"Are you avoiding me?"

Staring at her expressionless cousin who’d just asked that, Li Mo’s eyes darted away, beads of sweat forming on her temples. She wore the look of someone desperately wanting to pretend she hadn’t heard—but knowing how stupid that’d be.

*Oh crap. How did it come to this?*

Wait, no—*he* was the one who upset *her*. Why was *she* the one feeling scared?

Right! She was the older one by seniority. If anyone should be nervous, it should be *him*.

Yeah. Time to show some big… sisterly authority. Chase him off.

"Ah… no way! I just have a super urgent bladder, that’s all! Gotta hit the bathroom every class, y’know? Hahaha…"

*What the hell am I even saying—*

"Anyway, gotta run! Someone’s waiting to jog with me. Hahaha… bye!"

*Mortifying! Mortifying! Mortifying!*

Why did her mouth betray her perfect plan like that?!

"Hey, wait—"

Wang Ziheng reached to stop her, but Li Mo yanked up Tang Zhe, who’d been napping face-down on his desk. "Up! We’re jogging. Tracks’ll be packed soon. I’ll *die* if I can’t run."

"Huh?"

Barely five minutes into his nap, Tang Zhe stumbled up, half-dragged out of the classroom. Having backup sure changed things—Li Mo ignored Wang Ziheng’s call completely, heading straight for the stairs.

"Wait, wait!"

Still dazed, Tang Zhe remembered one critical thing before heading down: the bathroom. Unlike Li Mo—who’d skipped rehearsals and could slack off—he’d be stuck practicing formations for over a class period with no toilet breaks.

He spun toward the restroom after just a few steps. Li Mo’s weak grip couldn’t stop him.

*Huh?*

"A-Jie, stop hiding. You can’t escape. I’ve got something important to tell you."

*A-Jie????*

Seriously? He’d adapted way faster than her. He used to call her by her full name.

"W-What is it? I’ve got rehearsals soon…"

Trapped, she kept her eyes skittering, hoping to rush him through his speech so she could bolt.

"...It was my fault that day. I apologize. I’m sorry."

He took a deep breath, then bowed deeply as he spoke.

*The hell?*

Li Mo froze.

Wang Ziheng… *apologizing* to *her*?

If either had done this before, they wouldn’t have been cold war-ing till today.

"Ah, it’s fine! You were right anyway. I messed up too—just ran off like that. My bad. Gotta go, bye!"

His apology was *too* formal. *Too* eye-catching. People were staring. Li Mo felt dozens of eyes prickling her skin. She waved dismissively, turning to flee.

Tang Zhe wasn’t back yet—but anywhere was better than here.

Clueless Wang Ziheng, thinking she hadn’t accepted his apology, rushed after her and grabbed her wrist.

"A-Jie—mmph!"

Li Mo spun and slapped him across the face.

"Ah, sorry! Missed my aim—I meant to cover your mouth."

"Don’t call me that at school! I’m supposed to be a *boy* here…"

*Sigh.* Why was everyone around her—a mom who outed her, this cousin—such a traitor to her secret?

"Sorry."

"You didn’t have to do this. I know I’m… not normal. What you said was right. Grandpa and Uncle forced you to apologize, didn’t they? Just tell them I accepted. If that’s all, I’m leaving."

Her voice dipped low. As he recoiled from the slap, she slipped free and fled while his brain rebooted. This time, he didn’t follow. She exhaled in relief.

*Yikes.* It was just the Master’s orders—why go full ceremony? And…

Who’d accept an apology from a stone-faced jerk anyway?

If he weren’t family—and if ignoring this meant endless future headaches—she’d have charged extra for the trouble.

"Why’d you sprint off? You dragged me up but didn’t wait!"

Tang Zhe caught up at the track, immediately complaining. Li Mo’s temper flared. *Whack!* She slapped his back.

"You take forever in the bathroom, man! If I’d waited, my high school life would’ve ended before it began."

"Huh?"

…

…

"Wanna game later?"

"Nah. My dad’s like a surveillance cam. One minute late and he calls the cops. Better not risk it."

"Fine. I’ll crash too."

Tang Zhe sighed. Li Mo’s dad *was* stricter than her mom. Weekend gaming it was.

Today had drained her completely. Even if she could play, she lacked the energy.

Just… sleep…

*Click.*

"I’m home… ran today. Going straight to bed…"

Dad was out for business dinner—only Mom was home. Didn’t matter. Li Mo trudged to her room after a half-hearted greeting. She envied boarding students; no commute when exhausted, just collapse onto a bed like a dead fish.

Ugh… and Wang Ziheng’s drama today. Please, no more trouble after this.

…Wait.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"Hm?"

The boy in loungewear on the sofa lowered the book covering his face. "I’m your cousin."

"…MOM—"

"What? What’s wrong?"

Ms. Wang rushed out, face mask still stuck to her cheeks, making Li Mo jump again.

"Eek! What’s *he* doing here?!"

"Ah, sorry, Mo-Mo! You left so fast at noon—I forgot to tell you. Ziheng’s staying with us for two weeks. But don’t worry! He won’t take your room. He volunteered for the couch. Dad’s buying a fold-out bed tomorrow."

"…………"

Mom was trying to reassure her, but…

"Mom."

"Yes?"

"Your own daughter or your nephew—which do you choose?"

"What kind of unfair question is that?!"