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

Chapter 4: Drunken Words, Sober Actions

“Did I? I went to bed early last night.” Lu Li walked over to help his sister, feigning innocence. “Why do you ask, Sister Yameng?” Zou Yameng also put on an innocent face. “I smelled alcohol on your bedsheets this morning and thought I might have gone to your room and made a scene after getting drunk. That’s why I came home early to wash them.” It wasn’t just the smell of alcohol, there was also the scent of lies.

The siblings exchanged glances, both smiling, neither able to decipher the other’s true intentions. After dinner, Lu Li was clearing the table when he received a WeChat message from An Baili, asking if she could sleep over at his place tonight. She also mentioned that she had made braised pork and would bring it over as a late-night snack. Who eats braised pork in the middle of the night? Wasn’t she afraid of getting fat with such greasy food? Just as he was about to agree, Sister Yameng, who was about to leave, circled back and sat on the bed, turning on the TV. “Little Li, it’s been a while since we watched a movie together. I heard there’s a new movie…”

It was full of holes. How could she watch a movie that was still in theaters on TV? Lu Li played along. “Yeah, let’s watch a movie together.” At the same time, he sent a message to An Baili, “NO.” He hadn’t even warmed his seat on the bed when the annoying girl with the pink profile picture sent another message, “Lu Li, what are you doing?” Lu Li had no time to deal with Chen Jianing now. He simply typed “Busy,” and Chen Jianing replied with an “oh” and went silent. A second later, his phone buzzed again. It was Chu Jingyi with the golden retriever profile picture. She sent him a voice recording of a new melody. Lu Li didn’t have time to listen, but he still praised Silly Goose profusely.

Zou Yameng glanced at him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Little Li, you’re quite the busy man.”

“No, it’s just work stuff with my game development team.” It was all work-related, normal, perfectly normal.

Sister Yameng was acting strangely today. Lu Li felt like she was deliberately keeping her distance from him. It wasn’t exactly coldness, but she was far less affectionate than usual. She didn’t try to snatch his phone, nor did she cling to him and demand cuddles. She just sat properly on the bed, flipping through channels with the remote control.

After browsing for a while, Sister Yameng finally decided. “Let’s watch this one.”

Lu Li glanced at the screen. It seemed to be a Korean movie, a romance? His mind wasn’t on the movie. He carefully observed Sister Yameng from the corner of his eye. It was cold, and she was wearing a lamb wool jacket and loose fleece-lined jeans. Her lips were bright red, her skin snow-white, making her look youthful and beautiful. She seemed to be completely absorbed in the movie, her long eyelashes fluttering with every blink, her eyes bright and sparkling.

Sister Yameng is so beautiful. He couldn’t help but sigh.

After observing her for a long time and seeing nothing unusual, Lu Li thought he was just being paranoid. Would his sister really test him? Maybe those absurd words last night were just drunken nonsense, or some kind of truth-or-dare game? Right? Wasn’t it normal for her and Zhou Wen to play truth-or-dare after getting drunk?

Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention back to the TV screen. After watching for a while, he shifted uncomfortably. What was this movie about? Was this something they could show on TV? What if children saw it? The male and female protagonists were entangled naked, the lighting dim. Although there wasn’t any explicit nudity, the erotic atmosphere was palpable. And that wasn’t even the worst part. The worst part was that the male lead was passionately calling out, “Sister…”

It was a movie about a forbidden love. The male protagonist’s father remarried, and he gained a stepsister who doted on him. The male protagonist, who was bullied at school and under a lot of stress, finally turned to his ever-forgiving stepsister for comfort…

It would be one thing if he were watching this movie alone, but his own sister was sitting right next to him! He coughed awkwardly. “The lighting in this scene is quite good…” Sister Yameng didn’t answer, but she suddenly placed her long legs on his lap. Lu Li felt even more uncomfortable. Her feet were less than a fist away from his lower abdomen. He looked up at his sister and saw that she was still staring at the TV with a blank expression, as if completely captivated by the plot.

Suddenly, he heard the crisp sound of a button being undone. Sister Yameng was unbuttoning her lamb wool jacket, revealing the thin tank top underneath. “It’s so hot.” Hot? Lu Li glanced at the window. The north wind was howling outside, the setting sun half-hidden behind the clouds. How could it be hot? Lu Li forced himself to look away from Sister Yameng because the neckline of her tank top was very low, revealing a deep cleavage that drew his attention. Half of her full, white breasts were exposed, tempting him like Fafnir’s treasure.

He felt his gaze drawn uncontrollably to her alluring figure. He was sure he must be making a fool of himself, his face flushed with a mixture of emotions. He wanted to move Sister Yameng’s feet before things got out of hand, but as soon as he shifted, her thighs tightened, pinning him down like a vice.

What was his sister doing? Lu Li looked at her questioningly, but Zou Yameng still had a blank expression, still staring innocently at the TV. Lu Li felt that if he asked, “What are you doing, Sister?”, she would just give him an innocent and confused look. So he took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. He started replaying all the annoying things Chen Jianing had done in his mind.

The movie reached its climax. The illicit relationship between the male lead and his stepsister was discovered by their parents, and he was kicked out of the house by his father.

Zou Yameng took off her lamb wool jacket completely, muttering, “It’s so hot.” Underneath, she was wearing a gray, low-cut tank top, the hem tucked tightly into her jeans, accentuating her curves. Sister Yameng had abs, but Lu Li had never paid much attention to them before. Her breasts were also pushed up by the tight tank top, looking like two ripe melons.

Lu Li realized, with shame, that he was reacting. He just hoped that his sister wouldn’t move her feet, otherwise she would discover his little brother’s awakening. But his hope was dashed. Zou Yameng shifted slightly, her legs moving upwards, pressing directly against Lu Li’s lower abdomen. Lu Li felt like this was the most awkward moment in his two lifetimes, even more awkward than when he insisted on using the women’s restroom as a child, more awkward than when he called a client by the wrong name at work. Sister Yameng’s heel was pressing right against his crotch. She must have noticed his embarrassing change, even without any further movement from him.

And of course, at a time like this, his teenage hormones were raging, making the situation even worse.

Despite all this, Zou Yameng continued to watch the TV calmly, wearing that tank top, as if she hadn’t noticed Lu Li’s reaction at all.

Chapter 3: But I Refuse

Lu Li noticed an empty lunchbox beside Wen Hupo and thought to himself, not without a hint of malice: So even the ethereal Miss Shirley needs to eat? He had wanted to complain about this in his past life. Every time he went out to eat with Wen Hupo, she would list all the things she wouldn’t eat: hot pot was too greasy, barbecue was too heavy, Western food wasn’t authentic. “Then what do you want to eat?” “Anything.”

´Anything´. This one word was a man’s curse.

“What do you want?” Wen Hupo was drawing on her laptop, a pink one, connected to a digital tablet. Lu Li peeked and saw that she was only working on a black and white sketch, determining the lighting.

“About the use of this classroom…” Before Lu Li could finish, Wen Hupo quickly replied, “No.” She was always like this, anticipating what others were going to say before they even spoke, always responding before they even finished their sentence.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to discuss it yesterday?”

“That was before you tricked me.” Wen Hupo said this with a straight face, but Lu Li could still sense the resentment radiating from her. “Now I don’t want to talk anymore. Unless… unless you agree to one condition.”

Here it comes, Wen Hupo’s classic push-and-pull tactic. She always set a low psychological threshold in her words and then offered a condition that was above her bottom line. If you directly said you wanted to open a window, people would refuse. But if you said you wanted to tear down the whole house, they might find opening a window not so unacceptable after all.

If Lu Li agreed so easily, he would truly be manipulated by Wen Hupo. He had known her for twenty years, how could he fall for such a simple trick? Moreover, the current Wen Hupo was still quite naive.

“I refuse. We can just share this classroom.” Wouldn’t it be nice to have a beautiful blonde girl to look at while organizing club activities?

Wen Hupo wasn’t surprised by his answer. She sighed softly. “You’re truly shameless, Lu Li.” Wen Hupo always hit the nail on the head. This description of “shameless” fit Lu Li perfectly, like an arrow hitting the bullseye. Lu Li felt a bit ashamed himself, but he maintained a calm expression. “Miss Wen Hupo, what do you think?”

She didn’t want to continue this topic and turned back to her drawing. Lu Li tactfully waited by the side, watching Wen Hupo draw with interest. When she drew on the computer, she always started with a black and white sketch, then determined the lighting and shadows, before adding a base color and further refining the details. This was slightly different from the steps of traditional painting. She also had a habit of using a large canvas and very fine brushstrokes to depict the details of the image.

“Is there something wrong with the anatomy?” Lu Li suddenly asked.

“Where?”

Lu Li pointed at the chest of the girl in the drawing. “From this perspective, the ribcage should be shifted to the right, and the left side of the body should completely cover the right side. Your current drawing looks like the head is turned sideways, but the body is facing the camera directly…”

Wen Hupo nodded thoughtfully. “Yes…” She suddenly realized, “You know how to draw?”

Actually, he didn’t really know how to draw. But he had often watched her draw in his past life, and naturally, he developed some ability to critique.

“No, I don’t.” Lu Li was a humble person. He would say “I’m okay” for things he was good at, “I don’t know how” for things he wasn’t good at, and “I’m terrible at it” for things he was completely incompetent at. “I just used to watch a close friend draw a lot.”

“Was your friend good at drawing?”

“Yes…” Lu Li nodded reminiscently. “She was very talented. She even held exhibitions in China and abroad. They say that paintings aren’t worth much when the artist is alive, but she achieved success at a young age.”

“Holding exhibitions doesn’t necessarily mean she’s talented. Maybe she’s just good at socializing.” Wen Hupo corrected him softly.

“She’s not good at socializing at all. She’s a very aloof person, rarely speaks.” Lu Li looked at Wen Hupo pointedly.

They chatted casually. Lu Li occasionally offered suggestions for Wen Hupo’s drawing, and she readily accepted them. Sometimes, she would even correct Lu Li’s misconceptions. The atmosphere between them became very harmonious, like old friends, with an unspoken understanding. No matter what topic they discussed, the other person could always follow along perfectly. They talked about drawing, then about primary colors, then about the increasing entropy of the universe, and finally about skiing. Lu Li said he had a dream of becoming a dual-nationality skiing champion, which earned him a mocking laugh from Wen Hupo.

Lu Li’s restless heart, troubled by Zou Yameng, gradually calmed down. It wasn’t until the bell rang for the end of lunch break that he realized he had forgotten his main purpose.

“Um, Miss Wen Hupo, would you consider joining my club?” This was Lu Li’s true intention. His game only lacked a top-notch artist. If he missed this chance with Wen Hupo, he didn’t know when he would find another one. “Our game development club needs an artist. If you join, you can use this classroom however you like, how about that?”

“I refuse. We can just share the classroom.” Wen Hupo threw Lu Li’s words back at him, giving him a taste of his own medicine. Was this girl still holding a grudge?

Seeing Lu Li’s frustrated expression, Wen Hupo felt a sense of satisfaction. She stared at him, wondering what his true intentions were. Did he really just need an artist? Or was he trying to find an excuse to get close to her? She tried to see through Lu Li’s heart like a god observing ants, but she found his gaze clear and innocent. This was unusual. Besides Chu Jingyi, no one else had such pure eyes, unless he was pretending.

A faint smile appeared on Wen Hupo’s lips. She suddenly felt that this world wasn’t so boring after all.

“I refuse.” Wen Hupo repeated. She wanted to see Lu Li’s frustrated expression, just like Lu Li wanted to see her lose her composure. This was their strange, unspoken understanding. It didn’t matter if she couldn’t achieve it today, tomorrow would be fine, or the day after… She would eventually make this boy named Lu Li reveal his true colors.

After school, Lu Li returned home and saw Sister Yameng cleaning his room. She was hanging the light blue bedsheet on the balcony and had even washed all his clothes that had been piling up for days. The absurd memories from last night resurfaced one by one, like bamboo shoots after the rain. Lu Li felt his mouth go dry. He greeted her awkwardly, “Sister Yameng, you’re back early today?”

Zou Yameng turned around, smiling brightly. “Zhou Wen said I might have thrown up on your bed last night after I got drunk, so I came back early to wash the sheets. Little Li, I drank too much last night, I didn’t do anything stupid, did I?”

Lu Li’s heart jolted. He couldn’t tell if his sister was genuinely asking or… testing him.

Chapter 2: Outstanding Youth Representative

Lu Li didn’t sleep a wink that night. Whenever he closed his eyes, he would see his sister’s tearful face. The words she said echoed in his mind, like albatrosses circling above the sea, like relentless curses, making him toss and turn, restless and unable to find peace.

At seven in the morning, An Baili woke up groggily. “Good morning, Li.” She had planned to be intimate with Lu Li last night, but as soon as she snuggled against him, she felt as if she had taken sleeping pills, drifting off into a peaceful slumber. Tilting her head up, she saw Lu Li staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes wide open, as if he hadn’t heard her. She whined softly and nuzzled against him for a while. “I don’t want to go to school…”

Lu Li snapped out of his daze and let out an “oh.” He forced a smile and patted An Baili’s back. “Don’t stay in bed, get up and wash up. Hmm… I’ll go check on Sister Yameng… See if she’s awake…”

“She won’t be awake… She’ll sleep until noon after drinking so much… You were always like that… And you would get grumpy if I tried to wake you up… Hehehe…” An Baili reluctantly sat up, the loose nightgown slipping down, revealing her fair and delicate shoulder.

When Lu Li knocked on Zou Yameng’s door, it only took three knocks before it was swiftly opened. Zou Yameng squinted sleepily, her hair disheveled. She rubbed her eyes with a drowsy expression. “Little Li? I was just about to wake you up…”

She should be sleeping until noon after drinking so much. Lu Li’s throat tightened. Did this mean Sister Yameng wasn’t drunk at all? He didn’t dare to think further and could only pretend to ask casually, “I was worried that you drank too much last night… Sister Yameng, what time did you go to bed?” As he asked, his eyes were fixed on his sister’s face, trying to catch any subtle change in her expression.

Zou Yameng smiled. “Not too late, I went to bed around nine. Zhou Wen can’t handle much alcohol…” Went to bed around nine? Then who was the one whispering those shocking words by his bed in the early hours of the morning? His instinct told him to trust his sister, but this time, Lu Li realized his instinct was wrong.

“Oh… That’s good…” All his usual methods of deduction were useless at this moment. He didn’t even know what his expression looked like. He should be smiling, but it felt stiff and unnatural. “Then I’m going to school. Sis, take a day off today and sober up.”

“Okay, don’t worry.”

Lu Li was still preoccupied even after settling down in his classroom seat. Silly Goose nudged him and whispered, “Lu Li, do you want to talk to Wen Hupo again?”

“Talk? Talk about what?” Lu Li was still thinking about Sister Yameng and didn’t react immediately.

“About the activity classroom, of course… Didn’t your conversation break down yesterday?” Oh, that. Lu Li slapped his forehead. It seemed like he left a bad first impression on Wen Hupo yesterday. The blonde girl wasn’t very friendly towards him. He glanced at An Baili, who was eavesdropping stealthily. This was her intention all along, wasn’t it?

“I’ll go during lunch break.”

Silly Goose quickly said, “I’ll go with you. Otherwise, you’ll fight again.” Fight? They didn’t fight. It was just Wen Hupo being sarcastic and condescending. Although that girl was sharp, she was also quite petty. The more self-important a person was, the less they could tolerate being teased.

“Baili, why don’t you come with us too?” Silly Goose was truly simple-minded, actually wanting to invite An Baili along. Hello, aren’t you two love rivals? Didn’t the Class Monitor say pitifully, “I’ll just leave quietly… I won’t bother you…”?

An Baili was unwilling to see Wen Hupo. She was still convinced that Wen Hupo was also reborn, just very good at hiding it. She secretly decided to expose Wen Hupo’s true colors and show her what An Baili was capable of. Looking at An Baili biting her nails nervously, Lu Li was reminded of the saying, “After military training, my son insisted on showing me his skills.” Was An Baili planning to do something stupid?

During the morning class meeting, the homeroom teacher announced some new rules, mainly in response to the increasingly serious RSA outbreak. Although Chuanhai City hadn’t been affected yet, they were still taking preventive measures. Then he mentioned that the New Year was approaching and the school would be holding a New Year’s Eve party, requiring each class to prepare at least one performance.

Lu Li listened with disinterest. Performances were never his thing. But Silly Goose was very excited. She was always an enthusiastic girl. Lu Li still remembered how stunning her flute solo was at last year’s party. He wondered what she would perform this year.

The class was buzzing with discussion. Some said that the New Year’s Eve party was too troublesome and they should just do a chorus. Others said that this was their last party in high school, so they had to take it seriously. Why not perform a play? Some felt that a play was too much work and a small, elegant magic show would be enough.

In the end, the authoritative Class Monitor made the final decision: they would perform a play! As for the script, they would decide next week.

Looking at Chu Jingyi’s confident demeanor on the podium, it was hard to associate her with the shy and silly girl who snuggled in his arms.

At noon, Chu Jingyi was called away by the homeroom teacher to discuss the arrangements for the New Year’s Eve party. She could only give Lu Li an apologetic look, as if saying, “Sorry, I can’t go with you to see Hupo. Why don’t you ask Baili to go with you?”

In the end, Lu Li could only go to the activity classroom alone. An Baili, the clingy one, refused to come along. Before even entering the classroom, Lu Li heard Wen Hupo humming softly inside. Wen Hupo’s voice was ethereal and clear, and she was humming a folk song. Lu Li was mesmerized, lingering at the doorway, hesitant to enter, afraid of disturbing the beauty in her artistic world.

Extravagant words are called Tang poetry, creating something from nothing is called suddenness.

After finishing the song, Wen Hupo asked, “Outstanding youth representative of Chuanhai No. 1 High School, why don’t you come in?”

The sarcasm in the phrase “outstanding youth representative” was palpable. Lu Li shamelessly nodded. “You flatter me, you flatter me.” He could hear Wen Hupo click her tongue softly, as if sighing at his shamelessness. Her understanding of Lu Li was shattered again and again. Before meeting him, she thought he was just a shallow boy. Upon meeting him, she thought he was a gentle and refined young man. But after interacting with him, she realized that Lu Li was an enigma.

At least, for now, he was still an enigma.

Volume 4: Butterfly Lovers

Chapter 1: A Child’s Name

Lu Li followed the address on the note and found the apartment building. Soon after retiring, Sister Yameng had found a coaching job in the county, a job that was said to be both leisurely and respectable. However, this building seemed far too old, dilapidated and crumbling, like a relic from the last century. He harbored a secret hope: if Sister Yameng wasn’t doing well, he would have her move into his studio. After all, only Chen Jianing lived there now, and it would be good for his sister to have some company.

The building had no elevator, only a staircase with uneven steps. The handrail was covered in dust, offering an unsteady grip, as if it were shoddily built. Lu Li reached apartment 402 and knocked gently, but no one answered. Just then, the door to apartment 401 opened, and an old woman with thin lips placed a bag of garbage by the doorway. She saw Lu Li and paused. “Are you looking for the girl who lives here?”

“Yes, I’m her younger brother.”

“Oh dear, you must talk to that girl and tell her to drink less.” The old woman, being elderly, loved to chatter. “I see the empty beer bottles she throws away every day, at least this many! It’s terrifying! She drinks even more than my husband! You must tell your sister to drink less, it’s bad for her health!”

Drinking? Sister Yameng rarely drinks, right?

The old woman rambled on for a while, then went downstairs with the garbage bag, presumably to throw it away. Lu Li knocked on the door again, and this time he finally heard movement inside. “Coming, coming…” It was Sister Yameng’s voice. Hearing her familiar voice, Lu Li felt a warmth in his heart. He couldn’t wait to give his sister a loving hug.

The metal door opened, but Lu Li froze. He stared for a long time before confirming that this woman was indeed his sister. Her hair was messy, not tied in her usual ponytail, but hanging loosely and unkempt. She had dark circles under her eyes, her cheeks were sunken, and she was wearing thick pajamas. Her lips were purple, and she looked incredibly haggard. This was completely different from the energetic and spirited Sister Yameng in Lu Li’s memory. The woman in front of him looked like she had just crawled out of a grave.

“Sis?”

Zou Yameng rubbed her eyes. After seeing that it was Lu Li, a spark of light finally appeared in her dull gaze. She hurriedly smoothed her hair and wiped the corners of her eyes. “Little Li, wh-why are you here? Why, why didn’t you tell me in advance? Come in…”

The state of Sister Yameng’s apartment shocked Lu Li once again. The room was dimly lit, the lights flickering due to unstable voltage. The floor was littered with bulging garbage bags and empty beer bottles. The TV was still on, playing You From The Sun III: The Final Battle, the movie version of a popular TV series from years ago. Sister Yameng had always been a clean person. Back in high school, she always kept their small apartment tidy. Was this room, which looked like a garbage dump, really her home?

How could his sister change so much in just one year? Lu Li placed the gift on the floor, watching as Sister Yameng frantically picked up the trash. “Little Li… You, you sit down, oh dear, this, this place hasn’t been cleaned in a while…” Lu Li helped his sister clean up.

“Little Li, you’re a guest, just sit down…”

“Am I a guest or family?”

“…” Sister Yameng fell silent, but the light in her eyes grew brighter.

The two of them worked for a while, finally making the room somewhat presentable. Lu Li wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. “Sis, are you having a hard time?” He had heard that athletes were poorly treated, but he didn’t expect that his sister, a top player who retired from the national team, would be living in such a dilapidated apartment building.

“It’s not that bad, I can make ends meet, I’m just too lazy to clean up.” Sister Yameng avoided his gaze. “Little Li, why did you come to see me? How’s your business going?”

“It’s on track. I’ll come see you as soon as I have time.” It was true. All his hard work, day and night, was for his sister, for An Baili, for his loved ones to have a comfortable life. Wealth was never the ultimate goal, life was.

Lu Li and Sister Yameng sat on the sofa and chatted, just like old times, when they were huddled in their small room in the low-rent district, warmly sharing the interesting things that happened at school. Sister Yameng told him about her life over the past year, which was basically going to the girls’ school to coach table tennis every day. Anyway, few girls in this county liked table tennis, so she was just going through the motions at work. Then she would come home and drink a case of beer. When Lu Li asked her why she started drinking heavily, Sister Yameng was evasive and changed the subject.

“By the way, you… you and Baili… are you and Baili planning to have children?” Zou Yameng’s voice faltered slightly, but Lu Li didn’t notice.

“We’re planning to.” Lu Li smiled happily. This smile was too dazzling for Zou Yameng, making her lower her head dejectedly, letting her hair fall loosely over her face. For a man, the word “father” was always special. It was both a pursuit and a pillar of support. Humans fantasized about immortality through their offspring, continuing their lineage for generations to come.

Zou Yameng forced herself to look up and put on a smile that a sister should have. “Have you thought of a name for the child?”

“Haha…” Lu Li shook his head. “It’s too early for that. We don’t even know when she’ll get pregnant.”

“How about Lu Mengli if it’s a girl?” Zou Yameng suddenly said.

“That’s a good one.” Lu Li became interested. “What about a boy? What should we name a boy?”

“Bude.”

“Huh?”

“Lu Bude. It means ‘cannot obtain’.” Zou Yameng said half-jokingly. “Little Li, if you have a child, can… can you let him call me ‘Mom’ too?”

“Of course.” Lu Li answered without hesitation.

“…That’s great…” she murmured, her voice so soft that Lu Li didn’t catch it.

Lu Li paced back and forth in the room a few times, then couldn’t help but say, “Sis, why don’t you move in with me? My place is nice, and you can be a tester for our company. I’ll pay you a salary every month…” The “tester” position was something he just made up. He just wanted to bring his sister over and take good care of her.

“Silly brother, your sister can support herself…” Zou Yameng seemed to have regained some of her former spirit. She looked at Lu Li tenderly. “As long as you and An Baili are happy, that’s all that matters.”

Before leaving, Zou Yameng was reluctant to part. Her eyes were moist, a thousand words stuck in her throat. She couldn’t utter a single one. Lu Li felt sorry for his sister and offered to come over regularly every month to help her clean up and urged her to quit drinking. He told her that if she encountered any difficulties, she could always tell him, and he would help her.

“Oh, right, Sis.”

“Yes?”

“I think the name ‘Bude’ is actually quite good. It has a Taoist feel to it.” Lu Li suddenly said. “Lu Bude, seeking but not obtaining, obtaining without seeking. If the child is a boy, let’s name him Lu Bude.”

Zou Yameng’s eyes welled up. “Okay.”

Chapter 35: Drunken Words and True Words

After confirming that Lu Li was asleep, Zou Yameng’s actions became bolder. Her kisses grew more and more unrestrained, crossing the line between siblings. Lu Li had a feeling that this wasn’t the first time Sister Yameng had done this to him, she was far too experienced.

When Lu Li was about to suffocate, Zou Yameng finally ended the long and surprising kiss. Now he finally understood why his lips were sometimes swollen when he woke up. Was it all Sister Yameng’s doing?

“Little Li… There are some things I could never say to you… unless I was drunk…” Zou Yameng squatted beside the bed, gazing at him with eyes filled with affection. Was she really drunk? Lu Li was confused.

“Xiao Wen was right. If I don’t tell you these things, I’ll burst.” Her jade-like hand gently caressed his cheek, just like when he was a child. When Lu Li was younger, he needed his sister to stroke his face to fall asleep. Only then could the lonely Little Lu Li feel a sense of security.

“Little Li, I like you.” Another bombshell. Lu Li was frozen stiff. He wished he could knock himself unconscious with a brick. “Not the kind of like a sister has for her brother, but the kind of like a woman has for a man.”

Sister Yameng traced circles on his face with her index finger, her voice so soft that it didn’t sound like her. “I realized it back in middle school… I love being with you… You were the protagonist of my first wet dream… Little brother… no… you’re not my brother… You’re my Little Li…” Sister Yameng was rambling, her words sounding like drunken nonsense.

“I was so sad… Seeing you holding hands with other girls… It really broke my heart… Waking you up is supposed to be my job, why did other girls take it away from me… We’ve been depending on each other for over ten years, why should I give you to some random girl who came out of nowhere…” Her voice choked with emotion, as if she was crying. Lu Li didn’t even dare to open his eyes, keeping them tightly shut.

“Little Li, why am I your sister… I don’t want to be your sister…” She was truly crying now. “When I saw you at the Six Provinces Tournament, I was so happy… I actually wanted to devour you that day… But… but…”

But what?

Lu Li remembered the day he met Sister Yameng in Lingyue City. He woke up from a hangover and saw her coming out of the bathroom in his room. He thought she had just used the bathroom. Did Sister Yameng actually stay the whole night?

“I noticed that you would look at me with lustful eyes… I was actually happy… At least Little Li saw me as a girl… I don’t want to be your sister… I really don’t… I don’t want to see you happily holding hands with other girls… I don’t want to force myself to bless you and someone else…”

Zou Yameng leaned against the bed, sobbing softly.

“Little Li, you can’t fall in love prematurely… If you do, you can only fall in love with your sister… Don’t hold hands with other girls… You can only hold your sister’s hand… Don’t kiss other girls… You can only kiss your sister… Why don’t you listen… ” Zou Yameng was gasping for breath. “They said… when you grow up, you’ll have your own life… But I… I don’t want you to grow up…”

“…”

“I want to… to live a simple and happy life with you… just like this… Can’t even this small wish of mine be fulfilled…”

“When I wake up tomorrow… I’ll have to pretend to be your sister again… I’ll have to pretend to smile at you and other girls… I’ll have to be sad alone again… I wish I could be drunk every day… Then I wouldn’t have to think about these sad things… I wish… I could be drunk every day…”

Is… is that so?

Lu Li finally understood the root of his sister’s drinking problem, finally understood the culprit behind the tragedy in his past life. It was him all along, only him… Why didn’t he realize it sooner? He remembered that graduation night, filled with revelry and laughter. Graduates gathered in groups for celebratory dinners. Lu Li took An Baili to find Sister Yameng, who had just retired from the table tennis team.

He proudly introduced An Baili to Sister Yameng. “This is An Baili, my girlfriend, and my future wife. Isn’t she beautiful?”

He still remembered Sister Yameng’s gentle smile. She said that An Baili was beautiful, a perfect match for her brother. Then, she asked abruptly, “Want to go for a drink? What’s graduation without alcohol?”

Want to go for a drink?

What’s graduation without alcohol?

These ordinary words, now that he thought about them, were filled with indescribable bitterness. No wonder Sister Yameng drank herself unconscious that day, no wonder she cried while holding him. No wonder. No wonder. But life didn’t give you so many “no wonders” to lament. The next time Lu Li saw his sister, she was huddled in her small room, as disheveled as a homeless person. She asked Lu Li when he was going to have children, begging him to let his children call her “godmother.” Unfortunately, Zou Yameng in his past life never got to see Lu Li and An Baili’s child. She passed away on a cold night.

At this moment, a prophetic saying suddenly popped into Lu Li’s mind: “Frenzied willow catkins dance with the wind, frivolous peach blossoms chase the flowing water.” Who were the willow catkins? Who were the peach blossoms?

“Little Li… I really, really like you… I love you…” Sister Yameng whispered in his ear. “Can you… forgive your despicable sister… Forgive her for constantly getting close to you under the guise of family… for constantly tempting you… Just forgive her this once… okay…”

They said you shouldn’t take drunken words seriously. They also said that drunken words were sober thoughts. No one told him what the boundary between drunken words and true words was. The cold wind could change the nature of plants, and adversity could reveal a person’s true character. Then what could distinguish between drunk and sober? Between truth and lies? Between love and hate?

Sister Yameng eventually left, carrying Zhou Wen on her back. She didn’t forget to close the door behind her, leaving behind only a mess and a bewildered Lu Li. He lifted the blanket. An Baili was sleeping soundly, undisturbed. Only he was left shaken to his core by the emotional storm. There was a puddle of vomit on the floor, left by Zhou Wen. If it weren’t for that, everything that just happened would feel like a bizarre dream.

Even now, Lu Li couldn’t figure out if Sister Yameng was truly drunk. Were those words she said drunken ramblings or… the truth? Perhaps he had the answer in his heart, but his subconscious was resisting it. Humans were such complex creatures. They knew the truth was behind the door, but they lacked the courage to push it open. The reason why window paper was window paper was because it separated human kindness and sincerity, separated the vast sea from the mulberry fields.

Dreaming of a journey through the misty waters of Jiangnan, I travel all over Jiangnan, but never meet the one I long for. My soul melts away in sleep, with no words to express my love, waking up to realize my love was a mistake.

I want to write down all my feelings on paper, but like a floating goose and sinking fish, there’s no proof of my love. I lean against the zither, my heart breaking, and pluck the strings, expressing my sorrow.

Tonight, sleep would be elusive.

(End of this volume)

Chapter 34: Self-Intoxication

An Baili lay beside Lu Li, scrolling through cute animal videos on his phone. She didn’t like keeping pets, but she enjoyed watching others do it. Seeing her engrossed, Lu Li thought about how this poor girl had been left with no one to rely on after her father’s imprisonment. Feeling a pang of sympathy, he rubbed her cheek. “I’ll buy you a phone too.”

An Baili nuzzled against Lu Li’s large hand and whined, “No, buy me one later.” This reminded Lu Li of the most difficult time in his past life, when he had spent all his savings on his first game, hiring a few fresh graduates as artists. For a long time, he could only afford to eat steamed buns from the school cafeteria. He would buy six steamed buns for 1.5 yuan in the morning, eating two for lunch and two for dinner. An Baili would use her allowance to buy two extra packs of pickled mustard greens and squat on the rooftop with him, sharing the simple meal. It seemed that his decision to marry An Baili wasn’t solely out of sympathy, perhaps there was also a touch of gratitude.

After watching videos for a while, An Baili’s eyelids started to droop. She snuggled into Lu Li’s arms and burrowed under the blanket. “Sleepy, I want a kiss…” An Baili was also afraid of the cold. The lower the temperature, the sleepier she became, like a hibernating squirrel. Lu Li kissed her, but it was just a light peck, not passionate. An Baili giggled dreamily. “I’m so happy, it’s so good to be back together with you… From now on… never leave me again, okay…”

Lu Li turned off the light and kissed her forehead. “Never again.” People often said that kissing different parts of the body represented different emotions. Kissing on the lips represented passion and love, kissing on the cheek represented fondness and indulgence, and kissing on the forehead represented a deeper love and hardship.

After turning off the light, he heard An Baili cough a few times. Lu Li thought she might be catching a cold, so he pulled the blanket closer to her. An Baili suddenly said in a trembling voice, “Lu Li, I’m scared.” Her soft body was shaking slightly. Lu Li was about to turn on the light, but An Baili grabbed his hand. Her hand was ice-cold. “Don’t turn on the light, leave it off.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m scared that one day I won’t be able to see you anymore.” An Baili wriggled closer, as if trying to melt into Lu Li’s body.

“That won’t happen.” They had been reborn together, they understood the flow of time, his career was developing steadily, everything was going smoothly, there was no way anything could go wrong.

He heard her cough again and asked with concern, “Have you caught a cold?”

An Baili explained with a hint of panic, “No, it’s just an old problem.”

Is that so? An Baili did have stomach problems, but she didn’t cough, right? Lu Li had just experienced the Mulan City incident and was sensitive to coughing. “Let’s go to the hospital for a checkup sometime. Didn’t you say you’re afraid to go to the hospital alone?”

An Baili didn’t answer. Lu Li leaned over and saw that the girl had closed her eyes and was breathing evenly. She was pretending to be asleep. Lu Li lovingly pecked her cheek and whispered, “Sleep tight.”

In the middle of the night, the girl beside him was nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly. But Lu Li couldn’t sleep at all. His mind drifted to his sister’s apartment next door. He was worried that Sister Yameng was still drinking. The sound insulation in the low-rent district wasn’t very good, and he could vaguely hear the sound of TV commercials coming from next door.

Just as he was hesitating whether to go over and persuade Sister Yameng again, he suddenly heard the sound of the door opening next door and Zhou Wen’s slurred voice. “Xiaomeng~ hic, just take advantage of this moment~ hic, say it out loud and you’ll feel better.” God, how much did she drink?

Another voice made Lu Li’s heart skip a beat. “Is it really okay?”

“Hic~ Little Li is asleep~ Don’t you see what time it is~ hic~ He definitely won’t hear you~”

Then there was the sound of someone opening his door. Besides himself, only Zou Yameng had a key to his apartment. What were those two drunkards doing, trying to open his door at this hour? Lu Li gasped. This wasn’t good. There was another person in his bed besides him, the delicate and soft An Baili!

Lu Li only had time to pull the blanket over An Baili’s head before he heard the door open, followed by Zhou Wen’s drunken mumbling about turning on the light. Zou Yameng whispered, “No, don’t turn on the light, you’ll wake Little Li…” Sister Yameng’s words were slurred, as if she was truly drunk.

Yes, don’t turn on the light! Lu Li thought to himself. If the light was turned on, Sister Yameng would definitely see the large bulge under his blanket. To say it was just a teenager having a morning erection would be too far-fetched.

In the darkness, Lu Li squinted, observing the two women sneaking around. One was Zhou Wen, and the other was his beloved Sister Yameng. Zhou Wen was truly drunk, swaying as she walked, as if she could collapse at any moment. What about Sister Yameng? Was she drunk?

Compared to the stumbling Zhou Wen, Zou Yameng’s steps were much steadier, so steady that Lu Li even doubted if she was drunk at all.

“Xiaomeng… Stop swaying… I can, can barely see you…”

“I’m not swaying, you’re the one who’s drunk.”

“I’m not drunk… You’re drunk…” The classic line of a drunkard.

The two women fumbled around in the darkness for a while until Zhou Wen collapsed on the floor with a thud. The dark room finally became quiet. Lu Li guessed that Zhou Wen must have fallen asleep on the floor. That’s what happened when you were drunk, you would fall asleep wherever you landed. So what was Sister Yameng doing?

“Little Li. Little Li.” He heard Zou Yameng calling him softly. Her words were slightly slurred, as if she was both drunk and sober. He definitely couldn’t answer, but he was also afraid that Sister Yameng would just climb into his bed as usual without thinking. Just as Lu Li was tense with anxiety, he heard Zou Yameng muttering to herself, “…He’s really asleep…”

Yes, I’m asleep, please go back. Your best friend is lying on the floor, sound asleep. Please take care of her!

Lu Li suddenly felt a warm breath on his cheek. Sister Yameng was leaning close, her alcohol-tinged breath brushing against his face. They were less than five centimeters apart. Just as Lu Li thought An Baili under the blanket would be exposed, he felt a wet sensation on his cheek. His pupils constricted sharply – Sister Yameng was licking him! Her warm and soft tongue swirled on his cheek, then moved to his lips. The next second, his lips were captured by his sister’s, and he heard the wet sound of their lips parting.

It was as if an atomic bomb had exploded in Lu Li’s mind. He froze in bed, like a piece of driftwood carried by a raging current.

Sister Yameng… Sister Yameng must be drunk, right? She must be drunk, right? What was she doing?! Sister, please wake up!

Chapter 33: Intoxicated, Not By Alcohol

“Sis, why are you drinking?”

Zou Yameng’s cheeks were flushed, her cheeks a bright red, like the overly saturated sun in a ukiyo-e painting. She pretended not to hear and pulled Lu Li down to sit with her on the cold floor, her jade-like arm casually draped around his neck. “Little Li… Can you control whether your sister drinks or not?”

“Drinking is bad for your health, especially when you’re injured!” Moreover, alcohol had a significant impact on mental health. If it weren’t for this demon called alcohol, how could his strong Sister Yameng resort to such a cowardly act as suicide? Seeing Sister Yameng bring the beer can to her lips again, Lu Li quickly grabbed her wrist. “Sister Yameng, stop drinking!”

Zou Yameng seemed a bit tipsy. “Don’t bother with me.” Was she really drunk? Lu Li looked at her hazy eyes, lost in thought. In his two lifetimes of memories, Sister Yameng had only been drunk twice. The first time was after he graduated from college in his previous life, and the second time was in Lingyue City. It seemed like she could actually get drunk, which meant he couldn’t let her continue drinking.

Zhou Wen was flipping through TV channels. “Little Li, don’t stop your sister. She’s feeling down, just let her have a drink.”

“What happened? Did something go wrong with the second team?” After thinking it over and over again, he could only come up with this possibility. It must be something related to table tennis that made Sister Yameng so depressed.

Just as Zhou Wen was about to speak, Zou Yameng suddenly crushed the beer can in her hand, making a loud clang. “Wenwen, you’re not allowed to say anything!”

Zhou Wen was scared of Zou Yameng right now. Hearing this, she could only give Lu Li a helpless look and continue changing channels.

Lu Li felt a familiar panic in his heart, a fear like standing on the edge of an abyss. He was terrified of the tragedy repeating itself, of his invincible superwoman sister taking the path of suicide again. He gripped Sister Yameng’s shoulders tightly. “Sister Yameng, no matter what happens, I’ll support you! But please don’t hide it from me.”

Zou Yameng remained silent. Not hide it from him? Could she do that? Tell her beloved brother that she loved him like a swallowtail butterfly drawn to lavender? It was taboo, it was forbidden. She was just a butterfly, unable to fly across the ocean.

Silence. Only the woman’s hot breath brushed against his neck.

“Little Li, let me have a drink with your sister. You go back and do your homework.” Zhou Wen couldn’t stand the silent tension between the siblings, a tension that was both confrontational and strangely intimate. She pushed Lu Li out the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your sister, I won’t let her drink too much.”

“I…” Lu Li’s words were cut off by the slamming door. He stared blankly at the wood grain of the door, then walked back to his own apartment. Sometimes he wished he had the superpower to read minds, so he could understand what women were really thinking.

Back in his apartment, he turned on his computer, and the headline news popped up. The media was lavishly praising the new leadership team in Mulan City, praising the government’s efficiency. The webpage that was filled with tragic stories just half a month ago was now full of praise and accolades, giving Lu Li a deeper understanding of the Chu family’s power. He remembered Silly Goose mentioning that her grandfather used to be an official in the capital, and so was her great-grandfather… Tracing back generations, one of their ancestors even served as prime minister for the old empire. It was a pity that in her generation, there was only one daughter in the direct line. Her great-grandfather often lamented this when he was alive.

Lu Li logged onto the Valve platform and replied to several media outlets, then sent a message to Chen Jianing, who had a pink profile picture. “Are you back at school?”

“Three days and four hours!”

“What do you mean ‘three days and four hours’?”

“It took you three days and four hours to ask me if I’m back at school!”

“I just got home, I’ve been busy…”

“You’re always busy.” Chen Jianing typed these words with resentment. She had been looking forward to Lu Li contacting her again. After all, she was his partner, not because she liked him or anything.

“The school is very strict. They check our temperatures every morning and evening, and all classes are online.” Chen Jianing said. “I had another fight with my roommates. They said short girls have a hard time finding boyfriends…”

“Did they say that to you?”

“Not directly, but I’m a short girl too. They were clearly implying it.”

“Calm down, calm down…”

“Let me tell you, they…” Chen Jianing seemed to have found an outlet and poured out all her frustrations to Lu Li. Lu Li didn’t really understand what she was talking about, but he still sent a message every two minutes, like “How could they do that?” “That’s too much!” “Mm-hmm.” “That’s really messed up.”

He thought of Old Chen from his computer science class. Old Chen had written a program that automatically replied to his girlfriend’s messages. He used to think that kind of program was useless, but now he missed it dearly. However, he heard that Old Chen had broken up with his girlfriend because of that program. He didn’t know if they had gotten back together.

“See, I told you they’re too petty.” After typing at least a few thousand words, Chen Jianing finally ended her seemingly endless rant. “There are actually some other things, I’ll tell you next time.”

“Mm-hmm, okay, okay.” Lu Li let out a sigh of relief, finally finishing reading Chen Jianing’s messages. He realized that she was actually making a big deal out of nothing. Her roommates might be innocent. But when a girl complains to you, the worst thing you can do is try to be “logical.” She’s venting, how could she listen to reason?

“Lu Li…”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Chen Jianing withdrew her message and replaced it with: “Never mind.”

Lu Li twitched his lips. If only he were a drill, he could drill into these girls’ heads and see what strange and wonderful thoughts they were hiding. After chatting with Chen Jianing for a few more minutes, the sky outside the window darkened. Lu Li went to his sister’s door, worried. He knocked, but there was no response, so he called out, “Sister Yameng, don’t drink too much.”

He heard his sister respond with an “okay” through the door, followed by Zhou Wen’s slurred voice, “Xiaomeng, I really can’t drink anymore… Please spare me…”

And she said she would take care of Sister Yameng? With Zhou Wen’s low alcohol tolerance, wouldn’t she be easily overpowered by his Sister Yameng? Lu Li could only turn around helplessly. He saw An Baili peeking through the crack in her door again. “Li, can I sleep over tonight?”

Lu Li thought for a moment and then nodded. “Behave yourself in bed.”

An Baili excitedly jumped out of her apartment, wearing a white nightgown. She looked fresh and lovely, her graceful figure faintly visible beneath the loose garment. Lu Li was afraid she would catch a cold and quickly opened his door. “Come in.” She clung to his arm and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then bounced into his apartment like a cheerful rabbit.

If Lu Li knew that Sister Yameng would drunkenly climb into his bed tonight, he wouldn’t have let An Baili in even if she begged him.

Chapter 32: Caught Red-Handed

“You don’t know Lu Li?” Perhaps it was lingering affection, or maybe Wen Hupo’s serious expression sparked Lu Li’s mischievous side. He feigned exaggeration as he asked the question. He always disliked Wen Hupo’s cold and indifferent expression, as if nothing in the world could stir her emotions. During sleepless nights, he would wonder if there was anything that could make Wen Hupo lose her composure. He even had a wicked fantasy of her laughing uncontrollably after inhaling laughing gas.

Unfortunately, the real Wen Hupo always maintained her ethereal and aloof demeanor. “Is he famous?”

“Yes, yes. He’s the top student in the second-year liberal arts class, and also the most outstanding student.” Lu Li said shamelessly. If Wen Hupo was truly reborn, could she keep her composure after hearing such blatant self-praise? Seeing that Wen Hupo remained expressionless, Lu Li went a step further. “I heard he’s also the most handsome boy in Chuanhai No. 1 High School, with impeccable character and a generous personality. Sigh, he’s truly a man blessed by the heavens.”

Even with Lu Li’s thick skin, he couldn’t help but blush when he said those words. He was truly out of his mind, actually believing An Baili’s terrible idea.

Wen Hupo nodded slightly. Was that so? Then Chu Jingyi’s taste wasn’t that bad after all. She had been worried that the innocent Chu Jingyi would be deceived by a scumbag. Out of concern for her friend, Wen Hupo continued to ask, “Isn’t he a scumbag?”

Lu Li’s spirits lifted. “He’s not a scumbag!” He could tolerate being mistaken for a scumbag by others, but not by Wen Hupo. Realizing that his reaction was too strong, he coughed a couple of times and asked in a way to cover up his previous outburst, “Where did you hear that rumor?”

“Are you close to Lu Li?” Wen Hupo put down Lin Lanxiang and looked at Lu Li seriously.

Lu Li braced himself and hummed in agreement. “I’m his underling.”

One wrong step, and everything went wrong. He believed An Baili’s nonsense and now had to pay the price.

“Then can I ask you for a favor?” The blonde girl asked sincerely. Lu Li believed that any boy in Chuanhai No. 1 High School would readily agree to her request without hesitation.

The wind was howling outside, rattling the windowpanes. A small icicle hanging from the top of the window fell onto the windowsill with a crack, shattering into tiny, sparkling particles. Lu Li heard the three crisp sounds outside the window and the howling north wind, and finally nodded. “Tell me.”

“I want to get permission from Lu Li to use this classroom.” Wen Hupo didn’t seem to mind Lu Li’s long silence. “I should have asked Chu Jingyi, but I’m worried about putting her in a difficult position between me and Lu Li. It would be best if a third party could handle this.”

Silly Goose had mentioned that she initially had a conflict with Wen Hupo over the ownership of the activity classroom. However, both girls were gentle and had silently resolved the conflict without making a fuss. “Of course, I’m willing to pay a price.” Wen Hupo added.

Now, Lu Li was 100% certain that Wen Hupo wasn’t reborn. An Baili was truly a terrible strategist. It was a mistake to trust her. He was thinking about how to explain that he was Lu Li himself when Silly Goose’s voice suddenly came from outside the classroom. “Oh, Hupo, you’re here so early? Eh, Lu, Lu Li, you’re here too…”

Silly Goose wasn’t wearing her red scarf today. Instead, she had a warm yellow one, the same style as the one she gave to Lu Li. Seeing Lu Li, the girl’s face turned even redder. He couldn’t tell if it was from the wind or from shyness.

“Lu Li?” The moment she heard those words, Wen Hupo understood everything. She looked at the boy, who was smiling awkwardly, and felt a surge of anger at being tricked. The image of the boy with fluffy hair and a black rose tattoo shattered in her mind. She actually listened to this Lu Li seriously and even made a request to him…

Silly Goose didn’t notice Lu Li winking at her. She said softly, “Hupo, let me introduce you. This is Lu Li, he’s…”

Wen Hupo interrupted her for the first time. “I know, he’s Lu Li, the most outstanding student in Chuanhai No. 1 High School, and also the most handsome boy, with impeccable character and a generous personality, truly a man blessed by the heavens.” These words made Lu Li’s face burn. He wished he could find An Baili and spank her. Why on earth did he try to test Wen Hupo? And with such a stupid method?

Silly Goose didn’t notice the sarcasm in Wen Hupo’s tone. She blushed and said, “He’s not that great…” Hearing someone praise the person she liked made her feel as sweet as honey.

This world is hopeless. An absurd thought arose in Wen Hupo’s mind. What was even more unbelievable was that she, the esteemed Shirley Amber, had been tricked by a peer she had just met!

“Then Jingyi suddenly barged in and exposed me.” Lu Li and An Baili were walking hand in hand. As they passed by his apartment, they noticed some movement coming from his sister’s place. Was Sister Yameng back so early?

An Baili kept laughing. “Silly Lu Li! If I were you, I’d consider moving to another planet.”

Lu Li playfully slapped An Baili’s round bottom. “It’s all because of your terrible idea!”

“Then how are you going to punish me?” An Baili stopped laughing and leaned against him seductively.

“Go home, I’ll go check on Sister Yameng.” Lu Li pinched the girl’s cheek. Did she think she was still his mature and seductive wife from his past life? She was only seventeen this year, her body not even fully developed, as green and sour as an unripe apple. An Baili pouted, snorted, muttered “Pretender,” and ran off.

After An Baili left, Lu Li straightened his collar and knocked on Sister Yameng’s door. “Sister Yameng, it’s me, Little Li.”

It was Zhou Wen who opened the door. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lu Li. “Little Li, you came at the right time, have a drink with us.”

Zou Yameng suddenly reached out and pushed Zhou Wen away. “Don’t be ridiculous, Little Li is not old enough to drink.”

The strong smell of alcohol made Lu Li wrinkle his nose. “Sis, have you been drinking?”

“Yes.” Zou Yameng didn’t explain why she was drinking. She opened the door, about to let Lu Li take off his shoes and come in, but then she suddenly remembered something. “Are you alone?”

“Of course I’m alone.”

“Come in then.” Zou Yameng forced a smile.

The TV was on, playing the movie A World Without Thieves. There was a news ticker at the bottom of the screen, saying that the entire country had entered a state of epidemic alert, and all provinces and cities were actively responding to the central government’s call… and so on. Looking at the empty beer cans scattered on the floor, Lu Li felt some dark memories resurfacing. In his past life, Sister Yameng also often drank alone at home, leaving beer bottles everywhere. He would go to her apartment every month to help clean up… until she passed away.

Why… why did she pick up this bad habit of drinking again in this life?

Chapter 31: A Day in the Life of Sister

At 5:30 am, the phone alarm rang only once before Zou Yameng turned it off. She instinctively reached out, wanting to hug her brother in her arms, but only felt the coldness of the blanket. She then remembered that she slept alone last night. Getting out of bed, she changed her clothes and started her morning jog. Zou Yameng always tied her long hair into a ponytail and put on her earphones, playing “Glitter & Gold” on repeat during her runs. If she slept with Lu Li, she wouldn’t want to get up early for a jog. Lu Li’s warmth and scent were far more alluring than morning exercise. As if realizing her inappropriate thoughts, she patted her cheeks lightly and muttered to herself, “Stop thinking nonsense, Zou Yameng.”

Early December was still considered early winter. Snow in the south didn’t last long. The snow that had fallen yesterday had already begun to melt this morning, making the roads damp. Zou Yameng slowed down her pace, her thoughts wandering. The moment she received Lu Li’s message yesterday, her heart was filled with ecstasy. During the days when Lu Li was trapped in Mulan City, Zou Yameng had been worried sick, unable to eat or sleep properly.

When did it start… when did her feelings for Lu Li change?

She couldn’t remember. Zou Yameng’s expression was dazed. Ever since she could remember, Lu Li had always depended on her. He would sweetly call her “Sister Yameng,” obediently listen to her lectures, and cheer her up when she was down. It seemed like those days could last forever, and their warm little family would be unbreakable.

But when two girls from Lu Li’s class came to their door, she realized that reality might have taken a wrong turn. During their conversation, Zou Yameng could clearly sense the two girls’ affection for Lu Li. It was obvious. Whenever the topic involved Lu Li, like talking about his childhood antics, they would become excited, chattering like two sparrows in early spring. But when it came to Lu Li’s current situation in Mulan City, they both fell silent, unwilling to say a word more.

When she realized this, she could clearly hear her heart shattering like glass.

A selfish little devil whispered in her heart: Lu Li was her only family, and she didn’t want any other girl to get close to him. Another selfless little angel said: She was just his sister, not his wife, and she shouldn’t have such possessive desires. Zou Yameng had the urge to call Lu Li and question him right away, but she was worried about adding to his burden, as he was already in a difficult situation. So she chose to do what a good sister should do: smile and step back.

She was just his sister… just his sister.

By the time Zou Yameng finished her morning jog, it was past seven o’clock. She quickly took a shower and was about to go wake her brother up for school when she saw the girl named An Baili standing obediently outside Lu Li’s door, holding her schoolbag. She suddenly felt superfluous, as if Lu Li’s life no longer needed her.

So she said nothing, didn’t even greet them, and rushed out the door like a fleeing hyena.

She arrived at the Chuanhai Women’s Sports School training ground in a daze. Coach Dan called her over to start training and asked with concern about her foot injury. Zou Yameng answered absentmindedly and began her training for the day. During the break, several familiar girls went to the bathroom together, arm in arm. Zhou Wen also came over and patted Zou Yameng’s head. “My dear, why the long face? Did you get dumped?”

Zou Yameng absentmindedly hummed in agreement.

Zhou Wen covered her mouth. “Is it because your brother has a girlfriend?”

Seeing that no one was around, Zou Yameng reluctantly said, “Something like that.”

“I knew it.” Zhou Wen put down her racket, wrapped her arm around Zou Yameng, and leaned her head on her shoulder. “You and your brother aren’t biologically related. If you’re feeling upset, just tell him.”

“How can I just tell him?” Best friends could talk about anything. “I, he… Sigh… You wouldn’t understand.”

“Silly Xiaomeng, it’s because you’re not taking the initiative that your precious cabbage was stolen by someone else.” Zhou Wen said with a grin. “If I had such a brother, I wouldn’t let him mess around with any random girl. Hehe, sis, I’ve been single for so long, why don’t you consider letting me be your sister-in-law?”

“Forget it, with your ability to attract dirt like a vacuum cleaner, I’m afraid Little Li’s life expectancy would be shortened.” Zou Yameng said mercilessly.

Zhou Wen blushed. “How, how can you say such a thing?”

“Isn’t that the kind of dirty talk you always use?”

“You can’t slander me like that…” Zhou Wen’s blush came and went quickly. “Yameng, let’s have a drink after school today?”

“I’m not going to a bar.”

“Come on, not a bar. We’ll buy a couple of cases of beer from the store outside the school, and I’ll go to your place to drink with you. Seeing you with such a long face makes me feel bad. A little alcohol will help. Once you’re drunk, you won’t have any worries.”

Zou Yameng was tempted. Drinking did seem like a good way to escape her heartache. She didn’t usually drink. Firstly, because Coach Dan was strict. Secondly, she didn’t like the taste. She only had a few drinks when the girls on the team got together. But could she really get drunk?

After school, Zou Yameng had already forgotten about it. It was Zhou Wen who came panting, carrying two cases of beer, insisting on going home with Zou Yameng. Zou Yameng was both amused and exasperated. She repeatedly warned Zhou Wen not to embarrass herself in front of Lu Li, not to take off her clothes after getting drunk, and not to make noise and disturb the neighbors. Zhou Wen naturally agreed to everything.

As they entered the low-rent district, Zou Yameng’s eyes widened as if she had seen something. Her lips moved, her gaze fixed, and after a long silence, she let out a sigh.

“Yameng, why are you sighing? Hey, doesn’t that person in front look like your brother?”

“That’s not Little Li.” Zou Yameng pouted.

“Why does he look so much like him? Oh my, why is he holding hands with someone…”

“I said that’s not my brother! You’re mistaken!” Zou Yameng’s voice was a bit sharp. She glared at Zhou Wen, making her shrink back and remain silent for a long time. Zou Yameng rubbed her temples and snatched a case of beer. “Sorry, I’m not in a good mood, let’s go drink.”

“Ah… okay…” Zhou Wen followed Zou Yameng hesitantly, but she couldn’t help but glance at the two figures in the distance. Was that really Lu Li?

“You’re such a big baby, still needing to hold hands.” Lu Li said with a hint of disgust. An Baili giggled and held his hand, standing on tiptoe to blow air into his ear, making Lu Li frown. “If you keep messing around, I won’t tell you the story.”

“Okay, okay~” An Baili finally behaved. “Continue about Wen Hupo. She mistook you for Chu Jingyi’s errand boy during the day, what happened next?”

“Then I asked her if she knew Lu Li.”

“Did she reveal anything?” An Baili seemed convinced that Wen Hupo was also reborn.

“She said she didn’t know him.” Lu Li suddenly blushed. “I actually believed your crazy plan and shamelessly started praising myself. I told her how great Lu Li was, boasting endlessly.

An Baili giggled. “Shameless. And then?”

“And then…”

Chapter 30: The Most Familiar Stranger

Before coming to Shenzhou, Wen Hupo’s least favorite season was winter. It was too cold, too aloof, too indifferent. The colorful flowers she planted never survived the harsh winters, and gradually, she lost interest in gardening. She started learning to paint, capturing the beauty of blooming flowers in summer, so she wouldn’t have to endure the sadness of their withering in winter.

The villa was too lonely. Wen Hupo didn’t like living alone in such a big house, so she arrived at school early and strolled along a long corridor, savoring the delicate snowfall of Shenzhou. If it was this kind of gentle and soft winter snow, it wasn’t so unbearable after all. Shenzhou was a good place. The people here were more reserved and introverted, more suitable for someone like her who lacked warmth. If possible, she hoped to spend the rest of her life in Shenzhou.

She unconsciously arrived at the activity classroom. The door was open. Was Chu Jingyi back? A flicker of joy crossed Wen Hupo’s heart. During her time at Chuanhai No. 1 High School, she only knew one and a half students. One was Chu Jingyi, and the half was An Baili. To Wen Hupo’s disappointment, there was only an unfamiliar boy cleaning the classroom. Chu Jingyi must have sent him, right? She heard that Chu Jingyi held a high status in this school, so it was normal for her to have someone running errands for her.

She didn’t pay attention to the boy and indifferently took out a copy of Lin Lanxiang from the bookshelf in the classroom, settling down in a corner at the back row to read. She loved the Chinese language, enjoyed deciphering the meaning between the square characters. She had to admit that Chinese characters carried thousands of years of this civilization’s history, encompassing both grand ambitions and delicate emotions.

Lu Li put down the broom and went to get the mop, glancing at Wen Hupo in the process. The blonde girl was neatly dressed, her expression focused. Her features were delicate and beautiful, only slightly less stunning than An Baili’s in terms of appearance. However, her temperament completely overshadowed the “little village girl.” If Chu Jingyi was an angel in spirit, then Wen Hupo was an angel in reality – ethereal and aloof, indifferent yet elegant. He always felt that Wen Hupo was too cold, too aloof, too indifferent. Just like now, he was cleaning the classroom alone, and Wen Hupo didn’t even bother to greet him.

Lu Li’s game development was entering its final stages – as a low-budget indie game, dragging out the development cycle wasn’t a good thing. He deliberately arrived at school early to rearrange and clean the activity classroom, preparing for the official formation of his game development team. He had a fantasy of seeing all the team members sitting at their desks after the game was released, and him handing out their salaries one by one. It was a beautiful thought that filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

“Excuse me, could you please move for a moment? I need to wipe the table.”

Lu Li walked up to Wen Hupo. The blonde girl finally looked up from her book and took her first good look at Lu Li. She didn’t say anything, just picked up her book and stood aside, waiting for Lu Li to finish cleaning. The next second, their gazes simultaneously landed on a line of black handwriting on the table: “Luo Zichen loves Lin Yuhan” – written with some kind of permanent marker. The ink was still shiny, indicating that it had been written recently. It was a love declaration, and high school was full of lovesick boys who left their marks everywhere like stray dogs, always trying to prove their deep love with absurd acts. Lu Li guessed that this was written by a young couple who had snuck in during a late-night date.

Seeing Lu Li staring at the writing, Wen Hupo thought he had misunderstood something. “I didn’t write that.” Being mistaken for that kind of childish and promiscuous high school student was one of the most unbearable things.

“I know.” Lu Li wiped the writing with a damp cloth, and it disappeared. At least this couple had some decency and used erasable ink. “This kind of declaration is just like those people writing each other’s names in the snow outside. It’s a waste of emotion and meaningless. You don’t seem like that kind of person, do you?”

Indeed, it was a waste of emotion and meaningless. Wen Hupo took another look at this boy. At least there was still one normal person in this school.

He looks clean-cut and gentle, like a scholar. Wen Hupo assessed him silently.

“But I still wish them well.” Lu Li added. He wiped the seat clean and carried the bucket to another table.

Wen Hupo looked at the wet seat, unable to sit down. She particularly liked the corner seat, so she simply stood there and continued reading. After standing for a while, her legs started to ache, as she wasn’t used to standing for long periods. Just then, Lu Li finally came back and wiped the seat with a dry cloth. Wen Hupo wasn’t annoyed at all. She just nodded slightly and said, “Thank you.”

“It was my oversight.” Lu Li was so busy that he forgot Wen Hupo also liked the corner seat, just like him. “You like reading Lin Lanxiang?” He would read all sorts of books for inspiration, and Lin Lanxiang was one of them. But he didn’t think Wen Hupo would like this kind of sentimental novel about a feudal family in ancient times. She should be reading The Count of Monte Cristo or Wuthering Heights.

“Not really.” Wen Hupo’s eyelashes were light in color, her eyes a clear blue. “The girls in the story are too pitiful.”

That was true. Geng Lang had six wives and concubines, and he was indecisive. It would be strange if there was a happy ending. Lu Li counted on his fingers. Six was too many, could he really handle them all?

Seemingly a bit interested, Wen Hupo looked at Lu Li curiously. “You’ve read this book too? I thought only girls would read it.”

“Creativity needs inspiration. When my thoughts are flowing, I can write effortlessly. But when I’m stuck, I have to read some less popular works. After reading enough, my mind naturally becomes more open.” Lu Li replied while wiping the table.

Wen Hupo nodded slightly. She often encountered problems when painting, not knowing how to depict certain things, resulting in many unfinished works. She always felt that a certain line wasn’t perfect enough, a certain color wasn’t vibrant enough. As a result, a painting would become a useless piece of scrap paper.

Seeing Wen Hupo’s thoughtful expression, Lu Li remembered what An Baili had said last night and felt a surge of suspicion. He asked tentatively, “Do you know who owns this activity classroom?”

“It’s mine.” Wen Hupo answered decisively, without any hesitation, as if it were a matter of course.

Lu Li’s suspicion grew. “But I heard that this classroom was applied for by Lu Li… Do you know Lu Li?”

Lu Li? A carefree image appeared in Wen Hupo’s mind. Was he the scumbag who played with Chu Jingyi and An Baili’s feelings?

“I don’t know him.” And she didn’t want to. She added silently in her heart.