This mood lasted until the end of the morning self-study period, when Lin Xinyu started to frown as he prepared to leave the classroom.
"Got any candy?"
Instead of hurrying from his seat, Lin Xinyu asked Bai Shihan for candy.
"Yes, I do..."
Fishing one out from her desk drawer, Lin Xinyu took it, immediately tore off the wrapper, and popped it into his mouth.
"I'm heading out!"
Even though she wanted to warn him not to go smoke, she couldn't bring herself to say it in the end.
Bai Shihan sighed, feeling a bit annoyed.
Outside the classroom.
Lin Xinyu's main reason for coming out was to talk to Kong Yu. After all, he was his high school brother, and furthermore, they would be steadfast buddies down the road, going through thick and thin together without ever fleeing the battlefront. No matter what, he didn't want to watch him continue to degenerate.
It wasn't that he liked meddling in other people's business; it was just that Lin Xinyu remembered during one of their past get-togethers and chats, Kong Yu had complained more than once about how much time he had wasted back then.
Compared to Kong Yu, his college roommates were rather backstabbing and manipulative, with only one or two worth hanging out with. The rest would claim to worry about how their brothers were doing, while secretly terrified that their brothers might be better off than them.
...
There were only a few usual gathering spots.
Either the restroom or the storage closet. The restroom carried a certain risk—he might have the bad luck of running smack into Old Chen.
What stayed fresh in Lin Xinyu's memory was the time they gathered in the restroom, and thinking a brother had walked up beside him, he casually handed over the mosquito repellent incense, only to hear the familiar voice of their head teacher.
"Living it up, aren't you? You're smoking pricier stuff than I am."
At the entrance of the storage closet.
Before he even knocked, Lin Xinyu could hear the commotion coming from inside.
"Fatty, open up."
He gave a rhythmic knock, and Kong Yu poked his head out from within.
"What's this? Yesterday someone said he wasn't coming, and today he couldn't help himself?"
"Get out of here. I came to tell you guys that I'm not planning to come here anymore from now on, and you should watch yourselves too. You'd better find a way to get a college degree. There are only a few months left. I hate hearing this kind of talk myself, but without a diploma, your options drop drastically."
This was said solely for Kong Yu's benefit. As for the others inside, aside from borrowing money from him down the road, he never kept in touch with them anyway, so there was no point in warning them—he was no saint.
"What's got into you, Brother Yu? What's been up these past two days?" Kong Yu closed the storage closet door, then pulled Lin Xinyu to the side, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "Brother Yu, be straight with your brother. Did something happen recently? Don't be afraid of dragging your brothers down—whatever it is, I, your dad here, will charge in first!"
Don't let Kong Yu's blunt talk fool you now; later on, he would become extremely refined—compared to how he was now, it was like night and day.
"Your sister-in-law won't let me smoke."
"..."
"Seriously, take this chance to review a few rounds. Don't regret it later."
What's more, Kong Yu's family situation was a bit different. His parents divorced when he was young, and he grew up with his mother. Don't let his current optimistic facade fool you; his internal pressure was actually immense. Otherwise, when a junior girl confessed to him around graduation, how could he possibly have turned her down?
It wasn't until later on, after making a little bit of money, that he finally dared to try dating, only to end up completely inexperienced, getting conned into spending money, and still being happy about it...
"What is wrong with you, Brother Yu? You've been acting very strange these past two days."
Kong Yu still couldn't believe it. Usually, Lin Xinyu was always the first one to rush forward and lead the charge, and now he was preaching about studying hard? If he claimed nothing had happened, he wouldn't believe it even if it killed him!
"Listen to your brother, review properly, and don't come crying to me regretting it later, sniffling like a baby..."
"Bulls***! I'm still tough even when my discs get snatched!"
Lin Xinyu didn't have time to keep wasting it on him. After giving a few final reminders, he went to the washbasin, wet his palms, and patted them against his school uniform to dissipate the tobacco smell he'd just brought over from Kong Yu.
When he sniffed himself and found the odor had faded significantly, he waved goodbye to Kong Yu. The milk candy was still in his mouth, leaving his utterly bewildered good brother standing right where he was.
With things left like this, Kong Yu lost all mood. Out of the whole group, Lin Xinyu was the one he hung out with the most, and since his good buddy said he rarely came here anymore, what was the point of him coming here in the future?
...
Bai Shihan rested her head on her desk, her gaze drifting toward the window from time to time, waiting for Lin Xinyu to return. But the moment she thought about that foul smell appearing again, her lips puckered into an unhappy pout. Then she reached out and ruffled the snacks in her desk drawer to vent her emotions.
Seeing his figure enter her field of vision, she stopped moving, buried her little head against her arms, and pretended to rest while holding her nose tightly shut, as if doing so meant she wouldn't have to smell any odors.
Not only that, her little ears listened with utmost attention, quietly waiting for him to walk over and then shifting inward to make space.
"Asleep?"
"M-hm."
"Then I won't make you smell it."
"Huh?"
Bai Shihan didn't catch his meaning, but it was awkward to lift her head right away. In the end, she could only slowly shift away from her arm, revealing her eyes to look at Lin Xinyu.
"This candy is really sweet."
Lin Xinyu deliberately let the milk candy show in his mouth to prove he hadn't been lighting mosquito repellent incense.
Yet when he looked at Bai Shihan, he found that the little dilly was actually frowning in disgust?
"Ugh, ugh..."
The word "heart" failed to leave Bai Shihan's lips; she was a bit afraid of angering Lin Xinyu, but the thought of him eating milk candy while going to the restroom flashed through her mind...
"Huh? Come closer and take a sniff."
Right now, Lin Xinyu looked like a devil dancing and brandishing his claws in front of Bai Shihan. But when she sniffed the air, she realized the hateful smell she remembered wasn't there at all.
"See? You wronged me. As punishment, you're buying my lunch at noon."
Bai Shihan felt extremely aggrieved: "Y-you, you're bullying me again..."
.
.
010. Why do I feel a little... unfulfilled?
By lunchtime, a single glance was all it took for Bai Shihan to obediently follow behind Lin Xinyu toward the cafeteria.
"Are you really going to be okay?"
Lin Xinyu still felt a bit worried. After all, there was no need to ask about the lines this little dilly used to stand in—just two vegetable dishes with clear price tags. Now it was different: two meat dishes and one vegetable, which required her to speak up and make her own choices.
"I, I can."
The lunch ladies are all very nice; they aren't that scary.
Bai Shihan cheered herself up like this, though in reality, it was still because she was afraid of Lin Xinyu—what if he shouted "wife" right there in the cafeteria...
"Your state of mind is pretty good, keep it up."
At least she wasn't stuttering like yesterday when she spoke. Once she got used to it, normal communication should be possible, right?
"Th-thank you."
"If you're going to be this polite, I'll feed you every meal from now on."
"N-no, no, I won't."
Bai Shihan waved her hands repeatedly. Just thinking about being fed a bite of tofu pudding by him this morning made her too nervous to speak.
The student cafeteria was still quite crowded at this hour, since the school didn't allow students to go outside.
Arriving at the entrance, Bai Shihan, who had just been secretly raising her hand to cheer herself up, instantly lost her courage the moment she saw the people waiting in line.
"I, I don't want meat..."
With that, her pleading gaze instantly shifted to Lin Xinyu, wanting to go line up at the very edge where there were fewer people.
"Alright, I'll feed you later."
Bai Shihan puckered her little lips and lowered her head, deeply dissatisfied in her heart, deciding that when she went home tonight, she'd have to stomp on his shadow a few extra times.
Bai Shihan wasn't afraid of standing in line—after all, the biggest villain in her heart was standing right behind her. Her only concern was how she was going to manage calling the lunch lady "older sister" in a moment...
"I, I can do it."
The girl's voice was very soft, clearly trying to psych herself out.
Fortunately, it was summer now. If it were winter, the version of her in his memories would definitely be wrapped up tightly, sitting all by herself in a corner.
Bai Shihan had very fair skin, perhaps due to not going outside for too long, giving her a somewhat sickly pallor.
Lin Xinyu looked her up and down while secretly plotting his makeover plan in his head.
Before long, the two of them reached the serving window. Bai Shihan stammered and stuttered, looking rather nervous. Just looking at the movement of her raising her arm made it clear that she had truly resolved herself to change.
"Hey? It's you two kids again. What dishes are you having today?"
It was the same lunch lady from yesterday. As for why she remembered them, it was truly because their personalities were completely opposites, coupled with their striking looks—a talented guy and a beautiful girl—making them hard to forget.
After waiting a short moment, the lunch lady cast a somewhat questioning look at Bai Shihan, then glanced at Lin Xinyu, and just as she was about to speak, she heard a soft, milky voice.
"E-elder sister, I want..."
Bai Shihan stopped talking after that and instead pointed with her finger at the tomatoes and scrambled eggs, shredded pork with green peppers, and Chinese cabbage.
"T-two portions."
After paying, Lin Xinyu was quick-handed and caught the utensils.
"That's five more bowls of tofu pudding you owe me."
Bai Shihan wide-eyed her eyes, completely not expecting this outcome.
"N-no need."
"That won't do, people will say I'm living off a woman."
Holding the two sets of utensils, Lin Xinyu skillfully walked over to the corner she usually frequented. Bai Shihan followed obediently behind him the entire way without a word, looking as though she'd been bullied.
"Come on, sit down. This piece of meat here is a reward for your performance today."
Bai Shihan didn't understand what he meant, her eyes filled with blank confusion. Then she watched as Lin Xinyu picked up a piece of meat from his utensils and placed it in her bowl.
The air grew somewhat quiet, and a blush crept from the girl's face all the way down her neck.
Did you not see? I haven't used these chopsticks yet. Or what, do you want me to use them first and then pick it up for you?
Bai Shihan waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no, no."
So frightened that she stopped stuttering entirely, she looked at him with a grievance when she saw him ready to put the chopsticks in his mouth: "D-don't bully me..."
Lin Xinyu put down his chopsticks and stared straight at her: "What? You're not going to let me eat?"
"N-no, no, that's not it."
She'd been so nervous just now because she was afraid he'd pick up meat with chopsticks he'd already used, which was why she looked so wronged.
Right at that moment, Kong Yu appeared with his tray.
"Holy crap, Brother Yu, why do you and your wife have so much meat? That lady treats me like I'm her sworn enemy! It was clearly shredded pork with green peppers, and she piled on a massive spoonful of just green peppers!" Kong Yu looked at their trays, his eyes full of envy.
"The lady saw you were fat and is reminding you to watch your diet."
"Give me a break. Her hand was shaking at a frequency more outrageous than mine."
From the moment he walked over, Lin Xinyu had found something a bit strange. Normally he could smell him coming a mile away, but right now Fatty had zero scent on him.
"Don't worry, I'm quitting too. Listening to Brother Yu is definitely the right move."
This was why Lin Xinyu wanted to warn him; Fatty Kong was a very solid guy, especially toward him. Back when his company ran into trouble, not only did Bai Shihan support him, but Fatty straight up sold an apartment to fund him.
"Come on, let me officially introduce you. This is your sister-in-law."
Fearing Bai Shihan would feel uncomfortable alone, Lin Xinyu looked at her and briefly introduced her to Kong Yu.
"This is my sister-in-law? Brother Yu, where the hell... where did you snatch her from?" Kong Yu was about to curse, but stopped immediately at Lin Xinyu's warning glance.
"Yesterday. She gave me candy, so I snatched her."
Kong Yu wore a somewhat unbelievable expression before finally managing: "Hello, sister-in-law."
Facing this sudden title, Bai Shihan didn't know how to respond and could only nod. Right after nodding, she realized she shouldn't have nodded—if she admitted she was the sister-in-law, wasn't she admitting she was that bad guy's wife?
At that thought, she hurriedly shook her head instead.
Naturally, Lin Xinyu casually ignored this action.
"What, Fatty, you still want to stay and eat dog food? Come on, darling, open up, ah~"
That made Bai Shihan panic even more, especially when she saw Lin Xinyu picking up food with his chopsticks, causing her to instinctively scoot backward. Yet thinking that doing so might make him a laughingstock in front of his brother left her caught in a dilemma.
"Ugh... eat up, eat up, your dad here isn't eating dog food!"
Before leaving, Kong Yu didn't forget to complain—the sour stench of this kind of romance was simply too hateful!
What he couldn't figure out was why, for some unknown reason, he also felt a little reluctant to leave, harboring the illusion that even if it was sour, he still wanted to watch till the end.
"What? Want me to bully you?"
After Kong Yu left, Lin Xinyu turned his head back toward Bai Shihan.
At that moment, the little dilly was at a loss what to do. Finally, she lowered her head, not daring to make eye contact with the bad guy, picked up a mouthful of rice, shoved it into her mouth, and gently bit down on her chopsticks, at a loss for how to express her current emotions.
Did she feel a little... unfulfilled?
Bai Shihan shook her head, hurriedly denying the messy thoughts popping up inside her. How could she possibly want him to bully her...
After a brief moment, Bai Shihan raised her head slightly, cautiously peeking at Lin Xinyu.
Actually, he was pretty great—tall, handsome, lacking that hateful smell he used to have, and even willing to help her change. So... getting bullied just a teensy bit should be fine, right?
.
.
011. Wipe... the water
The afternoon warning bell for third-period class rang, accompanied by rumbling rolls of thunder as the two sounds seemed to compete with each other.
The morning sky had been completely clear, but now it was thick with dark clouds, giving off the cinematic sense of "dark clouds pressing down on the city, threatening to crush it."
The only benefit was the cool breeze drifting in through the window, refreshing and pleasant to the soul.
Bai Shihan, however, furrowed her brow.
It seemed... she hadn't brought an umbrella.
Raindrops the size of beans fell relentlessly, pattering away.
To keep the rain from blowing in, Lin Xinyu closed the window, noticing Bai Shihan's frowning expression at the same time.
"Did you bring an umbrella?"
A jolt of panic struck Bai Shihan's heart. She had just been pinning her hopes on him, and now all she could do was pray that the rain would ease up a bit by the time school let out in the evening.
"It's not safe without an umbrella. I'll go buy one later."
Oh right, the school store sold them!
Lin Xinyu's words were like an enlightenment, reigniting hope in Bai Shihan.
When class finally ended, Lin Xinyu stood up, intending to head out. But Bai Shihan didn't make space the way she usually did; instead, she looked at him, then fished out some prepared loose change from her pocket and handed it to him.
Her meaning was self-evident.
Only, Lin Xinyu didn't take the money the way she expected; instead, he bent down, shortening the distance between them.
"One is enough. We've got to save money."
An opportunity to share a single umbrella like this was something Lin Xinyu wouldn't miss for the world.
The stubborn little dilly refused to budge. The thought of sharing an umbrella with him made the blush on her face bloom like a little tomato.
"Th-then I, I want to go t-too..."
"Sure, I can take you along. It's raining, so there must be a lot of people buying umbrellas. The school store is probably packed right now. Come on, let's go together."
Hearing that it was crowded, combined with the scene Lin Xinyu painted appearing in her mind, Bai Shihan instantly felt nervous.
Just thinking about it made her a bit scared.
"N-no, I won't go. Th-then... could you help me b-buy one, please?"
Bai Shihan didn't even realize that the combination of her hopeful gaze and milky tone counted as acting spoiled. On top of that, her little hand was tugging at the corner of Lin Xinyu's shirt, making it hard for anyone to refuse.
"Call me 'good brother' and I'll think about it."
The hand that had been tugging at Lin Xinyu's shirt instantly let go, and Bai Shihan's expression turned panicked: "Liar, you're bullying me again..."
Her voice was very soft, yet completely free of stuttering—something that caught Lin Xinyu somewhat by surprise.
"That's not bullying. Your voice sounds pretty. Look at how hard it's raining outside! If you get soaked walking there and back, you're going to get drenched. Asking for a little motivation isn't too much, right? Alright, how about this—calling me 'hubby' works too."
That made Bai Shihan's jaw drop open. Suddenly, she felt like "good brother" wasn't so unreasonable after all, yet she couldn't force herself to say the other word no matter what.
"You owe me that title for now. I'm going to buy it; if I don't go now, class is going to start."
"Okay..."
Bai Shihan made room and watched him leave the classroom. Seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder flashing outside the window, she still felt a bit worried, so she stood up and left her seat.
...
The school store had very few people in it, especially with the torrential rain coming down.
Luckily, there were few pedestrians on the path, allowing him to sprint at full speed. Hugging the eaves, dodging and walking, he finally made it to his destination.
Along with the umbrella, Lin Xinyu casually bought some candy and snacks as a future reward for that dilly's progress.
Shaking his head, rainwater slid down his cheeks and dripped off.
He popped open the umbrella and stepped into the downpour. You had to admit, the air here was indeed much better than in later times. The fragrance of grass drifting through the rain was thoroughly distinct, completely free of engines and that indescribable foul odor.
Raindrops hitting the umbrella burst into joyful sounds, while birds smartly hid beneath the eaves, chirping soft jeers at the girl who wanted to step out into the storm.
Until the boy appeared, cutting off her reckless impulse with a single motion.
"Just be a good girl and wait for me. Here, this umbrella's for you." With that, Lin Xinyu closed the umbrella and deliberately gave it a shake, acting as if he was proving he had used it.
As for Bai Shihan, her gaze swept back and forth across his body, trying to find a second one.
"Don't want it? This one's yours. I'll walk back in the rain tonight."
"N-no way...!"
Watching the occasional raindrop slide down Lin Xinyu's head, Bai Shihan almost regretted letting him go buy an umbrella. Fortunately, she had brought a pack of tissues from her desk drawer when she left the classroom so she could wipe off the water stains.
"T-there's water... w-wipe it off."
In her heart, Bai Shihan wanted to wipe it for him herself, but after a round of inner struggle, she still failed to muster up the courage.
Lin Xinyu took the tissue, pulled out a sheet, folded it neatly, and instead of taking care of himself first, he reached out to gently wipe away the moisture on Bai Shihan's cheeks and the top of her head.
"I told you I'd buy it, and I didn't lie to you. Just wait in the classroom. If you catch a cold, I'm not taking care of you."
Scolded like that, Bai Shihan only felt aggrieved. Clearly she had run out because she was worried, so why was he being so fierce to her...
"Let's go, back to the classroom."
"Okay."
Bai Shihan obediently followed behind Lin Xinyu.
The little bird that had mocked them earlier flew away, plunging into the rain, wetting its feathers, and returning to the eaves—yet it waited in vain for its other half to come care for it.
Sure enough, the human world was full of birds-deceiving lies.
...
The end-of-evening-study bell rang.
The moment the bell sounded, Bai Shihan didn't feel panic so much as a touch of nervousness.
Though she was used to sitting next to him, walking under an umbrella pressed so close to him was something she couldn't accept just by thinking about it.
When he first handed her the umbrella, Bai Shihan hadn't reacted to why he'd said he would walk home in the rain. Once it registered, she realized she had to walk home with him tonight, and the umbrella was right in her hands...
"It's fine, the rain isn't that heavy now. I'll just walk home in the rain."