As soon as they got home, Su Shijie sprawled on the sofa like he owned the place.

“Little Ran, bring me a few of those four-yuan-fifty apples!” Su Shijie said, crossing his legs and swinging his stinky feet.

Lin Ran frowned and pinched his nose without ceremony. “Go wash your feet. Otherwise, get out.”

Su Shijie grumbled as he snatched Lin Ran’s slippers and went to the bathroom to wash his feet.

Lin Ran washed a plate of apples. Meanwhile, Su Shijie washed his feet and ran his mouth. “A-Ran, I think I’ve discovered something incredible. Since when do you use a pink towel? And it’s got a Pikachu on it, too. Hahaha, who knew there was a little girl living in your heart?”

“Ooh, it even smells nice! You little—hahaha!” Su Shijie burst out laughing.

Lin Ran frowned. That pink towel belonged to Lin Ruixue. Su Shijie had better not use it to dry his feet. Lin Ran walked over and opened the bathroom door to check. Sure, Su Shijie wasn’t using Lin Ruixue’s towel to dry his feet—but the bastard was using Lin Ran’s face towel to wipe them instead.

Lin Ran’s eyebrow twitched.

After washing his feet, Su Shijie hugged the apples and munched on them while playing on his phone. Lin Ran, meanwhile, made a simple little nest for the four kittens out of a cardboard box.

When it was about time, Lin Ran went back to his bedroom, turned on his computer, and started gaming. With nothing better to do, Su Shijie sat beside him and backseat-gamed.

When dinnertime came, Su Shijie started howling about how hungry he was, so Lin Ran went off to cook with a headache.

Since Lin Ruixue was there, Lin Ran held back and made two dishes along with some millet porridge. If it had just been Su Shijie, he’d have told him to chew on some steamed buns—or go out and eat if he didn’t like it.

Dinner wasn’t even ready yet, but Su Shijie was already waiting by the table with chopsticks in his mouth. The moment Lin Ran set the dishes down, Su Shijie started eating.

“Ooh, carrot and pork stir-fry, shredded potatoes—they’re both my favorites! Brother Ran, you’re awesome!” Su Shijie praised him.

Lin Ran shook his head, picked up a towel to dry his hands, and hesitated over whether to call Lin Ruixue.

“What’re you standing around for? Eat. Aren’t you hungry?” Su Shijie asked, puzzled, as he chewed on a steamed bun.

With Su Shijie watching him in confusion, Lin Ran walked over to Lin Ruixue’s room and knocked twice. “Dinner’s ready.”

That was all he said.

Su Shijie was thoroughly confused. Could Lin Ran’s dad still be around?

As Su Shijie chewed on his bun, the bedroom door opened and Lin Ruixue stepped out timidly. The half-chewed bun fell from Su Shijie’s mouth onto the table. His eyes went wide. Good grief—who was this? How could a girl be this beautiful?

One look at Lin Ruixue, and the lecherous Su Shijie couldn’t take his eyes off her. He’d never imagined Lin Ran had been hiding such a beauty at home. How much else had this guy kept from him? Good grief, she looked young, but she was already strikingly beautiful. And that face—she was leagues beyond all those girls he knew.

Lin Ruixue saw Su Shijie staring at her like a wolf and stopped in her tracks, too afraid to come any closer. She even took two steps back. She glanced at Lin Ran without much hope, but he was focused on eating and didn’t look at her at all.

Su Shijie wiped away his drool, instantly arranged his face into a smile meant to charm everyone, and flipped his hair. “Beautiful lady, may I ask what celestial realm you hail from?”

Lin Ruixue was so frightened that she ran straight back to her room and shut the door.

“Hey, beautiful! I’m not a bad guy. I’m Lin Ran’s best buddy. My name’s Su Shijie—hey!” Su Shijie called after her, reaching out a hand.

Lin Ran shook his head.

“Little Ran, come clean. Who’s that beauty? Where’d you pick her up? You’ve got some nerve, acting like a monk who’s sworn off women around me every day while secretly keeping a beauty hidden away at home. No wonder you weren’t interested in all those ‘little sisters’ I introduced you to. With someone like her, tsk, tsk…” Su Shijie exclaimed.

“She’s my dad’s daughter. He brought her back this time,” Lin Ran explained, and left it at that.

After that, no matter what Su Shijie said, Lin Ran ignored him and ate in silence.

Su Shijie wouldn’t give up. He even stopped eating and went to knock on Lin Ruixue’s door, but it stayed shut. In the end, he slunk back to the table. Only then did he notice Lin Ran had nearly finished both dishes, so he stopped hesitating and grabbed his chopsticks.

After they’d eaten their fill, Su Shijie watched Lin Ran clear the plates. “Wait, if she’s your sister, shouldn’t you have saved some food for her?”

“I called her. She chose not to eat,” Lin Ran replied calmly.

Su Shijie was speechless. This was the real Lin Ran, all right. He still had a million questions, but right now, he was more concerned about Lin Ruixue. A beautiful girl took priority.

Whether or not she was Lin Ran’s sister, she was definitely beautiful! Sure, she looked young, but in his experience with women, she’d grow up to be a top-tier beauty.

And so, Su Shijie’s thoughts began to wander in a less-than-honorable direction.

“A-Ran, she really is your sister, right?” Su Shijie asked with a grin, pouring Lin Ran a cup of tea.

Lin Ran glanced at him and gave a slight nod.

“What’s her name?” Su Shijie asked.

“...Lin Ruixue,” Lin Ran said.

“Ruixue. Nice name. ‘A timely snowfall promises a good harvest’—very auspicious. Anyway, A-Ran, things still haven’t gone anywhere with Shen Qingyuan. Since Ruixue’s your sister and you can’t stand girls, you won’t mind if I try to win her over, right?” Su Shijie said, rubbing his hands together with a grin.

“Do whatever you want,” Lin Ran said indifferently, his attention fixed on the game.

“Then I really can make a move?” Su Shijie asked.

Lin Ran nodded.

“I’m not joking. I’m really going after her—your sister, Lin Ruixue.” Su Shijie pressed.

Lin Ran nodded impatiently.

Then Su Shijie slapped Lin Ran. “Can you act normal for once? Hey, are you even listening? I said I’m going after your sister—Lin Ruixue!”

“Go after her if you want. What’s that got to do with me?” Lin Ran laughed.

“Damn, you’re something else. You’re incredible. I’m not as heartless as you. I may not be a great guy, but I’d never go after a buddy’s family. Come on, Brother Ran, she’s your sister! You don’t care about her at all? If I had a cute little sister like that, I’d spoil her rotten every day. Anyone who said a bad word about her would be dead. And you—you suddenly get a cute sister and don’t cherish her, don’t even care what happens to her. Damn it, don’t tell people you know me anymore.” Su Shijie was inexplicably furious.

“She’s an outsider. I don’t know her. We’re only siblings in name,” Lin Ran said, completely unconcerned.

Su Shijie honestly didn’t know what to say to Lin Ran. Lin Ran might be heartless, but he couldn’t be. It wasn’t just because Lin Ruixue was so pretty; the fact that she was Lin Ran’s sister now was enough to make him refuse to act as heartlessly as Lin Ran. Fine, if you don’t want her, Lin Ran, then I do. I’ve always wanted a little sister anyway.

Su Shijie tried all sorts of ways to win Lin Ruixue over, but she stayed in her room and wouldn’t come out. He was at a loss.

Since Lin Ran was no help, Su Shijie went downstairs to the supermarket and bought some food—bread, snacks, and plenty of things girls liked. When he got back, Lin Ruixue still wouldn’t open the door, so he left everything outside and told her to eat some so she wouldn’t go hungry.

Then Su Shijie went back to Lin Ran’s bedroom.

That Lin Ran was still gaming. Su Shijie wanted to kick him.

Su Shijie didn’t even have to do anything. Lin Ran’s dad called to check in. When he asked about Lin Ruixue, Lin Ran wasn’t sure what to say, so Su Shijie kindly filled his dad in. Lin Ran got an earful, and his dad ordered him to make Lin Ruixue dinner.

Lin Ran went to Lin Ruixue’s room, extremely unwillingly, and knocked on the door.

“It’s me, Lin Ran,” he called.

Lin Ruixue slowly opened the door and looked at him cautiously.

Seeing how scared Lin Ruixue looked made Lin Ran unbearably irritated. What the hell was she pretending for? Wasn’t it disgusting? Did she enjoy playing the victim and making people feel sorry for her?

“The old man said to make you dinner. So, what do you want to eat?” Lin Ran asked grumpily.

“...” Lin Ruixue didn’t dare say anything.

Lin Ran frowned and turned toward the kitchen.

A while later, Lin Ran brought a plate of pork stir-fried with carrots and a bowl of millet porridge to Lin Ruixue’s door. He set them down, said something offhandedly, and went back to his room without caring whether she ate. He’d made the food. If she didn’t eat it, that was her problem.

In the bedroom, Su Shijie cursed Lin Ran out eight hundred times over, but Lin Ran stayed as unmoved as a rock. If anything, Su Shijie’s words only seemed to make him angrier. Su Shijie held himself back; if he kept going, Lin Ran would probably blow up.

As for Lin Ruixue, nearly half an hour passed before she cautiously opened the door and looked around. No one was in the living room. She looked at the porridge and dishes outside her door, and her stomach gave a couple of timely grumbles. So she carried the food into her room.

A little after nine, Su Shijie went to wash his face and brush his teeth. He was surprised to find the food outside Lin Ruixue’s room gone. He checked the kitchen and, hey, the girl had eaten after all! Though she was a bit picky: she hadn’t touched a single carrot, barely ate any of the pork, but finished the porridge—and washed the bowl, too.

After washing his face, Su Shijie returned to the room and said to Lin Ran with a smile, “You should be a little nicer to your sister. No matter what, she’s your sister now. Your dad’s busy, so he asked you to look after her. Really, he’s doing it for your sake, too. No matter how much you hate girls, I still think you should treat your sister better. A cute sister like her could be gone before you know it. You might not care now, but by the time you regret it, it’ll be too late.”

“You talk too much,” Lin Ran said, displeased.

“Yeah, yeah, I talk too much. You know, I just checked, and the girl did eat. She’s just picky. Looks like she doesn’t like carrots—she didn’t touch a single one,” Su Shijie said casually.

Lin Ran didn’t pay attention and kept playing his game.

When it was time to get ready for bed, Lin Ran finished washing up and, for some reason, went to check the kitchen. Just as he’d thought.

So Lin Ran picked up the plate and headed to Lin Ruixue’s room, looking for a reason to start something. The light in her room was still on. She hadn’t gone to bed.

“Knock, knock, knock.” Lin Ran rapped on the door without ceremony.

A moment later, Lin Ruixue slowly opened the door and looked at him timidly.

“Is this what you left?” Lin Ran asked, holding the plate and looking at Lin Ruixue coldly.

Lin Ruixue didn’t dare say anything.

“I’m asking you a question.” Lin Ran’s voice turned even colder.

Lin Ruixue nodded fearfully, then said in a small voice, “I don’t like carrots.”

“Then what? Who’s supposed to eat them?” Lin Ran sneered.

“I’m sorry...” Lin Ruixue whispered.

Lin Ran gave a cold laugh, reached out with his left hand, grabbed Lin Ruixue by the wrist, and forcefully dragged her to the dining table. He slammed the plate down, pointed at it, and looked at her. “Eat.”

Lin Ruixue was so frightened by Lin Ran that she started choking back sobs. Su Shijie couldn’t stand watching anymore, so he stepped over and stood in front of her.

“A-Ran, this is too much. If something’s bothering you, tell me. We can go outside, fight it out, have a drink—whatever. Why take it out on Xiaoxue? You’re a grown man. Is this really how you act? Aren’t you ashamed?” Su Shijie said, crossing his arms in displeasure.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Lin Ran said.

“Well, today it does have something to do with me! I can’t stand watching you bully her, so what? She just doesn’t like carrots. Do you really have to treat her like this?” Su Shijie snapped. He thought Lin Ran had lost it. There had to be something wrong with him.

Lin Ran didn’t say anything. He just looked at Lin Ruixue, who was hiding behind Su Shijie.

Hurt? Was she really hurt? Didn’t she like pretending to be pitiful and playing for sympathy? Here was her chance. Go on, put on a good act. Don’t waste it. He hadn’t planned to treat Lin Ruixue this way, but she kept acting like this, making everyone around her pity her and worry about her. So he didn’t mind playing along.

But watching Lin Ruixue wipe away her tears, Lin Ran suddenly felt inexplicably irritated.

Just then, Su Shijie picked up the plate and smashed it on the floor. “Then you eat it! You’re a grown man, and you’re bullying a girl—are you proud of yourself? Your dad’s working hard out there so you can have a better place to study and a better life. Don’t you know No. 5 High School costs eight thousand yuan a semester? Your dad only asked you to help look after Xiaoxue, and you can’t even be bothered? I feel sorry for your dad, having a son like you.” Su Shijie spoke coldly, furious himself.

Su Shijie’s words hit Lin Ran right in the heart, making him even more irritated.

In the end, Lin Ran returned to his bedroom, irritated.

Su Shijie pursed his lips. That kid—you had to bring his dad into it to keep him in line.

Then Su Shijie smiled warmly at Lin Ruixue. He’d meant to pat her shoulder and comfort her, but she dodged him.

Su Shijie gave an awkward chuckle. “It’s okay, don’t be scared. Your brother’s just got a bad temper. He’s useless, so he likes picking on the weak. He may not like you, but I do. If you don’t mind, I’ll be your big brother from now on. If anyone bullies you or gives you trouble, tell me. I’ll beat the crap out of them.”

Su Shijie’s words didn’t move Lin Ruixue. Instead, they scared her so much that she fled back into her room.

Su Shijie awkwardly scratched his head. Was he really that scary? Why was this little girl so afraid of him?

Before bed, Su Shijie got into another argument with Lin Ran. It started because Lin Ran said Lin Ruixue was just putting on an act, and that girls like her were best at playing the victim to win sympathy.

Su Shijie had to argue the point with Lin Ran. He was better at telling whether someone was faking than Lin Ran was. He’d dealt with more younger sisters than he could count, and could spot a phony at a glance. But Lin Ruixue wasn’t faking it. She was genuinely scared—a fear that came from deep inside, and wasn’t even because Lin Ran had been harsh with her.

After arguing with Su Shijie, Lin Ran had calmed down too. The old man had told him that Lin Ruixue had gone through some things as a child that left her with a fear of men. Maybe he really had gone too far.

But even after admitting he’d gone too far, Lin Ran still refused to apologize. Su Shijie was at a loss.

Starting the next day, Lin Ran treated Lin Ruixue with cool indifference. He didn’t pay her much attention or lose his temper—more or less, he was saying, Do whatever you want. I don’t care.

But Lin Ran soon noticed that Lin Ruixue had quickly become friends with the four kittens. So the daily task of looking after them fell to her—and the girl seemed pretty happy about it.