Chu Moxuan was momentarily stunned by the question. “I have no idea. I’ve never picked him up before.”

“Then ask. You’re going to pick him up today.”

“What? Me? Why? There’s a driver for that!” Chu Moxuan was completely baffled.

Gu Shilin gave him a look. That was all it took for him to fold.

“I’ll ask! I’ll ask now! I’ll be a good brother and go pick him up myself!”

Chu Moxuan quickly called the family driver, asked about Chu Moting’s school schedule, and informed the driver that he would personally handle pickup today.

Then, bright-eyed, he turned back to Gu Shilin. “Bro, they get out at five-thirty. It’s four-thirty now. If we don’t leave soon, traffic’ll be a mess. But these documents…”

“Let’s go. We’ll deal with them tonight,” Gu Shilin said, standing and brushing imaginary dust off his suit.

Chu Moxuan blinked. “Wait, I thought I was going alone?”

“I’m going with you. Stop talking.”

“…Okay, coming.”

Even after getting in the car, it took Chu Moxuan a minute to realize: Wait a sec. That’s my little brother. Why the hell is he coming along?

---

Meanwhile.

Back in the private booth, Luo Yunyan had just returned.

Luo Yunyi gave her a serious look. “Yanyan, if you run into Gu-ge again, keep your distance, okay?”

“…Why?” Luo Yunyan raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected.

“Wait, you ran into Gu-ge?” Luo Yunxi perked up.

Luo Yunyi nodded hesitantly. “We happened to see him scolding someone… then got scolded by Yanyan.”

“…What the—” Luo Yunxi’s expression became indescribable.

“Yanyan,” he began seriously, “Let your second brother tell you something. Gu-ge, that guy, he’s gynophobic. Can’t stand women getting too close. And he’s scary. Like, really scary. So just… don’t go near him, alright?”

Luo Yunyi rolled his eyes. “The one you ran into is Gu Shilin. The only heir of the Gu family, on par with our own. But the Gu family has always had a single heir per generation—he’s the only one. Don’t be fooled by his prayer beads or that calm, refined vibe. The guy’s sharp as a blade.”

“But yeah, it’s true he’s gynophobic. Except for female family members, no woman’s ever been allowed within a meter of him. That said, he’s not the type to lash out for no reason. If something happens, it’s probably the other person’s fault. So don’t worry, just keep your distance.”

“Got it, Third Brother.” Luo Yunyan nodded obediently, lowering her gaze to hide the gleam in her eyes.

Gynophobic, huh? She didn’t buy it.

Now she was really curious what lay beneath that refined, godlike exterior of his.

And besides… something about his entire demeanor around her hadn’t matched what the brothers described.

---

“It’s getting late. Time to pick up Xiaojin,” said Luo Yunxi as he stood, pulling his face mask and sunglasses into place.

Luo Yunyan looked him up and down with a scowl. He looked ridiculous. She didn’t move.

“What are you two doing? Move it!” Luo Yunxi waved at the two statues still frozen in place.

The siblings exchanged helpless glances and followed him out.

---

Huanyang Private School — a top-tier institution combining middle and high school, known for one thing:

Either your grades were amazing, or your grades and your money were.

To put it simply, grades ruled. You could dye your hair, wear earrings, even bring your emotional support cat to class—but if your GPA dropped, you were out.

Thanks to Gu family funding, no one in Beijing—even with all the money in the world—could buy their way in.

Rumor had it that this one policy alone had single-handedly kept Beijing’s tutoring industry thriving.

17:20

Chu Moxuan was starting to get antsy. He looked at Gu Shilin in the back seat.
“Bro… why are we here again? You seriously came just to pick up my little brother? I don’t buy it.”

Gu Shilin didn’t answer, eyes focused out the window—on a familiar car approaching.

That license plate…

He smirked.

“Luo family’s car,” Chu Moxuan noted. “They’re picking up Xiaojin.”

---

Inside the car, Luo Yunyan had had enough.

She turned to her bickering brothers and cut in, deadpan:

“Enough. I’ll go pick him up myself. Neither of you are getting out. That settles it.”

Honestly. What were they even arguing about? It was just picking up a kid.

One claimed the other looked too suspicious, the other said he was too blind to recognize Xiaojin. It was ridiculous.

What, did walking to the gate with her grant magical powers or something?
It wasn’t preschool. They weren’t going to walk up to a teacher, hold the kid’s hand, and coo, “Let’s go home, sweetie~ Say goodbye to your teacher~”

Seeing that they were about to argue more, she raised a hand.

“Shut it. I’m going. One more word and I’ll get mad.”

With that, she got out and strode toward the school gate.

Inside the car, the brothers exchanged glances.

Luo Yunxi gulped. “Hey, Third, don’t you think she was kind of scary just now? Almost like Big Brother.”

“Scarier,” Luo Yunyi muttered. “I think she’s catching up to Dad.”

The two locked eyes.

“—Tch.”

Simultaneous side-eyes. Siblings, indeed.

---

As Luo Yunyan stepped out of the car, Gu Shilin stepped out of his own.

He caught up quickly. “Fancy seeing you again.”

“Well, well, Mr. Pretty—what’s this, you here to settle the score?” Luo Yunyan smiled, turning her head.

She glanced back—no sign of the Luo family’s car from here. No wonder he got this close.

Gu Shilin chuckled. “Of course not. I’m just here to help a friend pick up his brother. Total coincidence.”

“Ohh? So you didn’t come just to see me? I’m actually kind of heartbroken.”

She stepped closer, their distance shrinking.

Gu Shilin looked down at the girl standing a head shorter than him.

“Alright. I came to see you. Picking someone up was just the excuse.”

Chu Moxuan, who had just caught up, stopped dead in his tracks.

Wait what?!
Bro, aren’t you gynophobic?!
There’s, like… less than thirty centimeters between you right now.
Have you been body-snatched?!

Bam. The air was practically fizzing with pink bubbles. She even called him “Mr. Pretty”?

Not gonna lie… I’m kinda shipping you two now.

Sensing the heavy stare, Luo Yunyan glanced back—and looked at Gu Shilin in confusion, expression saying:

“Who’s that curly-haired golden retriever? Do you know him? He looks kinda dumb.”

Gu Shilin somehow understood that look instantly and gave a side-eye to Chu Moxuan.
“Ignore him. He’s an idiot.”

Chu Moxuan: Wow. I’m just a prop for your flirting now, huh.

“Hi! Little white dumpling, I’m Chu Moxuan, Xiaojin’s cousin. You used to call me ‘Gege’ when you were little, remember?”

Luo Yunyan’s smile twitched. Little white dumpling?
Say that again and I’ll beat you into one.

“I’m Xiaojin’s older cousin. Shouldn’t you call me ‘Jiejie’ instead?”

Chu Moxuan choked. “Hey, now that’s not very cute.”

“Oh.”

She turned away, leaving him sulking by himself.

Gu Shilin couldn’t help laughing. The way her expressions shifted was way too entertaining.

Tsk. That laugh of his was unfair. Luo Yunyan found herself staring again, practically glue-eyed.

Gu Shilin leaned down slightly, bringing his face closer to hers.
“Am I that good-looking?”

“Mm-hmm!”

“Then… give me a chance. Let me treat you to dinner?”

His voice had a low, tempting edge.

Oh?
So this was what he’d been angling for?

(End of Chapter)