Brother's Lover

Chapter 2

3.

"Yes."

"I called you here today to discuss the matter of transferring schools."

"Transferring schools?" She was astonished.

"I've already arranged everything with Hai Xin Middle School. You'll be transferring there next semester."

"But I'll be in my final year next semester. The pace of study may be different, and I'll have to readjust to a new environment. Isn't this a bit impractical?"

"Whether it's teaching facilities or faculty strength, public schools are incomparable to private ones, right? No matter what, Hai Xin is the top choice, with the highest admission rate."

Seeing Xing Shiyao's resolute expression, she knew she had no room to speak. Qianzhi sighed silently in her heart. Since it was like this, why did she have to make this trip? He could have just informed her over the phone.

"Alright then," Qianzhi said.

"Okay," Xing Shiyao nodded satisfactorily. "No hurry to leave, right? Accompany me downstairs for a bite to eat, and I'll introduce Xing Tuo's friend to you. After all, you'll be classmates in the future."

Indeed. Her father had already thought of everything. No wonder he wanted her to come today. But she had no interest in meeting Xing Tuo's friends.

Xing Tuo was her half-brother, born of the same father but a different mother. The so-called "brother" was just a matter of a few months' difference in age.

"I promised Mom I'd go back for dinner."

Xing Shiyao furrowed his brow. "Having dinner here occasionally is also fine. It's rare to have such an opportunity today. I'll have Li Mama call your mom."

As she looked at him mentioning her mother with that indifferent face, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Was this the man her mother had silently loved for eighteen years? For an irresponsible affection, for a man of vacillating heart, for an impossible promise, she had wasted eighteen years of her youth. And did he have any feelings for her at all? Perhaps there were some, but like a castle built on sand, it collapsed bit by bit with the wind and rain. She had exhausted her youth, and what did she get in return? Apart from a daughter they shared, she had nothing. But he, he had wealth, fame, career, family, and status.

Eighteen years, for a woman, was a lifetime.

"Qianzhi?"

She came back to her senses and found her father looking at her.

"What are you thinking about? So lost in thought?"

"Nothing, let's go downstairs."

Descending with her father, he was pulled away by friends as soon as they reached the bottom. Qianzhi retreated to a secluded corner alone, quietly surveying everything at the banquet. It was just a birthday party, yet it was so luxurious. It was another world far removed from her.

"Brother, is that Qianzhi over there?" At the other end of the hall, Xing Yun said to Xing Tuo.

Following her gaze, Xing Tuo's lips curled displeasedly. Her? What was she doing here?

"Let's go say hello?" Xing Yun suggested.

Xing Tuo replied, "You go if you want. I'm not going."

"Why are you like this? After all, she's our sister."

Xing Tuo impatiently glanced at her. "Xing Yun, stop bothering me. Go away!"

Xing Yun felt aggrieved and couldn't say anything for a moment.

"What are you talking about, sister and brother?" Shen Xinghao, who didn't understand, asked curiously.

Xing Tuo shot him a murderous look. "Shut up!"

Shen Xinghao looked to Xing Yun for an explanation, asking, "Did I say something wrong?"

"It's nothing. Let's ignore him! Shall we go over there? I'll introduce someone to you," Xing Yun said.

Shen Xinghao hesitated, casting a glance at the still-tense Xing Tuo, and said, "Um... Is that okay?"

"Let's go," Xing Yun took him and walked away, ignoring Xing Tuo's still-tense face.

"Qianzhi!"

Qianzhi turned around to see Xing Yun's big smile. Only sixteen, Xing Yun had grown into a tall and slender figure, her delicate features complemented by naturally curly hair, which made her big black eyes shine. Was this what they meant by "a smile that could launch a thousand ships"? Qianzhi thought.

"When did you arrive?" Xing Yun asked.

"It's been a while. Dad called me to discuss something."

"Oh, did you see Dad?"

"Yes," she smiled at Xing Yun, who was half a head taller than her. "It's been a few months, and you seem to have grown taller."

"You're talking about it. Why haven't you come for so long?"

"I've been busy with my studies recently."

"Oh, right," she finally remembered the person beside her, Shen Xinghao, "Let me introduce you to a friend. Shen Xinghao. He's my brother's classmate." Then she turned to Shen Xinghao and said, "She's Qianzhi. My and Tuo's sister."

4.

Qianzhi only noticed the tall and handsome Shen Xinghao standing beside her. Shen Xinghao smiled and extended his hand, saying, "Hello!" She also reached out and shook hands with him, replying, "Hello."

Shen Xinghao chuckled, "I didn't expect Tuo to have another sister."

"There are plenty of things you don't expect!" A cold voice pierced through Qianzhi's ears, and without needing to look up, she knew who it was. Xing Tuo stood beside them, holding a crystal wine glass, having approached them at some point.

Xing Yun said, "Didn't you say you couldn't make it?"

Xing Tuo looked at Qianzhi with icy eyes. "This is my home! I'll go wherever I want. Isn't that right, Sister Xia Qianzhi?"

He emphasized the "Xia" in her name, and Qianzhi bit her lip, knowing what he meant. He was reminding her that she shouldn't be here. She knew he disliked her, and she felt no affection toward her so-called brother either. It was related to his arrogant and domineering personality.

Shen Xinghao, still oblivious to the hidden waves between the two, innocently asked, "Is there anything else I don't know?"

Qianzhi just wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. With Xing Tuo around, she couldn't stay for another moment. She didn't want to argue with him at this moment; he was just a spoiled child. "Sorry, I have to go." Without waiting for a response, she turned and headed for the door. Xing Yun wanted to say something but ultimately didn't, and Shen Xinghao watched her sudden departure with confusion.

Xing Yun glared at Xing Tuo in anger. "Brother, you're just..."

He shrugged. "What did I do?"

The rain had stopped outside at some point. Qianzhi looked up at the dark, desolate sky and left without a word. The splendid castle behind her didn't belong to her. Alone, she walked back step by step along the path she had come, back to her home, her world.

When she returned home, Xia Xinwei was watching TV alone. "Back already?"

"Yeah," she replied, changing into slippers by the door.

Xia Xinwei stood up. "Shall we have dinner? Would you like something else?"

Qianzhi looked at her mother's expectant face and said, "Sure."

Dinner was served—simple tomato scrambled eggs and pork rib soup. Qianzhi sat down and ate slowly, while Xia Xinwei sat at the other end of the table, looking at her with a hesitant expression. Finally, she couldn't hold back and asked, "Did your father talk to you about something?"

"He talked to me about transferring schools."

Xia Xinwei was puzzled. "Transferring schools? For no reason...?"

"They said the admission rate at Hai Xin High School is higher, so they want me to transfer there."

Xia Xinwei looked at her calm face and asked carefully, "And what did you say?"

"I had nothing to say."

"Well... if you don't want to, I can talk to him..."

Qianzhi interrupted her. "I don't care, really. It's all the same, isn't it?"

Xia Xinwei sighed. "Is it?"

"Yeah."

As the night deepened, she turned on the warm floor lamp in her bedroom, opened the window, and realized it was raining again. She gazed at the myriad lights outside and took out her harmonica, trying a few notes before playing the old song "Sweet Home."

This was her home, where she belonged.

**Scene at Hai Xin High School**

Spring passed quickly, intense like ink-splattered green leaves and blazing sunlight heralding the arrival of summer. Qianzhi had been at this school for almost a month, but she still wasn't used to interacting with her classmates. Her previous school was an all-girls' school, so apart from a few male teachers, she had never had much contact with boys. Therefore, she was still having a hard time adjusting. But this was different from the conservative and dull atmosphere of her previous school. The interaction between boys and girls here was bold and direct, completely unlike before, where they would whisper when talking about a favorite male teacher, feeling like they were sneaking around.

Now it was lunchtime, and the scorching sun outside shone on any spot on the playground not covered by leaves. It was so hot that even sitting still in the classroom made you sweat. However, that was in the past. Here at Hai Xin, every classroom had air conditioning. Feeling the cool air, Qianzhi experienced the benefits of this school for the first time. No wonder the tuition was so high; calling it an elite school was not an exaggeration.

Feeling the cool air, she felt a bit sleepy, her eyelids drooping. Suddenly, cries and screams came from the empty playground, piercing through everyone's ears, followed by a commotion and panicked footsteps. Startled, Qianzhi looked around at her classmates rushing out.