Chapter 4

At home, Su Chen opened his bedroom door, set down his schoolbag, and smelled the fragrant food on the table; he looked at the busy two elders, a flash of remembrance crossed his eyes, and faint tears glimmered.

He turned his head and glanced at Su Qing lounging on the sofa, unsightly; his mouth twitched a few times; all his emotions just then vanished instantly; he spoke somewhat disdainfully: 'Su Qing, can't you have some decorum? At home, can't you act like an older sister? Even if you don't tidy up, at least wash your hair and wear something normal!'

Su Qing turned her head and saw it was Su Chen; her eyes flashed with joy, but also similarly showed disdain: 'You still know I'm your sister, dare to call me Su Qing!'

While speaking, Su Qing stood up; her two round breasts also, as she rose, pushed up her loose pajamas.

She walked over to Su Chen and fiercely grabbed his ear.

'See if you still dare or not — you have to call me sister, got it…'

Su Chen begged while covering his ear: 'I don't dare anymore, I don't dare anymore, Qing sister, let go — it really hurts…'

'Hmph! That's about right.' Su Qing then somewhat reluctantly released Su Chen's ear; it had been a long time since she'd pinched it, and the feel was still this good.

Su Chen, while rubbing his reddened ear, walked over to the busy Su Mother and complained: 'Mom, look at Su Qing — she's completely lawless now; you're not even allowed to say anything.'

Su Mother had long been accustomed to their horseplay; she just smiled and hugged Su Chen.

Su Chen's heart suddenly felt sour; the day his family died, he was utterly despairing; today his family truly stood before him, and he feared it was all fake. He hugged Su Mother, holding back tears, not letting go for a long time.

Su Mother was stunned; since her son entered middle school, he rarely wanted to hug her — each time he'd just hug briefly then pull away — so what's going on today?

Just as Su Mother was about to ask Su Chen if something had happened, Su Father's stern voice came over.

'You're already this old, still needing your mom to hug you — aren't you embarrassed?' Su Father's words seemed to carry a hint of dissatisfaction.

Su Chen looked at his father, said nothing, just stepped forward a few steps and fiercely hugged Su Father; meanwhile Su Mother's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt and worry.

A flash of joy crossed Su Father's eyes, then he lightly coughed twice: 'Come eat!' Although he said that, he didn't push Su Chen away.

Su Chen nodded, about to speak.

'Unfair, little Chen, you hugged Mom and Dad but not me.' As she spoke, she walked up to Su Chen and opened her arms.

Su Chen saw her two surging masses about to fling onto him; he immediately sidestepped, and with both hands pushed away Su Qing who was trying to hug him.

At the dinner table, Su Chen felt the long-lost warmth, and he unusually ate three bowls of rice in a row.

Looking at the three before him, Su Chen secretly vowed to protect his family, his country, and this world, not letting that tragedy repeat.

Saturday evening, the four were sitting in front of the TV, warmly watching television.

Su Chen hesitated a moment, then finally spoke softly: 'Dad, Mom, tomorrow I want to go to Luoxian Shan to have some fun; I heard the scenery there is nice.'

Su Mother's eyes showed a hint of worry: 'Chen'er, what's wrong? When you came back, I noticed you weren't right — are you being bullied at school?'

Su Father and Su Qing, although they didn't speak, both perked up their ears to listen.

Su Chen heard this, recalled his previous behavior, then realized; somewhat helplessly he said: 'Mom and Dad, I'm fine, nobody's bullying me; you son is so smart, as long as I don't bully others it's fine!'

At the same time, Su Chen's thoughts raced, thinking how to make his parents believe: 'This time my essay topic is embracing parents; that's why I……' Su Chen said up to that point, feeling a bit embarrassed, rubbed his head.

'What a lame excuse!' Su Chen had just finished saying this,

He then realized the flaw in his words; thinking of this, he almost reached up to cover his face.

Su Mother hearing this, then half-believing, half-doubting, nodded slightly; while Su Father remained silent, as if he hadn't heard.

Su Qing, meanwhile, had her face full of disbelief; taking advantage of Su Chen looking her way, she also pursed her lips at him.

Su Chen then said: 'As for going to Luoxian Shan, I used to stay at home all the time, wanting to go out and see the outside world, and I'll be back soon.'

The silent Su Father suddenly spoke: 'Just going for one day?'

Su Chen's heart jumped suddenly; he certainly wasn't planning to go just for one day; his plan was, after arriving, to find an excuse of illness to get by, so he spoke somewhat guiltily: 'Yeah, just going to have a look.'

Su Father nodded slightly, then said nothing more.

Evening, after washing up, Su Chen lay in bed calculating his plan; suddenly, a knocking sound came.

'Little Chen, may I come in?' Su Qing's voice came from outside the door; before Su Chen could answer, Su Qing had already pushed the door open and entered his room.

At this moment, Su Qing was wearing pajamas, one hand wiping her hair, the other smirking as she said: 'Little Chen, tell me, who are you going with tomorrow to Luoxian Shan?'

While speaking, she casually sat down beside Su Chen; a woman's fragrance instantly filled Su Chen's room.

Su Chen didn't think there was anything wrong; he just spoke somewhat helplessly: 'Qing sister, water's dripping on my bed — who else could I be with? Just me.'

While speaking, he shoved Su Qing hard.

Su Qing didn't budge an inch, teasingly said: 'Come on, — are you going with some female classmate? Tell me, I definitely won't tell Mom and Dad.'

After saying that, she stared fixedly at Su Chen, as if trying to see through him.

Su Chen felt uneasy under Su Qing's stare, shifted back a bit, sat up, and spoke somewhat helplessly: 'Really, I'm not with anyone; I just want to see the outside scenery; lately the pressure hasn't been too great, and there's less than a year until the college entrance exam.'

Su Qing, seeing that, made as if to leave, while walking said nonchalantly: 'Fine, if you won't tell me, then I'll go tell Mom and Dad that you're going to Luoxian Shan with a female classmate; let's see how they'll deal with you.'

Upon hearing that, Su Chen immediately panicked, estimating that Su Qing's meddling would ruin his Luoxian Shan trip.

His eyes rolled around; he spoke somewhat dejectedly: 'Okay, I can tell you, but you must absolutely not tell Mom and Dad!'

He lowered his head, looking defeated: 'It's Qin Ziyang; he likes a girl from our school, wants me to help him confess at Luoxian Shan; not just me, but several other classmates too; he's afraid his parents will find out and beat him, so he doesn't let us tell anyone outside.'

Only then did Su Qing believe; it's not that Su Chen's excuse was so good, but rather the former Su Chen was like that — you could tell at a glance whether he was lying or not. She wouldn't know that the current Su Chen is no longer the former Su Chen; the present Su Chen certainly knows very well what he looked like when he lied ten years ago, and putting on some disguise is naturally easy.

And Su Chen watched Su Qing's retreating back, a flash of guilt in his eyes, he murmured: 'Brother, I hope you're okay.'

Meanwhile, a handsome guy holding a basketball uniform was walking home; suddenly he sneezed; he rubbed his nose and said somewhat strangely: 'Who's thinking of me?'