Chapter 99: Doesn't This Stop the Pain?

Li Hua had clung to a sliver of hope while waiting for Luo Chen’s answer, but when he replied she lost it all at once. She sighed, took a few bleak steps, and left alone.
“Hey... let me be alone for a while.”

“Li Hua is okay, isn’t he?” Yanhe asked in confusion after seeing them part ways so suddenly.

“Just leave him to himself for a bit. In a few minutes he’ll probably be running around again.” Luo Chen thought for a moment. Given Li Hua’s temperament, he might forget this sorrowful matter in under two minutes, though it was also possible the blow was so deep that he might stay down for a while.

“Hm, that’s true.” Yanhe had seen the sudden jumps in Li Hua’s expressions earlier—his face changing so fast it was almost shocking. She had taken it as simply his nature and had not paid much attention. Dai Xinhua gave a small, thoughtful nod as well.

Unlike the two other girls Luo Chen had just misled, Luo Tianyi, who was nearest him, had heard quite a lot. Li Hua had been so undone by emotion that he forgot to lower his voice. She had not caught everything, but it was enough to guess something. She toyed with her fingers, counting quietly, and realized she had gone several days without teasing her own brother—and, yes, several days without sharing a big meal either.

Her bright eyes flashed as she spoke. “I did hear something, you know. About girlfriends… sob.”

As soon as Luo Tianyi began, Luo Chen sensed danger and rushed forward to cover her mouth with his hand, but it was already too late.

“G-girlfriends?”

Dai Xinhua, cheeks faintly flushed with indignation, shot Luo Chen a sharp look. She sensed there was more to come, and from his panicked expression it could only be bad news. Yanhe stayed silent, but her face made it plain she was waiting for an explanation.

Faced with the two women’s questioning eyes, Luo Chen was tempted to blame everything on Li Hua. That fool had to bring this up, and so loudly, too—what kind of followers does he have? While Luo Chen scrambled for a reason, Luo Tianyi, still pinned against him with her mouth covered, struggled uselessly and, in one burst of frustration, bit down hard on the finger near her lips.

“Ow… ow!”

Startled, Luo Chen pulled his hand away. A girl who loved food had a stronger bite than most; even without force, her tiny canines broke the skin slightly and left a few beads of blood.

“Hm.”

Freed from his restraining hand, Luo Tianyi turned and faced him. She did not hurry to continue speaking. Instead, she raised her right hand and held out three fingers. Luo Chen understood at once—three big meals. But threats once announced were still threats.

To keep the mess from growing, he decided to yield. It had been ages since he had taken Luo Tianyi out for a proper feast. Since he wasn’t short on money at the moment, there was no need for stinginess. He could even take Yanhe and Dai Xinhua too, a little token of thanks for all their help.

“That’s too much—three times!”

He cupped her restless little hand and, ignoring her warning look, pressed down two fingers, meaning he’d allow only one.

But Luo Tianyi, having worked hard for this opportunity, would not give up so easily. Even against his resistance she poked another finger up again—her lowest demand—sending him a look that plainly said, help me save face.

Luo Chen hesitated, doubtful, then gave a slight nod.

The two troublemaking siblings were oblivious to the passers-by nearby, many of whom looked as if they were smoldering with irritation. Was this the place to display affection in front of the school gate? The single students were jealous, and the coupled students were jealous of that jealousy.

Immersed in her little victory, Luo Tianyi cared nothing for gawkers. Now that she had won her reward, of course she would speak up for her brother.

“Li Hua just asked whether the three of us are my brother’s girlfriends, right?”

At that line she paused on purpose. Noting Dai Xinhua’s and Yanhe’s interested expressions, and Luo Chen’s face darkening, she continued with satisfaction.

“Of course my brother said no, and very upright at that. Li Hua ended up leaving with a face like he’d been robbed of the sun.”

She delivered her improvised script with full conviction, then looked at her brother as though inviting him to praise her.

Yanhe and Dai Xinhua, of course, did not believe this at all. They had seen the two siblings interact; with a transaction this obvious, even a casual observer would have tried to disguise it. Believing that would make them blind.

Besides, if this had really been true, Luo Chen wouldn’t have panicked and tried to stop her from saying more.

Still, after a glance at each other, the two women accepted the excuse anyway. To keep poking at it would only make things more awkward.

Luo Chen looked over the sister still waiting for her reward. He didn’t believe his own words, let alone theirs. Yanhe and Dai Xinhua seemed to accept it, but ten chances to one they were keeping their own thoughts tucked away. He had better explain himself than let them.

Luo Tianyi looked at her brother, who did not seem too happy, then turned to see Yanhe and Dai Xinhua still choosing not to object. The matter seemed settled—so why not?

Her gaze swept over him and came to rest on his right index finger, still marked by faint blood. Had she bitten too hard and hurt him that much?

The thought made her look worried. Could he be in real pain? She tilted her head, recalling how he had handled it when her own finger had been injured once.

“Something like this…?”

After thinking it through, and despite Luo Chen’s bewildered look, she gently lifted his right hand, brought his wounded index finger to her mouth, and softly sucked on it. Then she raised her eyes and asked, a bit unclear, “If I do this, it won’t hurt anymore, right?”

“Cough… cough.”

Luo Chen quickly pulled away his finger and tapped her small head to stop her from going further. Such a scene could be so easily misunderstood.

Thanks to reader Ali S for supporting with 1000 Qidian coins, thanks to reader Youde Yudianmeng for 300 Qidian coins, and thanks to reader Jun Mo’s World for 200 Qidian coins. Confetti!