My Sister Is Acting Strange - Chapter 30 - Xia Xinya's Diary

Watching the car carrying Tang Huaijin gradually disappear into the distance, Xia Xinya let out a soft hum and turned her gaze away, lying on her small bed and chatting with Bai Yuerou.

Upon hearing about the incident, Bai Yuerou expressed her concern and quickly asked if Xia Xinya was alright. After assuring her friend that she was fine, Xia Xinya mentioned Tang Huaijin’s injury.

Following that, Bai Yuerou’s replies became slower, showing a bit of indifference towards Xia Xinya.

After sending her last message, Bai Yuerou hadn’t replied for five minutes. Feeling a bit bored, Xia Xinya mindlessly scrolled through her phone.

She moved to her small desk and retrieved her diary from a hidden drawer.

Xia Xinya didn’t have many friends; her only close friend was Bai Yuerou, whom she had played with since childhood. As a result, her diary was mostly filled with entries about Bai Yuerou, until Tang Huaijin came along, adding lines like “Tang Huaijin is so annoying!” and “That bothersome Tang Huaijin.”

Being from a single-parent family, Xia Xinya had never seen her father, and her mother never mentioned him. Her mother’s disdain for men influenced Xia Xinya, making her indifferent towards boys.

Due to her personality, she found it difficult to get along with girls her age. Those who tolerated her temper and approached her were invariably trying to curry favor with her mother. Xia Xinya felt nothing but disdain for such people.

The only exception was Bai Yuerou.

Bai Yuerou was gentle and patient, tolerating Xia Xinya’s childish and bad temper, soothing her with soft words when she was upset.

She was like a gentle moonlight, illuminating Xia Xinya’s entire childhood.

Thus, Xia Xinya felt that as long as Bai Yuerou was by her side, she didn’t need any other friends.

At some point, Xia Xinya began to feel a pang of jealousy when she saw Bai Yuerou happily chatting with others, and a surge of anger and fear when boys confessed to Bai Yuerou, fearing she might be taken away.

So, she secretly drove away anyone who tried to get close to Bai Yuerou.

Bai Yuerou seemed to notice the distance from her friends but remained cheerful with Xia Xinya, deliberately keeping a distance from everyone else.

The two maintained this unspoken understanding, becoming the most beautiful yet untouchable scenery at the back of Class Three of Science.

Xia Xinya opened her diary, resting her chin on her hand as she pondered for a while before starting to write.

September 16th, Sunny

Today was terrifying. I never expected that coward Li Tong would dare to ambush me. It’s all Tang Huaijin’s fault for blaming me; otherwise, with my intelligence, I would have seen through such a trap.

That disgusting guy with the steel pipe looked so ugly and fierce. If he had hit me, I would have been done for.

Fortunately, despite being annoying, Tang Huaijin is loyal and didn’t run away.

I barely saw it, but Tang Huaijin took them down in a few moves, just like, just like…

Xia Xinya seemed to struggle for words, but her limited vocabulary led her to write:

Just like in the cartoons.

Tang Huaijin seems quite capable. When he walked towards me with a cold expression, he actually looked a bit handsome…

Though she felt Tang Huaijin was handsome at that moment, her stubborn nature made her cross out the sentence she had just written, continuing instead.

I never imagined that seemingly gentle Tang Huaijin could be so violent, licking his lips after the fight. Men are truly disgusting.

Despite his annoying nature, he saved me, so I personally applied medicine for him.

Seeing his surprised expression made me feel a bit nauseated…

Xia Xinya was about to write more amusing things but couldn’t help but laugh as she recalled Tang Huaijin’s changing expressions.

Distracted, she realized her diary entry was mostly about Tang Huaijin, feeling a bit awkward. She stopped her imaginative writing and started on Bai Yuerou.

But after biting her pen for a while, Xia Xinya found herself at a loss for words. Before Tang Huaijin, her school life was monotonous, her only joy being conversations with Bai Yuerou, which she could recall vividly for her diary.

Today, however, her mind was occupied with events after school, forgetting her chats with Bai Yuerou.

After struggling for a while, Xia Xinya wrote:

From today, I will study hard and compete with Tang Huaijin in the monthly exam.

Annoying Tang Huaijin, knowing I like Yuerou, yet insists on being her desk mate, clearly opposing me.

With my intelligence.

Yuerou’s desk mate can only be me; I don’t want a stinky man sitting next to Bai Yuerou.

Despite saying this, I feel a vague sense of crisis lately. Maybe I’m too sensitive, but I feel Yuerou is somewhat indifferent towards me.

Though Tang Huaijin is annoying, his words made some sense.

A stubborn and untruthful personality often fails in shoujo manga…

What should I do?

With a serious expression, Xia Xinya closed her diary and carefully hid it away.

…

Tang Huaijin, driven home by the driver, was unaware of Xia Xinya’s diary musings about him. The lingering unpleasant taste made him sneeze several times uncontrollably.

Tang Yaoyao, sitting on the sofa, seemed unusually downcast today. Seeing Tang Huaijin return, she immediately showed a wronged expression.

“What’s up? Your pout could tie a donkey,” Tang Huaijin teased, sitting beside his sister.

“Jin…” Tang Yaoyao clung to Tang Huaijin’s arm, complaining, “Didn’t I take a day off yesterday? Plus, the author of the book I was in charge of didn’t perform well, so our supervisor criticized me in front of everyone, saying I have no skills and a big ego.”

“That old hag?” Tang Huaijin knew Zhu Meiyu, notorious for her poor character but respected for her seniority in the company, leaving the editorial team powerless.

He frowned, “Didn’t you take leave?”

Tang Yaoyao’s expression was aggrieved, “I asked Han Yaoyao to take leave for me, but she insisted I was disrespectful for not doing it myself.”

Technically, one should take leave personally, but given the circumstances, it’s harsh for a supervisor to be so unreasonable.

Tang Huaijin, indignant for his sister, said, “That fat hag is indeed overboard. Wait, I’ll go to the company and beat her up for you.”

Tang Yaoyao knew he was joking but couldn’t help laughing, playfully hitting his shoulder, “You never act properly.”

Tang Yaoyao’s mood improved significantly after Tang Huaijin’s teasing, resolutely saying, “Once I find a thousand-mile horse¹ and show results, it’ll be a slap in her face.”

A thousand-mile horse?

Tang Huaijin’s eyes lit up. His idea of writing a book was still vague, not having considered the publishing house aspect. Hearing his sister, he thought: I am the thousand-mile horse!

After pondering, Tang Huaijin told his sister, “Sis, wait for me to write a book. I’ll let you handle it.”

Tang Yaoyao assumed he was joking, smiling as she patted his head, “Alright, when Jin grows up to be a famous writer, he’ll support his sister.”

Tang Huaijin rolled his eyes, “Sis, you’re only a few years older than me. Why do you always act like Mom?”

“What! Even if I’m older by a day, I’m still your sister. Haven’t you heard ‘eldest sister like mother’? Jin isn’t cute at all!” Tang Yaoyao protested.

Isn’t it ‘eldest sister-in-law like mother’? Tang Huaijin thought helplessly, looking at his sister’s face, seriously saying, “I’m serious. I really want to write a book, planning to start next month.”

Tang Huaijin’s serious expression usually meant he was earnest. Tang Yaoyao was surprised, her eyes widening slightly. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Jin’s writing is good. Do you have an outline?”

“Uh… sort of,” Tang Huaijin replied vaguely, “By mid-next month, I should have a draft for you.”

Tang Yaoyao nodded, trusting Tang Huaijin completely, “Then I’ll wait for Jin’s masterpiece.”

“Don’t worry.” Tang Huaijin said confidently, rubbing his nose, looking at his sister, “So, today’s kiss?”

“…” Tang Yaoyao blushed at his words, stammering.

After a while, she shyly gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

Soft and fragrant, making Tang Huaijin squint with pleasure.

After his sister fled to the kitchen to cook, Tang Huaijin smiled smugly.

Though his sister occasionally kissed his cheek before, it was sibling affection. This felt entirely different, a subtlety not for outsiders to understand.

Footnote:

1. A Thousand-mile Horse(千里马):A metaphor from Chinese culture symbolizing a person of great talent and potential, awaiting the right opportunity to succeed.