A Change of Plans and a Sister’s Protector

There weren’t many dishes, only six in total. Yet, the balanced array of meat and vegetables was so appealing it made one’s mouth water just by looking at it.

“These dishes should be enough, right?”

Despite the spread, Qin Ruoxue still worried it might not be enough.

The others were less of a concern; as high schoolers, their appetites were limited.

However, Lin Yiting’s eating habits remained a mystery to her.

From her observations, those skilled in combat tended to have hearty appetites, and Lin Yiting, being one such person, was likely no exception.

The others, content with the current selection, assured Qin Ruoxue that no additional dishes were needed.

Lin Yi, sitting at the head of the table, picked up his bowl of noodles and gently blew on them.

The freshly cooked noodles were still steaming, and Lin Yi had no desire to scald his tongue.

He took a small spoonful, allowing the steaming broth to linger briefly in his mouth before it slid effortlessly down his throat.

The plain noodle soup, while lacking strong flavor, served as a comforting prelude, warming his stomach.

“What should we do after we finish eating?”

Xu Wei’s voice broke the silence, her question echoing as she ate. No one else seemed to have any immediate suggestions.

Given that it was Lin Yi’s birthday celebration, it was only fitting that the guest of honor should decide their next activity.

“Qin Ruoxue? Why are you looking at me like that? I don’t know where to go either.”

Still preoccupied with his noodles, Lin Yi suddenly found himself the subject of several gazes, leaving him somewhat at a loss.

Observing Lin Yi’s lack of a plan, Qin Ruoxue lowered her head, deep in thought.

New City boasted numerous entertainment venues, making it relatively easy to find a suitable spot.

However, her usual haunts were often high-end, and she knew Lin Yi wouldn’t want to overspend. After a moment of careful consideration, she finally settled on an ideal location.

“How about we go to KTV later? I remember there are many around here.”

KTVs were a popular choice, and at this hour, it wouldn’t be too expensive.

She imagined Lin Yi would appreciate such a place; she even recalled Lin Yiting mentioning…

…that her singing was quite pleasant.

Upon hearing the suggestion, Xu Wei, who had been silently focused on her meal, suddenly looked up.

“Going at this time… aren’t you afraid there won’t be any rooms?”

Her question served as a timely reminder to everyone. During holidays, such entertainment venues were typically fully booked, and going now would undeniably entail a lengthy wait.

For Qin Ruoxue, however, with her vast network, this presented no real challenge.

“I’ll contact someone; we should be able to reserve a room in advance.”

With that, she pulled out her phone and exited the private room.

****

Even after Qin Ruoxue departed, the atmosphere in the private room remained unchanged. Yet, as their conversation continued, Lin Yi sensed he had forgotten something important.

He rested his chin in his hand, pondering for a moment. Concluding it was likely insignificant, he dismissed the thought and rejoined the conversation.

Among friends, conversation flowed easily and casually. However, their discussion soon veered unexpectedly towards Lin Yiting.

“Sister Lin, where did you buy this outfit? It looks so pretty.”

Xu Wei, with an undeniable weakness for beautiful clothing, instantly resolved to buy one for herself.

“Oh, I’ll send you the location in a bit. They have all kinds of clothes there, you can go see for yourself.”

With that, Lin Yiting took out her phone, added Xu Wei as a friend, and promptly sent her the location.

As the two girls discussed clothing, Li Yan found it awkward to interject. Instead, he drew Lin Yi into a conversation about games.

It would have been better had Li Yan not mentioned it, for the topic instantly ignited Lin Yi’s fury.

Ever since he started playing the game, Li Yan had consistently found ways to sabotage him. The lingering resentment from the last shelter incident still burned within him.

After a furious tirade directed at Li Yan, Lin Yi abruptly turned his head, refusing to engage with him further.

Li Yan awkwardly scratched his cheek. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t intentionally ‘screwing over’ Lin Yi; he was merely terrible at games, with any mishaps being entirely unintentional.

Realizing the conversation had hit a dead end, he was forced to find another topic.

“Brother Lin, did you ask your sister to wear this outfit?”

“Huh? No, she wore it herself.”

At this, Lin Yi uncharacteristically turned his head, his gaze fixed on Li Yan, brimming with suspicion.

“What do you want with my sister? If you harbor any ill intentions towards her, I’ll gut you.”

“Hiss~ When did you become a sister-con?”

Li Yan felt utterly innocent. He had simply asked a question; why the exaggerated reaction?

“Cough… How could I possibly be a sister-con?”

Lin Yi actually hesitated for a moment before refuting Li Yan. It wasn’t an admission of being a sister-con; his mind had simply failed to catch up in that instant.

Witnessing his denial, Li Yan refrained from pressing further. Yet, he mused, if he had such a sister, he would undoubtedly be ecstatic.

Alas, Li Yan was an only child, without siblings.

“Sigh, Brother Lin, how about we become sworn brothers today? Then your sister would be my sister too.”

At his words, Lin Yi’s face darkened. He desperately wanted to throw the scoundrel out.

Sensing the precariousness of the situation, Li Yan quickly offered an explanation.

“Brother Lin, you’re my bro, I was just kidding, haha.”

Lin Yi slowly unclenched his fist, letting it drop, and shot a venomous glare at Li Yan. The look was a stark warning, implying an imminent eruption of anger.

Li Yan instinctively recoiled. He knew Lin Yi wasn’t genuinely angry, yet that expression eerily reminded him of Chen Sishi from the past, sending a shiver down his spine.

Just then, the pristine curtain was abruptly drawn open. Qin Ruoxue gracefully returned to her seat, exhaling softly.

“It’s settled, about an hour from now.”

Having eaten their fill, they still had some time to spare. The KTV was only a twenty-minute walk away.

As they settled in to wait, a phone’s ringtone abruptly pierced the air.

As everyone searched for the source of the sound, Lin Yiting quietly retrieved her phone from her bag.

“Hello?”

…

“I understand, I’ll be right there.”

Whatever was said on the other end, Lin Yiting’s face abruptly clouded with anxiety.

“Uncle Lin, I’ll go get your cake, I’ll be back soon.”

Upon hearing her words, Uncle Lin suddenly recalled their morning excursion had been solely to pick up the cake. He had completely forgotten.

“Do you need me to go with you?”

“No need, no need, I’ll be back very quickly.”

Before her words could fully register, Lin Yiting had already dashed out of the room.

Watching her disappear, Uncle Lin felt a pang of emptiness. His gaze swept over the remaining guests, finally settling on Qin Ruoxue.

Remembering his previous encounter in this very restaurant, Uncle Lin instinctively grew wary.

With Lin Yiting present earlier, Uncle Lin felt he could hold his own against Qin Ruoxue.

However, with Lin Yiting now absent, his confidence instantly wavered.

Fortunately, the yandere present was Qin Ruoxue, and as she hadn’t fully unleashed her more obsessive side, the situation wasn’t dire.

Furthermore, his companions were all on good terms with him, suggesting they would likely lend a hand if any issues arose.

With this self-assurance, Uncle Lin’s gaze once again drifted towards the door.

“Uncle Lin, how about we go with her?”

Qin Ruoxue naturally noticed Uncle Lin’s anxious demeanor. It was understandable, given they were siblings. Lin Yiting had reacted similarly, showing great concern when Uncle Lin had left previously.

This profound mutual concern between them stirred a deep sense of envy within Qin Ruoxue.

If only she could share such a bond with Uncle Lin.

After a brief pause, Uncle Lin nodded. Witnessing his approval, the others promptly gathered their belongings and set off in the direction Lin Yiting had taken.