After entering the neighborhood, Xu Huo took off his backpack and ran.
Jiang Ran moved a bit slower.
After parking her bike, she also raised her little fists and chased after him, looking like she was about to tear him apart.
The gatekeeper watched the two of them chasing each other in, already used to the sight.
After all, he’d watched these two little ones grow up together, and their relationship had always been this good.
Jiang Ran chased Xu Huo from the neighborhood entrance all the way to the elevator.
Xu Huo frantically pressed the elevator button, but the elevator just wouldn’t come.
In the end, he got a couple of solid punches from her.
“Hiss! Be gentle! That hurts…”
“Who told you to call me a pig?”
“Pigs are cute, aren’t they? Lots of pretty girls use piggies as their profile pictures.”
This was a rule Xu Huo had discovered himself.
The prettier the girl, the stranger her profile picture and emojis.
For example, Han Xiao’s profile was “Carefree Bro,” and even her online name was that.
Probably because of the “Xiao” in her name.
When you clicked her profile, you’d see a silly, cute white eggshell.
Maybe their looks gave them the confidence…
“Who would believe you?”
“Ah! Don’t tickle there, ya mang die~~”
“Just fight! Just keep fighting!”
After giving her sharp-tongued brother a fierce lesson, the little girl was in a great mood, humming a tune as she stepped out of the elevator.
Open the door, close the door, turn on the lights inside, pick up a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet at the entrance and change into them, her footsteps light and happy.
As she walked, she gathered her messy hair into a ponytail, opened the balcony door to let out the stuffy air from the day, and then started complaining that she was hungry.
There were still some leftovers from lunch, which the two of them quickly finished off.
After eating, Xu Huo read a book, while Jiang Ran did the dishes.
Once Jiang Ran finished tidying up, she wiggled her bouncy little bottom and sat down across from her brother, bored, and started scrolling on her phone.
Her hands were small, so she held the phone in both hands.
Her two delicate, cute thumbs moved swiftly across the keyboard as she chatted with someone on the other end.
They were all classmates from school.
Since they’d only just gotten to know each other, their chat topics were still a bit reserved, everyone acting all cool and aloof.
Only after they got more familiar did they realize each one was weirder than the last.
After talking about exam prep, Jiang Ran suddenly remembered something, [By the way! Hui Hui, what do you think is a good gift to give a boy?]
Actually, ever since the guaranteed admission results came out, Jiang Ran had been thinking about this.
In the past, her brother always prepared gifts for her, but this time she had plenty of time and refused to just scramble at the last minute.
Just imagine…
On the day of the exam, she’d wait outside the school gates, and when her brother came out, she’d hand him the gift with both hands. Just thinking about it felt so heartwarming!
Unfortunately, when you’re in it, it’s hard to see clearly—she had no idea what to give.
Honestly, given how much her brother doted on her, he’d probably love even her used socks, but that was just because he liked his little sister, not because he liked the gifts she gave…
But Jiang Ran was mistaken.
He didn’t like her socks because he doted on her, but because all boys liked them.
Who didn’t like ice cream, after all?
She had racked her brains for several nights and still couldn’t decide what to get him.
[For your brother?]
The girl on the other end didn’t even think in the direction of “boyfriend.”
In their little group, there was a near-universal understanding.
Anyone could possibly fall in love early, except Jiang Ran.
She always talked about her brother, and whenever someone asked what kind of boyfriend she wanted, she’d casually reply: Someone like my brother.
That’s textbook brocon!
She felt her brother treated her so well, so her boyfriend would have to treat her just as well.
But since she’d always lived with her brother, it gave her a kind of illusion, Who needs a boyfriend, when you already have a brother by your side?
So, to win her heart, someone would have to treat her even better than her brother did?
Otherwise, what’s the point?
But what normal person could be more devoted than a brother who’s been with her since childhood?
It’s impossible.
[Yeah, the college entrance exam is coming up, right? I want to prepare early so the delivery isn’t delayed.]
[Well, it depends on whether you want it to be practical or not…]
[Is there a difference?] Jiang Ran asked tentatively.
As the one who’d always been spoiled, she really didn’t have any experience giving gifts.
[For example, most people buy souvenirs when they travel. Practical ones are snacks or local specialties, impractical ones are postcards or crafts… If it were you, which would you prefer?]
Jiang Ran fell into deep thought.
If it were her, she’d probably prefer snacks, right?
But snacks disappear once you eat them, while the other kind lasts a long time.
[Then I guess practical… My brother’s not really into eating.]
[That makes it easy. Clothes, sneakers, razors are all fine. If you want something expensive, graphics cards, game consoles…]
[Alright, I’ll think about it some more.]
[Too bad it’s your brother, or I’d have an even better suggestion—one that would blow everything else away.]
[What is it?]
Jiang Ran couldn’t wait to find out.
[The college entrance exam is over… That’s so memorable, right? Why not just give yourself to him? In our class, a few couples have already decided to go to Disney after the exam… They’ve even booked hotels. What do you think they’re planning to do?]
Even punctuation wasn’t enough to express her feelings.
What kind of talk was this?
Was she supposed to buy a big gift box, get some red ribbons, then strip herself bare except for covering the three main spots, and when he opened the box, she’d jump into his arms shouting, “Brother! Surprise”?
Damn it, why did just imagining that make her a little excited?!
The sweetest feelings of a young girl blossomed just like that, like a flower bud kissed by dew.
As the petals peeled back, the fragrance at the heart of the flower was released in an instant.
Jiang Ran’s footsteps were light and quick…
***
“What are you smiling about?”
Whenever Xu Huo looked up, he’d always catch her gaze, just like a cute kitten fixated on something.
“Nothing.”
“Weirdo.”
Sometimes she got so absorbed that Xu Huo would forget his little sister was sitting right in front of him.
Sitting upright for so long made him a bit sore, so he leaned forward a bit.
And then, by accident, he bumped into Jiang Ran’s leg. It was like getting shocked—he immediately pulled his leg back and glanced up at her.
She was absorbed in her phone, apparently not noticing.
Xu Huo sneaked a peek under the table and shifted a little.
Jiang Ran didn’t react.
So he moved again.
Jiang Ran raised her head: “What’s wrong?”
“Your legs are on my side!”
“I have long legs!”
“Liar, you’re not even blushing!”
Xu Huo bent down to check out her legs.
Just a moment ago, her toes had been gently swaying.
Now, seeing her brother looking at her, Jiang Ran stopped moving her feet in a ladylike way and bent down as well, curiously comparing their leg lengths.
“What are you looking at?”
“You call this the same?”
Xu Huo pressed their legs together.
His foot could easily reach her waist, but Jiang Ran, even straining with all her might, could only touch his pocket.
“You’re much taller than me, so it’s normal for your legs to be a bit longer, right? Why not look at the proportions?”
“Then can you move them back a bit?”
Jiang Ran’s long legs began kicking, constantly pushing Xu Huo toward the edge of the coffee table.
Xu Huo grabbed Jiang Ran’s fair, tender little foot—her arch was round and smooth, delicate and soft.
He gazed into her lively eyes, and as their eyes met, a faint blush crept onto Jiang Ran’s cheeks.
A feeling she couldn’t quite describe slowly spread through Jiang Ran’s heart.
Maybe this was that certain stirring of youth she’d never experienced before?
Xu Huo didn’t notice. He let go of his little sister’s foot and said in disgust, “Ugh, it stinks!”
“How does it stink?”
Jiang Ran felt wronged, so she teased her brother with her foot, rubbing it against his thigh.
This was a huge blessing for any foot fetishist.
Of course, Xu Huo wasn’t a foot fetishist, but he was a normal guy, and still, his heart started racing.
“Don’t push me…”
“So what if I do? I’m not doing anything. Who says little sisters can’t snuggle up to their brothers?”
Jiang Ran taunted him relentlessly.
Xu Huo grabbed Jiang Ran’s delicate foot, his fingertips tracing across her sole…
Jiang Ran’s body suddenly tensed up, and then she began struggling wildly: “Stop, stop, stop! I was wrong!”
This was the classic case of talking tough when you’re winning, and begging for mercy when you’re losing.
Xu Huo ignored her and added two more fingers.
Jiang Ran struggled even harder, her fair face turning bright red.
“Brother… it tickles…”
Jiang Ran’s voice was uncontrollably nasal.
From her neck to her arms, goosebumps popped up everywhere.
“If you keep this up, I’ll really get mad!”
“I won’t dare anymore.”
“Please, spare me!”
“Ahahahahahahaha…”
“Stop! Please!”
After tickling and tickling, Xu Huo suddenly realized Jiang Ran had stopped moving.
At first, she’d tried to sound stern to warn him, but then her delicate body slowly went limp, her breathing grew rapid, and now she was lying on the floor, not moving at all.
He leaned over to look at her face and suddenly understood what it truly meant to look like a peach blossom—her cheeks were flushed as if drunk, and her dazed eyes seemed to hold a pool of autumn water.
He’d never seen Jiang Ran look like this before, and it completely stunned him.
…Did he just play Jiang Ran too hard?
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