My Sister Is Acting Strange - Chapter 61 - The Unexpected Turn

Tang Huaijin stood silently for a moment before entering the club. His emotions were a tangled mess. Telling Lin Ruoxi that he had someone he liked was a decision he made after much thought. On one hand, he couldn’t let go of his sister’s situation, and on the other, Lin Ruoxi’s persistent attachment unnerved him. He feared that his emotions might overpower his rationality.

He had hoped that by telling Lin Ruoxi, she would give up. He had imagined many possible reactions from her, but the one he got was completely unexpected, leaving him feeling uneasy. That smile of hers-so gentle, yet it inexplicably filled him with dread.

As he entered, Lin Ruoxi sat gracefully on the sofa, offering him a slight smile. Bai Yuerou was still engrossed in her writing, the Xuan paper nearly filled with words, though what she was writing remained a mystery. Meanwhile, Xia Xinya had yet to forgive Tang Huaijin. Upon seeing him, she pouted and turned her head away, her expression clearly saying: “Come and coax me.”

Tang Huaijin understood Xia Xinya’s thoughts; she was simply afraid that Lin Ruoxi would take him away, much like a child fearing their toy would be snatched. However, he wasn’t in the mood to comfort her and sat silently on the sofa beside her.

Though Xia Xinya turned her head, she kept glancing over with the corner of her eye. Seeing Tang Huaijin ignore her only made her feel more aggrieved. With Yuerou busy writing, she had no one to complain to, so she curled up on the sofa, casting a fierce glare at Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi, unfazed by the glare, smiled gently and said, “Xinya, I was too impulsive earlier. I apologize.”

Xia Xinya was taken aback, looking at Lin Ruoxi with suspicion. “You’re apologizing to me?”

“Yes, I was wrong earlier. You two are friends, and I overstepped. Let’s make up, shall we?” Lin Ruoxi offered with a warm smile.

Who wants to make up with you… Xia Xinya thought, but noticing Tang Huaijin’s gaze, she reluctantly said, “Fine, I won’t hold it against you.”

“And about what happened at the restaurant, I shouldn’t have said those things,” Lin Ruoxi continued, seemingly unbothered by Xia Xinya’s attitude. “Even if Jin and I are together, I won’t keep him away from you. You can still be friends.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Xia Xinya muttered, casting a doubtful glance at her. “Besides, with you around, you’d probably stick to Tang Huaijin all the time.”

Lin Ruoxi replied sincerely, “I won’t. I know how important friends are to you. So when Jin and I reconcile, I’ll make sure he spends time with you. You won’t lose this friend, so please don’t stand in my way.”

After speaking, Lin Ruoxi laughed again, her words carrying a hint of mystery, “If you still think that’s not okay, I really have to wonder if you truly only see Jin as a friend.”

Xia Xinya was about to refuse, but her words got stuck in her throat. She glanced at Tang Huaijin and stammered, “Of course he’s a friend. Do you think everyone treasures him like you do?”

“Well, I can’t help it. I’m just head over heels for Jin,” Lin Ruoxi laughed even more joyfully. “So, since that’s the case, don’t stop me, alright? Good Xinya.”

Xia Xinya felt goosebumps from being called “good Xinya,” yet couldn’t find a reason to oppose her. She bit her lip and said, “Alright then…”

“Yay!” Lin Ruoxi cheered, extending her hand towards Xia Xinya with a smile, “Shall we shake on it?”

Xia Xinya didn’t really want to shake hands, but not doing so would make it seem like she cared too much, as if she had been defeated by Lin Ruoxi. She glanced at Tang Huaijin, who remained expressionless, forced a smile, and lightly shook Lin Ruoxi’s hand before quickly withdrawing it.

Both girls wore smiles, having reconciled with a handshake. The scene appeared harmonious, yet Tang Huaijin, who had been observing the entire exchange, felt his eyelids twitch, with only one thought in mind:

Xinya, I actually know a good neurologist…

You’re Mrs. Xia’s daughter, how could you be so easily swayed? Aren’t you usually quite adept at being stubborn?

Tang Huaijin silently cursed the situation, forcing a smile and scoffing twice. He glanced at his phone and said, “It’s getting late; we should head home.”

He then looked at Bai Yuerou, who was still engrossed in her writing, and called out, “Yuerou, shall we go?”

Bai Yuerou was startled, almost pressing the writing brush too hard against the paper. Thankfully, she managed to stop in time, patting her chest in relief. She put down the brush and said to the group, “You all go ahead; I’ll tidy up the room myself.”

Tang Huaijin and the others didn’t think much of it, reminding her to head home early before leaving.

Once they were gone, Bai Yuerou carefully tidied up the room, folding the Xuan paper filled with names and placing it in her bag before leaving the school.

She got into her family’s Maybach and returned home.

Upon entering, Bai Yuerou changed into slippers and walked into the living room, noticing her mother sitting alone on the sofa. Curious, she asked, “Mom, hasn’t Dad come back yet?”

Her mother, Xu Jingwen, was nearing fifty but still had a youthful mindset. She replied with a hint of jealousy, “Always thinking about your dad. Isn’t your mom enough?”

“Oh, Mom, you’re the best,” Bai Yuerou said, defeated by her mother’s antics, looking at her with a mix of amusement and helplessness.

Xu Jingwen finally let out a soft hum, glanced at the clock on the wall, and said, “Your dad went to a meeting; he should be back soon. Why, is there something you need?”

“Oh, nothing much. I just need to use the study,” Bai Yuerou informed her mother before dashing off to the study with her bag.

Xu Jingwen watched her daughter quickly head to the study, puzzled but not overthinking it, shaking her head with a wry smile.

Bai Yuerou entered the study, carefully took out the Xuan paper from her backpack, spread it on the desk, and placed a new sheet beside it. She prepared the ink and began to practice her calligraphy.

After a long session, when the final stroke was completed, Bai Yuerou looked at the three large characters spelling out Tang Huaijin’s name on the paper and smiled with satisfaction.

“That ‘Tang’ is not bad, but the ‘Jin’ is just average,” came a sudden voice from behind, startling Bai Yuerou. She turned around instinctively and exclaimed in embarrassment, “Dad?!”

Bai Renli stood behind her, seemingly oblivious to her outburst, continuing his earnest critique, “The brushwork isn’t straight enough, which means your strokes aren’t steady. I told you to practice more, didn’t I?”

“Dad! What are you doing here?” Bai Yuerou was mortified, especially when she saw Xu Jingwen peeking from behind her father, leaving her dumbfounded. “And Mom?!”

Hearing her daughter’s shout, Bai Renli seemed to finally realize the situation. Seeing her furious expression, he hesitated and said, “The study door was open… Your mom dragged me in.”

At this, Bai Yuerou glanced at the door, realizing she had been too hasty earlier to notice whether it was closed. Narrowing her eyes at her mother, she asked menacingly, “Mom?”

“Well…” Xu Jingwen stammered, unsure of what to say, and could only glare at Bai Renli with a threatening look.

Bai Renli’s face turned a bit sour as he scratched his head and changed the subject, “Rou, was that ‘Heaven rewards the diligent’ piece written by this Tang Huaijin guy?”

As expected, the mention of this topic made Bai Yuerou’s anger quickly dissipate. She sheepishly hid the Xuan paper behind her and murmured, “Yes…”

Bai Renli asked with a complex expression, “No need to hide it, I can see it. The paper is full of his name. Do you like him?”

Bai Yuerou’s cheeks flushed red, her hands fidgeting as she mumbled, “Not really…”

“What are you pestering her for?” Xu Jingwen, seeing her daughter’s embarrassment, straightened her back and promptly kicked Bai Renli out of the study, locking the door behind him.

Having done all this in one swift motion, Xu Jingwen clapped her hands and sat with her daughter on the sofa, speaking gently, “Rou, tell Mom, what do you think of this boy?”

Naturally, children find it easier to communicate with their mothers. Hearing her mother’s words, Bai Yuerou bit her lip and said uncertainly, “I don’t know, I guess I have a crush on him…”

“Oh my, my Rou is growing up, experiencing her first love,” Xu Jingwen teased her daughter with an exaggerated expression, then asked softly, “So, Rou, why do you like him?”

“He’s good-looking, his handwriting is beautiful, and he writes books too.” Thinking of this, Bai Yuerou’s eyes lit up as she said, “His writing is excellent. When it’s published, I’ll buy it for you to see.”

“That impressive, huh?” Xu Jingwen said with a smile, “Your dad and I have always told you, we won’t stop you from dating. Bring him home sometime, and let Mom have a look at the boy who’s got my daughter so smitten.”

“Mom, what are you saying?” Bai Yuerou was thoroughly embarrassed, her face burning as she muttered, “It’s not like we’re dating. I told you, it’s just a crush.”

“Alright, alright,” Xu Jingwen nodded with a smile, though her eyes drifted back to the Xuan paper on the table.