My Sister Is Acting Strange

Tang Huaijin hurried back to the classroom, his expression a mix of embarrassment and bewilderment. Who knew what kind of ordeal he had just been through?

A private lesson from the beautiful teacher…?

The worst part was that, thanks to his sister, Tang Huaijin had always had a soft spot for mature women. Most of the “study materials” on his hard drive were of the older-sister type.

And many of the tags? Uniforms. Teachers.

He remembered how, after his sister graduated, she had considered becoming a teacher. But in the end, she chose editing because of the better pay and benefits.

Now, having his hand toyed with by a cold and aloof female teacher had left his heart pounding like a drum.

…

When he got back to the classroom, Xia Xinya and Bai Yuerou were still there, apparently waiting for him.

Xinya looked visibly annoyed. The moment she saw him, she complained, “What took you so long?”

Tang Huaijin felt a bit awkward at the mention of this. He replied irritably, “Your mom made me fill out a ton of paperwork for some kind of ‘Bravery in Action’ prize.”

Xinya didn’t seem particularly surprised. She just let out a casual “Oh,” clearly already aware of the situation. Then she added, “My mom asked me to invite you over for dinner at our place this Saturday night. She wants to thank you.”

Tang Huaijin initially wanted to refuse, but then he thought about the 50,000 yuan. After a brief pause, he nodded. “Alright, I’ll be there.”

After all, it was just a meal. Since the other party was being so sincere in expressing their gratitude, refusing would seem a bit ungracious.

Xinya nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Bai Yuerou with a hopeful look. “Rou, why don’t you come too?”

Yuerou had been smiling softly as she watched the two of them talk. At Xinya’s invitation, she hesitated for a moment before saying, “Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate? Aunt Xia only invited Tang Huaijin.”

“Why would it be inappropriate? You’ve been to my house plenty of times before,” Xinya said with a playful grin, grabbing Yuerou’s hand and acting coy.

“Alright then…” Yuerou finally nodded after sneaking a quick glance at Tang Huaijin.

The group left the school together. After waving goodbye to them, Yuerou turned and got into a black Maybach parked by the roadside. A female bodyguard-slash-driver stepped out of the car to open the door for her.

Tang Huaijin suddenly understood. He hadn’t paid much attention before, but it turned out Bai Yuerou was also a young lady from a wealthy family. It made sense-anyone who could keep up with Xinya’s shopping sprees and extravagant lifestyle couldn’t possibly come from a modest background.

As Tang Huaijin started walking toward the bus stop, Xinya frowned slightly and called out to him, “Hey, come on. I’ll have someone give you a ride home.”

Tang Huaijin spun around quickly, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly impose.”

Despite his words, his feet moved swiftly. In no time, he was at the car, opening the door and sliding in as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Why take the bus when you could ride in a Bentley? He wasn’t stupid. Tang Huaijin had never been one to turn down a chance to enjoy life.

Xinya rolled her eyes at him but said nothing. She climbed into the car as well, gave the driver a quick instruction, and then pulled out her phone to scroll through.

The driver was unfamiliar to Tang Huaijin, but she was clearly less composed than Aunt Song. Tang Huaijin caught her glancing at him several times through the rearview mirror, her curiosity evident.

Seeing that Xia Xinya had no interest in chatting, Tang Huaijin naturally didn’t bother to strike up a conversation. Instead, he glanced at the text message on his phone confirming the deposit of fifty thousand yuan and began thinking about how to explain this to his sister later.

When the Bentley came to a smooth stop, Tang Huaijin said a quick goodbye to the sullen Xia Xinya and headed home.

Tang Yaoyao was sitting on the couch, working on her laptop. She looked a bit frustrated. These days, finding a “thousand-mile horse” was no easy task. In this era of cultural fusion, everyone’s tastes seemed to differ. What Tang Yaoyao thought was well-written might not appeal to readers, while something she dismissed could end up being wildly popular, with readers turning around to criticize her for lacking vision.

But when she saw Huaijin walk through the door, her face lit up with a joyful smile. In a gentle voice, she said, “Jin, you’ve worked hard.”

Huaijin responded with a simple “Mm,” changed into his slippers, and sat down beside his sister. He gave her a light hug and asked, “Sis, are you busy right now?”

“Not busy at all. Why?” Yaoyao shifted slightly, settling into a more comfortable position in Huaijin’s arms, and lazily rubbed her eyes.

“Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you’d like to go out for dinner. My novel’s finished, and a big fan tipped me quite a bit. I got a two-thousand-yuan cut from it. We could grab some food and maybe do a little shopping.” On the way home, Huaijin had thought this through. He decided not to tell his sister the actual amount. Knowing her cautious nature, she’d likely start asking questions, which would be a hassle to explain.

“Really? That’s amazing, Jin!” Yaoyao’s face lit up with excitement. “Wait for me, then. I’ll put on some makeup.”

“Go ahead.” Seeing the genuine happiness on his sister’s face, Huaijin couldn’t help but feel cheerful himself.

Before long, Yaoyao had finished her makeup and changed into a fresh outfit. She looked eager, as if she couldn’t wait to head out. The past couple of days had clearly been stressful for her at work.

Huaijin watched with a grin as his sister looped her arm through his and tugged him toward the door. But his feet stayed firmly planted on the ground.

Yaoyao turned to him with a puzzled look, only to see his mischievous smile. He tapped his cheek with a finger, and she immediately understood what he was hinting at.

Rolling her eyes at him with mock annoyance, her cheeks flushed slightly. She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

Only then did Huaijin nod in satisfaction and lead his sister out the door.

Yaoyao gave his arm a playful pinch and muttered, “You little rascal…”

…

The siblings hailed a cab and headed to a barbecue joint. The place was run by an old friend of their father’s.

Their dad had been a sociable man with many friends. Back when he was alive, he often came to this restaurant to catch up with them. Sometimes, he’d bring the siblings along to join in the fun.

Yaoyao, five years older than Huaijin, had been a stunning beauty even as a child, while Huaijin himself had grown up to be quite handsome. Together, they were like a picture-perfect pair, drawing envious looks from everyone around.

After their parents passed away, Yaoyao rarely brought Huaijin here anymore. She worried it might stir up memories of their parents and make him dwell on their absence.

The two walked in and greeted the boss’s wife, who was busy serving dishes to customers. She froze for a moment upon seeing them, then broke into a smile and called out toward the kitchen, “Hey, the Tang siblings are here!”

“What did you say?” A burly man with a thick beard burst out of the kitchen, pushing aside the curtain. When he saw the siblings, his face lit up with a hearty grin. Laughing loudly, he said, “Well, well, what brings you two little ones here? Come on, grab a seat.”

Then, turning to his wife, he instructed, “Hurry up and pour some tea for these kids! What are you waiting for?”

The boss’s wife, a robust woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, shot him a glare and retorted, “Do I need you to tell me? Can’t you see I’m already pouring it?”

Tang Huaijin quickly waved his hands and said, “Uncle Yang, no need to be so formal, really. We’re just here for a meal. Don’t trouble Auntie with all this.”

Uncle Yang let out a couple of hearty laughs and said, “Alright, alright. You two sit tight for a bit. Let me finish up in the kitchen, and I’ll come over to chat.”

Huaijin nodded with a smile and led his sister to a table. The boss’s wife soon brought over a few small dishes and handed Huaijin a menu, her face beaming. “Huaijin, take a look and see what you’d like. Let your Uncle Yang grill it for you.”

After thanking her with a smile, Huaijin ordered some of his sister’s favorite dishes. After a moment’s hesitation, he added a skewer of air-dried meat to the list. Once he finished, he handed the menu back to the boss’s wife and requested a few bottles of beer. As their father used to say, having barbecue without beer was like not having it at all.

Before long, the skewers were served. Since his sister could handle spicy food, Huaijin had ordered everything with a kick. However, he himself wasn’t great with spice, so he alternated between savoring the fragrant lamb skewers and gulping down beer to cool his burning tongue.

Uncle Yang’s grilling skills were top-notch, and the siblings couldn’t stop praising the food. No wonder their father had always been a fan of this place.

When the restaurant quieted down with fewer customers, Uncle Yang handed the remaining work to his apprentice and came out of the kitchen to sit by the siblings. Glancing at the two as they enjoyed their meal, he chuckled warmly and said, “Not bad. Huaijin, you’ve grown taller, and Yaoyao, you’ve turned into a real beauty.”

Then, with a hint of reproach, he added, “Didn’t I tell you at your dad’s funeral to come by often? I’d cook for you anytime.”

Back when their parents passed away, Huaijin had just graduated, and his sister was still a sophomore in high school. If it weren’t for their parents’ friends stepping in to help with the arrangements, things would’ve been much harder. Many of these friends had also offered financial support, but Yaoyao had politely declined, saying that now that their parents were gone, it was her responsibility as the elder sister to take care of her younger brother.

Huaijin smiled and said, “It’s just that school’s been so busy. But I promise, I’ll come by more often when I have time.”

“Oh, right, right. You’ve always been a bright kid. Your dad used to brag about you all the time when he came here,” Uncle Yang said with a hearty laugh. He then pointed toward a boy of about fourteen or fifteen sitting at the bar, engrossed in his phone. “Unlike that rascal of mine-he’s always glued to that thing.”

“Ah, boys will be boys. Once he gets to high school, he’ll settle down,” Huaijin replied with a grin.

Uncle Yang waved dismissively and laughed. “Enough about him. How have you two been lately? Any troubles or difficulties in life?”

“Don’t worry, Uncle Yang. Everything’s fine. My sister takes great care of me,” Tang Huaijin said, glancing at his sister, Tang Yaoyao, who had been quietly smiling at their conversation. His own smile softened with warmth.

“That’s good to hear. Yaoyao is a wonderful sister, and you’re such a thoughtful kid,” Uncle Yang said, his gaze falling on the untouched plate of air-dried meat on the table. With a sigh, he added, “This was Old Tang’s favorite snack with his drinks, wasn’t it? Ah, Old Tang was such a character. What a shame. I still can’t believe he just up and left, leaving behind two kids like this.”

Noticing the Tang siblings’ expressions dimming, the boss’s wife gave Uncle Yang a sharp pinch and scolded, “The siblings came here to eat, not to listen to your ramblings. Stop acting like an old gossip.”

Uncle Yang finally realized his mistake. He smacked his forehead in frustration, poured himself a glass of liquor, and then poured one for Tang Huaijin as well. “That’s on me. Let’s not dwell on it. Come on, let’s have a drink together.”

Seeing Tang Yaoyao holding her glass expectantly and glancing at him with wide eyes, Uncle Yang chuckled when Tang Huaijin didn’t object. He poured her a glass as well. “Alright, alright. Let’s give Yaoyao a drink too.”

After they each had a glass, the boss’s wife couldn’t help but admire Tang Yaoyao, whose cheeks had turned a delicate shade of pink from the alcohol, making her look even more radiant. “Yaoyao, you’re so stunning, like someone who just stepped out of a painting.”

Tang Yaoyao, always shy, blushed even more and murmured a soft thank you.

Uncle Yang nodded in agreement. “Who would’ve thought? Old Tang wasn’t much to look at, but his kids turned out to be absolute lookers.”

Tang Huaijin, hearing his sister being praised, felt happier than if the compliments had been directed at him. He raised his glass to Uncle Yang for another toast.

The boss’s wife, who had just been scolding Uncle Yang for his chatter, now leaned in with a smile. “Yaoyao, you’re 22 this year, right? Are you seeing anyone?”

“No…” Tang Yaoyao hesitated, sneaking a quick glance at Tang Huaijin beside her, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Well, you’re not getting any younger. Have you thought about finding someone?” The boss’s wife seemed genuinely excited, her matchmaking instincts kicking in. “Let me tell you, with your looks, Yaoyao, you could definitely find someone amazing.”

Tang Yaoyao quickly waved her hands, clearly flustered, as she nervously fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, unsure of how to respond.

Uncle Yang, noticing the smile fading from Tang Huaijin’s face, discreetly tugged at his wife’s sleeve to stop her. He smiled and said, “Alright, you two enjoy your meal. Looks like we’ve got more customers. I’ll go handle it. If you need anything, just let my wife know.”

Tang Huaijin nodded with a polite smile and turned back to his sister. They continued eating, but when he saw her holding her little glass again, he poured her another drink, reminding her, “Don’t overdo it, okay? We still have plans to go shopping later.”

Yaoyao squinted at him with a playful smile. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t miss shopping for the world.”

Of course. The idea of her skipping a shopping trip was laughable. Tang Huaijin chuckled to himself, shaking his head in resignation.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the boss’s wife followed Uncle Yang, grumbling, “What’s your problem? What’s wrong with me trying to set Yaoyao up with someone?”

Uncle Yang frowned and scolded, “What are you thinking? Did you even consider the bigger picture? If you find someone for Yaoyao, what about Huaijin? The Tang Family only has him left. Do you want him to end up all alone?”

Though she saw his point, the boss’s wife still seemed a bit dissatisfied. “Then what? Are you saying Yaoyao shouldn’t get married, or Huaijin shouldn’t find a wife?”

Uncle Yang shook his head with a sigh. “Just leave it alone. Their family matters are for the siblings to figure out themselves.”