Serenade

That night's experience could be called magical for Bo Yan.

The girls spent an entire hour just taking selfies in the Hello Kitty themed store, then went to eat desserts and took more photos at the dessert shop. After that, they went shopping for clothes and Shen Shishan took a barrage of photos again!

After taking the photos, they carefully selected a few that everyone agreed on, added various beauty filters, and posted them on Moments, giving each other likes.

Bo Yan had a complete WTF look the entire time.

Jin Xi felt that Bo Yan was quite bored following her and her friends around, so she pulled him over to take pictures together so he would feel more included.

Bo Yan didn't like taking photos much, but he went along with it this time, plastering on a professional smile, and took selfies with the girls.

"Jin Xi, can we post photos with your senior on Moments?" her bestie quietly asked Jin Xi: "Such a handsome guy playing with us! Posting it will make others green with envy."

Jin Xi turned around and asked Bo Yan again: "Can we post your photos on Moments?"

"Do you want to post them?"

Jin Xi emphasized: "My friend wants to."

Bo Yan looked at her askance, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly: "Do you want to?"

Jin Xi blinked her clear deer-like eyes and said, "I'm fine either way."

Bo Yan said, "If you want my consent, then you have to post too."

Jin Xi looked back at her besties, and they nodded vigorously at her.

Left with no choice, Jin Xi edited the photos and posted them -

"Friends forever..."

And a certain guy who wandered onto the wrong set.

At 9pm, the girls bid each other goodbye with hugs and kisses.

Strolling under the moonlight tonight, Bo Yan walked with Jin Xi and accompanied her back to school.

The night sky was starless and moonless, and a light breeze brought a touch of early autumn's coolness.

Bo Yan had his hands in his pockets, walking behind her, exuding a lazy, leisurely air.

For some reason, with Bo Yan accompanying her, Jin Xi always felt very sleepy and wanted to fall asleep on him.

It made her feel quite safe.

As if recalling something, Jin Xi asked, "Why did you suddenly want to hang out with me?"

Bo Yan didn't hide it and told her straight: "Someone said you had a date tonight, so I wanted to see who your boyfriend was."

Jin Xi was stunned for a moment, her face flushing: "Boyfriend! Who spread such rumors, how annoying!"

Bo Yan said, "Go back and help me beat up his roommate."

Jin Xi stopped in her tracks and looked up at Bo Yan: "But that's also very strange, even if I was going on a date, why would you want to see my boyfriend?"

Bo Yan casually walked up to her, leaned down, and slowly moved closer to her face.

Jin Xi clearly felt his handsome features gradually magnifying.

"Mm..."

What was he doing?

With just a few centimeters between them, they looked into each other's eyes. Jin Xi felt like she was having a bit of... trouble breathing.

She moved her gaze elsewhere, but Bo Yan pressed the back of her head and forced her to keep looking at him.

His features were distinct, his profile quite aggressive, his eyes sharp -

"No dating allowed."

Jin Xi blinked her eyes, her lashes brushing his nose bridge like little brushes: "Huh?"

"You're still too young, boys aren't pure these days, don't get involved with them, understand?"

Jin Xi took a few steps back and looked up at Bo Yan, making Bo Yan feel a little uncomfortable, his ears turning red -

"If you want to date, you should find a better guy."

Like the one right in front of you.

After a long pause, Jin Xi simply uttered an "Oh", which seemed like she agreed.

Bo Yan casually ruffled her hair, the corners of his lips curving up as he led her towards the school.

The girl obediently followed him, very well-behaved, which inevitably made him feel a little envious of Shen Pingchuan.

To have such an adorable and obedient little sister growing up with you, yet Shen Pingchuan still managed to grow up so annoying, it really was his own karma.

When they reached the school entrance, Jin Xi received a call from her stepfather Shen Shishan.

"Little Xi, where are you?"

"I'm at school." Jin Xi felt a little guilty, since it was so late.

Although, she hadn't actually entered the school gates, so she was technically still at school.

"Uncle Shen, what's wrong?"

Shen Shishan said angrily: "Your brother got into a fight and was taken to the police station. I was worried something might happen to you too, which is why I called to ask. It's good that you're fine."

"Shen Pingchuan was in a fight? And got taken to the police station?"

Bo Yan looked up at Jin Xi.

Jin Xi insisted: "Shen Pingchuan is a good student, how could he get into fights? It must be a misunderstanding!"

Shen Shishan said, "I'm going to the police station to get him now. I don't know the details yet. Don't go running around so late at night, just stay put at school."

After Jin Xi hung up, she was full of worry.

"Senior, how could Shen Pingchuan get into a fight and end up at the police station? Shen Pingchuan would never fight, he always talks things out reasonably. As a student leader he has always led by example. He must have been ganged up on."

Bo Yan was about to say that it was quite normal for Shen Pingchuan to get beaten up, but seeing how anxious Jin Xi was, he didn't have the heart to mock him. He walked over and patted her shoulder: "Don't panic first, let your uncle handle it. You should head back first."

Jin Xi shook her head: "I have to go home and wait, Uncle Shen must be furious, he'll definitely hit him. I have to go back and stop him, or Shen Pingchuan will end up hospitalized tonight."

"I'll send you back."

"No need, the dorms have a curfew soon. My home is quite far, Senior doesn't need to send me back."

As Jin Xi spoke, she had already opened up a ride-hailing app.

"If you live far away, I definitely can't let you go alone." Bo Yan said, "Haven't you seen the news? Female university students going missing, their bodies found dumped in the wilderness a few days later."

Jin Xi shivered, clearly a little afraid: "Then... I'll still have to trouble Senior to send me back."

Her home was indeed quite far, in an upscale neighborhood on the outskirts of the city.

Bo Yan knew of this neighborhood, it was one of the more low-key rich enclaves in the city. The reason it was low-key was because the neighborhood didn't have lavish mansions, just 3-4 storey garden townhouses, so it wasn't ostentatious. But the environment and property management were excellent.

The car stopped at the entrance to the neighborhood. Bo Yan asked her: "Is anyone home?"

Jin Xi shook her head: "I don't know, Uncle Shen might not be back yet."

"What about your mother?"

"Ah, mother has passed away."

Bo Yan was slightly stunned, then quickly realized, looking at her in surprise. She seemed quite normal emotionally, so it must have happened a long time ago.

Thus he didn't say anything more about it.

Jin Xi swiped her access card and entered through the neighborhood gates, walking a few steps before turning back. She realized Bo Yan still hadn't left, standing alone under the lamplight watching her.

With his hands in his pockets, his tall figure looked a little bleak under the lamplight.

Jin Xi waved at him to get going.

**

Not long after she returned home, Shen Shishan dragged Shen Pingchuan in by the collar, as if hauling in a puppy.

Shen Shishan's expression was ugly. As they entered, he even gave Shen Pingchuan a shove.

"Getting into fights and even hauled to the police station! You've got some nerve, Shen Pingchuan."

Shen Pingchuan stumbled from the push, nearly falling over. Fortunately Jin Xi rushed over to steady him.

Shen Pingchuan's face was bruised, with a bluish-black mark at the corner of his mouth, and some swollen skin around his eyes. He really did get into a brawl and was heroically injured.

"Like father, like son. With a rich and powerful dad, my audacity is also thanks to dear old dad."

"You still have the cheek to say that! I won't beat you to death!"

Jin Xi hurried to stand in front of Shen Pingchuan: "Keep egging him on, looks like you haven't been beaten enough today."

"Why did you come back?" Shen Pingchuan was surprised to see Jin Xi. "Who told you to come back?"

"I came back to watch Uncle Shen beat you up!" Jin Xi said. "You've got some nerve getting into fights."

Shen Pingchuan angrily pushed her away: "Go go, go back to your room. Meddlesome girl, running back just because you like watching your brother get into trouble."

"You still dare scold your sister." Shen Shishan was so angry he grabbed a cane to beat him. "You're still talking back! I told you to set a good example for your sister, and this is how you set an example! Drinking at bars, getting into brawls! Have you stuffed all your textbooks into the dog's stomach?"

Shen Pingchuan dodged the cane strikes, hanging his head and not talking back anymore.

Shen Shishan angrily pointed at him: "I was hoping you would have a future, that after graduating I could hand the company over to you. But now it looks like even your sister has more prospects than you!"

Shen Pingchuan glanced at Jin Xi: "What does she know, just a bratty little sister. Not even surnamed Shen. Dad, I'm your own son."

"Jin Xi is my own daughter."

Shen Pingchuan laughed and said, "Then make her call you Dad."

Shen Shishan's slipper flew at him again. Shen Pingchuan tilted his head and dodged it.

Jin Xi picked up both slippers for Shen Shishan and obediently placed them at his feet, then turned and said to Shen Pingchuan: "Don't try to divert the blame. Quick, honestly explain why you were at bars and getting into fights!"

Shen Pingchuan looked at her as if at a sneaky little wolf cub: "It was all because of someone!"

Jin Xi frowned: "It couldn't have been because of me right, since I was the one who asked you to go to bars?"

"Wasn't it because..."

Shen Pingchuan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gave up and obediently admitted his mistakes to his father: "It was because I've been under a lot of academic pressure recently, and friends dragged me out clubbing. I ran into some petty thugs there who insulted me, and I lost my temper for a moment and beat them up."

"There's no academic pressure, school just started!"

Jin Xi didn't believe Shen Pingchuan's excuses one bit. She knew him too well, he was basically a studying machine, how could he be under pressure?

"Uncle Shen, don't believe him, there must be some other reason."

"Bratty girl, keep quiet. Itching for a beating huh."

"You still dare yell at your sister!" Shen Shishan immediately grabbed a cane to beat him. "Just tell the truth! Why were you fighting!"

Shen Shishan was a crude man who didn't know how to discipline children well. He grew up getting beaten with sticks himself, so he had always adhered to the philosophy that the stick educates the child. Fortunately Shen Pingchuan had been an obedient child since young, rarely getting hit. As for Jin Xi, she was his stepdaughter, and he couldn't bear to hit her even if she acted out sometimes.

Now that two strikes landed firmly on Shen Pingchuan's back, he yelped in pain. In the end he still shamelessly hid behind his sister.

Jin Xi stood out to protect Shen Pingchuan: "Uncle Shen, don't hit him. My brother has delicate skin and tender flesh. He can't take a beating. Please sit down and rest. Let's talk this through."

Shen Shishan had always wanted a daughter. After getting Jin Xi, he doted on her even more as if she were his youngest daughter. She had rushed back home to watch the commotion. As parents, how could they not know? She was here to protect her brother.

Shen Shishan pointed at Shen Pingchuan angrily: "For your sister's sake, I'll let you off this time. If there's a next time, you won't get away so easily."

Shen Pingchuan wanted to explain further but Jin Xi glared at him fiercely, so he swallowed his words.

Late at night, Jin Xi brought disinfectant iodine and some herbal medicine ointment that promoted blood circulation and relieved bruises. She sneaked into Shen Pingchuan's room.

The desk lamp was on. He was sitting at his desk, immersed in his nightly reading.

"Knock knock, the model student got beaten up today, didn't he?"

Without lifting his head, Shen Pingchuan turned a page and continued reading. He let out a quiet snort, "Little white-eyed wolf."

Jin Xi walked over to the desk and dampened a cotton swab with iodine on her own. Then she held Shen Pingchuan's jaw and dabbed at the corner of his mouth.

A light stubble graced his youthful jawline. Only now did Jin Xi realize her little brother had really grown up.

Not only had he gotten taller, his muscles had grown too. The little boy had become a young man, and the young man had become a man.

Shen Pingchuan turned his face away and grumbled, "Go away. I'm still mad."

"Don't move."

Jin Xi glared at him with her doe eyes and Shen Pingchuan immediately behaved, letting her tend to the wound at the corner of his mouth. "Ow, that hurts!"

"You know it hurts yet you still pick fights with people."

"That guy didn't get off easy either. I knocked out two of his teeth!"

Jin Xi: He seems quite proud of himself.

"So what exactly happened?" She asked sternly, "Why were you at a bar?"

There were many things he couldn't tell his father, but siblings share everything. Surely he could tell her?

But Shen Pingchuan impatiently said, "It's none of your business."

"Is it because someone at school has it out for you and wants to get back at you?"

"There are plenty of people who can't stand me." Shen Pingchuan said, "Today I made an example. From now on, they'll think twice before laying a finger on my sister..."

He paused for a second, "Before plotting against me, I'll skin them alive!"

Jin Xi pressed down hard and Shen Pingchuan yelped in pain.

She glared at him, "It must be someone from school. I told you not to show off too much. You just wouldn't listen. Now the whole school hates you."

"I don't care what they think. I just do my own thing. I'm not concerned with them. Anyway, enough about me, little sister. Weren't you going shopping with your high school friends today? How was it?"

"It was really fun. Xiaojia and the others are the same as before." Suddenly, Jin Xi's mouth curved into a smile, "Something funny happened today. Bo Yan came with us too."

"Bo Yan?" Shen Pingchuan's expression changed, "What was he doing there?"

"He said he thought I was going on a blind date so he wanted to keep an eye on me." The more Jin Xi thought about it, the more amused she was. "With you not around, you wouldn't believe it. He followed our group of girls into a Hello Kitty theme store. It was so awkward for him..."

Shen Pingchuan opened his mouth slightly, then slowly closed it again. He was at a loss for words. After a long pause, he ruffled Jin Xi's hair, "Go to bed now."

"You too. Go to sleep early." Jin Xi packed up the medicine bottles on the desk. "I'll tell Uncle Shen not to be mad at you anymore."

Shen Pingchuan looked at her in disgust, "Little sister, don't try to steal my father from me. He's my real dad. I don't need you to put in a good word for me, stepdaughter."

Jin Xi shrugged. "Good night, silly."

**

That night when Bo Yan returned to his dorm, the door was locked as expected. But he had a silver tongue, exchanging a few pleasantries and the dorm manager auntie happily opened the door for him.

Right after washing up and lying down, he received a WeChat friend request: Mountain River Tidal Bore.

Seeing this name, Bo Yan felt a dull ache. He could guess who had added him.

After accepting the request, Shen Pingchuan got right to the point: "Bo Yan, come to the student council office tomorrow to pick up your dorm's erotic magazines."

Bo Yan: "Are you done reading them, old man?"

Shen Pingchuan: "Piss off."

Bo Yan: "Ugly and rude. No wonder you got beaten up."

Shen Pingchuan was silent for a few minutes before saying, "Anyway...thank you for looking after my little sister today."

Bo Yan didn't reply. A few minutes later, his phone lit up again.