Chapter 103: Parfait

“Bro—I mean, I want a parfait, is that okay? …Ah, wrong again.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You’re the big sister today—do you still need your little sister’s permission?”

“Yesss~ Then I’ll do whatever I want!”

Just like when they were little, when Su Xiao Zi used to lean on her big brother and instinctively ask permission before buying takoyaki from a street stall.

That habit still hadn’t gone away; even though she’d adjusted her wording, it slipped right back.

After getting out of the taxi, the two of them headed straight to a Western-style café. They pushed open the door together, and the little bells above jingling merrily.

They chose a quiet two-person table in the corner. A smiling waitress quickly came over and handed them menus.

Su Xiao Zi had specifically chosen this place for its famous parfaits. Su Xiaoxiao glanced at the menu—she really didn’t care what she ate.

Su Xiao Zi flipped straight to the mains, turned the menu upside-down, and slid it in front of Su Xiaoxiao. She propped her chin on both hands and looked at her with sparkling eyes.

“You pick first. I’ll have whatever you choose.”

My little sister’s in a great mood today, Su Xiaoxiao thought. But her answer didn’t satisfy Su Xiao Zi at all.

“Anything’s fine.”

Su Xiao Zi’s long eyelashes fluttered. “They don’t have an ‘anything’ on the menu, you know.”

“Then you choose. I’ll just have the same as you.”

“Aww~ Xiaoxiao’s being all clingy, wanting the exact same thing as big sis~”

Su Xiaoxiao felt the corner of her mouth twitch. Who was the one who said “I’ll have the same” first?!

Seeing that Su Xiaoxiao still wouldn’t pick, Su Xiao Zi took the menu back and expertly flipped through the pages, giving the waitress her order on the little notepad.

Once the waitress left, Su Xiaoxiao leaned back in her seat and met Su Xiao Zi’s gaze.

“Why are you so good at this? Exactly how many times have you done this while I wasn’t looking?”

“Hmm? Ordering? Because Xiao Qian and I used to come here all the time when we hung out. So I already know what’s good.”

“We can bring Xiaoxiao again next time! And if the other two little sisters want to come, we can all go together~” Su Xiao Zi was already fully embracing her responsible-big-sister persona.

With so many “little sisters” at home now, she must be in heaven.

“…”

Su Xiaoxiao turned to look out the window. Ginkgo leaves, turned golden by autumn, were shaken loose by passing cars and drifted slowly to the ground.

People in colorful clothes walked by carrying bags of all sizes. The street bustled with life, yet the thick glass window kept the noise out—lively but peaceful.

She held the water glass on the table. For some reason, the calm atmosphere soaked into her, and her heart felt unusually still.

Catching her own reflection faintly in the display window, she let out a soft breath of relief. Waiting for food and chatting like this—it was a rare, simple happiness.

Su Xiao Zi saw right through her and said proudly,

“See? Going out together really is fun, right?”

“So that’s why you girls love going shopping in packs every day.”

“What do you mean ‘you girls’? It’s ‘we girls’ now.”

“Yes, yes—we girls…”

Su Xiaoxiao kept looking outside, the ever-changing scenery reflected in her eyes.

Su Xiao Zi reached over and gently took her small hand. The warmth from her palm flowed into Su Xiaoxiao.

“It’s okay. Even if big brother turned into a girl, you won’t be lonely. I’ll be the person you were missing, and I’ll stay with you forever from now on.”

“And since we’re both girls now, whenever Xiao Qian and I go out, we’ll bring big brother along.”

“No way am I carrying your bags!”

“Don’t worry, nobody’s making you carry anything—we’ll be the ones carrying you, haha!”

“I’m not that tiny, come on…”

“Yes you are, little sister~”