Under the soft glow of the restaurant lights, Lin Wan sipped warm water in small mouthfuls, her gaze quietly shifting between her brother and Qin Qing.
Something was wrong—no, this, this was nine out of ten points wrong, if not all ten.
Was the Qin Qing before her really the same one who could kick open the classroom door with a single strike?
At this moment, Qin Qing was sitting upright at the dining table, both hands neatly placed on her knees, looking just like some quiet little girl.
The school jacket she usually tied around her waist was now properly worn.
“Is there anything you’d like to eat?” Lin Luan picked up the menu and glanced at it, asking Qin Qing.
He already knew Lin Wan’s favorites by heart, so he chose to ask Qin Qing first.
“No, no…” Qin Qing’s eyes didn’t know where to look. “I—I can eat anything, I’ll just have whatever you have, Brother.”
Lin Wan nearly choked on her water.
This girl was never like this when she fought over drumsticks in the cafeteria!
And—“Brother”? What was that?! So greasy!
Lin Luan didn’t seem to notice anything odd about Qin Qing, and asked gently, “Do you want to try their signature stew? It’s good for the stomach.”
“O-okay!” Qin Qing nodded at once, cheeks turning pink.
Seeing her friend like this, Lin Wan suddenly thought of a possibility.
This girl, could it be that…
Under the table, Lin Wan secretly kicked Qin Qing’s foot. Unexpectedly, Qin Qing didn’t kick back like usual. Instead, she panicked, lowered her head, and tucked her hair behind her ear.
It’s over, it’s over.
Lin Wan was certain of her judgment.
Her bestie, who could make boys cry with one punch, had actually turned into a blushing Little White Rabbit who could barely speak in front of her brother.
Qin Qing definitely liked her brother. This kind of straightforward girl could never hide her feelings—Lin Wan could see it in an instant.
Well, that’s awkward.
Hadn’t her brother just been flirting with Sister Shen Yu not long ago? Compared to Sister Shen Yu, a girl from the Literature Department, Qin Qing honestly didn’t stand a chance.
Lin Wan felt a pang of regret for her friend.
Qin Qing was a good girl, but it was a pity she fell for her brother. Her brother would never be interested in a girl of their age. Poor Qin Qing was probably doomed to be the loser in love.
She snuck a glance at the still-nervous, blushing Qin Qing and sighed silently.
Wasn’t this girl just saying the other day that she’d never get married? She also said she hated boys the most, so how did she fall in love in the blink of an eye?
She could only hope Qin Qing wouldn’t fall too deep into this one-sided crush.
***
After the meal, the three of them left the restaurant.
The evening breeze carried a hint of chill, sweeping away some of the subtle tension that had lingered at the dinner table.
The redness on Qin Qing’s face slowly faded away—perhaps it had just been too warm in the restaurant.
“Brother, Xiao Wan, I’ll just get a cab home myself. My place isn’t far.” Qin Qing had regained some of her usual demeanor, though her gaze still darted away from Lin Luan now and then.
Lin Luan checked the time, looked at Qin Qing again, and confirmed, “Are you sure you don’t need a ride? Will you be alright on your own?”
“No problem!” Qin Qing nodded vigorously.
Lin Luan smiled and didn’t insist. He just watched carefully as Qin Qing used her phone to order a car, memorized the license plate, and reminded her to let Lin Wan know once she got home safely.
As for why Lin Wan and not himself—Lin Luan didn’t have her WeChat.
After sending Qin Qing off, Lin Luan scanned a shared bike and patted the back seat, “Come on, little princess, your chariot awaits.”
Lin Wan grinned and sat sideways on the back, naturally wrapping her arms around her brother’s waist, her cheek gently pressed to the fabric of his suit jacket.
The bicycle rolled steadily onto the street illuminated by streetlights, the night breeze softly brushing past.
Lin Wan carefully savored the feeling of her brother’s broad back, feeling utterly safe.
After riding in silence for a while, Lin Luan’s voice mingled with the wind:
“Xiao Wan, be honest with your brother… At school, is someone bullying you?”
He sounded a bit hesitant, every word spoken with caution.
Lin Wan instinctively tightened her grip around his waist.
She opened her mouth. Those usual phrases—“No,” “I’m fine”—turned over and over on her lips, but in the end, she didn’t say them.
If her brother was asking, he must have sensed something. Besides, what had happened in the storeroom today was obvious—she couldn’t hide it anymore.
“…Mm.” She replied in a whisper, as light as a falling feather.
Lin Luan’s heart sank at her admission.
“So… what kind of person is it? You hardly ever mention your classmates to me. I only learned today that your best friend is Qin Qing.”
There was a trace of guilt in his tone. He really did know too little about his sister’s school life—not even the names of her classmates, let alone who was good or bad.
Hearing the guilt in his voice, Lin Wan’s heart ached and she no longer hesitated.
“It’s… it’s Li Shasha, and a few girls who always hang out with her.”
She spoke in a small voice, beginning to tell him in fits and starts, “They… make fun of me for always wearing the same clothes, say my backpack and school supplies are old… Last week in PE, they even locked me in the equipment room for half the class…”
As she spoke, her voice began to choke, and she buried her face deep into her brother’s back, as if only there could she find enough security.
“And what about what happened in the storeroom?”
“Qin Qing stood up for me, so Li Shasha got some people to arrange a fight with her…”
“Then how could you two girls just agree to meet them? At the very least, you should have told your brother, right?”
“It was Qin Qing… She went by herself. She’s always been like the bossy kid, thinking there’s nothing she can’t solve herself… I couldn’t stop her.”
Lin Luan sighed inwardly.
He understood that kind of girl—straightforward, used to a smooth life, always thinking she was mature enough to handle everything.
But her intentions were good. Without her, who knows how badly his sister would have been bullied.
“So the one bullying you is Li Shasha, right?”
Lin Luan said calmly.
“Alright.”
Damn it.
How could he let this slide?
“I’m sorry, Xiao Wan…” His voice was so calm it sent chills down her spine. “It’s my fault, I should have noticed sooner…”
“It’s not your fault, brother!” Lin Wan shook her head at once, hugging him tighter. “You’ve already worked so, so hard for me! It’s them… it’s them…”
Lin Luan didn’t say anything more. He just freed one hand to gently cover his sister’s arms around his waist, and gave them a firm squeeze.
Li Shasha, huh… And those accomplices of hers.
The bike rolled steadily through the night, but Lin Luan’s gaze was as cold as death. He no longer asked about those girls—no need to make his sister relive the pain.
What he needed now wasn’t more information, but action.
He’d already made up his mind.
This matter could not be left alone.
“Xiao Wan,” when he spoke again, his tone was as gentle as ever, “from now on, at school, no matter what happens—big or small, happy or unhappy—you have to tell your brother, alright? I want to know everything.”
“Mm!” Lin Wan nodded vigorously against his back.
“And after school, I’ll do my best to come pick you up.”
“But brother, don’t you have to work…”
“Work isn’t as important as you are.” Lin Luan cut her off, his tone soft but unyielding.
After their parents’ passing, Lin Wan was his only family left. He could honestly say he lived for her now, so these words came straight from his heart.
No matter how much money he made, if Lin Wan couldn’t enjoy it, it would all be meaningless.
“Mm…” Lin Wan answered softly.
***
Back home, Lin Luan watched his sister finish her nighttime routine and tuck herself into bed, carefully pulling up her covers.
“Go to sleep early, you still have school tomorrow.” He spoke gently, turned off the main light, and left just the small bedside lamp on.
“Goodnight, brother.” Lin Wan snuggled into the covers, only her eyes peeking out.
“Goodnight.”
Lin Luan quietly closed the door. The tenderness on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a cold, troubled gloom.
He walked into the tiny living room, took out his phone, and began pondering how to thoroughly resolve the Li Shasha problem.
In her room, Lin Wan blinked in the dim light. So much had happened today—she was truly exhausted.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, her phone screen lit up—it was a message from Qin Qing:
[Xiao Wan, I’m home! [puppy rolling.jpg]]
Lin Wan smiled and replied: [Got it~ Thanks for today. You should rest early too.]
Just as she put down her phone and shifted to get comfortable, it buzzed again.
Still Qin Qing.
The new message instantly cleared all sleepiness from Lin Wan’s mind:
[Um… Xiao Wan… could you give me your brother’s WeChat? [kitty touching paws.jpg]]
Lin Wan stared at the message.
So it’s finally come.
I thought you were my best friend, but now you want to be my sister-in-law?
Looking at that pitiful sticker, Lin Wan could practically see Qin Qing’s nervous, hopeful expression on the other side of the screen.
Lin Wan sighed, her feelings complicated.
On one hand, she worried for Qin Qing. This doomed crush would only bring her heartbreak. On the other, as a friend, she found it hard to turn down such a small request outright.
She hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
In the end, Lin Wan replied: [My brother… is always busy with work, and he doesn’t really check WeChat much. Plus, he’s not keen on adding people he doesn’t know… How about I ask him first, okay?]
She chose the most balanced answer—not rejecting outright, but not handing over the number either, leaving room for both sides.
Soon, Qin Qing replied with a [Okay… thank you Xiao Wan! [bunny hug.jpg]], followed by an adorable goodnight emoji.
Lin Wan turned off her phone screen, set it on the bedside table, and closed her eyes.
Her brother really was popular with the girls. Forget about Sister Shen Yu—even Qin Qing had fallen for him.
Recalling how her brother kicked open the door to save her today, Lin Wan couldn’t help but smile.
She rolled over and hugged her pillow.
Well, my brother is really handsome, after all.