Riverbank Encounters and Sisterly Strictness

Hiding off to the side, Lin Yi watched as Qin Ruoxue charged toward him, instinctively darting in the opposite direction. The two of them ran, one after the other, across the sandy terrain for a considerable time.

Lin Yi’s stamina gradually gave out, leading him to the tall grass by the riverbank. He crouched beside the swiftly flowing water, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

He truly couldn’t run anymore. Lin Yi felt as though his heart would burst from his chest if he took another step.

Gasping for air, Lin Yi gazed at the rushing river, feeling an inexplicable thirst. The river’s waters were remarkably clear, devoid of any litter, and he could even spot small fish near the bank.

Nevertheless, he suppressed his impulse to drink, instead sneaking a glance behind him.

“Hehe, what are you looking at?”

The girl’s long, brown hair brushed against Lin Yi’s face, making him instinctively close his eyes and lean back slightly.

Qin Ruoxue stood opposite him, looking down at Lin Yi. She had arrived moments ago, spotting him immediately as he crouched in the grass. Deciding to tease him, she hadn’t approached right away.

“Cough, nothing…”

Lin Yi coughed awkwardly, intending to stand up, but his foot suddenly found no purchase.

His center of gravity unstable, Lin Yi tumbled headlong towards the rushing river. In a flash, a pair of delicate hands grabbed his leaning body, pulling him back with sudden force.

The two inevitably collided. Qin Ruoxue seized the opportunity to wrap her arms tightly around Lin Yi’s waist, pressing herself close against him.

For a moment, Lin Yi was still reeling, lost in the recent fright. If Qin Ruoxue hadn’t caught him, he would have drowned again.

With lingering trepidation, Lin Yi glanced back at the turbulent river, his Adam’s apple bobbing with fear.

“Th-thank you…”

Trembling, Lin Yi thanked Qin Ruoxue, instinctively trying to pull his arm free. Yet, he couldn’t; his arm and waist were held firmly in Qin Ruoxue’s relentless embrace.

Being held so tightly was uncomfortable, and Lin Yi found himself struggling to breathe. Perhaps the suddenness of the event had caused Qin Ruoxue to misjudge her strength.

“Could you… let go first?”

“No! Absolutely not! What if you fall in again?”

“Couldn’t you just bring me to the bank?”

Ignoring Lin Yi’s protests, Qin Ruoxue tightened her grip even further. She had finally caught an opportunity, and she certainly wouldn’t let it slip away; she intended to make the most of it.

As their bodies pressed closer, Lin Yi felt a soft warmth brush against his chest. Qin Ruoxue was already slightly shorter than him, so when she embraced him, her breasts naturally rested against his chest.

A spark of desire ignited within him, but the gentle breeze quickly extinguished it. After all, they were still in the wilderness, and Lin Yi wasn’t one of those people with a head full of lewd thoughts.

His cheeks flushed, he subtly averted his gaze. It was then he noticed something dark and indistinct in a pile of rocks by the river.

Curious, Lin Yi craned his neck to get a better look. Qin Ruoxue, still leaning against him, noticed his movement and also turned her head.

There, a large rat sat, seemingly aware of their gaze. It lifted its head and met Lin Yi’s eyes.

“Lin Yi, what are you looking at?”

“Nothing, just a big rat.”

Lin Yi shrugged indifferently, just about to lead her away from the potentially dangerous spot. Instead, Qin Ruoxue buried her head in his chest, feigning extreme fear.

“What? You’re afraid of rats?”

“N-no, I’m not afraid. How could I be?”

“Hmph…”

Qin Ruoxue let out a soft hum, and the hands wrapped around Lin Yi began to wander. Her actions clearly weren’t born of fear; rather, she was taking advantage of the situation, yet Lin Yi found himself unable to say anything.

Having had their fun and finished their playful antics, the two continued walking shoulder-to-shoulder in the direction they had come from. Lin Yi felt genuinely happy about this outing with Qin Ruoxue.

They shared an easy camaraderie and many common interests, making it no wonder the male lead had fallen for her.

He imagined if such a girl existed in his own life, he would likely have fallen for her long ago.

When Lin Yi had read this book before, he had envied the romance between the male lead and Qin Ruoxue. He wished these events could have unfolded in his former world.

A wave of inexplicable sadness washed over him. Lin Yi looked up at the sky, as if seeing his homeland reflected there.

Noticing Lin Yi suddenly halt beside her, Qin Ruoxue turned her head, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Lin Yi quickly masked his emotions, responding with a smile.

“Nothing, just feeling a bit sentimental for some reason.”

Qin Ruoxue’s eyes narrowed slightly; she had distinctly sensed Lin Yi’s despondent mood just moments before.

“You’re not still thinking about the campus forum, are you, Lin Yi? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it for you first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Mm, thank you.”

****

Inside the clean and tidy rental apartment, a tall woman paced back and forth in the living room. She would walk for a bit, then glance at her phone, repeating the action.

She had just called Lin Yi, and he had assured her he would be home soon. From the sound of his voice, he seemed to be in a car.

Lin Yiting had set a specific time with him, planning to go look for him as soon as it arrived.

For a young man, coming home late every other day simply wouldn’t do. What if he couldn’t return one day?

Lost in thought, Lin Yiting decided that once Lin Yi was back, she would thoroughly educate him on safety.

After several more turns around the living room, Lin Yiting paused to pet the kitten a few times as she passed the sofa. In just a short while, she had pulled out several clumps of the tabby cat’s fur.

The cat stared at Lin Yiting with a resentful expression, then flicked its head and darted into the bedroom. Lin Yiting’s lips twitched; she couldn’t believe a kitten had just given her attitude.

Just as she was about to grab it for a good scolding, the room door opened. Upon seeing that it was Lin Yi, Lin Yiting immediately forgot about the tabby cat and rushed to the doorway, glaring at him.

“Tell me, why are you home so late again tonight? Don’t you know how dangerous the roads are at night? What if someone kidnaps you? You’re my only brother!”

Lin Yi, who had just stepped inside, felt his head spin from her barrage of questions. After a moment, he finally rubbed his forehead and retorted helplessly.

“Sister, I’m not a girl. Is all this really necessary?”

Hearing this, Lin Yiting placed her hands on her hips, assuming the posture of an adult lecturing a child.

“What do you mean, ‘not necessary’? Whether you’re a boy or a girl, when you’re out alone, you must protect your personal safety.”

“Anyway, I’m off work these next few days. If this happens again, I’ll chop off your legs!”

Her tone was far from joking, and her beautiful eyes held a mix of seriousness and ferocity. Her gaze was like that of a battle-hardened warrior, subtly exerting immense pressure on Lin Yi.

Shrinking his neck in fear, Lin Yi knew Lin Yiting was perfectly capable of following through.

“I… I understand, Sister…”

“Good, that’s more like it.”

Lin Yiting nodded triumphantly, then turned and went into the kitchen to bring out warm dishes.