Xie Tangning gave a little hum. “No wonder you’re the only one home. But Mom and Dad definitely didn’t go out to pick up a back-to-school gift for me!”
“They deliberately abandoned us and turned the family time that belonged to us into their own little date!”
Lu Huaiyu shrugged. “What can we do? That kind couple really are each other’s one true love. The three of us are true love too, of course!”
“But there are different levels of true love.”
Xie Tangning nodded. That sounded perfectly reasonable.
“Big Brother, why aren’t you out having fun with your friends? Is it because your friends have finally realized that you’re a terrible person…”
“So now you can’t get any of them to hang out with you?”
Hearing the little girl’s painfully accurate remarks, Lu Huaiyu had just picked out a piece of fish and was preparing to put it in her bowl when his chopsticks abruptly changed direction and delivered it into his own mouth instead.
“Watch what you’re saying! With Mom and Dad away, your number-one-best Big Brother turned down all his invitations so he could stay home and keep you company.”
“And this is how you think of me? You’ve hurt me so deeply~ Sob, sob, sob~”
“Hmph. I’m not going to comfort you!”
Mr. Lu had absolutely no talent for acting, and his performance was painfully fake.
Xie Tangning merely gave him a languid sideways glance. She had always been devoted to indulging her brother, but for once, she refused to play along.
With an accusing look, she said, “Are you really staying home just to keep me company? Or are you only here to watch me struggle with my homework?”
Lu Huaiyu immediately raised four fingers and swore on the spot. “Of course I am! I’ve never lied to you even once, okay?”
That was technically true—he had never lied to her just once. He had lied to her countless times!
He would never admit that he was simply there to watch Xie Tangning make a fool of herself. Ever since the beginning of summer vacation, he had been urging her to finish her holiday homework properly.
He had even secretly stuffed the assignments into her suitcase so she could work on them while filming the show.
But the little rascal had gone right ahead and procrastinated until today, then started pulling all-nighters to finish everything.
It was a common affliction among students, and Xie Tangning was no exception.
The little girl let out a deep sigh, fully aware that this was all thanks to her procrastination.
All she could do was speed up her eating, hoping to finish that cursed Chinese-language test paper before tonight.
That way, she could enjoy the final day of her vacation tomorrow!
Unexpectedly, by four in the afternoon, Xie Tangning had finally finished all her holiday homework after racing against the clock.
The child felt refreshed and invigorated. When she noticed that it still wasn’t time for dinner, she immediately changed her clothes and headed out.
She had to seize this opportunity to go laugh at Qin Shuchun and Monkey Bro!
The moment she reached the ground floor, she ran into Lu Huaiyu, who was already holding the car keys. Clearly, this Big Brother understood his little sister’s habits very well.
Xie Tangning hopped over to him in delight. “Big Brother, we really are the best duo in the world! I love you so much, Big Brother!”
“I’ll be your most loyal solo stan for the rest of my life!”
Lu Huaiyu lightly tapped her on the head. “Let me show you what your Big Brother can do behind the wheel. I guarantee I’ll get you to the Qin residence in record time.”
With that promise, Xie Tangning immediately grabbed him and hurried outside. Just as they reached the entrance, they happened to run into Xie Changyu, who had returned home.
And so, the wicked little squad gained another member. Xie Changyu joined them successfully, announcing that he had already opened the recording function on his phone.
He was ready to document this historic moment: Xie Tangning, for once, had finished her homework first and could be the first to mock her friends.
When Xie Tangning arrived at the Qin residence, Qin Shuchun was still battling the last biology paper. Her pen was practically spinning fast enough to throw off sparks.
That was exactly when Xie Tangning walked in.
“Well, well, well~ Miss Qin still hasn’t finished her homework? Look at those poor little hands—they’re practically about to cramp up!”
“So pitiful~ Unlike me, terrifyingly disciplined as always. I finished my homework ages ago!”
Qin Shuchun looked up at her speechlessly. If Xie Tangning hadn’t been holding up her phone and recording, she would have completely abandoned all expression management by now.
Qin Shuchun pasted on a smile that never reached her eyes and forced each word out through clenched teeth.
“Xie Tangning, are you out of your mind?”
Xie Tangning’s grin only grew more obnoxious. “Come on, come on. Please share your thoughts on becoming classmates with a model student as disciplined as me!”
What thoughts could she possibly have? She only wanted to poke the pen in her hand into Xie Tangning’s forehead. Why was this girl so unbelievably annoying?
The stream of curses had already reached the tip of her tongue when Xie Tangning accurately predicted what was coming, cut her off, and launched into a self-congratulatory speech of her own.
“Don’t say anything. As the best besties in the entire world, I understand exactly what you want to say!”
“The endless praise surging through your heart for me is as mighty as the rushing waters of the Yellow River. I can already see the admiration overflowing from your eyes!”
“We really are the best sisters. Let’s toast with milk tea!”
After firing off that entire barrage of nonsense, the little girl took a deep sip from the milk tea she had bought on the way over.
Qin Shuchun: “…”
Why had I ever become besties with someone who looked like she’d just escaped from a mental hospital every second of every day?
What exactly did I see in her?
Her shamelessness? Or the fact that she was clearly not quite right in the head?
Xie Tangning didn’t get a response from her bestie and poked her in dissatisfaction. “Don’t just sit there laying eggs!”
“Say something! Careful, I’ll report you for giving me the silent treatment!”
Qin Shuchun was so furious that she laughed. She snatched the other cup of taro milk tea from Xie Tangning’s hand and took a long sip before finally feeling alive again.
“Ergou, are you feeling especially regretful that we missed our chance to spar because you didn’t attend summer training camp this year?”
What she meant was: Are you asking to be beaten?
Xie Tangning stared at the video she had just recorded on her phone, looking even more insufferable than before.
“I’ve recorded that expression of yours after you completely lost it. I’ll treasure it properly, and I’ll take it out to enjoy again and again~”
“No need to thank me, my dear Da Mahou~”
“I’m off to laugh at the next victim~ Bye!”
As she spoke, the little girl had already reached the doorway.
Qin Shuchun was so angry that she grabbed the stuffed toy beside her and threw it at her.
Without even turning her head, Xie Tangning reached backward and caught the Stitch plushie in midair.
A plastic bestie confirmed!
After being ruthlessly mocked and losing one of her stuffed toys, Qin Shuchun lightly smacked her right hand with her left.
“Useless hand! What would it have cost you to write faster?”
“Why did you give in to temptation and build that cursed LEGO set last night? Bad hand, this is all your fault!”
She had wasted so much time, only for that little monster Xie Tangning to beat her to the finish line.
Qin Shuchun continued scolding her own hand.
Her hand: My owner seems to have some serious issues!
Outside the Qin residence, the two brothers were leaning against the car doors, trying to look cool while waiting for their little sister. Out of boredom, they began predicting what she would do once she came out.
Sure enough, Xie Tangning hopped over to Lu Huaiyu with two deliberately coquettish little jumps and called out in an exaggerated voice, “Big Brother, Second Brother, Da Mahou was absolutely hilarious!”
Lu Huaiyu cleared his throat too, grabbed Xie Changyu by the wrist, and began practicing the next line: “I really am a genius. I finished all my summer homework in just one night and one afternoon!”
“How can there be someone as amazing as me in this world~”
At the end, the brothers pressed their palms together, their expressions devout, and said in unison, “Thank you, me, for giving me such a brilliant brain!”
“I’m awesome!”
