Inheriting their mother Bai Lihua's pride and sensitivity—oh my, these two traits together can be quite troublesome. Fortunately, Yi Yufei has a thick skin, and sensitive people tend to be deeply affectionate, especially in single-parent families like theirs where the mother works alone to raise her children.
"Xi Xi," someone sighed, chin in hand, " Your brother went to eat fried noodles. Hey, even eating noodles looks so handsome on him."
She shot back instantly: "Is picking your feet handsome? Do you know he picks his feet all the time at home?"
A burst of laughter erupted.
The girl on the left chimed in: "Oh, come on. Even the most handsome guy has to eat, drink, and do his business."
The girl on the right chimed in, "Here's a tip: for those unattainable hotties, just ruin their image in your mind—picture them burping, picking their feet, farting..."
Oh my god, help me.
"And get this," the girl across from them giggled, holding back laughter, "they jerk off too! Gross!"
"Eww!!" The girls, faces flushed crimson, pounced on her, then doubled over laughing until they were falling all over the place.
Over there, Yi Yufei seemed to notice something. He shot Yi Tongxi a malicious glare.
The girls caught that look. They all fidgeted uncomfortably, smoothing their bangs, stamping their feet under the table, and gritting their teeth: He's looking over here... What do we do...?"
At moments like this, Yi Tongxi always felt a hint of smug satisfaction. Perhaps growing up alongside Yi Yufei had desensitized her to male presence. She remained remarkably composed and unflustered around the opposite sex, rarely displaying awkwardness or hesitation.
Alright then, she finally found one small perk of having an older brother.
That day, Yi Tongxi was on cleaning duty. After school, she tidied the classroom and didn't get home until nearly ten. The moment she walked in, a delicious aroma hit her, making her mouth water. Mrs. Bai Lihua was preparing a late-night snack in the kitchen. Hearing the sound, she called out, "Xixi, you're back! Didn't you forget your scarf and gloves again this morning? How old are you, always so forgetful? Can't you just spare me the worry?
"Let me wash up. You go rest."
"Cut it out," Bai Lihua said cheerfully. "You two ungrateful kids just focus on your studies. No need to help with chores."
"How touching," Yi Yufei teased his mom playfully, lifting noodles to her mouth. "Hurry up and eat a couple bites. I'm about to cry."
"Get lost!" Bai Lihua couldn't hold back her laughter, turning to give him a playful punch.
See? What goes around comes around. As the children grow, they learn to cherish their mother. All the toil and sacrifice becomes worthwhile—no matter how exhausting it is.
Yi Yufei returned to his room, only to find his desk already occupied by Yi Tongxi.
She was binge-watching Korean dramas again.
The latest hit, something called Missing You, had practically every girl at school hooked.
Yi Yufei set down his noodles, feeling the generational gap hit him hard. He couldn't wrap his head around how anyone could cry their eyes out over such a melodramatic, over-the-top soap opera.
Thankfully, not all girls fell for such self-pitying nonsense. Take their cousin Qiao Mo, for instance—she never watched Korean dramas, and even if she did, she'd never weep as if she were about to pass away.
At this thought, Yi Yufei's heart skipped a beat. He recalled Qiao Mo, who'd dropped out of school and was now either working night shifts or listening to her parents argue at home. His earlier resentment instantly evaporated. It might be unfair to his cousin, but if her lack of tears stemmed from enduring everything silently, then he'd rather Yi Tongxi be sobbing her heart out in his room.