Chapter 8: Not Behaving

In the game room, Gao Minglang returned after answering a call, his face filled with the relief of having survived a disaster—

“I found out. That guy is named Xu Yan, the eldest young master of the Shanbang Xu family, Xu Yin’s biological older brother!!!”
“No wonder she was so nervous about him.”
“If they’re biological siblings, then it’s understandable.”

Duan Sili couldn’t even be bothered to lift his eyelids.

Ever since the game ended, Gao Minglang had been like someone who had just lost a love, completely dispirited.

Now that he knew they were biological siblings, he was full of life again, bouncing around.

He was seriously ill.

“That really threw me for a loop just now. I thought she and that Xu Yan… had something going on.”

Even now, Gao Minglang was still a little shaken, patting his chest with lingering fear. “I almost thought the cooked duck was about to be snatched away by someone else.”

Duan Sili took off one earphone and said impatiently, “Are you done yet?”

“But seriously, the Xu family’s genes are strong, huh? Both the brother and sister are so good-looking.”

Duan Sili recalled the scene of Xu Yin rushing onto the basketball court, and put his headphones back on. “Besides not looking alike, there’s no problem.”

“They really don’t look alike.” Gao Minglang touched his chin. “The sister has double eyelids, but the brother actually has single eyelids. That’s very strange.”

“Spraining an ankle, and getting that nervous.” Duan Sili said with reason, “Normal siblings would be at each other’s throats.”

Gao Minglang thought of his daily interactions with his own rebellious younger sister and deeply sympathized.

If he had sprained his ankle in the basketball arena, his devilish middle-school-aged sister would definitely rush over to give it another kick, then post about it on her Moments to mock him for half a month.

“Master Si is truly profound.” Gao Minglang shrugged. “But they are biological siblings. Whether they look alike or not… it’s not important, right?”

Duan Sili glanced at him sideways. “It would be fun if it were incest.”

“…”
Gao Minglang was at a loss for words. “Master Si, are you that perverted on the inside?”

Duan Sili did indeed have many dark sides to his personality. He had always been sharp, with an almost cutting insight into details.

For example, in today’s basketball game, he felt that with Xu Yan’s skills, it was strange that he would injure his foot just from blocking a shot.

Duan Sili knew exactly how much force he had used.

He even suspected that Xu Yan had fallen on purpose.

The reason… was unknown.

After a moment of contemplation, he took off his headphones and said directly to Gao Minglang, “I think you’re flattering yourself.”

“Huh?” Gao Minglang was stunned.

“She doesn’t like you.”

“Hey, hey, hey, I don’t like hearing that.”

“Whether you like to hear it or not is your business. I’m just telling you my feeling.” Duan Sili’s tone was cold. “You think she’s nice to you, but a girl like her who wears a perfect mask is nice to everyone. You’re not special.”

Gao Minglang’s face flushed red. He tried hard to find some examples to refute Duan Sili and prove that he was special to Xu Yin.

But after thinking for a long time, he found that he… couldn’t find any.

“What is ‘like’? What is ‘special’?” Duan Sili said calmly. “The way she is with her brother, that’s what it is.”

Gao Minglang opened his mouth but couldn’t refute it.

After a while, he scratched his head in frustration. “You seem to be right. I’ll try to restrain myself then.”

Xu Yin supported Xu Yan’s arm and returned to his off-campus apartment.

He wasn’t used to living in the school dormitories, and he often had to help his father with the affairs of the new company here in Ao Gang Wan, so he had found a place to live outside.

The large flat apartment boasted a full lake view and was very close to both Pusley and Pu Jing High, making it one of the most high-end apartments in the area.

Xu Yan had Xu Yin register her fingerprint on the keypad lock by the door. “Come stay here on weekends. I’ll cook for you and improve your meals.”

“The food in Pu Jing’s cafeteria is very delicious, with flavors from all over the world.”

“Is it better than my cooking?”

Xu Yin looked at the boy on the sofa and said with a smile, “Of course not as good as big brother’s skills.”

“It’s been a long time since I cooked for you.”

“Yeah, I miss brother’s cooking too. I’ll come over this weekend then. Let’s spend the weekend together.”

“Mmm.”

“I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about you recently. They’ve spread from Pu Jing all the way to Pusley.” Xu Yan looked at her without a change in expression, a teasing glint in his eyes. “As expected, wherever my sister goes, she’s the center of attention.”

Xu Yin walked over and sat down beside him, saying irritably, “You arranged such a high-profile entrance. It’s hard not to attract attention.”

“So, have you caught that person’s attention?”

“It’s harder… than I imagined.” Xu Yin looked at his casted left leg, changing the subject. “It was just an ordinary ball game. Why did you have to go so hard?”

“You have your persistence, and I have mine.”

“I never realized before that you love basketball so much, big bro.”

Xu Yan didn’t answer, only reflecting her in his deep, dark eyes.

The moment she looked over, he quickly averted his gaze. “By the way, Dad is coming over this weekend. You must remember to come home on Sunday.”

Hearing this, Xu Yin’s face quickly darkened.

“Oh, okay.”

“Practice the piano when you have time.” Xu Yan reminded her. “Dad will check. If you don’t play well, you know the consequences of his anger.”

Xu Yin slung her schoolbag over her shoulder. “I know, bro. I’ll be going then.”

Xu Yan leaned on his crutches and saw her to the door, watching the little girl leave.

As the elevator doors were about to close, Xu Yin saw through the gap that he was still standing there.

He waved goodbye to her, and Xu Yin waved back.

If it weren’t for Xu Yan all these years, she probably… wouldn’t have been able to hold on at all.

God had closed a door for her, but in the darkness, He had ultimately left this sliver of light from the sky.

It allowed her to steal a breath in the suffocating darkness.

Only after getting into the elevator did she remember that she had forgotten to remind Xu Yan to change his dressing.

She lowered her head to send him a text message and didn’t notice the elevator had already started to ascend. With a “ding,” the doors opened on the 29th floor.

Two boys walked in, one after the other. They had been talking and laughing, but stopped abruptly when they saw her.

Especially Duan Sili, the smile on his lips instantly vanished.

He swept a distant glance at her, then lowered his head to scroll through his phone, treating her like air.

Gao Minglang’s eyes, however, lit up. “Xu Yin, what are you doing here too?”

Xu Yin’s gaze shifted past him to the person behind him.

The elevator ceiling light fell on his face, his features having the deep, defined structure of a European, but his eyes were indifferent and lazy, as if he hadn’t seen her.

“My brother lives here,” Xu Yin explained. “I just brought him back.”

“What a coincidence? Master Si usually lives in this building too!” Gao Minglang was instantly excited, completely forgetting his vow to restrain himself just now. “Which floor does your brother live on?”

“28.”

“Just downstairs! This is such a coincidence.”

He enthusiastically invited her, “We’re just about to go to Qizhi for Japanese food. Do you want to come along?”

Xu Yin didn’t respond immediately, looking at Duan Sili.

In fact, Gao Minglang was also looking at him. If he wasn’t willing, he wouldn’t dare to make the decision on his own.

From beginning to end, Duan Sili didn’t say a word.

Gao Minglang secretly nudged him with his elbow, his eyes frantically hinting, just short of kneeling down.

Finally, Duan Sili relented, casually dropping a single word, “Whatever.”

Gao Minglang was as relieved as if he had been granted amnesty and immediately said to Xu Yin, “There won’t be much left in the cafeteria at this time. Come with us.”

“Okay,” the girl nodded in agreement.

The elevator continued its descent. In the small space, no one spoke again.

Duan Sili always stood in the furthest corner, maintaining the greatest distance from her.

Gao Minglang stared at her, mesmerized, little stars appearing in his eyes.

Duan Sili had seen girls go crazy over boys, but he had never seen a boy go crazy over a girl. He rolled his eyes and was the first to walk out of the elevator.

The Maybach was parked on the side of the road. As the three of them approached, the car doors automatically unlocked.

Duan Sili directly opened the back seat door, while Gao Minglang skillfully slipped into the passenger seat. This was their usual tacit understanding.

Naturally, Xu Yin got into the car with Duan Sili, sitting in the back row.

A pleasant, light, fruity scent lingered in the car.

After getting in, Duan Sili took a magazine out of his schoolbag. The cover featured a fossil of some ancient creature, with an all-English layout.

He looked down, flipping through it, his slender fingers occasionally pausing on the pages.

Although Gao Minglang was sitting in the passenger seat, his body was practically leaning into the back. “Xu Yan is your biological brother?”

“Mmm.”

“You don’t look like him.”

“A lot of people say that.”

“It’s normal not to look alike. My sister and I don’t look alike either. She was born from my dad’s affair.”

After he said this, the air instantly fell silent.

Gao Minglang seemed to realize he had said the wrong thing due to his low EQ and quickly said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I didn’t mean you…..”

“It’s okay,” Xu Yin said lightly. “I won’t take it to heart.”

Gao Minglang didn’t dare to speak anymore. He sheepishly turned back to the front and secretly sent Duan Sili a WeChat message—

Little Ming: “I’m done for, I’m dead!! I’m so stupid!!!”

Duan Sili glanced at his phone but didn’t reply.

His intolerance for stupidity was acting up.

The Japanese restaurant was hidden deep behind bamboo curtains. The shoji doors were half-open, revealing a corner of a dry landscape garden.

Xu Yin followed suit, took off her shoes, and stepped onto the soft tatami mat.

Gao Minglang, with ulterior motives, arranged for Xu Yin to sit with him, with Duan Sili sitting opposite, leaning against the window lattice.

To make up for his slip of the tongue just now, Gao Minglang very attentively handed the tablet to Xu Yin, telling her to order whatever she wanted, as it was his treat today.

However, just as the sashimi platter, smoking with dry ice, was served, Gao Minglang went out to answer a call. When he returned, he was a little flustered—

“I’m sorry, something came up at home. My bratty sister ran off to mess around again, and my dad insists that I go catch her now. I have to go.”

Xu Yin quickly stood up. “Do you need my help?”

“No, no, no, you eat.” Hearing her words, Gao Minglang was pleasantly surprised and quickly pressed her shoulder to make her sit back down. “My sister is very difficult to handle. I’ll just go find her myself.”

Turning back, he said apologetically to Duan Sili, “Master Si, please take Yinyin home later. I’ve already paid for the meal. Sorry for the trouble! Sorry for the trouble!”

Duan Sili answered him with only one word—

“Scram.”

As soon as Gao Minglang left, Xu Yin let out a silent breath, her posture visibly more relaxed.

Noticing that Duan Sili was observing her, she smiled at him and picked up a piece of sushi with her chopsticks. “I’m starving. Duan Sili, I’ll start eating.”

Duan Sili slowly took his chopsticks from the gold-plated box, picked up a piece of Arctic surf clam, dipped it in a circle of wasabi, and placed it on Xu Yin’s small ceramic plate—

“Then… eat more.”

Xu Yin stared at the piece of Arctic surf clam covered in green sauce. “Actually, I’m not a big fan of sashimi.”

“You don’t like it, yet you came with us for Japanese food?”

“It might be my problem. I’m not very good at refusing people. Sometimes, when I see people being very enthusiastic and proactive towards me, I don’t want to disappoint them.” Xu Yin picked up the piece of sashimi covered in wasabi with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. “So…”

“Mmm…”
The kick of the wasabi rushed up. Xu Yin covered her nose, her eyes shut tight, tears almost squeezed out by the spice.

Duan Sili, however, let out a light sneer.

The little girl’s nose was burning. She kept fanning herself with her hands, and her eyes turned red.

Her pitiful appearance really made it seem as if he had bullied her.

This look, however, brought a secret pleasure to his heart.

He wanted to bully her… bully her mercilessly…

Duan Sili’s fingers, holding the small cup, tightened.

A moment later, after calming down, he pushed his untouched glass of lemonade in front of Xu Yin.

Xu Yin took it and gulped it down before she finally recovered.

His sharp, dark eyes were fixed on her. “I can see that you really don’t know how to refuse people.”

“Mmm, I’ve been like this since I was little.” She gently stirred the sauce in her bowl, her voice soft. “My brother says I have a bit of a people-pleasing personality. I know it’s not good, but I really want to leave a good impression on others.”

Every word and every sentence was spoken with sincerity. Her almond eyes were clear and innocent, making anyone who saw them feel pity.

But Duan Sili didn’t fall for it.

He was a master-level tea connoisseur.

“Gao Minglang is head over heels for you. He’s even thought about where your future children will go to school.” Duan Sili wiped his thin, sharp lips with a tissue with restraint. “If you don’t like him, then don’t seduce him.”

“I didn’t!” Xu Yin quickly explained, “I’m just being a normal friend to him, that’s all.”

“I don’t doubt that. You’re very nice and considerate to everyone. He’s the one who’s overthinking it.”

“Mmm.”

“So now, you know he likes you, and you still don’t refuse?”

“I have no way of refusing.” Xu Yin poked the small bit of green wasabi on her plate with her chopsticks, her tone calm and gentle. “Because, he hasn’t confessed to me.”

Suddenly, Duan Sili laughed.

He laughed out of anger.

He lifted his eyelids and looked at Xu Yin.

Xu Yin met his gaze quietly.
Her eyes were peaceful, yet they held the power of a deep, still current.

To be able to spar with him back and forth… and not be at a disadvantage, Duan Sili had never encountered that.

“Hurry up and eat. I have things to do tonight.” Duan Sili didn’t want to talk anymore.

Xu Yin brought the sushi to her and ate it in big bites, one after another, as if she were really starving.

She didn’t put on any ladylike airs, unlike Su Wan’an’s usual restrained and elegant demeanor, which was completely absent in her.

Watching her eat, one would inexplicably feel a great appetite.

So much so that Duan Sili actually had to compete with her to get the last piece of grilled foie gras sushi.

“Mmm, are you not full? Do you want to order another portion?” she asked with concern.

“I think you’re the one who’s not full.”

“Then… another portion?” she suggested with a smile. “This foie gras sushi is surprisingly good. Let’s get another portion of grilled durian. I don’t like sashimi, so let’s not order it.”

Duan Sili swiped through the ordering tablet. “What happened to the people-pleasing personality? I don’t see any of it.”

“Then why don’t you get to know me a little deeper, Mr. President?”

“How deep?”

The topic suddenly became dangerous. Xu Yin quickly hit the brakes. “Mr. President, I want to join the Student Union.”

“What’s it got to do with me?”

“You’re the president.”

“So… what’s it got to do with me?”

“Nothing, just telling you. No need to open a back door for me.”

Duan Sili took a tissue to wipe his thin lips, leaning lazily against the latticed wall. “With me, you have no back door.”

After dinner, even though Gao Minglang had already paid the bill, she had still managed to eat over three thousand yuan more from Duan Sili.

She ate and took some with her, saying her roommate gets hungry at night and would eat a late-night snack, so she was bringing some for her.

Duan Sili paid the bill and walked out of the Japanese restaurant.

He lowered his head and bit down on a cigarette, his fingertips fiddling with a lighter. The wind blew past, and the flame that had just ignited was blown out.

After several attempts, he became slightly irritated and frowned.

Just then, with a “click,” a cluster of orange light lit up in front of his eyes, illuminating Xu Yin’s face, which was right in front of him.

She stood on her tiptoes, her fingers steadily holding a beautiful and exquisite women’s lighter, with a faint butterfly pattern on it.

Duan Sili lowered his eyes, glancing at her.

Under the streetlight, the girl’s eyelashes were lowered, casting a faint shadow on her eyelids.

Their breaths intertwined, too close.

So close that he could smell the faint jasmine scent in her hair.

She clearly looked like a good student.

But this action had a deeply hidden “disobedience” to it.

The flame went out. Just as Xu Yin was about to withdraw, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

She struggled a few times but couldn’t break free.

The lighter fell to the ground.

Duan Sili’s hand tightened, pulling her closer again. Their shadows, under the streetlight, intertwined and overlapped.

The faint jasmine scent grew stronger, mixed with the sharp minty smell of his cigarette…

Entangled, interwoven.

Duan Sili lowered his head, very close to her, almost brushing against her ear—

“If you want to have a ‘deep’ exchange with me, there’s no need to go through the trouble of starting with the people around me. Just come directly.”

They were clearly words that were ambiguous to the point of flirting, yet Xu Yin heard a threat…