Chapter 53 – It’s So Hard to Make Someone Happy
After school, Xu Nianshen was still sulking and left without even saying goodbye.
Lin Yuejiu felt certain he was mad—he didn’t even greet her before walking off.
She lay gloomily across her desk.
Chen Qianxi packed her things and called out to her. Seeing Yuejiu lying there, she asked,
“Jiujiu, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
She reached out to touch her forehead. “No fever… so why the long face?”
“I think I might have made Xu Nianshen angry…”
Chen Qianxi gasped in disbelief. “What? Why? What did you do to make him mad?”
“That’s the thing—I don’t even know what I did. That’s why I’m so upset.”
Chen Qianxi rubbed her chin in thought. “Maybe… you should just ask him?”
“He might not say anything. He’s not the type to wear his heart on his sleeve,” Yuejiu muttered softly.
“Then don’t just ask once—ask over and over. Act cute, pout a little. If you keep at it, he’ll definitely tell you.”
“Act… cute?” Lin Yuejiu blinked at her.
Chen Qianxi nodded with confidence. “Of course! Acting cute is a girl’s ultimate weapon. You’re beautiful—if you撒嬌 (sa jiao, act spoiled), Study God Xu will be completely helpless.”
Lin Yuejiu nodded, finding that strangely convincing.
“Thanks, Xixi. I’ll head out first.”
“You’re welcome.”
As she watched Yuejiu’s retreating figure, Chen Qianxi revealed a proud little smile.
She really was nothing less than an unremarkably remarkable wingman.
Walking out of school, Lin Yuejiu mulled over her excuses.
If Auntie Xu asked, she could just say she missed her cooking. Auntie Xu liked her so much, she definitely wouldn’t suspect anything. Then, when the time was right, she could use a math problem she “couldn’t solve” as an excuse to enter Xu Nianshen’s room—then she’d ask him directly what was wrong.
Thinking this through, Yuejiu chuckled to herself. What a clever little fox she was.
She was just considering whether to call a cab to the Xu residence when suddenly someone grabbed her hand.
She turned and saw—Lin Yimo.
Lin Yuejiu frowned instinctively and tried to shake him off, but his grip held firm. She caught a faint whiff of alcohol.
“You’ve been drinking?”
Lin Yimo looked quite drunk, swaying slightly.
The Lin and Xu families had recently been in talks about a partnership, but just before signing the contract, the Lin side ran into issues. After discussions, the Xu family decided not to cooperate. Lin Yimo had been brooding over it. Seeing Lin Yuejiu’s competitions trending online only reminded him of the past. After work, he went drinking at a bar, then somehow ended up outside her school. Spotting a figure that resembled her, he impulsively reached out and grabbed her.
The voice was the same too.
He admitted obediently, “Yeah, I drank.”
“If you’re drunk, go home. Don’t wander around. No one’s going to take care of you.”
“You will,” he blurted out instinctively.
Lin Yuejiu scowled. “Why would I? I have nothing to do with you.”
“How can we have nothing to do with each other? We’re… siblings. You’re… my little sister.”
His eyes lifted toward her face, unfocused, but his grip on her hand wouldn’t loosen.
Lin Yuejiu tilted her head toward the night sky, gritting her teeth, trying again to shake him off. But no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free.
What was with this Lin family? Did they all eat some strength-enhancing tonic? She still remembered how powerless she’d been when Lin Rumeng dragged her into the Lin household. And now with Lin Yimo—same story, she couldn’t escape.
After trying for a while longer, she gave up struggling.
Girls’ strength just couldn’t compare to boys’. Forget it.
Not long after, Lin Yimo suddenly released her, clutching his stomach with a pained expression. Yuejiu instinctively lifted her foot to run, but after a moment’s hesitation, she turned back. Lin Yimo had already collapsed to the ground, curled up and holding his abdomen.
She took a deep breath, then stepped forward, called 120 (emergency services), and accompanied him to the hospital.
The doctor diagnosed him with acute gastritis. Yuejiu nodded.
“As a family member, since you know he has gastritis, you should’ve stopped him from drinking. You need to keep an eye on him.”
“I’m not his family.”
“Then… girlfriend?”
“No. Just a… good Samaritan.”
“I see. Well, if possible, please tell his family to remind him to take care of himself.”
“Alright. Thank you, doctor.”
Yuejiu entered the ward, sat down at the bedside, found his phone, and called Mother Lin.
“Hello? Yimo? What’s wrong?”
“It’s me, Lin Yuejiu.”
There was a pause. “Why do you have his phone?”
“Lin Yimo had a bout of gastritis. We’re at the City Central Hospital, third floor, private room 309. Please come quickly.”
She hung up immediately, then borrowed pen and paper from a nurse to write down the doctor’s instructions. She left the note on the bedside table, weighed it down with the phone, and returned the pen.
By the time Mr. and Mrs. Lin arrived, only Lin Yimo was lying on the bed. Mrs. Lin checked on him first—he seemed stable. Mr. Lin picked up the note, handed it to her, and recognized the handwriting instantly. It was full of careful reminders about gastritis management, nothing more.
PS: The hospital fees and treatment charges weren’t paid yet.
Mr. Lin handed the note to his wife, then went to settle the bill.
On the bed, Lin Yimo slowly woke. Mrs. Lin noticed right away, quickly handing him some water and helping him sit up. Her voice was full of reproach:
“You know you have gastritis—how could you drink so much?”
“It won’t happen again.” He sipped the warm water. “Who brought me here?”
“It was… Jiujiu. She called us to come.”
Mrs. Lin handed him the note. He stared at it in silence, his fingers gradually tightening around the paper.
—
By the time Lin Yuejiu returned to school, it was already late. She sighed and headed back to the dorm.
Chen Qianxi immediately pounced with questions—had Xu Nianshen calmed down?
Yuejiu flopped onto her bed. “Don’t even mention it. I didn’t even get to see him.”
“What? Why? You didn’t go?”
Yuejiu briefly explained what had happened.
Chen Qianxi pouted. “That’s really a shame. Guess you’ll just have to find another chance tomorrow.”
Staring at the white ceiling, Lin Yuejiu pulled her pillow over her face.
Sigh… It’s so hard to coax someone!
