Chapter 18: There’s Always Something in Common

The afternoon of early June was quiet and warm.

No cicadas, no birds, only the gentle voice of a girl tutoring.

Not assisting, but real exam tutoring.

Su Nuo’s goal was clear—passing was enough; anything a bit harder wasn’t worth the extra effort.

Besides, Su Xiao Nuo wasn’t completely clueless.

After three years of university, some knowledge lingered in her mind.

Most of the afternoon passed, and both were satisfied with their study progress.

“That’s enough for this subject.”

Lin Chu Xi twisted open a bottle of soda water, handed it to Su Nuo, then grabbed another to take a few sips herself.

“One subject per day. There’s enough time.”

Su Nuo took the bottle, gulped it down, and unbuttoned her collar, fanning herself inside with her hand.

There was air conditioning in the dorm, and it wasn’t that hot, but studying consumed a lot of energy.

She studied half, while Su Xiao Nuo watched the other half.

It really saved a lot of time and energy.

“Just hang in there. Once exams are over, it’s vacation.”

Su Xiao Nuo said.

True.

After vacation starts, as long as you serve the big sister well, that’s all that matters.

Others who are interning have much more to worry about.

Su Nuo looked up at Lin Chu Xi, who was drinking water, and suddenly remembered how Su Xiao Nuo used to address her.

She couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Lin Chu Xi, are you going home after the break? Is your home here or elsewhere?”

“In Mo Hai,”

The girl replied.

“It used to be a bit far, but recently my sister bought a place nearby, so she let me stay there during the break.”

“I see.”

Su Nuo let out a couple of clearing-throat noises in her mind.

She didn’t say much, but everything was clear without words.

See, if I’d just asked a few more questions back then, I wouldn’t have mistaken her for someone from out of town.

Half a minute passed before Lin Chu Xi spoke again.

“But I’ll stay a few days after the Final Exam. There’s a project from the professor I agreed to help with… because… I don’t want to go home so soon.”

Su Xiao Nuo shouted, “There’s a story!”

She stood up in Su Nuo’s mind with a slap—so fast.

She loved listening to tales of family feuds.

Su Nuo was also a bit curious.

“Why? Isn’t home good?”

“Home is fine, but…”

Lin Chu Xi screwed the cap back on her bottle and set it on the table.

After a few seconds of silence, she spoke slowly.

“I have a very capable sister. She’s excellent, and very strict. I know it’s for my own good, but sometimes… it’s suffocating.”

The pressure from her sister was too much.

Su Xiao Nuo was a bit disappointed.

She’d thought it was some major fight over inheritance, but it turned out to be just this.

To be honest, Su Nuo couldn’t help with family matters, but seeing Lin Chu Xi looking down, she tried to offer comfort.

“You said she cares about you, so she definitely doesn’t have bad intentions.”

“But I’m not a child anymore.”

Lin Chu Xi sighed.

“Right, maybe that’s the problem. You’ve grown up, but she hasn’t realized it yet. Maybe you two need to talk, improve your relationship, and get to know each other again.”

The world is a huge formula.

Su Nuo took what the girl said and offered a practical solution.

Lin Chu Xi was silent for a while, as if considering seriously.

In the end, she shook her head.

“It’s not that easy. Her work is important and she values efficiency. It’s hard for her to have the leisure to ‘sit down and talk.'”

So that’s how it was.

Indeed, it wasn’t easy.

But then again, though it’s difficult, it’s not an unsolvable problem.

Su Nuo thought for a moment and suggested,

“Why not start with a common topic? You’re sisters, so there must be something you can talk about.”

“But we have almost no common topics…”

“There must be some, you just haven’t found them yet. Like I said, you’re sisters. There will always be something in common.”

Lin Chu Xi was persuaded and decided to try it later.

“Thank you, Su Nuo.”

The girl said sincerely.

She felt it.

Ever since that day, as long as she was with her busty roommate, any problem seemed less daunting.

When she was with Su Nuo, the blue-screened computer was fixed, the street she wanted to shop at was visited, and even the sister she’d been avoiding suddenly became less scary.

But Su Xiao Nuo was not optimistic.

“Su Nuo, you have to know, having things in common and common topics isn’t always a good thing.”

She said.

“Like those people we saw in class today.”

They all disliked the poor and admired the rich, so they couldn’t get along.

Su Nuo’s mouth twitched.

“That’s an exception.”

“It’s not just one example. My mom and I are the same.”

Su Xiao Nuo offered another case.

“We both want to laze around, but she’s afraid I’ll steal her bed, so she doesn’t want to see me.”

Ironclad evidence, really.

Su Nuo’s eyelid twitched for a long time before she spoke.

“What you’re saying is too extreme. I believe Lin Chu Xi and her sister won’t be like that.”

How could there be such coincidences, where shared traits lead to enmity?

In short, apart from Su Xiao Nuo’s overthinking, everything today went smoothly.

The last two days before the weekend passed in roommate tutoring.

Su Nuo grew more skilled in Cross-Neural Learning with Su Xiao Nuo.

The time spent on each subject decreased, and while she couldn’t guarantee much for the Final Exam, passing was certain.

She faced the last weekend before vacation with a relaxed mindset.

On Saturday morning, the sky was gloomier than usual.

Su Nuo got up and got dressed, changing into her usual JK Uniform.

She packed her pajamas and sleep shorts into her backpack.

She’d be staying at Lin Yingluo’s house over the weekend, returning Sunday afternoon.

A drowsy yawn echoed in her mind.

Su Xiao Nuo got up from the floor, rubbing her eyes.

“Su Nuo, why are you up so early today? Sleep a little longer~”

Yesterday’s cross-neural learning had drained her spirit.

“Sleep on your own,”

Su Nuo continued packing.

“The weather forecast says it might rain today. I need to head out early.”

“Oh… Then be careful on the way.”

Su Xiao Nuo flopped back down, falling asleep again.

It was called early, but it wasn’t really that early—at least not compared to Lin Chu Xi.

Her roommate was as diligent as ever, out for a morning run and breakfast at dawn.

Su Nuo looked at the empty bed across from her and thought, maybe this healthy routine was also thanks to her sister’s influence.

What a wholesome family.

After packing up, she left the dorm, glanced at the thickening clouds above, and decided to send Lin Chu Xi a message:

[I’m going to the workplace I found before. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.]

Recently, they’d grown closer, shopping together, tutoring, even exchanging gifts.

They could be considered good friends now, so it was only proper to let her know she’d be away for two days.

Soon, her roommate replied:

[Okay. Safe travels.]