Ning Mengmeng, standing beside Chen Youzi, spoke up indignantly, “Youzi, we can’t let your brother and sister keep this up.”

Watching her grit her teeth, she truly looked like a lemon spirit incarnate.

She’d already learned Chen Tangtang’s background from Youzi—but that wasn’t reason enough to back down.

Her own family wasn’t wealthy… yet they weren’t necessarily afraid of Chen Tangtang.

Most importantly: she refused to hand Zhou You over without a fight!!

Ning Mengmeng’s eyes darted. A plan sparked. “Youzi, you distract your sister later. I’ll go see Brother.”

“Why *you* see Brother?” Chen Youzi frowned. Shouldn’t *Ning Mengmeng* be the one luring Chen Tangtang away?

Ning Mengmeng hid her eyes deep in her straight-cut bangs, voice earnest. “I don’t even know your sister. How could I distract her?”

“You… do have a point,” Chen Youzi hesitated. The logic seemed sound—but something felt off.

*Tsk. Youzi’s getting harder to fool.*

Ning Mengmeng clicked her tongue inwardly. No backing out now. Miss this chance, and she’d get not even a sip of leftovers.

She gripped Chen Youzi’s shoulders firmly, voice resolute as if facing fire and water. “Youzi—would I ever hurt you? You’re my *best* friend!”

“Do you think I have ulterior motives toward your brother?” Her voice rose sharply, then dropped. Head bowed, dejected. “A plain girl like me? Brother would never look my way. You and your sister… you’re both so much more outstanding.”

…

Chen Youzi watched the slumped figure. Guilt pricked her heart—but Ning Mengmeng’s words had eased her doubts.

“I’ll call Sister now.” She stepped aside with her phone.

“Hello, Sister… I need to tell you something.”

As Chen Youzi dialed, Ning Mengmeng saw Chen Tangtang finally part from Zhou You. A sly smile curved her lips—*all under control*.

She seized the moment, hurrying toward Zhou You, who stood gazing at the river, lost in thought.

*If this were ancient times,* he mused, *Chen Tangtang would be either a sword-wielding heroine roaming the jianghu… or the palace’s most mischievous yet beloved princess.*

She did things others deemed pointless—yet never crossed a line. An innate grace balanced it all.

Sister Hua. Sister Bing. Both dazzling, effortlessly magnetic.

And him?

He recalled his dreams… and the idol sharing his surname—the era’s most handsome man.

“Maybe… only the looks part is achievable,” he sighed. Reaching even one percent of *that* legacy felt impossible.

“Brother.”

Ning Mengmeng’s voice pulled him back. Mild surprise flickered as he studied the girl beside him. *Here?*

Coincidence?

With anyone else—maybe. But Ning Mengmeng? Mysterious. Her appearance was no accident.

He shifted into a flawless gentle smile, leaned forward, one hand on his knee, the other resting atop the shy girl’s head.

“You’re Ning Mengmeng, right? We met at the café last time. Such a cute kid.”

“Cute?” Ning Mengmeng froze slightly. No one had ever called her *this* version of herself cute.

*Brother Zhou really is different.*

“Everyone says I’m plain… Brother, you don’t have to flatter me.”

Zhou You kept smiling, memorizing her features—then mentally refining them. A vision surfaced: a face radiant enough to rival any.

A barely-there frown. Then, softer still.

“It’s not flattery,” he paused. His voice dripped with warmth you’d willingly drown in. “To those who truly *see* you… you are beautiful.”

*A Cinderella hiding her light for reasons unknown.*

*Interesting.*

“Brother…” A genuine blush warmed Ning Mengmeng’s cheeks. Eyes hidden behind bangs blinked rapidly, heart fluttering.

She felt utterly swept away.

Zhou You noted his charm had skyrocketed since meeting Sister Hua. Not her level yet—but more than enough for a flustered girl.

*After all, my learning curve’s always hovered right at passing grade.*

Smitten beyond reason, Ning Mengmeng forgot her entire plan. Zhou You now steered every beat of their exchange.

Meanwhile, Chen Youzi’s call ended abruptly—Chen Tangtang hung up. She rushed back, clinging to Zhou You. Ning Mengmeng watched, resentment burning in her eyes.

*Big deal! Just useless extra fat! Shape is what matters!*

Sure enough—everyone’s gaze always snagged on Chen Tangtang’s… generous curves.

Ning Mengmeng scrunched her face, then played her final card.

“You’re Youzi’s *older sister*!!”

*Youzi’s sister?*

Zhou You blinked—until Chen Tangtang tilted her head at Ning Mengmeng, eyes wide: *How do you know that?*

Only then did it hit him.

Even if Sister Bing shared Chen Youzi’s surname, he’d never assume kinship. A wealthy Sister Bing was coincidence enough. *But also her sister?*

Talk about a coincidence—it was off the charts.

“You’re Youzi’s sister?” Zhou You turned to the woman beside him.

“And you’re Zhou You?” Chen Tangtang met his gaze.

Ning Mengmeng, having dropped the bombshell, waved toward the shadowy figure behind her. Chen Youzi shuffled over, step by hesitant step.

Chen Tangtang and Zhou You exchanged a glance. A thought bloomed in her mind.

*So Zhou really is a good catch. Youzi… I’m sorry. Sister misunderstood you.*

“I’m Zhou You,” he replied. Surprise faded. *Actually… this makes things closer.*

Chen Tangtang clearly thought the same. Right before Youzi, she wrapped Zhou You in an affectionate hug.

“Youzi~ Your brother’s *my* little celebrity crush~~ Aren’t you happy for me~~”

“?”

*Happy? Like hell! You’re my sister—how dare you steal my brother!*

Watching her sister cling to Brother, emotion surged in Chen Youzi. She lunged forward, shoving Chen Tangtang away.

“Sister! You *know* about… *that thing*! How could you?!” Fury boiled. Betrayed. Her sister knew she liked Brother—yet secretly got close to him *and* lied about finding a “celebrity crush.”

Heh.

“You mean your crush on Little Brother Zhou?” Chen Tangtang blinked innocently, laying Chen Youzi’s secret bare.

Zhou You: “???”