Seated in the luxury sedan, Lin Lin stared blankly at Gao Liang in the passenger seat—acting like nothing had happened.

Uh…

What about carrying the bags? What about being the pack mule? She’d already gone through so much just to make him eat humble pie… and he *had a car*?!

You even take a car just for shopping? Seriously… being rich is *that* nice?

Damn it!

Worse yet, she now found herself squeezed next to the so-called “little sister.” Yezi and Lin Lin sat side by side in the backseat, Yezi pressing close, rubbing against her while peppering her with questions.

“Hey, Sis Linlin~ How’d you and my brother even meet? When did you start dating? Not a single hint!”

“Uh…” Lin Lin turned awkwardly toward Gao Liang up front. He didn’t look back—but flicked subtle signals in the rearview mirror.

She followed his gaze, straining to decode his expression. Wait… *how* was anyone supposed to read this?!

After a painfully awkward pause, she finally caught his meaning from the frantic blinking:

*“Never mentioned you. Say whatever. I’ll remember.”*

Probably.

Lin Lin nodded, ducked her head shyly, and began fabricating on the spot.

“Well… we met at school. Desk mates. Spent a lot of time together… and just… naturally ended up dating.”

Tch…

Heat rushed to her cheeks. She turned away flustered, then shot a glare at Gao Liang.

*After tutoring ends, I’m billing him for this performance. My innocence is ruined!*

“Oh-ho?” Yezi asked doubtfully. “So my brother’s *this* easy to win over? Hmph? Isn’t he always the ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ type—warm to everyone but never taking things further?”

“You’re the ‘Mr. Nice Guy’,” Gao Liang retorted, leaning against the window. Yezi just smirked, leaned close to Lin Lin’s ear, and whispered with a grin:

“Sis Linlin… how far’ve you gone? Hand-holding? Hugs? Or… *kiss*?”

“Uh—!” Lin Lin’s face flushed crimson. She shook her head wildly. “N-no, not at all!”

“No? Then…” Yezi’s eyes sparkled mischievously, tiny canines peeking through her grin. “Don’t tell me you’ve *already*…?”

“NO NO NO!” Lin Lin flapped her hands frantically. “We haven’t done *anything*! Nothing!”

“Ahem.” Gao Liang cut in softly. “Yezi, you’re scaring Lin Lin.”

“Mmm… tch, just curious,” Yezi muttered. But after her brother’s interruption, she quieted down. Turning to Lin Lin with hopeful eyes, she squeezed her hand and whispered:

“Sis Linlin, go for it! I support you—win my brother over soon!”

“Uh…” Lin Lin hesitated, then nodded.

“I’ll… try?”

Well… pinning down her arch-rival and getting sweet revenge *was* her lifelong dream.

Suddenly, their goals felt… weirdly aligned.

Just as the car settled into quiet, Lin Lin idly checked her phone—a QQ notification popped up.

Gao Liang’s name.

Hiss—

Her brain instantly spun wild theories: *remote control?!* But the message was simple:

*“Where’s your house?”*

Oh. Right. She hadn’t given her address.

They’d only just left the digital mall. If she stayed silent, the driver might drop her at *his* place.

No way!

She tried sending location—but they were still in a temporary chat.

*Duh. Who’d add *him*?!* She used to fantasize about hacking his account, spamming explicit content, and causing public humiliation!

After a silent internal battle, she reluctantly accepted his friend request and sent the address.

Ah…

Lin Lin tossed her phone onto the seat, buried her face in her hands.

*Me… adding my arch-rival on QQ.*

She’d always thought they’d stay sworn enemies forever.

Gao Liang nodded at the message. “Uncle Wang, head to 87 Lihua Road first—drop my friend off.”

“Got it.”

“Oh-ho?” Yezi’s eyes lit up. She glanced at Lin Lin and smirked.

*Hmph!* Lin Lin shook her head fast. *She’s totally misunderstanding! He’s never been to my place!*

…Well. He was about to be.

The sedan glided into her familiar street and halted. Lin Lin stepped out, hauling her shopping bags from the trunk.

Ugh… kinda heavy.

Suddenly, Gao Liang appeared beside her, patting her shoulder. “Let me take those. I’ll carry them—they’re heavy.”

Lin Lin blinked, then handed them over.

Watching him lift the bags, a strange warmth bloomed in her chest. A flicker of joy—was it touched? Or smug satisfaction at finally making *him* the pack mule?

Hmph…

Confused, she muttered with a weird expression: “Follow me.”

She led him upstairs to her door.

A knock. Shuffling footsteps.

Lin Yu opened it in slippers—and froze.

First: Lin Lin.

Then…

*A guy?!*

*A GUY?!*

Lin Yu sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide, lips trembling slightly as he pointed at Gao Liang, utterly speechless.

“W-w-w… WHAT THE HELL?!”

“Stop blocking the door! Move!” Lin Lin yelled, exasperated—*exactly* the reaction she’d predicted. Lin Yu jolted awake, numbly stepping aside.

Seconds later, he spun around and bolted toward the kitchen like he’d seen a ghost, screaming:

“MOM! LIN LIN BROUGHT A GUY HOME!”

Lin Lin sighed helplessly, waved Gao Liang inside, and had him set the bags in her room.

Gao Liang still looked unsettled—the sudden boy at the door had startled him. Alone now, he asked carefully:

“That boy… who was he?”

“My brother.” Lin Lin shook her head, worry flickering in her eyes. “I shouldn’t have brought you in. Go—before my parents try to keep you overnight!”

Gao Liang’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.

“Wouldn’t that be… nice?”