Chapter 38: This Is My Little Sister
When they got home, Xu Nian told Xu’s mother and Mr. Xu about what had happened.
The two of them were overjoyed. Xu’s mother was so excited she jumped up from her seat, asking over and over, “Really? Is that true? Really?”
Xu Nian nodded repeatedly, “It’s true, it’s true.”
“That’s wonderful! That means Jiujiu will be my daughter-in-law!”
Xu Nianshen rubbed his forehead with a headache, “Mom, I haven’t even started courting her yet. Whether she says yes or not is another matter.”
Xu’s mother was completely unfazed, “What’s there to worry about? Your father and I will help you think of ways, create chances for you to win her over.”
Xu Nianshen didn’t respond, which was as good as admitting he accepted his mother’s plan.
“Nianshen, when did you realize you had feelings for Jiujiu?”
Xu Nian spoke up first, “I asked him before. He said he doesn’t know.”
Xu’s mother nodded knowingly, “I see. Love always comes when you’re not paying attention.”
Xu Nianshen lowered his gaze slightly and spoke slowly, “I think… I’ve been treating her differently from everyone else for a long time now.”
The other three froze for a moment, then broke into smiles. Xu’s father walked over to his son and clapped him on the shoulder, “As long as you’re clear about it yourself, that’s what matters.”
*
After Lin Yuejiu got home, she was bombarded with a phone call from Chen Qianxi, who interrogated her nonstop about whether anything fun had happened.
Lin Yuejiu was nearly dizzy from all the questions and insisted, “Nope, nothing.”
Chen Qianxi’s tone was full of disappointment, “Nothing? Jiujiu, I’m so disappointed in you.”
Lin Yuejiu was half laughing, half exasperated, “How am I disappointing you? What exactly did you hope I’d do?”
The words Of course I hoped something would happen between you and Study-God Xu! nearly slipped out of Chen Qianxi’s mouth.
Fortunately, reason kicked in and she slammed on the brakes before saying it aloud.
Hearing her make a sound as if she had something to say but didn’t, Lin Yuejiu prompted,
“Hm?”
“Nothing. It’s late — go wash up and get some sleep.”
Lin Yuejiu shrugged, went into the bathroom, and after washing up, climbed into bed. She noticed the bag on the bed, took out the photo from inside, glanced at it with a soft chuckle, then put it back and turned off the light.
*
The next day, just after lunch, Lin Yuejiu had returned to school when she got a call from Xu Nian.
“Hello? Brother Nian? What’s up?”
“Jiujiu, there’s a dinner party tonight. Want to come and have some fun?”
“Dinner party?” Lin Yuejiu pressed her lips together. In the past, those dinner parties were ones her former mother had taken her to — and every time, her mother would make her perform.
“Jiujiu? If you don’t want to come, don’t worry about it. Don’t feel you have to for my sake.”
She quietly let out a breath, “It’s fine, Brother Nian. I’ll come.”
“Great. I’ll send you the details later and pick you up.”
“Mm.”
Back in the dorm, she sat on her bed, sipping from her water cup. Brother Nian probably won’t make me perform or anything… right?
By evening, Xu Nian had sent her a message. Lin Yuejiu went to wait at the gate, and he arrived shortly after.
“Come on, get in.”
Xu Nian politely opened the car door for her.
She bent down to get in, glancing at him already in the driver’s seat. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Brother Nian… is it okay if I just wear this?”
“Hm?” Xu Nian turned his head to look. She was wearing a pale green long dress today. He smiled.
“It’s fine. It’s not some super formal, serious banquet. I just wanted to bring you to meet my friends.”
Lin Yuejiu blinked, “Your friends?”
“Yeah,” he said, eyes on the road ahead. “Bring you to meet my friends — so they can see how pretty my little sister is!”
Lin Yuejiu chuckled, then quickly hid the smile, “But… I haven’t prepared any performance for them, and I didn’t bring my violin…”
Xu Nian looked at her like she’d just said something strange, and then laughed, “You don’t need to perform anything. I’m not showing you off for your talents — just having you there as yourself is enough. I’m already proud to show you off just as you are.”
Lin Yuejiu froze.
It wasn’t to show off what she could do—just to show off her as a person.
Seeing she didn’t speak, Xu Nian went on in his own tone, “Talent shows? Everyone in this circle knows a little of something; it’s nothing to brag about. Your brother here only wants to brag about you being my little sister.”
Lin Yuejiu blinked slowly, as if some restraint inside her had just been broken.
She smiled. “Alright.”
Before long, they arrived at the banquet venue. Xu Nian got out first to open the car door for her. He bent his arm slightly; Lin Yuejiu glanced at it, instantly understanding, and slipped her hand through his arm. The two entered the banquet together.
Xu Nian guided her toward a group in the corner. As soon as the people there saw them, they waved. When the two walked over, someone immediately noticed Lin Yuejiu at his side and teased, “Brother Nian, so this is the person you brought?”
Xu Nian shot that person a glare. “What do you mean, ‘the person I brought’? This is my sister!”
“Ohhh, so this is the sister our Brother Nian keeps mentioning all the time?”
“She’s really that good-looking?”
Xu Nian straightened his back at once. “My sister is absolutely gorgeous!”
Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help but laugh at his proud expression.
“What’s your name, little sister?”
She answered obediently, “Lin Yuejiu.”
“Lin Yuejiu? Surname Lin? Brother Nian, that’s not the same surname as yours—how is she your sister?”
“If I say she’s my sister, then she’s my sister. Right, Jiujiu?”
Lin Yuejiu played along, “Mm, I’m Brother Xu Nian’s sister.”
Xu Nian immediately gave an “See?” kind of smug look.
“Why does the name Lin Yuejiu sound so familiar? Hey—wasn’t that the one from the Lin family before?”
The rest of Xu Nian’s friends fell silent. That man also realized he’d said the wrong thing, shut his mouth, and looked a little embarrassed.
Lin Yuejiu, however, didn’t seem to mind at all. She smiled openly. “Yes, that was me. I used to be the Lin family’s daughter.”
Xu Nian turned to look at her, surprise flickering in his eyes.
“But like you said, that was in the past. I’m not anymore. Now, I’m just Lin Yuejiu.”
The corners of Xu Nian’s mouth lifted.
The others hadn’t expected her to react like this. Seeing her so frank and open, they couldn’t help but feel a touch of admiration. After all she had been through, after all the criticism from the public, she could still stand here so composed.
They began praising her one after another.
“Brother Nian, your sister is impressive.”
“Such a broad mind, little sister!”
“Respect!”
“I want a sister like that too.”
Xu Nian kicked that person. “Forget it—you’re not getting her. She’s my sister!”
“Brother Nian, come on, it was just a joke—why the kick?”
“Even as a joke, you can’t say that. She’s my sister.”
The man raised both hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, she’s yours. I won’t say it again.”
“Looks like our circle’s got another big name—Brother-Who-Spoils-His-Sister-to-Death Xu Nian.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Lin Yuejiu laughed along with them.
This felt… really nice.
“Sister?!”
A surprised voice suddenly rang out behind her.
Lin Yuejiu turned her head to see the entire Lin family of four. Lin Rumeng was staring at her with surprise still on her face.
“Sister, why are you here?”
