"You cut your hair? You look so sharp!" Chen Banxia raised a hand and mussed his hair. Because of the height difference between her and her younger brother, she had to reach above her own head to do it, but that did nothing to diminish her authority as the elder sister. "Listen to your big sister and be a good boy."
"Go away. Stop messing around!"
"How am I messing around? I'm complimenting you!"
"Oh, shut up!"
"Is that any way to talk to your big sister?"
Chen Banxia frowned and scolded her brother, sneaking a glance at the friend beside her.
We have company. Can't you let your big sister save a little face?
"Get out. You're holding up my cooking!"
"I'll help you!"
"You? I'd be happy if you didn't get in the way."
"You..."
Watching her brother's back, Chen Banxia raised a hand to smack him, then lost her nerve—
If she slapped him and he didn't hit back, she could certainly win herself some face in front of her friend. But what if he did? She couldn't beat him anymore. A dignified elder sister getting beaten by her younger brother—wouldn't that be even more humiliating? She might never dare raise her voice around her friend again.
Her frown deepened. She stole another glance at her friend, promptly stretched as if that was what she had meant to do, and gave a dry laugh.
"Heh, heh. This kid's never known his place, not since he was little. Don't mind him, don't mind him..."
"Just get out!"
"Why are you rushing me? I know how to leave!" Chen Banxia said sternly. Then she glanced at her friend and broke into a smile again. "Let's go outside. There's too much cooking smoke in here. I don't feel like changing