Who Do You Think You Are, a Gangster?

Hearing Lu Yubai apologize actually put Fan Chiran on his guard.

Was this really the Lu Yubai he knew?

Back at school, it was already a miracle if Lu Yubai didn't look down his nose at him. Had the sun risen in the west today?

And what had this guy just called him?

Bro???

Fan Chiran felt that something was off. "Why are you calling me bro?"

Lu Yubai scratched his head, carefully watching Fan Chiran's expression. His voice grew faint with guilt. "Well... I didn't know you were Ye Ziqi's brother before. Sorry."

Fan Chiran's pupils abruptly contracted, and his voice turned shrill. "What? How did you know?"

Only after the words left his mouth did he realize that Lu Xiaoxiao had asked exactly the same question at exactly the same time. He was even more bewildered.

Even... even Lu Yubai's sister knew? But he hadn't told anyone!

Seeing such strong reactions from both of them, Lu Yubai regretted blurting it out. When he saw Lu Xiaoxiao narrowing her eyes at him, he panicked even more.

[He shouldn't know that, theoretically. Was there a problem with the intel?]

Hearing that thought, Lu Yubai's heart lurched, and he formed a new suspicion about Lu Xiaoxiao's identity.

Could... could this sister he'd been saddled with be a spy or a secret agent on top of knowing witchcraft?

If that were true, would she arrest him and torture him for information if she discovered he could read her thoughts?

The very idea terrified him. He absolutely couldn't let Lu Xiaoxiao get suspicious!

Lu Yubai swallowed. Then inspiration struck, and he came up with an explanation. "I-I-I heard it from Ye Ziqi! Right! She told me!"

Lu Xiaoxiao and Fan Chiran: "...?"

Fan Chiran's expression relaxed, and his tone softened as he asked for confirmation, still somewhat doubtful. "Really? Qiqi... talked to you about me?"

Lu Yubai nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes!"

"...What did she say about me?"

"Uh... not much. She just mentioned that you're her half brother, with the same mother but different fathers. That's all I know."

Fan Chiran looked a little disappointed again. "I see..."

That made sense. Qiqi disliked him so much that she had never even let him tell people he was her brother. Of course she wouldn't have anything nice to say about him to Lu Yubai.

Then... why had she told Lu Yubai?

Was it because she couldn't bear to watch Lu Yubai's friends bully him?

Although he couldn't ask Ye Ziqi to confirm it, the mere possibility warmed Fan Chiran's heart, and the corners of his mouth lifted despite himself.

Lu Xiaoxiao glanced at Lu Yubai, looking thoughtful.

[That sounds fairly believable, but it's strange. Ye Ziqi and Fan Chiran shouldn't be on good terms... He's just obsessed with his little sister, and it's entirely one-sided...]

Feeling Lu Xiaoxiao's gaze on him, Lu Yubai felt a chill run down his spine, terrified that his lie would be exposed at any moment.

[Oh, whatever. It must be true. It's not like Lu Yubai could have figured it out himself. He doesn't have the brains for that.]

Lu Yubai: "..."

Thanks. What a heartwarming assessment.

Lu Xiaoxiao stopped focusing on Lu Yubai and turned to Fan Chiran with a warm smile.

"Don't take what your dad said just now too much to heart. I heard you get excellent grades and often come first in your class. You're already doing amazingly well. You're not a disappointment like he said."

"See, Lu Yubai has admitted he was wrong, too. He owes you an apology, but you're also entitled to choose not to forgive him."

"But don't worry. If he talks badly about you behind your back again, I'll make sure he learns his lesson!"

Lu Yubai hurriedly nodded in agreement, even solemnly raising his hand to swear an oath.

"I promise I won't do it again! I won't hang out with Jiang Haoxin and the others anymore, either. If you're willing, we can be good friends. I'll have your back from now on! I guarantee nobody in class will dare mess with you!"

Lu Yubai thought his attitude was excellent. Yet before he had even finished speaking, Lu Xiaoxiao rapped him on the head.

"What do you mean, nobody will dare mess with him? Who do you think you are, a gangster? Have you memorized the twenty-four characters of the core socialist values yet? You need to be kind to your other classmates, too. Got it?"

Lu Yubai ducked his head at the blow and immediately corrected himself, looking aggrieved. "That came out wrong! Wrong choice of words! But anyway... anyway, I won't let anyone in class bully you anymore. I swear!"

After leaving the teacher's office that day, Lu Yubai had developed an inexplicable sense of awe toward Lu Xiaoxiao.

He had never known that this sister he'd been saddled with, whom he'd teased since childhood, could be so dependable when it mattered.

Lu Xiaoxiao hadn't shown up and started accusing him without finding out what had happened. Instead, she had set aside their past grievances, believed him, and calmly gotten him out of trouble.

Was this the charm of a mature adult? What incredible generosity of spirit!

And judging by her thoughts, Lu Xiaoxiao didn't consider him particularly bad at all. She just saw him as an immature little brat.

Well... that wasn't exactly a flattering impression, either, but it still changed Lu Yubai's opinion of her somewhat.

Thinking it over, Lu Xiaoxiao seemed never to have done anything truly awful to him. He had always been the one rejecting her and treating her with hostility.

Anyway... anyway... since Lu Xiaoxiao helped him today, he could consider the ice between them broken!

Or so thought Lu Yubai, the awkward little brat.

Watching the siblings interact, Fan Chiran couldn't help smiling. At the same time, he felt a little envious.

If only Qiqi could be this close to him, too...

The boy lowered his eyes and stared at his hands, his expression turning forlorn.

But less than two seconds later, someone placed a big, bright red apple in his hands.

A vivid splash of red suddenly appeared against the snowy white bedsheets. It was striking enough to draw Fan Chiran's wandering gaze at once.

"Here, have an apple, kiddo. Patients need plenty of fruit." Lu Xiaoxiao withdrew her hand with a cheerful smile, then gave him a casual wave. "Now that we've apologized, we'll leave you to rest. See you~"

When Lu Xiaoxiao said they were leaving, Lu Yubai hesitated, then copied her and pressed something into Fan Chiran's hand. "Um... here's a scratch-off ticket! Think of it as an apology gift! Get well soon!"

Lu Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow in surprise and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

[Not bad. That's pretty generous of him. There's hope for this kid yet~]

Outside the window, cicadas hummed faintly in the afternoon, while the shadows of trees swayed in the breeze, carrying the dappled light along with them.

Leaning against the raised back of his hospital bed, Fan Chiran tightened his grip on the apple and gazed absently at Lu Xiaoxiao's retreating figure.

They said the beginning of a story was always accompanied by the song of cicadas.

After sitting dazed for a long time, the boy slowly raised a hand and pressed it to his chest, where his heart was pounding.

His heart was beating so fast.

Far too fast...