The girl, upon hearing the conversation between the two, felt a sudden jolt in her mind. Afraid of being tricked again, she immediately grabbed the right hand of the boy sitting next to her. Sure enough, she saw that there was no circular birthmark on his wrist, confirming that this boy was indeed Pei Che.
Ahhhh!
Damn it!
She puffed up her cheeks in frustration and glared at him, calling out his name: “Pei Che, you tricked me again! Don’t you ever get tired of this?”
Pei Che chuckled softly, pretending to clench his fist: “Who told you to be so gullible?”
Pei Su and Pei Che were twins, with one inheriting Pei Chen’s personality and the other inheriting Liang Zhiyi’s. On a regular day, the two brothers could easily be distinguished by their temperaments, so Pei Ruo almost never mistook them.
However, Pei Che was mischievous. Sometimes, he would intentionally impersonate Pei Su to tease her. The twin brothers knew each other so well that when Pei Che disguised himself, combined with their identical appearances, he could almost perfectly mimic Pei Su.
So, when the girl walked into the classroom earlier and saw Pei Che quietly reading in Pei Su’s seat, she naturally assumed he was her older brother.
She was infuriated, realizing she had fallen into his trap again, QAQ.
Recalling how he had just deliberately asked her to massage him, she angrily pounded his arm, her cheeks puffing up even more: “I really can’t stand you!”
Pei Che’s smile deepened: “Weren’t you just saying that Second Brother is the best? How did that change so quickly?”
“…”
The girl blushed with embarrassment, annoyed by her own actions. She turned to Pei Su: “Big Brother, look how mean he is!”
Pei Su smiled helplessly, having long grown accustomed to their bickering. He walked over to Pei Che, patted his shoulder, and signaled him to stand up. “That’s enough. All you do is bully Ruo Ruo all day. Aren’t you too old to be this childish?”
“Exactly, childish!”
Pei Ruo, still angry, flopped onto the desk.
Pei Che stood up with a grin, looking at Pei Ruo and teasing her: “So you’re not planning to leave?”
“I’m not leaving with you.”
After packing up his bag, Pei Su looked at the girl’s adorably angry face, his eyes softening with amusement. He gently patted her head and coaxed her in a tender voice: “Ruo Ruo, let’s go. Big Brother will take you to buy some snacks, okay? You can have whatever you want.”
The girl’s eyes lit up: “Really?”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“True, not like some people who love to deceive others without feeling the slightest bit guilty.”
Leaning lazily against the nearby desk, Pei Che chuckled softly at her words.
Pei Su took hold of Pei Ruo’s arm and helped her to her feet, and the three of them left the classroom together.
As they descended the steps of the teaching building, Pei Ruo usually walked between the two brothers. She looked up, huffed at Pei Che with a smug glare, and moved to stand on Pei Su’s other side, declaring, “I’m not walking with certain people.”
Pei Che laughed, “So, who’s really the childish one?”
She huffed softly and turned to Pei Su, speaking in a gentle voice, “Big Brother, during class today, I smelled the fragrance of osmanthus flowers. I plan to collect some petals from the campus square in the next few days and put them in my pencil case.”
“Do you want to go collect some now? I’ll go with you.”
“Sure!”
Big Brother is the best, hehe.
The two of them headed towards the school square, and Pei Su gave Pei Che a meaningful look, as if to say, “Aren’t you going to make it up to her?”
Pei Che smiled and followed them.
A few minutes later, the three of them arrived at the square in front of the junior high building. The school’s largest osmanthus tree was planted there, and the fallen petals were scattered on the ground beneath it, dotted like a sea of orange-yellow.
It hadn’t rained in the past few days, so the petals on the ground weren’t dirty.
Pei Ruo squatted down, picked up a petal, and brought it to her nose, inhaling the rich, sweet fragrance of the osmanthus. A smile curled up on her lips. “The scent of osmanthus is just too good.”
Just as she was about to pick more, Pei Su walked over and pulled her up, his voice as gentle as always, “If you squat for too long, your legs will go numb. Tell me how many you want, and I’ll pick them for you.”
“Thank you, Big Brother…”
Pei Su squatted down to help collect the petals. The orange-yellow sunset cast its light on his white school uniform, and a gentle breeze carried a few delicate petals through the air. From this angle, the young man’s features appeared clean and refined, as serene and elegant as the distant mountains in early autumn.
After a while, Pei Su finished collecting the petals and handed them to Pei Ruo. “Is this enough?”
“That’s plenty, thank you, Big Brother.”
Pei Che, who had his hands in his pockets, stood off to the side and teased, “Why don’t you just buy a packet of dried flowers? Wouldn’t that be easier?”
“I like fresh petals. Dried flowers are boring.” She happily packed the petals into a small bag.
Pei Che looked at her gleeful expression and couldn’t help but feel speechless.
The three of them left the school gate, where a whole street of food stalls lined the way. Normally, they would go straight home for dinner and rarely had the chance to eat street food.
“Big Brother, you said I could have anything I wanted today.”
She looked at Pei Su with hopeful eyes.
“Yes.”
“Then I want barbecue!”
She ran ahead with light steps, while Pei Su and Pei Che leisurely followed behind. Pei Che raised an eyebrow, sighed lazily, and teased, “Go ahead and let her eat. When Dad finds out, you’re in for it.”
Although Pei Chen dotes on his daughter, he’s strict about certain things, especially not allowing Pei Ruo to eat junk food. Pei Che is the same way. However, as the eldest brother, Pei Su spoils his sister with little to no limits.
Pei Su glanced at him. “Isn’t it your fault she’s upset today?”
Pei Che laughed, “I was just sitting in your seat reading a book, and the moment she walked in, she called me ‘Big Brother.’ How could I not play along?”
“You just can’t go a day without teasing her, can you?”
“And you have the nerve to criticize me? Look at how you’ve spoiled her.”
The two of them followed the girl to a barbecue stall. Pei Ruo picked up a basket and started selecting food. After a while, Pei Che’s hand came down firmly, stopping her. His low, lazy yet stern voice fell:
“That’s enough. Aren’t you afraid of getting a sore throat?”
She grumbled in displeasure, handed the basket to the stall owner, and the owner asked, “Is that all?”
“Wait—I also want a skewer of rice cakes.”
She turned to Pei Che, smiling with narrowed eyes. “Please fry the rice cakes extra crispy for me.”
Pei Che: “…”
She’s really asking for it.
Pei Su silently smiled from the side, took out his phone, and asked, “Boss, how much?”
“Eighteen fifty.”
Pei Su paid for the food, while Pei Che lowered his gaze to the girl, his dark eyes pressing down on her. “You should be careful. Aren’t you worried about Dad finding out you ate barbecue?”
She instantly felt a pang of guilt but refused to back down, raising her head defiantly. “Are you threatening me?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I am. What about it?”
“…”
She hated Pei Che so much!
Not wanting to argue with him any further, she moved to stand beside her elder brother. Just then, a few girls who knew Pei Su walked by and started chatting with him, looking quite smitten.
However, the young man responded indifferently, his expression cool and distant, giving off an aura of untouchable aloofness, much like Pei Chen back in his high school days.
Once the barbecue was ready, Pei Su reached out to take the takeout bag, then gently took Pei Ruo’s hand and said warmly, “Ruo Ruo, let’s go.”
The three of them started walking away, and the girls sighed helplessly, “Why is Pei Su only gentle with his sister?”
“Sigh, I’m so jealous of his sister…”
The three siblings headed home, with the girl finishing off the barbecue before they arrived, knowing well that Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi wouldn’t be back so soon.
The housekeeper had taken a few days off due to personal matters, so Pei Su planned to cook some dumplings for himself and Pei Che. He turned to Pei Ruo and asked, “Do you want some dumplings too?”
“I’m too full now, so I won’t eat.”
“Then hurry up and do your homework.”
“Okay.”
She started heading towards her room, only to find Pei Che following her.
The tall boy blocked her at the doorway, leaning casually against the wall, looking down at her with a clear smile on his face.
“What are you doing?”
She glared at him.
Pei Che laughed and ruffled her hair, his voice softening a bit. “Is it really that serious? Are you still mad just because I tapped you on the head a few times?”
She huffed, “And you tricked me too.”
“I didn’t trick you.”
Pei Che pulled a box of chocolates out of his black backpack and handed it to her, his deep voice accompanying the gesture:
“I was really worried you’d be upset, and the chocolates are real too.”
Seeing that it was indeed her favorite chocolate, her eyes immediately lit up. Pei Che asked, “Do you want it?”
She swallowed and, unable to resist, muttered, “…Yes.”
He chuckled, “Still mad at me?”
“I’ll be the bigger person and forgive you.”
“Sounds like you don’t really want it.”
She couldn’t hold back her laughter and softened her tone. “I do want it.”
She looked up at him, her clear, bright almond eyes curved like crescent moons, and her soft cheeks radiating an adorable tenderness. Pei Che, unable to resist her pleading look, shoved the chocolate into her arms. She beamed:
“Thank you…Brother Niangao.”
As he had grown older, he had forbidden anyone from calling him that cute nickname, especially given how grown-up he was now. His face immediately darkened, and just as he was about to take the chocolate back, Pei Ruo quickly pushed past him and darted into her room, shutting the door behind her.
Hearing the giggles from inside the room, Pei Che laughed in exasperation.
She really knows how to get her way.
…
That night, Pei Ruo was in her room doing homework. Around nine o’clock, Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi returned home.
Hearing the sound, she walked into the living room and saw that Liang Zhiyi was wearing a deep blue evening gown, looking radiant and elegant.
Although Liang Zhiyi was already a mother of three, she had maintained herself exceptionally well, still looking youthful and beautiful, with her charm intact.
“Mom, you look so beautiful today!”
Pei Ruo ran over, sweetly greeting them. Liang Zhiyi smiled warmly. “Did you finish your homework?”
“I finished it a long time ago. Mom, did Dad buy you this dress again?”
Liang Zhiyi glanced playfully at Pei Chen. “Why don’t you ask him?”
“Of course he did. Dad loves buying you all kinds of beautiful dresses.” Over the years, despite being the president of a large company, Pei Chen had pampered Liang Zhiyi like a child, showering her with love. Their relationship was so sweet that even their three children sometimes felt overwhelmed by their displays of affection.
Pei Chen smiled faintly, not denying it. “Where are your brothers?”
“They’re both in their rooms.”
The three of them sat in the living room eating fruit. After a while, Pei Su and Pei Che came out. Liang Zhiyi asked about their midterm exam results. Both boys had inherited their parents’ high intelligence and did well in school, though Pei Su, being more studious, had slightly better grades.
“Che Che, have you been going to internet cafes lately?” Liang Zhiyi asked.
“No, Mom and Dad, I’ve been behaving myself. But some people need more supervision.” Pei Che’s leisurely gaze fell on Pei Ruo, who nervously glared back at him.
Liang Zhiyi noticed his look. “What’s going on with you, Ruo Ruo?”
“N-nothing…”
However, Pei Ruo couldn’t lie without blushing. Under questioning, she eventually confessed about eating barbecue. After hearing this, Pei Chen gently chided, “Didn’t we agree that you’d eat less junk food? You just recovered from a cold last week.”
Pei Ruo clung to his arm, pleading, “Daddy, I only had a little bit.”
Pei Su, standing by, spoke up and took the blame. “Dad, it was my fault. I suggested taking Ruo Ruo out to eat.”
Pei Chen said a few words but wasn’t truly angry. Pei Ruo, being well-behaved, quickly agreed and then showered her parents with affection, leaving them with no choice but to let it go.
Finally, Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi went back to their room to rest. Pei Chen sighed with exasperation, “Ruo Ruo is just as mischievous as you were. I couldn’t manage you back then, and now I can’t manage her.”
Liang Zhiyi laughed, hooking her arms around his neck and looking up at him. “But you couldn’t bear to stop taking care of me back then.”
The man wrapped his arm around her waist, leaning down to press a kiss on her lips as he helped her out of her evening gown. “That’s right. How could I when I like you so much, Zhizhi?”
Her eyes curved into a smile as she accepted his deepening kisses. Finally, with not a stitch of clothing left on her, he scooped her up into his arms. She let out a soft whimper, and Pei Chen’s husky voice whispered in her ear, “Let’s take a bath.”
“Mm…”
—
The next morning, Pei Ruo stayed in bed, waking up late.
Pei Su had cleaning duties to take care of, while Pei Che, after finishing breakfast, headed to school first.
At the school gate, the two brothers met up with some friends. Pei Su went ahead to class, leaving the rest of the boys to stroll in slowly.
Among the bustling students, Pei Che was the first to catch everyone’s eye.
He was the tallest, standing out like a crane among chickens. With his hands tucked into his school pants pockets, he walked under the morning sunlight, his tall figure casting a long shadow on the ground. His broad shoulders and narrow waist, combined with his deep-set eyes and sharp features, gave him an air of cool indifference.
Along the way, he drew many admiring glances from the girls.
The group of boys, arms slung around each other, chatted as they passed the junior high building. Pei Che noticed the osmanthus tree in the square, and something crossed his mind. He stopped abruptly.
“Wait a minute.”
“What’s up, Che?”
He glanced at them. “I need a favor.”
A few minutes later, his friends found themselves crouching under the osmanthus tree, looking bewildered and socially embarrassed as they glanced at Pei Che. “Dude, why are we collecting these petals? You’ve got us, a bunch of guys, picking up flowers…”
“Just do it, no questions.”
Pei Che crouched down to join them. After some time, the group, under the curious gazes of passersby, finally gathered a bag full of petals.
With the job done, Pei Che headed alone to the junior high building. He arrived at Pei Ruo’s classroom and called her deskmate out.
Under the watchful eyes of others, Pei Che leaned against the railing and handed the bag to the girl. “Give this to Pei Ruo when she arrives.”
“Okay.” Her deskmate glanced at the school ID hanging from his chest and was slightly surprised to see the name on it.
Later that morning, when Pei Ruo arrived, her deskmate handed her the bag. Upon learning it was from Pei Che, Pei Ruo was taken aback.
He always complained about her being a bother, yet here he was, collecting all these petals for her?
Her deskmate exclaimed, “Pei Ruo, your two brothers look exactly alike. Don’t you ever get them mixed up?”
Of course, she had just mistaken them yesterday.
She smiled. “I usually just look for the one with a bit of a ‘punchable’ vibe—that’s my second brother.”