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Vol 1 Chapter 34: The Witch

There was no God in this world, no one capable of truly changing another person. Those who attempted to manipulate human nature with words would eventually face the consequences. An Baili was Lu Li’s consequence. Even now, he didn’t understand that the fault wasn’t An Baili’s, but his own. He had manipulated her, trying to mold her into someone she wasn’t, ultimately leading to exhaustion and her desperate outburst.

And now, he was doing the same to Chu Jingyi, manipulating her emotions, her smiles and frowns. This world was built on mutual manipulation. Chu Xiaodong was manipulating him too. It was an inescapable web, and few could break free from it with clarity.

*

An Baili’s backpack had a frog keychain dangling from it, a hideous creature with dull fur and mismatched features. She placed the bag by her feet, fished out her keys from her pocket, and stood before the door. For most people, “going home” was a comforting and pleasant experience. An Baili wasn’t one of them. She didn’t like going home, no matter how many times she relived her life. She didn’t like returning to “her parents’ home.”

For a child, having both parents was the greatest blessing. If one was destined for greatness, being orphaned like Lu Li was also acceptable. But the most agonizing family situation was a single-parent household, with either a father or a mother missing. That was An Baili’s reality.

Walking through the relatively clean living room, she saw her father, An Gulai, passed out drunk on the sofa. The TV was on, but due to unpaid bills, it only showed boring and ridiculous infomercials for health products. As she approached to turn it off, she heard a stirring behind her and instinctively flinched.

“Don’t turn off the TV! I’m not asleep!” His voice boomed, as if amplified by a loudspeaker.

Despite her memories from her previous life, An Baili couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear at the impatient tone. This voice had haunted her for half her life, a nightmare that had shattered her childhood. She instinctively touched her glasses, making sure they were still in place and her bangs hadn’t shifted, before turning around with trembling hands.

“I thought you were asleep.”

An Gulai roared, “Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m not asleep? Go make me some food!”

An Baili lowered her head and scurried away to the kitchen, her disgust barely contained. The kitchen, which she had just cleaned yesterday, was a mess again. Beer was spilled everywhere, and there were large footprints on the counter. What kind of drunken rampage had he been on this time? As she picked up the broken glass from the floor, she imagined stabbing An Gulai’s throat with a shard, watching him die in agony.

After quickly making some fried rice, she carried the bowl to the living room. Before she even reached the door, she heard An Gulai sobbing inside. This was nothing new. He would alternate between bouts of hysterical rage and self-pitying tears, but none of it had anything to do with her, his daughter. If she dared to inquire, she would be met with punches and kicks, leaving her unable to wear short sleeves to school for weeks.

She placed the fried rice by the door, not daring to make a sound, like a hunter avoiding a wild beast in the jungle.

Through the crack in the door, she saw him clutching a photo of her mother, tears streaming down his face. How many tears could one shed for a person who had been dead for sixteen years? Would he be able to bring her back to life if he cried enough? She sneered at him before heading upstairs to her room, carefully locking the door behind her.

Two more years until she graduated high school. Two more years of enduring this. At times like this, she missed Lu Li terribly. She sat at her desk and saw the three empty pen refills. She had used these to write the entire game proposal, working in the dark for fear of being discovered by An Gulai. She would open the window and write by the moonlight.

She heard the front door open downstairs. An Gulai must be going out for more drinks after his meager dinner. Calling it “drinking” was an overstatement. It was more like a pathetic moocher shamelessly sponging off construction workers. Everyone at the site knew how he would use his deceased wife’s story to gain sympathy. At first, people pitied him, offering him cheap beer. But as time went on, he was only met with looks of disgust.

An Baili hid by the window, watching her father leave in his outdated black leather jacket. That jacket – a birthday gift from her mother, according to him – was one of his few possessions of value. He treasured it even more than his own daughter. Ironically, in her previous life, he had been wearing that very jacket when he was killed by a robber.

An Baili cursed her father, hoping the robber would come sooner rather than later.

Only after he left did she dare to leave her room. She went to the bathroom and removed her ugly glasses, staring at her reflection in the mirror. After a moment’s thought, she pushed back her thick bangs, revealing her beautiful face. Her mother’s photo was pinned beside the mirror, a young woman with bright eyes and a sweet smile, bearing a striking resemblance to An Baili. That was her mother. Although An Baili had never met her, she lived in her shadow everywhere she went – thanks to her “devoted” father.

Hiding her beauty hadn’t been her original intention. What girl didn’t want to look her best in her youth? The memory that stood out most vividly was from when she was twelve years old. Her features had started to resemble her late mother, and that was when An Gulai’s episodes became increasingly frequent. She remembered coming home from school that day and seeing her father’s dark expression. His face had contorted, like a monster ready to devour her. He had accused her of killing his wife, saying she shouldn’t have been born. He had beaten her mercilessly, and she had only survived because a passerby heard her cries and called the police.

It was a terrible memory. An Baili had often wondered if things would have been different if she hadn’t looked so much like her mother.

She admired her reflection, recalling her sweet moments with Lu Li, and hummed a happy tune. She loved singing, loved music. The darker her life became, the more she sang. It kept her from losing her mind, like her father.

An Baili narrowed her eyes, imitating Lu Li’s voice. “Baili, I’m sorry. It was my fault. Please forgive me. Let’s get back together.”

Her smile widened, as if Lu Li had actually said those words. Even though she knew it was just a delusion, she clung to it like an addict, seeking solace in self-deception. Then, the thought of Zou Yameng and Chu Jingyi crossed her mind. Her smile faded. Chu Jingyi was fine, just a naive little girl. But Zou Yameng, in her memories, was a cunning seductress. And Lu Li was completely unguarded around her.

What if Lu Li never came back to her? Simple. She just had to make all the other women around him disappear. Like the last man and woman on earth, they would be bound to end up together. Her thoughts grew dark.

She couldn’t wait any longer. Wen Hupo would be transferring soon, and she wouldn’t allow Lu Li’s affections to be diverted towards her, like in her previous life. No matter how many times she relived her life, Lu Li belonged to her, and only her.

An Baili in the mirror was young and beautiful, but her expression was dark and alluring, like a witch from the abyss.

****

(End of Volume 1: Rebirth and Other Matters)

Preview vol 2 : The Sweetness of Sunset**

The air had a scent. Air warmed by the setting sun was sweet. It was said that the afterglow of sunset paired best with a youthful kiss.

“Too sweet…”

Perhaps sweetness and pain always went hand in hand.

“Haven’t you had enough?!”

The truth, sharp as a blade.

“No matter how many times, I’ve fallen in love with you!”

He struggled in the whirlpool, deceiving himself.

“You won’t lie to me again… right?”

But no matter what, a man had to make his own choices.

“Becoming a scumbag wasn’t my intention.”

Maybe he would face doubts from others.

“Xiao Lu, are you sure about this?”

“Can all the riddle-speakers just shut up?!”

But when he was tired, there would always be a warm embrace to lean on.

“Li Zi, welcome back.”

Next volume: The Sweetness of Sunset.

“Chen Jianing, are you crazy?!”

Chapter 33: The Biggest Jerk in the World

When Chu Jingyi returned to the classroom, she immediately noticed the strange atmosphere surrounding An Baili. An Baili sat at her desk, her textbook upside down, clearly not paying attention. Chu Jingyi nudged her friend’s shoulder, concerned. “Baili, are you okay?”

“…Just a little sad…”

“Really, just a little…”

It was unclear who An Baili was talking to as she repeated “a little” twice. She had been so confident in her efforts, believing that she could win Lu Li back, make him change his mind. But he had been cold and unyielding, like a stone. An Baili had initially thought he was just throwing a tantrum and would forgive her in a week or two. Even though he had been distancing himself, she hadn’t panicked because she believed he would eventually come back to her.

When Lu Li had taken the document, she had clearly seen the excitement and joy in his eyes, but she had also seen him forcefully suppress those emotions. This wasn’t a good sign. It meant that he had made a conscious decision to reject her – when a man relied solely on reason, it was when he was at his most heartless.

Chu Jingyi glanced at Lu Li’s back. It must have been him who had upset An Baili. He seemed to have a superpower: making girls cry. Normally, she would have lectured him, but now she didn’t want anything to do with him.

She decided that she would ignore him for at least a month, even if he apologized. This was for her own sake, and for An Baili!

Deep down, she harbored a small fantasy: Lu Li coming to apologize to her. She played out various scenarios in her head, planning to scold him when he came to apologize, to make sure Baili was there to witness his groveling. That would surely cheer Baili up!

If Lu Li apologized, should she ask about his girlfriend?

Chu Jingyi’s thoughts slowed down. Should she ask?

Or… maybe not… She felt inexplicably hesitant, subconsciously avoiding the answer. If she pretended not to know, maybe they could still be friends. Lu Li sat with his back straight, a liar who had deceived her, yet why had he greeted her so casually earlier?

She really hated him.

An Baili was distracted all morning, glued to her seat. Lu Li, however, acted as if nothing had happened, laughing and moving around as usual, seemingly oblivious to the resentful gazes of the two girls behind him. Every time the bell rang, Chu Jingyi would linger at her desk, hoping to give Lu Li a chance to apologize. But class after class went by, and he showed no signs of remorse or explanation. Instead, Chu Jingyi would straighten her back whenever he approached, as nervous as an employee being inspected by their boss.

Lu Li looked at Silly Goose with amusement. “Is your back hurting? You keep straightening it.”

Chu Jingyi glared at him. “Don’t talk to me!” It was just an attempt to save face, but Lu Li actually nodded and stopped talking to her. During lunch, he ate alone, and after finishing, he left alone, as if she and An Baili didn’t exist.

Chu Jingyi felt increasingly wronged and her heart grew colder. She had never found Lu Li so annoying. Why couldn’t he at least say thank you? Why did he have to be so hateful?

She swore to herself that if he didn’t do anything by the end of the day, she would ignore him for the rest of the semester.

Unfortunately, even when the dismissal bell rang, Lu Li remained nonchalantly at his desk, engrossed in a book titled “Abstinence: The First Step to Success!”

An Baili left early, seemingly preoccupied with something. Chu Jingyi couldn’t stop her, so she marched up to Lu Li, arms crossed, her face a mask of displeasure.

“Class monitor, what’s wrong?” Lu Li asked, his expression a mix of innocence and confusion. Chu Jingyi gritted her teeth.

Imitating the cool and aloof female leads from TV dramas, she refused to speak, trying to intimidate him with her gaze.

Lu Li, however, seemed impervious to her “aura,” staring at her with curiosity, like she was some exotic creature. How could a young girl’s pride compete with Lu Li’s shamelessness? With a huff, Chu Jingyi turned and stormed off. She was absolutely certain that Lu Li was the most annoying person in the world!

Lu Li decided it was time to act. He reached out and grabbed her arm.

“What?!” Silly Goose’s face was red, not from embarrassment, but from anger.

“Jingyi, I almost forgot to give you something.”

No! She didn’t want anything from him!

Fuming, Chu Jingyi bared her teeth like a tiger cub. “I don’t want anything from you!”

“Ta-da!” Lu Li pulled out a mask from his bag – a replica of the monster mask from the classic horror film “White Saturday.” As expected, Chu Jingyi’s anger instantly melted away as she saw the intricately crafted mask, her eyes sparkling.

“It’s so realistic!”

Heh, what a simple girl. Gift-giving was an art. Knowing the recipient’s preferences was key. Sentimentality came second. Only when you were clueless did the monetary value of the gift matter. Chu Jingyi was a horror movie enthusiast; it was only natural that she would love this mask.

Chu Jingyi played with the mask, her face beaming like a child’s. Suddenly, she seemed to remember her anger and forced a stern expression. “Why are you giving me a mask? Are you mocking me?” She was referring to the time he had refused her gift of a computer.

“Thank you, Jingyi.” Lu Li’s smile faded, his expression serious. Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds were full of wild ideas, yet they were also the most powerless. If it weren’t for Chu Jingyi, would Secretary Long have used his influence to get him to Lingyue City? Chu Jingyi’s kindness had supported a sixteen-year-old boy’s pride and impulsiveness.

“What are you thanking me for…?”

“There’s so much to thank you for, I can’t even begin to list them all.” Lu Li’s eyes held a depth of emotion she couldn’t comprehend. She had always felt like he was a lone traveler, detached from the world. He was more knowledgeable, more intelligent, and kinder than her. Becoming friends with him was the happiest thing that had happened to her in high school.

Lu Li pulled out more gifts from his drawer. “This is the spicy meat from Lingyue, and these are souvenirs from the Six-Province Tournament…” He presented her with several simply wrapped boxes, leaving the stern-faced Chu Jingyi speechless.

“What are you doing…?”

“This trip to Lingyue wouldn’t have been possible without you. If it weren’t for you, Jingyi, I might have missed my sister’s match.” Not just the match, but a turning point in Zou Yameng’s life. He believed that after defeating He Ping and reaching the top, Zou Yameng would surely have a brighter future.

The ice on Chu Jingyi’s face melted. She realized these were the things he had been rambling about earlier. Had he prepared these gifts all along? She opened the box of spicy meat and found a handwritten thank you note inside. It was so cheesy that she burst into laughter.

“You’re such a good writer! I got goosebumps!” All traces of displeasure vanished from her face. She carefully put away the gifts and asked softly, “Were you deliberately trying to annoy me earlier?”

“Yes. Because you ignored my messages for three days, and I was worried sick. So I was a little upset too.” This was a lie. Lu Li had already figured out Chu Jingyi’s temperament. He had been eating and sleeping well for the past three days. He said this just to create an illusion of “openness and honesty.” As expected, Chu Jingyi lowered her head.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ignored you.”

Looking at her head bowed in apology, Lu Li felt a pang of guilt for manipulating such an innocent girl. He didn’t say anything, just gently patted her head. One of life’s most effective strategies was contrast. Whether it was setting someone up for disappointment before giving them hope, or vice versa, contrast was key. He had deliberately provoked Chu Jingyi to create this very contrast. But now that she had fallen into his trap like an innocent rabbit, he felt overwhelmed with guilt.

Hope that bloomed after disappointment was more powerful than ordinary hope. This was why Chu Jingyi was so docile after accepting his apology.

“I’m glad you don’t think my gifts are cheap.” Lu Li ruffled her hair. She gently pushed his hand away, the blush on her face now a different shade. “Can you tell me what happened between you and my sister? Did she do something to upset you?”

“…Liar. She’s your girlfriend, not your sister.”

“She’s my sister.” Lu Li took out his phone and showed her a picture of him and Zou Yameng. “Her name is Zou Yameng. She’s a player in the Six-Province Tournament and my most important family member. If she did something to upset you, let me apologize on her behalf. You can scold me, hit me, anything you want.”

Chu Jingyi stared at the picture for a long time before speaking. “I thought you lied to me.”

“So, am I still a liar now?”

Silly Goose looked at him intently.

“Not a liar. A jerk.”

She decided to change his title, from the most annoying person in the world to the biggest jerk in the world.

Chu Jingyi giggled, oblivious to the radiant joy illuminating her face.

Chapter 32: The Most Hateful Lu Li

Lu Li had a habit of checking his WeChat messages first thing in the morning. In this life, he had very few WeChat contacts: only Sister Yameng, Chu Jingyi, and Secretary Long. So any anomaly in his chat history was immediately noticeable. And the only person who knew his phone’s password was Sister Yameng. Coincidentally, he had passed out drunk last night, and it was Sister Yameng who had taken him back to the hotel. Lu Li wasn’t stupid. He quickly pieced together what must have happened.

Sister Yameng had always been against him dating. She must have gotten suspicious when she saw Silly Goose’s messages last night, and the two of them probably had a disagreement on WeChat. Otherwise, Zou Yameng wouldn’t have deleted the chat history.

As for evidence?

Silly Goose hadn’t replied to any of his messages all day, which was the best proof.

It was already 5 PM when he returned to the hotel after shopping with Sister Yameng. Chuanhai No. 1 High School should have already dismissed for the day, so Chu Jingyi should have seen his messages. But the usually responsive Silly Goose was uncharacteristically ignoring him. He checked her Moments and saw a post she had made this morning before going to school.

“I must have too much time on my hands!”

She wouldn’t publicly criticize someone on Moments, so this must have been directed at herself. What had happened to make Chu Jingyi feel like she had “too much time on her hands”?

There were generally two types of anger in women. One was the explosive, fiery type, like a thunderstorm, coming and going quickly. The second was the “silent treatment” type, where the anger manifested in silence, unresponsiveness, and withdrawal. This was the truly formidable kind of anger. Chu Jingyi was usually the first type, always stern-faced at school, lecturing students endlessly for not following the class rules.

Lu Li rubbed his phone, trying to understand the girl’s thoughts. People often assumed that the more innocent someone was, the easier it was to read their mind. However, that wasn’t always the case. Innocent people often had pure motives, rarely influenced by external factors. Their thoughts were easy to guess but hard to predict accurately.

He put away his phone and walked out of the hotel, bumping into Sister Yameng.

“Li Zi, where are you going? It’s almost dinner time.”

“I’m going to buy some gifts.”

“?”

*

Monday. It had been a full week since Lu Li disappeared without a word. Class 2-1 (Liberal Arts) continued to function as usual, with Chu Jingyi keeping everything in order. She liked to keep herself busy, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment that came with it. Some people were busy for the sake of living, while others lived for the sake of being busy. The class monitor took the attendance sheet from the door and carefully checked it. Sure enough, only Lu Li’s column was unchecked.

Chu Jingyi was about to cross out Lu Li’s name when she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Class monitor, don’t cross it out. I’m not late!” It was Lu Li.

It had been more than three days since Chu Jingyi’s conversation with Zou Yameng. Counting the days, Lu Li should have returned by now, keeping his promise. But Chu Jingyi’s face was expressionless. She glanced at him indifferently, her lips barely moving as she spoke.

“It’s already eight o’clock. You’re marked absent.”

“Class monitor, are you mad at me?”

“No.”

“Then why haven’t you replied to any of my messages these past few days?”

Chu Jingyi clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers intertwined. “I’ve been busy these past few days. I haven’t checked my phone.”

“Really?” Lu Li looked relieved. “I thought you were mad at me, haha.”

Seeing him laughing, Chu Jingyi’s eyes hardened. “Why would I be mad?” He had been skipping school and enjoying himself with his girlfriend. She was just a classmate, a class monitor. What right did she have to be angry? The more she thought about it, the more resentful she felt.

With a soft snort, Chu Jingyi turned and walked away, ignoring Lu Li completely, taking the attendance sheet to the teachers’ office.

For some reason, Lu Li followed her, chattering incessantly.

“Wow, the spicy meat in Lingyue City was amazing. I ate so much of it. You should definitely try it sometime, class monitor. And also, did you watch the Six-Province Table Tennis Tournament in Lingyue…?” He rambled on and on.

Chu Jingyi, with her back to him, pursed her lips. Of course he was happy. She was the one who had to run around taking care of his leave of absence paperwork. She couldn’t help but interrupt him. “What you did in Lingyue is none of my business! Why are you telling me this?”

“Oh, right. I’ll go back to the classroom then.”

Lu Li nodded thoughtfully and turned to leave. A wave of resentment washed over Chu Jingyi. She felt like a clown, running back and forth between the Academic Affairs Office and the teachers’ office for the past two days. She had been working hard to take care of his matters, but he had the audacity to lie to her and now he was dismissing her with indifference.

She hated Lu Li. She didn’t want to be his friend anymore!

Back in the classroom, Lu Li sat down at his desk. His unknown female deskmate teased, “I thought you had dropped out of school.” Before he could reply, he felt a tug on his collar. He turned around and saw An Baili, looking sleepy as usual.

“What’s up?” He was much colder towards An Baili.

“This is for you. I thought you might need it…”

She handed him a stack of bound papers. Lu Li flipped through them, his eyebrows raising in surprise. It was a proposal for an independent game project, outlining several of the most profitable games from his previous life. Game development wasn’t something you could just jump into on a whim. The gaming industry had evolved, and the process had become systematic and industrialized. From market research to target audience analysis, from choosing a game engine to actual development, the barriers to entry for independent game developers were becoming increasingly high.

And An Baili’s document could significantly shorten the development cycle. Based on her memories from their previous life, she had meticulously laid out each step of the process, even digging out details Lu Li himself had forgotten. This document was invaluable to him.

When ordinary people talked about intelligence, they usually meant memory. The faster and more you could remember, the smarter you were considered. An Baili belonged to the category of people with strong memory but weak comprehension. She could remember every detail of her life with incredible clarity. Lu Li had always believed that An Baili was a genius in the conventional sense – not just in music.

This thick document was written entirely by hand, and Lu Li could even find crumbs of cookies between the pages. He could picture An Baili working late into the night, munching on cookies as she wrote. She had never been this dedicated to her studies.

An Baili looked at him expectantly, her voice soft. “I started writing this before school started. Will it be helpful?”

Yes. It was incredibly helpful. Lu Li didn’t say anything. His hands felt heavy, as did his heart. Her handwriting was neat and elegant, each stroke carefully written. There were no messy scribbles for corrections; she had carefully drawn a line through any mistakes and written the correct characters beside them. For a moment, he wanted to hug and kiss her like he used to, but as the thought surfaced, a flash of fire appeared in his mind – the flame of the lighter in An Baili’s hand.

He told himself: Lu Li, don’t be fooled again.

He forced himself to look away, placing the document, which represented half a month of An Baili’s sleepless efforts, back in front of her. “It’s useless. Keep it. It’s just taking up space.”

He could clearly see the disappointment in her eyes, the hopeful expression freezing on her face like a statue. He averted his gaze, trying to appear heartless. You couldn’t step into the same river twice. The world was moving forward, and he needed to make a clean break with An Baili.

Chapter 31: Despicable, But Effective

Zou Yameng wasn’t playing today, so she had changed into casual clothes. She wore a light brown linen collared shirt and a crescent-white knee-length skirt. Her ponytail was undone, her hair cascading down, giving her a softer, more feminine look than her usual sharp demeanor. Even more striking was the light makeup she had applied, her lips a vibrant red against her snow-white skin. It was a sight that made it hard to look away.

Lu Li, naturally, showered her with compliments. “Sis, you look so beautiful today!”

“Hmm… Xiao Wen lent me these clothes… I have a broad frame, do you think it’s a bit tight?”

It wasn’t her frame. The thought was a bit inappropriate, so Lu Li kept it to himself.

“No, it fits perfectly. You look stunning. So, why were you in my room this morning?”

Zou Yameng blushed. “Why are you still asking about that? We were both drunk last night. I passed out in your room after helping you back.”

Was that really all? Lu Li wasn’t doubting his sister; he was doubting himself. He was worried that he might have done something irreversible to his sister in his drunken state. He cherished their bond too much to jeopardize it.

“Li Zi, will you accompany me shopping today?” Zou Yameng asked, her eyes darting around, her voice hesitant. She felt despicable, harboring romantic feelings for her brother who had been her only family, and now using the guise of familial affection to get closer to him. The girl with the “Silly Goose” username in his phone had given her an inexplicable sense of crisis. Why would a girl be calling her brother late at night?

Last night, she had been overcome with desire, wanting to do something to her drunken brother. But when she woke up, her courage had vanished. Instead, she had held Lu Li close and poured her heart out to him all night. She was afraid of him discovering her true feelings, afraid of him pushing her away, so she didn’t dare to confess her love while he was sober.

“Sure.”

After a simple breakfast, they walked hand in hand, like a couple. Ever since junior high, Zou Yameng had deliberately avoided physical contact with him, but today, she was the one who initiated the handholding, her grip firm. Lu Li looked at her profile, her soft hand in his, thinking that she had never looked more beautiful. Her outfit was youthful, her demeanor gentle, like a lovestruck maiden, without her usual sharpness.

The September sun was still scorching in Lingyue City, and the streets were filled with young women in hot pants, showing off their long, tanned legs. For men, summer was always the best season, especially in a big city like Lingyue. Lu Li was no exception. He deliberately lagged behind, comparing his sister’s legs to others’.

Perhaps due to years of training, Zou Yameng’s legs were toned and slender, with faint hints of muscle definition. She was tall, with a high waistline. Even though she was wearing a long skirt, the outline of her long legs was still visible. He had always thought she would look amazing in stockings, not too thick, below 60 denier, something that would accentuate her beautiful legs while still retaining the elegance of stockings. If he had to recommend a specific denier, 30 to 60 would be perfect, enough to subtly conceal any imperfections while still being breathable… Ahem, he was getting carried away.

“What are you looking at?”

“Your legs,” Lu Li replied, his expression innocent. “I think your legs are the prettiest.”

Zou Yameng’s face flushed, and she instinctively smoothed down her skirt. Her voice carried a hint of amusement. “How can you say something like that with a straight face?”

“I’m just being honest.” Lu Li quickened his pace, walking beside her. You only needed to carefully choose your words when talking to strangers. It was strange to be guarded with those you were close to. He genuinely thought his sister was beautiful, and that’s what he said. There were no ulterior motives. Appreciation of beauty was human nature; there was nothing to be ashamed of.

Shopping with a woman was a tiring task, even if that woman was Zou Yameng. They strolled through the pedestrian street, stopping at various shops and food stalls. Even the usually frugal Zou Yameng couldn’t resist buying two matching bracelets. The red one was for her, the blue one for Lu Li. Lu Li had always thought wearing bracelets was silly, but seeing his sister’s delighted expression, he swallowed his words.

He almost forgot that she was only eighteen years old. He carefully fastened the bracelet on her wrist, saying gently, “It suits you perfectly.”

“Let’s make a promise.”

“What promise?”

“We’ll never be apart. Even if you get married in the future, you can’t abandon your sister.”

These words didn’t sound like something Zou Yameng would say. Lu Li was taken aback. He saw a flicker of An Baili in her. Back then, An Baili had also said something similar, “Promise me you’ll never leave me, say it a hundred times!” She would say it every day, emphasizing it over and over again. And what had happened? In the end, it was him who broke the promise. Repeating something a hundred times didn’t make it true.

Such promises were meaningless. It was usually young people, yearning for love, who made them. What about him? Lu Li suddenly realized that he had changed. He was no longer confident in love. It wasn’t just failed relationships that cast a shadow; failed marriages did too.

“Okay, I promise,” he said softly.

“Just like these bracelets, neither of us can take them off. Not even your future wife…” Zou Yameng looked adorable in her childish demeanor, her rambling making Lu Li smile.

“Bracelets have a lifespan, but my promise doesn’t. Even if the bracelets break, my love for you will never end.”

In his previous life, Zou Yameng’s life had ended at the age of twenty-four, fading away at the peak of her beauty. A thought flashed through Lu Li’s mind, like a fleeting glimpse of something important, but then it vanished like water slipping through his fingers.

“I’m going back to school the day after tomorrow.”

Zou Yameng paused. “Can’t you stay a few more days? Go back with our team. Will you be able to buy a ticket on your own?”

“I have my class monitor to thank for that. It’s largely thanks to her that I was able to see you this time.”

Zou Yameng deliberately turned her head away, hiding her expression.

“Is it the same class monitor from last time?”

“…Yes.”

“A girl? Are you two close?”

“We’re okay. She’s a kind girl.”

“…”

“Sis?”

“Li Zi, I need to apologize to you.” They reached a shaded area, and Zou Yameng turned to face him, her expression resolute.

Lu Li smiled. “About using my phone to chat?”

Zou Yameng’s eyes widened. “Y-you know? I just… I just wanted to see if you were dating anyone… Were you not really drunk?” By the end of her sentence, her face was crimson, her heart pounding. She hadn’t been this nervous even when facing He Ping. She was terrified that Lu Li would say yes. Did that mean he had heard all her embarrassing confessions last night?

“I only found out when I woke up this morning. You accidentally deleted one too many messages.”

“…I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay.” Lu Li squeezed her hand. “I wouldn’t be angry at you no matter what you do.” She deserved that much.

Lu Li’s magnanimity only made Zou Yameng feel more ashamed. She pouted, her head lowered, unwilling to meet his eyes or speak. She was about the same height as him. Seeing this usually strong girl standing there, looking so dejected, made Lu Li’s heart ache. He slipped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug.

Zou Yameng didn’t resist. They sat down on a bench in the shade, embracing like a couple in love.

“If it weren’t for you, I would have starved to death in that low-rent district. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me all these years.” Lu Li patted her back, his voice soothing, like he was comforting his girlfriend.

Zou Yameng’s heart melted. She was speechless, her body going limp, wanting nothing more than to stay in her brother’s arms forever. In her daze, she vaguely realized that he was very good at comforting people.

She knew she was being despicable, but sometimes, despicable tactics were surprisingly effective in love.

Chapter 30: I’m His Girlfriend

Chu Jingyi pouted at her phone, cheeks puffed out like an angry pufferfish. Her eyes darted back and forth as she tried to figure out what kind of game Lu Li was playing at. After a moment’s thought, she typed out a message.

[Silly Goose: I’m your older sister!]

Silence. Lu Li seemed stunned by her message, and for a while, there was no reply. Chu Jingyi couldn’t help but feel a surge of smug satisfaction. Hmph, trying to play dumb with her? Well, she was too clever for that! But as the seconds ticked by with no response, she started to feel unsure again. Maybe she should play along with Lu Li’s act, pretend to be angry, and indulge his mischievous side? That way, he might actually reply…

Chu Jingyi pondered for a moment, wanting to ask if he was still there. But then she thought about how she always ended up pleading with him, which was so embarrassing. So, she sent a bomb emoji instead, a not-so-subtle hint for him to reply.

[Lu Li: Lu Li is already asleep. Who is this?]

[Silly Goose: Liar. If you’re asleep, then who’s texting me?]

[Lu Li: I’m his girlfriend.]

Chu Jingyi’s smile froze. She stared at the message, a strange feeling twisting in her gut. Lu Li’s prank had worked; she was genuinely upset. The word “girlfriend” in particular left a bitter taste in her mouth. An Baili had also claimed to be Lu Li’s girlfriend, but it hadn’t bothered her then. Maybe even her slow brain knew that An Baili and Lu Li weren’t really close?

[Silly Goose: Stop lying to me! I’m angry!]

Chu Jingyi pouted, trying to rationalize her feelings. Lu Li didn’t have a girlfriend. If he did, he would have told her. This lie was so easy to see through.

A moment later, she received a picture. In the photo, Lu Li was sleeping with his eyes closed. The dim light illuminated a woman’s arm draped around his neck, revealing half of her jawline and her soft lips. Even though her face wasn’t visible, it was easy to imagine that she was beautiful.

Chu Jingyi stared at the picture, searching for any signs of it being photoshopped. She didn’t understand why she was so reluctant to believe that Lu Li had a girlfriend she had never even heard of. A bitter feeling welled up inside her, and she typed out a sullen reply:

[Silly Goose: If you’re lying, I’ll never talk to you again!]

She hoped Lu Li would immediately respond with a “Haha, almost got you!” or a “I’m sorry, I’ll never do it again.” But there was no reply. She could only stare at the picture, her mind racing. Lu Li looked so peaceful, his head resting on the woman’s arm. But he was only a sophomore in high school. How could he… how could he be sleeping next to a girl?

Suddenly, she realized: Lu Li was her good friend. Why was she angry that he had a girlfriend? She should be happy for him! Wait, no, she should be stopping him from dating at such a young age! She was his class monitor, his friend; it was her responsibility to guide him!

Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, like little people arguing inside her head. She felt like she had lost something important. She remembered bumping into Lu Li at the bookstore before school started. She had been so happy to see him because she hadn’t had the chance to properly apologize for what happened last year. She had asked Lu Li’s parents to come to school, causing him a lot of trouble, and she had felt guilty ever since.

That was why she had recognized him instantly at the bookstore. But why had he called her “class monitor”? Chu Jingyi couldn’t stop overthinking. Could it be… that in Lu Li’s eyes, she was just a stranger? The more she thought about it, the more suffocated she felt. She considered him a good friend, but did he feel the same way about her? Come to think of it, Lu Li had always been a loner in class, never particularly close to anyone. Had she been fooling herself into thinking they were closer than they actually were?

The anxieties of a young girl in love were endless, her mind filled with far-fetched speculations. What if? Why? The uncertainty was agonizing.

Just when her eyes were welling up with tears, she received a message from “Lu Li.”

[Lu Li: I’m not lying. Who are you to him?]

What kind of tone was that…? Chu Jingyi’s pout deepened. She wanted to declare, “I’m his best friend!” But after typing out the first few words, she stopped. What if Lu Li didn’t see her that way? It would be humiliating to have her feelings dismissed so casually. She might not have much pride, but she wasn’t going to let herself be treated like a doormat. She deleted the message and stared at her phone, refusing to reply. She remembered how long it had taken him to respond earlier, so she would do the same. Always replying instantly made her feel inferior.

But after a few minutes, tears welled up in her eyes.

[Silly Goose: Let Lu Li talk to me]

She had forgotten the punctuation, a rare occurrence for the usually meticulous Chu Jingyi. She didn’t want to talk to the woman on the other end of the phone. She wanted to talk to Lu Li.

She felt like a deflated ball, tossed around and stepped on. It was an awful feeling. She had never experienced anything like it before, this strange sensation of having her emotions dictated by someone else’s actions.

A voice message arrived. It was a woman’s voice, pleasant and gentle. “Lu Li is asleep. You can tell me what you want to say, and I’ll let him know tomorrow.”

Well, that confirmed it. It wasn’t Lu Li. Chu Jingyi replayed the message over and over again, picturing a beautiful, mature woman holding the phone, imagining Lu Li lying beside her. A wave of sourness washed over her, like she had just bitten into an unripe apple.

She suddenly lost all desire to continue the conversation. Even if Lu Li answered the phone, she didn’t want to say a word. She curled up in bed, her good mood from earlier completely shattered, like a child coming home with a perfect test score, only to be told by her father that he was too busy to celebrate and maybe next time.

She remembered the time she had lost her favorite toy as a child. She had cried so hard, thinking she would never see her Buzz Lightyear again. It felt like he had vanished from her world forever. That was the first time Chu Jingyi had experienced the pain of loss. Today was the second.

But in her innocence, she couldn’t understand why she felt so sad. It wasn’t a heart-wrenching sadness, but a quiet, persistent ache, like a river flowing beneath a thick sheet of ice. Was it because her good friend had lied to her? She wondered.

That night, Chu Jingyi didn’t sleep a wink.

*

When Lu Li woke up from his drunken stupor, the sun was already high in the sky. He could still taste the remnants of alcohol in his mouth.

His lips felt a bit swollen. Was it from drinking too much?

He touched his mouth, thinking he looked like he had sausage lips. He decided to drink less today. His clothes were gone, probably washed and hung out to dry by his sister. He was only in his boxers. He felt a slight stickiness on his inner thighs and figured he must have spilled something on himself last night.

As he got up to get dressed, he saw the bathroom door open. Sister Yameng walked out, brushing her teeth.

“Sister Yameng?! What are you doing in my room?” He had his own room. Shouldn’t she be sharing with Zhou Wen?

Zou Yameng averted her eyes, avoiding his gaze. She mumbled something he couldn’t quite catch before rushing back into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Chapter 29: The Celebration Feast

At seven in the evening, Coach Dan led the group, including Lu Li, to a famous local restaurant. Typically, athletes’ diets were strictly controlled during competitions, and they were not allowed to eat uninspected food. However, Coach Dan clearly didn’t care about these “trivial” rules. After all, she was a former national-level athlete who had coached in Chuanhai and even pulled some strings to get Zou Yameng into the provincial team in the previous life. In short, Coach Dan wasn’t just any ordinary coach.

That afternoon, Lu Li checked out of the rental house, ignoring the landlady’s resentful gaze as he left with his backpack. Then, without a hint of embarrassment, he checked into the hotel – Coach Dan had generously booked him a separate room. The stern-faced female coach, usually known for her serious demeanor, looked at Lu Li with unusual warmth.

He then had to deal with a group of energetic female athletes who surrounded him, asking all sorts of questions. A few bold ones even dared to pinch his cheeks. This was the consequence of not working hard enough; if you didn’t work hard, you would become a plaything for women. When Sister Yameng and Coach Dan returned from their conversation, the girls immediately straightened up, acting like well-behaved young ladies.

“Wuwuwu, Xiao Li Zi, what skincare products do you use? Your skin is so smooth!” Zhou Wen, the most mischievous of the bunch, asked, her mouth practically watering.

Lu Li wiped his forehead, feeling a bead of sweat forming. “I don’t use skincare products.”

Sister Yameng walked over and pinched her best friend’s nose. “Oh really? Trying to get handsy while I’m gone?”

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Stop it, you’ll ruin my nose, and then no handsome guy will want me!”

Zou Yameng sat down next to Lu Li and couldn’t help but hold his hand. “Did they do anything to you?”

Do anything? Sister, you have no idea how enthusiastic the girls from the Women’s Sports School could be. Lu Li wiped his sweat again, trying to maintain a straight face.

“They were all very nice to me.”

Zou Yameng shot her teammates a suspicious look. She didn’t believe him for a second. She knew exactly what those girls were like.

“Don’t you dare lay a finger on my brother! Absolutely not!” Zou Yameng declared, her tone brooking no argument. She rarely pulled rank on her teammates, which was probably one of the reasons why they liked her so much.

The group chatted and played cards in the hotel for a while before it was finally time for dinner. The girls excitedly followed behind Zou Yameng, discussing what dishes were good in Lingyue City, what dishes wouldn’t make them fat, and what dishes, with added L-carnitine, would make them lose weight.

As they settled down at the restaurant and the dishes were served one after another, the girls’ conversation naturally shifted to the day’s match.

“Xiaomeng, did you go online? The video of your match has over 100,000 views! You’re famous!”

“That last shot was amazing! It was so powerful; it felt like it could punch a hole through someone.”

“I know, right? Even He Ping was stunned! I never thought she would be shut out like that!”

Coach Dan chuckled and opened a can of beer. “Anyone underage here? Behave yourselves and stick to non-alcoholic drinks.”

“Cheers to Xiaomeng!”

“Long live Big Sister Yameng!”

Although Lu Li’s glass was filled with milk, he still clinked it with everyone else’s. He didn’t know the athletes from the Chuanhai team well, but the lively atmosphere made him feel included. He was naturally a pessimistic and negative person, but he enjoyed being surrounded by optimism and positivity. It made him feel like his existence in this world held at least a sliver of meaning.

His gaze drifted towards his sister, meeting her eyes across the table. Her affection for him was palpable, her eyes sparkling with joy and another emotion he couldn’t quite decipher.

Lu Li finished his milk in one gulp and poured himself a glass of beer. He wasn’t much of a drinker, but he wanted to get drunk tonight.

As the night wore on and the drinks flowed freely, the girls’ conversation became increasingly uninhibited. Lu Li, however, seemed lost in his own world, his eyes fixed on his sister as he drank steadily. Zou Yameng was all smiles. Perhaps slightly tipsy, she interacted with her teammates with even less restraint. She was beautiful, not just physically, but like a bird with wings bathed in sunlight, radiating the beauty of freedom.

In his previous life, the only time he had seen Zou Yameng drunk was on his college graduation day, when he took An Baili to meet her. He couldn’t remember what his sister had said, only that she had dragged him off to drink, case after case, until her face was flushed and her eyes were glazed over.

And tonight, Zou Yameng seemed drunk again. She leaned against Zhou Wen’s shoulder, singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” in a tone-deaf voice. Lu Li couldn’t help but smile. It was so bad that the other customers might complain. After a few more drinks, he felt his head spinning, and his vision tripled, turning Zou Yameng into three identical figures.

For some reason, the girls started arguing about who had the smallest waist, lifting their shirts and comparing themselves right there in the private room, completely intoxicated. Lu Li found it hilarious. He slurred, raising his glass, “No one has a smaller waist than Sister Yameng… What’s there to argue about… My Sister Yameng is the best… the best…”

His hand loosened, and he slumped over the table, completely passed out. Lu Li’s collapse seemed to be a signal, as the other members of the Chuanhai Women’s Table Tennis Team also started to collapse onto the table one by one, snoring without a care for their image. Coach Dan, her back still straight, sighed in exasperation and called the other coaches to come and take the girls back to the hotel.

“Huh? Yameng, you’re not drunk?”

Zou Yameng lifted her head from the table. Her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes were clear and bright, nothing like the hazy gaze from before. The truth was, she had a high tolerance for alcohol. Even Lu Li didn’t know that she could drink most people under the table, especially when it came to beer. She simply hummed in response and walked over to Lu Li, gently helping him up.

Lu Li was sound asleep, his mouth slightly open, drool trickling down his chin. He looked completely different from his usual composed self. Zou Yameng couldn’t help but smile mischievously. She discreetly buried her face in his neck, inhaling his scent. She had always loved doing this.

“I’ll take Li Zi back first.”

“I’ll have someone pick us up.”

“No need. Li Zi has a weak constitution. He’ll catch a cold if he sleeps out here like this.” With that, Zou Yameng helped the unconscious Lu Li out of the restaurant, hailed a taxi, and returned to the hotel.

She laid Lu Li on the bed and tucked him in, but she didn’t leave. She didn’t turn on the light either. Her bright eyes sparkled in the darkness. She carefully leaned down, her warm breath brushing against Lu Li’s peaceful sleeping face. After a long moment, Zou Yameng made up her mind. Her lips covered his, prying open his mouth. Her tongue explored his mouth, tangling with his.

She gently caressed her brother’s face, feeling her own temperature rising rapidly, especially her ears, which were burning hot.

“Li Zi…”

“Are you awake?”

“No response means you agree~”

She undid the buttons of his shirt, her tongue trailing down his neck, stopping at his chest. There was one thing she had never told Lu Li. She had always found his scent intoxicating, like a forbidden fruit she longed to taste. Now was her chance. Zou Yameng’s tongue swirled around his nipple, and then, with a gentle bite, she sank her teeth into his skin, as if savoring a raisin.

The sensation sent a jolt of desire through her, years of suppressed longing surging forth like a tidal wave. Her breathing grew heavy, her legs instinctively pressing together. But what ultimately broke the spell was the insistent ringing of Lu Li’s phone. She picked it up and saw a message from someone with a golden retriever as their profile picture.

[Silly Goose: Can’t sleep… Lu Li, are you there?]

[Silly Goose: Can I call you…?]

It was like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over her. Zou Yameng instantly sobered up.

[Lu Li: Who is this?]

[Silly Goose: ???]