She ate breakfast with a heavy heart.

After a few bites, Xu Zhilu retreated to her room to grab her bag. She had to go to the dance studio today.

As soon as she stepped outside, Shen Siyan called.

Xu Zhilu frowned. “Hello.”

“Heading to the dance studio again?” Shen Siyan asked.

“…Yes.”

“How did you know?”

Shen Siyan smirked and said, “Look up.”

Xu Zhilu looked up and saw someone standing on the second-floor balcony.

She curled her lips into a small smile. “Oh. Is Aunt Shen upset?”

Shen Siyan replied, “Hmm? Upset about what?”

“The watch.”

Shen Siyan chuckled. “Why don’t you come over and ask her yourself?”

“…”

“I don’t have time,” Xu Zhilu said. “I have class. I’ll come by later for extra lessons.”

Shen Siyan offered, “Let me give you a ride.”

“No need.”

Xu Zhilu declined immediately. “I can get there on my own.”

Shen Siyan was about to say something, but Xu Zhilu hung up.

…

“Shen Siyan, what are you doing?”

Mother Shen looked at him and said, “Come down and have breakfast.”

Shen Siyan had no choice but to respond, “Right away.”

With Mr. Shen away on business, only Mother Shen and Shen Siyan had breakfast together.

Mother Shen took a few bites and suddenly sighed.

Shen Siyan looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

Mother Shen frowned. “What’s wrong with the Xu family? They have a daughter as well-behaved as Zhilu, but spoil Xu Zhijia like a baby.”

Shen Siyan remained silent.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Mother Shen asked.

“What’s there to say?” Shen Siyan replied. “Mom, you know how things are next door.”

He added, “If you hadn’t mentioned they were twins, I might have thought Xu Zhilu was a child that Uncle Xu brought in from outside.”

Shen Siyan said this casually and then focused on his noodles.

Suddenly, there was a “pop” sound from the opposite side, making Shen Siyan’s heart skip a beat.

“Mom, what are you doing?”

Mother Shen looked at him, her eyes bright. “I think you might be onto something!”

She said seriously, “Why didn’t I think of this before?”

Shen Siyan said, “…”

He stared at his noodles and felt a sudden lack of appetite.

“Mom, I was just speaking offhandedly.”

Mother Shen looked at him. “But I think it’s possible.”

Shen Siyan was at a loss for words. “But didn’t everyone say that, although Xu Zhilu doesn’t look like Xu Zhijia, they are still sisters born in the same hospital? Didn’t you go to see her then?”

Mother Shen hesitated. “Oh.”

She fell silent. “It seems so.”

Shen Siyan choked on his noodles.

He sighed. “Forget about it. Let’s just eat.”

Mother Shen sighed in agreement. “Okay, no need to rush. There’s no point worrying about it now.”

“…Alright.”

After breakfast, Shen Siyan returned to his room.

He checked his phone and saw a message from Xu Zhilu: “Thank you.”

Shen Siyan tugged at his lower lip and snorted.

He lounged lazily in his chair, lost in thought about the conversation he’d had with his mother. 

He had made up his comments casually, but now that he thought about them more carefully, they seemed to have some merit. Xu Zhilu’s position in the Xu family was peculiar. While Father Xu was relatively fair to her, Xu’s mother and Xu Zhijia showed a stark contrast in their attitudes.

Despite everyone claiming they were twin sisters, no one had ever questioned this since their birth.

Shen Siyan shook his head, thinking he must be going crazy for considering such possibilities.

He rubbed his temples, stood up, and went to his desk to study. After a while, he managed to complete several complex problems. 

If Xu Zhilu were here, she’d be astonished by his achievements. Some might even think Shen Siyan was a child prodigy.

_

When Xu Zhilu arrived at the dance studio, she received a text message: a notification that Father Xu had transferred 30,000 yuan to her account.

She figured that probably 20,000 yuan was meant to cover the cost of returning the watch to Shen Siyan, and the remaining 10,000 yuan was likely for her living expenses, given out of guilt.

As she pondered this, Father Xu’s assistant called to confirm that the additional 10,000 yuan was indeed for living expenses.

“Thank you,” Xu Zhilu responded.

“Just accept it. If you need more, let me know in advance,” the assistant said.

“Okay,” Xu Zhilu replied before hanging up. She then transferred the call to Shen Siyan and didn’t check her phone again.

After a morning of classes, Xu Zhilu felt refreshed and content. Perhaps the events of the morning had put her in a particularly good mood. When she saw Shen Siyan outside the door, she greeted him warmly.

“Are you out playing games again?”

Shen Siyan raised an eyebrow. “You make it sound like I’m neglecting my duties.”

“…Aren’t you?” Xu Zhilu asked.

Shen Siyan glanced at her and said, “Are you hungry? Let’s go eat.”

“Oh.” Xu Zhilu thought about the favor he had done her. “Let’s go. I’ll treat you. What do you want to eat?”

Shen Siyan looked at her. “What do you want to eat?”

“How about bullfrog hotpot? I haven’t been there in ages,” she suggested, her eyes lighting up. “But you might have to wait in line.”

Shen Siyan nodded. “Let’s go.”

They arrived at the restaurant and, as expected, received a number that indicated a long wait.

After a moment of silence, Shen Siyan asked, “Do you still want to eat here?”

Xu Zhilu nodded. “Yes.”

She was eager to try the hotpot.

Shen Siyan thought for a moment and said, “Let’s grab a bite somewhere else first. This will likely take another hour or two.”

“…Fine,” Xu Zhilu agreed.

The two of them bought milk tea and some snacks, eating them leisurely as they walked around.

If they weren’t quarreling, Xu Zhilu actually got along well with Shen Siyan. He was considerate, and though he had a bad temper, he wasn’t angry with Xu Zhilu.

Xu Zhilu reflected on this and turned to Shen Siyan. “Thank you.”

Shen Siyan was taken aback and chuckled. “Is that all?”

Xu Zhilu looked puzzled. “What else do you want?”

Shen Siyan raised an eyebrow. “I want more.”

“…What do you want?” Xu Zhilu asked, confused.

Shen Siyan remained silent for a moment before replying softly, “Don’t worry. It won’t be anything serious.”

Xu Zhilu said, “Oh. Then what do you want?”

Shen Siyan studied her for a moment before saying, “After dinner, accompany me somewhere.”

“Where are we going?”

“That’s a secret for now.”

Xu Zhilu raised an eyebrow. “So mysterious.”

Shen Siyan laughed. “What, you don’t want me to plan a surprise?”

“Surprise?” Xu Zhilu echoed.

Shen Siyan nodded. “Don’t you believe it?”

Xu Zhilu, feeling the conversation was pointless, said calmly, “It’s not that I don’t believe it. I just don’t expect any surprises between us, as long as it’s not a shock.”

Shen Siyan studied her for a few seconds and said nothing more.

The two of them chatted quietly and harmoniously, resembling a young couple as they waited.

After more than an hour, it was finally their turn.

Fortunately, Xu Zhilu wasn’t too hungry, having snacked earlier.

She ordered without hesitation once inside.

After enjoying the hotpot, Shen Siyan took her to another location.

When they arrived, Xu Zhilu was taken aback. “The surprise you mentioned is going to an amusement park?”

Shen Siyan asked, “Don’t you want to go?”

“…Not really,” Xu Zhilu replied. “I just didn’t expect this. It seems like a waste to go now. You can only enjoy it for a few hours, and you won’t get the ticket money back.”

Shen Siyan choked a bit and said, “Don’t worry about that. I can afford it. Can I treat you to go in?”

Xu Zhilu, being practical, replied, “Yes.”

She wasn’t about to turn down a free treat.