The afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, scattering flecks of light across the floor.
After class, Miss Shi returned home and stood quietly in the walk-in closet.
The clothes hanging inside didn’t look like clothes so much as “battle armor” she would have to don tonight.
In the original story, there was no such character as “Gu Huaiye’s girlfriend” at this dinner.
Now he was bringing her along himself, and his purpose was plain as day—
to make Gu Zhixia jealous, and to make Miss Shi give up on Fu Shiyan.
Gu Zhixia’s style was the quintessential sweet-girl look.
The book didn’t often dwell on how exquisite her features were, but it repeatedly described her eyes: clear as a mountain spring, bright as a spring day. They were her most captivating weapon.
If that was the case…
Miss Shi’s fingertips drifted along the hangers, her gaze as cool and composed as if she were laying out a plan.
Tonight, she and Gu Huaiye had the same goal: they had to make that little princess green with envy.
【Master!】
007’s voice rang out, brimming with excitement.
【That powder-blue princess dress with the puff sleeves! You’ll look stunning in it! Copy Gu Zhixia’s innocent, pure eye makeup, too. When it comes to being cute and sweet, you won’t lose to her!】
Miss Shi’s gaze had landed on that very dress.
【Not bad, 007. You’ve finally gotten clever.】
007 said proudly, 【That’s all thanks to your training, Master!】
【In the original story, Gu Zhixia never showed much possessiveness toward Gu Huaiye. But after the original host had been with Fu Shiyan for three months, Gu Zhixia indirectly helped bring about her parents’ tragedy… So clearly, this leading lady isn’t as pure and harmless as she seems.】
【Make Gu Zhixia lose her composure with jealousy and shake the seemingly solid bond between her and Gu Huaiye. If you can also get Fu Shiyan to notice that Gu Zhixia and Gu Huaiye are hiding feelings that go beyond those between siblings… then driving a wedge between the leads will be easy.】
【Three years from now, it might be much easier for you to approach Fu Shiyan, too.】
【Master, am I right?】
Miss Shi’s fingertips lightly brushed the fluffy sleeve of the powder-blue princess dress.
【You’ve got it exactly right, 007. You’re a quick learner~】
She changed into the dress, then briskly swept her long hair up into a full, neat bun, showing off the elegant shape of her head.
Seated before the vanity mirror, Miss Shi carefully applied her eye makeup.
She chose false lashes that were longer in the middle to lift the curve of her eyes, and drew her eyeliner slightly downward, making her eyes look rounder and more innocent.
She practiced a faintly bewildered expression in the mirror—
The girl reflected in it seemed to change in an instant. Her clear eyes now held an untouched, worldly innocence; she looked like an entirely different person from the cool, calculating woman she had been moments ago.
Just as Miss Shi finished her makeup, her phone buzzed on the vanity.
Gu Huaiye: 【After a night’s rest, has your brain rebooted yet?】
Gu Huaiye: 【Have you decided what to call me?】
Miss Shi’s eyes flickered. She picked up her phone and turned toward the mirror.
She angled her face slightly, finding just the right pose—
It highlighted the carefully drawn, innocent roundness of her eyes, their glimmering sheen, and her rosy lips. Her face was smooth as a peeled egg, and the lines of her neck and shoulders looked almost sculpted.
Fine lace trimmed the neckline of the powder-blue princess dress, and its puff sleeves made her look both youthful and alluring.
Once she had taken the picture, she sent him the half-profile selfie, then slowly typed:
【I’ve decided. Big Brother.】
Gu Huaiye touched the screen, and Miss Shi’s selfie instantly filled his view.
His breath caught.
Today, she looked unlike any other time he had seen her.
Soft light seemed to halo her. Her eyes, usually full of mischief, were now utterly clear, and the powder-blue skirt left her collarbones faintly visible.
Brighter, more vivid, more… beautiful. Impossible to look away from.
Gu Huaiye irritably rubbed his brow.
Damn it.
He prided himself on being immune to beauty, but every time he saw Miss Shi, the self-control he was so proud of crumbled.
The feeling of losing control made his throat tighten.
He put the picture away, and the form of address “Big Brother” appeared before his eyes.
He could almost picture the triumphant smile tugging at her lips as she typed those two words.
She seemed to enjoy going against him.
For some reason, whenever someone else called him “Big Brother,” it felt strange. It was as if he had long since decided that Gu Zhixia was the only one who could call him that.
Before he could think better of it, he had already placed a voice call.
Miss Shi’s voice was touched with innocence and uncertainty.
“What’s wrong, Big Brother? Is the picture not pretty? I rushed home at lunchtime to pick out an outfit and do my makeup, just to meet your younger sister today.”
The sharp retort that had been ready on Gu Huaiye’s lips melted in the softness of her voice.
“When we have dinner tonight, my younger sister will call me Big Brother, and you will too. Do you think that’s appropriate? Call me… Aye.”
Aye was what Old Master Fu had called him when he was little. Ever since his grandfather died, no one had called him that.
“So you mean I can’t call you that in front of your younger sister, but I can in private?”
Gu Huaiye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Silence stretched through the call for several seconds.
If he said no, he could already imagine Miss Shi pressing him to explain why.
They hadn’t known each other long and had only met a few times, but from the way she never gave ground on matters of principle—and had spent half the previous night haggling over a form of address—he could tell she had convictions of her own and was nearly impossible to sway.
Their relationship had started with his threat, yet she had managed to turn the tables, negotiating terms and setting rules.
Once she had accepted the relationship, Miss Shi hadn’t resisted. It was almost as if she really had started dating him.
She was very clever.
Gu Huaiye lowered his eyes, unconsciously rubbing the edge of his phone with his fingertips.
To be honest, he found himself feeling a little admiration for her.
In the end, he gave a low reply. “Mm.”
“Yay—” Miss Shi’s voice instantly brightened. “See you this afternoon, Big Brother!”
At the cheerful lilt in her voice, Gu Huaiye felt briefly dazed.
Shi Shuyi called him “Big Brother” over and over. Gu Zhixia called him that too. Every syllable seemed to dance with sunlight.