Those who have an elder brother are truly blessed.

Zhao Qian smiled and said, "If Xia Xia became your sister-in-law, would you accept it?"

Lin Xia felt a sudden tightness in her chest, but on her face, she only shot Zhao Qian a dramatic eye roll.

A flicker of reluctance crossed Xie Yitong's heart, mirrored by a brief hesitation on her face. Sun Xiaoxiao laughed and teased, "See? It's not that you dislike Liu Ziqing; you just can't stand any woman appearing by your brother's side."

"It's like when you were little and someone took your favorite toy," Zhao Qian added.

Lin Xia summed it up, "All right, we've figured it out. From now on, don't be so impulsive and quick to flare up. Even if you don't care about Liu Ziqing's feelings, at least give your brother some dignity. Look at today—no matter how you acted, he couldn't bear to say a harsh word to you. If my brother were so thoughtless, I'd have smacked him already."

"That's because you're spoiled by your brother—he'd never hold it against you," someone chimed in.

Lin Xia shook her head helplessly and took a sip of warm water. "I dream of having such a wonderful brother, instead of a brother who constantly worries everyone. When you two have little brothers of your own, you'll know how rough it is to be an older sister."

"Oh? Is it really that bad?" Sun Xiaoxiao, ever the gossip, asked eagerly.

"When you're little, you have to give in to him, all because you're the older sister. When you grow up, you have to outshine him in everything, just to set a good example. And I bet even when I get married and have kids, I'll still be living in my brother's shadow," Lin Xia sighed.

Zhao Qian mused, "So, is Yitong's brother such an outstanding person just so he could be a good role model for her?"

Lin Xia forked a small piece of cake, popped it in her mouth, and mumbled, "It's possible. You know, being an elder brother is even harder than being an elder sister. At least as a girl, you might get your little brother to stand up for you once he grows up. But a brother? He has to take care of his sister for life—because she’s a girl!"

"Wow, that sounds wonderful. I wish I had a brother," Sun Xiaoxiao, an only child, sighed wistfully. "If Chen Zi were my brother, I'd never mind who he dated, especially if it was someone as beautiful as Liu Ziqing."

"If you want a brother, you'll have to wait for your next life!" Xie Yitong teased, feeling much better after all the banter. She picked up a piece of cake and joked with Sun Xiaoxiao.

Sun Xiaoxiao pouted, "So mean! After all my concern for you, is this how you treat me?"

"Pfft," Xie Yitong nearly choked on her cake. "Please, can you stop quoting those cringey lines from Taiwanese idol dramas? They make me want to gag."

Zhao Qian hurried over and chimed in, "Speaking of which, the latest articles written by Liuyan are so heartwarming. They make your heart feel warm and sour all at once."

At that, Sun Xiaoxiao forgot her earlier annoyance and exclaimed, "Just like that poem—'Youth, your name is beauty; secret love, your name is bittersweet.'"

Lin Xia, long accustomed to being the subject of conversation, just looked puzzled. "What poem is that? I've never heard it before."

Xie Yitong snorted, "That’s nonsense. The poet is Sun Xiaoxiao."

Sun Xiaoxiao gasped, leapt to her feet, and declared, "Xie Yitong, today I’m challenging you to a duel! No one try to stop me!"

Xie Yitong was not to be outdone, standing up abruptly as well. "Fine! I’m not afraid!"

Lin Xia and Zhao Qian, always eager for a bit of chaos, clapped and cheered, even imitating the start of a video game, shouting in strange voices, "Ready—go!"

Seeing the other two so enthusiastic, Sun and Xie quickly joined forces against their external foes. The four of them dissolved into laughter and playful chaos. Once their moods had lifted, they left the teahouse together and headed to the bookstore across the street to buy books—after all, that was the real reason for their outing.

With their purchases in hand, the four went their separate ways.

"Xia Xia, I’m not going home tonight. I’ll sleep at your place," Xie Yitong said, hugging her stack of books.

Knowing how proud she could be, Lin Xia agreed readily, "Sure. Just call your mom and let her know you’re staying at my house to study."

Yitong grinned, nodding emphatically.

It had been over a month since the new term began, and during that time, Lin Xia had claimed first place in every test for the entire second-year class. This left their homeroom teacher, Ma Guoqiang, utterly baffled—he couldn't help but wonder if the other students had just become lazy, unable to surpass this transfer student from the countryside. After all, rural schools couldn't compare to city schools in terms of teaching staff and equipment.

When they called Xie Fanghua to say her daughter would be at Lin Xia’s house doing homework and wouldn’t be home that night, she was delighted and had little to add, only reminding her daughter to mind her manners and not cause trouble.

Xie Yitong, impatient, assured her repeatedly before hanging up, then slumped onto the sofa beside Lin Xia, who was reading. "My mom must be going through menopause—she nags so much, I can’t stand it."

Lin Xia looked up and replied with a smile, "She only does it for your own good."

"I know it’s for my own good. If it weren’t, who would put up with it?" She punched a pillow. "By the way, do you have any good books here?"

"They’re all on the shelf—help yourself," Lin Xia replied, returning her attention to her book.

"Okay."

The Lin family, especially Lin Xia’s mother, welcomed Xie Yitong’s visits with open arms. Not only had her father been a great help to the family, but with Lin Xia still attending their school, they relied on such connections. Lin Hui, too, was about to graduate elementary school and would soon be enrolling in the Experimental Middle School. They had high hopes for the friendship between the two girls.

Given that Xie Yitong had such an outstanding brother, it was only natural that she too would be exceptional—if perhaps a bit more lively and less settled.

That night, as Xie Yitong rolled around on Lin Xia's double bed, she also raided the wardrobe, trying on every piece of clothing. Lin Xia lay on the bed reading, amused as Yitong changed outfits, spinning around after each one.

"Aren’t you supposed to be doing this in front of your boyfriend? Why are you so enthusiastic in front of me? Don’t fall in love with me," Lin Xia teased.

Yitong pounced on her. "You! Why do you always say such hurtful things? Hmph!"

They laughed and played for a while, until Lin Xia glanced at the clock on the bedside table and said to Yitong, now wrapped up like a cocoon, "All right, it’s late, let’s sleep."

Yitong glanced at the clock—it was only eleven—and pouted, "Tomorrow’s Sunday. Why sleep so early?"

Lin Xia closed her book, set it on the little shelf, rubbed her eyes sleepily, and replied, "Don’t you know that sleep is a woman’s best skincare routine? You have to start taking care of yourself while you’re young. Wait until you’re old and it’ll be too late."

Hearing this, Yitong hurried into the dressing room, put on Lin Xia's pajamas, and slipped under the covers.

Once she was settled, Lin Xia turned off the bedside lamp.

Before long, both girls drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile, far away in City B, Xu Yichen awoke from a dream with a start, sitting bolt upright in bed.

Liu Ziqing...

In the darkness, his eyes were as deep and impenetrable as ink, as if they could swallow all the shadows around him.