Zhu Zhixi walked all the way home, savoring this feeling that was both unfamiliar and familiar.
The only sounds at home were Zhu Huaiqian’s gaming noises and his occasional cursing.
With their parents away, Zhu Huaiqian was unrestrained.
Her parents were career fanatics. In their youth, they fell in love at first sight, sparks flying like thunder meeting fire. But soon after, their career-driven minds quickly sobered up. They had originally planned to take things slow, but the arrival of Zhu Huaiqian and Zhu Zhixi blew their plans to pieces.
In the end, they got married, had children, and settled into family life.
Zhu Zongcheng was a lawyer, and Qin Mushu was a company executive. Marriage and children didn’t take a backseat to their careers. The siblings grew up largely left to their own devices and had grown accustomed to it.
Zhu Zhixi spent several years growing up in the Gu household.
She developed late and grew slowly. For a while, she watched as her friends shot up in height one by one, while Zhu Huaiqian deliberately teased her for being short.
Gu Qishen even took her for a check-up, but nothing was wrong.
Cordyceps, bird’s nest, ginseng, donkey-hide gelatin, vitamins, iron supplements… Zhu Zhixi laid them all out one by one.
“What are you doing? Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God before New Year’s?” Zhu Huaiqian leaned against the doorway, having appeared out of nowhere.
It was an offering—for Xie Jin.
She remembered Xie Jin’s sickly body in her past life. Was it a lingering effect of his leg injury, or was he just naturally frail?
Thinking of this, Zhu Zhixi turned and glared at him: “Zhu Huaiqian, can you stop causing trouble for Xie Jin in the future?”
The second half of her thought—you can’t even beat him anyway—was swallowed back.
Zhu Huaiqian clicked his tongue, stepping inside as he lectured her: “Little girl, don’t worry about grown-up matters.”
What grown-up? A grown-up who was only born five minutes earlier.
Zhu Zhixi hated it most when Zhu Huaiqian acted like an adult and lectured her.
“I’m starving, let’s go eat.”
The housekeeper had taken leave, and their grandparents’ house was too far, so the two of them usually ate at the Gu household.
The two families had been close since their grandparents’ generation. Staying over or visiting each other was common, and the Gu household was like a second home to them. The three of them were inseparable, as close as triplets.
Gu Qishen was like an older brother to both of them.
Zhu Zhixi shook her head and refused: “I’m not going, I’ve already eaten.”
Her ponytail was suddenly pulled tight as Zhu Zhixi was dragged backward out the door.
“Zhu Huaiqian!”
Zhu Zhixi was furious, hunched over with her head down, kicking out at him.
Zhu Huaiqian didn’t let go, mocking her: “Little short legs, don’t waste your energy. I know exactly what you’re up to—you’re just having a tiff with Ah Shen.”
“Also, I already ate outside.”
Zhu Huaiqian mimicked her voice in a high-pitched tone, sounding utterly annoying.
“After dinner, let’s go out and play together, okay? Make up and be friends again?” Zhu Huaiqian was used to the three of them bickering and playing around, so he didn’t take the girl’s words seriously.
They’d fought countless times growing up—it was just the norm.
Zhu Huaiqian: “Otherwise, I’ll punch him a couple of times for you later to vent your anger?”
Fine.
Just you wait.
Zhu Zhixi kept her head down, her voice muffled: “Fine, let go first. I can’t see the stairs.”
The two knew each other too well. Zhu Huaiqian didn’t dare let go midway, or Zhu Zhixi would kick him down the stairs.
The last two steps.
He let go, taking advantage of his long legs to leap down in one step, grinning at Zhu Zhixi.
Surprisingly, Zhu Zhixi didn’t chase after him to hit him as she usually would.
Her hair had come completely loose, so she simply pulled off the hair tie and rubbed her tight scalp.
“Sister Xi, Qian Ge, Mom says to come over for dinner.”
A soft, milky voice called out as Gu Wanxin, dressed in her elementary school uniform, bounced into the room.
Gu Wanxin was Gu Qishen's younger sister, nine years his junior—a little girl who hadn't even turned eight yet.
Usually, Gu Qishen and Zhu Huaiqian didn't like taking her along when they played, as if she were a little accessory—wherever they went, they couldn't fully let loose with her around.
Gu Wanxin was especially clingy toward Zhu Zhixi, a little troublemaker who treated Zhu Zhixi like her own sister, tugging at her hand to lead her outside.
Zhu Zhixi smiled and reached out to take the little girl's hand. "What delicious food did Aunt Qing make today?"
"I don't know either. Big Brother made me finish half my homework before letting me come call Sister Xi to eat," Gu Wanxin pouted, tattling.
Zhu Zhixi casually replied with an "Oh."
The two girls walked hand in hand, chatting about elementary school topics. Zhu Huaiqian had no interest, completely absorbed in miming basketball shots and dribbling in the air.
Zhu Zhixi passed by him as if nothing were amiss, quietly lifting her foot.
The moment the sole of her shoe pressed down on his foot—
Gu Wanxin and Zhu Zhixi sprinted away at full speed, leaving only Zhu Huaiqian's heart-wrenching roar behind: "Zhu Zhixi, my shoe!"
His precious treasure.
"Hahahahaha…" Their laughter echoed all the way, carried by the wind.
Zhu Zhixi and Gu Wanxin ran as fast as they could, terrified that Zhu Huaiqian might catch up.
Living in the same row of villas, the two families weren't far apart. Even after entering the Gu family's yard, their laughter could still be heard.
Only when they felt they'd reached safe ground did they dare to stop, bending over to catch their breath.
Gu Wanxin was also a little mischief-maker, giggling as she craned her neck. Spotting the edge of Zhu Huaiqian's shirt appearing, she tugged Zhu Zhixi and dashed inside. "Brother, save me!"
The little girl's voice was both milky and shrill.
Clearly, excitement outweighed fear.
"Brother, brother, hurry, save me! Save me!"
Gu Qishen had changed out of his school uniform and was wearing casual pants and a short-sleeved T-shirt. The teenager looked fresh and clean, his black hair lightly brushing his eyebrows. His strong brow bones were softened by a gentle smile as he slowly walked out from inside.
Gu Qishen had always been their savior. Every time they provoked Zhu Huaiqian, they'd call for Gu Qishen, and it worked every time.
Zhu Zhixi didn't want to get close to Gu Qishen, but she underestimated the strength of an elementary schooler and Gu Wanxin's level of excitement.
Gu Wanxin held onto her with one hand and tugged at Gu Qishen's clothes with the other, hiding behind him.
Zhu Zhixi was pulled so off-balance that her head bumped straight into Gu Qishen's arm.
The fresh, youthful scent of his hormones filled her nostrils. Zhu Zhixi immediately turned her head away, trying to put distance between them, but Gu Qishen had already reached out to steady her slender arm while effortlessly restraining Gu Wanxin with his other hand.
The two of them stood face to face, their breaths mingling.
Zhu Zhixi subtly withdrew her arm and saw Gu Qishen's lips curve upward as he spoke in a tone that was both scolding and doting. "Wanwan."
He reached out and wiped the sweat from Gu Wanxin's forehead.
It was damp with perspiration.
"You're all sweaty. Go wash up."
Zhu Huaiqian, who had entered the yard, put on a show by jogging a couple of steps.
"Ah!" Gu Wanxin shrieked, laughing as she turned and vanished from sight.
Zhu Zhixi's eyes grew slightly moist.
In the past, the four of them had been just as harmonious and happy.
Gu Qishen's smile remained unchanged as his gaze shifted slightly to rest on Zhu Zhixi.
He reached out and ruffled her hair, his tone just as doting. "How did you end up looking like a little Shih Tzu, just like Wanwan?"
Zhu Zhixi pulled off her hair tie, letting her thick hair scatter in the wind and cascade over her shoulders, making her face appear even smaller.
She lowered her eyes, her throat choked as if something were blocking it, unable to speak. Pretending to brush away a stray strand of hair and tuck it behind her ear, she distanced herself from Gu Qishen.
Suddenly, someone hooked an arm around her shoulder.
Zhu Huaiqian draped his arm across her shoulders, pulling her inward.
Turning his head, he silently mouthed to Gu Qishen, "Still angry?"
Gu Qishen smiled faintly. The little girl sure held a grudge.
The lobby was brightly lit, and Zhu Zhixi’s eyes stung slightly. "Zhu Huaiqian, you’re pulling my hair."
Zhu Huaiqian clicked his tongue and lowered his arm, shoving his hands into his pockets. He swayed his shoulders, bumping into her playfully as if deliberately trying to cheer her up.
Zhu Zhixi kept her head down, pretending to adjust her low ponytail while secretly wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye with her index finger.
Her chest felt heavy and full.
She could no longer like Gu Qishen the way she used to.
Nor could she interact with Gu Qishen the way she once did.
Things could never go back to how they were before.