My Sister Is Acting Strange - Chapter 38 - You Can't Fool Me

When Tang Huaijin got home after school, Tang Yaoyao was already in the kitchen, wearing an apron and cooking dinner. Her expression seemed perfectly normal, and when Huaijin approached her for a little affection, she smiled warmly and even nuzzled him back.

Huaijin felt a bit puzzled. Wasn’t last night’s incident supposed to have some kind of impact on her? She looked as if nothing had happened at all.

After dinner, Huaijin clung to his sister, asking for a kiss. Yaoyao didn’t refuse; she smiled softly and planted a light peck on his cheek. However, during the brief moment, her eyes seemed to deliberately avoid his.

Even though she kissed him and didn’t show any awkwardness outwardly, Huaijin couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was a vague sense of unease in his heart.

It felt like her kiss was more of a routine gesture, a way of rewarding her younger brother for a day of studying, rather than carrying any deeper, ambiguous emotions. It was more like the affectionate bond between siblings than anything else.

Several times, Huaijin opened his mouth, wanting to bring up last night’s events, but each time, Yaoyao seemed to sense his intentions and skillfully changed the subject.

After a few attempts, Huaijin gave up. It was clear that Yaoyao was doing her best to avoid discussing what had happened, and he didn’t want to push her, fearing it might upset her.

After saying goodnight to his sister, Huaijin returned to his room and made a call to Doctor Bai.

“Hello? How’s it going?” Doctor Bai’s voice came through the receiver, carrying a faint trace of amusement.

Even though he knew she meant no harm, Huaijin couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “It’s fine, I guess. But last night, someone saw me and my sister together, and her reaction today seemed… off.”

“Oh?” Doctor Bai’s interest was piqued. “What do you mean by ‘off’?”

“I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but it feels like my sister is distancing herself from me. It’s like… we’re more like siblings now,” Huaijin struggled to articulate the feeling.

“Well, aren’t you two siblings to begin with?” Doctor Bai chuckled lightly. Before Huaijin could explode in frustration, she continued, “But I trust your instincts. You know your sister better than anyone. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

Doctor Bai had a knack for handling Huaijin’s temper, leaving him both annoyed and unable to vent his frustration. He could only grit his teeth and ask, “What do you mean?”

“It’s perfectly normal. Girls often feel conflicted when it comes to relationships. Your sibling bond is already unique, and your sister, being someone with a sensitive nature, likely feels a sense of guilt about her feelings for you. It’s only natural for her to want to maintain some distance.”

“But at the same time, she’s insecure. She’s invested so much emotionally that she’s terrified of losing you. That’s why she’s trying to preserve this ambiguous relationship by treating you with sibling-like affection.”

“While it might not seem like a big deal, your sister’s situation is quite unique. If she stays under this kind of mental pressure for too long, there’s a chance she could relapse and experience, well, sleepwalking episodes again.”

The lengthy explanation left Huaijin feeling dazed. He couldn’t even begin to analyze it all, but the mention of “sleepwalking” made his eyes sharpen instantly. “So, what should I do?”

“It’s simple. Spend more time with her. Show her that you’re not afraid of what others think. Give her a sense of security. Once she feels safe, she’ll gradually stop keeping her distance,” Doctor Bai replied with a light laugh.

“And if she doesn’t accept that?”

“Then you’d better prepare to stay single for the rest of your life. Or, you could try the first method I suggested,” Doctor Bai said calmly.

“…Thanks. I understand now,” Huaijin said softly after a moment of silence.

“Good. If you decide to go with the first method, let me know so I can help you plan everything thoroughly,” Doctor Bai added, her tone turning serious and professional.

After hanging up, Huaijin sat in silence, lost in thought. He let out a long sigh.

The first method…?

…

The Friday morning Route 9 bus was once again packed to the brim. As usual, Tang Huaijin maneuvered his way through the crowd to carve out a spot for Lin Ruoxi, shielding her like a small, helpless animal he had just rescued. Not that he wanted to, but watching her get jostled around by the aunts like a fragile little thing tugged at his sense of responsibility.

Avoiding the slightly smug look in Lin Ruoxi’s eyes, he muttered inwardly, “Is this girl playing me? She sure didn’t look this delicate when she tore into my little fangirls like a lioness.”

With that thought, he frowned and asked, “If I remember correctly, your stop is several stations back, right? What, no seats available back then?”

Lin Ruoxi froze for a moment, her small hands instinctively fiddling with the zipper of her jacket. “N-no… there weren’t any…” she stammered.

Tang Huaijin’s eye twitched. Liar. He knew her tell-whenever Lin Ruoxi lied, her hands would unconsciously fidget with something.

This girl’s quite the actress, he thought, letting out a faint scoff. “So you’ve learned to lie now, huh? Fine. Next time, you can fend for yourself in this crowd.”

Then, as if to drive the point home, he added, “I thought you were a little rabbit I’d set free, but now it turns out there’s a fox hiding under that rabbit’s fur.”

“And who are you calling a fox?” Lin Ruoxi, initially flustered at being caught, quickly furrowed her brows in irritation. “I told you there weren’t any seats. At most, there were a few scattered ones, but I didn’t want to sit while you stood.”

Tang Huaijin paused, his expression briefly blank before he responded, exasperated, “You could’ve just sat down. I’m always standing anyway.”

“…” Lin Ruoxi fell silent for a moment, then blinked up at him with eyes that shimmered faintly, as if brimming with unshed tears. In a soft voice, she said, “But… I like the feeling of being protected in your arms.”

Her cheeks flushed faintly as she finished speaking. She bit her lower lip lightly, her small hand tugging gently at the hem of Tang Huaijin’s sweater, inching closer to him.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Tang Huaijin asked, alarmed, as she leaned closer and closer until she finally rested against his chest. One hand gripping the overhead handlebar, he used the other to lightly push at her shoulder.

But Lin Ruoxi buried her face into his chest, her soft cheek pressing against him. Her slender arms wrapped tightly around his back, locking him in place.

She clung to him so tightly that Tang Huaijin couldn’t pry her off. With the crowd pressing in from behind, there was no room to back away. Frustrated, he growled, “What’s wrong with you, Lin Ruoxi? Don’t you have any shame?”

Lin Ruoxi didn’t answer. Her face remained nestled against his chest, her ear pressed close enough to hear the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat. His knit cardigan was open, and beneath it, he wore only a thin shirt, making the sound all the more distinct.

After struggling for a while and realizing he couldn’t shake her off, Tang Huaijin gave up.

The sensation of both firmness and softness where his body touched hers, combined with the warm, slightly damp breaths against his chest, left Tang Huaijin questioning his very existence.

Though his face carried an expression of disdain, when the bus hit a bumpy stretch of road, his instincts betrayed him. He lowered his hand to shield the girl in his arms.

Everyone knows that the most painful moment for a “simp” isn’t the act of simping itself, but the lack of reciprocation afterward. That’s why the most skilled “green teas¹“-those who know how to toy with emotions-will occasionally throw their admirers a bone, a small taste of sweetness.

For those who have long craved such attention, this kind of response is like an addictive drug. It draws them in, making them chase after it like moths to a flame.

Tang Huaijin, however, was unaware that his subconscious gesture had already given Lin Ruoxi the affirmation she sought.

Feeling a hand briefly brush against her shoulder before pulling away, her eyes lit up. A faint smile played on her lips as she nuzzled her cheek against his chest. Her delicate hands, which had been wrapped around him, now slipped under his shirt, directly touching his skin. Her fingers lightly traced circles on his lower back. Her cheeks flushed, her gaze softened with a hint of infatuation, and she murmured, “You used to hold me like this on the bus before.”

Her boldness caught him off guard. The gentle, boneless touch of her hands against his back sent a shiver down his spine, raising goosebumps. He couldn’t believe that the same girl who used to blush just from a kiss was now capable of such an enticing move.

Listening to the sweetness laced in her voice, Tang Huaijin’s composure faltered. His lips felt dry, but he forced himself to reply coldly, “That won’t happen again.”

Ruoxi didn’t respond. Her hands continued their soft movements, and she buried her face deeper into his chest.

The faint ticklish sensation from her soft touch against his back made him uneasy. He took a few deep breaths, trying to suppress the turmoil rising within him.

After a while, the girl’s silent shoulders began to tremble. The fabric of his shirt near his chest grew damp, the moisture seeping through and pressing against his skin.

Tang Huaijin’s expression turned complicated. His grip on the bus railing tightened and loosened repeatedly, as if he were wrestling with himself. In the end, he kept his hands where they were, forcing himself to look out the window instead.

The bus soon arrived at the Rose Elite High School stop. Ruoxi released him without hesitation, though the fleeting sorrow in her reddened eyes didn’t escape him.

They stepped off the bus together. Ruoxi walked ahead but suddenly turned back. Her ponytail swished in front of Tang Huaijin’s face as she fixed him with a determined gaze. “Back when we were together, you were always the one making the first move. Now, it’s my turn. I’ll win you back, and you’ll tell me why-why you ended things.”

Tang Huaijin stared at the girl in front of him, her ponytail swaying with her movements. He struggled to find his words. “Why bother? We’ve already broken up, Lin Ruoxi.”

“You still like me,” she said, her lips curving into a confident, almost playful smile.

His heart skipped a beat, but he retorted sharply, “Aren’t you a little too full of yourself?”

Her smile didn’t waver in the face of his biting words. Instead, she leaned in close, her breath brushing against his ear. His eyes widened in surprise as she whispered, “Your heartbeat just sped up. You can’t lie to yourself, and you definitely can’t lie to me.”

With that, she pulled back, her face glowing with a radiant smile. Then, without another word, she turned and jogged into the school.

Her smile was dazzling, like a blooming flower, full of charm and grace. The boys passing by couldn’t help but stop and stare, utterly captivated.

Footnote:

1. Green Tea(绿茶): The term “green tea” (lǜchá 绿茶) is a Chinese internet slang referring to women who feign innocence while manipulatively exploiting romantic admirers. The metaphor derives from the beverage’s fresh appearance masking its bitter taste, symbolizing deceptive sweetness in interpersonal dynamics.