This Is What a Fated Enemy Looks Like (Finale)

There wasn't much to worry about at the start of the next semester. No need to register, no need to pay tuition, and no need to buy daily necessities. All they needed to do was attend a class meeting at school in the afternoon.

During the afternoon, Xia Yanchun stayed at home specifically to livestream, and she even tested out her newly bought headphones.

Once the livestream ended, all the day's tasks were completely finished.

Dinner was cooked by Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun together. Although her cooking wasn't as delicious as Shen Nian's, Xia Yanchun still loved cooking herself and making Shen Nian act as her assistant.

As everyone knows, washing vegetables and all that is the most troublesome part.

That's exactly what a younger brother is used for.

In the evening, the sky gradually darkened.

Xia Yanchun sat on the sofa, watching the most popular American TV show at the moment with Shen Yue. From time to time, she would pick up a green grape and pop it into her mouth, making her breath smell nicely of green grapes whenever she spoke.

Of course, green grapes have a high sugar content, so if she didn't rinse her mouth, it would eventually leave a bad smell. The smart Xia Yanchun would eat something else to cleanse her palate and cover up the scent.

It's hard for girls not to care about how they smell.

The two older sisters were gathered around watching TV, laughing and giggling. Shen Nian wasn't interested in this kind of workplace American drama, so he went to take a shower.

When he came out, his body was steaming, and his hair stuck up in clumps like a hedgehog.

Hearing the bathroom door open, Xia Yanchun quietly glanced back at Shen Nian, then looked out the balcony. It turned out the sky had already grown so dark.

Sister Shen Yue, do you want to go out for a walk together?

Ah, no. Shen Yue looked depressed, her voice full of resentment. You two students really... don't you know how tired people are after coming home from work? Who has the mood for a walk.

But you've just been cooped up since you got back from work. It's not good for your health if you don't walk around, and... you don't go anywhere on Saturdays and Sundays either, do you?

Gah, mind your own business. The stinky little sister is trying to boss her older sister around now.

Then Shen Nian and I will go down for a walk.

Buy some sugarcane on your way back.

Got it.

Xia Yanchun stood up, tugged at her tight pants, and lifted her chin toward Shen Nian. Going down for a walk?

Let's go.

Shen Nian stepped out in his slippers and pressed the elevator button first. Before long, Xia Yanchun followed him out, squeezing in beside him and gently leaning against him.

Xia Yanchun really liked walking around outside with Shen Nian like this at night. She always felt that life was cozy and beautiful, and wandering aimlessly was quite an enjoyable thing too.

In the neighborhood, the kapok flowers were blooming red, and the ground was slightly wet. While they were having dinner, Lady Winter had secretly sent down a light, continuous drizzle.

The streetlights cast a warm halo, and the chirping of insects was faint. Xia Yanchun lowered her head, making sure each step landed on the blank spaces of the paving stones.

There was a damp scent of early spring in the air. Shen Nian hooked his fingers with Xia Yanchun's and said affectionately, Spring is almost here.

Xia Yanchun's rhythm was disrupted by him, and she stepped right on the joint between two paving stones. She pouted her lips. It's going to get hot soon. Spring has the most rain, and there's also the southern dampness.

Lady Spring is quite wet.

Sexual harassment?

You're too vulgar, I wasn't even thinking in that direction. Shen Nian bared his teeth.

Hmph.

Xia Yanchun didn't believe his nonsense at all. Who would talk about the southern dampness and the plum rain season in such a weird way? She wouldn't believe he didn't do it on purpose.

Does Chunbao not like spring? Shen Nian pulled her small hand over to his side and caressed it.

No, I neither dislike nor like it, I suppose. I still prefer autumn, when it's neither cold nor hot.

Xia Yanchun tilted her head slightly and looked up at Shen Nian. What about you?

As long as Miss Chun is with me, I like every season.

Ew, don't say things like that, it's so cringe. Xia Yanchun grimaced.

Archenemies really weren't suited for sweet talk. Xia Yanchun felt that the most beautiful romantic words in the world were Shen Nian sweetly calling her older sister.

Why rack his brains to think of those embarrassing things when those two words were so much more practical?

I'll say it, so what if I say it? Fight me if you're not happy.

Archenemies were supposed to do the opposite. The less Chunbao liked hearing it, the more it proved he was saying the right thing.

You pig, just shut up. Xia Yanchun elbowed him.

The Mamba power was terrifying indeed; Shen Nian pretended to be scared to tears and quickly shut his mouth.

Even though it was still late winter, the evening breeze already carried a hint of warmth. It dried Shen Nian's hair, blowing it fluffy until strands fell rustling onto his forehead, only to be casually pushed back up by him.

It hadn't been quiet for long before the girl beside him squeezed toward him again and started chattering.

Shen Nian, Shen Nian. Her dark, round almond eyes wide open, Xia Yanchun blankly pressed herself against Shen Nian.

Hmm?

Xia Yanchun twirled the hair by her cheek between her fingers. The dim yellow streetlights illuminated the girl's shyly flushed face as she softly parted her pink lips.

If I'm with you, do you really like every season?

How could that be? I was just teasing you with sweet talk.

Oh my, don't be so serious at a time like this, hurry up and say it.

Uh... Shen Nian gave a fake smile.

It seemed Chunbao didn't entirely dislike hearing sweet talk.

Shen Nian gathered his thoughts and said with feigned deep affection:

Yes, with Chunbao by my side, whether it's early spring or midsummer, clear autumn or deep winter, I equally love every season.

Xia Yanchun covered her mouth and giggled, saying softly, Then, will you stay by my side through a hundred early springs, midsummers, clear autumns, and deep winters?

I've already spent nineteen with you. A hundred is too short, let's make it a hundred and twenty. I want to spend a hundred and twenty four-seasons with you.

Ew, so cheesy.

Hey, you silly Chun...

Alright, alright. Xia Yanchun interrupted his spellcasting, jogging two steps ahead with a sparkling aura, refusing to listen to his chattering.

Just like when they were little.

Waiting for Shen Nian to come over and tuck her hair.

The hair by her ear was quickly lifted by a certain someone and gently tucked behind her ear.

Chunbao, what other sweet words do you want to hear?

I don't want to hear anymore!

Archenemies shouldn't listen to too much sweet talk. She had wanted to hear it just now and let Shen Nian say a few things, which was exactly why her face felt so hot right now. If she listened to any more, her ears would start burning too!

If that happened, she'd definitely have to punish Shen Nian and make him give her a piggyback ride all the way home!

Chunbao, Chunbao... Shen Nian leaned in, breathing against her face.

Xia Yanchun turned her face away, refusing to let him kiss her. They were outside, so even a kiss on the cheek wasn't allowed!

...

In the end, she still couldn't stop him and got a kiss on the cheek.

Shameless. So annoying.

...

The next day, the first day of school.

The clouds rolled and stretched across a clear, bright sky. Early spring had arrived.

Xia Yanchun wore a light beige jacket over a white graphic short-sleeved shirt, paired with loose white trousers, white canvas shoes, and hidden little white socks.

She hadn't cared much about her outfits while at home, but today was the start of the semester, so she had to pay some attention to her style!

That's just how a sweet-style beautiful girl does things.

The sun was slightly slanted; it was afternoon, and Mr. Sun was a bit dazzling.

Xia Yanchun, are you ready yet? Shen Nian stood at the door, peering inside.

Ready, ready!

Xia Yanchun trotted out, locked the door, and went downstairs with Shen Nian.

She took a look at Shen Nian's outfit: a dark jacket and trousers, the zipper open to reveal a short-sleeved shirt inside. It was obvious he had put some thought into it.

Not bad, quite handsome.

Just quite handsome?

"Be content. In my dictionary, 'quite handsome' already means 'super, super handsome'."

"So you admit I'm super, super handsome?"

"You... Tsk, whatever." Xia Yanchun puffed out her cheeks, feeling a bit foolish.

Whatever. She was going to sulk and make Shen Nian guess why. She wouldn't say a single word to him until they got in the car!

Shen Nian drove the car out. Their destination was the school gate, as Chunbao had made plans to go shopping with the petite loli girl.

As they got closer to the school, the traffic increased.

After finally reaching the school gate, Shen Nian parked nearby. Since the little loli hadn't arrived yet, he had no choice but to stand under a tree with Xia Yanchun to wait.

Shen Nian felt something lightly scratching his hand. He looked down, couldn't help but chuckle, and grasped Chunbao's mischievous little hand.

Wanting to hold hands but not saying it directly, instead dropping hints by scratching him with her pinky finger—how ridiculous.

She really had the tsundere act down to an art.

"Chunbao, your hands are so small."

"You pervert."

"..."

Shen Nian wasn't annoyed. Listening to the rustling of the leaves, his heart felt exceptionally peaceful.

"Chunbao..."

"Hmm?" Xia Yanchun leaned slightly against him, shifting a bit of her weight onto him.

"Are we the absolute best in the world today?"

"..." Xia Yanchun was silent for a moment. "You're so stubborn. We're already engaged, yet you're still obsessing over being the best in the world."

"This is called staying true to my original intentions. From the very beginning, I just wanted to be the best in the world with you. But even after confessing and getting engaged, you're still keeping me hanging."

"Idiot, we are destined rivals. We can't be the best in the world."

"Then what about those few times before?"

"Consider that my indulgence. That was your big sister's exclusive leniency towards you."

"Damn, so being the best in the world is just a little romantic game between rivals? You really know how to play, Haji Chun."

"I never said that. You're the one saying it."

"Alright, alright." Shen Nian intertwined his fingers with hers. "Then what should I do if I want us to be the best in the world?"

"Then I suppose I'll indulge you just a little bit!"

"Chunbao is the best."

"Do you love it?"

"I love it, I love it. I like Chunbao the most."

Her eyelashes fluttered lightly. Xia Yanchun couldn't hold back her emotions; little flowers were blooming all over her heart.

"...I also like Nianbao the most, the very most."

"Don't you find that cheesy, you Haji Chun?"

"How dare you call me cheesy! I'll hit you, I'll hit you!"

"Hey!"

A youthful girl's voice came from not far away.

"Little Chun! Little Chun! Shen Nian! Have you been waiting long? I'm here!"

Hearing Li Shiyan's voice, Xia Yanchun immediately withdrew her hand, letting Shen Nian off the hook, and trotted over sparklingly to hug Li Shiyan.

Shen Nian chuckled. She really had the act of forgetting her lover the moment she saw her friend down perfectly.

The lingering warmth of Chunbao's hand was still in his palm.

That was just how destined rivals were.

Destined rivals. First comes destiny, then comes the rivalry.

Shen Nian was going to accompany Xia Yanchun through one hundred and twenty four-seasons.

Xia Yanchun was going to accompany Shen Nian through one hundred and twenty four-seasons.

Every early spring, midsummer, crisp autumn, and deep winter, they would spend together.

That was just how destined rivals were!

(End of Main Story)