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Chapter 96: Chu Zining Brought Her ID.

“Be my sister-in-law!”

As Lu Yao’s words fell, Chu Zining’s face reddened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

She wanted badly to flee, but Lu Yao held both her shoulders, and she did not dare shake her off, looking every inch like a fawn stripped of the forest’s cover and trembling in utter panic.

She stammered for a long while without managing a single word; it felt as if a kettle of water were heating on her head, the sloshing announcing it was about to boil.

Yet Lu Yao took Chu Zining’s silence as a silent rejection, shook her shoulders anxiously, and hurried to speak up for her brother:

“My dummy brother may not look impressive now, but he will achieve great things and earn piles of money in the future! Rest assured, once you marry into our Lu family, we will never treat you badly!”

M-marry Lu Li…

With a loud buzz, the “hot water” on Chu Zining’s head finally boiled over, her mind went blank, her legs turned to seaweed, and her slender body swayed back and forth under Lu Yao’s shaking like a lifeless puppet.

“Hey! That’s enough.” Unable to watch any longer, Lu Li shifted the milk tea and other snacks to his left hand and swung a karate chop at his blockhead little sister.

“Ow!” Lu Yao yelped and clutched her head with both hands.

Freed at last, Chu Zining’s body slid downward uncontrollably.

Fortunately, Lu Li reacted quickly and wrapped an arm around her slender waist.

Instinctively, Chu Zining clutched Lu Li’s sleeve and buried herself deep in his chest.

How are they already hugging? Dummy Bro moved fast… Lu Yao’s eyes sparkled with fangirl glee, the ache from the chop forgotten.

Panting, Chu Zining caught a familiar scent and felt unconsciously calmer.

“Are you alright?” Lu Li gently patted her back.

“I-I’m fine.” As soon as she spoke, she realized she was sprawled against Lu Li’s chest and could even hear his strong heartbeat.

“Ugh!” She hurriedly stepped back several paces, her peach-blossom eyes nearly losing focus.

Lu Li caught her hand in time, preventing her from falling again.

What a fool… Lu Li rubbed his forehead wordlessly.

Feeling her palm burn, Chu Zining timidly withdrew her hand, sneaked a glance at Lu Li, then quickly lowered her head and bit her lip.

Lu Li noticed that her other small hand was rubbing the spot he’d just touched.

He cleared his throat. “My sister was spouting nonsense just now… it was only a joke. Don’t take it to heart.”

“It… it’s fine.”

“Really?”

“Mm-hm.” Chu Zining nodded like a pecking chick. “I know it was a joke. I haven’t earned enough money yet, so I’m not qualified…”

“But I’ll work hard!” she said earnestly.

Lu Li froze for a second and then couldn’t help laughing. “Then do your best.”

“Okay.”

“It’s getting late; let’s go buy the phones.”

“Okay.”

“I want to walk side by side with Sister Zining!” Lu Yao took two steps forward, shoved Lu Li out of the way with her hip, wrapped herself around Chu Zining’s arm, and shot Lu Li a provocative glance.

Lu Li rolled his eyes and began eating the candied haw in his hand; on the way here, Lu Yao had gnawed the skewer down to the last two berries.

Startled, Lu Yao lunged to snatch it back.

After biting off one hawthorn whole, Lu Li caught Lu Yao’s attacking hands and, with a twist, passed the skewer to Chu Zining.

Chu Zining accepted it on reflex.

Lu Li shot her a sidelong glance. “Why are you spacing out? Eat.”

Chu Zining hesitantly looked at Lu Yao.

“Why are you looking at her? Are you ignoring my words now?” Lu Li’s face hardened.

She hurriedly nibbled at the berries.

Her chewing resembled a clumsy little squirrel, which was rather adorable.

Once she saw Chu Zining finish the last berry, Lu Yao stopped fussing and reached for the milk tea and sugar-fried chestnuts in Lu Li’s hand.

However, Lu Li’s hands were now empty, and when she turned again, both the milk tea and the chestnuts were in Chu Zining’s grasp.

On the verge of tears, Lu Yao stomped her foot. “Bro, you’re bullying me!”

Lu Li let her go, tapped her forehead, and said, “Serves you right for bullying others.”

Lu Yao wiped away nonexistent tears and grumbled, “I’m angry now!”

Hesitating, Chu Zining walked over, intending to hand the items back to Lu Yao.

Halfway there, Lu Li intercepted her, took her arm, and forcibly steered her in another direction.

Lu Li shot Lu Yao a glare over his shoulder. “Drop the act! I gave you 100 yuan; you surely haven’t spent it all. Go buy more yourself. These are compensation for bullying her!”

“So I don’t have to return that 100 yuan? Hee-hee.” Lu Yao broke into a grin. “Dummy Bro, you should have said so earlier.”

In the past, Lu Li would never have let Lu Yao indulge like this, but now that money was less tight, he had no reason to pinch pennies over small snacks.

“H-here.”

Chu Zining’s timid voice drifted over, and when Lu Li looked, he saw two peeled chestnuts lying in her palm.

The golden kernels gleamed beautifully against her fair, delicate hand.

Lu Li picked up both chestnuts, tossed one into his mouth, and held the other to Chu Zining’s lips.

Her eyes quivered; she parted her lips and bit the chestnut, her mouth perhaps brushing his index finger, perhaps not.

She chewed in tiny bites, her eyes curving into an adorable arc.

Lu Li chuckled softly and asked, “Is it sweet?”

Chu Zining lowered her head, sneaked a shy glance at him, and murmured softly:

“Sweet…”

…

Lu Li bought the same Huawei model for both the fool Chu Zining and the airhead Lu Yao; although each cost 4,000 yuan, the value for money was excellent and still acceptable.

Chu Zining felt the price was steep; she had her eye on a 1,000-yuan phone and wanted to plead with Lu Li to switch, but he flatly refused.

Too timid to argue, her eyes nevertheless stayed fixed on the cheaper model.

After buying the phones, Lu Li conveniently helped the fool and the airhead register SIM cards.

Luckily, both of them had brought their ID cards, or they would have had to make a trip home.

“Okay, you need to set a nickname before the account will be created.” Lu Li helped her download the messaging app.

“Nickname…” Chu Zining thought for a moment and poked the virtual keyboard with one finger.

Lu Yao already had an account, needing only to link the SIM, so she leaned over to see what nickname Chu Zining would choose.

“Still 100,004,000 yuan short of 100 million…” Lu Yao snorted with laughter. “Sister Zining, what kind of weird nickname is that?”

Startled, Chu Zining squeaked, quickly covered the screen, and her bangs quivered over her forehead.

Why is she so scared… Lu Yao stood up in confusion and dragged the snickering Lu Li aside.

“Dummy Bro, hee-hee-hee, there’s a chance tonight!” Lu Yao winked.

Lu Li blinked. “What chance?”

Lu Yao chuckled and enunciated every word. “Sister Zining brought her I-D-C-A-R-D today!”

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