“I’m warning you—no bullying girls.” The moment afternoon classes ended, Chu Jingyi blocked Lu Li exiting the restroom with solemn seriousness, drawing knowing glances from nearby boys.
“What?” His pants weren’t even fastened properly, and he felt too awkward to adjust his waistband in front of this silly girl. “When did I bully anyone?”
“Baili’s eyes were all red. Did you bully her on the rooftop at noon?”
*Ah, so that’s it.*
Lu Li explained while walking: “I didn’t bully her. She got emotional—said her family’s poor, no chance to chase dreams. She thanked me for the opportunity.”
Chu Jingyi’s focus shifted instantly. “Is Baili’s family really that struggling?”
“Yes. Look out for her, little rich girl.” He knew Chu Jingyi’s character—she’d never look down on An Baili.
“No wonder her lunch looked so plain…” Chu Jingyi mused, then blinked. “I’m *not* a little rich girl!”
“Your dad’s Chuanhai City’s number two official. If you’re not, who is?”
Chu Jingyi gasped. “How’d you know?!”
Lu Li chuckled at her exaggerated shock, pulling a worn phone from his pocket—Yamei-jie’s old hand-me-down. “Googled it. News photos show him at the podium with a speech draft.”
Chu Jingyi frowned. “My dad’s my dad. What’s that got to do with me?”
“Mm-hmm.” Lu Li wasn’t here to counsel an official’s daughter. He gave a vague hum and subtly loosened his too-tight waistband.
Chu Jingyi eyed him oddly. “Phones aren’t allowed at school. You know that, right?”
“Legit reason! Please, Class Monitor—cut me slack. Just this once.”
“F-fine. *This* once. No repeats.”
With her motive exposed, An Baili dropped the act. Back in class, Lu Li found her sitting in his seat. He coughed twice. Baili rose reluctantly, blinking innocently as if to say, *“Warmed your seat for you—sweet, right?”*
Lu Li ignored it, grabbed his water cup, and left.
Next was PE—the students’ favorite “free time.” Lu Li planned to skip and head out early. A sly smile tugged his lips: *One command, a hundred thousand special forces soldiers kowtowing in submission…* (Silly meme.)
An Baili trailed behind like a silent shadow. At the subway entrance, she froze—no cash, no card. She rarely took the metro anyway. With a regretful glance, she turned back.
Once she vanished, Lu Li stepped *out* of the station. Joke’s on her—twenty yuan per ride? A broke student with zero allowance couldn’t afford that.
Might as well detour to Chuanhai Women’s Sports School and walk home with Jie.
Outside the gate, stylish guys waited for girlfriends. One even offered Lu Li a seat. After idle chatter, the guy suddenly beamed, rushed to greet a round-faced girl, and hoisted her backpack. Lu Li tsked, shaking his head.
Then—there she was. His sister, head down, texting furiously. *So focused she’s not watching the path?*
He swore he wasn’t peeking. Just… taller lately. Naturally saw more.
WeChat group: *Passionate High School Girls Chat Group*.
He knew it. Yamei-jie’s team. Full of… *questionable* topics. One glance once earned him thirty minutes pinned under her thigh.
*Look?*
*Not looking would be un-Chinese!*
Curiosity won. Links, codes, spamming @Yamei. Her phone beeped nonstop.
**Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse (Zou Yamei):** “Stop! Enough!”
**Mu Ziyi:** “Hahaha”
**Ten Pounds That Won’t Budge:** “Download via Thunder. Guaranteed satisfaction.”
**Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse:** “Really?”
“Jie.” Lu Li coughed softly. Zou Yamei jolted, nearly dropping her phone.
Eyes wide with panic, she locked the screen. “When’d you get here?! Were you *peeking*?!”
“PE ended early—I came to pick you up. Just arrived. Saw *nothing*.”
“Really?” Suspicious.
“What’re *you* hiding?” Lu Li reached playfully. She swatted his hand.
“No invading Sister’s privacy!” A faint blush dusted her cheeks. She took his hand. “Don’t bother picking me up. You must be tired.”
Lu Li’s heart warmed. “Nah. It’s fine.”
*Drunk, don’t startle her spring slumber; betting on books, tea spills with laughter—back then, it all seemed so ordinary.*
This regained tenderness lifted him. He tightened his grip. *This life, I’ll protect her. Find whoever broke her last time… and make them taste my iron fist.*
They strolled slowly home, savoring the quiet warmth. Isn’t life about loving and being loved? To grow old alone—like that miser from old tales, fixated on two strands of lamp oil with no one who understands—that’s true failure.
Sunset painted the eaves in gold and shadow. Beside him, his sister—a living painting.
After training, her first stop was the shower. Lu Li lounged in the tiny living room. The old boxy TV—long discontinued—flickered. Whenever it glitched, Jie’d whack it twice. Lu Li always worried it’d explode one day.
Boring K-drama droned on. Then—Yamei’s phone lit up:
**Ten Pounds That Won’t Budge:** “Yamei! Found one matching your request!”
Minutes later:
**“WSSB250 – Wow! My little brother grew into a handsome young man with a massive package! Upbringing genre victory!”**
Lu Li’s brow furrowed. *Something’s off.*
He flipped the phone face-down. Pretended he’d seen nothing.
