The liberal arts building where Cheng Lele was located and the science building were separated by a lawn of moderate size. Dressed so ostentatiously, she walked along like Moses parting the sea. The people beside her first turned their heads one after another, and after figuring out what was happening, whistles and applause rose and fell in succession. Especially that group of fellow townspeople from Buxi—they practically wanted to follow along the entire way. This was exactly the effect Cheng Lele wanted. She wore these clothes for two reasons: first, to enthusiastically celebrate Big Brother’s championship victory; second, to conspicuously spite the feudal scions of the county town royalty—hadn’t they always looked down on others? How could it be a second-class citizen’s turn to win an award? The grievances she suffered at the radio station, today she would vent them all completely.

Later, those following behind Cheng Lele weren’t just classmates from Buxi Town anymore, but also various small-town youths who had been looked down upon. Under the leadership of the maiden Joan of Arc, they all charged toward the third floor of the science building.

Chen An had never been one to join in excitement and commotion. The clamor outside didn’t attract his attention until his good friend Quan Zirong ran from the classroom door to him, exclaiming “Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap” all the way. After standing still, he gesticulated wildly to announce: “Chen An, your sister has come to propose to you. Damn, your marriage is truly glorious and dignified.”

Chen An frowned and asked: “What nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight?”

As he was speaking, from the corner of his eye he glimpsed a crowd of people surging through the doorway, with the leader standing in the very center. The sunlight happened to fall on her face, outlining a fine, fuzzy golden edge. The stage effect was absolutely first-rate.

Cheng Lele had just wanted to say “Congratulations, Big Brother,” when the surrounding masses spoke first: “Get together, get together, get together.”

…

This was just how the people of this country were. As long as a single man and woman stood together, if the onlooking crowd was asked to give their opinion, it would be “get together.” Then another phrase immediately followed—”Kiss, kiss, kiss.”

Taixi High School was several times larger than the previous town middle school. Chen An and Cheng Lele saw each other less often in high school, so they didn’t attract as much attention. Therefore, most people hadn’t heard the rumor that the two were siblings. The Buxi classmates knew, but in such a festive scene, who cared whether they were siblings or not? Today was all about liveliness!

The shouting shook the heavens. The scene was quite like a wedding night prank, completely derailing from what Cheng Lele had imagined.

Watching Cheng Lele’s embarrassed appearance, Chen An felt both ashamed and satisfied. Tenderness overflowed in his chest, softening his very bones. He thought, Cheng Lele is so adorably foolish—she’s just too cute.

Cheng Lele stood on tiptoes and leaned close to Chen An’s ear, loudly asking: “Big Brother, are you happy?”

Chen An bent down slightly, cupped his hands around Cheng Lele’s ear and replied: “You’re putting a lot of pressure on me for the national competition.”

The onlooking melon-eating masses surrounding them so tightly that not even water could trickle through expressed their sentiment that there shouldn’t be any secrets they couldn’t all hear—couldn’t they crowdfund to listen in?

Chen An waved his hand: “Disperse now.”

The melon-eating masses were unhappy and started shouting “Kiss, kiss” again. After just a few shouts without getting their wish, they instead summoned the discipline director, Old Ji. As soon as Old Ji’s broken-gong voice opened with “What’s going on here? Are you rebelling?” the crowd instantly scattered like birds and beasts.

Cheng Lele also wanted to slip away, but the crowd’s dispersal wasn’t quite fast enough, and she was stopped by Old Ji.

Chen An pulled Cheng Lele behind him and strode over with his long legs, his protectiveness exceptionally obvious: “Director Ji, my sister is celebrating for me.”

Right now, Chen An was like the principal’s own son. Old Ji, considering the Buddha’s face if not the monk’s, didn’t harden his expression to scold him and didn’t make things difficult for Cheng Lele either. He patted Chen An’s shoulder and said: “Celebrating is appropriate, but you must pay attention to the influence. I’ll be waiting for your good news from the national competition.”

After saying this, he glanced at Cheng Lele in her “bizarre outfit” not far away and said: “Hurry back and change your clothes.”

Then he just walked away with his hands behind his back, handling the matter lightly.

Cheng Lele stuck out her tongue, thinking that good grades really did allow one to do whatever one wanted. Without Chen An, she would have been in deep trouble today—a five-thousand-character self-reflection essay would have been unavoidable.

Chen An turned back to see Cheng Lele’s expression of having narrowly escaped death, and his brow bone moved: “Now you know to be embarrassed? When you came marching over so conspicuously just now, where was your sense of shame?”

Cheng Lele said: “Am I embarrassed? I’m clearly afraid.”

“Ha, and you say being afraid so righteously.”

Cheng Lele was too lazy to argue and only asked: “Big Brother, you still haven’t answered whether you’re happy or not.”

Chen An pretended to be reserved and imitated Cheng Lele’s tone from that night: “Not bad. Keep working hard.”

Cheng Lele said: “My butt has been jolted raw these past few days. So pitiful.”

Cheng Lele’s eyes blinked and blinked, the corners slightly upturned, her gaze seemingly carrying silken threads—quite alluring.

Chen An sat on the desk, one leg bent and the other extended beside Cheng Lele’s leg, and asked: “What reward do you want? Take advantage while you can—today Big Brother will grant you anything.”

Cheng Lele was very excited to hear this. The light in her eyes brightened by several watts. This brightness lasted for approximately a few seconds, then instantly went out.

“I can’t think of anything.”

“Then I’ll owe you. Valid for life.” Chen An lazily answered. At the time, he didn’t know what a huge trap this statement would set for himself.

“Really?”

“Of course it’s real.”

“Big Brother is the best to me.”

“There you go again.”

“I’m speaking from the bottom of my heart, sincere truth.”

Among the little girls standing nearby with perked ears listening for free, some were already starting to squeal. Some were envious, some were jealous, but none were resentful.

Why?

Because this talented man and beautiful woman were a match made in heaven. How could it be these goblins’ turn to object?