What a Dummy Vine (Thanks to Big Bro Stone for the Bonus Chapters and Celebratory Flowers)

"The tears of parting, I still don't understand~~"

"Memories fade like the wind~~~"

"Scrub scrub, scrub scrub~~~"

"La la la~~~"

In the bathroom, the showerhead sprayed a fine stream of water.

Gu Luo, thoroughly enjoying his bath, sang at the top of his lungs.

The echoes of his voice bounced around the tiled walls—a grand concert for an audience of one.

After his run with Little Sun, his mood couldn’t have been better.

The more he sang, the more exhilarated he became, lost in the delusion of being a reincarnated vocal legend.

This was just how guys were—somehow, showers always triggered this state of unbridled confidence.

But he couldn’t linger for long. Gu Ximan, that silly girl, had angrily given him only ten minutes to wash up before he’d have to face her punishment.

Why was she mad?

Well, it all came down to a certain someone’s 2,000-word reflection—which consisted of 1,000 repetitions of the word "good."

Gu Luo now regretted his earlier bravado.

But hey, technically, it was 2,000 words!

Still, punishment was inevitable.

In this world, little sisters reigned supreme.

Their words were law.

After rinsing off the soap, he grabbed a towel and meticulously dried himself.

Then, he stood before the mirror, studying his reflection.

The young man staring back had damp hair, his soft bangs clinging to his eyebrows. His sharp, well-defined features were dangerously handsome—enough to make hearts explode at a glance.

This was another universal truth: guys always looked better after a shower.

The opposite was true for girls.

At least, for the average makeup-wearing girl, who might go from fairy to ghost after washing up.

But naturally stunning beauties like Shu Ning were different—their post-shower skin glowed even more radiantly, their beauty beyond compare.

As they say, the truth comes out in the bath.

Gu Luo admired his reflection for a solid 2.5 seconds before reluctantly tearing himself away to grab the hairdryer.

As he blew his hair, he couldn’t help sighing:

"Ah, this unbearable charm of mine."

"I should never visit Tiandu..."

Most guys went there to pick up girls.

But if he went, he’d probably be the one getting picked up.

Yikes—just the thought made him tense up.

Wait, no.

Actually, maybe it would be safe.

Gu Luo reconsidered. The local taste in Tiandu was... unconventional.

To them, a beard, round face, and white socks were the hallmarks of a "loli."

Perfect. Crisis averted.

Still amusing himself with these thoughts, he changed clothes and tiptoed toward his room.

The moment he pushed the door open, he plastered on an exaggerated, sycophantic grin.

"Ahem... Ximan, you feeling better now?"

There, sitting cross-legged on the bed in her panda pajamas, was Gu Ximan, cheeks puffed in indignation. The sight of Gu Luo only made her puff harder as she brandished his "essay":

"Stupid big bro, you totally half-aed this!"

"How is this half-aed? It is 2,000 words," Gu Luo retorted, secretly delighted by her adorable tantrum.

Teasing his little sister was always fun.

"You’re lucky there are exactly 1,000 'goods' here, or else... or else..." Gu Ximan trailed off, stumped.

Her "Manny Punch"? More like a back massage. Stomping on him? That’d just make him a yogurt lid.

Ugh. She really had no leverage over this jerk.

After a long pause, she settled for turning away with a dramatic "Hmph!"

"You... actually counted them?" Gu Luo was equal parts impressed and amused.

Good thing he hadn’t skimped—otherwise, she’d have had him dead to rights.

"Of course! One word short, and you’d be in big trouble," Gu Ximan huffed, her delicate brows furrowing. "So, stupid big bro, how should I punish you?"

"Whatever you say, Princess Ximan."

Gu Luo smiled. There was no point arguing over this.

He’d let her win.

Little sisters were meant to be spoiled.

This was just their usual playful bickering—harmless and oddly endearing.

Pleased by his submission, Gu Ximan dropped the act instantly, her face lighting up with a grin.

"Hah! Good answer. This Manny approves."

Truthfully, she hadn’t been angry at all. She just wanted an excuse to pout.

Otherwise, life would be too boring.

Of course, this only worked because Gu Luo played along.

A clueless straight guy would’ve probably started a real fight over this.

"No, no—it’s not me being good. It’s Princess Ximan’s boundless mercy, sparing this unworthy big bro." He even gave a theatrical bow.

"Thank you, my glorious little sister!"

"Pfft—!"

Gu Ximan burst into giggles, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as her petite frame shook with laughter.

Emotional satisfaction: maxed out.

Watching her joy, Gu Luo felt a quiet warmth in his chest—a small, proud happiness.

Making his sister smile was its own reward.

But then, a strange déjà vu crept in.

Why did this scene feel so familiar?

Just moments ago, he had been laughing just as freely...

Wait. That was... odd.

Gu Luo frowned, replaying his earlier interactions with Little Sun. Yet no matter how he analyzed it, nothing seemed off.

Little Sun was just... a happy glutton.

Maybe it was her carefree, guileless nature that made being around her so effortlessly joyful.

Meanwhile, his cheer often felt... calculated.

Perhaps that was the difference between sincerity and performance.

No wonder, despite the triplets being near-identical in looks, Little Sun dominated as Guangya’s #1 beauty.

Everyone around her caught her sunshine.

"Stupid big bro, what’re you zoning out for?" Gu Ximan’s voice snapped him back. Her cheeks puffed again.

"Confess! Are you thinking about another girl?!"

"Cough—!"

Gu Luo stiffened. He opened his mouth to deny it, but—

"Ah-ha! I knew it! You are thinking about another girl!"

"No, I— Wait, listen—"

"Ughhh! How dare you! I’m right here, and you’re fantasizing about someone else?!"

"No, you..."

Gu Luo's expression instantly turned peculiar. Since when did this silly little Ximan become so sharp?

"Hmph, you stinky big brother, I’ve seen right through you!" Gu Ximan declared triumphantly.

"Because the moment you sense awkwardness, you reflexively clear your throat or change the subject to hide your discomfort!"

Hiss...

Hearing this, Gu Luo was even more astonished.

Was this really something his airheaded little goofball would say?

It somehow carried the sly undertones of that little demon, Luo Shuhe.

Almost instinctively, he tested the waters:

"Ximan... who taught you to say that?"

"Ahem..."

The moment the question left his mouth, Gu Ximan’s mind flashed with Luo Shuhe’s deadpan face, and she reflexively coughed.

But the second she did, she realized her mistake and immediately floundered to divert the topic:

"What? No one taught me! Anyway, stinky big brother, I still have to punish you..."

No, no, this was even worse...

"I-I wasn’t changing the subject, okay? I just... I..."

Gu Ximan’s face flushed red as she stammered helplessly, failing to string together a coherent explanation.

???

Watching his silly little sister defeat herself in record time, Gu Luo barely resisted the urge to facepalm.

Absolutely unbelievable.

This girl’s sheer, adorable cluelessness...

What a hopeless little dummy.

............

............