Chapter 44: You’re Giving Me Too Much Credit

“No need to worry about that.”

Yixin Xue wrapped her arms around Ling Yuan’s neck, whispering softly, “You just have to be good and listen to me, okay?”

“I…”

Her whisper left him at a loss for words.

It felt eerily familiar, like that self-mocking murmur from that Saturday—”They’re just paper girls, they won’t like you. I’m the one who likes you most, right?”

A shiver of unknown fear crept up his spine.

“Okay?”

“Fine…”

With no other choice, he agreed.

“Hm~ A reward for you~”

She gave his lips a quick kiss.

He walked her to her building.

“That’s far enough. You probably don’t dare come up.”

She spoke suddenly, her back to him.

“Eh? Ling Yuan.”

“What?”

“You really don’t have someone you like?”

“Didn’t you already ask that…?”

After a few seconds of silence, she continued.

“Alright then. Goodnight, Ling Yuan.”

“Uh… goodnight…”

***

“I’m back.”

“Eh? Earlier than I expected.”

Yingnan Xue blinked curiously, but her sister’s expression told her something was wrong.

“That face… did you fight with Ling Yuan?”

“Not really.”

Yixin Xue shook her head.

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“It’s just… bad. Gave me a scare.”

Yingnan Xue shrugged helplessly, pulling a rice ball from a convenience store bag.

“Haven’t seen you look like this in a while.”

“Hm… maybe I learned something I shouldn’t have.”

Her eyes dimmed, Yan Xi’s words dragging her mood to rock bottom.

“Have a rice ball~ Your favorite beef roll, still warm~”

Yingnan Xue flashed a soft smile, stroking her sister’s hair to cheer her up.

“No appetite…”

Yixin Xue shook her head, pushing her away gently.

“I’m going to shower.”

“Eh? You’re so down, it’s making me sad too.”

Yingnan Xue sighed inwardly, confused.

“Eat it yourself, Sister. Or save it for breakfast.”

Yixin Xue grabbed her pajamas and headed to the bathroom, leaving Yingnan Xue stunned in the living room.

“What’s going on…”

Yingnan Xue looked at the rice ball.

“Ugh, it won’t taste good tomorrow. Guess I’ll eat it for you~”

Turning on the faucet, warm, clear water filled the wooden tub, steam soon clouding the bathroom.

A bath was relaxing, a great way to de-stress.

But it took too long—she only soaked once or twice a month.

Her fingers traced the water’s surface, her melancholic gaze fixed on the ripples.

Her emotions were tangled—a sense of holding something close, yet not truly having it.

An hour passed.

Watching TV in the living room, Yingnan Xue sensed something off.

A bath that long?

“Xue’er? You’re not done yet?”

She got up, calling out at the bathroom door, but got no reply after several tries.

Panicked, she was relieved the door wasn’t locked. Opening it, she found Yixin Xue lying in the tub, staring blankly.

“Xue’er? You okay?”

“Hm… Sister?”

Yixin Xue turned slowly at her voice.

“Ugh, the water’s cold! Get out before you catch a chill!”

“Oh…”

Only then did she feel the cold…

She sat dazed as Yingnan Xue hurriedly wiped the water from her body.

“What’s wrong? You used to tell me everything.”

“Nothing…”

She shook her head.

“Don’t worry too much, Sister.”

“Really, you.”

Yingnan Xue put her hands on her hips, scolding, “Your health matters, got it?”

“Got it…”

Watching her sister head to her room, Yingnan Xue was at a loss. Tomorrow, she’d ask Ling Yuan what he did to her sister.

***

Would Yan Xi be home tonight? What did she tell the Class President?

Ling Yuan pursed his lips, running through endless possibilities. But one thing was a relief—no punishments from the Class President yet.

“Help!”

“Quit yelling. Scream your lungs out, no one’s coming.”

[What’s that noise?]

The odd exchange caught his attention. This was a new district, sparse with people at night. A robbery?

With that thought, he prepared to dial 110 while heading toward the sound.

It came from a dimly lit road.

Before he could make sense of it, a pink-haired girl rushed over, hiding behind him.

“Save me, please…”

[What the hell? What’s going on?]

He stood confused until seven or eight rough-looking delinquents approached, leaving him stunned.

“They’re robbing me… and worse…”

She pleaded pitifully.

[Sh*t! You’re giving me way too much credit!]

Completely outnumbered, and they had iron rods. A total beatdown waiting to happen.

“Yo, playing hero?”

The lead delinquent, cigarette in mouth, sneered at the random kid.

Hero? This was a death wish!

He tried to pull the girl and run, but they were already surrounded.

“Wanna go one-on-one or get jumped?”

“I… I’ll pay. How much?”

The delinquents froze at his words.

“Hah? Smart kid.”

The leader laughed.

“You’re just a broke student, right? A thousand, and you’re both free.”

A thousand? He had exactly that on his phone…

“Deal.”

He gritted his teeth.

“I’ll pay.”

“Nice! Been a while since someone was this cooperative.”

The leader glared at the girl.

“If you’d been this smart, we wouldn’t have wasted time!”

The delinquents dispersed, and Ling Yuan sighed. His newly received allowance—gone.

“Thank you.”

The girl bowed.

“Though, I thought you’d take on all eight.”

“What? You’re giving me way too much credit.”

He looked exasperated.

Sure, he knew some grappling, enough to maybe handle one street punk. Eight?

A slaughter.

“Hm? You seem familiar…”

He suddenly felt the pink-haired girl looked familiar.