When school ended, the moment Shu Er spotted Huo Chao waiting by the school gate, she rushed to him like a small cannonball, nearly throwing herself into his arms.
Shu Er’s delicate face was flushed, her eyes sparkling. “Brother, you were great today!”
Huo Chao didn’t take it seriously. “No big deal.”
Internally, Shu Er rolled her eyes.
Thinking of Zhang Beibei, Shu Er had a feeling it wouldn’t be so easy to win. But she figured she’d deal with whatever came her way. After all, there is still a tall male protagonist to hold up the sky when it falls.
With that thought, Shu Er stopped worrying and happily hopped onto the back of Huo Chao’s bicycle. The first time she sat there, Huo Chao had been a bit concerned—not for her, but for his bike. But now that she had done it so many times, Huo Chao had gotten used to it and didn’t even blink.
–
As soon as Shu Er got home, Shu Rou hurried out when she heard the movement at the door.
As Shu Er went to her room to drop off her bag, Shu Rou followed her with a gossipy look on her face.
“So there is someone in your school whose name is pronounced the same as yours.”
Shu Er didn’t know why Shu Rou said that, and blinked in surprise
“I heard that the big boss at your school personally used the PA system to canvass votes for a girl today. And that girl’s name is also Shu Er.”
Since Shu Rou didn’t attend Shu Er’s school, she didn’t have firsthand information. And when people gossiped, they didn’t relay Huo Chao’s exact words to her.
So Shu Rou only knew that a girl named Shu Er was being adored by everyone, but she missed the most important detail—“Senior 2, Class 12”.
So that’s it?
Shu Er said in a very casual tone, “Oh, that? It’s not just the same pronunciation; that girl is me.”
Shu Rou glanced at Shu Er in surprise before bursting into laughter, not believing her for a second. “Come on, sis, stop joking!”
That person is Shu Er? Her second sister? How could that be?
Shu Rou assumed Shu Er was just joking.
In her impression, her younger sister is introverted, shy, and socially awkward, which meant she had very few friends. Because of her unpleasant personality, no boys ever liked her.
How could that little sister be favored by the school hunk of No. 1 Middle School?
Shu Rou didn’t know if others would believe it, but she certainly wouldn’t.
Shu Er definitely said that on purpose.
But in just a few days, the once introverted Shu Er had learned to crack jokes?
Shu Rou didn’t dwell on it and changed the subject, “By the way, where’s your bicycle boy? Did he stand you up?”
Shu Rou hadn’t forgotten the morning scene where Shu Er hadn’t seen her bicycle boy and was visibly upset. In Shu Rou’s mind, the boy who gave Shu Er rides must be a nerdy, awkward guy—short, covered in red and swollen pimples, and totally lacking any fashion sense. In short, a typical and painfully ordinary high school boy.
Shu Er found Shu Rou a bit noisy. As she ushered her sister out of her room, she smiled sweetly and said, “He’s going to pick me up and drop me off every day from now on. Don’t get too envious.”
Shu Rou, who was blocked outside the door, sighed and looked disdainful.
As the saying goes, a pot should match its lid. In Shu Rou’s eyes, Shu Er and the boy on the bicycle are like a turtle and a mung bean—just the right match for each other!
Will she be envious?
How is that possible? Her? No way! She will never be envious!
–
After Shu Er closed her door, she finally enjoyed a moment of peace.
The time before dinner is her rare leisure time. She doesn’t have to do homework or work. She can just lie down and relax. Shu Er used this time to casually browse Weibo and read some interesting things on the Internet.
Suddenly, she came across a hand-woven bag.
The bag is brightly colored and stylish. It is suitable for many occasions—perfect for a girl her age.
Shu Er read the description and learned that this bag had been specially made by the mother of a popular actress and gifted to her.
The actress bought a Chanel brooch and buckled it on this bag, giving it a unique touch.
This hot search didn’t just have photos but also included step-by-step instructions for weaving the bag. The steps were clear and detailed; it didn’t seem… too difficult?
Shu Er knew her own limitations. She is terrible with crafts—she can’t even fold a thousand paper cranes, let alone weave a bag!
But… she really wants it.
Ever since she entered this world, she hadn’t had a single decent bag that she could show off.
Now that she wasn’t the Shu family’s pampered daughter anymore, she didn’t have the money to buy any of the beautiful bags she liked.
So, when she looked at the bag in the picture, her eyes almost lit up.
What girl doesn’t love bags? You know, “bags” can cure all diseases. If one is not enough, then two would be better.
But unfortunately, Shu Er now only has a very tacky schoolbag, and even that had seen better days.
Shu Er’s mind started turning, and she quickly came up with a plan.
She couldn’t make it herself, but she could get someone else to do it!
She saved the picture, opened WeChat, and found “The Most Gentle, Most Considerate, and Best Brother in the World”, and then sent him the picture.
[Xiao Er: Brother, I want this, I want it very much, I want it very much. Picture.jpg]
Shu Er’s WeChat name, “Xiao Er,” is a play on her name, which she finds quite unique.
After waiting for a while without a reply from Huo Chao, she decided to go eat dinner. Once she returned to her room, she discovered that Huo Chao had sent a message.
[Brother: ?]
Shu Er sat down at the desk, put the homework aside, and typed one word at a time, [Xiao Er: Brother, can you give me this?]
This time, Huo Chao replied quickly, probably holding his phone, [Brother: ?]
Twice in a row, he responded with a question mark. What did Huo Chao mean by that?
Feeling that typing wasn’t getting her point across, Shu Er decided to send him a video call instead.
After three seconds, he picked up the call.
Huo Chao appeared to have just showered; his black hair was still damp, and he had a white towel wrapped around his neck.
Unfortunately, the camera was too close, showing only his upper body.
But from the frame, the male protagonist looks really good—he had striking features, especially his deep-set eyes, which were particularly captivating.
Shu Er tilted her head and playfully said, “Brother, can you buy some wool and weave a bag for me?”
Huo Chao, one hand holding the phone and the other drying his hair with the towel, paused for a moment and frowned. “Are you kidding?”
Shu Er blinked innocently. “No, Brother, I’m being serious.”
Huo Chao thought he misheard her. “You want me to knit a bag? Do you think that’s possible?”
Shu Er was puzzled. “Why not?”
Huo Chao was at a loss for words. “Do you think I can?”
“But everyone starts from not knowing to being able to do it!”
Huo Chao snorted. “Forget it, that’s not happening. You might as well give up on that idea.”
Weave a bag? Asking a man who had never even picked up wool to weave a bag? It would be easier to ask him to fly to the moon!
Shu Er scrunched her nose and pouted. She had become quite adept at this act over the past few days, her voice soft and a bit plaintive. “Brother, aren’t you pursuing me? But you won’t even do something so small for me. Is it only fruit and milk you’re willing to send me?”
That kind of kindness was too superficial! Shu Er, with her princess syndrome, wanted more!
Huo Chao fell silent for a couple of seconds.
This was what they meant by digging one’s own grave.
One wrong step led to another.
If he hadn’t tried to conceal Shu Er’s identity as his benefactor while also wanting to repay her, he would never have sent her food or allowed her to think he was pursuing her.
Now, on top of picking her up and dropping her off, he was expected to weave her a bag too?
Did she really think he was omnipotent?
