My Sister Is Acting Strange - Chapter 4 - Departure

After leaving the café, Tang Huaijin returned home.

Tang Yaoyao was sitting on the couch, playing with her phone. She immediately noticed Huaijin’s newly tied-up hair, blinked, and asked, “Why did you tie your hair up?”

“It’s getting in my eyes. Let’s go get it cut sometime,” Huaijin said, touching the little bun at the back of his head.

His hair had indeed grown a bit long, and he hadn’t been in the mood to deal with it before.

Yaoyao eyed the hair tie suspiciously for a moment, then casually asked, “Where did you get this hair tie?”

“Borrowed it from a friend,” Huaijin replied, not telling the truth. Otherwise, his sister would start asking who he went to the café with.

Usually, only girls carry hair ties around.

“Oh,” Yaoyao replied, her tone slightly sour. She reached over, removed the hair tie from his head, and replaced it with one from her own wrist. “This one’s too ugly. Use mine.”

With that, she tossed the replaced hair tie into the trash.

How is it ugly… Yours is pink…

Huaijin glanced at the black hair tie in the trash.

Though he didn’t show any signs of it, at dinner, Yaoyao still sensed something was off. She paused her eating and softly asked, “Did something happen today?”

Huaijin lowered his eyes, his tone calm. “Nothing.”

“Really now, then look me in the eye and say that,” Yaoyao complained, half amused and half annoyed. “Don’t I know you well?”

Oops, forgot about that.

Huaijin smiled wryly at his sister. “Sis, there’s an exchange student program at school. The top three in the monthly exam can transfer to Rose Elite High School with full tuition covered.”

“Rose Elite High School? It’s not far from home,” Yaoyao recalled. “So, are you going?”

“Yeah, I want a change of environment,” Huaijin nodded.

“Then go for it. I support you,” Yaoyao smiled.

“Okay.”

Yaoyao rarely interfered with Huaijin’s decisions. After their parents left, most of the important choices at home were made by Huaijin. Besides, there was no need to worry about him academically.

After pondering for a moment, Yaoyao asked, “Are you still thinking about Lin Ruoxi?”

“No,” Huaijin replied expressionlessly.

Yaoyao’s eyes shifted as she picked up her phone and shook it, trying to comfort him. “I told you, I’ll introduce you to someone better. I have connections, you know.”

Huaijin suddenly looked at Yaoyao, his tone very calm. “Are you really planning to introduce someone to me?”

Yaoyao froze, her right hand resting on her left, her smile a bit forced. “Of course, why would I lie to you?”

“Oh.” Huaijin stared at Yaoyao for a moment, nodded, and said nothing more.

The dining room fell silent, neither spoke, only the TV played an unattended program.

“I’m full,” Huaijin said, standing up.

“Oh, okay, I’ll clean up,” Yaoyao seemed startled, quickly standing up as well.

Usually, one cooked while the other washed dishes, but today Huaijin didn’t refuse and went straight to his room.

…

After letting the wind from outside cool him down for a while, Huaijin calmed down. He realized he had been a bit impatient today. After all, the incident with Lin Ruoxi had stirred emotions within him; hearts are made of flesh, after all.

Knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in, it’s not locked.”

Wearing silk pajamas, Yaoyao entered with a plate of cut fruit, her face carrying a slightly apologetic smile, her voice soft. “Jin, I brought you some fruit.”

Huaijin glanced at the small patch of white skin visible at Yaoyao’s neckline.

Noticing his gaze, Yaoyao’s eyes showed a hint of triumph. She pretended to adjust her clothes, pulling her pajamas down a bit, making the neckline fall lower, giving Huaijin quite the view.

Despite the teasing, her cuteness made Huaijin want to laugh.

Turning to look out the window, he tried to hide his amused expression from his sister, speaking in a calm tone. “Alright, just leave it there.”

Yaoyao set down the fruit and took small steps to Huaijin’s side, tugging at his shirt, whining, “Jin~”

Her soft, sweet voice sent shivers down Huaijin’s spine, making him feel weak.

Huaijin had always been defenseless against his sister.

Sensing his stiffness, Yaoyao’s eyes lit up, her soft body leaning in, whispering gently in his ear, “Jin~”

Her warm breath tickled his ear, a sweet scent seemed to seep into his heart.

Huaijin couldn’t take it anymore; his head felt like it was about to explode.

Master, it’s not that I’m not firm, it’s just that this temptress is too much.

He turned around, clearing his throat, accidentally brushing against Yaoyao, and asked gruffly, “What do you want?”

“I was wrong,” Yaoyao’s face turned a bit red from the contact, yet she still pretended to be oblivious, obediently admitting her mistake.

“What was wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have mentioned Lin Ruoxi in front of you,” Yaoyao glanced up at Huaijin, then quickly looked down.

Yeah, right, you probably think you didn’t put enough salt in the wound.

He sighed, seemingly lamenting, “When will you be honest, sis?”

“I’ve always been honest,” knowing her brother wasn’t angry anymore, Yaoyao giggled, her eyebrows curved, pulling Huaijin’s arm, whining, “Come watch TV with me.”

Huaijin shook his head helplessly, glancing up one more time.

Feeling his heated gaze, Yaoyao fastened her buttons, her cheeks flushed. “Shameless.”

Huaijin rolled his eyes.

Always the same.

…

In the following days at school, Lin Ruoxi acted as usual, laughing and chatting with friends, which relieved Huaijin. Deep down, he still felt guilty towards Ruoxi.

The results of the monthly exam came out quickly, posted on the bulletin board in the hallway. As expected, Huaijin ranked first in the entire grade. Lin Ruoxi did much better than before, placing tenth, which was an outstanding performance for her.

Staring at the results for a while, Huaijin smiled, feeling a mix of emotions.

He packed his bag and left the classroom.

Following the class teacher to the academic affairs office, he collected his admission letter to Rose Elite High School. He could report there on Monday, and the school would handle the transfer of his academic records over the weekend.

Bidding farewell to the class teacher, who looked at him with a complicated expression, Huaijin left the school building.

There weren’t many people worth remembering at the school. After the incident, Huaijin became the enemy of the girls, and the boys feared being associated with him, avoiding him like the plague.

After saying goodbye to the few friends he still had contact with, Huaijin headed straight for the sports field.

It was Friday after school, and couples walked hand in hand on the field. From Monday to Thursday, teachers patrolled, but on Fridays, these teenage couples could sneak around the field.

Crossing the field, Huaijin sat on a stone bench in a small park nearby, silently staying there for a while.

There were few people around, and those who passed by did so quickly. The couples who came here were usually too self-conscious to disturb him.

Huaijin still remembered when they first got together, Lin Ruoxi’s blushing face, her misty eyes, and the words filled with joy.

“You better stay loyal to just me.”

Lin Ruoxi was the perfect girlfriend, affectionate and caring, never unreasonable.

Huaijin really liked her and even brought her home to meet his sister.

It was the first time he had brought someone home.

And then everything changed.

Huaijin sighed, stood up, and left.

After he left, a figure with a ponytail flashed through the woods.