Chapter 47 - What Should I Do if My Younger Brother’s Crush Has Taken a Liking to Me?

Chapter 47 Xi Ning half-lowered her gaze, her long and thick eyelashes casting a charming curve over the lower eyelids. Her right hand unconsciously pressed the tip of the pen onto the page, leaving a blot of black ink. She raised her hand and, after glancing at the bitten bread, said softly, "If you focus a little more, scoring a few more points won't be an issue." Kong Nian Xi sat leaning to one side with her knees bent, her shoulder slanting against the table, and with a faint smile, she said, "I'm only interested in things I like. For example—" She paused mid-sentence. When Xi Ning looked over, Kong Nian Xi pursed her lips and conveyed with a gesture: I like you. "..." To her surprise, Xi Ning inexplicably understood. Even though it was just an unspoken message, her ears couldn't help but slightly flush. She glanced around, then a pleasant laughter suddenly sounded in her ears. Kong Nian Xi tapped the box of digestive tablets on Xi Ning's table with a curved finger and said with a faint smile, "You don’t actually need these right now. They have a long shelf life. But, don't casually give away the things I bought for you to others, or I will be angry." Like a little cat that shows its claws and remembers strange grudges. Xi Ning didn't say anything, quietly pocketing the digestive tablets. At this moment, a boy wandered into the front entrance. Spotting Kong Nian Xi and the bag on her table, he leaned against Juan Mao's table when he entered, grinning, "Nian Xi, are you planning to move out?" He stretched out his hand to grab the bag of snacks from Juan Mao's hands. Kong Nian Xi stood up, casually pushed her hair back, and didn't deny it, replying indifferently, "Can't let the baby's efforts this morning go to waste, can I?" Juan Mao flicked the boy's hand away, turned to face them, and his eyes darted around, "Tsk, not to talk nonsense, but that old man is really persistent in matchmaking you and Ning. I feel like giving him the best matchmaker award. Haha..." After laughing twice, he stopped as he noticed the silence around. "Burp," he halted. Kong Nian Xi raised an eyebrow, looking like she was smiling but not really, "You seem to know quite a bit?" Juan Mao beamed and leaned in, "But you two keep getting together and breaking up. Are you back together again recently?" "..." Xi Ning lowered her head, unable to see her expression clearly. Her fair fingertips clenched the pen tightly. Kong Nian Xi kicked his chair with a smile and then walked away. The boy next to them nudged Juan Mao's shoulder, "Jiang Xiao Mao, we can be friends with women, but you're increasingly becoming a gossip." Juan Mao exploded, jumped up, and pounded the boy's head who was taller, "Get lost, who are you talking about!" The two bumped into each other, and the table behind them shook. Xi Ning, holding the pen, made a few strokes on the paper absentmindedly. Soon, there was a light "thud" from beside her and she glanced sideways, seeing Kong Nian Xi placing a stack of books on the table. The boy pushed Juan Mao's hand away, and hurriedly said, "Hey, how can we let our little scholar do this heavy lifting? Let me do it!" Kong Nian Xi put down the books, glanced at him for a few seconds, and smiled, "I've seen something recently that seems quite suitable for you." "Oh?" The boy paused, joy in his eyes, "What is it?" "Blotting paper." "..." "Hahaha!" Juan Mao burst into laughter, the boy pushed him, and when he saw Kong Nian Xi walking away, he also followed cheerfully for a couple of steps, "Let me help you." Kong Nian Xi didn't look back, "No need, I can do it myself." The boy had no choice but to turn back and elbowed the still-laughing Juan Mao, "You have a really low sense of humor. But, did I say something wrong? Why do I feel like we suddenly drifted apart?" Juan Mao glanced at him, "Laughable. What are you thinking? When did you even get close to me and Nian Xi?" The boy teased him, "What's wrong, are you stimulated by your popularity with girls? No wonder the girls don't see you as a man. Do you really think that all the boys who are close to Nian Xi just see her as a buddy, without any ulterior motives, and believe in pure friendship?" Juan Mao furrowed his brows, waved him off, "Alright, you're the most manly, just go." The boy didn’t rush off. He sighed as he stood straight, "Ah, she has had several boyfriends already. When can I get a chance with her? I don’t think she has very..." The scraping sound of the chair legs on the floor interrupted him. Before the boy could finish his sentence, he saw Xi Ning suddenly stand up. A coldness gathered between her profound eyes, and the pressure around her seemed to make him shiver. His words came to an abrupt halt as the frosty gaze swept over his face and finally landed elsewhere. Xi Ning stood up and looked towards the front door, ignoring the two people facing her, and walked away. “…” The boy swallowed, “Did the top student just… glare at me?” Juan Mao chuckled and scolded him, "You're overthinking. I haven't even been glared at by Ning, let it go." The boy retorted, then left. In the last row, by the window corner Kong Nian Xi looked at the full table of books and assorted items, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Leaning on one side and supporting her waist with one hand, she picked up half of the books supported by one row of books on the table and hugged them, planning to move them first. Holding the lower half, she couldn’t see well due to the books blocking her view. She took a couple of steps in the passageway near the back wall, and the books on top began to wobble with a tendency to fall. Unable to free her hands and feeling at a loss, one hand helped protect the almost falling books. The slender and fair fingertips that entered her field of vision had long and refined finger bones. There was a faint tiny mole on the index finger near the knuckle, very eye-catching against the pale skin. Pressing the top exercise book were five fingers. Kong Nian Xi raised her head and followed the hand to the wrist, where she noticed a softened look between Xi Ning's narrow and long eyebrows. Extending her hand to support the bottom of the books, Xi Ning softly said, "Let me help you carry some." The weight in Kong Nian Xi's hands disappeared, and she blinked as she watched Xi Ning pick up the books and walk towards the front row. She moved her lips, curving them slightly. As the people in the back chattered and played, the surrounding sounds seemed to fade away. The things were quickly moved. The table had limited space, and Juan Mao, who was in front, was busy tidying things up, so Xi Ning didn't need to pitch in again. As it approached assembly time, the class monitor called everyone downstairs because there was a match scheduled for today, and Xi Ning went down to the west basketball court ahead. Since the school had a lot of open space, even though the basketball court was sufficient, an additional outdoor area was built next to the cafeteria. Xi Ning registered for the spot-shooting event in the fun sports meet. Due to the personal targets set by the class representatives in various subjects, she didn't take the competition too seriously. When she arrived at the competition venue, there were already quite a few people warming up under the baskets. "Ning Ning, what would you like to drink later? I'll buy it for you." Tu Xiao Yuan sat on a bench, looking at Xi Ning. There was still some time before the start of the competition, so after they had collected their numbers, they sat on the edge of the basketball court, waiting. At this moment, seeing many competitors warming up, Tu Xiao Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "Ning Ning, aren’t you going to practice your shooting? There's still time." Xi Ning was leaning against the horizontal bar behind her, her long legs slightly bent. To make it convenient, she had tied up her hair in a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead. Without the cover of the long hair, her facial features were sharp, and they carried a touch of cool grace. She moved her wrist and matched it with the "lucky" wristband that Tu Xiao Yuan had insisted she wear when they arrived. Surveying the basketball court, she replied, "I don't really need to." "Ah." Tu Xiao Yuan covered her face, "I just love it when our solemn Ninging flaunts her royal grace." "..." Xi Ning glanced at her without any anger. "I heard that all the champions in this sports meet will receive cash prizes," Su Yu Qi remembered and mentioned. "What!" Tu Xiao Yuan jumped up, "Then you must try your best, Ning Ning. If you win the prize, we can go out for a lavish meal!" Xi Ning tugged the corner of her mouth, "We've never skimped on meals before, have we?" "It's different, this will be free money!" Tu Xiao Yuan inexplicably became excited, and with her eyes fixed on Xi Ning as if she was a walking prize, she started planning, "I'll buy you a cup of good beverage first. The freshly squeezed pear juice at the milk tea shop on the first floor is the best! Just wait, sister." She finished talking to herself and got up, pulling the drowsy Su Yu Qi who was leaning lazily on the bench, and they headed towards the cafeteria not far away. "..." Xi Ning helplessly shook her head, watching the two of them walk away, and stayed alone. As the competition time drew near, the basketball court became more crowded, and the competitors and their respective supporters clustered in groups nearby, making the place lively. Xi Ning unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip, casually scanning the basketball court. As she glanced past the nearby crowd, she paused for a moment. Standing gracefully at the center, surrounded by people, Kong Nian Xi tilted her head down to manipulate her phone, occasionally turning to speak to the person beside her. Under the basketball hoop in front, a girl finished shooting the ball, went straight to Kong Nian Xi, and made a gesture with her hand, as if asking for a hug. Familiar short hair, a familiar profile, it hadn't been long, and Xi Ning naturally remembered this short-haired girl's name was Jiang Yuan. The whistle blew, Xi Ning withdrew her gaze and walked towards the competition area. As the name suggests, spot shooting meant standing at the designated spot on the court, taking ten shots, and the person with the most successful shots wins. Those with all ten shots made enter the next round. Xi Ning's luck was good, and she had a relatively early draw. She didn’t have to wait long before entering the court. Taking the ball, she executed each motion with her long and agile five fingers handling the ball surface adeptly. Normally, she didn't have much desire to win or lose, but now it was a little different. "Swoosh!" Her last shot went hollow into the blue basket, igniting the atmosphere on the court. "Oh no, someone's already got all ten in at the start. Are we all this good this year?" "Obviously, it's this senior sister who's so amazing." "It's true, the second-year senior sister is really powerful." "How do you guys know she's a second-year student?" "Nonsense, in our grade, someone as beautiful as her would be known to everyone." "I really want her contact information. I wonder if the senior sister would mind~" "..." Kong Nian Xi was originally enjoying watching Xi Ning's standard yet graceful shooting actions from the front row. However, there was the cacophony of discussions from a group of freshmen schoolgirls behind her. She couldn't help but turn to look at them, but remained silent. She saw several girls shut their mouths and gaze at her wide-eyed. "..." She awkwardly smiled and turned away. Xi Ning had already finished shooting and left the court. Tu Xiao Yuan and the others hadn’t returned. Wasn’t it said that they'd buy her a drink as a treat after this round? Walking back to the original spot, Xi Ning waited for the others, leaning against the horizontal bar. In mid to late November, the weather in this southern city was gradually turning cooler. The zip on Xi Ning's sports jacket was originally pulled to the top, but it had slid down earlier to avoid hindering her movements, revealing her slender neck from the collar and showing her delicate collarbone intermittently. She stood quietly, her tall and eye-catching figure still attracting a few glances. After a short while, a figure approached her in her field of view. Kong Nian Xi walked step by step and stood directly in front of her, a usual smile on her face, and opened her arms towards her, "You did great today. Not sure if there's still time, but with this lucky hug, you might skip the next round, and who knows, you might even get first place." "...Lucky hug?" Xi Ning looked at her, raising her eyebrows slightly. "Yep~ Luck has always been on my side, so before they draw lots or before an exam, they always come to me to rub off some of my luck." Kong Nian Xi stepped forward half a step, hooking her lips, "Giving someone a hug is still a first. This opportunity mustn't be missed." Xi Ning's hand came down from her jacket pocket and she stood up straight, neither asking for nor refusing. Although where they were wasn't particularly conspicuous, the competition arena was about a hundred meters away, surrounded by a crowd of spectators, and a turn of her head would reveal this place. "If you stay silent, I'll take it as consent~" Kong Nian Xi's delightful smile floated closer, and Xi Ning blinked at her, her face expressionless and ordinary, but much more gentle compared to her usual cold and aloof demeanor. As Kong Nian Xi was about to lean in for the hug, Xi Ning hurriedly raised her arm, defensively placing it in front of her. She couldn't stop in time, and her delicate chin struck her arm. "Ouch... what are you doing?" Although it wasn't very painful, she was still "injured" by the sudden movement, and Kong Nian Xi rubbed her chin, glancing at Xi Ning ruefully. Xi Ning bit her lip, an unusual hint of red adorning the corners of her eyes, "Is it really a first for you?" Kong Nian Xi raised her brows, "What?" Xi Ning hesitated, "Your first hug... in what sense?" Xi Ning didn't know why she was so concerned, or why she was probing like this, but she inexplicably cared. The elation of being in love propelled her forward, and the instinctual conservatism made her want to pull back and retreat into her shell. The unsettled part of her indecision was also because there was so much about Kong Nian Xi that she couldn't see. Kong Nian Xi was stunned for a moment, then smiled deeper as laughter bloomed in her eyes, "Of course, it's all kinds of hugs besides familial ones, whether it's a friendly one or... between lovers who kiss." "No, you always question me so much, and you just bumped into me earlier, it's not fair." Kong Nian Xi changed her mind, her chin lifted and started making demands, "This time, I want you to hug me." Xi Ning was taken aback and almost caught up in her peculiar logic, staying motionless. "Xi Ning," Kong Nian Xi puffed her cheeks, took a breath, but after persisting for a few seconds, deflated all at once. She stamped her foot in place, turned to leave, "Never mind, forget the hug. You should get ready for the next round of the competition." Just as she took a step, her wrist was suddenly caught, and a gentle yet firm force was applied. She was caught off guard and turned back, falling into a soft embrace. But before she could feel the warmth of the other person, she was pushed away after a second. "Thank you for the lucky hug." Kong Nian Xi raised her head, meeting Xi Ning's feigned steady gaze. Her eyes shimmered with a turn in demeanor, and a mischievous smile emerged, "Alright, I understand now. It seems you like it a little more intense~"