Chapter Fourteen: A Date with Sister (Part 1)
“Are you not used to rice?” Zou Yameng maintained her composure as the head of the household. Even with her legs still weak, she politely inquired after Wen Hupo’s preferences. This reminded Lu Li of the last time they watched a movie together, how she had undressed with the same serious demeanor. He smiled; Sister Yameng was unexpectedly cute sometimes. It had been the same during their bath; she’d absolutely refused to let him call her “Sister,” preferring to silence him with a kiss rather than endure the embarrassing term of endearment.
The memory of her athletic, naked body made Lu Li’s mouth go dry. He took a sip of water, trying not to look at her exposed thighs. He had to admit, a well-trained body was different. If he had to describe it, it was like having his bone marrow sucked dry.
Wen Hupo hesitated for a moment, then took the bowl of rice, studying Zou Yameng thoughtfully, making her feel uncomfortable under her intense gaze.
Li, you’ve really outdone yourself, even bringing home a foreign girl… Zou Yameng thought, gritting her teeth.
An Baili was the most well-behaved today. Ignoring the strange atmosphere between Zou Yameng and Wen Hupo, she diligently picked food for Lu Li, a bright smile on her face. The four of them sat around the small table, each occupying a side, rarely reaching for dishes. Except for An Baili, everyone picked only from the dishes directly in front of them, as stiff and formal as guests in a stranger’s home. Lu Li, feeling guilty, kept his head down and focused on his food. Zou Yameng glanced around and casually asked, “So, Wen… Wen Hupo, are you staying at Li’s place now?”
“Yes,” Wen Hupo replied succinctly.
“Isn’t it inconvenient for a girl to live here? Li is always running to the bathroom and hogging it without actually using it. And changing clothes, washing up… it must be awkward.” Zou Yameng’s words seemed directed more at herself than Wen Hupo. “I can’t come back from the Capital City more than a few times a year. Why don’t you stay in my room?”
It sounded like a casual suggestion, but Lu Li detected a hint of “killing intent” in Sister Yameng’s words. On the sports field, she was a relentless attacker, and in life, she was also used to taking the initiative—except when it came to Lu Li. He had a feeling that if Wen Hupo refused, Sister Yameng wouldn’t let it go.
Lu Li felt a headache coming on. He had anticipated that the girls wouldn’t get along; An Baili and Chu Jingyi’s relationship was an exception. But he hadn’t expected this conflict to erupt so suddenly. Leaving the decision to Wen Hupo would be irresponsible. He stepped in. “Sister, I asked her to stay with me. Hupo is a foreigner; she’s not familiar with things here. Living together makes it easier for us to communicate. I’ll ask her to move out once she’s more settled in Shenzhou.”
Since her brother had spoken, Zou Yameng didn’t press the issue. She shot Lu Li a look. “I think you just want to take advantage of her.”
“…It’s fine,” Wen Hupo said abruptly.
All three of them stared at her.
“What’s fine?”
“…” She fell silent again, perhaps disdaining to explain, or perhaps too embarrassed to. Wen Hupo ate her rice with a spoon, small bite by small bite. She didn’t know how to use chopsticks and had been using a spoon ever since she moved in with Lu Li.
The dinner ended in a strange mix of harmony and tension. That night, Lu Li couldn’t share a room with Wen Hupo with his sister present. He had to sleep at An Baili’s place, while An Baili slept with Sister Yameng, who had some things she wanted to discuss with her.
Moonlight, tinged with a blue fluorescence, streamed through the window. The moon hung high in the night sky like a white lotus seed. Wen Hupo tossed and turned in bed, occasionally glancing at the empty spot on the floor where Lu Li usually slept. He’d said that the floor was cooler in the summer, so it was just right to sleep there. Was it really? Wen Hupo wondered. She’d never slept on the floor; she imagined it must be cold and hard. Lu Li had probably said that to make her feel better.
Insomnia was a common occurrence for Wen Hupo. With so much on her mind, sleep evaded her. Closing her eyes, the day’s events replayed in her mind, preventing her from drifting off. Usually, she would turn to look at Lu Li’s sleeping face on the floor, the moonlight illuminating him, making the scene dreamlike.
She had to admit, Lu Li was handsome. She had always found him pleasant to look at. His eyes and brows resembled her foster mother’s, carrying a hint of melancholy. Sometimes, she would entertain the fanciful notion that Lu Li might be her foster mother’s long-lost son, but she would quickly laugh at the absurdity of the idea.
But tonight…
Tonight, Lu Li wasn’t there. The empty space on the floor mirrored the emptiness in her heart. The sounds of passion she’d heard earlier echoed in her ears. The golden-haired girl traced circles on the sheet with her finger, her thoughts spiraling along with the circular motion.
“So desolate, so empty, so lonely, so miserable.” She unconsciously recited the lines from a poem. She had always loved the intricate characters of the Shenzhou language, each stroke precise and enigmatic.
Tonight, the cat was sleepless once more.
The next morning, Lu Li was awakened by Chen Jianing’s insistent knocking. He sat up, dark circles under his eyes, his expression listless. He hadn’t been able to sleep at all last night. He wondered if he’d been possessed by some kind of pile-driver demon. After tasting the long-forbidden fruit of his sister’s flesh, his mind had been consumed by lustful thoughts. He went to the sink and splashed cold water on his face, repeatedly telling himself not to be obsessed with women. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but his body seemed even more vigorous in this life, especially in bed.
Was this related to the price?
If so, the price was far too lenient.
He heard the door next door open, followed by Chen Jianing’s voice. “Where’s Lu Li?”
Then another door opened, this time An Baili’s. “What are you yelling about so early in the morning, Shorty?”
Their chirping voices were like two little sparrows. He heard Chen Jianing say she had come early to avenge yesterday’s “clothing stripping humiliation” and that she was going to find Chu Jingyi. Was this girl obsessed with picking fights with the others? Small in stature, but not in spirit.
Lu Li heard Chen Jianing and An Baili enter his apartment and continue their chatter, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. He was brushing his teeth when he heard another knock. He slowly opened the door, his mouth full of toothpaste foam. Zou Yameng stood silhouetted against the light, like Artemis descending to earth. Lu Li gaped at her, stunned by her beauty, toothpaste dripping from his mouth.
Zou Yameng was dressed in a youthful and vibrant style today, a departure from her usual athletic wear. She wore a short-sleeved T-shirt with a panda print, the panda’s eyes comically enlarged and distorted. Her lower body was clad in light blue skinny jeans, which perfectly accentuated her slightly curvy legs. Her outfit wasn’t flashy, but it perfectly showcased her youthful charm. Lu Li always believed youth was a woman’s greatest asset. When young, they didn’t need excessive clothing or makeup; simply standing there, they exuded the vibrancy of life and the power of beauty.
“Li, come shopping with me,” Artemis said, smiling at the toothpaste foam around his mouth.
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