“Why do I feel like your tone is… begging for a punch?” An Jinchu gave him a resentful look, staring right at him.

“You hit me, and I’ll pin you to the ground and rub your face in it.”

“I’ll scream.”

“You could scream your lungs out, and nobody in this building would come save you.”

“Xiao Xi will come.”

“If she dares take your side, I’ll beat her up too.”

“Wow, you’re so cruel.”

“…”

“So, when are you going to let me in?” Luo Chen tilted his head, looking at An Jinchu, who was still standing in the doorway.

An Jinchu stepped aside, leaving half the doorway clear. Without hesitation, Luo Chen slipped past her and walked into the room.

For a moment, they were standing very close. A slightly hazy light shone in An Jinchu’s eyes.

At the same time, Luo Chen spotted Luo Xi sitting upright on the sofa, her expression rather grim.

“I’m back, Xiao Xi.” He waved to Luo Xi.

“Luo Chen…” Luo Xi looked up. Her gem-bright eyes had lost their usual sparkle, seeming somewhat dim.

Luo Chen cut her off before she could say anything else.

“Why are you still here? Planning to stay until New Year’s?” His voice was calm and indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

Luo Xi stood up from the sofa. At his words, she trembled slightly and pointed a finger at his nose, her eyes reddening. “You—you…”

Her chest felt as though it were being pricked by needles, and she couldn’t get a word out.

“It’s time to go. I won’t keep you. If you miss me someday, give me a call. Maybe I’ll be in a good mood and come visit you in your city.”

Luo Xi gritted her teeth and pressed her legs together. Her white-stockinged legs trembled slightly, and she seemed unsteady on her feet.

Luo Chen walked closer to her.

“Don’t you hate me?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want anything to do with me?”

“You even hit me yesterday.”

“You wouldn’t even eat the food I made, would you?”

“And you can’t stand seeing me like this, can you?” Luo Chen fired off one question after another. Then his somewhat unfocused gaze sharpened, settling on Luo Xi’s fair little face.

“This is just how I am. I won’t change for you, so there’s no point pretending to hate me.”

Luo Xi’s tears fell despite her best efforts. She bit down hard on her lip. There was so much she wanted to say, but as she looked at his cold, indifferent face, all her strength seemed to leave her.

Then Luo Chen smiled.

He really did smile.

“Honestly, when did you get so fragile…?” He reached out and rested his hand on Luo Xi’s head.

Luo Xi didn’t pull away. She just looked up at him, her eyes clouded with tears.

…………

A year before this point in the timeline, Luo Chen and Luo Xi had been at odds for a long time.

And the reason? Well, it really was Luo Chen’s fault.

After their parents passed away, Luo Chen’s personality changed drastically. He became withdrawn and stopped wanting to talk to people, including Luo Xi.

That’s right. Including Luo Xi.

He shut himself away from everyone. Apart from doing the things he had to do, he didn’t want to deal with anyone… and Luo Xi gave him a thorough tongue-lashing.

That hit Luo Chen right in what he now saw as his laughable pride. In his anger, he slapped Luo Xi.

After that, their relationship deteriorated. When all was said and done, Luo Xi hadn’t done anything wrong. The fault was entirely Luo Chen’s.

…………

“I’m still the same person. I won’t change for anyone, now or in the future.”

…Actually, Luo Chen was wrong about that.

In the future, after meeting Lin Yuqi, he’d work hard to become gentler and more considerate so he could return her love.

Then he’d be pushed to the breaking point by Lin Yuqi’s behavior.

And then, after leaving his original world, he’d be reborn back here.

Luo Xi fell silent, not knowing what she could say.

He was telling her to leave… What reason did she have to stay…?

Luo Chen’s hand was still resting on her head. He gave it a gentle ruffle, then let go. The smile on his face softened.

“From now on, you’re not my little sister anymore…”

Luo Chen’s final words should have been what she wanted to hear. After all, hadn’t she said before that she didn’t acknowledge him as her big brother?

But the way Luo Chen said it now sounded more like a child venting a grudge.

And he did have a grudge. A deep one.

After Luo Xi left in the future, Luo Chen never called her. Not even once.

Partly because he didn’t want to bother her. But partly… because he was stubbornly saving face, all on his own.

He refused to take the initiative to care about anyone, yet he wanted Luo Xi to care about him and call him.

So, in the end, it was still his fault.

But Luo Chen refused to admit he was wrong. That was that.

……………………

At last, Luo Xi looked up. Choking back sobs, she bit her lip as tears streamed down her face.

“Jerk,” she said.

“If that’s what you think, fine. If you miss me, call me.”

“I won’t. Not in this lifetime!”

“All the better, then.”

Then, to Luo Chen’s surprise, Luo Xi ran out. Her shoulder brushed against his as she… ran right out.

Luo Chen turned and watched her disappear, then shrugged.

An Jinchu leaned against the wall, one knee slightly bent. She frowned and looked at him. “What an awkward, hopeless tsundere.”

“Oh? You know me that well?”

“No. It’s just what I think.” An Jinchu shrugged too.

“You should leave too.”

“Your mood swings make people want to pin you to the ground and beat you up.” An Jinchu folded her arms and looked him in the eye, her voice cold.

“People?”

“From the moment you came back until now. And everything Luo Xi’s told me about you.”

“It doesn’t make logical sense, but it does fit my guess.”

“What guess?” Luo Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. He remembered An Jinchu saying the same thing before, and it sounded familiar.

If all went as expected, her next words would be…

“A lunatic.”

An Jinchu turned and left, closing the door behind him.