Biological Sisters

The hands of time quietly turned back to the moment right after school.

"Lei, you go ahead to the club. I'll pick up Brother later," Luo Shuning said somewhat sheepishly to Ren Lei beside her.

After all, she had already sent her away once yesterday.

"I get it, I totally get it," Ren Lei replied with an all-knowing expression, leaning slightly forward and deliberately drawing out her words with a sigh. "Someone has completely fallen head over heels in love~~~"

Luo Shuning only smiled and didn’t respond.

Normally, she would have bantered back.

But.

Luo Shuhe was still in the classroom.

A deep sense of shame pricked at her heart relentlessly.

At first, Luo Shuning hadn’t thought too much about it—she simply couldn’t bring herself to confess the truth to Gu Luo and Gu Ximan, so she had told Shuhe that she could reveal it instead.

But upon further reflection, she realized how unfair this was to Shuhe.

If Shuhe hadn’t exposed it from the start, she wouldn’t choose to do so later either.

After much deliberation, Luo Shuning decided that after Sunday, she would personally come clean to the Gu siblings.

Whatever the outcome, she would accept it.

It’s just... she felt terribly guilty toward Shuhe.

At the moment, quite a few students remained in the classroom, and Luo Shuhe’s deskmate hadn’t left yet either.

Seeing this, Luo Shuning thought for a moment, then took out her phone and sent a message to Luo Shuhe. Picking up her umbrella, she stepped out of the classroom and walked straight toward the end of the hallway.

Not long after.

Luo Shuhe appeared, also holding an umbrella, her expression calm as she approached.

"Shuhe, I’m sorry."

Before she could even finish speaking, Luo Shuning bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, her voice thick with remorse. "I’m really sorry... but I’m just so afraid... so afraid that Brother and Xiaoman will despise me..."

Her words trembled slightly:

"I want... to leave the best impression on him... before confessing..."

"After Sunday... I’ll tell them everything myself..."

"Really, I’m sorry..."

Hearing this, Luo Shuhe’s face remained expressionless. She simply nodded faintly. "Mm, I understand. I hope everything goes smoothly for you and Brother."

With that, she gently helped Luo Shuning straighten up.

"Shuhe..."

Luo Shuning opened her mouth, but the guilt in her heart only grew heavier.

"I get it, Sister. Let’s leave it at that." Luo Shuhe patted her shoulder lightly before turning to leave.

Right now, she desperately wanted to get away from Caizhou.

Not a minute.

Not a second.

Could she wait.

Luo Shuhe pulled out her phone without hesitation, canceled her pre-booked train ticket, and immediately dialed a number.

The call connected quickly.

"School gate."

She spoke calmly, then hung up without waiting for a response.

In the distance.

Luo Shuning watched her sister’s retreating figure, pressing a hand to her chest. Only after taking a deep breath did she slowly head downstairs.

Lost in thought.

She walked very, very slowly.

Just then, a cheerful voice reached her ears: "Shuning."

Snapping out of her daze, Luo Shuning saw Luo Shuling appear out of nowhere, walking up beside her.

"Are you going to the club?" Shuling asked with a grin.

"I..."

Luo Shuning felt too guilty to face Shuling properly, so she avoided answering and instead asked, "What about you, Shuling?"

"I’m picking up Brother—he didn’t bring an umbrella," Luo Shuling replied matter-of-factly, blinking.

Hearing this, Luo Shuning bit her lower lip lightly, her expression complicated. "Oh... what a coincidence. I’m going to pick him up too."

"Really? Then let’s go together! Shuning, you hold the umbrella."

Luo Shuling giggled, linking arms with her intimately.

"......"

Luo Shuning didn’t move, standing silently for a long moment before finally speaking. "...Shuling, how do you see me now?"

"With my eyes, of course."

Luo Shuling poked her own eyes playfully.

"......"

Luo Shuning was momentarily speechless. After some thought, she decided to be direct. "What I mean is... do you remember that story you once told me? About you and Shuhe meeting a little boy when you were kids?"

"Huh?"

Luo Shuling tilted her head, thinking for a moment before shaking it lightly. "I really don’t remember. When was this?"

Luo Shuning’s breathing noticeably quickened.

Shuling didn’t remember?!

Then again, it made sense. It was something from so long ago—even the Gu siblings had no recollection. Someone as carefree and forgetful as Luo Shuling wouldn’t recall it either.

Meaning, right now, only she and Shuhe knew about it.

The thought eased her mind slightly. Even though she planned to confess after Sunday, at least for now, she could face Shuling without guilt.

With that in mind, she smiled and asked,

"What do you want for dinner, Shuling?"

"Brother’s fried rice!"

Luo Shuling answered without hesitation.

"......"

Luo Shuning was both amused and exasperated. Just as she was about to flick Shuling’s forehead, the latter continued:

"Oh, right, Shuning. Last night, I went to Shuhe’s room to grab some rice paper to play with, but I saw her crouched in front of her wardrobe, secretly wiping away tears. She was holding a black box, and when she noticed me, she hurriedly stuffed it back inside."

Of course, this was a lie.

But Luo Shuning’s heart instantly clenched, her face turning pale.

Of course Shuhe would be heartbroken.

She was just putting on a brave face.

In reality...

"Shuning, do you know what’s wrong with Shuhe? Did someone bully her?" Luo Shuling gazed at the rain falling endlessly from the sky, her voice soft.

"As sisters, we can’t let anyone hurt Shuhe."

Each word felt like a needle, stabbing deep into Luo Shuning’s heart.

Guilt, regret, heartache—waves of emotion crashed over her, threatening to drown her.

The "bully" Luo Shuling spoke of was none other than herself—Shuhe’s own sister.

It took a long while before Luo Shuning finally spoke in a muffled voice:

"I... Let’s go back and ask Shuhe properly."

"Mm!"

Luo Shuling clenched her small fists. "If I find out who’s bullying Shuhe, I’ll make sure they’re punished hard!"

"Right, Shuning?"

"...Right."

Luo Shuning nodded stiffly.

"Hehe, that’s what sisters are for." Luo Shuling subtly emphasized the word "sisters" before tugging Luo Shuning forward.

"Alright, we’ll ask Shuhe about it later. Let’s go pick up Brother first."

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

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