"What do you think of Yu Xin?" Liu Yutong suddenly found the question popping into her mind as she was about to leave, and she couldn’t help but voice it.
She wasn’t asking because she suspected any relationship between Yu Xin and Yu Mo—in fact, the two were most likely unrelated, sharing nothing more than a surname.
Her question was more about gauging whether Yu Mo was the kind of person who would bite the hand that fed him.
If she helped him, only for him to pull a "the first sword after reaching shore strikes the one who loved you most," just like his father, that would be downright heartbreaking.
The mention of Yu Xin caught Yu Mo off guard. It was as if something had gently brushed against the softest part of his heart.
Truth be told, his father had never paid him much attention, let alone cared for him. And after his stepmother gave birth to his younger siblings, he had practically become invisible in the family.
Honestly, it had been a long time since he’d felt the warmth of someone standing up for him, shielding him from harm.
Admittedly, there was a certain shame in a grown man being protected by a girl.
But whenever he recalled the scene from his childhood—Yu Meng stubbornly spreading her tiny arms in front of their father, shielding Yu Fei whenever he made a mistake—he couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming envy.
Envy for Yu Fei, envy for having a sister like that.
Even though he was their brother too, he had always been treated like an outsider.
After a long pause, Yu Mo finally murmured, "I often think… if Yu Xin were my sister… I’d fight to the death for her."
Liu Yutong clearly hadn’t expected that answer.
But she was satisfied.
..............
8 p.m., University District streets.
Liu Yutong and Gao Min were strolling along the sidewalk when, halfway through their walk, snow began to fall—and it only grew heavier.
Yun Cheng, who had been trailing behind them, quickly bought a large black umbrella from a nearby convenience store and caught up, holding it over them.
But Liu Yutong waved him off. "No need."
A hint of delight flickered across her face as she reached out to catch the snowflakes.
"It’s been so long since I’ve seen snow. It’s wonderful."
"It snows every year. You make it sound like you haven’t seen it in ages."
"I haven’t."
"Uh…"
Liu Yutong didn’t explain. In her past life, she had lived in the south, where snow was rare.
After walking in the snow for a few minutes, she spotted a photo booth with a neon-pink sign that read, "Digital Sticker Photos—5 yuan per sheet."
On a whim, she pulled Gao Min inside.
The walls were plastered with sample photos, most featuring edgy, emo-style poses with dramatic hair and melancholic 45-degree-angle gazes.
"Boss, we’d like to take some sticker photos."
As it turned out, girls had a natural affinity for photo-taking.
Gao Min had initially felt a little awkward being alone with Liu Yutong. In her eyes, Liu Yutong had always carried an air of mystery.
But as Liu Yutong excitedly dragged her into selecting backdrops, she gradually forgot her reservations.
Soon, the two squeezed into the photo booth and started snapping away.
About fifteen minutes later, they finally finished.
"Glossy or matte finish?"
"Matte, obviously. Matte is forever superior!"
"Matte does have a nicer feel to it."
".........."
Once they made their choice, the shop owner handed them the printed photos. "Here you go. Happy with them?"
Liu Yutong took the photos, and the two huddled together to admire them.
The matte texture gave the photos a nostalgic charm. Gao Min pointed at one particularly silly shot of the two of them making faces and burst out laughing. "This one’s so dumb—but I love it!"
"Then let’s get an extra copy, one for each of us."
"Sure! I’ll treasure it."
Yun Cheng, who had been standing to the side, couldn’t resist chiming in. "Um… could I get one too?"
He had never even dreamed of witnessing such a scene—the two "young misses" getting along so warmly—and he desperately wanted a keepsake.
If Yun Cheng hadn’t spoken up, Liu Yutong might have forgotten he was there. "Sure, but you should take some photos too."
A short while later, Yun Cheng emerged clutching a sheet of photos—each one featuring the same stiff, unnatural expression, as if his face had been copy-pasted onto every frame.
"Pfft—ha! You look like you’re on a wanted poster. Every shot’s identical!"
"Yeah, so awkward!"
Yun Cheng: "......"
As he watched them giggle over the photos, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the two of them really did resemble sisters.
And it had been a long time since he’d seen the young miss so… relaxed. Or rather, completely unguarded.
She seemed just like any ordinary college girl.
Just as Liu Yutong and Gao Min were busy trimming their photos, the shop door swung open, and a couple walked in.
But the moment the guy spotted Yun Cheng, he instinctively tried to turn around and drag the girl out with him.
"Going somewhere, Xiao Bin?"
Xiao Bin froze, then forced a sheepish grin as he turned back.
"Brother Yun! What a coincidence! What brings you here?"
"What else would I be doing here? Waiting for your grand arrival, of course."
Xiao Bin: "......"
"Brother Yun, you’re joking, right?"
Just then, the punkish girl beside him scowled. "Bin, who the hell is this guy? Acting all high and mighty—doesn’t he know who you are?"
Xiao Bin’s face paled. "Shut up! This is Brother Yun—a top enforcer of the Ten Thousand Dragons!"
"Uh, Brother Yun, I won’t disturb you further. We’ll just be on our way—"
But before he could turn around, a loud commotion erupted outside—the sound of countless footsteps crunching through the snow.
When Xiao Bin saw the sea of black-clad figures approaching, his legs nearly gave out.
"Brother Yun, Brother Yun! I’ve turned over a new leaf! I swear, I’d never betray you or Miss Liu!"
By then, Gao Min had also noticed the disturbance. Without hesitation, she rushed to the door—and her pupils shrank at the sight before her.
Now she understood exactly why Liu Yutong had invited her out tonight.
As Liu Yutong stepped out from behind Gao Min, Xiao Bin’s fear skyrocketed.
"Miss Liu! Miss Liu! I’ve never opposed you! Last time, I didn’t even get involved! Please, spare me—Qiao Yong and the others plotting against you has nothing to do with me!"
"Oh? Then why don’t you tell Officer Gao what Qiao Yong and his men are up to across the street?"
In that moment, Liu Yutong seemed like an entirely different person—radiating an aura so oppressive it was suffocating.
