The next morning, when Xu Zhilu went downstairs, the place was bustling.

Xu Zhijia was surrounded by their parents, the three of them eating breakfast, creating a warm scene.

Xu Zhilu paused for a moment, her lips pressing into a straight line as she walked down.

“Zhijia, did you sleep well last night?”

Xu Zhijia smiled gently, “Mom, I slept very well. How about you and Dad?”

Her mother smiled and touched her head, “Of course.”

She pointed to the food in front of them and said softly, “Zhijia, eat more. You’re too thin.”

“Okay, thank you, Mom.”

Hearing footsteps, her mother looked up at Xu Zhilu and frowned, saying coldly, “Zhilu, what time is it? Why are you just getting up now?”

She added, “Later, your sister will have to wait for you again.”

Xu Zhilu pulled out a chair and sat down, saying blandly, “No need.”

She glanced at the happy family of three next to her and said softly, “I’ll go by myself.”

Her mother frowned at her, asking, “What’s wrong with you now? The other day you pushed Zhijia, and she didn’t even hold it against you. And now you’re throwing a fit again!”

Xu Zhilu paused, holding her glass of milk, suddenly remembering the incident.

She and Xu Zhijia were twin sisters, but they had never gotten along.

Xu Zhijia had always felt that if Xu Zhilu weren’t around, their parents’ love would be all hers, so she had disliked Xu Zhilu since they were kids.

When they were young, because their parents were busy with work and couldn’t take care of two children, Xu Zhilu, as the older sister by a few minutes, was sent to their grandmother’s house. This created a distance between her and their parents.

She wasn’t good at saying nice things, had an average temper, and her personality was unremarkable.

The only things she was better at than Xu Zhijia were studying and dancing, but those didn’t matter much.

Xu Zhilu didn’t want to compete with her; she found it pointless.

In the past, she had been completely focused on Shen Siyan and didn’t pay much attention to Xu Zhijia, so she didn’t find her provocations bothersome.

Xu Zhijia knew that the only way to provoke Xu Zhilu was through Shen Siyan.

A few days ago, when Xu Zhilu went to a karaoke bar with Shen Siyan and some others, Xu Zhijia tagged along.

Midway through, Xu Zhijia said something to Shen Siyan, and the two left.

When they returned, Xu Zhijia was all smiles.

Curious classmates asked her what she and Shen Siyan had done outside.

With a shy smile, she said they did nothing but hinted strongly otherwise by covering her mouth.

Xu Zhilu frowned but didn’t think much of it.

She didn’t expect Xu Zhijia to actually tell her that Shen Siyan had hugged her.

Xu Zhilu, whose intelligence was often lowered by her infatuation, lost her reason and loudly accused her of lying.

Her loud voice drew attention, and before anyone could react, Xu Zhijia started crying.

Instantly, disapproving looks and comments flooded in.

“Xu Zhilu, how can you call your sister names?”

“Xu Zhilu, you’re too harsh.”

Xu Zhijia, tears streaming down her face, pitifully said, “Sister, I’m telling the truth. Why don’t you believe me?”

Xu Zhilu, a high schooler with a strong sense of pride, was humiliated.

Under everyone’s gaze, she angrily shook off her sister’s hand and pointed at her, demanding, “Then tell everyone what you just said!”

Xu Zhijia stayed silent.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Shen Siyan returned.

Seeing the situation in the room, he frowned, “What’s going on?”

Immediately, everyone began explaining.

Shen Siyan glanced at Xu Zhilu.

He hadn’t said anything, but Xu Zhilu felt he would believe the others, and she couldn’t explain herself.

Without thinking, she grabbed Xu Zhijia’s hand, trying to drag her to Shen Siyan to prove her point.

Out of nowhere, Xu Zhijia fell backward before Xu Zhilu could react.

And that’s how the pushing incident her mother mentioned came to be.

Recalling the whole event, Xu Zhilu felt like hitting herself for the third time.

Why had she been so stupid before?

Not only did she fall for Xu Zhijia’s tricks, but she also lowered her intelligence for Shen Siyan’s sake.

Thinking about this, she slightly tugged her lips and looked at her mother and said, “I’m not throwing a fit. I decided to start biking to school starting today, while getting some exercise.”

Her mother wanted to say something more, but Xu Zhijia smiled and said, “Mom, don’t be mad. Sister is just trying to take care of herself. I wish I could bike to school with her, but my health isn’t good enough.”

Hearing this, her mother became anxious, “You absolutely shouldn’t. Just take the car. Uncle Liu will drive you and Siyan.”

Xu Zhijia smiled brightly and said, “Okay, thanks, Mom.”

Uncle Liu was their family driver, but because Shen Siyan’s family’s driver had taken an extended leave recently, and since the three of them went to the same school, Shen Siyan’s mother suggested paying Uncle Liu extra to also drive Shen Siyan.

Listening to the mother-daughter conversation, Xu Zhilu finished her milk and said, “I’ll go to school first.”

–

When Xu Zhilu stepped out the door, she saw Shen Siyan standing at the gate. He looked pale, with a backpack slung lazily over one shoulder, leaning against the wall.

Hearing her, Shen Siyan turned to look at her.

Their eyes met, and Shen Siyan’s gaze dropped to her bicycle, “You’re biking to school?”

Xu Zhilu responded, “Yes.”

Shen Siyan frowned, “Did you have another fight with your sister?”

“What do you mean by ‘another fight’? Do I look that idle to you?” Xu Zhilu retorted.

“… That’s not what I meant.”

Xu Zhilu curled her lips, not wanting to hear what he actually meant.

She lowered her head and wiped her bike. Just as she was about to get on, someone grabbed her backpack.

Xu Zhilu turned around, “What are you doing?”

Shen Siyan stared at her and said softly, “Wait a bit before leaving.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Zhijia’s voice came from the courtyard, “Brother Siyan, when did you get here? Why didn’t you come inside?”

Shen Siyan didn’t respond.

He looked down at Xu Zhilu, “I’ll go get my bike.”

“… Oh.”

Xu Zhilu smiled slightly and kicked his uniform pants, “What does riding a bike have to do with me?”

With that, she left without looking back.

As the spring breeze blew, Xu Zhilu could still hear the conversation behind her.

“Brother Siyan, did you forget something?”

Shen Siyan’s impatient voice replied, “No.”

–

After arriving at school, Xu Zhilu locked her bike and hummed a tune as she entered the classroom.

Just as the first bell rang, Xin An’an hurriedly ran in, panting as she sat down.

“Zhilu, Zhilu.”

Xu Zhilu turned to her, “What’s up?”

Xin An’an glanced at the teacher entering the classroom and whispered, “I just saw Shen Siyan riding a bike to school. Didn’t you come with him?”

Xu Zhilu said nothing, flipping through her textbook, “My bike can’t fit two fools.”

“?”
–