Category: I Don’t Want to Be Reborn With You

Chapter 14: Let’s Go Watch Fireworks

Sleeping Beauty wasn’t a particularly innovative play. Every year at the Chuanhai No. 1 High School New Year’s Eve party, there would always be a class performing it. But this year’s Sleeping Beauty was clearly different. Lu Li, playing the prince, acted naturally and effortlessly, his delivery of lines impeccable. He looked like a seasoned actor, a stark contrast to the other students, who were still green and inexperienced. Wen Hupo, playing the princess, was even more stunning. Just standing there motionless, she was the perfect embodiment of “a princess in an ancient castle.” The audience was captivated, and when the prince overcame all obstacles and reached the witch, everyone held their breath, worried that he would fail.

An Baili rested her chin on her hand, watching the radiant young man on stage. She felt a strange sense of insecurity, a feeling she hadn’t experienced since she was a young girl. Did this boy truly belong to her? He looked so perfect with Chu Jingyi, so perfect with Wen Hupo. Only she seemed out of place… This was the price of being a thief… She bit her lip, glanced at the engrossed Silly Goose, and called out softly, “Jingyi.”

“Huh?”

“Good luck.”

Silly Goose tilted her head in confusion. Good luck with what? The performance? Or her studies?

The play progressed to its climax. The prince thwarted the witch’s evil plan and returned to the ancient castle. The blonde princess lay sleeping there, only a kiss of true love could awaken her. This was the emotional peak of the play, and everyone was eagerly anticipating the princess’s awakening. An Baili could hear the sound of fireworks outside, first a long “whoosh,” followed by a series of crackling explosions. She could imagine the colors and shapes of the fireworks. She loved watching fireworks. She couldn’t explain why, she just loved seeing those brilliant bursts of light, perhaps like a sewer rat gazing up at the bright moon. How wonderful it would be if she could watch fireworks with Lu Li today. He was quite a spendthrift. She would definitely make him buy the cheapest kind of fireworks. They would hold hands and watch the lights soar into the sky, and maybe Lu Li would kiss her forehead. How blissful it would be.

On stage, Lu Li leaned down to “kiss” the princess. Wen Hupo’s lips moved slightly. “Good performance today, outstanding representative.”

“Does Sleeping Beauty talk in her sleep?”

“Lu Li, have you ever had a dream? A dream about someone special, where you can’t see their face clearly, but you feel like they’re very important?” Wen Hupo suddenly asked.

This question stumped Lu Li. He had never had such a dream, but he did have a similar experience. Before reconciling with An Baili, he had experienced a moment of memory confusion, unable to remember whether he had married An Baili or Wen Hupo. Now that he thought about it, it was probably because the memories from his previous life hadn’t completely faded.

His heart skipped a beat. Did Wen Hupo have similar symptoms?

Unfortunately, Wen Hupo wouldn’t give him a definite answer. Sleeping Beauty remained silent. She gracefully got up from the crystal bed and, accompanied by the narrator’s voice, drew the curtain on the play. The audience erupted in thunderous applause. Everyone was impressed by the performance of the prince and princess. The play was a huge success. Silly Goose must be overjoyed.

During the curtain call, the actors came on stage one after another. Lu Li and Wen Hupo stood in the front row. At that moment, something unexpected happened. The colorful balloons hanging above the stage could no longer hold their weight, and a huge one fell towards Wen Hupo below. In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Lu Li’s mind. The first was, “I told you not to hang so many balloons, why didn’t you listen to Yi Bao?” The second was, “Is that balloon heavy?” The last was, “Danger!” His body reacted faster than his mind. Before anyone could scream, Lu Li lunged forward and pushed Wen Hupo down, using his own body to shield her from the falling balloon.

“Danger!”

“Princess, watch out!”

“Ah!”

The balloon was much lighter than he had imagined. Well, it was filled with confetti, how heavy could it be? It just looked scary because of its size. The balloon hit Lu Li’s head, the cardboard breaking apart, and the confetti inside slowly drifted down like snow. It was just a false alarm… was it…? Lu Li felt a little dazed, while Wen Hupo looked at him in shock.

“They… kissed?”

“Did they really kiss?”

Confetti rained down from the ceiling like flower petals, endless and swirling. Through the gaps, they could vaguely see the prince in his black suit and the princess frozen in a near-kiss position. Were they kissing? It was hard to tell, it seemed like their lips didn’t actually touch. But if they weren’t kissing, then their posture was too ambiguous.

Lu Li reacted quickly and immediately got up, putting some distance between him and Wen Hupo. Only then did the others realize what had happened. The girls helped Wen Hupo up, asking with concern if she was injured. The boys helped Lu Li up, sighing in relief that the balloon was made of cardboard. Their eyes met briefly. Lu Li had recovered from his daze, while Wen Hupo was still stunned.

The scene was chaotic. Some said it was a stage accident, some blamed the excessive number of balloons. This performance of Sleeping Beauty, which should have been perfect, ended in such an unexpected way. It wasn’t until the school medical staff arrived and confirmed that the actors were unharmed that the discussion about the accident subsided. But another discussion naturally arose in everyone’s minds: Did they actually kiss?

An Baili could hear two boys in front of her whispering. One said they definitely kissed, because their posture was too ambiguous. The other said they didn’t kiss because the girl playing the princess was his untouchable goddess… An Baili, however, was only concerned about whether Lu Li was injured, whether his head hurt. The Class Monitor had already rushed backstage, probably also frightened by the sudden incident.

An Baili sat in her seat for a while, feeling bored. Lu Li’s performance was over, and she didn’t want to stay here anymore. But where should she go? Home? If she went home, she would have to do laundry, boil water, and then lie alone in bed, hoping to fall asleep quickly so she could see Lu Li again in the new day. She wanted to go to Ping’an Square to watch fireworks. Although she didn’t have money to buy fireworks, she could still watch them, right? But she was afraid of crowded places and didn’t dare to go without Lu Li.

She curled up in her seat, staring blankly at her little leather shoes. There were too many people in the audience, and she didn’t even dare to walk out in front of so many people. I’m so useless. She thought to herself.

Just then, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm, startling An Baili. She looked up in fear and saw Lu Li smiling and taking her hand. He had only managed to change back into his casual clothes and hadn’t even removed his stage makeup. Why was Lu Li here? Shouldn’t he be waiting backstage for the party to end? As An Baili looked at him in confusion, Lu Li pulled her towards the exit. “Baili, come on.”

“…I, I, you… where are we going?”

Lu Li turned around and smiled. His smile captivated An Baili. “To watch fireworks, of course.”

Chapter 13: Ketchup

An Baili and Chu Jingyi, two beautiful girls, walked hand-in-hand, becoming the most eye-catching sight in the audience. Since An Gulai was sent to prison, An Baili stopped deliberately making herself look ugly. Her face was free of makeup, yet she was radiant and charming. Everyone said that An Baili from Class 1 of the first-year liberal arts program was the school beauty of Chuanhai No. 1 High School. They also said that Lu Li was a womanizer who had already taken advantage of An Baili. There were even rumors about Lu Li having an ambiguous relationship with Chu Jingyi. In short, Lu Li’s name had spread in an unexpected way…

The girls arrived a little late and could only find seats in the last row. The gymnasium was already packed with people. An Baili had to lean close to Chu Jingyi’s ear to make herself heard. “Jingyi, which act is Lu Li’s performance?” Chu Jingyi also pinched Baili’s ear and shouted, “It’s the seventh act~” “Don’t shout so loud…” “I’m afraid you can’t hear me…”

As the girls were whispering, the Chuanhai No. 1 High School 2017 New Year’s Eve party kicked off with the emcee’s passionate speech. A roar erupted from the audience. Looking closer, it turned out that the street dance group from Class 2 of the second-year liberal arts program was on stage. The hot and energetic girls were wearing leather pants and crop tops, their dance moves sharp and their eyes alluring.

An Baili yawned. She didn’t actually like crowded places. According to their original plan, she was supposed to be setting off fireworks with Lu Li at Ping’an Square. Suddenly, she saw a vendor pushing a cart past them. She felt her pockets and found she had a little over ten yuan left. Excitedly, she bought two large bags of potato chips. The kind auntie at the stall, seeing her cuteness, even gave her a small bottle of ketchup. An Baili handed a bag of chips to Chu Jingyi. “Jingyi, Happy New Year! This is my New Year’s gift for you~”

Chu Jingyi giggled. “Who gives gifts like this?”

“Lu Li, he would just casually buy something during holidays and give it away as a gift. So shameless.”

Chu Jingyi’s smile gradually faded as she thought about the relationship between An Baili and Lu Li. She felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. She hated this feeling…

An Baili took Silly Goose’s hand. “Jingyi, don’t frown.”

The Class Monitor asked sadly, “Baili, what are we going to do… after graduation…” Her words were vague, but An Baili knew she was asking about their relationship with Lu Li. An Baili also knew that she was worried about “loss.” A girl like Chu Jingyi had always had everything. Every loss would be deeply etched in her memory.

She was the opposite. She had always experienced loss. Every gain was unforgettable.

“After graduation, no matter what happens, we’ll still be good friends.” An Baili whispered.

“But… but…” Silly Goose couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, but she instinctively felt that something was amiss. “Baili, you’re not lying to me too, are you?”

“I would never. Lu Li is the liar.” An Baili shook her head vehemently, afraid that the Class Monitor would become suspicious. “Jingyi, open your mouth, I’ll feed you some chips~”

As the performances continued, the atmosphere in the gymnasium became more and more heated. Some students, caught up in the moment, couldn’t help but stand up in the audience and confess their love, drawing waves of cheers. After tonight, who knew how many new couples would be formed in this school?

Suddenly, the stage lights dimmed, and the noise subsided. Just as everyone thought there was a power outage, an ethereal female voice came from the speakers. “Once upon a time, in a beautiful kingdom, there lived a beautiful princess, but no one had ever seen her true face…”

Chu Jingyi’s melancholy vanished, and she said excitedly, “It’s starting, it’s starting, our class’s performance is starting.”

The stage lights gradually brightened, and Lu Li, dressed in a magnificent costume, entered from the side. He was wearing a black and gold court attire, a slender and delicate sword at his waist. His hair was neatly combed, his eyes bright as morning stars, his nose straight and prominent, his figure tall and slender. He was a handsome young man, an elegant prince. “After crossing nine mountains and four rivers, where have I arrived?”

Whispers erupted from the audience. Many were stunned by Lu Li’s appearance, and some girls even secretly inquired about his name and class.

An Baili couldn’t hide the smile on her face. She held her head high, proudly, wanting to tell everyone that this was her beloved, her husband, her soulmate.

But in the next second, her smile froze. The lights on the other side of the stage slowly brightened, and a blonde girl gracefully walked onto the stage. An Baili could even hear gasps of surprise from the audience. The blonde princess wore a pure white gown and a sparkling crown, like a princess from a fairy tale come to life.

The murmurs instantly ceased. The entire gymnasium fell silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The auditorium was dark, only two spotlights illuminated the stage, one on the prince and one on the princess who had captivated everyone. Under the spotlight, Wen Hupo’s every move was elegant and poised, as if the stage was made for her. Her aloof expression was no longer a flaw, but a finishing touch. In front of this ethereal princess, even the handsome prince seemed to pale in comparison.

Beautiful. That was the only word to describe her. Any further description would be superfluous.

Lu Li took a deep breath. Even though he had seen her many times before, he was still rendered speechless by Wen Hupo’s cold and noble beauty. He straightened his collar and recited his lines. “Beautiful lady, you resemble the bright moon in my memory. Have we met before?”

This ordinary line instantly struck a chord in the hearts of two girls, one the princess on stage, and the other An Baili in the audience.

Wen Hupo felt a tightness in her chest. What was this? Was her corset too tight? She would loosen it a bit later… She pressed her hand against her chest and recited her lines:

“Have you ever kept company with ravens on a midsummer night? Have you ever encountered the spirits of the spring by the deep lake? Have you ever…”

An Baili stared blankly at the two on stage, scenes from her first life flooding back like a tsunami. She felt a pang of sadness and whispered to the Class Monitor beside her, “Um… Jingyi, who wrote these lines and this scene?”

“Hupo wrote it.”

Hearing this answer, An Baili slumped back in her seat, feeling lost and defeated. She couldn’t help but think of karma, of good and evil being rewarded accordingly. Back then, on a winter night, she had also seen the prince and princess holding hands on the bridge, while she stood alone like a homeless clown, holding an apple. She had wondered countless times if it would have been better if she had confessed to Lu Li sooner. So… so Wen Hupo was also reborn, right?

The prince and princess on stage recognized each other. It turned out they had fallen in love ten years ago. The princess and the prince made a promise that they would get engaged when the prince returned to the kingdom. The first act ended there. Seeing them exit the stage smoothly, Chu Jingyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her biggest worry was that Wen Hupo wouldn’t be able to let go of her aloofness and portray the princess’s innocent and lively temperament. Now it seemed that her cold demeanor was even more captivating.

Baili beside her had fallen silent at some point, not saying a word. The Class Monitor gently nudged her friend’s shoulder. “Baili, Baili, the first act is over, Lu Li did a great job…” An Baili suddenly clutched her chest, quickly pulled out a tissue, and coughed violently, covering her mouth.

“Baili…? Is that blood?” In the dim light, Chu Jingyi could only see a stain on the tissue.

An Baili put on her usual innocent and gentle smile again. “No, it’s just ketchup.” She took out the crushed bottle of ketchup. “I accidentally squeezed it too hard.”

“Oh… oh…” Silly Goose nodded blankly. Before she could think further, she heard An Baili point to the stage and say with a smile, “Look, the second act is starting.”

Chapter 12: New Year’s Eve Party

After the rehearsal that afternoon, Lu Li went out of his way to a flower shop and bought a bouquet of light blue roses. The sky-blue petals were perfect for the cold weather. Giving flowers to a girl was a delicate matter, but also not. It was delicate because no girl disliked receiving flowers, and it wasn’t delicate because most girls didn’t particularly like flowers. They found them inconvenient to carry and a pity to just leave them sitting. What they truly appreciated wasn’t the flowers themselves, but the thoughtfulness and affection from their loved ones.

Lu Li sat in Sister Yameng’s apartment, pondering how to broach the subject. Giving her flowers directly seemed too abrupt. Confessing his feelings bluntly felt a bit creepy. Being too casual would seem insincere. He was stuck in a dilemma. Fortunately, Lu Li’s struggle didn’t last long. He received a text message from Sister Yameng, saying that she wouldn’t be coming home for the next few days and was staying at Zhou Wen’s place. He couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or relieved. He took a picture of the roses and sent it to Sister Yameng, then found a plastic bottle, filled it with water, and placed the flowers inside. The thorns on these roses had been trimmed, and the stems were damaged. He didn’t expect them to last long anyway.

Sister Yameng replied with a heart emoji but didn’t type any words. She probably didn’t know what to say either. Lu Li was worried that his sister hadn’t brought her toothbrush and towel, then remembered that Zhou Wen’s family were all girls, so they shouldn’t be lacking any necessities. He rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Lu Li, why are you so hesitant?”

Days passed by. The news reports about the Mulan City outbreak became less frequent, and the lockdown measures were gradually relaxed in various regions. Lu Li finally saw his future father-in-law on the news again. He was giving his usual official speech, and a group of middle-aged men in suits applauded enthusiastically.

The New Year’s Eve party was approaching, and the rehearsals for Sleeping Beauty were in full swing. During breaks, Lu Li could hear students excitedly discussing the upcoming party. Some talked about how good someone looked in their costume, some talked about which freshman was the most uninhibited, and some talked about which class was doing a maid cafe…

Chuanhai Women’s Sports School was also holding a New Year’s Eve party. Sister Yameng told him that she had been invited to be a judge, and that she would be coming home after the party.

New Year’s Eve, huh?…

Lu Li stared blankly at the row of colorful balloons on the stage. “What are you doing?”

The girl who was decorating the stage turned around and saw Lu Li in his costume. Her face flushed slightly. “Prince, oh, I mean, Lu Li… Shouldn’t you be getting ready in the dressing room?”

“The Class Monitor asked me to check if you need more balloons.” Lu Li felt uncomfortable with the makeup. The classmate who did his makeup used too much foundation, making it too heavy. “Why are you putting up so many balloons?”

“Oh, this was a last-minute idea. After the performance, all the actors will come on stage to bow, and then the balloons will explode. It’ll add to the effect.”

Lu Li nodded, but weren’t there too many balloons? The railings on the stage couldn’t possibly hold them all, right?

“Does Jingyi know about this?” Lu Li asked.

“The Class Monitor doesn’t know yet, but she definitely won’t object.” So it was a unilateral decision.

The girl suddenly asked shyly, “Lu Li, can I take a picture with you?”

“I’m busy, maybe next time.” It was best not to. Who knew what kind of trouble it would cause if Yi Bao saw it. Lu Li shook his head decisively. Silly Goose was usually dignified and generous, but when it came to relationships, she was quite possessive. She could barely tolerate An Baili. If any other girl in their class dared to approach Lu Li, Silly Goose would sulk for a long time, making his deskmate afraid to even talk to him.

Walking around the stage in his custom-made costume, Lu Li saw actors dressed as Frankenstein’s monster. That must be Class 1 of the science program’s performance, right? He saw more than a dozen girls in maid outfits, clumsily brewing instant coffee. They were students from Class 3 of the liberal arts program, trying to win the “Best Class” award through “seduction.” He also saw a young man nervously muttering “Deep breaths, deep breaths” in a corner of the stage. Was it really necessary to be so nervous about going on stage?

Before the sun had fully set, students started pouring into the gymnasium, and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

“Li~” A sweet voice called out from behind him. Lu Li turned around and couldn’t help but smile. It was An Baili, the clingy one, as expected.

An Baili’s eyes lit up. Seeing that no one was looking, she happily hugged Lu Li, rubbing her face against his. “Honey, you look so handsome in that outfit.”

“I thought you were sleeping again.”

“I’m not a pig, sleeping after eating and eating after sleeping.” An Baili said with mock annoyance. “Your Highness, can you kiss this poor Cinderella? Just one little kiss~”

“Not now, this makeup took forever to do. I’ll kiss you after the performance.” Lu Li rubbed An Baili’s cheek. “There’s a surprise for you after the party.”

“Okay…” An Baili pouted. “I’m going to find Jingyi, I don’t need you anymore.”

“Go ahead, go ahead.”

After sending An Baili away, Lu Li returned backstage and saw the actors for Sleeping Beauty pacing nervously, reciting their lines. Where was Wen Hupo? Lu Li left the gymnasium through the back door and, as expected, saw Wen Hupo standing alone in a secluded corner. She was wearing a gorgeous and elegant princess gown, her blonde hair gleaming under the setting sun. She was also wearing makeup today, her lips red, her teeth white, her eyes bright and alluring. The pink eyeshadow added a touch of feminine charm to her appearance.

Wen Hupo had that kind of aura. Standing alone in the scenery, she added an ethereal touch to it, making people reluctant to disturb the tranquility.

The prince didn’t speak, silently admiring the beautiful scene.

“Outstanding representative, why aren’t you saying anything?” Wen Hupo turned around. Her snow-white skin and bright red lips made even the sunset in Chuanhai pale in comparison.

“I’m speechless.” Lu Li walked to Wen Hupo’s side. “You’re too beautiful.”

“Save your sweet talk for Jingyi.” Wen Hupo’s expression remained unchanged. “She’s been very busy lately.”

The sky was dim, and the world was silent. At that moment, a brilliant stream of light rose from the distant city, exploding into colorful fireworks high in the sky. It must be some impatient children setting off fireworks. The colorful lights reflected on Wen Hupo’s face. She smiled faintly, seemingly thinking of something pleasant. “What beautiful fireworks.”

“Don’t you have fireworks where you’re from?”

“We do, but we’re not allowed to set them off in the castle.”

“You live in a castle?”

“Not for long.” They chatted casually, the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable. Lu Li enjoyed this kind of atmosphere. He wondered if Wen Hupo did too.

The sound of microphone testing came from the gymnasium behind them. “Hello, hello, testing, testing.” Then came the school principal’s slow and deliberate voice. “Uh… Please… students… take your seats… The New Year’s Eve party… is about to… begin…”

The voice was so comical that Lu Li and Wen Hupo exchanged glances and laughed in unison. She looked beautiful when she laughed. Lu Li was mesmerized. It was a perfect smile, even the curve of her lips was flawless. It lingered in his mind, unforgettable.

“Happy New Year, outstanding representative.” Wen Hupo said with a smile.

It was still six hours until New Year’s Day.

But Lu Li still replied, “Happy New Year, Miss Hupo.”

Bang!

Another firework exploded in the sky, brilliant and dazzling.

Chapter 11: A Night of Mistakes (Part 3)

The movie had also reached its climax. Wei Yangsheng was ambushed by assassins on his way home. He raised his spear to strike, but the assassins blocked it with two large shields. Wei Yangsheng’s expression changed slightly. His spear moved back and forth between the two shields, until the assassins could no longer hold them steady. Wei Yangsheng thrust again, but he deliberately slowed down his force, the spear inching forward…

Finally, Wei Yangsheng won the beauty, and the movie ended there.

But in the dimly lit room, another movie had just begun.

At 5:20 in the morning, Lu Li woke up with a start. He instinctively reached out to embrace someone, but found himself alone in bed. Sister Yameng was gone, but her scent still lingered on the freshly changed sheets. A piece of fabric had been cut from the center of the sheet, proof that what happened last night wasn’t a dream.

He slapped himself hard, then slapped himself again. Without even bothering to wash up, he rushed out into the corridor in his underwear, braving the cold wind, and knocked on his sister’s door. But after waiting for a long time, there was no answer. Lu Li turned around, grabbed the spare key to his sister’s apartment, and opened the door. His sister was already gone.

Lu Li frantically called his sister.

“Sister Yameng… You… Where did you go?” As soon as the call connected, Lu Li hesitated, not knowing what to say.

“I’m at school, practicing with Zhou Wen.” Sister Yameng’s voice was as usual, as if last night was just a dream.

What are you afraid of? My dear sister…

Lu Li made up his mind. “Sis, I actually…”

But Zou Yameng quickly interrupted him. “I’m busy practicing now. Let’s talk when I get home.” Then came a beep. Sister Yameng hung up the phone in a hurry. This was the first time, the first time she hung up on him before he could finish speaking. Lu Li typed “I love you” on WeChat, but after hesitating for a long time, he deleted the message. Some things were better said in person. Superficial words weren’t enough to soothe his sister’s restless heart.

He sighed and went back to his apartment, checking the unread messages from yesterday.

As expected, it was a message from Chen Jianing. She sent him another screenshot of a positive review for Black Wolf’s Ring, proudly explaining how she had turned over a new leaf. After sending a dozen messages without receiving a reply from Lu Li, she finally sent a single period and went silent.

At seven o’clock sharp, An Baili was waiting outside his door on time, ready to go to school with him. Lu Li locked the door nervously and asked, “Baili, did you hear any noise last night?” It shouldn’t have been too loud, right? Both he and Sister Yameng tried their best to suppress themselves, suppressing not only their emotions, but also their moans of passion.

An Baili rubbed her sleepy eyes. “No, did something happen last night? Sorry, honey, I went to bed early…”

Lu Li was relieved, but also felt a pang of guilt. He pinched An Baili’s cheek. “Are you too worried about the music? You’ve been looking more and more tired lately. Don’t rush it…”

An Baili giggled dreamily. “Kiss me and I’ll be energized.”

“Oh, I want a kiss on the lips, not the cheek, silly Lu Li.”

“Don’t spank me…”

Their laughter faded away as they walked away. Meanwhile, in the distant Mulan City, Chen Jianing was sitting in the university cafeteria, checking her phone every now and then, waiting for a reply from a certain someone…

At Chuanhai Women’s Sports School, Coach Dan thought Zou Yameng’s old injury had flared up and urged her to rest in the locker room, asking Zhou Wen to look after her. Zou Yameng was now the treasure of the Chuanhai Women’s Sports School table tennis team. Everyone knew she had been selected for the national second team. Even a slight frown from her would attract a crowd of girls offering their concern.

Zhou Wen knew what was going on. She closed the metal door of the locker room, making sure no one was around, and whispered, “Xiaomeng, did… did you and Little Li do it?”

“…No.” Zou Yameng denied it stubbornly.

“Not yet? You’ve been walking strangely today.” Zhou Wen insisted. “What did Little Li say? After all that, he must have some feelings for you, right?”

Zou Yameng blushed. “It’s all because of your stupid DVD. Why would a girl like you collect that kind of stuff?”

“Xiaomeng, that’s a stereotype…” Zhou Wen waved her hand dismissively. “Forget about me, let’s talk about you. Who initiated it last night? You or Little Li?”

Who initiated it? Zou Yameng couldn’t quite figure it out. She felt like it was her. She had invited Lu Li to watch the movie with ulterior motives. The suppressed feelings in her heart were like a volcano about to erupt. As the day of her departure approached, the volcano became more and more restless. She desperately wanted something to happen between her and Lu Li before she left – not as siblings.

But she remembered everything that happened last night vividly. Her maidenly modesty made her stop at the last moment. It was Lu Li who took the initiative, breaking through that forbidden door. But she also felt that Lu Li might have had his own motives.

Who had actually trapped whom?

After the intimacy, as desire subsided, her dignity and reason as an older sister regained control. She didn’t know how to face Lu Li, or rather, she felt ashamed to face her brother. How could siblings end up sleeping together while watching a movie? Perhaps even more shameful was how tightly she had wrapped her legs around her brother’s waist last night… In short, Zou Yameng got up in a panic, cut off the plum blossom pattern from the bedsheet, and stumbled to school.

Lu Li’s foreplay was thorough, his movements gentle. The pain of losing her virginity wasn’t intense. There was a slight stinging sensation, followed by waves of pleasure. Even so, Zou Yameng’s legs felt weak while she was washing up, and she almost fell several times. She instinctively felt that Lu Li was too experienced in this matter, but she couldn’t figure out why.

“It… it was me who initiated it.” Not wanting her best friend to think Lu Li was a lustful pervert, Zou Yameng decided to take the blame for last night’s “mistake.” “I seduced him… He, he was very resistant…”

Girls who lacked relationship experience loved to play relationship counselors. Zhou Wen furrowed her brows and thought seriously, analyzing the deeper meaning behind Lu Li’s every action. She spoke with an air of authority. “…In my opinion, Little Li must be in love with you but is suppressing his feelings, that’s why he resisted…”

What utter nonsense. Even though she knew her best friend was talking nonsense, Zou Yameng still nodded absentmindedly in agreement.

“By the way, you haven’t told me what Little Li said afterwards. Did he sit on the edge of the bed and smoke, you know, lighting a cigarette with a deep expression, then putting it out halfway through, and silently getting dressed…”

Zou Yameng pressed her hand against Zhou Wen’s head. “Stop imagining things, my Little Li doesn’t smoke. He… he didn’t say anything, because I left before he woke up.”

“What? Xiaomeng, you’re so foolish!” Zhou Wen exclaimed, her face contorted in an exaggerated expression of worry. “Then how do you know what he’s thinking?”

Zou Yameng whimpered, pulled her knees to her chest, and buried her head in her arms. “I can’t face him now.”

Zhou Wen gasped. This was the first time she had seen the usually confident and strong Zou Yameng acting so vulnerable. “But you have to see him when you go home tonight, right?”

“Zhou Wen…”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to sleep at your place tonight.” Zou Yameng looked up, tears welling up in her eyes. “I really can’t face Little Li… Sob…”

Chapter 10: A Night of Mistakes (Part 2)

“Yes… Hurry, hurry…” Lu Li repeated like a man possessed. Sister Yameng’s scent grew stronger, like the aroma of ripe peaches under an autumn tree. Underneath her black sweater, her skin was snow-white, the stark contrast making his mouth water.

Zou Yameng continued to pretend to watch the movie calmly, but her trembling eyelashes and lips betrayed her.

They were like tightrope walkers, one step away from a bottomless abyss. Neither was willing to look down and confirm if the rope had reached its end. They just kept walking forward… forward… with their eyes closed.

“Watch the movie, don’t look at me,” Zou Yameng whispered. Lu Li snapped out of his daze and turned to the erotic film, which suddenly seemed as dull as a burnt-out candle, despite its supposed appeal to teenagers.

While Weiyangsheng was busy seducing women in the capital, his wife, Tie Lanxiang, was suffering from loneliness back home. Quan Laoshi, whose wife had been violated by Weiyangsheng, decided to take revenge. He changed his name to Azhuang and became a laborer in Weiyangsheng’s father-in-law’s house, using all sorts of tricks to seduce Tie Lanxiang. Meanwhile, Weiyangsheng, still in the capital, remained oblivious…

As the saying goes, “He who sleeps with another man’s wife laughs, but what about the wife who’s being slept with?” Such a debauched plot naturally shocked Zou Yameng’s sensibilities. She spat out curses repeatedly, turning her head away from the screen several times. But whenever she did, she would see Lu Li staring at her intently.

“Little Li, why… why are you looking at me…?” She asked, but didn’t seem to expect an answer.

Lu Li took a deep breath and asked carefully, “Sister Yameng, are you still hot?”

Zou Yameng blushed deeply. She didn’t answer immediately, as if contemplating something. “What if I am?”

Lu Li’s heart was racing, beating like an overloaded engine. He was sure that if he were a sixty-year-old man, he would have collapsed from a heart attack. The sound of the movie faded away, and all he could hear was the pounding of his heart. He was like a child seeing the ocean for the first time, cautiously dipping his toes into the cold water. “Aren’t you hot wearing pants?”

It was one thing to take off a jacket and a sweater because of the heat, but taking off her pants in front of her seventeen-year-old brother was definitely abnormal. Lu Li tried his best to keep his voice casual, as if he was just reminding his sister to eat or drink.

He could hear Sister Yameng swallowing. Just when he thought she was going to stop there, she actually nodded slightly. “It is a bit hot…” Then, her hands trembling, she reached for the button of her pants. “Help me…”

The white wide-leg pants weren’t difficult to remove. Lu Li slowly pulled them down, his movements careful and deliberate, as if he were handling a precious treasure. Sister Yameng’s legs were long and toned, her toes delicate, her skin firm. Perhaps due to years of training, there were faint muscle lines on her legs, only visible when she tensed her body. Her thighs weren’t as slender and straight as Silly Goose’s or An Baili’s, but more fleshy. With every slight tremor, a wave of alluring flesh rippled.

With the wide-leg pants removed, her dazzlingly white legs were exposed.

Looking further up, he could see the pale yellow fabric of her underwear, a thin slit in the middle. As if sensing Lu Li’s gaze, the slit instinctively tightened. Lu Li didn’t dare to look anymore. He tossed the pants aside and pretended to watch the movie.

“Litt-Little Li…” Sister Yameng’s voice trembled. “Were you asleep that night?”

Which night?… It could only be the night she got drunk with Zhou Wen, right? So Sister Yameng had been suspicious all along. Lu Li believed that as long as he nodded, the thin layer of window paper between them would be broken. But he was strangely addicted to this bizarre atmosphere and shamelessly played dumb. “…Which night?”

Silence. An awkward silence.

Then came Sister Yameng’s question: “Little Li… are… are you hot?”

Lu Li nodded and said dryly, “A, a little.” He seemed to understand his sister’s intention and took off his jacket obediently.

“Hot.” This word was the last shred of decency between the siblings. It was because of the heat that she took off her jacket, because of the heat that she took off her pants, because of the heat that they were watching an erotic movie… No matter how far-fetched this excuse was, it was still an excuse, the last reason Sister Yameng could use to not run out of the room.

Lu Li’s phone vibrated. He had already muted it and didn’t want to see who was calling, so he tossed it aside.

While Weiyangsheng was thriving in the capital, his wife, Tie Lanxiang, was being toyed with by Quan Laoshi. One day, Tie Lanxiang decided to elope with Quan Laoshi, but he revealed his true colors and sold her to a brothel in the capital. He then became a monk and abandoned worldly affairs. Tie Lanxiang was trained by the madam to be a promiscuous woman, mastering the skill of writing calligraphy with her vagina, attracting countless patrons, and naturally, catching the attention of the oblivious Weiyangsheng…

Lu Li had no interest in the plot. His attention was completely captured by the snow-white body of the woman beside him. Comparing Sister Yameng’s figure to the female lead in the movie, he actually found his sister more attractive…

At that moment, Sister Yameng picked up the two cans of beer and started drinking. She didn’t speak, just kept drinking, until the blush on her face wouldn’t fade, her eyes became hazy, and her mind went blank. Two cans of beer wouldn’t normally get her drunk, but she was drunk nonetheless.

Zou Yameng handed the remaining half can of beer to Lu Li. “Little Li… do… do you want some?”

The things Zou Yameng usually said were: “You’re not old enough to drink,” “Don’t learn to drink, it will give your future wife a headache,” “If you get drunk, bad women will take advantage of you…” Why was she offering him alcohol today? No, everything that happened today was already strange enough. Sister Yameng offering him a drink actually became the most normal thing…

Lu Li’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t bad, but after a few sips, he felt his face

flushing. It was real alcohol, but he wasn’t sure if he was truly drunk. But if his sister was drunk, he should be drunk too, right? After all… his alcohol tolerance was far lower than Sister Yameng’s.

“Little Li…”

“Hmm…”

“Are you drunk?”

“…Drunk.” Lu Li nodded, deceiving himself. “Sis, are you drunk?”

“I’m drunk too.”

So they were both drunk. Lu Li nodded. This was perfectly normal.

The movie progressed to the scene where Weiyangsheng was listening to Tie Lanxiang servicing a client from behind a screen. He still didn’t know that the woman inside was his wife, and he even commented on her moans with relish. Zou Yameng bit her lower lip and looked at Lu Li with her alluring eyes. “Little Li, have you ever kissed anyone? What does it feel like?”

“No…”

“Me neither…”

“…”

“…”

“Want to try?” It was unclear who spoke first. The next second, the lips of these nominal siblings pressed together, their heavy breathing drowning out the sound of the movie.

Kissing Sister Yameng was like taking drugs. She was too passionate, too proactive, sucking on his lips repeatedly, as if she were the man. Sister Yameng had always been like this. Always like this. Lu Li closed his eyes and let her take the lead.

After a long while, their lips parted. Lu Li and Zou Yameng remained face to face, neither moving away. Their breaths mingled, hot air swirling between their necks. She seemed to be truly drunk, at least that’s what Lu Li thought.

“What does it feel like to do that?” Although her eyes were on him, Lu Li knew she was asking about the scene in the movie.

“I don’t know…” Lies. Lies. Lies. Every word he had spoken since his sister entered the room was a lie. “Um, want to try?” The last part of his sentence pierced through Zou Yameng’s heart like a bullet. Lu Li noticed her eyes becoming even more hazy, not like she was drunk, but like she was dreaming.

“…Let’s try…” she answered.

Lu Li hummed in agreement and gently pushed her down, his white body covering hers.

Chapter 9: A Night of Mistakes (Part 1)

Lu Li had always been indifferent to watching movies. A group of people huddled in a dark and cramped space, bombarded by the sights and sounds of modern industry, then excitedly discussing their thoughts afterwards – he would rather find some free time, put on his headphones, and listen to three hours and twenty-four minutes of white noise, engaging in a deep conversation with his soul. But watching a movie with someone he liked was a different story.

He loved watching movies with his sister. No, it wasn’t so much about watching movies as it was about being with Sister Yameng. Anything was fine, as long as they were together.

At 6:14 p.m., Lu Li finished making two bowls of beef noodles and began to anticipate the appearance of those long legs. Authentic beef noodles were characterized by their clear broth, white noodles, green onions, red chili oil, and white radish. Most authentic noodle shops were owned by people surnamed Ma, probably Hui Muslims. Lu Li thought his beef noodles were pretty close to the real deal. But the name “Ma Li” sounded too strange. It was a good thing he wasn’t in the noodle business. Lu Li distracted himself with these random thoughts until Sister Yameng pushed open his door.

Zou Yameng seemed different today. Was she wearing makeup? And her clothes were much thicker than usual. She was wearing a short, oatmeal-colored puffer jacket, white wide-leg pants, and her ever-present sneakers. She also seemed to be carrying two cans of beer. Lu Li was thinking about what kind of sneakers to get for his sister when he heard Zou Yameng say:

“It smells so good, I’m starving.”

“I didn’t simmer the bone broth long enough, otherwise it would be even more flavorful.”

Zou Yameng sat down at the table unceremoniously and praised him. “Little Li, when did your cooking get so good?” It was thanks to An Baili’s training, of course. That girl had a delicate stomach, so Lu Li had to pay extra attention to her meals.

While eating, Lu Li couldn’t help but secretly observe Sister Yameng. The steam from the noodle soup made it hard to see clearly, but he could still make out her bright red lips. Lu Li was even more certain that she was wearing makeup today. He didn’t have the heart to tell Sister Yameng that the first thing he did after coming home was take a shower.

After dinner, Zou Yameng rubbed her stomach sheepishly. “Did I eat too much? I’m going to gain weight again.” She suddenly looked up, meeting Lu Li’s gaze. An ambiguous atmosphere began to spread between them. “Want to watch a movie?”

“Sure.” Unable to say anything else, Lu Li sat on the bed, making space for his sister, not asking any unnecessary questions.

A blush crept onto Zou Yameng’s face. She maintained a neutral expression as she turned on Lu Li’s computer and fumbled for a while before putting the disc in. Lu Li saw the screen flicker, and four words appeared, blinking continuously: “Yao’s Film Productions.” His heart skipped a beat. Yao’s Film Productions was a famous erotic film company. In layman’s terms, they made period-piece softcore porn.

He could hear himself swallowing, secretly glancing at his sister’s profile. She didn’t offer any explanation, just stared at the screen with a blank expression, just like last time.

Lu Li recalled his sister’s drunken confession that night, and his palms started to sweat.

Two siblings, locked in a room, curtains drawn, huddled together watching an erotic movie. This was not normal, right? But neither Lu Li nor Zou Yameng acknowledged the strangeness, as if common sense had been flipped on its head.

The movie began. A scholar named Weiyangsheng was so lustful that he had someone replace his genitals with those of a donkey and his kidneys with those of a dog, so he could go to the capital to seduce women. The old movie was more explicit than he had imagined. The dialogue was always vulgar, and the characters’ motivations were all driven by lust. Lu Li, with his wealth of experience, remained unfazed, but he noticed that Sister Yameng had already spat out several curses.

“So shameless.” Sister Yameng finally spoke for the first time since the movie started. Lu Li’s mind was elsewhere, only noticing her red lips moving. He didn’t even hear what she was saying. It seemed like she was criticizing Weiyangsheng for neglecting his wife and indulging in his lust.

“Yeah.” He just mumbled in agreement, like a parrot. Sister is so beautiful today. By the way, is she feeling hot? Lu Li slapped himself mentally. He was getting carried away.

The movie progressed to the first erotic scene. The old movie only showed the upper body and not the lower body, which was considered restrained compared to Japanese films. Even so, Sister Yameng kept glancing at Lu Li. “Why are your eyes so wide open? Is it that good?”

Isn’t this the movie you chose? Lu Li felt a bit wronged, but he still lowered his gaze. “No, it’s not good, not even half as good as Sister Yameng.”

“Mm-hmm.” He could tell she was pleased. “Compared to your two classmates, who’s prettier?”

“Of course it’s my sister.” Lu Li answered without hesitation. Whoever asked, he would answer with the same response.

The words “my sister” struck a chord in Zou Yameng’s heart. She smiled sweetly and hugged Lu Li, rubbing her cheek against his. “Little Li, you’re so well-behaved today.”

Lu Li’s heart beat faster. His mind raced, and he blurted out, “Sis, are you hot?”

Zou Yameng’s movements stopped. “Are you hot?”

“It’s a bit hot, you’re hugging me too tightly.”

Silence. The man and woman on the screen were moaning passionately. Lu Li could feel his sister’s breathing quicken.

“I’m a little hot too.” Zou Yameng said.

“Let me take off your jacket.” Lu Li’s voice trembled as he spoke. He often helped his sister take off her jacket when she came home, but never with such impure intentions. For two lifetimes, thoughts he had never entertained before were multiplying, expanding, even exploding in his mind like a virus…

Sister Yameng softly agreed. Lu Li carefully and slowly helped her take off her puffer jacket, revealing the fitted black sweater underneath.

“What, what about the sweater?” Lu Li realized his tongue was tied in knots. He finally understood how Silly Goose felt. That silly girl’s tongue would also get tied when she was nervous, mumbling adorably. An Baili would freeze in fear. Chen Jianing would run away at lightning speed. Wen Hupo never seemed to get nervous. What about his sister? What would Sister Yameng do when she was nervous?

Lu Li noticed the glistening water in his sister’s eyes and the alluring blush on her cheeks. It was like a tree of pink peach blossoms falling into a tranquil pond, delicate petals drifting on the surface, their reflections merging with the reflection of the sky, creating a mesmerizing sight.

“The sweater… take it off too…” Zou Yameng bit her lower lip, forcing out the words.

This is it… The words flashed through Lu Li’s mind. He didn’t know if it was him who was doomed or Sister Yameng…

Taking off a sweater was an intimate act. Because sweaters were tight-fitting, taking them off would inevitably lift the inner layer, revealing a slender waist and flat stomach. Sister Yameng’s belly button was small and delicate. Lu Li resisted the urge to poke it and looked at her abs instead – smooth lines, not overly defined, but like the flowing brushstrokes of a freehand painting, inviting him to explore further.

Sister Yameng pulled down her tank top, covering her exposed waist, and complained, “Hurry up…”

Chapter 8: The Kiss Scene

“Ah, my fair maiden, you walk in beauty, like the night, cloudless and starry…”

On stage, Lu Li recited the lines with gusto. After the initial awkwardness, he quickly found his groove. Although he had no acting experience, the thick skin and ability to pretend that he had honed in his past life made him increasingly comfortable on stage. He didn’t know who wrote these cheesy lines, it definitely wasn’t his Yi Bao.

As he recited the line, Lu Li’s gaze lingered on Chu Jingyi in the audience. She blushed for some reason, covering half her face with the script.

Opposite him stood Wen Hupo, dressed in a princess gown. She stood ramrod straight, her smooth blonde hair cascading down her back like a golden river. The current scene depicted the young prince and princess meeting by the lake, pouring their hearts out to each other, unaware that in the next scene, the princess would be cursed by the witch to sleep forever.

The young prince was innocent and romantic, the young princess shy and yearning for love – at least that’s what the script said. But looking at the expressionless Princess Hupo in front of him, Lu Li couldn’t associate her with “shyness” or “yearning for love.”

At least, could she make a gesture? Don’t just stand there like a wooden stake? Lu Li complained inwardly.

Finally, Wen Hupo began to speak her lines. “Ah, my dear friend, my heart burns like a furnace, like a lost deer, like…” Her voice was monotone, like a third grader reciting a textbook, perhaps even worse.

This is a disaster, please stop, my head is about to explode… Lu Li couldn’t bear to watch and looked away.

But the boys in the audience excitedly clenched their fists. “Amazing! Hupo’s performance is perfect!”

“She’s just like a princess from a dream!”

“This is nothing for her!”

Lu Li forced himself to keep a straight face, barely suppressing his laughter. They were so shameless in their flattery. Why didn’t anyone praise him? He was the one who was performing exceptionally well! Lu Li saw a flicker of triumph in Wen Hupo’s eyes as she smirked at him provocatively. She seemed to be very pleased with outshining him.

If this continues, we’re doomed. Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program will become the laughingstock of the entire school on New Year’s Eve. Lu Li looked at Silly Goose. The little girl was gazing at him with adoration, as if she truly saw him as the prince. No one in the entire class was reliable.

The scene ended, and the prince and princess left the stage. It was the fairies’ and the witch’s turn. The witch, jealous of the princess’s beauty, cast a sleeping curse on her. If the princess didn’t wake up after ten years, she would turn into bubbles and disappear forever. Lu Li felt that this plot was a bit different from the Sleeping Beauty he remembered. He didn’t know who wrote the script.

Then it was the prince’s turn. He volunteered to rescue the princess, overcoming all obstacles and finally reaching the sleeping princess.

Lu Li could hear a few girls whispering in the audience, “Lu Li is… quite suitable…”

Another girl quickly covered her mouth. “Be careful, don’t let the Class Monitor hear you…”

Wen Hupo lay on the “crystal bed” made of three desks, her eyes wide open. Lu Li wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered, “Hey, Sleeping Beauty sleeps with her eyes closed.”

“The script doesn’t say that.” she whispered back.

“Only Zhang Fei sleeps with his eyes open.”

“Oh.” Wen Hupo was quite obedient. She closed her eyes obediently, but her eyelashes were still trembling, and she would occasionally peek at the surroundings. The next scene was the kiss scene. The prince awakened the princess with a kiss of true love, and they lived happily ever after. Of course, all the kissing and hugging were just pretend. It wasn’t realistic to actually kiss anyone on stage, even though the boys in the audience were glaring at Lu Li with envy.

The narrator’s voice boomed: “After overcoming countless obstacles, our prince finally reached Princess Aurora. Can he awaken his beloved from the curse?”

Chu Jingyi suddenly tugged at the girl beside her. “Isn’t the narrator’s line a bit off…?”

“What’s off about it?”

Chu Jingyi felt a little uncomfortable. “The princess isn’t Lu Li’s beloved.”

The girl said in confusion, “But we’re acting, aren’t we?”

“But…” Silly Goose thought for a moment. “The wording is too straightforward… Should we change it?” She suddenly regretted making Lu Li play the prince.

On the makeshift stage, Lu Li, playing the prince, leaned down slightly. From the audience’s perspective, it looked like they were kissing. Chu Jingyi rested her chin on her hand and said nothing. The girls in the audience clasped their hands to their chests, deeply moved by the scene. The boys, on the other hand, were stamping their feet and shouting, “I can take his place!”

Looking at Lu Li’s awkward posture as he kissed the air, Wen Hupo finally chuckled. “Outstanding representative, you really have a talent for acting.”

“You’re not bad either, quite suitable for playing Sleeping Beauty.” As long as she lay there motionless, it was perfect for her.

“The script should be revised.”

“How?”

“Change it so that the prince is a playboy, two-timing, wanting both the fish and the bear’s paw.”

“Are you the bear’s paw?”

“I’m neither.”

The first rehearsal ended there. Chu Jingyi, the director, gathered everyone with a sullen expression. She first pointed out some problems with the performance. For example, some girls who were playing maids came in evening gowns, stealing the spotlight; some added lines without authorization, disrupting the rhythm of the performance; and some hadn’t even memorized their lines, having to take out a small piece of paper halfway through, ruining the viewing experience.

Finally, Chu Jingyi said that the kiss scene was inappropriate for teenagers and that the kiss of true love should be changed to a fairy casting a spell to break the curse. She also said that some lines were too suggestive and needed to be revised. Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, wanting to laugh but not daring to. This wasn’t about being considerate of teenagers, it was just the Class Monitor being jealous, right? Everyone in the second year knew that Chu Jingyi liked Lu Li.

This was the first time Lu Li had seen Silly Goose act so willfully. After the meeting, he discreetly squeezed her soft hand. “Jingyi, everyone has been preparing for this play for so long, isn’t it a bit too much to change the script now?” Silly Goose looked at him with a pitiful expression. “I’ll listen to you.”

During the last class in the afternoon, they rehearsed again. This time, the student in charge of writing the script had tactfully revised the text, making it more palatable for the Class Monitor. Wen Hupo was still as out of place as ever, but she had the advantage of good looks and temperament. Even without any acting skills, she could just stand there and receive applause. It was said that because of the “kiss scene,” the role of the prince was originally assigned to a girl. It was the boys in the class who made a fuss, which led to the role being given to Lu Li.

Before leaving school, Lu Li didn’t forget to go to the activity classroom and take his laptop. He hadn’t forgotten that he had to watch a movie with his sister tonight.

Thinking about watching the movie, Lu Li felt a strange mix of anticipation and dread. What movie would she choose this time?

Chapter 7: Rehearsal

If there was one person in Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program whose words were law, it was Chu Jingyi. If the little girl said to go east, none of the young masters and misses below would dare to go west. But Silly Goose herself wasn’t aware of this power she held. She still thought everyone was a well-behaved and obedient student. If she said Lu Li should play the prince, who would dare to object?

Looking at Chu Jingyi’s hopeful eyes, Lu Li couldn’t bring himself to refuse. What girl in love didn’t want her crush to be a prince charming? A hero? She simply thought Lu Li was that prince, so she made it happen. Only one type of person would back down at a time like this: a coward.

“Okay, leave it to me.” Even though Lu Li had never acted before, he patted his chest confidently. As long as Silly Goose was happy, anything was fine. He had originally planned to watch fireworks with An Baili on New Year’s Eve.

Chu Jingyi giggled shyly and let go of Lu Li’s hand. “Then I’ll make copies of the script for you later. Rehearsals start tomorrow. Good luck, good luck!”

After Chu Jingyi left, Lu Li and Wen Hupo exchanged glances, both seeing the same helplessness in each other’s eyes. Lu Li forced a smile. “Can you act?” He thought Wen Hupo would be perfect for playing a tree, the kind of prop that stood stiffly in the background, motionless, a perfect fit.

“Can you?” Wen Hupo retorted. “Lu Li, I don’t think you’re suited to play the prince. You’re more suited to play a rock, the kind of prop that lies motionless in the background.”

They were on the same page. Lu Li thought: Tomorrow’s rehearsal is going to be a disaster. An expressionless princess and an awkward prince, what was Yi Bao thinking?

Just then, Chen Jianing sent him a picture of her snacks, saying they were delicious. Lu Li scratched his head, wondering why this little tiger always sent him messages for no reason. Did she have that much free time? He simply replied, “Busy.” After a long while, Chen Jianing replied fiercely, “Drop dead busy!”

After school, Lu Li and An Baili were walking back to the low-rent district. An Baili talked about her plans for New Year’s Eve. She walked half a step ahead of Lu Li, excitedly gesturing the trajectory of fireworks. “Li, I want to set off fireworks at Ping’an Square on New Year’s Eve! Should we ask Jingyi to join us… Oh, never mind, she’s busy with the New Year’s Eve party.”

Lu Li said listlessly, “I can’t go, I was assigned a role in the play. Didn’t you hear in class today?”

An Baili licked her lips sheepishly. “I was sleeping~”

“What was your score on the mid-term exam?”

“Oh, don’t ask me that. Look, is the color of my socks nice today?”

Lu Li couldn’t help but flick her forehead. “You only have a year and a half left of high school, and you’re still sleeping all day. Do you still want to go to university with me?”

An Baili covered her forehead with a pitiful expression. “Why did you flick me so hard? As long as I cram next year, I can still get in…”

Right, Lu Li almost forgot. This girl had an amazingly good memory. Written exams were always her strength, while interviews were her weakness.

As Lu Li was thinking, An Baili suddenly laughed again. “Honey, you can act? What role did Jingyi give you? I bet it’s pulling the curtains backstage… Hehehe…”

“I’d rather be pulling curtains. She made me play the prince. I took a look at the script, and the lines are so cheesy that I got goosebumps.” Lu Li frowned. Hearing this, An Baili became excited. “What? Then I have to see your performance, haha…” She couldn’t hold back her laughter. When they were in college in his past life, Lu Li participated in a class performance, performing a card trick. Let’s just say it had a comedic effect. She didn’t take this play too seriously either. After all, it was just a high school party performance. After chatting with Lu Li for a few sentences, the topic shifted to their plans for the winter break.

Lu Li had actually received a text message from Silly Goose’s mother. His future mother-in-law mentioned that he was all alone and invited him to spend the New Year with the Chu family. Lu Li didn’t want to leave Sister Yameng alone, so he hadn’t replied yet. In March next year, Sister Yameng would be leaving for the capital, and they would have fewer chances to see each other…

Lu Li returned home, his mind preoccupied with thoughts about his sister. He was startled when the door suddenly opened. Zou Yameng was standing there, holding two boxes in her hand. The moment he saw her, a wave of heat surged through him, and he couldn’t help but recall some inappropriate memories. “Sis, you’re back? Let me cook tonight, you should rest…”

Zou Yameng didn’t say anything, but Lu Li noticed a blush on her cheeks. He assumed it was from the cold wind.

“Zhou Wen gave me two DVDs.” Zou Yameng tried her best to maintain her composure as an older sister. “Want to watch a movie together tonight?”

Watch a movie?

Lu Li’s throat felt dry. His gaze couldn’t help but shift to Sister Yameng’s face and then to the two DVD cases in her hand, their covers ripped off.

She wanted to watch a movie again? Was she really just watching a movie? Or… He didn’t dare to think further. Lu Li stammered, “Um, I, my computer is at the school’s activity classroom. I’ll get it tomorrow and we can watch then.”

Zou Yameng hummed in agreement. “Okay, let’s watch tomorrow then.” She walked into Lu Li’s room with her long strides. Lu Li wanted to take a look at the DVDs and see what movies they were. However, his sister’s reaction was unexpectedly strong – she quickly pulled her hand back. “Little Li, wh-what are you doing?”

“I just wanted to see what movies they are.”

“Just ordinary movies… What’s for dinner tonight?”

“…”

Why was she so nervous if it was just an ordinary movie? And didn’t he know what kind of person Zhou Wen was? Would she really give his sister normal DVDs? Although he had his suspicions, Lu Li kept his mouth shut. He actually had a strange sense of anticipation…

To give the students time to rehearse, the homeroom teacher specifically freed up the morning reading session and the last class in the afternoon. As soon as Lu Li put down his backpack, he heard Silly Goose calling for the actors to line up and head to the gymnasium. An Baili was lazy. She nudged Lu Li with her elbow and then went back to sleep on her desk.

Baili, you’re hopeless. Lu Li sighed. An Baili seemed to be getting lazier and lazier. She slept through four out of seven classes a day? Was she this sleepy in his past life?

When they arrived at the gymnasium, the group was still noisy, everyone chattering and discussing the script. Some complained about having too few lines, others about having too many. Everyone had their own issues. Silly Goose ignored them and went straight to Lu Li, lowering her head apologetically. “Lu Li, I’m sorry, but I discussed it with Hupo, and we added more scenes for the prince and the princess…”

There were already enough lines, and now they were adding more? Lu Li rubbed his temples, but he still replied in a gentle tone, “It’s okay, it’s okay, what scenes did you add?”

“We added a scene where the prince and princess knew each other from before.”

Hearing this, Lu Li knew it was definitely Hupo’s idea. She never liked the classic trope of a princess falling in love with a prince at first sight – Wen Hupo was a girl who believed in enduring love. She scoffed at passionate love at first sight, believing that true love was like a gentle stream, calm and steady.

Chu Jingyi suddenly looked guilty. “Lu Li, if you think it’s too much trouble, you, you don’t have to act in this scene.” In the little girl’s heart, there was a scale. One side was her new friend, Wen Hupo, and the other side was the “person she liked,” Lu Li. If she had to choose, she would rather side with Lu Li.

Seeing Silly Goose’s expression, Lu Li’s heart melted. He cupped her small face in his hands. “It’s just one scene, it’s no trouble at all.”

“Don’t, don’t pinch my face… Everyone, everyone is watching…” Silly Goose’s face flushed red, and she buried her head lower and lower.

Who was watching? They were all too busy arguing over their lines! Just then, the noise in the gymnasium suddenly died down. Silly Goose thought everyone was looking at her and Lu Li, and she whimpered in embarrassment. But Lu Li knew that everyone’s eyes were on the entrance of the gymnasium.

An angel with golden hair, holding a script, gracefully entered the gymnasium. She was walking against the light, the golden rays of dawn streaming in from behind her, like the radiant wings of an angel. Her expression was holy and serene, like a saint looking down upon the mortal world. Her features were flawless, like a goddess residing in the clouds.

“My goddess…” someone muttered in awe.

Wen Hupo was indeed worthy of this title. She was used to everyone holding their breath in anticipation of her arrival. She walked gracefully to Lu Li and An Baili and asked, “Have the rehearsals started?”

You sure have a grand entrance. Lu Li thought to himself. The moment Wen Hupo appeared, the gymnasium, which was as noisy as a market just a moment ago, became as quiet as the Busan library. The boys straightened their postures and adjusted their appearances, while the girls secretly took out their mirrors to compare themselves to Wen Hupo. It had to be said that temperament was a huge bonus. An Baili was actually prettier than Wen Hupo, but she was only referred to as a “little village girl” by a certain little tiger. And when Chen Jianing first saw Wen Hupo, she was stunned and stammered, “Is she a princess from another country?”

She wasn’t a princess cursed by a witch, nor a lofty goddess. She was just Wen Hupo.

No one dared to answer Wen Hupo’s question, seemingly afraid of offending the beauty. Only Lu Li replied, “We’ve been waiting for you.”

Wen Hupo smiled faintly. “Good morning, outstanding representative.”

The moment she spoke and smiled, Lu Li felt like he could hear countless hearts breaking.

Chapter 6: The Prince and the Princess

That strange and ambiguous night with Sister Yameng felt like a fleeting dream. Neither of them mentioned it again after their eyes met that morning. The siblings continued their lives as usual, but there was an unspoken understanding between them. Lu Li was troubled by his absurd thoughts, unable to eat or sleep properly. Countless times he wanted to bring it up, but he was always stopped by an inexplicable cowardice. The more he cherished a relationship, the less he dared to cross the line.

“Lu Li? You’re spacing out again?” Wen Hupo’s voice brought him back to reality. Lu Li put down the book about gender differences he was holding and rubbed his temples in distress. “What time is it? I zoned out again…”

It was late December, more than half a month had passed since he returned to Chuanhai City. He went to school every day, did some unskilled part-time jobs on weekends, and occasionally had dinner at the Chu family’s at Chu Jingyi’s invitation. He left his laptop in the school’s activity classroom and put a new lock on the door so he could work on his indie game during his free time. Naturally, this meant interacting with the blonde girl who had claimed the classroom as her own.

However, Wen Hupo was very aloof and often just huddled in a corner, drawing, not bothering to talk to him. Until one day, Lu Li forgot to plug in his headphones while testing his game, and the sound played out loud. He thought Wen Hupo would scold him, but to his surprise, the blonde girl came over with interest and asked him what he was doing. From then on, they gradually started talking more. However, Wen Hupo still wasn’t very talkative. Most of the time, she would just ask a question or two and then yawn tiredly, as if even speaking was exhausting.

“It’s three in the afternoon. You’re skipping class again, aren’t you?” Wen Hupo put down her paintbrush. “I really don’t understand why Chuanhai No. 1 High School would accept a student like you. You skip four out of seven classes a day.”

You’re the last person who should be saying that. Lu Li thought to himself. Wen Hupo was even worse. She hadn’t attended a single class since transferring. Every day, she just hid in the activity classroom, drawing, reading, or listening to music.

“Maybe because I have good grades, the teachers turn a blind eye.” Lu Li said shamelessly.

“That’s a very ‘you’ answer, outstanding representative.” Wen Hupo laughed, her voice like silver bells. She truly found Lu Li interesting. How could such a seemingly decent young man be so shameless?

“So, what troubles our brilliant outstanding representative?” Wen Hupo put down her paintbrush, walked behind Lu Li, and stared at the computer screen for a while. “Why is the progress so slow? You were already working on this haunted house scene last week.”

“Good things take time. I can’t be careless now that the game is nearing completion.” Lu Li scratched his head, suddenly realizing that Wen Hupo might be a good consultant. “Miss Wen Hupo, do you think love can blossom between two people who are like family?”

“Outstanding representative, don’t you find that disgusting?” Wen Hupo’s expression turned disgusted. “Humans spent thousands of years evolving an anti-incest mechanism to avoid genetic defects. Are you trying to single-handedly overturn that mechanism?”

“They’re not really family, they’re not blood-related…”

“Then wouldn’t that be childhood sweethearts?”

“Yes, that’s right, childhood sweethearts.” Lu Li slapped his forehead, realizing something.

Wen Hupo pondered for a moment before saying, “It’s normal for two people who have always been close to develop romantic feelings. The difference between love and friendship lies in sex. Once there’s a sexual desire, it’s no longer just friendship.” It was rare for a girl her age to talk about sex and love so frankly.

Lu Li naturally followed up, “And young men rarely don’t think about sex, so this might just be one-sided love?”

Wen Hupo looked at him in surprise. How many times had this happened? Lu Li always seemed to be able to say the things she was thinking, as if he could read her mind. Yes, she just wanted to mock Lu Li for his strong desires and promiscuity. She always thought he was a scumbag who didn’t respect girls’ feelings.

“Not necessarily. If the girl also has that kind of desire, then it’s mutual love.” Wen Hupo looked out the window and saw Chu Jingyi running towards them. “Lu Li, I truly feel sorry for Chu Jingyi.”

Lu Li, however, asked, “Then how can you tell if the girl has that kind of desire?”

Wen Hupo’s face flushed red, a rare sight. “Are you sexually harassing me?”

Just then, Chu Jingyi burst through the door, her expression hurried. Seeing Lu Li leisurely sitting in front of the computer, she pouted. “You big liar, always slacking off!” Before Lu Li could respond, the anxious Chu Jingyi grabbed Wen Hupo’s hand. “Hupo, Hupo, we need your help!”

“What happened? Let me handle it!” Seeing Chu Jingyi’s panicked expression, Lu Li wanted to be helpful and stood up, puffing out his chest with a heroic air.

Silly Goose gave him a reproachful look, then turned to Wen Hupo. “Hupo, we can’t decide on the actress for Sleeping Beauty in the play. Everyone is arguing, so we can only ask for your help.”

Hearing this, Lu Li slumped back into his chair and pretended not to hear.

The New Year’s Eve party was approaching, and each class was busy rehearsing their performances. Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program had chosen the play Sleeping Beauty. Chu Jingyi was the director and wasn’t participating in the performance. Lu Li and An Baili had opted out early on, showing no sense of collective honor. Wait, was Wen Hupo also a student in their class?

As Chu Jingyi explained, Lu Li and Wen Hupo finally understood the situation.

After deciding on the play, the class started voting for the cast. Roles like Maleficent, the King, and the Queen were less contested. But when it came to Prince Phillip and Princess Aurora, the class erupted into heated arguments. What Lu Li didn’t know was that this small, elite class was actually divided into several cliques, each resembling a mini political party.

The girls all wanted to nominate their close friends for the role of Princess Aurora, to prove that their clique was the prettiest and most popular in the entire grade. Of course, with An Baili and Chu Jingyi out of the running, they could argue until they were blue in the face, but they couldn’t reach a consensus. No one was willing to concede.

The boys also had their own agendas, adding a touch of romantic fantasy to this love story. They dreamed of developing a more-than-friends relationship with the prettiest girl through this performance. It was a very innocent perspective on love. At least they hadn’t yet become jaded enough to realize that money could solve most problems.

This kind of naive and comical bickering was what high school life was like in Lu Li’s memory. After listening to Chu Jingyi’s explanation, he chuckled. “So how is our esteemed Class Monitor going to solve this problem?”

Chu Jingyi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Seeing Lu Li’s amused expression, she couldn’t help but punch him with her small fist.

“Why are you hitting me?”

“Just because!” Silly Goose snorted.

“Anyway, we just need to find a ‘princess’ that everyone agrees on.” Chu Jingyi counted on her fingers. “Baili would be perfect, but you wouldn’t let her stand out, would you? Besides Baili, Chen Luoluo could also work, but she would have to dye her hair back and take off her earrings… After thinking about it, I remembered Hupo. If Hupo plays the role, no one would object!”

Indeed, Wen Hupo not only had outstanding looks, but her temperament was also ethereal and refined. She was also Caucasian, perfectly matching the image of Princess Aurora.

But could she play the role of a princess? Lu Li could imagine Wen Hupo standing on stage with a cold expression, reciting her lines without any emotion. The image was so cruel that he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Silly Jingyi, aren’t you perfect for the role too?” Lu Li couldn’t help but pat the anxious girl’s head. “Who would dare to say they’re prettier than you?”

“No, no way…” Chu Jingyi couldn’t handle compliments. Her ears turned red. “I… I don’t…”

“But I don’t want Jingyi to play someone else’s princess.” Lu Li changed his tone. “Silly Jingyi should just focus on being the director.”

Hearing this, Silly Goose felt as sweet as honey. She hummed in agreement, her voice soft and gentle, completely different from her anxious self just a moment ago. Wen Hupo looked back and forth between the two, finally understanding how Lu Li had wrapped Chu Jingyi around his finger. Sigh, Chu Jingyi, you’re so hopeless! Just a little coaxing from him and you’re ready to count his money for him?

Silly Goose looked at the blonde girl with pleading eyes. “Hupo, please…”

To be honest, Wen Hupo didn’t like participating in this kind of play. It wasn’t because she was shy, but because she simply hated this kind of contrived fairy tale. She disliked the idea of a princess waking up and having to spend the rest of her life with a stranger. It was a tragedy filled with fatalism. People always thought that heroes should be paired with beauties, princes with princesses, that Huang Yueying must have been a beautiful woman who veiled her face, and that there must have been a hidden story behind Liang Hong and Meng Guang. It was like a mental shackle, binding individuals and telling them: You’re not worthy.

But seeing Chu Jingyi’s pleading eyes, Wen Hupo’s heart softened, and she actually agreed. “Okay.” Damn it, she realized that Chu Jingyi had her figured out. She was terrible at dealing with people like Chu Jingyi, who were so pure and innocent. All her tricks were useless against her.

Lu Li is much easier to deal with. Wen Hupo thought to herself.

Lu Li was grinning from ear to ear. He could already imagine Wen Hupo making a fool of herself on stage. After all, Wen Hupo definitely wouldn’t cooperate obediently. She would definitely mess up the class’s performance.

But before he could gloat for too long, Silly Goose gently took his hand. “Lu Li, you’re going to play the prince.”

Lu Li’s smile instantly froze.

“I nominated Lu Li for the role of the prince, and no one objected.” Chu Jingyi said proudly, like a child seeking praise from her parents.

Chapter 5: Are You Uncomfortable?

She’s doing this on purpose, right? The thought crossed Lu Li’s mind. But it didn’t seem quite right. Maybe she was just too engrossed in the movie?

Lu Li didn’t dare to move. He could feel his manhood being pressed and flattened under Sister Yameng’s delicate foot. He blamed the Koreans in his mind while trying to decipher his sister’s intentions. Fortunately, Sister Yameng didn’t make any further moves. The small room was silent except for the dialogue from the movie, the wind outside the window, and the slightly heavy breathing of the two of them.

Was this movie really that good? Aside from the steamy scenes, the plot was a mess. Was his sister truly so captivated? The movie ended with the male lead wandering alone on an overpass, found by his stepsister. They promised to elope, and the camera focused on the gloomy sky with a large “END” appearing on the screen. It wasn’t a happy ending, leaving only a sense of sadness and melancholy.

Lu Li thought his sister would change the channel, but even after the credits rolled halfway, Zou Yameng was still staring blankly at the screen, as if she hadn’t even noticed the movie was over. After a while, she seemed to snap out of her daze and picked up the remote control. “Ah… That was so touching, I was so engrossed…” No, you weren’t even watching the movie. Then what were you doing?

Lu Li nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Koreans are pretty good at making movies.”

Zou Yameng suddenly turned to look at him. Lu Li tensed up, leaning forward slightly. Did she notice his reaction? But Sister Yameng just asked, “Want to watch another one?”

“Huh? … Uh, sure.” An unexpected question, and an unexpected answer.

Zou Yameng didn’t change the channel. After a few minutes of commercials, another Korean movie started playing. This time, Lu Li noticed the title: Forbidden Love. Was there something wrong with this channel? Why were they always showing this kind of movie?

For the next two hours, Lu Li felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. Sister Yameng kept changing her position, constantly stimulating his nerves. But she didn’t say anything, maintaining an innocent and clueless expression, not even turning her head once. By the time the movie was over, Lu Li was drenched in sweat. He didn’t know if his sister was feeling hot, but he was definitely burning up.

Zou Yameng brushed her hair back and asked with concern, “Little Li, what’s wrong? You seem uncomfortable?”

Lu Li did look a bit flustered. He forced a smile. “No, I’m fine.” He gritted his teeth in frustration, a thought forming in his mind. “Sis, let’s watch another one. It’s the weekend tomorrow anyway.”

Zou Yameng paused and looked at her phone. It was already 12:15 am. If they watched another movie, they would be staying up late. But she nodded as if possessed. “Okay.” She had been acting strange ever since Lu Li came home. Normally, she would never stay up late.

The third movie was Adolphe, starring Isabelle Adjani.

Not long after the movie started, Lu Li decisively pushed his sister’s legs away and put his own legs on her thighs, pretending to say, “Sis, my legs are numb.” Sister Yameng just nodded slightly, not objecting or pushing him away, still focused on the movie.

Lu Li’s feet moved slightly, his toes brushing against those melons like a dragonfly skimming the water, a fleeting touch, neither intentional nor unintentional. He could clearly feel Sister Yameng’s body stiffen for a moment, just a moment. But she still didn’t react, like a delicate but lifeless doll. Sister Yameng’s skin was firm and white, like fine porcelain, her expression serious and dignified, arousing an irresistible desire to conquer.

Their bodies were pressed so close together that he could even feel her heart beating rapidly.

As the plot progressed, Lu Li’s actions became bolder. His heels would sometimes sink into the valley between her thighs, his toes would brush against the peaks of her breasts, always testing the boundaries, like an adventurer walking a tightrope. Sister Yameng’s face finally changed color, from pale to pink. Beads of sweat appeared on her skin, dampening her already thin tank top. Even so, she still didn’t react, just pretended to calmly watch the movie.

Her breathing became heavier, her waist involuntarily straightening, her beautiful legs intertwined, twisting restlessly.

Lu Li asked at the right moment, “Sis, are you uncomfortable?”

“No, no…” She didn’t dare to look at Lu Li, pretending to focus on the TV. Her body was clearly trembling, her skin flushed a tempting pink, her eyes moist. Was she really watching the movie?

No? That’s good… Lu Li thought mischievously.

“Sis, are your shoulders sore? Let me give you a massage.” Without waiting for her reply, Lu Li withdrew his legs and placed his hands on her bare skin before Sister Yameng could breathe a sigh of relief.

“Mmm…” Normally, she would have smiled and asked him why he was being so attentive today. But today, she just stared at the screen, letting Lu Li do as he pleased.

Lu Li was quite good at massages. He often gave his sister massages before. Girls with large breasts had such troubles. First, they looked fat in clothes, like they had a big belly. Second, their shoulders were prone to soreness and they always wanted to find something to lean on. He had learned a set of shoulder-relaxing massage techniques online.

At first, Lu Li’s movements were normal, his fingers moving back and forth on her soft and delicate skin. Zou Yameng managed to stay composed. But as the movie neared its end, Lu Li’s hand suddenly slid down, as if he was about to grab those melons. Zou Yameng’s body trembled, but in the next second, Lu Li retracted his hand, as if it had just slipped.

Zou Yameng, with her back to Lu Li, bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushed crimson.

Lu Li’s massage became more and more daring. His fingers inched closer and closer to her cleavage, even brushing against her armpits a few times, kneading the delicate flesh. Zou Yameng’s legs intertwined even tighter. She bit her lip and stood up abruptly. “It’s getting late, let’s get some rest. I’m going back to sleep.” Without waiting for Lu Li’s response, she rushed out the door without even looking at him.

Lu Li stared at the closed door, wondering if he had gone too far. He felt that the atmosphere between him and Zou Yameng was very strange today, as if neither of them wanted to break that thin layer of window paper. He sniffed his hands, catching a whiff of the woman’s alluring fragrance.

What was going on? He couldn’t figure it out himself.

Turning around, the movie just ended. The heroine’s monologue appeared on the screen:

You will walk alone among those you yearn to be with; you will recognize them, those who are no different from you today. Perhaps one day, when you are hurt by those indifferent hearts, you will regret ever having a heart, a heart that you cherished, a heart that endured countless wounds to protect you. But you will not even spare a glance at her anymore.