It had grown completely dark. After his father took his medicine and fell asleep again, Zhong Yi finally remembered he hadn’t eaten. He walked outside and, without realizing it, found himself on the small path outside the Li family home.

The Li family hadn’t returned yet—the house was dark. Zhong Yi laughed self-mockingly and had just turned to leave when he saw a familiar slender figure walking from the other end of the road, carrying a heavy bag of rice in her hands.

The two looked at each other from a distance and both stopped moving.

The next second, Zhong Yi strode over, took the rice from her hands, and walked silently toward her doorway. Li Xiaoyi snapped back to her senses, her face already flushed, saying: “No, no need! I can do it myself!”

Zhong Yi answered gruffly: “We’re neighbors—why be polite? Twenty pounds of rice—can you even carry it?”

“I can carry it!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, both fell silent, simultaneously remembering how a few years ago when they were together, he would carry everything wherever they went while she always went empty-handed. That had been the only time in Li Xiaoyi’s life when she’d been pampered. Other than that, she was the obedient, sensible daughter, the hardworking older sister who endured hardship, the diligent and willing worker—always the one taking care of others. Zhou Zhihao was a rather careless person who wasn’t particularly attentive or considerate toward her.

At the doorway, Zhong Yi set down the rice and stepped aside. Li Xiaoyi didn’t dare look at his face. She fumbled with her keys to unlock the door, head lowered, when she heard a low, hoarse voice: “Have you been doing well these years?”

“Pretty… good.” Li Xiaoyi forced out a smile. “And you?”

“Do you want me to be doing well or not?”

Li Xiaoyi’s movements paused, but she didn’t dare ask further. She opened the door and carried the rice inside. Without saying anything, Zhong Yi grabbed her arm. As if burned, she yanked it away and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Zhong Yi stood there for a moment, tilted his head back and exhaled lightly, then strode away.

He’d only walked a few steps when his phone rang. Today he and Zhang Jingchan and Li Weiyi had exchanged numbers. He immediately answered: “Weiyi, what’s up?”

Zhang Jingchan said on the other end: “Bring your ID, pack simple luggage for one or two days, and take a taxi to the airport. We have urgent business in Shanghai and you’re coming with us. There’s an emerging commercial district there—go take a look at what opportunities there might be.”

“…Now?”

“Yes. Li Xiaoyi is coming too.”

“All right, I’ll set out immediately.”

Not long after, Li Xiaoyi also received a call from her sister and was quite surprised: “Biology competition? How is this so sudden?”

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Jingchan laughed to himself. He hadn’t expected that just one day after crossing over, he’d already told more lies than in half a lifetime.

He glanced at Li Weiyi beside him, her face frank and perfectly at ease with this, and the phrase “those who touch pitch shall be defiled” actually flashed through his mind.

He answered the phone smoothly: “…It wasn’t supposed to be me originally. The original candidate in Shanghai suddenly fell ill, so they urgently need me to substitute. The organizers are paying for plane tickets and hotels. Mom and Dad can’t leave the store, so you take time off to accompany me. Remember to bring both our IDs.”

——

Li Xiaoyi didn’t doubt her sister’s words at all. Besides, she felt her sister had always been more decisive than her, so she obediently packed her luggage and documents. When Father Li and Mother Li returned home, they didn’t suspect anything either, because Li Weiyi had been sensible since childhood, and she’d previously gone to Xiang City to participate in a competition once before.

This time it sounded like an all-expenses-paid trip, so Father Li and Mother Li were happy for their older daughter to go. As for calling the teacher to verify? These parents were shy and honest by nature—they never thought of it.

So Li Xiaoyi took a taxi for the first time in forever (because Zhang Jingchan said it would be reimbursed), and when she arrived at the airport departure hall, she saw her sister standing in the bright hall with a calm, contemplative expression. Beside her stood a tall, handsome, sunny-looking boy.

Li Xiaoyi froze.

When Li Weiyi saw her sister, she couldn’t contain herself and scurried over cheerfully: “Sis, long time no see! Come on, let me take your luggage!” Without waiting for consent, she grabbed the suitcase.

Li Xiaoyi: “Hey, no need… Thank you! Thank you!”

The two walked up to Zhang Jingchan, who nodded once: “Where’s my ID?” Li Xiaoyi fumbled it out and handed it to him. Seeing that “her sister” still wasn’t speaking, Li Xiaoyi pulled him aside, away from the youth, and said in a low voice: “Didn’t you say you were going to a competition? Why is… why is Achan here?”

Zhang Jingchan was too lazy to explain and answered: “She’s accompanying me.”

Li Xiaoyi’s heart sank. “You two…”

Zhang Jingchan stuck both hands in his pockets, looked up at the sky with a smile, with a hint of resignation: “Ah, she’s my boyfriend.”

Li Xiaoyi panicked. She never imagined that her usually sensible sister would suddenly drop such a bombshell: “You’re already in your second year of high school—it’s a critical period! How can you have a boyfriend? What about your future?”

Zhang Jingchan originally didn’t want to say much to her, but seeing her eyes full of anxious concern, his heart stirred and he said: “Do you know who he is? His father is Zhang Moyun, the richest man in Chen City. As long as I’m with him, what won’t I have in the future?”

Li Xiaoyi froze, her expression growing even more troubled. She said firmly: “How can you think such things? Weiyi, you absolutely cannot have such crooked thoughts. Who his father is doesn’t matter, whether he has money doesn’t matter either—what matters is character… No, even good character isn’t acceptable! You’re still young. Be good and wait until you’re in college to date.”

Zhang Jingchan was silent for a moment, then softened his tone: “I was joking. Don’t worry, we’re just friends. I’ll definitely get into a 985-tier university.”

Li Xiaoyi felt relieved and said: “Then have him leave. I’ll accompany you—that’s enough.”

While the two were talking, the spurned Li Weiyi had already sneakily crept closer. Hearing this, she immediately interjected: “That won’t work, Sis. Without me there, he won’t perform well on the exam!”

Li Xiaoyi: “…”

Zhang Jingchan took the opportunity to walk away. Li Xiaoyi wanted to say more, but Li Weiyi waved behind her: “Brother Zhong Yi, over here!”

Li Xiaoyi’s mind went “boom” and she forgot all about her sister’s situation. She turned around to see Zhong Yi wearing a black jacket with a backpack, looking tall and resolute, walking toward them.

Zhong Yi nodded at the two of them, but his gaze fell on Li Xiaoyi. Li Xiaoyi’s face flushed red again. She turned her head away and asked in a low voice: “Why is he here?”

Li Weiyi answered seriously: “Oh, Brother Zhong Yi is my good friend. He’s going to Shanghai to investigate some entrepreneurial opportunities. We’re all from Chen City—it’s convenient to go together. Sis, is there a problem? Can’t my good friend Brother Zhong Yi come with us?”

Li Xiaoyi couldn’t answer. Her face grew even redder. Zhong Yi didn’t say anything either. He walked to her side, directly took her suitcase, and stood there quietly.

Zhang Jingchan tapped the back of Li Weiyi’s head and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Had enough fun? That’s your actual sister.”

Li Weiyi was in high spirits—people feel refreshed when happy events occur. She rolled her eyes at him.