Chapter 58: Try your best to survive

“Hello? Mom?”

Under the streetlights, Lin Yuhan’s shadow swayed like a slender reed in the dark.

“Yeah… I’m on my way home. It’s fine, I’ve got my keys.”

“Dinner? Already ate with a friend.”

Her mother’s concerned chatter came through the phone, but Lin Yuhan’s tone was calm and relaxed, betraying nothing unusual.

“Not with Jiajia and them. Haha, yeah, a friend you don’t know.”

“A guy?! Well… yeah, I guess…”

“No, Mom, don’t overthink it! It was just dinner with a friend…”

Just dinner.

Really, just an ordinary meal to treat him.

“What are you saying… Have you been watching weird teen romance dramas lately? Not everyone confesses to their crush at graduation.”

“So, is it a guy you like?! Well… maybe a little…”

Lin Yuhan didn’t know what mood prompted those words.

Sometimes, her parents’ concern made her emotions spiral out of control.

‘…This won’t do.’

‘Lin Yuhan, you’re an adult now.’

‘Be mature. In the adult world, nothing’s too much to handle.’

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yuhan slowly looked up.
Under the streetlights, her crescent-moon smile glimmered, the faint shimmer in her eyes quietly dissolving into the night.

“Yeah. Mom.”

“…I got my heart broken.”

Back home, Meng Zhi turned the doorknob slowly.

But the moment he saw the entryway floor, his cheek twitched.

Sure enough, as he stepped into the living room, a lazy voice rang out:
“Back so late? Had that much fun on your date with Chen Xinya?”

“…Don’t you think you owe me an explanation for why you’re in my house?”

On the couch, wearing just a thin T-shirt and shorts, her hair still damp, Feng Xiyue grinned and leaned over the backrest.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Got kicked out of my place, nowhere to go, so I came to crash with my dear big brother.”

“Who’s your dear big brother?! If you’re homeless, sleep on the street!”

“Ugh, so harsh.”
Feng Xiyue pouted, feigning grievance, dragging out her words playfully.
“This afternoon, you were all heroic, swooping into the hospital to back me up. Now you’re flipping on me? The betrayal stings.”

“You’re overthinking it,” Meng Zhi said, annoyed, heading to his room to change.
“I just went to check if you were dead. If you were, I’d pop some champagne.”

“…Ugh. That’s cold.”
Feng Xiyue buried her face in a couch cushion, sulking.

Ten minutes later.

“So, you made that deal with your mom?”

“Yup.”
Feng Xiyue lounged on the couch, her long, fair legs propped up against the backrest, swaying lightly in front of Meng Zhi.

“Anyway, I’ll be studying and tutoring a lot, so staying at the bandmates’ place isn’t ideal. After thinking it over, your place is clearly the best option, dear brother.”

Meng Zhi’s mouth twitched.
“…You didn’t think to ask my opinion?”

“Huh? Shouldn’t you be thrilled?”

Feng Xiyue tilted her head, looking at him.
“A big house like this, all alone? So lonely. Having a cute little sister to live with should be every guy’s dream, right?”

“…Have you been watching too much anime and fried your brain?”

“Oh, come on, what’s the big deal?”
Feng Xiyue sat up, playfully scooting into Meng Zhi’s lap.
“The house is empty anyway. Just let me stay.”

“I can even pay rent.”

“Pay rent?” Meng Zhi scoffed. “With what money?”

“Right here.”
Feng Xiyue grinned mysteriously, giving her chest a little squeeze.

“How about paying with my body? That’s a classic plot in those movies, right?”

‘…Yup, her brain’s definitely fried.’

“Fine. No rent needed.”
Meng Zhi pushed her off, exasperated.
“But if you’re staying, you’re on cleaning duty.”

“Starting today, laundry, sweeping, and trash are all on you.”

“Deal!”
Feng Xiyue beamed, wrapping her arms around Meng Zhi’s neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.
“I knew my dear big brother loves me best.”

Meng Zhi wiped the saliva off his face, annoyed.

“But juggling music and self-studying for X University… you really think you can do it?”

“Nope,” Feng Xiyue said candidly.
“But no matter how hard it is, I’ve gotta try.”

‘After all, the world doesn’t hand out smooth rides.’

‘In my last life, you sheltered me so much I thought living was easy.’

‘It’s not.’

‘Everyone has to fight tooth and nail for the path they choose.’

‘I shouldn’t be an exception.’

“It’s my choice, you know,” Feng Xiyue murmured, resting her head on Meng Zhi’s shoulder.
“Expecting rewards without effort is just childish.”

Meng Zhi glanced at her, then looked away.

‘…Well.’

‘At least she’s not standing still.’

‘Good for her.’

Still, her shamelessly crashing at his place irked him.

‘…This girl’s gonna mess with my vibe.’

‘Gotta lock my door from now on. So annoying.’

“By the way,” Feng Xiyue said, her eyes glinting mischievously as she rubbed her head against his shoulder.
“You’re so against me staying here—afraid I’ll ruin your little love nest with Chen Xinya?”

“It’s just my solo sanctuary getting wrecked. I’m bummed, that’s all. What’s Chen Xinya got to do with it?”

“Then what was that photo you sent this morning?”
Feng Xiyue bared her teeth like a feisty puppy.

Meng Zhi paused, remembering he’d sent her a pic of Chen Xinya sleeping in his bed to mess with her.

“Oh, that. Last night, Chen Xinya and I pulled an all-nighter at an internet café, so she crashed at my place this morning.”

“That’s it?” Feng Xiyue looked skeptical. “Nothing else happened?”

“What else?” Meng Zhi shot her a look.
“You think everyone’s like you, brain full of dirty nonsense all day?”

“…Fine then.”

Feng Xiyue shrank back, grabbing a cushion and muttering, “I thought that sneaky green tea was lying to me…”

“What?”

“Nothing.”
Feng Xiyue peeked out.
“Do you lock your door when you sleep?”

“Thanks for the reminder.” Meng Zhi deadpanned. “I didn’t use to.”

“…Tch.”

“What’re you sulking about?!”