Chapter 56 - What Should I Do if My Younger Brother’s Crush Has Taken a Liking to Me?

Chapter 56 "Of course, I adore my sweetheart so much. As long as she wishes, I would do anything for her, including cooking by myself," Xi Mu exclaimed as he put down the frying pan. "..." Xi Ning's eyelids jumped slightly. She vaguely remembered his interest in romance novels. She suddenly lost the desire to continue the conversation and said, "Oh," before turning and leaving the room. Xi Mu followed her and asked, "Why did you suddenly ask? Do you have someone you like now?" His words caught Xi Ning off guard and she froze in place. ...Is it that obvious? "Haha, did I hit the mark?" Xi Mu widened his eyes, full of gossip, and walked a few steps closer to her, wiping his apron. After all, they were real siblings. In his eyes, his sister was supposed to be a standard good student with no desires or love affairs, especially after that unlucky incident. She never had any male friends around her, let alone a boyfriend. Even though his imagination was rich, he couldn't fathom what it would look like for Xi Ning to be in love. "Hmm, wait a moment," he patted his apron, turned around, ran to the living room, picked up several magazines thrown on the sofa, and handed them directly to Xi Ning. "A few days ago, I suddenly felt nostalgic and ordered some old fashioned magazines online. They might not be useful for most people, but I thought they would suit your taste," Xi Mu said, handing the magazines to Xi Ning. Xi Ning took them and glanced at the covers. They were different titles, including Fireworks and Egret, even from two or three years ago. Xi Mu patted her shoulder and said earnestly, "You're blooming like iron trees. Maybe you'll find the feeling by reading these. So, who's the guy? Do I know him?" Xi Ning: "..." What kind of comparison is this? She pursed her lips, glanced at him, and threw an apple into his arms, unwilling to explain. Changing the subject, she said, "I ordered takeout for lunch." Xi Mu immediately forgot the previous topic and called out, "Then get me a pizza!" Xi Ning turned and walked back to her room, leaving the magazines untouched. At four o'clock in the afternoon, it was time to return to school. After changing into her school uniform, Xi Ning carried her bag and left the house. The school had two sets of uniforms, one for summer and another for autumn, as the city in the south didn't have distinct seasons. The autumn uniform consisted of thick long-sleeved shirts and pants to ward off the cold. Xi Mu was huddled in the back seat playing with his handheld game console, while Xi Ning sat on the other end. There was empty space between them. She leaned against the car window, her sleek black hair tucked behind her ear. She wore a white Bluetooth earphone in her left ear, listening to English materials. It was about half an hour's drive to the school. Xi Ning silently calculated the time while holding her phone. It vibrated, and a message popped up. [Kong Nianxi: What are you doing?] She blinked and sat up straight. [Kong Nianxi: Don't leave me on read. Also, please don't send short, meaningless replies. Your response should be more than ten words, and voice messages are preferred.] "..." Xi Ning pondered for a while. Finally, she pressed and held the voice recording button to speak, subconsciously glancing to her side. "Ahahaha, I finally beat the level without getting hurt!" Xi Mu killed the last boss, excitedly shouted, and raised his head, only to unexpectedly meet Xi Ning's cold gaze. He was startled and asked, "W-What's wrong?" Xi Ning released the button without saying anything, avoided his gaze, and spoke in a chilly tone, "You're too noisy." She was straightforward when dealing with Xi Mu. This was probably due to his lower family status from childhood and his thick skin. Xi Mu was taken aback by her icy response. Seeing her on her phone, he thought she was probably studying with an app and quickly apologized, "Yes, yes, I'll keep quiet and not disturb you from studying." "..." Xi Mu observed that Xi Ning's expression seemed a bit tense. She shook her wrist and adjusted her loose sleeves, covering the phone screen a little. As her phone vibrated again, it seemed that the recipient had received the brief voice recording with some "noise" in the background. [Kong Nianxi: Well done! You already know how to play my game, huh?] [Kong Nianxi: Is there someone else with you?] Xi Ning hesitated before typing: [My brother.] [Kong Nianxi: Oh...] There was a brief silence for a few seconds. Xi Ning glanced at the time and typed: [I'll arrive at the school gate in twenty-five minutes.] [Kong Nianxi: Are you in a hurry to see me?] [Xi Ning:...] [Kong Nianxi: ?? What's wrong with you? I was about to praise you, and from now on, don't ever reply with ellipsis when chatting with me. I dislike it!] Xi Ning lightly chuckled, a faint smile appearing on her lips. This symbol didn't hold any special meaning for her, she just didn't know how to respond, and it was an unconscious action. [Kong Nianxi: Eight hours and thirty-five minutes, I miss you so much and want to see you now.] "..." Xi Ning had always had a reserved personality and wasn't the type to cling to others or enjoy sweet talk. However, at this moment, seeing the message from Kong Nianxi, she bit her lip. A certain tension tightened in her heart, and there was a slight warmth in her ears. Feeling at a loss, Kong Nianxi sent a picture, which seemed to be a casual selfie. Her features were as delicate and beautiful as ever. After staring at the photo for a moment, Xi Ning felt a bit dazed. It appeared that Kong Nianxi was in a crowded street, and she wasn't alone. Nearby were several students in school uniforms, and in the lower left corner stood a tall boy, holding a burning scarlet cigarette. Xi Ning furrowed her brows slightly. [Xi Ning: Are you outside?] [Kong Nianxi: Yes, I'm in a small street near the school, just below my apartment. I'll come to pick you up when you arrive at five.] Xi Ning tapped on the screen a few times, then deleted the word "edit." [Kong Nianxi: It's only polite to respond in kind.] [Xi Ning: Huh?] [Kong Nianxi: What's with the 'huh'? I want your selfie.] "..." Xi Ning clutched her phone and leaned back in her seat. Her legs felt stiff from sitting for too long. She didn't usually take selfies, and with no necessity for it, she seldom looked in the mirror. She didn't even have a small mirror, essential for most high school girls, in her bag or pocket. Therefore, it felt awkward for her to suddenly take a selfie and send it out now. She opened the front camera on her phone and mechanically took several shots at different angles until she felt strange. She repeated this several times. Beside her, Xi Mu almost cheered after defeating a boss. However, when he realized that Xi Ning was in the middle of taking selfies, he quickly covered his mouth. He glanced at her, then her phone, and was taken aback by her sudden action. Isn't it too early for the sun to set in the west? Xi Ning was aware of his intense gaze beside her, but she didn't hesitate anymore. After taking another photo, she gritted her teeth and pressed the send button. Kong Nianxi soon responded with a critique: [Not bad. Although it's taken from an awkward angle with an unusual lighting, your face still looks good.] Xi Ning: "..." The car stopped at the street corner in front of the school gate, but Xi Mu got out first. He noticed that Xi Ning didn't show any intention to leave the car and couldn't help asking, "Aren't you getting off?" "You go ahead," Xi Ning replied with an unchanged expression, her gaze shifting elsewhere. She looked rather guilty. Xi Mu frowned and glanced at her for a few seconds. He figured that his sister must be up to something, but he also knew that she was good at keeping things to herself. He didn't press further and simply responded before leaving. Once he was out of sight, Xi Ning got out of the car and walked toward the school gate. Standing at a small flower bed near the main entrance of the school, she looked around at the passing students but didn't see Kong Nianxi's figure. She waited in the same spot. After about half a minute, she heard light footsteps approaching from the right. As the sound grew nearer, Xi Ning turned and saw a slender figure leaping toward her. Along with a familiar scent, she reflexively reached out and hooked her hand around the other person's leg. The person landed on her, wrapping their arms around her neck. "Missed me?" Kong Nianxi's cheerful voice rang in her ear. The school gate was right in front of them, and it was the peak time for students returning to school. Many students passing by looked in their direction. Xi Ning stood upright, afraid to let go or make the other person fall. Her cheeks were burning as she said, "Get off first." "..." "No, you have to tell me first. Do you miss me?" Kong Nianxi whispered in her ear. Though two girls embracing in public might only attract a few curious glances from passersby, Xi Ning was sensitive, especially considering her current relationship with Kong Nianxi. After freezing in that position for a couple of seconds, Xi Ning, feeling slightly embarrassed, reluctantly murmured, "Yes." "What? It's too noisy, I couldn't hear you clearly," cooed Kong Nianxi, bringing her ear closer to Xi Ning's lips. "..." Perhaps it was a rebound, or maybe it was a result of being influenced by Kong Nianxi recently. It could also have been the effect of the romantic movie she watched in the afternoon, or the love stories she had read. Xi Ning, who was adept at drawing inferences from other cases, suddenly calmed down. She lowered her gaze and glanced at Kong Nianxi's translucent and delicate earlobe, slightly lifting her chin and brushing it lightly. "Now, can you hear me clearly?" she whispered after the brief touch. Almost simultaneously, she sensed the body leaning against her stiffen. This time, Kong Nianxi didn't press on. She obediently got off her and tidied her long hair, covering the suspicious blush. "Let's go inside." Seeing her finally behave, Xi Ning suppressed the embarrassment on her face and hurried towards the school gate, only to have her little finger suddenly held. Kong Nianxi: "Where did you learn that trick?" Xi Ning: "..." Kong Nianxi smiled gently. "I'm quite satisfied. Keep up the good work." Xi Ning: "..." "Hey, Nianxi, is this your new friend? I haven't seen them before." Having not noticed earlier, there were two girls and one boy behind Kong Nianxi. As they chatted, they walked closer, and the tall boy flashed a bright smile and spoke.