Xu Zhilu had no idea how much they were fixated on this tutoring position.

After returning to her room, she felt this situation couldn’t continue. She wasn’t welcome in this house, so it might be better to leave.

When she first returned after being reborn, Xu Zhilu considered this.

But to live at school, she needed her parents’ consent. She wasn’t sure if they would agree.

Her father cared a lot about appearances.

A while ago, Xu Zhilu had briefly mentioned it, but he refused.

He thought letting her live at school would make people think they were treating her poorly, that she didn’t even want to stay home.

Xu Zhilu had wanted to retort that they were indeed treating her poorly, but she held back.

Sitting at her desk, she pondered for a while and decided to try again. If they still refused to sign, she would find another way.

Xu Zhilu was a doer.

The following Monday morning, she went straight to the teacher’s office and got a dormitory application form.

Back in the classroom, Xin An’an saw the form and was surprised. “Zhilu, you’re going to live at school?”

Xu Zhilu nodded. “Yes.”

She added, “Other students are starting to live at school too, right?”

Xin An’an paused and said softly, “Yes, but it’s rare.”

She added, “Living at school means attending evening study sessions.”

Xu Zhilu smiled and nodded. “I know. Studying in the evening at school is the same as studying at home. It’s fine.”

Xin An’an hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.

Xu Zhilu filled out the form and put it in her bag.

At dinner that night, Xu’s father was home, so Xu Zhilu took out the form without hesitation.

Seeing the dormitory application form, Xu’s father frowned. “Why do you want to live at school? Are we treating you poorly at home?”

Xu Zhilu shook her head. “No.”

She looked at the other two. “I just want more time to study.”

“Isn’t studying at home the same?” Xu’s father immediately said. “I don’t agree.”

Xu Zhilu closed her eyes briefly and looked at him. “Dad, you’re rarely home, so you might not know. I don’t get along well with Xu Zhijia. I think it would be better for us to live separately.”

Her gaze was direct and sincere, showing she was serious.

“We probably just don’t get along. I don’t think we need to force ourselves to live under the same roof.”

Hearing this, Xu’s mother turned hostile. “Zhilu, what do you mean by that? Are you saying Zhijia bullies you at home?”

Xu Zhilu looked at her. “Mom, that’s your interpretation, not mine.”

Xu’s mother was taken aback. “You… you’ve really grown wings now.”

Xu Zhilu didn’t respond and looked directly at her father. “Dad, I’m just asking to live at school during the week. I’ll still come home on weekends.”

She paused. “I didn’t live at home when I was a child, and the family didn’t seem to lack anything, right?”

Xu’s father’s face stiffened. He stared at her for a long time. “Do you really want to live at school?”

Xu Zhijia, watching from the side, thought that if Xu Zhilu lived at school, Shen Siyan wouldn’t ride to school with her anymore. Her eyes lit up, and she pleaded, “Dad, let my sister live at school. She probably wants to focus on her studies. It’s safe to live at school.”

In the end, Xu’s father relented.

After getting their signatures, Xu Zhilu said, “Thank you.”

She stood up to go back to her room.

Xu’s father watched her for a long time, unable to say a word.

–

Moving to the dormitory, Xu Zhilu didn’t have many things to take.

Since she would return home on weekends, she only packed the essentials.

The next morning, she told Uncle Liu to help her move her things when he picked up Xu Zhijia in the evening.

Uncle Liu agreed readily.

Among the household, the person who would miss Xu Zhilu the most was Aunt Liu.

“Aunt Liu will bring you meals when she has time.”

Xu Zhilu curled his lips and smiled, “Alright.”

She hugged Aunt Liu. “I’ll come back on weekends to eat your cooking.”

Aunt Liu looked at her and sighed helplessly.

…

Shen Siyan’s grandmother fell ill, so he and his mother stayed at her house for a few days.

When his grandmother recovered, his reflection period ended, and he could return to school.

That night, Shen Siyan glanced at the dark room on the second floor of the house next door and sent Xu Zhilu a message.

Shen Siyan: Are you asleep?

When Xu Zhilu saw the message, she had just finished showering in the dormitory.

She glanced at it and put the phone down, not intending to reply.

A few minutes later, the phone buzzed again.

Shen Siyan: Why are you sleeping so early? I brought some duck sauce back from my grandmother’s place. Do you want to come over and get some?

Xu Zhilu: …No.

Shen Siyan: Are you sure you don’t want it? My grandfather made it himself.

Xu Zhilu: Bring it to school tomorrow.

Shen Siyan, not thinking much, assumed she was just too lazy to go downstairs.

He replied with a “sure” and added a “good night.”

The next morning, Shen Siyan got up at six. By the time his mother woke up, he had already packed yogurt and the duck sauce into a bag.

“Why haven’t I seen you so eager to go to school before?”

Shen Siyan didn’t respond.

His mother yawned and said, “Don’t get into fights again. If you do, don’t come home to reflect. I’ve had enough of seeing you these past few days.”

Shen Siyan: “…”

He might not be her biological son after all.

Shen Siyan went downstairs and stood by the door of the house next door.

It was still early. Shen Siyan, with his head lowered, was dozing off. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard the sound of a door opening.

He opened his eyes and turned his head. Seeing who it was, the light in his eyes dimmed.

Xu Zhijia’s eyes widened in surprise and delight. “Brother Siyan! Are you waiting for me to go to school together?”

She was overjoyed. “Are you riding your bike today? Then I’ll ride mine too.”

Shen Siyan frowned and stared at her for a moment. “Where’s your sister?”

Xu Zhijia’s smile froze, her face visibly darkening.

“Brother Siyan, why do you always ask about my sister?”

Shen Siyan didn’t respond. “Is she still eating breakfast?”

Xu Zhijia stared at him for a while, then smiled sweetly. “Brother Siyan, don’t you know?”

She blinked innocently. “My sister moved to the school dormitory a few days ago. Didn’t she tell you?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Siyan’s expression changed.

Xu Zhijia pursed her lips. “I thought she had told you. Everyone at school knows.”

Shen Siyan looked at her and said nothing.

He turned around, got on his bike, and left.

Watching his departing figure, Xu Zhijia lost her temper and kicked the wall in anger.

The next second, she yelped in pain.

***

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