Chapter 9

Because it felt good, Li Huanle stretched out both hands and started kneading Jiang Minjing's face, saying, "Do you still have a reason? It's just the two of us at home now. Would a thief who breaks in to steal play with the computer? And how did you come back? Isn't it the end of the year, with a lot of work?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, let me go!" Jiang Minjing, her face red, shouted and stretched out her hands to push Li Huanle's big hands away, glaring at him angrily.

"What are you looking at? I'm just using the skill 'Brother's Love' on you. This is normal care for a sister. Since you're back, that's good. The clothes in the bathroom will be your responsibility in a bit. I'm going to bed first. You should go to sleep early too!" Li Huanle patted his step-sister's head and stood up, preparing to go upstairs to rest. After that, he felt no energy, both physically and mentally exhausted.

In fact, Jiang Minjing was very surprised at this moment. A few years ago, when she wanted to become a trainee and took action the following year, their relationship was no longer as close as before. Of course, the main reason was Li Huanle. She remembered how Li Huanle had seriously told her that if she went to become a trainee, he wouldn't recognize her as his sister anymore.

At the time, she didn't believe it. After all, they were very loving siblings. But after she became a trainee, Li Huanle really did it. The feeling was like those old-fashioned fathers who didn't approve of their children's actions and eventually severed their father-daughter relationship.

Their relationship became very bland from then on. Even though Jiang Minjing always wanted to mend things, Li Huanle always mocked her, and their interactions often ended in arguments or with her in tears.

Although things improved a bit after their parents passed away and she debuted, their relationship was not as close as that of real siblings.

The change in Li Huanle's attitude at the hospital last time surprised and delighted her, but it still ended in an argument.

But today, Jiang Minjing clearly felt that her brother had changed. He was back to his old self, pinching her cheeks, patting her head like an adult, and joking with her.

This made Jiang Minjing both surprised and delighted, her eyes even turning a bit red. However...

Seeing Li Huanle's haggard face, the sparse stubble, and the messy black hair, Jiang Minjing's attention finally focused on these details. She thought about the bed, laptop, guitar, and the mess of garbage in the computer room...

"Is this heartbreak syndrome?"

"Bro..."

Jiang Minjing stood up, looking worried about her brother, and wanted to call him to comfort him, to see if he had really become so depressed because of a breakup.

Just as Jiang Minjing opened her mouth, Li Huanle, who had reached the stairs, suddenly turned around and walked back.

"Remember, I don't care what kind of star you want to be, but you're absolutely not allowed to take on any razor ads. Good night!"

After saying this strange statement, Li Huanle went upstairs, leaving Jiang Minjing with a head full of question marks, completely confused about the razors and what was wrong with her brother.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Jiang Minjing suddenly remembered something. She looked at the stairs and then walked to the right side of the living room.

Opening the door to the computer room again, a not-so-pleasant smell wafted out. Seeing the messy room, Jiang Minjing was about to tidy up when she remembered the books on the bed and sat down to pick them up one by one.

"Beginner's Guide to Guitar," "Basic Writing," "Drama Practice," "Fundamentals of Screenwriting," "Introduction to Music," "Music Fundamentals and Appreciation"...

Jiang Minjing's eyes widened as she looked at the books, her mind struggling to process the information. The brother she remembered, who was always full of energy and played sports, when did he start reading such books, and all related to entertainment?

Recalling something, Jiang Minjing looked around the room like a thief, then quietly closed and locked the door. She sat down in front of the computer and turned it on.

Swallowing hard, Jiang Minjing suddenly felt a bit excited. The Mission Impossible theme music would have been perfect here. She thought about what Li Huanle had been typing on the keyboard earlier, wondering what he was writing.

A few seconds later...

"Please enter the password."

Looking at these words on the login screen, Jiang Minjing's excited face fell. She pouted and thought for a moment, then entered Li Huanle's birthday.

"19860808."

"Error!"

Jiang Minjing tilted her head and, mimicking Li Huanle, sat cross-legged on the bed. She thought for a moment and then blushed slightly, saying, "Could it be my birthday?"

"1989221."

"Error!"

"What!" Jiang Minjing pouted, looking annoyed. She tried her parents' and even Soojin's birthdays, but all were incorrect.

After about ten minutes of trying, Jiang Minjing gave up. Her brother's computer had never had a password before, so it seemed there really was a secret.

It was already 2 AM. Jiang Minjing turned off the computer, cleaned up the garbage in the computer room, organized the books, and put the guitar back in the corner. Finally, she went to the bathroom, her curiosity still burning.

Opening the bathroom door, a strong masculine scent hit her. Seeing the laundry in the washing machine, Jiang Minjing understood why Li Huanle had said, "Since you're back, that's good!"

Indeed... this was the truth of a single man. How many men in the world were as tidy and good at cooking as women? Looking at the pile of dirty clothes and thinking about the garbage in the room earlier, she felt a bit exasperated.

With many questions in her mind, the very tired Jiang Minjing went back to her room and fell asleep. In her sleep, a faint smile appeared on her face, either from a good dream or a good mood.

As for Li Huanle, he was already snoring loudly, his bedroom filled with noise.

...

The next morning at 8:30, Jiang Minjing woke up, her cute frown on her forehead. She looked at her phone on the bedside table and then pulled back the cartoon-patterned quilt.

"Ah!"

Wearing only a black thermal underwear set, Jiang Minjing shivered when she left the warmth of the quilt. However, her body lines were very good, living up to her reputation as a popular 'face' a few years ago.

She quickly put on the black down jacket and casual pants on the bed, then left the room in slippers, closing the door quietly.

"Hmph, he's definitely still sleeping!" As she passed Li Huanle's room, Jiang Minjing muttered softly. But thinking about her brother's haggard appearance, she felt a bit heartbroken. After all, someone who had just gone through a breakup should be taken care of.

With this thought, Jiang Minjing went to the kitchen to make breakfast after washing up. By 9 AM, two strange-looking sandwiches appeared on the dining table.

Although they didn't look great, Jiang Minjing found the taste quite good, so she smiled happily and carried a glass of milk and a plate of "Minjing's Special Sandwiches" upstairs.

"Knock, knock!"

"Knock, knock!"

"Bro, I'm coming in!"

After knocking a few times and getting no response, Jiang Minjing called out and held the glass of milk in her left hand, then opened the door.

"Hey!!"

The room was empty, the bed a mess, and clothes were scattered around, making it look like a dog's den.

"Where did Bro go?" Jiang Minjing put the breakfast on a nearby cabinet, feeling puzzled.

"Bro!"

"Bro!"

After searching the house, the only thing Jiang Minjing found was that the guitar in the computer room was missing.

"Where did Bro go?"