Jiang Ran sighed, earnestly advising, “Brother, I can understand you being shy in front of other girls, but I’m your sister. Why can’t you honestly praise my looks?”
“Because when you were little, you always secretly snuck into my bed and wet it… Have you ever seen a goddess wake up covered in the smell of pee?”
Jiang Ran froze, her small face flushing quickly.
She angrily twisted the soft flesh on Xu Huo’s waist, indignant, “That was ages ago!”
“Ah—Easy, easy, it’s gonna bruise!”
It’s truly irritating, but Xu Huo has always had a strange habit of liking to provoke Jiang Ran.
He touched the spots on his waist where she had pinched him; they were still a bit bruised.
“Then tell me honestly, am I good-looking or not?”
“You look pretty good at night.”
“Why?”
“Can’t see clearly at night, haha… Ahhh! Easy! Easy! It hurts!”
Go to hell!
Thinking he’s hot stuff just because he’s the older brother!
Not all girls are soft and cute, especially creatures like sisters; they are “the pinker they dress, the harder they hit.”
Xu Huo completely stopped being arrogant.
What kind of temper did Jiang Ran have?
Give her an inch, and she’d take a mile.
The more you coaxed her, the more she’d gloat.
Now she seemed genuinely upset; any more teasing and she’d definitely cry.
“Do you even need to ask if you’re good-looking? Would Mom and Dad make me keep an eye on you about early relationships if you were ugly?”
Xu Huo felt no guilt about bullying people.
But when it came to bullying a silly girl, Xu Huo felt deeply sinful.
“Really?”
Jiang Ran’s voice sounded somewhat excited, “Why do I feel like you’re still just humoring me? No, you have to prove it!”
“How do I prove it?”
Xu Huo frowned.
Is there truly someone who’s adorable and doesn’t know it?
Unlike most girls, Jiang Ran’s cuteness was constant.
When drinking water, she’d always cup the glass with both hands.
When sleeping, she’d always curl up, clutching the corner of the blanket.
When happy, she’d always skip while walking.
Especially, she could always maintain an exaggerated wonder about everything around her, which could greatly satisfy the emotions of others.
Most importantly, all these expressions of hers were extremely natural, without the slightest affectation, as if they were ingrained traits.
“I once read a Weibo post that said if someone thinks you’re good-looking, just make eye contact with them. If they shyly look away, then you’re good-looking.”
Jiang Ran crossed her arms, suddenly looking at Xu Huo, eager to try:
“How about we try it? See if you still won’t admit I’m good-looking!”
“Get lost!”
Jiang Ran seemed not to hear, speaking to herself, “If you look away, it means you think I’m good-looking and were deliberately lying to annoy me, so I’ll beat you up. If you don’t look away, it means you really don’t think I’m pretty, then I’ll beat you up even more!”
After she finished speaking, she was probably surprised that she could come up with such a win-win solution.
She put her face close to his, looking radiant, with a hint of shyness and eagerness…
Seriously!
Now only symbols could express his feelings.
“Stop messing around.”
Xu Huo quickly finished his bowl, grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth haphazardly, and stood up, “Remember to wash the dishes.”
“Are you recording a song again?”
“Yeah.”
“Then when can we cash in? I want to be rich.”
“Until university. I can’t just run around selling copyrights now, can I? What if Mom and Dad see it as not doing proper work and beat me to death?”
“Okay, then, do you want to see the songs I wrote?”
“You write songs too?”
Xu Huo was shocked.
“Just wrote them for fun when I was bored in class. I’ll accompany you then.”
“You got direct admission for this? How?”
After his shock, he still took the notebook Jiang Ran handed him.
“How’s the writing?”
Jiang Ran had been quietly watching him from the side.
As soon as he finished reading, she cautiously asked.
Xu Huo didn’t speak, turning to look at the balcony.
Time passed bit by bit.
Today’s wind seemed a bit boisterous, making the leaves rustle loudly.
After a long while.
Only a soft sigh was heard.
“It’s a pity there’s no Golden Razzberry Award for songs, otherwise it would definitely be yours.”
“Brother, why do I feel like you’re being sarcastic?”
Jiang Ran widened her eyes, unsure whether to be happy or sad.
Sarcastic?
How could it be!
This was definitely a compliment.
It’s truly difficult to be this bad.
“Just focus on your studies… Da Ran, you’re different from others. You shouldn’t waste time on things like this.”
Xu Huo rubbed her head.
Watching Xu Huo enter his bedroom, Jiang Ran pursed her lips and carefully stuffed the lyrics into her backpack.
She really thought they were quite catchy.
Then she stacked the dishes and took them to the kitchen.
She rolled up her sleeves, squeezed some dish soap onto the sponge, worked up some bubbles, and bent slightly to carefully scrub the plates.
Her movements were a bit clumsy, but she was serious.
“Woof woof.”
“Hmm?”
Jiang Ran turned to look.
“You really are quite pretty, don’t worry, you haven’t grown up to be ugly.”
Xu Huo finished speaking and gently closed the door.
With just that, Jiang Ran’s recently calmed heart started uncontrollably pounding again.
Her small hand unconsciously tugged at the corner of her clothes, her feet restlessly rubbed the floor, and she lowered her head, lost in thought.
She wasn’t unfamiliar with compliments, but this “return shot” was a bit sudden…
Dong!
Dong!
“Who is it?!”
Her mood abruptly disturbed, Jiang Ran was a little impatient.
She scurried over to open the door, and a beautiful, vibrant girl stood before her.
Their eyes met.
Both froze.
Jiang Ran leaned out halfway, one hand on the door, tilting her head to look at the girl in front of her.
“Han Xiao?”
“Hello, is Xu Huo home?”
Every injustice has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor.
The “emotions” brewing on Han Xiao’s face instantly dissipated.
“What do you want with my brother?”
“I’m here to ‘thank’ him!”
Han Xiao deliberately emphasized the word.
“…Oh, I see.”
Jiang Ran scratched her head, feeling she had no reason to refuse, so she took a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and offered them to Han Xiao, “Then please come in.”
“Thank you.”
Han Xiao changed into the slippers, her steps a little unsteady due to the wound on her knee.
“Brother!”
Jiang Ran called out.
There was no response from the bedroom, only a faint guitar sound.
She then looked apologetic, “Sorry, my brother’s recording a song. He’s probably wearing headphones, and it’s not good to disturb him. Would you mind waiting a few minutes?”
“Recording a song?”
“Just a small hobby.”
“Then I’ll wait a bit.”
Han Xiao asked with a smile, “What’s your name?”
“Jiang Ran.”
“Brother’s surname is Xu, sister’s surname is Jiang?”
“I have my mother’s surname…”
“I see. Are there only two of you at home? I don’t seem to see your aunt and uncle.”
“Yeah, my mom and dad always work out of town. They rarely come back.”
“I see…”
Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction, a sly smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Of all the things Xu Huo said, only this last part was debatable.
If Jiang Ran had claimed her family truly was miserable, she’d have felt guilty.
But now… heart locked, love sealed.
I am a heartless killer!
The muscles on her face twitched incessantly, and her eyes, fixed on Xu Huo’s bedroom door, were full of murderous intent.
But then, a melodious male voice, accompanied by a melody, wafted out from the bedroom.
【In childhood, who’s light did I steal by chiseling the wall?】
【Night after night, unkempt, ten years of bitter study.】
【Now reading leisurely under the lamp, with a beauty’s scent.】
【Half a lifetime of fleeting fame is but an illusion.】
After only four lines, Han Xiao’s pupils instantly dilated.