My Sister Is Acting Strange

Tang Huaijin didn’t sleep well at all last night. Despite his cheerful demeanor while comforting his sister, he was actually feeling quite uneasy inside. He didn’t dare to upset her, so he just kept things as they were.

His sister was practically on the verge of quitting her job, so naturally, she wouldn’t be going to work anymore. She took this opportunity to give herself a few days off, and after breakfast, she comfortably nestled on the couch to watch some shows.

After giving his sister a peck on the cheek, Tang Huaijin left the house and boarded the number 9 bus heading to school.

Tang Huaijin already had plans regarding the publication of his book. Today, he decided to discuss it with Xia Xinya. Although the Xia Family primarily dealt in real estate, such a commercial giant surely had connections in various industries, and they might be able to handle Supervisor Zhu.

Even if they couldn’t, they could at least help him get his book published. This was Tang Huaijin’s first step towards making a fortune.

As for his sister’s job situation, he wasn’t too worried. He still had the two-hundred-thousand-yuan card from Mrs. Xia in his bag.

With Mrs. Xia’s money and the royalties from his book as a foundation, coupled with the impressive design ability group amplification, Tang Huaijin was full of confidence about the future-starting a company, making big money, marrying Yaoyao, and reaching the pinnacle of life.

The current priority was to get the Xia Family’s help to solve the book publication issue. Just thinking about it gave Tang Huaijin a headache. While he trusted Xia Xinya to help him, he was equally convinced that she would seize the opportunity to give him a hard time.

Lin Ruoxi was snuggled up next to him, noticing his silence and his gaze fixed on the window since boarding the bus. Curious, she asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Tang Huaijin snapped out of his thoughts, looked at the ponytailed girl in his arms, and frowned slightly, saying, “Nothing.”

“You’re lying…” Lin Ruoxi pouted, her hand slipping down his waist unexpectedly and grabbing his phone.

Tang Huaijin didn’t mind, thinking Lin Ruoxi wouldn’t know his lock screen password was his sister’s…

Watching Lin Ruoxi unlock the screen effortlessly, Tang Huaijin’s eyes widened in shock.

Lin Ruoxi unlocked the screen, flashed a mischievous smile at the dumbfounded Tang Huaijin, and said playfully, “After I got home last time, I figured your phone password might be someone’s birthday, so I asked someone to check your sister’s birthday.”

Her expression turned joyful, and she spoke with a hint of pride, “I even looked up a bunch of birthdays of people you might like. You’re such a liar; you don’t have anyone you like, otherwise why wouldn’t you set her birthday as your password?”

Lin Ruoxi had initially planned to try Xia Xinya’s birthday first. Besides that, she had written down the birthdays of everyone Tang Huaijin might have a crush on in a little notebook, ready to try them one by one-from classmates he had just met to friends from elementary school, all were on her list of suspects.

She had tried Tang Yaoyao’s name first with a sense of luck, and it worked. It seemed Tang Huaijin had been deceiving her all along.

Seeing Lin Ruoxi unlock the phone, Tang Huaijin had been quite anxious, but since she hadn’t discovered anything, he breathed a sigh of relief and said irritably, “Give it back.”

Lin Ruoxi didn’t know that the siblings weren’t blood-related, and Tang Huaijin had never bothered to spread that around, nor had he told Lin Ruoxi.

Thinking about it now, he was grateful he hadn’t told her. Otherwise, with Lin Ruoxi’s persistence, she would have eventually uncovered something.

Lin Ruoxi quickly scrolled through the phone like a girlfriend checking up on her boyfriend. Seeing nothing suspicious, she grinned at Tang Huaijin and said, “Tell me what you were thinking about just now, and I’ll give it back.”

“Then keep it. You’ve already seen everything, and now you’re saying this? How did I not realize you were so shameless before?” Tang Huaijin rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Ruoxi pouted, her eyes darting mischievously. She laughed again, typing a few words on the phone before flashing it in front of Tang Huaijin’s face, threatening, “Hmph, if you don’t tell me, I’ll post it!” Her finger hovered over the send button.

The screen flickered past Tang Huaijin’s eyes. He couldn’t make out the message, but it seemed like some sort of reconciliation or confession post.

Seeing that Ruoxi seemed serious, as if she might actually send it the next second, Tang Huaijin panicked and quickly said, “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you. It’s about my book.”

“What book?” Ruoxi asked curiously, her finger no longer hovering over the screen.

“The book I wrote…” Tang Huaijin glanced at her in surprise. Bai Yuerou was so close to Ruoxi, yet she hadn’t mentioned his writing?

“You wrote a book? What genre is it? Is it based on us?” Ruoxi’s face lit up with excitement. She loved reading, especially romance novels.

“No, it’s a traditional business genre. Pretty dull, you might not like it.” Tang Huaijin didn’t want to stir up anything between the two girls; maybe Bai Yuerou just forgot to mention it…

He casually replied, “I was just thinking about the plot. Once it’s published, I’ll give you a copy. Can I have my phone back now?”

“Really? It’s a deal then.” Ruoxi felt happy, handed the phone back obediently, and snuggled into his arms, proudly saying, “My boyfriend is amazing, so amazing, la la la.”

Tang Huaijin was too tired to argue, silently watching Ruoxi’s ponytail bounce as they arrived at school.

In the classroom, Xia Xinya was sitting at Tang Huaijin’s desk, whispering with Bai Yuerou. Seeing Tang Huaijin approach, she glared at him fiercely and said, “Go sit at my desk first. I need to talk to Rou.”

“Sure, no problem.” Tang Huaijin replied cheerfully and took a seat at Xinya’s desk.

Xinya was suspicious of his compliance today, glancing at him twice. She shifted her seat forward, wary of any sneak attack from Tang Huaijin.

After chatting with Bai Yuerou for a while, Xinya suddenly turned around, surprised to see Tang Huaijin still sitting obediently. When he noticed her looking, he even smiled at her.

Now Xinya was confused. Not only did the rascal not mess with her, but he also had a look of appeasement…

Xia Xinya looked a bit puzzled and asked, “Do you have something to say?”

“Uh… it’s not a big deal,” Tang Huaijin chuckled, gathering his thoughts before speaking, “I do have something I need your help with.”

Xia Xinya was momentarily stunned. Did she hear that right? Tang Huaijin actually needed her help?

Once she processed the information, her expression immediately turned smug, and she let out a proud little hum, saying in a sweet voice, “Let’s hear it.”

Tang Huaijin didn’t waste any time and quickly recounted the events regarding the book from the previous day to the two girls.

After finishing, he looked at Xia Xinya and asked, “So, I was hoping you could help and see if your family’s influence could deal with Zhu Meiyu.”

Although she didn’t want to talk to her mother, hearing that Tang-Jie was being bullied filled Xia Xinya with righteous indignation. She was determined to help Tang Huaijin even without him asking.

But this time, since Tang Huaijin was unusually asking for her help, Xia Xinya immediately realized this was a rare opportunity to get back at him.

Xia Xinya glanced at Tang Huaijin, grinning as she said, “If you want my help, how are you going to repay me?”

…I knew it.

Tang Huaijin’s mouth twitched slightly, forcing a smile as he said, “Miss Xia, just say what you want.”

“Not bad, not bad,” Xia Xinya nodded in satisfaction, her expression turning excited. She bit her lip, thought for a moment, and her eyes lit up as she said, “Then let me mess with you, and you can’t fight back.”

Saying this, she eagerly looked at Tang Huaijin’s forehead, her small hand poised in a gesture.

Hmph, this rascal always flicks my forehead; it’s time he experiences the pain of a flicked forehead.

Seeing her like this, Tang Huaijin knew exactly what she was planning, and his expression froze.

Xia Xinya noticed Tang Huaijin’s unusual expression and immediately felt delighted, with a smile she couldn’t suppress. She was just about to flick him when Bai Yuerou gently pulled her back, softly saying, “Xinya, stop fooling around, this is serious.”

Bai Yuerou’s words were effective. Xia Xinya pouted a bit in dissatisfaction but withdrew her hand. She hadn’t really intended to flick him, mainly because she was afraid Tang Huaijin would get back at her later.

Catching Tang Huaijin’s grateful glance, Bai Yuerou gently asked, “Jin, what’s the name of the publishing house where your sister works?”

“Changhe Publishing House.”

Upon hearing the name, Bai Yuerou smiled and said, “Leave this to me. As it happens, my father has a good relationship with the boss of Changhe Publishing House.”

Tang Huaijin’s eyes lit up. If the boss of Changhe Publishing House could step in, that would be the best solution. He had been thinking that even if they used the Xia family’s influence to deal with Zhu Meiyu, it would still affect his sister. After all, who would want to hire an employee they can’t afford to offend?

“Really?” Tang Huaijin asked, a bit surprised and smiling, looking at Bai Yuerou with gratitude. “Thank you for helping, Yuerou, you’re simply amazing.”

Bai Yuerou blushed, shaking her head slightly in embarrassment, and softly said, “It’s nothing, Jin, we’re friends after all…”

Watching the two of them chatting happily, Xia Xinya realized she didn’t need to step in anymore. But for some reason, even though she no longer needed to talk to her mother for this rascal, she didn’t feel happy at all. Instead, she felt a tightness in her chest, and her eyes couldn’t help but drift to Tang Huaijin’s smiling profile.

Xia Xinya and Bai Yuerou had known each other for so long, never having argued or been angry with each other, but at this moment, looking at Tang Huaijin’s face, she found herself feeling a bit resentful towards Bai Yuerou.

She had already agreed to help the rascal, so why did Yuerou have to step in too…?