The Bell of Wind and Song

Xia Yanchun was flustered.

She didn’t dare to look up at Shen Nian, hurriedly pressing random buttons in a panic, unsure how to stop the recording. In the end, she had to remove the back cover and take out the battery to silence it.

Humiliating memories flooded back.

A rare warmth tinged her cheeks as she glanced up, only to see Shen Nian still grinning at her with that infuriating smile.

What kind of mindset had she been in when she recorded those words back then?

She couldn’t remember!

No matter how things were now, back then, she had been Shen Nian’s elder sister. As embarrassing as it was, she had to admit—she had adored little Shen Nian back in the day.

He had let her boss him around, occasionally putting up a fight but ultimately yielding under her domineering force. Even when Shen Nian wore that "I’m so annoyed and rebellious" expression, he’d still obediently do whatever she asked.

Honestly, who wouldn’t have liked him back then?

This recording was probably from their closest period.

The time when they got along best was only before they turned twelve.

Twelve years old was the turning point. They entered middle school, and girls gradually entered adolescence. Certain vague notions began to clarify, but there was no denying it—before twelve, she had genuinely, deeply liked Shen Nian.

After twelve, it wasn’t that she disliked him, but as boundaries became clearer, she couldn’t be as intimate with him as before. Gradually, Shen Nian started leveraging his physical advantage to defy her, standing his ground against her demands. That was probably when their rivalry truly began, lasting all the way to the present.

Saying such things as a kid was perfectly normal. But hearing it now, especially when they were sworn enemies who bickered and fought at every turn—this kind of affectionate recording was just inappropriate!

"Tch!" Xia Yanchun scoffed. "What are you looking at? Is it weird to say stuff like that as a kid?"

"I never said it was weird," Shen Nian replied, barely suppressing his laughter.

So Xia Yanchun liked me that much back then? What a tsundere.

"Your eyes are giving you away!"

"What, are you a psychology major now?"

Xia Yanchun crossed her arms, holding the battery she’d just removed. "I’m taking this."

"Hey, no way! That’s my toy—you can’t just take it!" Shen Nian protested. "You hid it in my box for years, and now you’re claiming it’s yours?"

"I bought it in the first place," Xia Yanchun said coolly, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. "Just because I left it with you doesn’t make it yours."

Shen Nian clicked his tongue, then smirked. "Fine, but let me play with it first."

"No."

"Then you can’t have it."

"It’s mine."

Xia Yanchun pouted, clutching the little bell as she stood up to leave. Shen Nian blocked her way, swiftly shutting the door and barricading the exit.

"What are you doing?!"

"Caught red-handed, huh?"

"Move! I’m going back to my room!"

"Not until I get my turn. Hehe."

"You’re going too far!"

"Someone’s mad."

Xia Yanchun was on the verge of losing it, her face flushing from embarrassment to full-blown frustration.

Before she could retort, Wen Zhining’s voice drifted up from downstairs.

"What’s going on up there? Why are you two shouting? Are you fighting?" Wen Zhining sounded concerned. She’d watched Shen Nian grow up, and the two had always been close…

But precisely because they were so close, she couldn’t help but worry.

Hearing such a loud commotion, she had to check in.

Xia Yanchun clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. She’d gotten too worked up, and now her mom had heard everything!

This was all Shen Nian’s fault!

"Go say something," Shen Nian nudged her chin toward the door. The last thing he needed was her mom thinking he was forcing Xia Yanchun to stay.

(Even though he kind of was.)

All he wanted was to play with the toy—was that so wrong? If anything, Xia Yanchun was the one at fault. If she’d kept it in her room all along, he wouldn’t have cared. But leaving it with him for years and then trying to take it back just like that? Not happening.

He needed to hear that recording one more time.

It was downright devious—but that’s what sworn enemies did. If it wasn’t devious, was it even worth doing?

Xia Yanchun shot Shen Nian a glare, muttering "This is all your fault!" before scurrying to the balcony. Leaning over the railing, she called down, "Mom, it’s fine! Shen Nian’s just being annoying. I’ll be back soon."

Shen Nian: ?

His natural talent for stirring chaos activated.

"Auntie, control your daughter! She’s trying to steal my stuff!" Shen Nian followed her out.

"That’s a lie!"

"Then give the bell back! If it’s been in my room for years, it’s mine!"

"I bought it! Just because I left it with you doesn’t mean it’s yours!"

Wen Zhining relaxed at her daughter’s tone.

If Shen Nian were really trying to hurt Xia Yanchun, she wouldn’t have said she’d be back soon—and her clothes were still intact. They were probably just playing around.

With that reassurance, she happily returned to her card game.

"I’m going to bed. If you don’t let me leave, I’ll accuse you of imprisoning a beautiful girl!" Xia Yanchun hissed once they were back inside, keeping her voice low this time.

"Just one listen, then you can go. Who’s stopping you?"

"No!"

"Then you’re not leaving. We’re sharing a bed tonight."

"You—!"

Xia Yanchun’s face burned pink—part frustration, part humiliation. Hearing that embarrassing recording again would make her want to jump off a building.

She’d come here to erase the awkwardness, but now it was worse than ever.

After hearing her childhood voice, staying in Shen Nian’s room felt like sitting in a furnace.

"Fine! Take it, play with it, then give it back!"

"Should’ve said that earlier. Xia Yanchun, you’re making a big deal out of nothing. Lay off Xiaohongshu."

"And you should lay off Tieba! It’s turned you into a complete meme lord!"

"We rats are all good people. +3."

Shen Nian chuckled, reattaching the battery to the bell. The ridiculous recording played once more.

"Shen Nian, Shen Nian… I want to eat you up…"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Better bring your own scallions and ginger, then. Don’t make it too hard for Chunbao."

"AHHHH GIVE IT BACK! I’M LEAVING!" Xia Yanchun’s face burned crimson as she snatched the bell back, shooting Shen Nian a glare sharp enough to kill.

"What’re you looking at?" Shen Nian grinned, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear—then pinching her soft earlobe for good measure.

"Ugh, don’t touch me!" She swatted his hand away and bolted out the door without another glance.

The faint scent of her perfume lingered in the air. Shen Nian’s mood couldn’t be better.

Chunbao’s so cute.

How had he never noticed before?

He was loving this ambiguous tension between them—he could keep it up for a decade.

Suddenly, a system panel popped up.

[Item Collected: Bell of Wind and Song (1/1)]

Huh?

You’re telling me this fancy-named thing is just a plastic toy bell?

Xia Yanchun hurried home, disappearing in a flash.

Without a second thought for what her parents or Shen Nian's parents might think, she retreated straight to her room, clutching that plastic bell as she sat at her desk, her mind in turmoil.

Oh no—she’d accidentally taken the batteries from Shen Nian’s TV remote.

Today had been a total humiliation. She’d have to find a way to get back at him later.

Before bed, she fiddled with the bell again and replayed the old recording from her childhood. The blush she’d barely managed to suppress crept back up her cheeks.

Ugh, now she couldn’t sleep. All because of Shen Nian.

Xia Yanchun reminds you: Due to Tomato Novels' request for over 3 million daily visits straining the servers, we now recommend switching to other premium sources.