Want to Enjoy a Bit More of Our Time Together as a Couple

Born as a younger brother, one must never forget his roots.

After all, Shen Yue was the one who often paid for his monthly gaming subscriptions. Shen Nian went home early to bring the packed food for her to eat.

It was packed in disposable bowls with chopsticks. He brought the food straight over without even bothering to put it in a plastic bag.

"Did Little Chun cook this?"

"Yeah, it's pretty good."

"Oh, I was wondering why I hadn't seen you all day. Turns out you went to hang out with Little Chun." Shen Yue lay flat on her bed with her legs crossed, sighing with gratification, "Ah, to be young. You and Little Chun spent the whole day together. I think there's something a little unusual going on between you two."

"Is there?"

Shen Nian scratched his cheek, wondering how she could see through him so easily when he had never done anything intimate, like kissing or touching Xia Yanchun, in front of her.

Aside from those intimate gestures, he didn't feel like the way he interacted with Xia Yanchun had changed all that much.

"Look at that reaction! That tells me everything." Shen Yue put on an 'I know it all' expression. She might not have any firsthand experience, but she wasn't born yesterday.

She was a veritable saint with zero actual dating experience but maxed-out theoretical knowledge.

Never underestimate a singleton who had binged so many romance dramas.

"Don't overthink it. Our relationship is completely normal."

"Oh, sure, 'completely normal'~ Still playing dumb with your sister, huh?"

Shen Yue knew better. She had suspected something was up with these two kids for a while now, and the current state of her Lao Di pretty much confirmed her suspicions.

Little Chun was slightly older than her Lao Di... An older girl and younger boy romance. How wonderful. Childhood friends, sweethearts... Ah, how nice...

Weren't people who grew up together supposed to have a hard time developing anything beyond familial affection? Guess the built-in sibling-zoning mechanism had completely failed.

It was actually quite obvious. Xia Yanchun used to come over to hang out, but lately, her visits were far more frequent, and she even started spending time alone in Shen Nian's room.

Shen Nian was the biggest giveaway. During his first two years of high school, he would hole up in his room playing video games every holiday. Now, he was practically missing in action. Where could he possibly be? Gee, so hard to guess.

As the older sister who had watched these two brats grow up, there would be something seriously wrong with her if she couldn't see it.

She had already noticed the signs back during the National Day holiday.

It was unexpected, yet it made perfect sense.

"Who would've thought? Hey, how far along are you two? Have you held hands yet?" Shen Yue asked with a grin. A sister who could resist asking about her Lao Di's dating life deserved to be enshrined in the ancestral temple.

She, for one, definitely couldn't resist. So instead of an ancestral temple, she would just have to settle for her apartment building.

"I told you we aren't dating. I'm really not lying to you."

"Hmph, won't even tell your own sister, huh? Fine, I'll just ask Little Chun myself later."

"Be my guest. I'm going to take a shower."

Shen Nian couldn't care less. His Haji-sis was so annoying sometimes. She had already figured it out, yet she still insisted on interrogating him to the bitter end. Wasn't it enough to just know it in her heart? Why did she need all the details? Didn't she understand that distance creates beauty?

Since things had come to this, he might as well just go take a hot shower.

Listening to the music playing from the bathroom, Shen Yue frowned and pulled out her phone to send Xia Yanchun a message.

[Shen Yue]: You there? The food you made was really delicious.

[Xia Yanchun] replied very quickly: Mhmm, if you want more, I'll make it for you again next week! (Cute)

[Shen Yue]: Let me ask you something. Answer me honestly.

[Xia Yanchun]: (Serious Dragon.jpg)

[Shen Yue]: How far along are you and my Lao Di?

In her room, Xia Yanchun's big, dark eyes widened. She had been comfortably tucked under her blanket scrolling through her phone, but now she bolted upright.

Her heart was pounding with panic.

Why would Sister Shen Yue suddenly ask something like that?! Did Shen Nian confess, or did she notice some little details and figure it out herself?!

Regardless, the fact that her intimate dynamic with Shen Nian had been discovered was undeniable.

She didn't know how to reply...

After pondering for a long while, Xia Yanchun decided to deny it.

After all, they really weren't officially dating. They were missing a confession, missing an acceptance—they had none of that.

It only felt like they were dating because they were essentially roleplaying as a couple; in reality, they still weren't together.

Was it a crime for them to do a little enemies-to-lovers roleplay? Who was their roleplay hurting, anyway?

[Xia Yanchun]: Nothing like that.

[Shen Yue]: Neither of you will tell me. Fine, fine, fine. I see you two are in cahoots.

[Xia Yanchun]: Don't overthink it!

[Shen Yue]: I hate you.

Xia Yanchun simply replied with a goofy dragon meme and left it at that.

She didn't want their families to find out about her and Shen Nian just yet. Rather than involving both families, she much preferred it just being the two of them for now. She would confess to their families later when the right opportunity came along.

But by the looks of it, Sister Shen Yue definitely knew exactly what was going on... After all, she was the person closest to them and saw them all the time. It was only natural that she'd pick up on the clues.

A rosy flush crept over Xia Yanchun's fair cheeks. Having someone so close to them find out was still a bit embarrassing.

Come to think of it, it was Shen Yue who had first taught her how to boss Shen Nian around. She used to team up with Sister Shen Yue to bully Shen Nian, but now, she was teaming up with Shen Nian to keep secrets from Shen Yue...

Ugh.

Whatever, it was all Shen Nian's fault.

She just wanted to enjoy their little two-person world for a bit longer. She really hoped Sister Shen Yue wouldn't tell her parents or Shen Nian's parents...

...

After New Year's Day, the winter holidays were drawing closer and closer.

The weather had warmed up for a couple of days during the holiday, but the temperature slowly dropped again, hovering steadily around seven or eight degrees Celsius for several days. While this kind of temperature was merely child's play in the north, down in the south, it was considered bitterly cold.

"It's almost time for the holidays."

Shen Nian scrolled through the holiday notice that had been posted on his phone the day before, mentally giving himself a pat on the back for having secretly infiltrated the class parents' group chat.

This wasn't just some rumor; it was the official holiday schedule document that Su Kexi had posted in the parents' group. He figured the school administration had just finalized it in a meeting yesterday, and Su Kexi would likely announce the winter holiday arrangements to the students during today's homeroom period.

Second High was getting out two days earlier than First High, but their start dates for the next term were exactly the same, giving them a full twenty-four days off.

A twenty-four-day winter break was something high school seniors wouldn't even dare dream of. He had heard that before the new stress-reduction policies were implemented, seniors typically only got seven to ten days off for winter break.

The new stress-reduction policies were actually pretty effective. As a pilot school for the program, Second High didn't dare pull any tricks, lest they face the iron fist of the Education Bureau.

Since both First High and Second High were getting such long breaks, other schools, even if they weren't pilot schools, would likely extend their holidays a bit as well... Though, of course, there was no ruling out the possibility of schools organizing "voluntary" make-up classes in secret.

Shen Nian couldn't care less about what other schools did. Either way, he was thrilled. There was very little left for him to learn at school anyway. It was no exaggeration to say that if they were to take the high school exams right now, few teachers in the school could score higher than him.

Blub, blub, blub...

The congee had come to a boil. Shen Nian immediately lifted the lid to let it cool, then scooped out a piping hot bowl of plain white congee. He cracked an egg into it and stirred, letting the residual heat of the congee cook the egg. Finally, he added a dash of soy sauce, and a simple bowl of egg congee was ready.

Shen Nian packed up the breakfast and changed into his clothes for the day. At exactly six-twenty, he opened his front door.

He was greeted by the sight of Xia Yanchun standing by the door opposite his. She had her familiar little ponytail, tied up today with a plastic snowflake hairband. Her thick winter coat made her look soft and fluffy, like an adorable little puffball.

Shen Nian flashed a grin. "What a coincidence. I didn't even have to come knock on your door."

"It's no coincidence. I was waiting for you."

Xia Yanchun lowered her face, exhaling a puff of white breath as her stiff little hands untied her own scarf.

Shen Nian's collar was a bit low, leaving his neck exposed. Xia Yanchun stepped close to his chest, reached up high, and wrapped the scarf around his neck from behind. She crossed the ends in the front and gave it a light pat with her small hands.

"This sweet girl has warmed a sweet guy like me to tears."

"Ew, so cringe."

"Allergic to romance? Dumbass."

"Bleh."

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Single update today, taking a break orz