Though she’d almost fled to Tang Zhe’s place next door to sleep, she ultimately relented.

She’d known all along Wang Ziheng wouldn’t apologize first. At first, she’d assumed his dad or grandpa had forced him. Now it seemed he was just buttering her up because he had nowhere else to stay.

Wang Ziheng himself hadn’t had it easy either. He’d just lived through the most "coincidence"-packed day of his life.

His dad and grandpa were off on an overseas inspection trip. *Conveniently*, the family’s longtime housekeeper had taken leave to visit her hometown. *Conveniently*, the pest control and renovation crew had scheduled work at his house. *Conveniently*, his school had no spare dorm beds for his grade—and given his personality, bunking with older students or athletes might lead him astray. *Conveniently*, Aunt Li had called that very day. And just like that, he’d ended up boarding here.

Yeah, right. There were no such things as *that* many coincidences. Those two old foxes had definitely cooked this up.

He’d already guessed their motive by that afternoon—and gone to apologize to his reclusive cousin.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

He knew his words during her last visit had been too harsh. Their relationship had always been strained, but he’d crossed a line. That day in the garden, his intentions hadn’t been malicious—but his father and grandpa had twisted them. His temper flared, and he’d lashed out.

He’d driven her away.

Truth be told, even if she wasn’t his cousin—if any pretty girl cried because of his baseless accusations, any decent guy would regret it.

She hadn’t accepted his apology last time. But there was still time. He wasn’t thrilled about having a delinquent cousin brother, but a beautiful, gentle cousin sister? He wouldn’t mind that at all.

His optimism, however, was driving Li Mo up the wall.

She stepped out of her room early next morning, backpack slung over her shoulder, already dreading the day.

Now the breakfast table held not just her annoying dad—but also that pesky brat.

"The sports meet’s tomorrow. I need to leave early," Li Mo announced, grabbing a steamed bun. She downed a glass of milk in one gulp, then munched the bun while heading for the door.

"Hey! Just one bun?" Her mom sighed. *This kid’s getting more reckless by the day. One bun and milk for breakfast?*

But Li Mo slipped away too fast—just like always.

"I’ll walk with her," Wang Ziheng said, grabbing his backpack from the chair behind him.

"Tell her to buy more breakfast at school!"

"Got it!"

"………"

Li’s father watched silently, utterly baffled.

"When did these two get so close?"

"Huh?" Her mom shot him a *are-you-serious* look. "Close? They just had a huge fight."

She didn’t dare tell the truth. If he knew Wang Ziheng had made his precious daughter cry that night… well, the boy wouldn’t have a bed to sleep in tonight.

Wang Ziheng had been trying to make amends lately. She’d let him off the hook—for now.

……………

……………

"Sis, why walk so fast?"

Wang Ziheng had barely stepped outside when Li Mo vanished. He sprinted to catch up.

Before he finished speaking, Li Mo’s legs (allegedly) kicked into turbo mode. She sped up twice as fast, munching the steamed bun like it was fuel, trying to shake off this annoying tail.

No luck. Boys ran faster than girls—and she had to wait at the bus stop anyway. Wang Ziheng would catch up eventually.

"Sis, you’re not full. I bought soup dumplings—they smell amazing. Let’s eat."

"No thanks. I’m tired of this shop’s buns. You eat them."

*Throwing a tantrum.*

"But you’ll starve by noon! There’s the opening ceremony rehearsal—you need proper fuel."

"My appetite’s small. And I’m skipping rehearsal. I won’t get hungry. You eat. You’re still growing."

*Stubbornly refusing charity.*

"But……"

Wang Ziheng pressed on—until someone tapped Li Mo’s shoulder. She turned to see Tang Zhe, holding two bamboo steamers… and devouring a giant pork bun with his free hand.

"Thanks."

She swatted away his oily fingers, snatched the steamers, and started eating.

Weirdly, she looked perfectly refined while doing it.

Yet she ate shockingly fast!

*And she’s not picky at all?? Since when was her appetite "small"?*

Guess his peace offering had been too skimpy.

"I’m transferring her to you," Li Mo mumbled between bites.

"Tomorrow too?"

"Yeah. Until my dad leaves."

"*Spare me*……"

Tang Zhe had long suspected he’d wronged this little tyrant in a past life. Buying her breakfast meant waking up ten minutes earlier.

For a sleep-deprived high schooler, those ten minutes were sacred!

He’d also wanted to ask why this guy—who’d claimed to be her brother yesterday—was walking her to school today.

But the moment the conversation leaned toward Wang Ziheng, Li Mo clammed up. Her suspicious gaze shifted to the boy, who only offered a helpless smile.

*…Never mind.*

*Family stuff. Not my business.*

Besides, he had bigger worries today. One wrong move, and this cat would blow a fuse. If she got mad now, his later news would get him shredded.

"……Tang Zhe. You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?"

His thoughtful expression caught Li Mo’s attention. Her gut screamed he was keeping bad news—something that’d make her fur stand on end.

"N-nothing at all!"

*Caught off guard.* He’d been mulling it over when her sharp eyes pinned him. Even with his steady nerves, he fumbled.

*Too obvious.*

"Aha! I knew it! Spill!"

"I swear—I’m not—"

*Whoa… this vibe is off.*

Wang Ziheng, now completely sidelined from their bubble, sensed trouble.

Tang Zhe thought his cousin sister was a guy—he knew that.

Logically, this should be just banter between childhood buddies. If Li Mo *were* a boy, it’d be fine.

But even viewing Li Mo as male… this felt weird.

What was that sour stench of romance in the air?

Tang Zhe definitely wasn’t interested in his "male" cousin. So the problem had to be… *her*.

The pouting. The tantrums. It all screamed…

*Li Mo… does she like this guy?*