you face to face..."

"Gege"

Her voice interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.

"Don't fight anymore..."

"..."

She sat on the bed with her back turned to him.

With her face turned to the side, her expression couldn't be seen clearly.

A moment of silence.

"...Do you care?"

He said with a slightly teasing tone.

"Yeah..."

Unexpectedly...

She nodded.

"..."

This left him unsure of how to respond.

In silence, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"I've been reflecting on myself recently too..."

She tightly held onto the edge of her clothes.

Gathering courage, she whispered with a voice that only he could hear.

"Maybe it's because of my bad personality..."

"That's why people dislike me..."

"..."

He didn't say anything, just listened quietly by her side.

"I used to not care... I thought it didn't matter what others thought... but..."

She spoke, her voice becoming slightly choked up.

"Seems like I unknowingly caused trouble for those around me..."

"Even my brother... and classmates..."

"Are you stupid?"

Before she could finish her sentence, he interrupted her with his voice.

"..."

When she looked up, she realized he was already standing in front of her.

"Brother...?"

"What trouble? You're not capable of causing that much trouble, little one!"

He said, pressing his palm against her head.

"Just so you know, I don't regret what happened yesterday at all! If I had another chance, I would kick that jerk a few more times!!"

He looked into her eyes as he spoke.

"..."

She looked back into his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then shifted her gaze away.

"If Mom hears this, you're going to get scolded again..."

"..."

Hearing her words, he paused for a moment.

"Hehe..."

Half a second later, he burst into laughter.

"But your personality really is terrible, little one. You have such a sharp tongue..."

"..."

Indeed...

...

"However, little one..."

His voice interrupted her thoughts once again.

He restrained his smile, bent his knees, and squatted in front of her.

With his head raised, not too close but not too far, he looked at her slightly reddened eyes.

"I just love that haughty look you have..."

"..."

She was dazed.

"You don't have to please others."

The upward curve of his mouth brought a sense of comfort.

"Because you're special..."

...

In an instant,

Breathing seemed to pause, hanging in the air.

In the quiet room, one could almost hear their own heartbeat.

Within his eyes, full of playful determination, he seemed to want to convey something...

"Is that so...?"

Her face burned.

"Mhmm~"

She couldn't dare to meet his eyes.

"But that's what you said..."

"Oh, that's what I said."

"..."

Her pupils trembled slightly.

What should she do?

"I... I'll go back to my room..."

Nervously, she stood up from the bed.

"Oh, then I'll continue reflecting on my sins."

He smiled and picked up his comic book again.

"Brother."

When she reached the doorway, she stopped.

"Thank you..."

"~"

He didn't say anything else, using the book to cover his face, he waved his hand.

She gently closed the door behind her.

Standing behind the door.

"..."

A rosy flush remained on her face, still warm.

...