As she was studying, Xu Zhilu inexplicably thought of Shen Siyan.

She found that Shen Siyan was much smarter than her.

In less than a year, Shen Siyan had successfully risen from last place to within the top 100 in his grade.

Although being ranked within the top 100 was nothing special, compared to his previous results, it really surprised everyone.

What’s more important is that he improved by dozens or hundreds of places every time, and his scores seemed to always move up by ten or twenty points, maintaining the same frequency in every subject.

If Xu Zhilu didn’t know that his grades were poor, she would have suspected that Shen Siyan had deliberately given him that score. Why was it always so perfect?

As she was thinking, she became distracted.

The cellphone on the side vibrated.

Xu Zhilu picked it up and saw that it was a message from Shen Siyan.

During the New Year’s holidays, Shen Siyan had returned to his grandparents’ house and wasn’t next door.

Shen Siyan: *Are you at home?*

Xu Zhilu: *Yeah.*

Shen Siyan: *Will you come to my house?*

Xu Zhilu lowered her eyes and thought for a moment before replying: *Is Aunt Shen at home? I’ll go and wish her a happy new year.*

Shen Siyan: *My mother is not here; I came back alone.*

Before Xu Zhilu could reply, he continued: *Are you coming over?*

Xu Zhilu: *If there’s anything, just let me know.*

Shen Siyan: *Come here with the gift.*

Even through the screen, Xu Zhilu could sense his insistence. 

She turned her head to look at the small gifts she had prepared for Shen Man and the others, thought for a while, and decided to go.

Aunt Liu was also on holiday for the New Year, and Xu Zhilu was alone at home. She simply changed her shoes and walked out without anyone stopping her.

When she arrived next door, she saw the door was open. 

Xu Zhilu knocked anyway before walking in.

Shen Siyan was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, which made him look a little more composed.

She glanced at him twice without noticing.

Shen Siyan turned to look at her. “What are you standing there for? Close the door and come in.”

Xu Zhilu said, “Oh,” and took a few steps forward.

“Are you cold?”

Xu Zhilu nodded. “A little. Did you just come back?”

Shen Siyan responded and handed her something from the side. “New Year’s gift.”

Xu Zhilu lowered her eyes and glanced at it. “Thank you.”

She pursed her lips and added, “This is for you and Aunt Shen.”

Shen Siyan looked at the gift curiously. “Is it for me or for my mother?”

“…” Xu Zhilu was speechless and whispered, “Both.”

Hearing this, Shen Siyan smiled.

He took the gift and said softly, “Thank you.”

Xu Zhilu tilted her head and responded softly.

The living room was quiet for a moment. Shen Siyan glanced at her. “It’s still early. Do you have any plans for today?”

Xu Zhilu shook her head.

Shen Siyan looked at her. “Do you want to go out for a walk?”

Xu Zhilu refused without a second thought. “No, it’s too cold.”

Shen Siyan: “…”

He didn’t press the issue, nodded, and said, “Okay, play at home?”

Xu Zhilu looked at him, puzzled. “There’s nothing fun here. I plan to go back and read.”

Shen Siyan’s eyelids twitched, feeling a bit helpless. “What kind of book should one read during the New Year to relax?”

Xu Zhilu choked and looked at him. “The college entrance examination is only a few months away.”

Shen Siyan responded, “Oh. Nervous?”

Xu Zhilu wasn’t nervous; she just didn’t want to be alone with Shen Siyan.

No reason.

Shen Siyan stared at her for a while and smiled. “Xu Zhilu.”

Xu Zhilu looked at him with clear eyes.

Shen Siyan lowered his head, thought for a moment, and said, “Can you listen to me for a few words?”

Facing his deep eyes, Xu Zhilu’s breathing faltered, and her lips moved. “What do you want to say?”

Shen Siyan was silent for a few seconds, then asked in a low voice, “What are your plans after the exam?”

Xu Zhilu had anticipated him bringing up that topic, but she was still a bit dazed when she heard it unexpectedly.

“Ah?”

She was stunned. “What did you say?”

Shen Siyan paused, then looked down at her and asked, “What are your plans after the college entrance examination?”

Xu Zhilu was quiet for a while. “I haven’t decided yet. Maybe I’ll find a job.”

Shen Siyan understood. “Are you planning to move out of the house?”

“Right.”

Xu Zhilu said, “I’ll be eighteen soon, so I can move out.”

Shen Siyan said nothing more.

He thought for a while and then said, “If you need any help, please let me know.”

Xu Zhilu looked at him for a while and nodded in agreement.

The topic was inexplicably passed over.

The winter break for high school students was particularly short. In just a few days, they were back to school.

In the last semester, everyone became more nervous.

There was no time to gossip with classmates or think about other things. The goal of all high school students was to get good grades and go to a good university.

Xu Zhilu and Shen Siyan returned to their previous way of getting along, but there seemed to be some changes.

Shen Siyan sometimes showed his feelings for her very clearly.

Occasionally, one or two special words would pop up.

Xu Zhilu didn’t know whether he was doing it on purpose. Since he didn’t say it directly, she didn’t ask.

The two of them continued to get along with this tacit understanding.

Just before the college entrance examination, Xu Zhijia was in a car accident.

When Xu Zhilu received the call, she was in an evening study.

The call was from Xu’s father’s assistant, who rarely contacted her directly.

Xu Zhilu answered the call in a low voice.

The assistant’s calm voice came through, explaining Xu Zhijia’s condition and saying they would take her to the hospital.

Xu Zhijia had gone out with her friends at night, but no one knew that her friend was racing on a rugged mountain road.

Due to an accident, the cyclist hit something, and Xu Zhijia was thrown out. She was sent to the hospital due to excessive blood loss, while the cyclist died on the spot.

When Xu Zhilu arrived at the hospital, Xu Zhijia had already entered the operating room.

Xu Zhijia needed a blood transfusion due to excessive blood loss.

Before Xu Zhilu could react, her mother pulled her to the doctor.

“This is my daughter. Her blood type must be the same as her sister’s. Go ahead and draw her blood.”

Shen Man and Shen Siyan also arrived. When Shen Siyan heard this, he said directly, “Aunt Pei!”

He looked at Xu Zhilu. “Aren’t you going to ask Xu Zhilu for her opinion?”

Mother Xu frowned and looked at Shen Siyan with red eyes. “What do you want to ask?”

She said, “I raised her. Shouldn’t she give blood to her sister?”

Hearing this, Shen Siyan no longer cared about being polite.

He sneered, “Yes, you provided Xu Zhilu with food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, but do you care about her at all?”

He continued, “You said that she and Xu Zhijia are sisters, so why is your attitude towards her so different from Xu Zhijia’s?”