Chapter 10

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There were still three days before Lin Yilan’s school term began.

She got up early from bed, ate breakfast, greeted her grandparents, and then rode her bicycle out.

The current Jing City was not yet as developed and bustling as in later times when it had six or seven ring roads. For now, once you passed the second ring, you were practically at the urban-rural fringe.

Since Grandpa Lin’s large compound was near the military district, it was naturally not located within the city proper.

So today was a rare occasion for Lin Yilan to enter the city.

She pedaled her bicycle swiftly down the road. Jing City lived up to its reputation; although the roads were still somewhat uneven, it was at least better than when she used to ride a bike with her parents in the countryside, where a slight misstep could cause her to fall into a ditch.

Recalling her many previous tumbles, Lin Yilan shook her head to clear it and perked up.

After more than half an hour of riding and pushing her bike, she finally arrived at the Xicheng District.

Passing through a large communal courtyard, Lin Yilan found herself in an area filled with traditional siheyuan houses.

These siheyuan gathered closely together, forming a network of seemingly intricate alleys.

She pulled a piece of paper from her bag and began carefully matching the house numbers beside the gates one by one.

“Xiao Wu!”

A familiar male voice sounded beside her ear. Turning around, she saw the visitor and joyfully waved, “Third Brother, what are you doing here?”

Lin Li came running over eagerly, first scanning her from head to toe before speaking. “I came to find you. They were all worried you’d get lost, so they sent me to pick you up.”

“You’ve gotten fatter and fairer,” he remarked with some sentiment.

Looking at this caring young man before her, Lin Yilan blinked rapidly.

This was her third brother—the very one who, in the novel, sacrificed his life to save the fourth brother. Since childhood, she had realized that although Third Brother appeared to be the toughest and most unapproachable member of their family, he was actually the softest-hearted.

After the eldest brother left home for university, Third Brother took it upon himself to shoulder the responsibility of protecting his sister, younger brother, and younger sister. He was also the first to notice that their second sister was having a hard time adjusting after their parents remarried. He was always willing to sacrifice himself to protect the family.

Lin Yilan lowered her head, sniffled softly, and pinched the bridge of her nose. She vowed never to let such a good brother leave them before he had seen enough of the world.

“I think you’ve actually gotten thinner and darker—more like a monkey now,” she teased.

Lin Li pushed the bike with a pout, feigning tears. “Xiao Wu, we haven’t seen each other that long, and you’re already calling me a monkey.”

“What if we don’t meet for months next time? Will you say I’ve devolved into an ape?”

“This handsome guy being called a monkey—how heartbreaking!”

Lin Yilan found his exaggerated expression sickeningly cute. She shivered, rubbing her arms.

“Come on, let’s go. Third Brother, I really can’t take you.”

With that, she rudely dashed ahead, leaving Lin Li behind.

But not long after, she heard his teasing voice behind her.

“Dummy, you took a wrong turn.”

“You’re grown up and still don’t know the way—what are we going to do if we’re not around?”

She slammed on the brakes and stopped, then turned around and made a face at Lin Li.

“Bleh~”

She walked over to join him.

After turning two corners in the alley, Lin Yilan saw Third Brother stop in front of a courtyard gate and look back at her.

Raising an eyebrow, her eyes silently said, “What’s this about?”

Lin Li shook the bicycle. “Miss, time to open the door!”

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Lin Yilan stepped back and took in the appearance of the courtyard. Why did it look different from the last one she had seen?

She looked at Lin Li in doubt. If he intended to trick her, he wouldn’t choose a stranger’s house.

Satisfied that her brother wouldn’t cross that line, Lin Yilan climbed the steps and gently pushed open the courtyard gate.

Inside was a screen wall—not pristine but clearly maintained. Beyond it, the full view of the courtyard unfolded.

A quick glance told Lin Yilan all she needed to know.

This was a compact, single-entry courtyard, not a standard Ming or Qing dynasty siheyuan layout. Still, the basic structure was preserved well, and given its location, she was sure this place wouldn’t be cheap anytime soon.

“Xiao Wu, you’re here.”

A girl emerged from the east wing holding a plate of fruit.

Unlike Lin Yilan’s shoulder-length hair, this girl’s long hair was a bit longer. She wore a headband and carried an aloof, distant aura that discouraged strangers. Her delicate features made her look more fragile than Lin Yilan, and her figure was slimmer.

Yes, this was Lin Yilan’s half-sister, Wang Qichen.

“I missed you so much, Second Sister.”

Seeing her, Lin Yilan felt her spirits lift, like a little plant finally basking in sunlight after a long time in the shade.

She remembered well that when their parents were busy, Second Sister was the main caretaker. They had never been apart—until now, nearly half a year had passed.

Feeling nostalgic, Lin Yilan clung to her sister.

Wang Qichen smiled and hugged her back. “Xiao Wu, you’re still the same as when you were little.”

“Oh ho, who’s the little spoiled one here?” A sarcastic male voice interrupted from behind the two sisters.

Soon another young man with glasses appeared, tapping the first on the head. “Fourth Brother, you only know how to pick on Xiao Wu.”

Lin Yilan looked over at the two boys: the fourth brother Wang Xing and the eldest brother Lin Ming, the only one among the five siblings who was married with children.

Sticking her tongue out at the fourth brother’s smug face, she said, “Exactly, Big Brother’s right. Fourth Brother, you just know how to tease me.”

At that moment, Third Brother Lin Li, who had been pushing Lin Yilan’s bicycle, finally made his entrance.

Out of breath, he immediately drew everyone’s attention.

The first to speak was the fourth brother Wang Xing with a teasing tone, “What’s wrong with Third Brother today? You look so weak.”

Second Sister Wang Qichen smiled and said, “Old Three, you’re overacting a bit, huh?”

Lin Li’s expression stiffened for a second before, under Big Brother Lin Ming’s disapproving glare, he calmly parked the bike.

Lin Yilan quietly mocked, “Old Three, your acting isn’t very convincing.”

Lin Li tapped Lin Yilan on the head and said, “You and Fourth Brother must call me Third Brother. No insubordination, got it?”

He then flexed his muscles to show off to Fourth Brother Wang Xing.

Wang Xing’s smile immediately faded, and he quickly picked up the fruit plate from the table, offering it to Third Brother with a servile expression.

“Third Brother, please enjoy.”

“Ugh ugh ugh—”

“Fourth Brother, where did you learn that? So gross.”

“Old Three, how did you raise Fourth Brother like this?”

“Wang Xing, are you looking for trouble?”

“Big Brother, I’m innocent!”

The courtyard instantly erupted into chaos.

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Lin Yilan munched on lychees while watching Third Brother chase Fourth Brother, who, as usual, hid behind Second Sister shamelessly. Big Brother stood between them trying to mediate.

Indeed, this family had always been so lively from beginning to end.

It had to remain this way—no one could be missing.

After Lin Yilan found a lounge chair from somewhere and rocked on it for ten minutes, the courtyard finally quieted down.

Big Brother Lin Ming panted heavily, folded his arms, and glared at the two younger brothers. “You two… come with me to buy groceries.”

Third Brother Lin Li put his hand on Fourth Brother Wang Xing’s shoulder. “Big Brother, are you getting old? Your stamina’s dropping fast.”

Lin Yilan couldn’t bear to watch any longer and covered her eyes.

Third Brother had really picked up Fourth Brother’s cheeky personality after spending so much time with him.

But why did he still lack any tact? He clearly knew what Big Brother cared about most.

At least Fourth Brother knew to gauge the situation when causing trouble.

Good habits are hard to learn; bad ones spread easily.

Sure enough, within three seconds, a furious roar rang out.

“Lin Li, what did you say? You think I’m old?!”

“Lin Third Brother, stand still and don’t run if you’ve got the guts.”

“I’m crazy if I’m standing still letting you hit me. Fourth Brother, let’s go—”

“You two little brats, stop right there!”

Lin Yilan shook her head and sighed.

“Why are those three still so immature?”

Suddenly, Second Sister’s voice came. Lin Yilan shivered. “Geez, Second Sister, you scared me to death.”

Wang Qichen had somehow brought another lounge chair over beside Lin Yilan.

Seeing her little sister looking like she had seen a ghost, Wang Qichen crossed her legs. “Why are you still so timid?”

Lin Yilan glared at her, thinking that the warm, cozy sisterly moments never lasted longer than an hour.

“Second Sister, can you not scare me next time? Is it really that fun? Be careful you don’t end up friendless at school.”

Wang Qichen stared at Lin Yilan for three seconds, then snorted.

“Oh ho, our little sister who hates making friends actually said that. Amazing.

“Are you possessed or something?” She pinched Lin Yilan’s cheek.

Forced to smile, Lin Yilan grabbed Wang Qichen’s face and squeezed it hard.

The two sisters, both unwilling to yield, pinched each other’s cheeks in a playful standoff.

“I say on three, let go,” Wang Qichen said first.

Lin Yilan nodded. “Okay.”

“One… two… three—”

“Lin Yilan, you’re cheating again!”

Wang Qichen grumbled, rubbing her cheek. She had let go before her little sister once more.