Are you coming back tonight

It had been raining for two days straight, forcing Shen Nian to complete his workout routine indoors.

Exercising in his room was far less comfortable than in the park—limited to sit-ups, push-ups, and the like.

Shen Yue was still resting, so he couldn’t even make too much noise.

He wasn’t exactly a fitness enthusiast to begin with, and after a solid hour, even his usual vigor couldn’t stop his abs and arms from aching.

As for results? Let’s just say these past few days of exercise had done almost nothing for his stamina.

Damn system, leveling up so slowly—couldn’t it at least throw him a 12-hour EXP card?

Ever since issuing that body transformation quest, the system had gone radio silent. Were systems these days just slacking off?

After a shower, Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun headed downstairs together, their umbrellas bobbing one after the other. Fat raindrops smacked against the pavement, splashing tiny beads of water that soaked into Shen Nian’s cloth shoes.

Rainy days turned sidewalk tiles into landmines—you never knew which one was loose, how much water lurked beneath, or just how high the splash would be when you stepped on it.

Shen Nian carefully trailed behind Xia Yanchun, lifting his umbrella to squeeze closer. "Weekly test later. Wanna bet who finishes first?"

"If I win, you call me ‘daddy’ twice. If you win, I’ll skip two bites of lunch."

Xia Yanchun shot him a sidelong glance, her almond eyes brimming with disbelief.

What kind of human even says that?

"Why not just say if I lose, I give you 300 bucks, and if you lose, you give me 20 cents?"

"Sure, that works too."

"Even Li Hongzhang wouldn’t sign that treaty!"

Shen Nian rubbed his chin. "Scared?"

"Your reverse psychology won’t work on me."

"Wasn’t reverse psychology. Just genuine disdain and mockery."

Xia Yanchun rolled her eyes and ignored him.

Shen Nian started flicking the little ponytail at the back of her head—springy and bouncy.

He couldn’t explain why it was fun, but ever since childhood, he’d followed Xia Yanchun around, playing with her hair like this. It had become a habit.

Sometimes, he’d even tuck the loose strands behind her ears so they wouldn’t tickle her face.

That’s just how us considerate guys are.

Most girls would’ve blushed or gotten shy from such teasing.

Xia Yanchun wasn’t most girls. No flushed cheeks, no racing heart.

She wasn’t human (just kidding).

When she didn’t protest, Shen Nian grew bolder, amusing himself all the way until they reached the school gates. Only then did Xia Yanchun shake her head free and glare.

"Are you a child?"

"Men are boys forever!"

"Drop dead!"

The classroom was already half-full. Shen Nian took his seat and breezed through his studies until first period.

Saturdays were mostly self-study. Some students napped—like Ma Mingfan at the desk in front, who dozed lightly through morning study hall only to wake up and find several blank test papers piled on his desk. The shock sent him straight back to dreamland.

A horror story unique to high schoolers: Skip one day and return to a mountain of untouched exams.

Just kidding. They’d pile up whether you skipped, slept through class, or stayed awake.

The terror of senior year could make anyone cry.

The weekly test didn’t require completion during class, so many students caught up on sleep—even Li Shiyan borrowed Xia Yanchun’s tiny pillow to nap facedown.

Senior year students were perpetually sleep-deprived. Xia Yanchun herself was fighting drowsiness, her mind as soft as cotton candy, while Shen Nian looked alarmingly energetic.

"Aren’t you tired?" she whispered. "What time did you sleep last night?"

"One."

"You only got five hours?!"

"Four, actually." Shen Nian grinned. "Woke up at five to work out for an hour."

"Liar."

"Fine, don’t believe me. No point arguing with a dummy like you."

He didn’t press further. No skin off his back if she doubted him.

Smoothing out his test paper, he started with English. The weekly test was a chance to measure his progress—who didn’t love seeing improvement?

Out of 100 points, he estimated an 85, maybe even breaking 90.

The test was shorter and easier. Top students like Xia Yanchun or Lan Fukai aced it effortlessly.

Comparing himself to them would only crush his morale, so Shen Nian measured himself against his past self. The more he won against his old scores, the more his confidence grew.

After English, the other subjects were a breeze. Energy restored, he became an unstoppable rookie adventurer, slaying all six "monsters" (subjects) by noon.

By afternoon, the clouds had split open.

Sunlight pierced through, casting beams that made the distant view look like something out of a fairy tale.

With two classes left, Shen Nian’s focus waned. He propped his chin on his hand and gazed out the window.

Bored, he crooked a finger at Xia Yanchun.

"Psst."

"What?"

"Come here. Let’s space out together."

Xia Yanchun took his seat.

She’d been daydreaming too, too listless to resist. Weekends always killed the study vibe.

And so, two rivals sat side by side, lost in thought until the bell rang…

High schoolers were usually zombies—drained by studies and erratic sleep—only reviving for the weekend.

Especially the boys. The mere thought of going home had them grinning ear to ear. You know why.

Just purging impure thoughts from their systems.

The school gate was jammed with cars, traffic cops waving frantically while street vendors set up shop right under their noses.

The ground was still damp, and muddy water splashed onto shoe tips.

Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun grabbed fast food downstairs.

Back home, they found Shen Yue sprawled on the couch, asleep, some brain-dead office drama still playing on TV. Living the life.

"Wake up and sleep properly," Shen Nian poked her forehead.

"Mmm… bro, you’re back," Shen Yue mumbled, rubbing her eyes groggily, pouting. "Did you get me food?"

"Order your own takeout."

The older he got, the less he obeyed his sister.

Little Shen Nian had been adorable. Big Shen Nian? All defiance, growing colder by the day. If he ever brought a girlfriend home, would he punch his own sister and kick her out?

"Heartless creature."

"Yeah, yeah, heartless hag."

After a shower, he returned to find Shen Yue still lazing on the couch. Hard to believe anime’s elegant older sisters existed when real ones were just lazy freeloaders.

Gentle? Not a chance.

Shen Nian tossed the fast food on the table. "Out of the kindness of my heart, here’s 20 bucks’ worth of pity."

"This is a 10-yuan meal," Shen Yue’s deadfish expression vanished. "What’ll you eat?"

"Mooching instant noodles at Xia Yanchun’s."

"Poor you, stinky little bro."

"If you’ve got a conscience, wire me 200."

"In your dreams."

Shen Yue did send him 50, though—the extra 30 being her half-hearted sisterly love.

What can I say? I’m gorgeous and generous.

"Going to Xia Yanchun’s."

"Coming back tonight?"

"?"

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