Shi Nianhuan could not figure out just how shameless a man had to be to behave like Jiang Chenyu.
She could only be angry at Jiang Chenyu without daring to say anything.
She clearly knew that he was a swindler, yet she was simply powerless against him.
What was even more infuriating was that no one suspected him. In everyone's eyes, he was a child who was outstanding to an absurd degree.
Thinking this, Shi Nianhuan could not help tightening her grip on her chopsticks.
“What’s wrong? Eat some meat.” Lin Xiangyang noticed that she was abnormal and placed a piece of braised pork in her bowl.
Shi Nianhuan instantly came to her senses, turned her head toward Lin Xiangyang, and gave him a sweet smile.
“Xiangyang, your younger sister goes to the same school as you. Make sure to look after her more often.” Lin Xiangyang's mother slowly spoke.
“I know.” Lin Xiangyang agreed readily. These were all familiar words. Ever since Shi Nianhuan received her admission notice from Ke Da, whenever the family gathered to eat, they always brought up these topics.
“Aunt, Brother Xiangyang takes very good care of me at school.” Shi Nianhuan docilely raised her head, gave Lin's mother a gentle smile, and spoke softly.
Lin's mother was also very good to Shi Nianhuan. It was probably because between their two families, she was the only daughter, so they all doted on her like a little princess, even though she was not their biological child.
“That’s good. Nianhuan, you should also keep an eye on him at school. Don’t let him do anything bad.”
Shi Nianhuan smiled until her brows and eyes curved. Lin Xiangyang was the white horse prince in the hearts of so many girls at school; even his slightest gesture could make countless beauties scream themselves hoarse for him. What bad thing could a Lin Xiangyang like that possibly do?
“All right.” Shi Nianhuan replied sweetly.
For some reason, Jiang Chenyu suddenly raised his head. A trace of angry flashed in his eyes, and then he glared fiercely at her.
Shi Nianhuan guiltily lowered her head, but then thought that she had not done anything wrong. What right did Jiang Chenyu have to look at her like that?
She raised her head, intending to glare back, but Jiang Chenyu was already lowering his head and eating seriously, as if he were simply not the person who had glared at her just now.
After dinner, the adults watched television and chatted downstairs, while Shi Nianhuan was urged to go upstairs.
Although she really did not want to see Jiang Chenyu, she still wanted to be with Lin Xiangyang. Even if she could only sit to one side and quietly watch him, that would have been wonderful.
In Jiang Chenyu’s room, the two of them lay on the bed, holding a mobile phone and looking at something, laughing loudly from time to time.
Shi Nianhuan sat alone beside them, faintly feeling somewhat lonely.
“Nianhuan, are you sleepy? Why don’t you go back and sleep?” Lin Xiangyang noticed Shi Nianhuan drooping her head and assumed that she was tired.
Shi Nianhuan smiled and shook her head. “No, no. I just feel a little sleepy.”
Jiang Chenyu also raised his head and looked at her thoughtfully.
Lin Xiangyang suddenly stood up, handed her a cushion, and said to her with an especially gentle smile, “Take it. You won’t be so tired this way.”
His smile was so beautiful that it seemed as if all the wildflowers in the mountains had bloomed in an instant.
At that moment, Shi Nianhuan did not know where she had found the courage. The words simply slipped out.
“Brother Xiangyang, could you come outside with me? I have something to tell you.”
She rarely managed to speak so fluently. Either she was being too casual, or she was too nervous.
And this time, it was obvious that she was extremely nervous.
Lin Xiangyang seemed somewhat surprised as well. He rarely saw Shi Nianhuan being so serious. She stared at his eyes earnestly and sincerely, as if she wanted to look directly into them.
“Sure.” He nodded blankly.
At this point, Shi Nianhuan began to lose her nerve again. She wanted to retreat a little.
Jiang Chenyu heard their conversation and raised his head. His eyes stared fixedly at Shi Nianhuan without blinking, that murderous gaze seeming as if it wanted to devour her whole.
Shi Nianhuan was not frightened by Jiang Chenyu. On the contrary, it was precisely his gaze that encouraged her.
She reached out and grabbed Lin Xiangyang by the wrist, as if afraid that he might suddenly leave.
Lin Xiangyang was unclear why, but he still docilely followed her outside.
After closing the door, they stood at the empty stairwell in front of a large window. Outside, the streets were ablaze with lights, filled with music, dancing, and revelry, while Shi Nianhuan’s heart surged like turbulent waves.
Shi Nianhuan said nothing, and Lin Xiangyang said nothing either. He looked down at her slightly, his eyes carrying a trace of confusion.
The atmosphere was very serious.
Shi Nianhuan was expressionless as she raised her head and stared especially sincerely into Lin Xiangyang’s eyes, thinking about what exactly she should do next.
Was she going to confess? Could she confess? What would happen if she were refused after confessing?
Shi Nianhuan felt as if her tongue were tied in knots. She suddenly felt that she had been rather rash, rash enough to make the atmosphere so tense without thinking things through.
“Lin Xiangyang, I like you.” After struggling for so long, Shi Nianhuan finally blurted it out.
The moment the words left her mouth, even Shi Nianhuan herself was stunned.
She did not know whether to laugh or cry. After thinking for so long about what to say, she had ended up saying such a simple and blunt sentence.
Lin Xiangyang’s eyes widened involuntarily. As if he could not believe it, he seriously looked at Shi Nianhuan.
Shi Nianhuan kept her face taut, forcing herself to remain calm even with Mount Tai pressing down on her head.
However, she did not know that, in this situation, she looked somewhat comical.
“What did you say?” Only after quite some time did Lin Xiangyang ask belatedly.
Shi Nianhuan’s tongue was truly tied in knots this time. She stammered, “I-I-I-I...” for quite a while, but could not say anything coherent.
“Nianhuan, did you say that you like me?” Lin Xiangyang slowly asked.
Shi Nianhuan bit her lower lip, then nodded heavily.
The atmosphere became even more awkward.
Lin Xiangyang slowly raised his hand, his eyes fixed intently on her.
“But...” Lin Xiangyang seemed to be thinking about something. As he spoke, he unconsciously laughed aloud.
“I’m sorry. I just find this a little shocking. Hahaha, Nianhuan, you know that I’ve always treated you as a Little Sister.”
Shi Nianhuan lowered her head. How could she not understand? Lin Xiangyang’s words represented a refusal.
He treated her as a younger sister...
Shi Nianhuan’s nose stung, and she really wanted to cry.
Lin Xiangyang began to panic. He was at a loss, not even knowing what to do with his hands.
“Nianhuan, I’m sorry. I... I...”
“Then do you like Xia Bing?” Shi Nianhuan suddenly raised her head, looked at Lin Xiangyang, and asked him directly.
Lin Xiangyang was clearly somewhat bewildered.