Screenshot Taken, Bro

Xia Yanchun was held by him, she shook her arm but couldn't shake off his large hand. She should have expected this.

"You really are not honest at all."

Hearing this, Shen Nian smiled at her.

He might not be honest, but Chunbao didn't refuse either.

However, Shen Nian didn't keep holding her. After staying close for a moment, he let go. "Where are you going to buy groceries? The market or the neighborhood vegetable shop?"

"The market."

"Then I'll drive."

Shen Nian knew the way well, after all, he had sold fish around here before.

At the market, he texted his mom again to ask what to buy. When it came to cooking, Shen Yue's food was unpalatable, and he didn't have many ideas himself. He didn't even know what to buy at the market.

In the end, following his mom's advice, he bought some pork, green peppers, and pork ribs with water chestnuts for soup. Counting Shen Yue, there were only three people, so no need for anything too lavish.

If it weren't for Chen Minyue being there, he and Shen Yue would just get takeout to get by.

Xia Yanchun knew how to cook, but in high school, there was little time, plus there was the cafeteria, so she hardly cooked during that period, and was too lazy to bother on weekends either.

Today was special. She bought several kinds of things, carrying large and small bags in her hands, the handles digging into her fingers painfully.

"Are you done shopping?" She looked back at Shen Nian, who was following idly behind.

"Yeah." Shen Nian lifted his bags. "Just these."

"So little?"

"Just something simple to eat, one dish and one soup."

"Let's go then. Oh, by the way, my mom isn't leaving until tomorrow."

"Oh."

"What do you mean 'oh'? Don't you dare come over tonight."

"Got it, got it. Who's interested anyway."

"..."

Xia Yanchun puffed up with anger. Some people yesterday insisted on staying even for just ten extra minutes, and today they're not interested.

"You better stay uninterested forever, saves me from all the noise."

With that parting remark, Xia Yanchun carried the groceries and left the market.

She did have quite a bit of groceries, but she wasn't so weak that she needed Shen Nian to carry them for her. It wasn't necessary.

This wasn't like shopping at a mall. If it were a mall, she'd definitely make Shen Nian carry everything. No particular reason, she just felt uncomfortable if he didn't.

They each went back to their own homes. By the time they finished dinner, it was already six in the afternoon.

Shen Yue had just barely made it back from the company, face pale as a sheet. Weekend overtime turns people into zombies.

Ten at night.

After Shen Nian finished his shower, he noticed Yan Yuzhu had compiled and sent over the midterm exam papers.

[Shen Nian]: So fast, thank you, teacher!

[Yan Yuzhu]: OK

After a glance to confirm everything was fine, Shen Nian took a moment to go downstairs and print all the exam papers. Ten full sets, holding them in his hand felt substantial.

Looks like it's time to hit the books tonight. More studying, more health.

After letting the two in the living room know, Shen Nian returned to his room, sat down at his desk, and buried himself in studying.

Writing ten sets of papers was quite taxing. He hadn't even finished that many during the National Day holiday, let alone now with school on top of it. It was draining.

In the blink of an eye, it was already midnight, and the lights outside in the living room were off too.

Shen Nian twisted his neck, took a sip of water—it tasted bland. Studying was undeniably a dull affair. More often than not, Shen Nian relied on sheer willpower to push through.

Today was a bit easier because of the holiday. Normally, his study schedule was absolutely high-intensity. Under extreme circumstances, even with willpower fueling him, he still felt utterly weary.

But studying did yield results, and significant ones at that. Not just in learning efficiency, but even his handwriting had improved, becoming faster and neater.

Shen Nian twirled his pen, already setting his learning goals at the highest level.

Damn, how do those people scoring over seven hundred do it? Even opening a cheat sheet wouldn't get you that.

Terrifying.

Keep pushing forward.

Going from 550 to 680, each extra point surpasses a thousand people. Right now, Shen Nian had already surpassed a hundred thousand people. Aiming to surpass even more.

Surpass yours (referring to grades).

Feeling somewhat frustrated, Shen Nian patiently wanted to tackle some more high-level challenges, but his phone rang again.

Hmm, midnight, a QQ message.

Goddamn it, here we go again.

[Xia Yanchun]: (Deer, water pipe, alarm clock.jpg)

Is that stinky Chunbao getting addicted to this?

Shen Nian laughed in exasperation and simply made a video call.

It rang for about ten seconds before the screen showed the view of Xia Yanchun's room. The camera spun around before finally settling on the ceiling. The light was quite bright, but Xia Yanchun herself wasn't visible.

Shen Nian propped his chin on his hand, speechless. "Too scared to show your face, huh? Where are you?"

"I'm reading."

Xia Yanchun's voice was soft. Half of her head peeked out from the side of the phone, her dark, bright almond-shaped eyes looking at Shen Nian's face on the screen.

"Studying this hard?"

"Normal studying doesn't count as 'hardcore studying'."

"What a coincidence, I'm doing problems too." Shen Nian moved the camera to show the exam papers. "Just finished one. This one's from No.1 High School."

"And you call me out? You're the one being hardcore. I'm just reading, you're already writing answers."

"Normal studying doesn't count as 'hardcore studying'."

"Heh. Why did you video call me?"

"You tell me?"

Xia Yanchun propped her phone up on the desk, pulled her feet up onto the chair and hugged them, looking somewhat innocent. "I don't know."

Shen Nian made an exaggerated pointing gesture. "You're really laying it on thick, sis. Addicted to sending those pictures, are you? When will it end, sending them on the dot every day."

"Reminding you it's time."

"Damn, and you said you didn't know."

Xia Yanchun finally couldn't keep up the act anymore. Her face tightened for a second before she burst out laughing.

The grown-up Xia Yanchun was fresh and sweet, the very image of a sweet-style beauty, with none of the mischievousness from her childhood.

But in Shen Nian's eyes, the current Xia Yanchun was no different from when she was little. The hidden clumsiness, cunning, and playful teasing in her eyes were all there. The bad woman revealing her true nature almost scared the tears out of Shen Nian.

"I'll give you a punch if you send more." Shen Nian threw a mock punch at her through the screen.

Xia Yanchun really enjoyed seeing Shen Nian helpless against her. She was feeling quite pleased now. "Whew, I'm sleepy. Anything else? I'm about to go to bed."

"Let me see your legs."

"Oh." Xia Yanchun showed him her lower legs, including her feet.

Lower legs are still legs. Anyone who doesn't agree with this theory isn't allowed to eat drumsticks next time they have chicken.

Her bare feet rested on the dark-colored chair, the tops of her feet showing a faint pink hue, even the fine hairs on her toes seemed youthful.

Shen Nian narrowed his eyes. "Screenshot, bro."

"You're such a pervert!" Xia Yanchun immediately switched the camera back to her face. Her previously happy little face was now flushed pink again.

Shen Nian always ruined her good mood!

As for whose suffering her good mood was built upon, that remained unknown.

"Whatever, screenshot if you want. Do as you please."

Xia Yanchun composed herself. After all, they were just feet. Shen Nian had seen them before when she wore slippers or was on the bed.

"Let's sleep then. I was thinking of doing two more papers."

"Still doing them? It's so late. You might as well study yourself to death."

"Damn, just go to sleep, why curse me?"

Xia Yanchun humphed, already having climbed onto her soft bed and lying down comfortably. The blanket covered her just up to her chest, outlining some gentle curves.

Her face was close to the camera. She stared at Shen Nian, who was still sitting at his desk on the other end of the phone, for a long moment. Her finger, about to press the red button, withdrew again. "Why haven't you hung up yet?"

"Voyeur-ing you."

"Ew."

The video call remained connected. She didn't hang up, and Shen Nian, standing to the side, certainly wasn't going to either, leaving it be.

Shen Nian worked on a couple of multiple-choice questions, then glanced up at the video to confirm Chunbao was still awake before lowering his head again. He swiftly jotted down a few formulas on his scratch paper one moment, then lightly tapped his fingers on the desk the next, looking utterly serious.

She hadn't seen Shen Nian study seriously very often. It had a sort of ASMR quality to it, and she couldn't help but yawn.

"Still not hanging up?"

"Watching you study."

"Ugh, I'm going to sleep." Shen Nian scurried into bed, snuggling into his pillow.

With the lights off, everything was pitch black. The glow from his phone made his face look ghostly in the camera.

Back during power outages, she used to love shining a flashlight on her own face to scare little Shen Nian.

Oh my, Sister Chun is just too good.

Xia Yanchun's eyes curved into smiles. She turned off her light too and noticed Shen Nian poking at his screen. Lowering her voice, she let her curiosity get the better of her.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking at your legs, Chunbao. I took a screenshot earlier."

Xia Yanchun blinked, pursed her lips, raised a little paw, curled it loosely, and gave a tiny wave. "You want this?"

"......"

Shen Nian's world collapsed.

Shen Nian's entire life was already completely in Xia Yanchun's hands.

Some things, once you mess up, you really get remembered for a lifetime.

What's even the point of living now? I'm jumping off.

Shen Nian flustered, stammering and saying nothing, his expression screaming desperation.

Watching Shen Nian's guilty, confused, struggling little face, Xia Yanchun felt a genuine joy from within and bared her teeth in a grin just like Shen Nian often did.

"You're blushing."

"Blushing my foot, you idiot!" Shen Nian's face turned crimson, and he hurriedly hung up the video.

What kind of person is she, really?

Funny? All I see is a pilot who crashed and gets teased about it every single day.

Buzz.

A message from Xia Yanchun came through.

[Xia Yanchun]: ? Why'd you hang up?

A chill ran down Shen Nian's spine. This Haki Chun actually had follow-up moves too? Truly terrifying.

[Shen Nian]: Don't want to talk to an idiot like you.

[Xia Yanchun]: Are you angry?

[Shen Nian]: Already dead from anger.

[Xia Yanchun]: So you're not angry.

[Xia Yanchun is calling you with a video call]

"......"

Shen Nian cleared his throat, composed himself, and tapped to answer.

What met his eyes was still Xia Yanchun's face. Perhaps her skin was too delicate; even in the hazy night, Shen Nian could make out a faint blush on her cheeks.

Even at the risk of blushing yourself, you still launch an attack on me, huh... you, Haki Chun...

As soon as the video connected, Xia Yanchun just sat there giggling silently.

A very pretty laugh, but Shen Nian only found it grating. He was utterly defeated.

He was the one who spoke first. "What's so funny? Anything else? If not, I'm hanging up."

"Nope." Xia Yanchun reached out with her fingertip and lightly poked his nose through the phone screen. "Goodnight, I'm going to sleep."

"I'll be watching intently."

"?"

Xia Yanchun seriously wondered if Shen Nian had some underlying code. Whenever she slept, whether during a nap in the classroom or at home, Shen Nian would always say that.

Though she didn't really mind it.

She really needed to rest, so she ended the video call.

Her heart was beating a bit fast. Xia Yanchun liked seeing Shen Nian flustered, but teasing him like this also left her feeling a bit overwhelmed and prone to recalling certain... things.

...

The next day, Sunday.

Xia Yanchun had slept early and woke up groggily at nine in the morning.

She shuffled out of her room in slippers, greeted by a wave of fragrance. Wen Zhining was in the kitchen reheating dishes, the sound of sizzling filling the air. She came out, but Wen Zhining hadn't noticed yet.

"Mom~" The just-awoken girl's voice was soft and cottony.

"Up so early? Go brush your teeth. Have some breakfast in a bit, then Mom's heading back to town."

"Why so early?"

"It might rain later." Wen Zhining smoothed Xia Yanchun's hair.

Xia Yanchun pouted but obediently went to brush her teeth and had breakfast with her mom.

Wen Zhining had also boiled a few eggs, soaking them in cool water to bring the temperature down. The shells still had two or three grains of rice stuck to them.

Xia Yanchun peeled the shell bit by bit, revealing the perfectly round egg. She took small bites, washing down the dry yolk with mouthfuls of congee.

After eating the breakfast Shen Nian brought too often, she felt outside breakfast just wasn't as good as home-cooked.

If she had Shen Nian's willpower to get up early, she'd definitely cook congee for herself. Maybe, out of the goodness of her heart, she'd bring a bowl for Shen Nian too, with some pickles and a boiled egg. He'd probably be moved to tears, calling her 'big sister' between bites.

Ultimate Chun Fantasy.

Wen Zhining didn't know what her daughter was thinking about that made her so happy. She smiled softly for a moment before suddenly speaking up.

"Who were you talking to last night? Past midnight, I could still hear you talking when I came out to use the bathroom."

"Mmm, my deskmate," Xia Yanchun said.

It wasn't a lie. Someone across the aisle still counted as a deskmate.

"Is that so? Chatting so late. Young people nowadays like staying up until two or three." Wen Zhining seemed unconcerned. "I thought you were chatting with Shen Nian."

"No way, he's an idiot. Talking to him for more than three sentences makes me sick."

"Then why were you picking out clothes for him yesterday?"

"Ugh, I just saw some nice clothes and couldn't help picking some for him." Xia Yanchun felt a pang of guilt and took a big gulp of congee.

Wen Zhining didn't press further. She didn't interfere much with the kids' affairs. They were so grown up now, surely they wouldn't actually get into fights like they used to?

If they were still fighting, that would be way too childish. Besides, how could her little Chun be a match for Shen Nian? She'd end up black and blue.

When it was about time, Wen Zhining got ready to leave. Xia Yanchun wanted to see her off and ran into Chen Minyue, who was also just stepping out in the hallway.

Probably hearing the commotion, Shen Nian seemed to catch the scent and emerged, leaning in his doorway. He glanced at Xia Yanchun, then at Wen Zhining. "Heading back already?"

"Yes, it might rain around noon, making driving difficult later. You two are always bickering. Bicker all you want, but don't start fighting like before."

"Well, Auntie, you should tell Xia Yanchun to behave then. Otherwise, these fists the size of sandbags..."

"You brat, daring to hit your sister? No sense of propriety. Asking for a spanking, I see." Chen Minyue gave Shen Nian a whack on the head, interrupting his performance.

Hearing the words "your sister," Xia Yanchun felt like clouds parting and flowers blooming, her whole being floating on air.

"Auntie is so right!" Xia Yanchun voiced her strong support.

With his own mom present, Shen Nian didn't dare act up anymore. He obediently saw them to the elevator.

Once inside the elevator, it was just the two of them.

Xia Yanchun kept her distance from Shen Nian, somewhat regretting the joke from yesterday.

Shen Nian cheerfully shuffled closer, nudging her soft side with his elbow. He grinned, "Why so distant? You didn't seem to have any sense of distance yesterday."

"What about yesterday?"

"Bravo. Got a second personality now? Have you been playing Identity V?"

"I'm not playing. Yesterday I felt dizzy and fell asleep, so I'm a bit fuzzy on what happened. Stop crowding me, or I'll bite you, I mean it." Xia Yanchun grumbled, putting on a look of disdain, though the tips of her ears quietly tinged pink.

"Ah, the Xiaohongshu secret technique of ultimate sisterly invisibility? That's pretty impressive."

"I don't understand." Xia Yanchun avoided his gaze. The elevator doors opened, and with a nimble twist, she slipped past Shen Nian and darted into her apartment.

But she didn't close the door.

Soon she came trotting back out, an egg now cradled in her palm.

"My head was a bit dizzy before I slept last night, really. I don't remember anything clearly. Here, this egg is for you."

"?"

The hush money has arrived.

Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for over 3 million daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended you use sources from other big shots: