Chapter 10: I’m Not Like You

Ruan Qingqing’s eyes were filled with determination.

Shi Yubai’s face appeared vividly in her mind.

“Shi Yubai…

I won’t let Xu Sui’an hurt you ever again.”

The first time she had heard Shi Yubai’s name was from her older brother.

For some reason, she had remembered it instantly, as if fate itself had destined her to become connected to that name.

The first time she secretly saw Shi Yubai…

…was last year, after Xu Sui’an rejected his confession.

His eyes were filled with shattered sorrow as he drank glass after glass of alcohol.

His voice trembled with emotion as he repeatedly asked her brother and Zhuang Yan,

“We’ve grown up together since we were little.”

“We were childhood sweethearts.”

“Why…?”

“Why did she reject me again?”

“Wasn’t I good enough for her?”

“Wasn’t I…?”

His reddened eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Even his eyelashes couldn’t conceal the heartbreak within them.

Ruan Qingqing found herself envying the childhood sweetheart he spoke of.

Watching the drunken Shi Yubai, her heart ached.

She wanted to comfort the brokenness in his eyes.

If it were me…

I could never bear to reject someone as wonderful as him.

I would never make him this sad.

Everyone at Nanda knew…

The campus genius and heartthrob, Shi Yubai, had confessed to the girl he loved most—his childhood sweetheart, Xu Sui’an.

Everyone believed the two of them were destined to end up together.

No one had expected…

That Shi Yubai would be rejected.

Which female student didn’t envy Xu Sui’an?

She had the perfect childhood sweetheart.

The campus genius.

The school heartthrob.

Yet Xu Sui’an didn’t know how fortunate she was.

She rejected him mercilessly…

While continuing to enjoy all the care and affection he gave her without a second thought.

Dormitory 201.

Grinning mischievously, Zhuang Yan nudged Shi Yubai’s shoulder.

“Brother Shi, let me tell you something.”

“Qingyang’s little sister has a thing for you.”

“You sure you’re not mistaken?”

Shi Yubai’s hand paused briefly.

The tip of his pen left a small dot on the page.

“My eyes never miss anything.”

“Qingyang has mentioned countless times that he wanted to introduce his sister to you.”

“And you know…”

“After your confession was rejected, you had already decided to give up on your childhood sweetheart.”

“If your Suisui hadn’t chased after you yesterday…”

“And if my queen hadn’t ordered me to stall you…”

“Qingyang would’ve dragged you straight to Zero Degrees Bar to drown your sorrows.”

“Then…”

“A beautiful, kind little sister of your roommate would just happen to appear.”

“If Xu Sui’an couldn’t catch up to you, she’d definitely go looking for you at Zero Degrees.”

“What do you think she’d feel if she saw that girl comforting you?”

“And you…”

“Drunk and heartbroken…”

“Wouldn’t you feel even the slightest resentment?”

“What if you said something in your drunken state…”

“And ended up hurting your childhood sweetheart?”

Zhuang Yan didn’t even dare imagine it.

If Shi Yubai, overwhelmed by heartbreak and alcohol, had spoken carelessly…

The deeper his love…

The greater his regret after sobering up.

Shi Yubai was far too intelligent not to understand.

His heart clenched painfully.

If Zhuang Yan hadn’t stopped him yesterday…

He really would have gone drinking with Ruan Qingyang.

To claim he wouldn’t have felt even a trace of resentment would have been a lie.

The deeper his love…

The greater the pain.

Xu Sui’an was notoriously jealous.

If she’d seen Ruan Qingqing beside him at Zero Degrees…

She would’ve misunderstood everything…

Stop thinking about it.

Just imagining becoming strangers with Xu Sui’an…

Made his heart ache unbearably.

“Zhuang Yan…”

“Thank you.”

Shi Yubai looked at him sincerely.

For reasons he couldn’t explain…

He had an overwhelming sense that he’d almost lost Xu Sui’an forever.

Thankfully…

He hadn’t missed her.

They hadn’t drifted apart.

Zhuang Yan laughed happily and patted his shoulder.

“What’s there to thank me for?”

“My queen figured it out a long time ago.”

“Your childhood sweetheart doesn’t dislike you.”

“She just doesn’t realize she’s in love with you.”

“You’ve grown up together.”

“You’re simply too familiar with each other.”

“For a while, she couldn’t distinguish between familial affection and romantic love.”

“The two of you have been acting like a couple for years.”

“Xu Sui’an got so used to your kindness…”

“That she couldn’t recognize her own feelings.”

“Really?”

Shi Yubai curled his fingers unconsciously.

His heartbeat skipped.

His voice became unusually soft.

“Think about it.”

“Xu Sui’an has more than one older brother figure in her life.”

“Have you ever seen her throw herself into He Nanzhou’s arms and act spoiled?”

“She may be a little silly and unable to recognize her feelings…”

“But she’s thrown herself into your arms countless times.”

“When younger girls get close to you…”

“She gets upset.”

“That’s jealousy.”

“The two of you naturally hold hands.”

“You hug each other.”

“She’s allowed you to cross those boundaries over and over again.”

“That’s because you’re special.”

“She just didn’t realize…”

“…that she was already in love with you.”

Scene after scene flashed through Shi Yubai’s mind.

Everything Zhuang Yan said was true.

Long ago…

The way they treated each other had already gone far beyond ordinary friends.

The only one who hadn’t realized it…

Was his Suisui.

“Zhuang Yan…”

“No matter what…”

“Thank you.”

“And thank your queen for me as well.”

The moment Zhuang Yan thought of Leng Ningxue, his face lit up.

“Brother Shi.”

“If you really want to thank me…”

“Could you let me make money with you?”

“You know…”

“I want to spoil my queen.”

“Sure.”

Shi Yubai agreed without hesitation.

The smile on his lips refused to disappear.

“Coincidentally…”

“I want to spoil my Suisui too.”

“Brother Shi!”

“I’ll work hard.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

Zhuang Yan was overjoyed.

Following behind Shi Yubai…

The dream of pampering his queen didn’t seem so far away anymore.

The dormitory door opened.

Ruan Qingyang walked in with a smile.

Looking at the two of them, he asked,

“What are you two talking about?”

“You both look awfully happy.”

For some reason…

He suddenly felt as though he had been left out.

Shi Yubai casually played with the ring woven from dogtail grass.

Without even lifting his head, he replied,

“Nothing.”

Ruan Qingyang wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

After a brief silence, he spoke again.

“Brother Shi, Ah Yan…”

“I’m sorry about what happened in the cafeteria today.”

“I put you both in a difficult position.”

Zhuang Yan waved his hand casually.

“It’s no big deal.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“You know what I’m like.”

“I always say what’s on my mind.”

“As long as it doesn’t involve my queen…”

“I’m usually very easygoing.”

“Ah Yan.”

“There’s an old saying.”

“‘Brothers are like your hands and feet; women are like clothes.'”

“If you value romance too much…”

“I’m afraid you’ll only end up getting hurt.”

Ruan Qingyang leaned back in his chair, speaking casually.

Before he could continue, Zhuang Yan interrupted him with an unhappy expression.

“Ruan Qingyang.”

“I’m serious about my queen.”

“Yes.”

“Brothers are like hands and feet.”

“But my queen…”

“She’s my life.”

“I know exactly which is more important.”

“I’m not like you.”

“I’ve never treated love like a game.”

Ruan Qingyang shifted his gaze toward Shi Yubai.

There was a hint of probing in his eyes.

“What about you, Brother Shi?”

Zhuang Yan also looked at Shi Yubai.

He was certain Shi Yubai would agree with him.

Shi Yubai answered calmly,

“It’s true.”

“Brothers are like hands and feet.”

“But my girlfriend…”

“…is the partner who’ll accompany me through my entire life.”

“My Suisui is the most important person in my world.”

“For the first twenty years of our lives…”

“We grew up depending on each other.”

“For the rest of our lives…”

“I’ll hold her hand tightly…”

“And we’ll walk through every spring, summer, autumn, and winter together.”

“If anyone tries to destroy my happiness…”

“Or hurt my Suisui…”

“I don’t care who they are.”

“I won’t show them any mercy.”

His voice remained calm.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of menace in it.

Yet anyone who truly knew Shi Yubai understood…

He meant every single word.

Ruan Qingyang forced a relaxed smile.

“I get it.”

“You and Ah Yan are both serious about your relationships.”

“I have to admit…”

“I’m a little envious.”

He made it sound lighthearted.

But his heart kept sinking.

Perhaps…

He had underestimated just how important Xu Sui’an was to Shi Yubai.

Forget it.

They’re still newly together.

This is the honeymoon phase.

There’s no need to act rashly.

Take things one step at a time.

Even if his little sister never had a chance…

Even if Shi Yubai could never become his brother-in-law…

There was one thing he knew for certain.

Shi Yubai…

Must never become his enemy.