Chapter One: My Younger Sister Was Beaten Again

“What!” Qin Xuan tore the acceptance letter from his face, staring at the university and major that matched his own exactly, utterly bewildered. “You—you—why did you choose the same as me?”

“Well, I was just worried you’d get lost at Shu University, that’s all!” Liu Ruoxi sprawled across her favorite spot on the sofa and replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world—clearly, she’d pulled this kind of stunt more than once.

Qin Xuan placed her letter next to his own. “Oh, Liu Ruoxi! Can’t you just let me live in peace?”

“It was one thing from elementary to high school, but you still won’t let me off even for university!”

Looking back, Liu Ruoxi had been his deskmate for twelve years! If he counted kindergarten, then apart from this childhood friend born just a day apart, he’d never even held another girl’s hand. His little sister certainly didn’t count.

Because Liu Ruoxi had always stuck to him like a shadow since childhood, Qin Xuan had thought about finding a girlfriend, but the moment anyone heard about his persistent childhood companion, they’d immediately turn him down. So, Qin Xuan had always considered Liu Ruoxi his lifelong nemesis!

As for why he never made a move on his childhood friend… They were simply too familiar. They even knew how many moles the other had on their backside—how could anything romantic arise from that?

With a twist, Liu Ruoxi perched herself on his lap and pinched his cheek. “I even turned down better universities to go to Shu with you, and you’re not even grateful.”

Qin Xuan, aware of the softness on his lap, swatted her hand away. “Thank you very much, but get off!”

“Nope.” Liu Ruoxi reached for the other side of his face.

Qin Xuan sized up the girl on his lap. He’d admit he was a bit shallow when it came to looks, but she really was the prettiest one around.

“What are you thinking about now?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he replied, suddenly convinced she could read his mind.

“Ha, are you thinking about how beautiful I am and how you want to marry me?” Liu Ruoxi let go of his face and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

Her breath tickled him. “Get lost! Did you get that courage from some sappy pop song?”

“If you don’t get down, I’ll make you!” Qin Xuan threatened, his hand closing slightly around her waist.

“Don’t, don’t! I was wrong.” Liu Ruoxi collapsed onto him in feigned surrender, but didn’t move away.

“Then why aren’t you getting off?” Qin Xuan was about to act when the front door clicked open.

“Brother! I’m thirsty!” came a crisp voice, freezing both of them.

“Crap.”

At the door stood Qin Xuan’s sister, Qin Lin’er, wearing a blue pleated skirt and a ponytail, her sneakered feet pausing as she frowned at their posture.

“Liu Ruoxi!” Qin Lin’er tossed her shoulder bag aside and dove at Liu Ruoxi, who was still sitting on her brother, tugging at her arm. “Shameless woman, get off him!”

“All you ever do is cling to my brother. No wonder he can’t get a girlfriend!”

“Stop pulling!” Liu Ruoxi muttered helplessly, finally rolling off to the side, which only made Qin Xuan want to laugh.

“Hmph, brother, I’m thirsty.” Qin Lin’er plopped herself between the two, ignoring Liu Ruoxi’s glare.

Qin Xuan reached out to stroke his sister’s soft hair. “There’s watermelon in the fridge. Go get some yourself.”

“You get it for me, I don’t feel like moving.”

“I don’t feel like moving either. Get me a piece while you’re at it…”

“Oh?” Qin Lin’er turned to him with a sly smile. “Brother, do you remember what you did last night?”

Qin Xuan froze. “Huh? Wait—how do you know about that? It was all a misunderstanding.”

“Whether it was or not doesn’t matter. What matters is, do Mom and Dad believe you or me?”

Qin Xuan knew full well his position in the family ranked dead last compared to his sister. She was a year younger, smarter since childhood, even skipped a grade, and always in the top three students—though she was arts and he was sciences. Meanwhile, he was the household scapegoat…

“Weren’t you out getting your acceptance letter? Let me see it. You’ve been so secretive about your college choices.”

Qin Xuan handed her a cut piece of watermelon from the fridge, gave another to Liu Ruoxi, and didn’t take any himself. Everything edible at home was meant for his sister; he hardly felt worthy.

“Here,” Qin Lin’er fished an unopened envelope from her bag and handed it over.

“Hm? Hm!” Staring at the familiar print, Qin Xuan was baffled. Once opened, as expected!

“Wait a minute, your score is really high. There’s no need for you to go to Shu with me…” Qin Xuan asked suspiciously. “Do Mom and Dad know?”

“Oh, I was worried you’d end up with a sister-in-law I don’t like if I wasn’t there to keep an eye on you.” Qin Lin’er nibbled her watermelon, her eyes darting away. “So I had to see for myself! And I already told Mom and Dad ages ago.”

Liu Ruoxi also paused her watermelon, eyeing the acceptance letter with a bemused smile. “Heh.”

“What are you laughing at? Want to fight?” Qin Lin’er put down her watermelon and got ready to rumble.

“Heh, just you?”

Ten minutes later, Qin Lin’er, drenched in sweat, was pinned to the sofa by Liu Ruoxi’s single hand.

“Ah! Brother, look at her! You can never marry a violent woman like this!” Qin Lin’er cried.

Qin Xuan could only smile wryly. Every time his sister fought his childhood friend, it was a one-sided defeat. Against the 1.7-meter-tall Liu Ruoxi, Lin’er was forever the “little brother,” plus Liu Ruoxi had learned self-defense with Qin Xuan—though he was always the one getting beaten up…

“Do you yield?” Liu Ruoxi grinned.

Qin Lin’er puffed out her cheeks. “No!”

Hearing this, Liu Ruoxi flipped her over. Sensing what was coming, Qin Lin’er quickly begged, “No, don’t! I give up, I give up!”

“Too late.”

Liu Ruoxi lifted Qin Lin’er’s skirt, revealing her safety shorts. Qin Xuan quickly turned away.

A sharp smack resounded.

“Ow!” Qin Lin’er struggled under Liu Ruoxi. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, big sis! Ruoxi sis!”

“Hmph, is that all you’ve got, still want to go against me?” She smacked her a few more times.

Qin Lin’er trembled from the blows, though Liu Ruoxi hadn’t used much force. Still, being spanked in front of her brother felt strange.

“Brother, help me!” Unable to bear it, Qin Lin’er called for help, knowing only her brother could handle Liu Ruoxi.

“Knew you’d come running to me! What’ll you do when you get married someday?” Liu Ruoxi finally let go.

Rubbing her backside, Qin Lin’er muttered, “Then I just won’t get married. I have you, don’t I?”

“All right, ladies,” Qin Xuan interjected as the peacemaker. “What do you want for dinner? Ruoxi, stay and eat. Are Aunt Bai and Uncle Liu not back yet?”

His parents were often on business trips, and Aunt Bai and Uncle Liu—Liu Ruoxi’s parents, Bai Xiaomin and Liu Hao—had used their daughter’s college entrance exams as an excuse to travel. But it was clearly just a pretext! Liu Ruoxi was often left at Qin Xuan’s house; her parents would say, “Our daughter ruins our vacation mood…”

“They said they went to escape the heat. Who knows when they’ll be back.” At this, a hint of loneliness flickered in Liu Ruoxi’s eyes.

“It’s all right. I’ll make your favorite braised fish tonight.” Qin Xuan eyed the fish he’d bought that morning in the fridge.

“Brother! I want fried rice!”

“Like hell you are, there’s no leftover rice.” Qin Xuan scolded without much patience.

“Last night, then?” That was a blatant threat!

“Don’t… I bought your favorite braised dishes, they’re in the fridge.” Qin Xuan hurriedly produced a bag packed with various snacks.

Qin Lin’er instantly brightened. “That’ll do. I guess I can forget about last night for now.”

Qin Xuan: …

By eleven thirty, Qin Xuan got up to head for the kitchen.

Beside him, Liu Ruoxi sidled up to the now-satisfied Qin Lin’er and whispered, “So, what exactly did he do last night?”

Qin Lin’er shot her a look. “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Do you even know your place?”

Liu Ruoxi: ?