Unexpected Invitations and Quiet Bonds

Upon returning home, his grandparents were occupied with their own affairs, and his parents were bustling about at the shop. Lin Yiting and Lin Cheng, however, seemed to move at a different pace.

Lin Yiting settled onto the heated brick bed, a comforting warmth radiating up from beneath her. Such traditional *kangs* were a rarity in the small town now, preserved only in a few old two-story houses. Most of the newer high-rises had long since switched to modern floor heating.

From her pocket, she retrieved a hundred-yuan note. Gu Yulong had given it to her before leaving. It wasn’t a large sum, but it would sustain her for several weeks.

The old television set hummed with an unnamed program, its muted sounds filling the room as Lin Yiting lay on the *kang*, gazing at the pristine white ceiling.

She hadn’t slept well these past few days. Now, as she lay on the familiar warmth of the *kang*, a profound weariness washed over her. Before she knew it, Lin Yiting had drifted into a deep slumber.

Lin Cheng gently pushed open the door and tiptoed inside. He retrieved a thin blanket from the cupboard, carefully spreading it over Lin Yiting.

As he observed her beautiful, serene face, not a single disrespectful thought crossed his mind. In his heart, Lin Cheng had already accepted her as his true sister.

Seeing her constantly busy over the last few days, Lin Cheng felt a pang of guilt. He knew he should have helped her more. While they often teased each other and even metaphorically ‘stabbed each other in the back’ in jest, their bond was undeniable.

Yet, in crucial moments, they were like true siblings—caring for one another, trusting implicitly, and embracing each other’s flaws. Whenever Lin Cheng pondered this, he would sigh, ‘If only I were the male lead, with a sister like this, why would I ever need to find a partner?’

With a helpless sigh, Lin Cheng adjusted the blanket over Lin Yiting. Then, as if caught in the act, he swiftly scurried away, returning to the second floor to open his computer.

The familiar interface greeted him on the screen. Just as Lin Cheng was about to start his daily gaming session, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw a message from Qin Ruoxue.

[Qin Ruoxue: Lin Cheng, how are you doing?]

[Wind Chime: Not bad. The scenery back home is quite nice.]

[Qin Ruoxue: That’s good. Do you want me to come find you in a few days? I’m pretty bored at home by myself.]

[Wind Chime: Let’s not. I think I’ll be heading back in a few days myself.]

[Qin Ruoxue: How about I have the butler pick you up?]

[Wind Chime: It’s quite far. Taking the train is fine for us.]

[Qin Ruoxue: Are you silly? I meant I’d pick you up at the train station.]

[Wind Chime: …]

[Wind Chime: Alright.]

Unable to refuse her earnest offer, Lin Cheng eventually agreed to Qin Ruoxue’s proposal. Besides, he wouldn’t mind saving some money.

Taxis in Xinshi were notoriously expensive.

****

Time flowed on, and before he knew it, more than a week had passed. Lin Yi’s week had been fulfilling. Notably, the little lazy cat’s two kittens had opened their eyes and were now slowly crawling around their cat bed. He was sure it wouldn’t be long before the two little ones could leave their mother.

As he continued playing games with Li Yan, a sleek, dark shadow darted to Lin Yi’s hand. The little lazy cat sat gracefully on the computer desk, its amber eyes gleaming brightly.

“Meow!”

“Meow-ow!”

“Huh? Brother Lin, when did you get a cat?” Li Yan’s astonished voice came through the phone. He was quite fond of kittens himself. He didn’t recall seeing a cat when he had visited Lin Yi’s house before.

“I’ve had her for a while. You didn’t see her before?”

“No, I didn’t. I must have forgotten.”

“Can I come see her sometime soon?”

“Forget it, I’m not home right now.”

Li Yan on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment, then let out a resigned sigh.

“Alright, fine. Oh, by the way, Brother Lin, any progress with the class monitor?”

“Seriously, you two, you both really want me to find a partner, don’t you?”

“I just wanted to gossip a bit. Don’t overthink it, Brother Lin.”

Lin Yi rubbed his forehead helplessly. He wondered if Li Yan would still want him to find a partner once he knew about his current predicament.

Lin Yi was certain that if he tried to find a partner in his current situation, Chen Sishi would never agree. She might even resort to kidnapping him again. He dared not joke with his own life; what if no one could find him next time?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Lin Yi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. For others, dating cost money. For him, dating cost his life—literally.

Buzz, buzz~

Just as Li Yan was talking, the voice on the other end abruptly cut off. Then, Lin Yi’s phone vibrated twice. He glanced at the screen, seeing an unfamiliar number.

Pressing the answer button, a familiar voice immediately greeted him.

“Hello? Is this Lin Yi?”

‘Gu Yuetong? Lin Yi couldn’t recall ever giving her his number. How did she get it?’

As if sensing Lin Yi’s thoughts, Gu Yuetong quickly blurted out,

“Don’t worry, I didn’t use any special methods to find it. I have your sister’s contact information; she gave it to me.”

“Oh…”

Lin Cheng’s mouth twitched. What exactly did Gu Yuetong mean by “special methods” in her first sentence? What was the difference between that and *’protesting too much’*? However, Lin Cheng wasn’t interested in how Gu Yuetong got his number. He was more curious about why she was calling him.

He didn’t consider himself particularly close to Gu Yuetong, so if there was something important, she shouldn’t be calling him.

“So, is there something you need me for?”

“Want to come out and play?”

“No, absolutely not. You couldn’t drag me out.”

He was no fool. How could a shut-in like Lin Cheng easily go out with a stranger?

“Really? Then I’ll just beat you to death instead.”

“Uh…”

Lin Cheng was momentarily at a loss for words. Gu Yuetong was genuinely capable of such a thing. After a long pause, Lin Cheng finally managed to stammer out a single sentence.

“I’m not going. I don’t have money.”

The reason was simple and clear, and it was indeed part of Lin Cheng’s true feelings. He thought, ‘Surely Gu Yuetong will back off now.’ But Lin Cheng didn’t realize that money was hardly an issue for Gu Yuetong.

Despite her usually frugal appearance, she never hesitated to spend when necessary. If a bit of money could buy Lin Cheng’s company for a day, she’d consider it a worthwhile deal.

As for why she didn’t seek out her best friend, it was because her friend was currently engrossed with her boyfriend. If Gu Yuetong invited her, her boyfriend would undoubtedly tag along, leaving Gu Yuetong feeling like an awkward third wheel.

Moreover, her reserved nature meant she didn’t have many close friends among her classmates. Her brother was always busy with work at the company, which was why she had thought of Lin Cheng.

“I’ll pick you up in a bit. I’ll cover all expenses. It’s decided, bye-bye.”

“Hey!”

Lin Cheng tried to protest, but the call had already ended. Gu Yuetong hadn’t given him a single chance to object.

[The update time for holidays will be adjusted to the afternoon. Monday to Friday will remain at the original update time.]