Baihuo Jie was still bustling with people.
Clearly, the pandemic still felt too distant to the townsfolk to make a dent in their daily rhythm…
“I’m out shopping with Sister Xiaoyuan, what’s a big guy like you butting in for?”
Tang Yayun shot a dissatisfied glance at her self-proclaimed big brother who’d caught up to them, muttering her displeasure.
Tang Chengmin made a fist and coughed lightly into it, then grinned sheepishly and started spouting nonsense with a straight face: “I was just worried you two girls wouldn’t be safe out here. Grandpa specifically told me to look after you!”
“I don’t buy it. I’m calling Grandpa right now!”
Seeing his little sister act like she really was about to pull out her phone and call, Tang Chengmin hurried to stop her: “Hey, hey, hey, my dear sister, I was just joking around. I was bored, that’s all! And anyway, the virus might seem far away, but it’s actually a lot closer than you think! I heard from a classmate in Jiangcheng that people have already snuck out of the city!”
As he spoke, he gestured seriously with his hands, nodding solemnly—but he couldn’t keep it up for even three seconds before going right back to his usual cheeky grin.
Ever since Tang Yayun had seen through his so-called “image,” he had no plans of pretending in front of his cousin anymore.
“For real? How can people act like that!” Tang Yayun’s face changed in surprise. “They’d better not come to Zhannan! Or else we’ll be stuck at home all day…”
“You never know, right?”
“Ugh, you’re such a jinx. Can’t you keep your mouth shut!”
“Nonono, if it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen.”
“…”
Listening to the siblings bicker, Lin Xinyuan couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy too. She had a bad feeling that peaceful days wouldn’t last much longer…
The three chatted as they walked, though it was mostly just the siblings trading jabs, with her occasionally adding a word or two.
That was just how she was—unless she was with people she knew extremely well, she always seemed cold, but deep down, she was mostly just sensitive…
As they walked, Tang Yayun suddenly lit up as if she’d spotted some treasure, and dashed toward the roadside.
Lin Xinyuan glanced over and saw it was a Shoushi Dian selling accessories.
“Wow! Sister Xiaoyuan! These Er Zhui are so pretty!” Tang Yayun turned back to call her, pointing excitedly at a pair of silver Er Zhui on the shelf, her urge to share shining in her eyes.
Before the girl could answer, Tang Chengmin stepped forward to object: “Hey hey hey, aren’t you a Zhongxuesheng? School actually lets you get piercings and wear stuff like that?”
“I can wear them later, can’t I? Mind your own business!”
“Fine, I won’t mind…”
“Exactly, who asked you to tag along and make a fuss~”
Finishing with a triumphant hum, Tang Yayun ignored Tang Chengmin, her bright eyes glued on her cousin.
Lin Xinyuan couldn’t handle the look in Tang Yayun’s eyes. After glancing over the item in her hand, she gave her verdict: “Uh… it’s not bad, I guess?”
Her answer was rather perfunctory—having only been a girl for a few months, she really couldn’t tell good from bad with these sorts of things. They all looked pretty much the same to her…
Tang Yayun pouted, clearly dissatisfied with Lin Xinyuan’s response.
Just as she was about to grab her cousin and keep talking, Lin Xinyuan’s phone suddenly rang in her pocket—
When she pulled out her phone and saw the caller, her expression shifted to surprise, then she turned a bit shy, her cheeks faintly flushed. Suddenly remembering something, she lifted her head in a panic.
Tang Chengmin was giving her a strange look, as if pondering some mystery.
And when Tang Yayun saw her cousin’s bashful demeanor, she instantly understood and lost all interest in the pendant she’d been holding.
Dropping it with a swish, she hurried back to her cousin’s side, leaving the shop owner—who was all set to make a sales pitch—standing there dumbfounded.
“Sis~ Is it your boyfriend?”
Lin Xinyuan was a little reluctant, but she could only hurriedly hang up, afraid to let the girl see, or she’d be in for a round of wild speculation and teasing.
She was thin-skinned and couldn’t stand that sort of thing…
Lowering her head to hide her probably already-flushed face, she answered awkwardly, “I told you it’s not…”
“Eh~ You’re lying, look, your face is all red!”
Tang Yayun teased, and the three of them moved to leave the shop.
But just then, the owner finally snapped out of it. Seeing a rare customer about to leave, she panicked and called out, “Hey, little sister, don’t go! I’ll give you twenty percent off!”
“Really?!”
Tang Yayun’s eyes lit up. She did like those Er Zhui, but they still felt expensive to her, so she hadn’t planned to buy.
Now that the owner had said that, she decided to put Lin Xinyuan’s business aside for the moment!
“Sister Xiaoyuan, wait for me a sec!”
She darted back into the shop, grabbed the Er Zhui again, and grinned: “Hehehe… Boss~ how about forty percent off? I think 120 is just right! If you agree, I’ll buy it!”
The owner sucked in a cold breath. This girl looked young, dressed nicely, and girls her age usually didn’t haggle—she hadn’t expected to meet such a tough customer today.
She tried to work her usual sales pitch to protect her profit margin.
But seeing the relaxed and unconcerned look on Tang Yayun’s face, she hesitated, then grudgingly agreed: “Alright! It’s yours!”
She wouldn’t lose even at forty percent off—still a profit!
Glancing around, she whispered sneakily, “Little sister, don’t tell anyone, or I’ll have trouble running my business…”
“OK, OK!”
“Take care, come again!”
“Bye~”
What an unexpected treat~
Tang Yayun beamed sweetly, waving goodbye to the slightly embarrassed shop owner, and skipped back to her companions, latching onto Lin Xinyuan’s arm: “Sister Xiaoyuan, let’s go!”
“Mm…” Lin Xinyuan’s face had only just calmed down, and she still felt a bit awkward and embarrassed, afraid Tang Yayun would bring up Qin Nanfeng.
Luckily, she’d managed to reply to him while the others weren’t looking. He probably wouldn’t be mad…
After all, in Lin Xinyuan’s impression, that blond rascal was usually quite cheeky and rarely lost his temper—but when he did, he could be truly scary…
With the girl holding her arm, Lin Xinyuan couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable as two soft spots pressed against her with each step—but she didn’t pull away.
It was the stares from passersby that bothered her…
She sneaked a peek at the girl’s chest, and couldn’t help but compare, feeling rather pleased inside.
Yeah… a kid’s a kid. She really was better off than her.
That rascal was always calling her a kid, but she definitely wasn’t, okay! She was way better than a kid…
But just as she thought that, Lin Xinyuan froze, followed by a wave of deep regret and shame…
Why was she even competing with a kid?
It’s all that guy’s fault…
Always saying she was too skinny! She was not skinny at all!
Not at all…
As they walked, Tang Yayun chattered endlessly, as if she’d never run out of things to say.
But Lin Xinyuan didn’t mind, and listened patiently. Still, after a while, her mind began to wander, like spacing out in class.
She suddenly recalled the scene in the Shoushi Dian and found it rather amusing, letting out an involuntary chuckle.
Her laughter was light as a silver bell, pleasant to the ear. Even though it was quiet, the siblings beside her both noticed and looked at her curiously.
Tang Yayun was puzzled—she was just talking about ordinary things, nothing funny.
“What is it, Sister Xiaoyuan? What’s so funny?”
Lin Xinyuan didn’t hide it, though she had her own plans to gloss over Qin Nanfeng’s call…
“It’s just, watching you haggle just now was really funny…”
Before Tang Yayun could reply, Tang Chengmin burst out laughing: “Hahaha, it’s not because she likes haggling, it’s because Laodeng only gives her so much money!”
Tang Chengmin’s sudden teasing irritated Tang Yayun: “Weren’t you like that too? Don’t talk about me!”
“Sorry, but Laodeng doesn’t limit me anymore. Plus, I can earn my own living now~ Hey hey, just admit you’re jealous, aren’t you?”
Tang Yayun held back the urge to chase after her annoying brother and smack him, stamping her foot and choosing to ignore him.
Feeling indignant, she complained to Lin Xinyuan: “Hmph, it’s all my dad’s fault! He always says poverty is Shen Jing, so apart from meals and stuff, I have to save money on everything else I want to buy…”
But she didn’t sound bitter, just letting off steam.
Though her family had some money, their upbringing meant both siblings had practical views on spending.
“Is that so?”
Lin Xinyuan was surprised, but it made perfect sense to her.
“Of course! But that’s fine. Just a couple more years and I’ll get more allowance at university!”
Tang Yayun was already daydreaming about college life, but then glanced sneakily at Tang Chengmin, who was looking at his phone, her eyes darting.
That annoying brother always got under her skin! He looked proper on the outside, but inside he was a total schemer! He’d dated plenty of girls at school!
How did she end up with such a playboy for a brother!
She had to badmouth him a bit!
Under Lin Xinyuan’s curious gaze, Tang Yayun sidled over and whispered, “Hey… Miss, let me tell you… My brother’s had tons of girlfriends at school…”
Lin Xinyuan listened quietly. Though she didn’t like hearing it, she could only admit, even Qin Nanfeng wasn’t as much of a scoundrel as him…
As she was feeling a bit sour and jealous, Tang Chengmin finally noticed the two of them whispering.
“Hey, Tang Yayun! Stop ruining my reputation!”
Tang Chengmin was startled, but since they were out in public, he couldn’t shout about it, or he’d definitely have disciplined her.
Tang Yayun rolled her eyes: “Tsk, ruining your reputation? Just telling the truth—what, the scoundrel can’t be called out?”
“Come on, it’s not like I’ve done anything shameful… Just normal dating!” Tang Chengmin protested, then suddenly realized something. “Wait, hold on! Who told you this?”
“I don’t know! I just found out~”
“It must be Chen Liang, that brat!”
“Guess~”
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