Chapter 7: Sister, sister, Feifei loves you

Stir-fried green peppers with lean meat, tomato egg soup.
One dish, one soup—a nightly staple.
Bai Feifei was still in school, at an age where she was growing fast.
Bai Yao always made sure to prepare one meat and one vegetable dish for a balanced meal.
Two dishes were enough for the sisters; any more would be a waste of food.
“Sis, this tomato looks so ugly.”
Bai Feifei poked at the tomato, clearly not fond of the dish.
“Don’t poke your chopsticks around in the bowl; it’s rude.”
“It’s just at home, who cares?”
Bai Feifei retorted, making Bai Yao sigh.
When Bai Yao was young, her parents had said the same to her.
Back then, she’d listened impatiently, and now she’d become the kind of person she used to resent.
Bai Yao stopped nagging; as Bai Feifei said.
What did it matter at home?
Shouldn’t home be a place for joy?
Why come home exhausted from the day and still face lectures?
Bai Yao gave a wry smile, determined not to become the kind of parent she’d disliked as a child.
“If you don’t like the tomato, give it to me.”
Bai Feifei put the half-bitten tomato in Bai Yao’s bowl, her face scrunched up.
It was clear she really hated tomatoes.
“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it.”
Bai Yao popped the tomato into her mouth; the dish was actually quite tasty.
It was just that Bai Feifei didn’t like it.
Bai Yao almost called her out for being picky but held back.
As a kid, she’d always been scolded for being picky, and now she was doing the same to her sister.
In truth, their parents had made food they liked, rarely considering the kids’ tastes.
If the kids didn’t eat, they were labeled picky.
Looking at the tomato egg soup, Bai Yao’s favorite dish, she smiled.
She’d unwittingly become the kind of parent she’d hated as a child.
“Since you don’t like this, the green pepper stir-fry is all yours.”
Bai Yao placed the stir-fry in front of Bai Feifei and the soup in front of herself.
There was no need to follow pointless rules at home.
All Bai Yao wanted now was for her sister to be happy and for herself to be a good sister.
Everything else, she’d let go.
“Woohoo! I love you, Sis!”
Bai Feifei waved her arms excitedly, thinking she’d have to eat the dish she disliked.
Bai Yao was used to her sister’s quick mood swings.
One moment, Bai Feifei might cling to her, soaking in her “sister scent.”
The next, she might be cursing Bai Yao in her head.
“Sis, why’d you come home so late today, all soaked? Didn’t you take a cab?”
The question she’d dreaded came, but Bai Yao was prepared.
“Work kept me late. On the way back, my phone died, so I had to run home. Good thing it wasn’t far, or you might not have seen your sister tonight.”
“Wow, that’s rough, Sis.”
Bai Feifei shoveled rice into her mouth, grains scattering on the table.
Bai Yao opened her mouth but stayed silent.
Wasting food was shameful, but she didn’t want to be the parent Bai Feifei hated.
She’d find a way later to gently help Bai Feifei build better habits.
After dinner, Bai Yao cleaned the dishes.
As usual, Bai Feifei was ready to defy her, refusing to do homework until the last second!
This annoyed Bai Yao a bit.
But then she remembered she had thirty million!
Whether homework got done or not didn’t seem to matter much.
Even if Bai Feifei’s grades slipped and she didn’t get into a good university, the money was enough for both sisters to live well for the rest of their lives.
If that was the case, why not let her sister relax a bit now?
High school was already dull, with intense studying for over twelve hours a day.
Only a monthly break gave students a sliver of time to unwind.
Bai Yao made up her mind!
She’d talk to Bai Feifei’s homeroom teacher to exempt her from morning and evening study sessions!
The hardships she’d endured, her sister wouldn’t have to.
That was the confidence of having thirty million!
Feifei, you’d better thank your big sister later!
“Feifei.”
“Hmph!”
As soon as Bai Yao said her name, Bai Feifei crossed her arms and huffed dramatically.
“No way I’m doing homework! You’d have to kill me first!”
Numbers made sense alone but jumbled together, they were gibberish.
Chinese characters were clear individually, but in sentences, she always misread the author’s emotions.
She really didn’t want to study that book!
“Pfft.”
Bai Yao burst out laughing; she hadn’t even mentioned homework, yet her sister was ready to die for the cause.
If she actually told Bai Feifei to do homework now, they’d probably end up fighting.
The sisters had clashed before—arguments were common, and fights weren’t unheard of.
But they’d always make up the next moment.
Their bond was never shaken by conflicts.
“What’s so funny? I’m absolutely not doing homework! Tomorrow’s a holiday, and I’m staying up all night playing games!”
Bai Feifei stood on the couch, raising her right hand in a bold declaration.
Bai Yao covered her face, a bit exasperated; her sister was maybe too mischievous.
But that wasn’t bad—better than kids repressed by parents into being withdrawn.
“Alright, sit down before you fall and behave.”
Bai Yao pulled Bai Feifei down, hugging her and pinching her soft cheeks.
So squishy, such a great feel.
“I wasn’t going to make you do homework. I just wanted to ask which phone brand you like.”
Bai Feifei froze, then pressed her forehead against Bai Yao’s.
“Hiss~ You’re not feverish. Why’re you talking crazy?”
“Crazy talk? Do you think your sister’s some weakling who’d get a fever from a little rain?”
“Not exactly, hehe.” Bai Feifei giggled. “So why’re you asking about phone brands? You buying me a phone?”
As a high schooler, a phone wasn’t essential.
Since Bai Feifei was a day student, she didn’t have one.
But now, after letting go of some things, Bai Yao had figured it out.
Life’s short; enjoying it is a virtue.
“Didn’t you keep nagging for a phone? Tomorrow’s your day off, so I’ll take you to get one.”
“For real?!”
Bai Feifei sat up straight, eyes sparkling.
“Of course. Would I lie to you?”
“Wow!” Bai Feifei shouted in delight.
“I knew you were the best, Sis! Sis~ Sis~ Feifei loves you!
“Mwah, mwah, mwah!”