Multiple Choice Questions

The girls' eyes lit up at the words.

Could this be the legendary "battle royale" scenario?

Even if it's just between sisters.

A sisterly battle royale is just as entertaining.

The drama is no less thrilling than indulging in sweet romance tropes.

As the key players—Luo Shuning, Gu Ximan, and Lu Xuexue—realized the situation, it dawned on them.

Right, they were all here to pick up Gu Luo.

But there was only one Gu Luo.

Of course, Lu Xuexue was the exception. She had no intention of competing, content to just stay by Ximan's side—fully aware of her place.

The simplest solution, of course, would be for the two sisters to share one umbrella, freeing up another for Gu Luo.

But the class representative had masterfully steered the conversation toward forcing Gu Luo to choose between the sisters.

The students of Class 8, Grade 2 quickly morphed into an audience of eager spectators, hyping up the moment.

Seeing this, Luo Shuning gently intervened to defuse the tension:

"Brother, take my umbrella. Shuling and I can share one."

At this, the students who had been anticipating a dramatic showdown immediately protested:

"No way! Gu Luo has to pick one sister today!"

"Exactly! Let’s see who Gu Luo favors the most!"

"Gu, you can only choose one sister to walk with, you know~~~"

"Bro-in-law, life’s full of tough choices—make your pick!"

"......"

For once, the boys and girls stood united.

They were here for the drama, and they wouldn’t settle for anything less.

Luo Shuning blinked, momentarily at a loss for words in the face of such enthusiasm.

Gu Ximan straightened her posture slightly, confidently waiting for her idiot brother to choose her.

Luo Shuling remained smiling the whole time, her expression harmless as ever.

Lu Xuexue was the most detached, fully aware that she was just there to make up the numbers.

Gu Luo, meanwhile, was mentally cursing the class rep.

This was as cruel a dilemma as "Your wife and mother are drowning—who do you save first?"

There was no right answer.

No matter who he picked, the other sisters would inevitably feel slighted.

Just as Gu Ximan waited expectantly, Luo Shuling idly observed, and Lu Xuexue mentally checked out, Luo Shuning spoke up again:

"Alright, alright, stop giving my brother a hard time."

"We’ll do as I said earlier—he’ll take my umbrella, and I’ll share with Shuling."

Her tone was gentle yet firm, carrying an air of unshakable authority.

This was the unique presence of the Luo family’s eldest daughter—absolute tenderness, reserved solely for Gu Luo.

The rowdy crowd gradually quieted down.

An awkward silence settled over the scene.

What a buzzkill.

The lively atmosphere from moments ago had completely evaporated.

Of course, to them, this was just harmless teasing among classmates.

Luo Shuning didn’t care.

She wasn’t even from Class 8.

There was no way she’d let her brother be the one to ruin the fun.

If someone had to play the spoiler, it might as well be her...

But then—

Gu Luo suddenly spoke up:

"I’ll share an umbrella with Shuning."

The room erupted instantly.

This was the battle royale they’d been waiting for!

Who knew Gu Luo would actually dare to choose?!

Those with sharper instincts caught a whiff of something unusual in the air.

Something suspiciously like… the sour-sweet stench of romance.

Think about it—Luo Shuning had just played the "villain" to bail him out.

And Gu Luo had chosen her without hesitation.

Wasn’t this the definition of mutual pining?!

Luo Shuning froze in place.

Had she misheard?

Her brother had actually...

Her heart swelled with overwhelming emotion.

Gu Luo had chosen her—in front of the other sisters, in front of everyone.

Meanwhile, Gu Ximan was stunned.

She stared in disbelief at Gu Luo, who had always doted on her since childhood.

Why…

Why Shuning?

Lu Xuexue was equally baffled, her confusion even deeper.

Why hadn’t Gu Luo picked Ximan?

That didn’t make sense.

Luo Shuling remained all smiles, as if completely oblivious to the charged atmosphere.

Feng Youqing’s gaze flickered between Gu Luo and Luo Shuning, a complicated sigh escaping her.

At this rate, the two would go public sooner or later.

And when that happened, it would send shockwaves through Guangya.

But then—

As if the heavens were playing a joke, the relentless rain abruptly stopped.

Though the sky remained overcast.

"The rain stopped," Luo Shuling remarked cheerfully, pointing outside the window.

"True," Feng Youqing agreed, glancing out before raising her voice. "Alright, everyone, quit crowding around me. Scram!"

"Go on, unless you want a punch from yours truly."

With that, she began shooing people away.

As she passed Gu Luo, she subtly tilted her chin toward Gu Ximan.

Gu Luo understood.

He noticed the slight stiffness in Ximan’s expression.

This was the first time he hadn’t chosen her.

Even for something as trivial as sharing an umbrella.

Just as he was about to say something to comfort her, Lu Xuexue looped her arm through Gu Ximan’s and said softly,

"Gu, I’ll take Ximan to the club now."

With that, she gently guided Gu Ximan away.

Ximan followed, her gaze distant.

Watching them go, Gu Luo opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Luo Shuning, though deeply moved, also sighed inwardly.

Of course Ximan would feel jealous, even if she supported them.

It was only natural.

But that didn’t make it any less uncomfortable.

Thinking this, she quickly stepped closer to Gu Luo and whispered, just loud enough for him to hear:

"Go after her."

Gu Luo nodded, his heart equally heavy, and hurried after them.

He soon caught up to Gu Ximan and Lu Xuexue at the end of the hallway.

"Ximan."

The two paused. Lu Xuexue turned, her lips pressed together, unsure what to say.

Gu Luo stepped in front of Gu Ximan—only to see her eyes rimmed red.

His chest ached.

"Ximan..."

"Brother."

They spoke simultaneously.

Then fell silent.

Gu Ximan lifted her head slightly, her expression lost.

Her voice trembled:

"Brother… am I just another choice now?"

The words cut deep.

Gu Luo wanted to lie, like he always had—to say he’d just needed to talk to Shuning about something.

That might’ve smoothed things over.

But what came out instead was:

"Ximan… you know you’ve always been my anchor."

"No one could ever take your place."

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