Ruan Ling’an turned around and saw a few people standing outside the supermarket, staring at them with complex expressions. Holding Ruan Shu in his arms, he walked over and tossed the bag he was carrying to them.
“Take it.”
Rong Jun scrambled to catch it, looking up to see the delicate girl nestled in Ruan Ling’an’s arms. She glanced at them timidly before quickly averting her gaze.
Ruan Ling’an took the basket from her hands and unceremoniously shoved it into He Qi’s arms, giving a rather dismissive introduction.
“My three roommates.”
Ruan Shu made a soft sound of acknowledgment and greeted the three with a sweet, gentle voice.
“Hello.”
As soon as she spoke, her third brother carried her off.
The three roommates were left speechless.
So… they weren’t even worthy of a name introduction?
Rong Jun muttered, “Is this… that little sister of his?”
He Qi replied, “Didn’t he say he couldn’t possibly have a good relationship with his sister?”
An Lan chuckled, “Ha…”
This guy had been so certain before, declaring that he would never get along with his sister. And yet, how long has it even been?
He’d only spent a bit of time with her when he went back home, maybe a day or two. And now he was already carrying her around so comfortably at school.
Ruan Ling’an’s mouth was full of lies!
The three quickly followed them. Since Ruan Ling’an wouldn’t introduce them, they could introduce themselves just fine.
“You’re Brother Ling’s sister, right? I’m He Qi, your brother’s roommate and classmate.”
“Hello, little sister! I’m Rong Jun, also your brother’s roommate and classmate. You can call me Brother Rong Jun.”
An Lan nodded at her. “An Lan.”
With her chin resting on her third brother’s shoulder, Ruan Shu greeted each one of them in a soft, sweet voice.
“Hello, Brother He Qi, Brother Rong Jun, Brother An Lan.”
Her voice was small, due to shyness, but none of them minded. Their hearing was sharp, and they were used to people with loud voices, so her tiny, soft tone was refreshing.
And she was so polite!
Rong Jun, the liveliest among them, started sharing little stories about the school buildings and fun things that happened on campus as they walked.
Ruan Shu, with her head leaning against her brother’s shoulder, listened intently, her small, soft face squished a bit against him.
She listened earnestly to their stories, her eyes slightly curved with a gentle smile in her blue eyes. She was just so sweet and soft.
They’d never met someone with such a personality—she seemed so easy to bully, yet so endearing.
Ruan Ling’an arrived at the hill behind the school, from where he could overlook the entire campus.
“Let’s settle here,” he said.
He set Ruan Shu down, then took off his jacket to spread on the ground, placing the snacks, drinks, and the pastries Ruan Shu had brought on top.
The group sat in a circle on the grass, with Ruan Shu seated next to her brother.
“Little sister, try this—this grilled sausage is really good,” Rong Jun said enthusiastically, sounding even more eager to call Ruan Shu “little sister” than Ruan Ling’an, her actual brother.
Rong Jun rummaged through the basket. “Hey, what did your sister bring for you?”
He couldn’t help but feel a bit envious. “This is too good—she even brought you snacks to school. Why don’t I have a sister this thoughtful?”
“Shushu, why don’t you just become my sister?” he joked.
Ruan Ling’an gave him an annoyed look. “Shut up. You think you’re funny?”
He opened a small packet of mildly spicy dried fish and handed it to Ruan Shu. “Who said she’s your sister?”
His glare carried a hint of warning.
Want to start a fight?
Rong Jun mimed zipping his lips. “Alright, alright, I’ll shut up.”
He Qi raised an eyebrow as he inspected the food. “Wait… is this made from mutated fruits?”
The assortment included mango pancakes, apple pie, blackberry jam cakes, strawberry cake, and coconut jelly. Each item seemed to be made from mutated fruit, an impressive luxury.
The three friends exchanged envious glances.
The pastries looked delicious, with each one generously made with mutated fruit. For most families, getting to eat mutated fruit even once or twice a month was a treat, but here was a whole variety in one go.
Truly, the Marshal’s family was extravagant!
Even Ruan Ling’an was surprised. He hadn’t expected everything to be made from mutated fruit.
“Why did Dad buy you so many mutated fruits?” He knew well enough how small her appetite was.
Ruan Shu, eating her dried fish earnestly, began counting on her fingers to show him.
“No, not really. The blackberries were picked by me and a friend in the forest. The mutated mangoes and strawberries were gifts from a friend. There’s even a big mutated watermelon at home, which Grandpa brought back. The apples were from Grandpa Liu, and the coconuts were from Grandma Min…”
After hearing her ramble through the list, not only Ruan Ling’an but also his three friends were left a bit dumbfounded.
“So many people!”
Why didn’t they have people gifting them mutated fruits like that?
Ruan Ling’an, however, focused on something else. “Friend? Where did you make a friend? What’s their name? And how did you end up in the forest? Don’t you know how dangerous it is there?”
Ruan Shu hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she should reveal Almer’s name.
She mumbled, “He lives next to our manor. You’ll see him next time you go back. Dad and the others all know about him.”
Ruan Ling’an glanced at her but didn’t press further.
He picked up a cake and asked Ruan Shu, “Which one do you like best?”
Ruan Shu pointed to the mango pancake.
In reality, she wasn’t picky about sweets.
Ruan Ling’an took it and fed it to her, begrudgingly handing only a strawberry cake to his three friends across from them.
The three roommates sighed inwardly.
Well, they were used to it by now—having something to eat at all was a bonus.
“Brother, you should eat some too! There’s more at home, and I can make them myself,” Ruan Shu said cheerfully.
Rong Jun, who had taken a bite of his cake, looked over in surprise. “You made these yourself, little sister?”
Ruan Shu nodded as her third brother fed her a bite of the mango pancake. She had to open her mouth to accept it, her cheeks rounding adorably, making her look irresistibly pinchable.
“Brother, I can hold it myself to eat.”
“Alright.”
Ruan Ling’an turned back to meet three envious, almost resentful pairs of eyes.
He raised an eyebrow, not denying that he felt a certain smug satisfaction at that moment.
“Third Brother, you can have this one. We still have lots of blackberries at home, and if you like them, I can bring you more next time,” Ruan Shu offered sweetly.
Ruan Ling’an glanced at the blackberry cake.
He didn’t eat cake.
But in a few bites, the blackberry cake had vanished.
The three roommates looked at him with expressions of deadpan disbelief.
They remembered how he once turned down cakes from some girls, dismissively passing them off to others while claiming, with certainty, that he didn’t eat cake.
Now, look at him. Wasn’t this the same “doesn’t eat cake” Ruan Ling’an?
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Ruan Ling’an let out a cold laugh. If he didn’t eat it, was he supposed to just let those three fools across from him enjoy it?
He’d rather eat the cake himself than make that kind of losing deal.
“Brother, is it good?”
Ruan Shu looked at him with her blue eyes filled with eager anticipation.
Ruan Ling’an licked his lips. It was… actually pretty good.
“Yeah.”
The little girl’s eyes curved instantly, and she smiled with pure satisfaction.
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