Shen Xinran recently discovered that Shen Xiangling came home very late, and every time she came back, she had a slight smile on her face.
At first it was only half an hour later than usual, then it became an hour, and recently I even heard the sound of keys turning after midnight.
What's even more suspicious is that every time she enters the room, her sister's always sharp eyes will bend into crescents, and even the movement of taking off her high heels is filled with light joy.
At six this morning, Chen Xinran was startled awake by a subtle noise. Through the half-open door, he saw Chen Xiangling standing in front of the dressing mirror, her fingertips skimming over a row of lipsticks. She picked up a Dior 999 and then put it down again, finally choosing a YSL peach shade.
Although her twelve-year-old body was trapped, her soul could detect something unusual with the keenness of an adult—this lipstick had just appeared on the dressing table last week, and the wrapping paper still had the gold-plated logo of the mall counter.
"Something's wrong."
Chen Xinran curled up on the bay window, nibbling the red bean filling in the egg yolk pastry. Sunlight filtered through the gauze curtains, dancing on his eyelashes but unable to reach his dark red pupils.
"Xiao Ran, sister has to go out today, please stay home and be good~"
Chen Xiangling's voice interrupted his thoughts. She was wearing a haze blue dress with a waistband, and her pearl earrings cast tiny spots of light on the side of her neck.
Chen Xinran put down her half-eaten snack and stepped barefoot across the cool marble floor. The collar of her pajamas tilted as she moved, revealing an old, pale golden scar on her collarbone—the mark left by crossing the world barrier.
"No..." He grabbed the hem of Chen Xiangling's skirt, his fingertips sinking into the soft fabric. He tilted his head back, deliberately letting his eyelashes get wet, his voice sticky as if coated in honey, "Sister, how could you leave me alone like this?"
This trick always works. Chen Xiangling knelt down to meet his gaze, the scent of vetiver wafting across her face. Her fingertips brushed the ends of his curled hair, as lightly as if polishing precious porcelain.
Chen Xinran took the opportunity to bury her face in the crook of her shoulder, her breath filled with the base notes of Dior J'adore - a perfume she only used on important occasions.
Chen Xinran grabbed her clothes tightly, with an aggrieved expression on her face, as if to say, "If you don't agree, I'll cry in front of you."
Seeing that face that usually appears so restrained in front of outsiders now showing such an expression, it is really unbearable.
After all, she still felt a little bit reluctant. Who doesn't love a brother who likes to act like a spoiled child?
"So what does Xiaoran want?"
Took the bait.
Chen Xinran rubbed her pearl necklace with her cheek, the cool touch against her skin: "I want to go too."
Twenty minutes later, they were standing in front of a secluded cafe.
Chen Xinran squinted her eyes and looked at the brick wall covered with vines - the location was in a blind spot for surveillance, but the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the street were completely unobstructed, a typical dating spot design.
A man in a plaid shirt was sitting at a small round wooden table. He had black hair, straight eyebrows, deep eyes, a high nose bridge, and slightly upturned corners of his mouth. He was walking towards this side with a charming smile.
"You're finally here, Xiangling."
"Sorry to keep you waiting, there was a bit of traffic."
"It doesn't matter."
The man's name was Yi Zhong. He saw the boy following her and asked, "Is this... your younger brother?"
Chen Xiangling smiled and nodded.
"Very cute kid, looks a lot like you."
As he spoke, he squatted down in front of Shen Xinran, ready to reach out and touch his head, but Shen Xinran slapped his hand away, with an expression of reluctance written all over his face.
"My brother is a little shy."
Chen Xiangling explained.
(On the table)
"In the last match, Xiangling easily defeated her opponent. Does Xiangling practice martial arts regularly? I'd like to learn the secret of this."
"Contest…?"
Chen Xinran listened to the man's words. When did this happen? He turned his head and glanced at his sister, who looked at him with a blank expression. His sister hadn't even mentioned this to him, and it had given others an opportunity to take advantage of it.
In fact, Chen Xiangling went to help Feng Qingyao who was in trouble to play this game, and Yi Zhong, as a contestant, happened to be there. He was attracted by Chen Xiangling who exuded confidence on the stage, so he came to find Chen Xiangling privately.
“There aren’t any special techniques.”
Chen Xiangling picked up the coffee, took a sip, and spoke slowly.
In fact, Chen Xiangling only learned the basics of fighting skills from her brother Chen Zhuqiu when she was a child.
Yi Zhong was also about to pick up the coffee to drink, but his hand accidentally slipped and the coffee spilled on his clothes, burning his hand.
"Are you okay?"
Chen Xiangling took out a wet tissue from her bag and kindly helped him wipe the coffee stains off his hands.
"Thank you, I can do it myself."
Yi Zhong reached out and pinched the tissue, and unconsciously squeezed her palm through the tissue.
Chen Xinran watched Yi Zhong's every move expressionlessly. Did he want to continue using his clumsy little tricks on his sister?
Is this allowed?! Shen Xinran suddenly came up with an idea...
"thump!!"
Shen Xinran's performance of knocking over the coffee cup was a textbook example. The moment the scalding liquid splashed onto his wrist, he precisely controlled his muscles, causing his skin to flush rapidly, while avoiding the temperature that would actually cause blisters. Tears hung in his eyes, threatening to fall, and his lower lip was bitten to create a perfectly pale look.
"Xiao Ran!"
As expected, Chen Xiangling immediately let go of Yi Zhong and left him aside.
When she nervously grabbed his wrist, Shen Xinran took the opportunity to gasp, successfully making her sister's pupils shrink suddenly - he was too familiar with this reaction. Every time she was hurt when she was a child, she would show this expression as if the world was collapsing.
"Does it hurt...Xiao Ran..."
Her eyes were full of heartache. She gently took out a handkerchief to wipe the coffee stains off Chen Xinran's hands, and lowered her head to blow on them.
"Sister...it hurts..."
His voice was an octave lower than usual, with a slightly trembling ending, as if he was in real pain but trying hard to endure it.
Chen Xinran's fingertips unconsciously grasped Chen Xiangling's sleeves, as if relying on her, or acting like a spoiled child. His eyes were wet, like a small animal drenched in rain, staring straight at Chen Xiangling, his eyes filled with grievance and dependence.
Chen Xiangling's heart suddenly tightened.
Chen Xinran leaned into her arms, his forehead against her shoulder, the warm air from his breath gently brushing against her neck, with a hint of childish dependence.
"pain……"
He muttered again, this time his voice was softer, like an unconscious murmur, but it accurately hit Chen Xiangling's softest spot.
At an angle where Shen Xiangling couldn't see, Chen Xinran narrowed his eyes slightly, and glanced at Yi Zhong who was completely ignored at the side, with a hint of triumphant cunning in his eyes.
But it was fleeting.
"Sister...blow..."
He asked in a low voice with a wronged tone, his voice so soft that water could drip out of it.
Yi Zhong glanced at the heartwarming scene between the siblings; even the sunlight seemed much softer, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
Yi Zhong suddenly felt that he was redundant, and that he was the only one in the world who was hurt.
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