Hearing this question, Luo Shuhe remained calm, her gaze indifferent as she looked at Gu Ximan and replied without a hint of emotion:
"What my little sister really wants to ask is whether I like your brother, isn’t it?"
"Cough..."
Gu Ximan’s heart tightened instantly, a wave of guilt washing over her.
Still, she forced herself to stay composed, widening her eyes in exaggerated surprise as she said, "Sister He, why would you think that?"
"Because you and your brother are the same—whenever you feel awkward, you instinctively cover up your unease with a light cough or by changing the subject."
"..."
Hearing Luo Shuhe’s piercing words, Gu Ximan’s lips twitched slightly. Just as she was about to retort, Luo Shuhe added leisurely:
"Oh, and the lip-twitching thing—don’t copy everything from your brother."
"It’s a bad habit. You should fix it."
She had thrown Gu Ximan’s own words right back at her.
At this moment, an extremely complicated expression flashed across Gu Ximan’s face.
She felt utterly defenseless against Luo Shuhe, completely crushed.
How was Sister He acting like such a demon?
No, she couldn’t just be led around like this.
She had to fight back!
Gu Ximan steeled herself inwardly, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves before fixing Luo Shuhe with an intense stare. "Then, Sister He, why did you say that that day?"
"You’re always so aloof, yet you openly told the whole class, ‘Brother likes me too’..."
Pausing, she clenched the yogurt carton in her hand, her voice tinged with unease as she asked:
"So, Sister He... what do you really think of that idiot brother of mine?"
"With my eyes."
Luo Shuhe replied unhurriedly, lightly holding the straw between her lips—though this time, she didn’t bite down on it out of habit.
"..."
Hearing this answer, Gu Ximan felt blood rush to her head.
Suppressing the urge to lash out, she spoke with deliberate seriousness, almost enunciating each word:
"I’m talking about feelings! What are your feelings toward that idiot brother of mine?"
"Sibling affection." Luo Shuhe’s answer remained concise.
"You—ugh! Aaaah!" Gu Ximan stomped her foot in frustration at the dismissive response.
Why was Luo Shuhe so infuriating?!
Yet, just then, Luo Shuhe suddenly spoke again, her tone cool and detached:
"My feelings for your brother are the same as yours. Unless... yours aren’t just sibling affection?"
"I—I of course—of course it is...!"
Gu Ximan, still fuming, was caught completely off guard by Luo Shuhe’s sudden remark, her face flushing crimson.
Her mind was in turmoil, unable to tell whether Luo Shuhe’s words carried a hidden meaning.
If they did... that would be terrifying.
Whether it was Luo Shuhe seeing through her carefully maintained acting skills or harboring the same unrealistic fantasies about her brother—either scenario would be disastrous.
But surely that wasn’t the case... right?
Noticing Gu Ximan’s lingering hope, Luo Shuhe suddenly leaned in, bringing her lips close to Gu Ximan’s ear before exhaling softly:
"Little sister, my feelings for your brother are the same as yours. Yes, exactly that."
"You—you!!!"
Gu Ximan’s panic peaked at the deliberate emphasis in those words.
She stumbled back several steps, staring at Luo Shuhe in disbelief, her voice trembling:
"You really... really feel that way about that idiot brother of mine?"
"What way?" Luo Shuhe tilted her head slightly, an innocent look on her face.
"That way is that way!"
"Sorry, little sister. I recognize every word you’re saying, but put together, I genuinely don’t understand what you mean." Luo Shuhe frowned in confusion.
"Isn’t sibling affection between little sister and brother just that? Why are you so worked up?"
"You—why are you still pretending?!"
Gu Ximan felt her scalp tingle, glaring as she demanded, "We’re both smart here. Why won’t you admit it?"
"Admit what? I’m nowhere near as clever as you."
Luo Shuhe took a step forward, reaching out to gently touch Gu Ximan’s forehead with a concerned expression.
"Little sister, are you running a fever? You keep saying such strange things."
"You... you’re a demon!"
Gu Ximan felt like she was being driven mad by Luo Shuhe.
Hearing this, Luo Shuhe took a step back, her expression darkening slightly.
"Calling your sister a demon is really hurtful, little sister."
Her voice carried a faint trace of grievance as she lowered her head.
"I just meant that I have the same brother-complex tendencies as you..."
"Eh... huh?"
Gu Ximan froze, her mind blank.
Had she misunderstood?
Was Luo Shuhe just talking about a brother complex?
Now that she thought about it, Luo Shuhe and her brother rarely interacted outside of this.
Oh no.
She’d really misread the situation.
And she’d said something awful.
"I’m sorry, Sister He..." Gu Ximan, ever quick to admit her mistakes, immediately bowed her head in sincere apology.
"I shouldn’t have called you a demon. I’m really sorry..."
"In that case..."
Seeing her little sister’s remorse, Luo Shuhe fought back a smirk, pretending to deliberate before lightly shaking her yogurt carton.
"If you bite your straw too, I’ll forgive you."
"Really?!"
Gu Ximan’s eyes lit up at the simplicity of the condition, her face brightening with relief.
"Really."
Without hesitation, Gu Ximan tore open a new straw and began chewing on it vigorously.
Within moments, the straw was flattened beyond recognition.
Watching this, Luo Shuhe lifted her chin slightly, her usual cool expression returning—though the corners of her lips curled up in a barely noticeable smirk.
"Little Man, biting straws is a bad habit. You should fix it."
......
......