Chapter 5: Big Sister Xiaxue (Seeking Reviews and Collections)

As soon as Mu Fei stepped out of the door, he saw a slender, graceful girl standing in front of the teaching building, gently pacing. She wore a light beige knee-length dress, with a simple and elegant vest on top. A pale pink silk belt accentuated her slim waist, and her long, slender legs were particularly eye-catching in the sunlight. A pair of Adidas canvas shoes added a sense of familiarity, like a next-door big sister. A casual sun hat was perched on her head, and her long hair flowed past her waist. Even without seeing her face, her figure and demeanor would surely turn heads on the street, with a return rate of over 30%.

Seeing the girl in front of him, Mu Fei's eyes lit up, "Hey, Xiaxue."

The girl turned around at the sound of Mu Fei's voice, her clear and refined face showing a hint of surprise, but then a warm, sunny smile spread across it. She strolled up to Mu Fei, extending her long index finger to tap his head, her smooth nails gleaming with a pink luster. "Call me Big Sister Xue, you little rascal."

Mu Fei pushed her finger away and quickly looked around, only relaxing when he was sure no one was nearby. "Big Sister Xue, I've already told you not to treat me like a kid. What are you doing here today, coming to see me?"

The beautiful girl, whom Mu Fei called Big Sister Xue, smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What, from the tone of your voice, it sounds like I can't come to see my little brother?"

"Of course not, I'm just so happy. The key is that you're too beautiful and too eye-catching. If we walk around campus together today, tomorrow a pack of wolves will be surrounding me for your phone number. I'll be so annoyed."

Hearing Mu Fei's words, Big Sister Xue smiled, her lips curling. Flattery is always welcome, and complimenting a girl on her beauty is never wrong. Seeing her expression, Mu Fei knew his plan had succeeded.

"Since you're so sweet, I'll let it go. Big Sister will treat you to a meal. What do you want to eat?"

Mu Fei's eyes gleamed like a hungry wolf's. "That's great! I haven't eaten anything since yesterday, and I've been waiting for you to say that."

...

The beautiful girl Mu Fei called "Big Sister Xue" was named Xiaxue. She was his childhood friend, growing up in the same courtyard. She was two years older than him, and neither of them could remember when they first met. They only knew that they had always been there for each other since they could remember. In every way, they were closer than real siblings, except for the lack of blood ties.

As children, they ate and played together. Although they attended different schools, they were in the habit of going to school together. This continued until Mu Fei started high school, when the courtyard was demolished, and the close-knit neighbors had to move to different places. Even then, Mu Fei and Xiaxue's relationship never wavered.

Led by Mu Fei, the two entered a not-too-big but relatively quiet barbecue restaurant and found a seat by the window.

"Miss, we'll start with these. We'll order more after we finish."

Mu Fei handed the menu to the server and then turned to Xiaxue, smiling. "Big Sister Xue, you haven't told me why you have so much free time today to come see me."

Xiaxue raised an eyebrow, her face showing a hint of dissatisfaction. "It's all because of you. I called you last night until my phone almost died, but you didn't answer. Then you even turned it off. I was worried, so I came over."

Mu Fei scratched his head and then felt something in his pocket, suddenly punching his palm. "Damn, Big Sister Xue, I forgot. I think I lost my phone."

Xiaxue smiled bitterly, thinking to herself that her little brother was always a worry. "Xiao Fei, how could you be so careless? Here, use mine for now."

As she spoke, Xiaxue pulled out a pink LG bubble gum phone from somewhere. Mu Fei hesitated to take it.

"Big Sister, you keep it. If I use it, I'll get too much attention. I can't handle it." Jokingly, he thought, if a grown man uses a pink phone, people will think he's a pervert.

Xiaxue tilted her head, thinking that the phone indeed wasn't suitable for a boy. "Okay, I'll pick you up after school and buy you a new one."

Mu Fei waved his hand. "No, Big Sister Xue, you're renting a place and investing in the publishing house. Your new comic's royalties aren't much. I'll buy it myself. My mom sent me money, and I haven't spent much of it yet."

"Alright, if you need money, you must come to me." Xiaxue's eyes never left her little brother's face. "Xiao Fei, yesterday... yesterday Xiao Wei said you and Qi Ying broke up. I wanted to ask you how you were, but I couldn't reach you. No one was home, and I couldn't find you at the places you usually go. We were all very worried. Please don't let us lose contact with you again, okay?"

Xiaxue's intense gaze made Mu Fei uncomfortable. He laughed nervously. "Big Sister Xue, I understand. I won't do it again. The skewers are here, Big Sister, eat quickly."

Xiaxue gently placed the skewers Mu Fei handed her to the side, staring at his face for a moment before suddenly asking, "Xiao Fei, do you resent me?"

Mu Fei's action of putting the meat in his mouth froze. Was he resenting Xiaxue in his heart?

If Xiaxue hadn't suddenly come to the school that day and been harassed by Zu Shaolong, he wouldn't have offended that bully, and Qi Ying wouldn't have been taken away by Zu Shaolong. His first love would not have been so abruptly ended.

But could he really resent this girl in front of him?

Since he could remember, Mu Fei had been used to having this big sister around. As a child, he always stood behind her, holding the hem of her clothes, trailing after her like a little tail. Other girls wouldn't play with Xiaxue because of Mu Fei, but Xiaxue never left him behind. At that time, Mu Fei was five, and Xiaxue was only seven.

When they grew older and started elementary school, the small and weak Mu Fei was often bullied. It was Xiaxue, with her even weaker body, who protected him from the bad kids, giving him a chance to escape.

In junior high, when Mu Fei started learning physics and chemistry and his grades weren't good, it was Xiaxue who tutored him and pushed him to study, which led to his good grades now.

In high school, when Mu Fei lived alone, Xiaxue often drove for half an hour to his place to cook, wash dishes, and clean the room. On weekends, she even did his laundry. If Mu Fei hadn't strongly opposed it, she would have moved in to take care of him.

Even after Mu Fei started dating, the living expenses his mother sent were not enough for his dates with Qi Ying. Xiaxue used the royalties from her hard-earned comic drawings to support Mu Fei.

Could Mu Fei resent a big sister who had done so much for him? No, absolutely not.

"If I really resented you, I couldn't forgive myself." Mu Fei thought fiercely, then lifted his head, no longer avoiding Xiaxue's gaze, and looked straight into her eyes.

"Girlfriends can be found again, but—there is only one Xiaxue for me."

Xiaxue's body trembled at Mu Fei's words, and she wiped her eyes with her delicate fingers. She said in a playful tone, "You little rascal, saying such sweet things. Do you want to see me cry?"

"And, call me Big Sister Xue."

Xiaxue smiled, a bright and beautiful smile, but Mu Fei could see her hand trembling slightly.

Taking a bite of the skewer, Mu Fei took a deep breath. "Big Sister, I won't let you worry about me anymore. I'll earn a lot of money and take care of you in the future."

Hearing Mu Fei's words, Xiaxue couldn't hold back her tears, which streamed down her smooth, beautiful face.

"Little rascal, you're bullying Big Sister as soon as we meet." Xiaxue wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but the tears only flowed more. Even the server and a few customers nearby gave them strange looks, wondering why she was crying while eating.

"Big Sister Xue, what's wrong? Don't cry."

"It's okay, I'm happy. I'll be fine in a moment." Xiaxue gave a charming smile, making Mu Fei pause, thinking that she had become even more beautiful in the few days since he last saw her.

Sure enough, after a moment, Xiaxue stopped crying and gently stroked Mu Fei's head, her face filled with satisfaction. "My little Fei has really grown up..."

Mu Fei didn't dare to provoke her, but he smiled bitterly in his heart. "My dear big sister, I've been grown up for a long time..."

"Or..." Xiaxue's long index finger drew circles in the air, her face blushing. "How about I be your girlfriend?"

Mu Fei was startled. Something was definitely off with Big Sister Xue today. He couldn't provoke her, so he laughed nervously.

"Ha ha, that would be great. I've been longing for Big Sister Xue for a long time. Ha ha ha ha." Mu Fei even made a gesture of wiping his mouth.

Xiaxue gave him a disapproving look but clearly looked happy. "You're so full of yourself, little kid. We'll talk about it when you grow up. I'm not teasing you anymore. Eat quickly, you have an exam this afternoon. Eat more."

Hearing Xiaxue's words, Mu Fei felt relieved and quickly focused on his food, afraid that she would ask him another difficult question.

Xiaxue, however, held her drink bottle and remained silent, her gaze wandering over Mu Fei, occasionally showing a satisfied smile.

At a corner table, a punk with yellow hair was smoking, his face dark as he stared at them, a cold smile on his lips.

{Piaotian Literature}