Brother, do I seem a bit more like a sister now

Gu Luo stood in a corner not far from the station entrance, glancing down at his phone. There were still ten minutes left until the agreed-upon time.

That’s right—this was the plan he and Luo Shuhe had discussed beforehand: arriving at the station at staggered times. After all, he had already lied to Luo Shuning and Gu Ximan, and now he had to carefully maintain the web of deception, ensuring not a single flaw could be detected.

"Hey there, handsome. Are you alone?"

A sweet, overly saccharine voice abruptly shattered the quiet. Gu Luo looked up to see three glamorously dressed, mature women sauntering toward him with swaying hips.

They wore impeccably tailored office attire, the fitted styles accentuating their curves. Beneath their flawless makeup, their eyes and brows exuded the allure of experienced women.

"Handsome, want to grab some coffee with us?" The woman at the front lightly flicked her voluminous wavy hair and chuckled. "We just got off our afternoon shift and need somewhere to unwind."

Instinctively, Gu Luo took half a step back, maintaining a polite but distant smile. "Sorry, I’m waiting for someone."

"Who? Your girlfriend?" Another woman, seemingly oblivious to his rejection, leaned in closer, the overpowering scent of her perfume flooding his senses. "You look so shy—I bet you’re single, aren’t you?"

"......"

These three women clung to him like persistent vines. No matter how he refused, they showed no intention of leaving—like the troublemakers who corner the school beauty in novels.

This is what happens when you’re too charming.

What a hassle.

Just as Gu Luo was about to say something else, he suddenly felt a firm grip on his arm.

A familiar, crisp fragrance drifted into his nose. Turning his head, he saw Luo Shuhe standing silently beside him, having appeared without a sound.

Her slender arm looped through his.

Today, she wore a black dress, its hem swaying gently in the breeze like dark ocean waves—elegant and mesmerizing.

On her feet were delicate strappy heels, revealing pale ankles that made her already long legs even more striking.

Her smooth hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, shimmering softly in the sunlight.

The three women were instantly stunned by Luo Shuhe’s beauty.

Without a word, Luo Shuhe swept her cool gaze over them.

Her eyes were like a scalpel, precisely dissecting their intentions.

"Ah, our apologies..." The leader of the trio forced an awkward smile, her tone tinged with regret. "We didn’t realize this gentleman already had a girlfriend..."

"Really, we’re sorry for teasing him like that."

"But, sister, I’m so jealous of you—finding such a handsome boyfriend."

Luo Shuhe remained silent, only tightening her hold on Gu Luo’s arm, staking her claim.

Gu Luo could feel the warmth and softness pressed against him. He wanted to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

"Well, goodbye then. Guess we’re just not meant to be with this cutie."

"Right, let’s go."

"Bye, handsome. Bye, beautiful."

Once the three had left, Gu Luo tried to gently pull his arm free. "Shuhe, you can let go now."

His voice carried a hint of discomfort, an attempt to dispel the strange tension between them.

Hearing this, Luo Shuhe lifted her head. Her long lashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes as she asked calmly, "Is Brother planning to discard me now that I’ve served my purpose?"

"......"

Gu Luo was momentarily speechless.

"Brother already promised to listen to me all day today." Her voice was soft but firm, a reminder of their agreement.

"Wait..." Gu Luo quickly interjected, "I only agreed to come out with you."

"Final interpretation rights belong to me." Luo Shuhe hugged his arm even tighter.

Her hair brushed lightly against his skin, sending a faint, ticklish sensation through him.

Gu Luo fell silent, looking down at Luo Shuhe’s flawless profile.

She had even put on light makeup today—her lips a gentle shade of pink, making her already fair skin glow.

This was just like her. She could deliver the most domineering words in the calmest tone.

"Fine, it’s not like I’m the one at a disadvantage." Gu Luo sighed in resignation, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "But I wouldn’t recommend this. You might get hurt—you know what I mean."

Luo Shuhe didn’t respond, only continued walking arm-in-arm with him toward the station.

Even in heels, her steps were steady and graceful, as if she weren’t walking on hard ground but gliding down a runway.

Gu Luo could feel the lingering gazes of passersby.

A tall, strikingly handsome man and an ethereally beautiful young woman—this pairing was far too eye-catching, like stars in the night sky, impossible to ignore.

But the moment they stepped into the train car, Gu Luo immediately regretted it.

Due to the route and it being the weekend, the train was packed. People were crammed together like sardines, barely leaving room to stand.

With no other choice, Gu Luo shielded Luo Shuhe in a corner, bracing his arm against the wall to carve out a small, relatively comfortable space for her.

Luo Shuhe simply tilted her head up, watching him quietly.

Her eyes were bright, as if filled with starlight.

Gu Luo could smell the faint fragrance on her—not perfume, but the clean scent of shower gel mixed with something uniquely her own, inexplicably soothing.

"So... where exactly are we going?" Gu Luo asked, unnerved by her gaze, trying to distract himself. His voice was nearly lost in the noise of the crowded train.

Before Luo Shuhe could answer, another wave of passengers pushed in.

Gu Luo was shoved forward, nearly pressing entirely against her.

He tried to step back, but the crowd behind him forced him right back.

"Sorry..." he muttered, his expression awkward.

The train was loud—chatter, footsteps, announcements blending together—but in that moment, Gu Luo felt the world fall eerily silent.

All he could hear was the thunderous pounding of his own heartbeat.

"Your heart is racing..." Luo Shuhe suddenly murmured, her voice barely audible.

Hearing this, Gu Luo tried to retreat, but the crowd pinned him in place.

Luo Shuhe lifted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she asked,

"Is it because of me?"

"Don’t joke around." Gu Luo turned his face away.

"Then, do I seem gentler today?" Luo Shuhe pressed on.

"More like Shuning?"

"....."

Gu Luo opened his mouth but found no words.

That said, compared to before, Luo Shuhe today did seem less icy—softer, warmer.

Even her lipstick was a gentle, warm hue.

And these past few days, she hadn’t done any of those strange things.

So she did hear what was said that night after all.

"Shuhe, you don't have to do this..." Gu Luo trailed off, hesitating.

By this morning, he had already fully understood his own feelings.

What he truly felt was affection for Luo Shuning—that gentle, considerate nature of hers made his heart race.

Though he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud.

But feelings were feelings; there was no hiding them.

And yet now...

Gu Luo looked at Luo Shuhe standing before him, genuinely surprised that she would go so far just because of something he’d said.

Why? Why would she go to such lengths?

"Shuhe, let’s talk honestly." Gu Luo was ready to lay everything out.

He wanted to know why Luo Shuhe would do all this for him.

He wanted to know why she had worn such a complicated expression the first time they met.

He wanted to know why she had saved his contact as "Big Liar" in her phone.

He wasn’t a fool, nor was he heartless. He could tell that Luo Shuhe was genuinely trying—even from the start, she had set aside a girl’s usual reserve.

Gu Luo didn’t want to hurt her, yet he had no idea how to face these emotions.

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

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