Chapter 31: Despicable, But Effective
Zou Yameng wasn’t playing today, so she had changed into casual clothes. She wore a light brown linen collared shirt and a crescent-white knee-length skirt. Her ponytail was undone, her hair cascading down, giving her a softer, more feminine look than her usual sharp demeanor. Even more striking was the light makeup she had applied, her lips a vibrant red against her snow-white skin. It was a sight that made it hard to look away.
Lu Li, naturally, showered her with compliments. “Sis, you look so beautiful today!”
“Hmm… Xiao Wen lent me these clothes… I have a broad frame, do you think it’s a bit tight?”
It wasn’t her frame. The thought was a bit inappropriate, so Lu Li kept it to himself.
“No, it fits perfectly. You look stunning. So, why were you in my room this morning?”
Zou Yameng blushed. “Why are you still asking about that? We were both drunk last night. I passed out in your room after helping you back.”
Was that really all? Lu Li wasn’t doubting his sister; he was doubting himself. He was worried that he might have done something irreversible to his sister in his drunken state. He cherished their bond too much to jeopardize it.
“Li Zi, will you accompany me shopping today?” Zou Yameng asked, her eyes darting around, her voice hesitant. She felt despicable, harboring romantic feelings for her brother who had been her only family, and now using the guise of familial affection to get closer to him. The girl with the “Silly Goose” username in his phone had given her an inexplicable sense of crisis. Why would a girl be calling her brother late at night?
Last night, she had been overcome with desire, wanting to do something to her drunken brother. But when she woke up, her courage had vanished. Instead, she had held Lu Li close and poured her heart out to him all night. She was afraid of him discovering her true feelings, afraid of him pushing her away, so she didn’t dare to confess her love while he was sober.
“Sure.”
After a simple breakfast, they walked hand in hand, like a couple. Ever since junior high, Zou Yameng had deliberately avoided physical contact with him, but today, she was the one who initiated the handholding, her grip firm. Lu Li looked at her profile, her soft hand in his, thinking that she had never looked more beautiful. Her outfit was youthful, her demeanor gentle, like a lovestruck maiden, without her usual sharpness.
The September sun was still scorching in Lingyue City, and the streets were filled with young women in hot pants, showing off their long, tanned legs. For men, summer was always the best season, especially in a big city like Lingyue. Lu Li was no exception. He deliberately lagged behind, comparing his sister’s legs to others’.
Perhaps due to years of training, Zou Yameng’s legs were toned and slender, with faint hints of muscle definition. She was tall, with a high waistline. Even though she was wearing a long skirt, the outline of her long legs was still visible. He had always thought she would look amazing in stockings, not too thick, below 60 denier, something that would accentuate her beautiful legs while still retaining the elegance of stockings. If he had to recommend a specific denier, 30 to 60 would be perfect, enough to subtly conceal any imperfections while still being breathable… Ahem, he was getting carried away.
“What are you looking at?”
“Your legs,” Lu Li replied, his expression innocent. “I think your legs are the prettiest.”
Zou Yameng’s face flushed, and she instinctively smoothed down her skirt. Her voice carried a hint of amusement. “How can you say something like that with a straight face?”
“I’m just being honest.” Lu Li quickened his pace, walking beside her. You only needed to carefully choose your words when talking to strangers. It was strange to be guarded with those you were close to. He genuinely thought his sister was beautiful, and that’s what he said. There were no ulterior motives. Appreciation of beauty was human nature; there was nothing to be ashamed of.
Shopping with a woman was a tiring task, even if that woman was Zou Yameng. They strolled through the pedestrian street, stopping at various shops and food stalls. Even the usually frugal Zou Yameng couldn’t resist buying two matching bracelets. The red one was for her, the blue one for Lu Li. Lu Li had always thought wearing bracelets was silly, but seeing his sister’s delighted expression, he swallowed his words.
He almost forgot that she was only eighteen years old. He carefully fastened the bracelet on her wrist, saying gently, “It suits you perfectly.”
“Let’s make a promise.”
“What promise?”
“We’ll never be apart. Even if you get married in the future, you can’t abandon your sister.”
These words didn’t sound like something Zou Yameng would say. Lu Li was taken aback. He saw a flicker of An Baili in her. Back then, An Baili had also said something similar, “Promise me you’ll never leave me, say it a hundred times!” She would say it every day, emphasizing it over and over again. And what had happened? In the end, it was him who broke the promise. Repeating something a hundred times didn’t make it true.
Such promises were meaningless. It was usually young people, yearning for love, who made them. What about him? Lu Li suddenly realized that he had changed. He was no longer confident in love. It wasn’t just failed relationships that cast a shadow; failed marriages did too.
“Okay, I promise,” he said softly.
“Just like these bracelets, neither of us can take them off. Not even your future wife…” Zou Yameng looked adorable in her childish demeanor, her rambling making Lu Li smile.
“Bracelets have a lifespan, but my promise doesn’t. Even if the bracelets break, my love for you will never end.”
In his previous life, Zou Yameng’s life had ended at the age of twenty-four, fading away at the peak of her beauty. A thought flashed through Lu Li’s mind, like a fleeting glimpse of something important, but then it vanished like water slipping through his fingers.
“I’m going back to school the day after tomorrow.”
Zou Yameng paused. “Can’t you stay a few more days? Go back with our team. Will you be able to buy a ticket on your own?”
“I have my class monitor to thank for that. It’s largely thanks to her that I was able to see you this time.”
Zou Yameng deliberately turned her head away, hiding her expression.
“Is it the same class monitor from last time?”
“…Yes.”
“A girl? Are you two close?”
“We’re okay. She’s a kind girl.”
“…”
“Sis?”
“Li Zi, I need to apologize to you.” They reached a shaded area, and Zou Yameng turned to face him, her expression resolute.
Lu Li smiled. “About using my phone to chat?”
Zou Yameng’s eyes widened. “Y-you know? I just… I just wanted to see if you were dating anyone… Were you not really drunk?” By the end of her sentence, her face was crimson, her heart pounding. She hadn’t been this nervous even when facing He Ping. She was terrified that Lu Li would say yes. Did that mean he had heard all her embarrassing confessions last night?
“I only found out when I woke up this morning. You accidentally deleted one too many messages.”
“…I’m sorry…”
“It’s okay.” Lu Li squeezed her hand. “I wouldn’t be angry at you no matter what you do.” She deserved that much.
Lu Li’s magnanimity only made Zou Yameng feel more ashamed. She pouted, her head lowered, unwilling to meet his eyes or speak. She was about the same height as him. Seeing this usually strong girl standing there, looking so dejected, made Lu Li’s heart ache. He slipped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug.
Zou Yameng didn’t resist. They sat down on a bench in the shade, embracing like a couple in love.
“If it weren’t for you, I would have starved to death in that low-rent district. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me all these years.” Lu Li patted her back, his voice soothing, like he was comforting his girlfriend.
Zou Yameng’s heart melted. She was speechless, her body going limp, wanting nothing more than to stay in her brother’s arms forever. In her daze, she vaguely realized that he was very good at comforting people.
She knew she was being despicable, but sometimes, despicable tactics were surprisingly effective in love.
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