Chapter 22

Xia Xiuyan was practicing the moves that the teacher had asked them to master in the company's practice room. Suddenly, she noticed that there were far fewer people in the room, and the remaining trainees were already packing up their things and leaving in twos and threes.

She looked up at the clock on the wall and realized it was already the company's closing time. After finishing the last set of moves, Xia Xiuyan also got up to pack her things and then went to find her sister to go home together. Unexpectedly, before she could even leave the practice room, Xia Xiujing came to her first.

"Big sister, give me this month's allowance," Xia Xiujing said, holding out her hand.

"What do you need the allowance for? Did you spend all of last month's?" Xia Xiuyan frowned as soon as she heard her sister asking for more money.

"Big sister, what do you mean I spent all of last month's? How much did you give me last month? Just 20,000 yuan, and you expect me to last how long?" Xia Xiujing glared at Xia Xiuyan angrily. Last month, she had received 1 million yuan from Brother Zhongying, but in the end, she only got 200,000 yuan. Then, her sister used this as an excuse to cut her allowance, giving her almost nothing, just 20,000 yuan to get by.

"What about that 200,000 yuan? Did you spend it all?" Xia Xiuyan asked.

It would have been better not to ask. As soon as she did, Xia Xiujing became even more furious and puffed up, saying, "Big sister, that's my own money. How can you count it as part of my allowance? Can't you let me have some private savings? You cut my allowance last month, and you want to cut it again this month?"

Xia Xiuyan gave a dry laugh and tried to reason with her, "Xiujing, you're still young and don't understand. Mom and Dad are worried you'll spend money recklessly, so they asked me to help you manage it. I'm not keeping it from you."

"Then give it to me now," Xia Xiujing insisted, not buying it at all.

"What do you need it for?" Xia Xiuyan asked.

"Can't I buy something?" Xia Xiujing was exasperated, hating her sister to the core for always questioning where she spent her money.

"What do you want to buy?" Xia Xiuyan didn't back down just because her sister was angry and continued to press for details.

"Shoes," Xia Xiujing reluctantly said, "The shoes I use for dance practice have been worn for a long time, and the soles are almost worn out. I want to get a new pair. I checked online last night and found a pair I like. The store is in Myeongdong, and I want to go buy them today."

"Alright, I'll go with you to make sure you don't spend money recklessly," Xia Xiuyan agreed, finding her sister's reason acceptable but still wanting to supervise to avoid being tricked by her mischievous sister.

Xia Xiujing couldn't help but complain, angry at her sister's lack of trust. Xia Xiuyan, however, remained unmoved and insisted on going with her. Reluctantly, Xia Xiujing agreed and followed her sister out of the company toward the bus stop. They got on the bus and headed for Myeongdong.

"Hey, big sister, look, isn't that Brother Zhongying?" While shopping, Xia Xiujing tugged at Xia Xiuyan's clothes and asked.

Xia Xiuyan followed her sister's finger and saw it was indeed Xiahou Zhongying. She was puzzled as to why he was shopping in Myeongdong. She had never heard that he liked commercial streets; he usually preferred quiet alleys.

Then she noticed a girl by his side, and the two seemed to be discussing something, looking very intimate. Xia Xiuyan felt uncomfortable. When she saw they were wearing matching couple outfits, she suddenly felt a surge of anger.

"Xiahou Zhongying, what are you doing here?" Xia Xiuyan ran over to Xiahou Zhongying and deliberately shouted in his ear.

Xia Xiuyan's voice was like a sudden firecracker in Xiahou Zhongying's ear, scaring him so much that his face turned pale, and his legs went weak, almost making him fall.

Xiahou Zhongying looked up and saw Xia Xiuyan glaring at him angrily. He felt as if he had run into a bad omen, wondering why he had to deal with this unreasonable girl. He said irritably, "Xia Xiuyan, why are you shouting so loud? You almost scared the life out of me."

"The louder, the better. Tell me, what are you up to here?" Xia Xiuyan glared at him, looking like she was ready to accuse him.

"Who's up to something? You're the one who's acting crazy today. What's wrong with you?" Xiahou Zhongying was frustrated. Usually cold and distant, why was Xia Xiuyan so angry today?

"Brother Zhongying, why are you here too?" Xia Xiujing also came over, feeling happy. With this generous brother around, she wouldn't have to spend her own allowance today. She then curiously turned to look at the girl next to Xiahou Zhongying, wondering what she looked like. To her surprise, she recognized the girl and exclaimed, "Hey, Sister Taeyeon, why is it you?"

Hearing her sister's voice, Xia Xiuyan was also surprised and looked at the girl. When she saw that it was Kim Taeyeon, who had just joined the company this year, she was also shocked. What were they doing together?

Kim Taeyeon was initially startled by Xia Xiuyan's voice and then saw her, feeling stunned. Wasn't this her senior at the company? How did she know Xiahou Zhongying?

It wasn't until Xia Xiujing asked that Kim Taeyeon reacted and greeted the two sisters.

"Do you know each other?" Xiahou Zhongying, seeing the three of them greeting each other, asked in surprise.

"Brother Zhongying, we're all trainees at the same company, of course, we know each other," Xia Xiujing replied, feeling puzzled. How did her brother start dating Sister Taeyeon without telling anyone? How did they even meet?

Xia Xiujing was puzzled and also felt a bit disappointed. She had hoped her brother and sister would get together, but now it seemed impossible. It was all her sister's fault for being so temperamental. Where could she find such a good brother? Rich, handsome, and kind, which girl wouldn't like him? If she were older, she would have a chance. Now, he's been taken, and she'll regret it.

Thinking this, Xia Xiujing secretly glanced at her sister and noticed her expression was also not good. She couldn't help but think, "If only you had thought of this earlier."

"Taeyeon, you're also a trainee at S.M.?" Xiahou Zhongying asked.

"Yes," Kim Taeyeon, seeing Xiahou Zhongying's puzzled look, blushed slightly, nodded, and softly replied.

"Brother Zhongying, you didn't know?" Xia Xiujing was even more puzzled. They were already on a date, and he didn't know what his girlfriend did? How could her brother be so clueless?

"How could I know? We just met today," Xiahou Zhongying shook his head.

"You just met today?" Xia Xiujing was stunned. This was too incredible. They met today and were already in a relationship. She was truly amazed by her brother's boldness.

"You just met today, and you're already on a date?" Xia Xiujing's admiration for Xiahou Zhongying was overwhelming, like a flood that couldn't be stopped. It was a lightning-fast romance.

"Date? Us?" Xiahou Zhongying was stunned for a moment, then looked at the blushing Kim Taeyeon, realizing they had been misunderstood. He quickly explained, "No, we're not what you think."

Xiahou Zhongying's response left the two sisters speechless. Xia Xiuyan felt a deep disdain for him, admiring his courage to date but not to admit it. She was also furious, feeling a strong urge to punch Xiahou Zhongying, unsure if it was because he was in a relationship or because he was irresponsible.

"Then what are you doing?" Xia Xiujing pointed at their clothes, asking curiously.

"Oh, these? We just bought them. Is there a problem?" Xiahou Zhongying was confused.

"You don't know?" Xia Xiujing raised her voice, looking at Xiahou Zhongying as if he were an idiot.

"Idiot," Xia Xiuyan couldn't help but mutter.

"Hey, Xia Xiuyan, what's your problem? Have I offended you?" Anyone has a limit, and Xiahou Zhongying was no exception. After being insulted several times by Xia Xiuyan, he couldn't help but get angry.

"Those are couple outfits, idiot," Xia Xiuyan shot a disdainful look at Xiahou Zhongying.

"Huh, couple outfits?" Xiahou Zhongying looked at his own clothes and then at Kim Taeyeon's, who was blushing and looking down. The same clothes, the same pattern, just different colors. It seemed they were indeed couple outfits. He felt embarrassed, his forehead sweating. "I didn't know."

"Hehe," Xia Xiujing laughed, seeing the two embarrassed. Confirming they weren't in a relationship, she felt relieved. This meant her sister still had a chance. But how could her brother be so clueless, not even recognizing couple outfits? She couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhongying, Sister Taeyeon, how did you meet, and why did you buy couple outfits?"

Thinking about it, Xiahou Zhongying, who had been slow to realize, awkwardly laughed, cleared his throat, and explained how they met and what happened afterward.

Xia Xiujing, holding her stomach, squatted on the ground, laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. Xia Xiuyan's lips twitched, and she turned away, biting her lip, inwardly cursing how clueless he was. At the same time, she felt a sense of relief, realizing they weren't in a relationship after all.