CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: HALF-SIBLINGS WITH THE SAME MOTHER BUT DIFFERENT FATHERS

Shi Yang excelled in his studies, and had a naturally meticulous personality. Whenever he sat in class, he was upright like a model student, with his school uniform neatly worn. He sat in the prime spot in the middle of the third row, attentively listening to the teacher on the podium explaining the new semester’s curriculum.

Shi Yang was handsome; in fact, he was arguably the most good-looking among the boys in his class and possibly even in the entire third-year cohort, with a smooth build and striking appearance.

He sat upright at his desk, with short black hair, fair skin, bright and lively eyes, and especially well-formed lips. When he looked people in the eye, his lips often carried a slight, pleasant smile, making him particularly attractive.

Shi Yang carried a branded backpack from a department store, and wore genuine leather sandals that thudded softly against the ground, unlike regular plastic shoes that clacked loudly.

Good looks, excellent grades, and a privileged background made Shi Yang early on the object of interest for the school’s girls; the pretty ones were eager, while the average ones quietly adored him.

Shi Yang was punctual, arriving in class right on time in the mornings. During class time, he stayed in the classroom, and after class, he played basketball with a group of close friends on the field. If girls wanted to confess to him, they had to catch him on the way to and from school, or corner him at the classroom door during breaks.

Zhao Meimei, carrying her new pink backpack, ran all the way to the school building Shi Yang had pointed out to her. Finding the entrance, she went in and climbed to the second floor, searching for the classroom along the door numbers.

Third year, class one, third year, class one...

Zhao Meimei found the doorway of the third-year class one classroom, and the large door was wide open with the homeroom teacher’s voice coming from inside. Zhao Meimei instinctively bent down, moving forward against the wall.

Just as she reached the door, she craned her neck to peep inside and immediately spotted Shi Yang.

Zhao Meimei waved at Shi Yang, but everyone inside was focused on listening to the teacher, so no one looked outside.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Zhao Meimei withdrew her head, took two steps back, hugged her backpack, and squatted to wait for Shi Yang after school.

After quite a while, noisy chatter began to echo in the corridor, as classes started to end one after another.

Zhao Meimei glanced aside, then refocused her gaze on Shi Yang’s classroom door, where the teacher’s powerful voice still continued.

"Hey? Little student, are you waiting for someone?"

Zhao Meimei turned her head to see a pair of straight, slender legs. Looking upwards, she saw a knee-length skirt, white shirt, and the summer uniform from Sixth Middle School.

The speaker was a pretty junior high school girl who looked like a doll.

Zhao Meimei stood up and politely greeted, her voice crisp, "Hello, Sister."

The girl quickly put a finger to her lips, signaling her to quiet down. After making the gesture, she peeked at the classroom door to ensure the teacher hadn’t noticed, then breathed a sigh of relief.

The middle school girl stood by the wall next to Zhao Meimei and asked her, "How long have you been here?"

Zhao Meimei pursed her lips, "For a while now."

The middle school girl nodded, just about to speak when someone suddenly dashed out from the classroom door.

Zhao Meimei turned her head to follow her gaze, and once she saw who it was, she beamed and quickly said, "Brother Yangyang!"

The middle school girl also expressed excitement, "Shi Yang!"

After calling out, Zhao Meimei and the middle school girl looked at each other.

The middle school girl smiled, "So you were waiting for Shi Yang?"

Zhao Meimei nodded and gave her a broad smile, showing a mouthful of white teeth.

Shi Yang reached out to take Zhao Meimei’s backpack, patted her on the head, "Waited for a long time? I’ll need a few more minutes, wait for me a bit."

Zhao Meimei agreed.

"Shi Yang!" the middle school girl called, lowering her voice.

Shi Yang gave her a brief look, frowned, ignored her, and walked back into the classroom carrying Zhao Meimei’s backpack.

The middle school girl kept staring at Shi Yang’s back, and only after he turned into the classroom door did she look away.

She whispered to Zhao Meimei, "Shi Yang is your brother?"

Zhao Meimei leaned against the wall, nodded, and likewise responded quietly, "Yes."

The middle school girl gave Zhao Meimei a slight smile, "Your brother is really cool."

Zhao Meimei, with the air of a little adult, looked at the middle school girl, her dark eyes turning like a thinker’s, "Of course, he’s my brother!"

When Zhao Meimei called her brother, she elongated the tone, carrying the innate swagger and pride of a mischievous child.

Zhao Meimei asked, "Sister, you’re waiting for my brother too?"

The middle school girl nodded, "Yes, I’m Liu Qujing, you can call me Sister Jing."

Zhao Meimei obediently addressed her, "Sister Jing."

Liu Qujing pulled her backpack off her back and took out a lollipop to hand to Zhao Meimei, "Here, for you."

Zhao Meimei waved her hand to refuse, "My mom doesn’t allow me to take other people’s things."

Liu Qujing chuckled, "You’re quite interesting, it’s okay, I’m just giving you candy, not taking anything."

Zhao Meimei still didn’t accept, "Thank you, but I don’t want it."

Liu Qujing didn’t insist, put the candy back in her pocket, and asked, "What’s your name?"

Zhao Meimei announced, "I’m Zhao Meimei."

Liu Qujing paused, "Your surname is Zhao? You’re not Shi Yang’s real sister?"

Zhao Meimei glared, dissatisfied, "Why wouldn’t I be? I’m definitely his real sister!"

Hearing this, Liu Qujing misunderstood, thinking Zhao Meimei and Shi Yang were half-siblings, same mother, different fathers. She nodded understandingly, thinking Shi Yang’s parents were quite progressive, as divorce was something people kept hidden back then, unwilling to let outsiders know, feeling shame and fearing gossip.

After waiting for a while, Shi Yang’s class ended. When the teacher came out and saw Zhao Meimei, he visibly hesitated, "Are you Shi Yang’s sister?"

Zhao Meimei quickly greeted politely, "Hello, Teacher."

The teacher glanced at her, nodded, and turned away.

Soundlessly trailing out next was Shi Yang, who carried both backpacks. Shi Yang slung his own backpack over his shoulder, carried Zhao Meimei’s bag in the other hand, and reached out to hold her hand.

Liu Qujing stretched her arm to stop him, "Shi Yang, I need to talk to you."

Shi Yang’s eyelids lifted indifferently, "I don’t have time."

Shi Yang pulled Zhao Meimei’s small hand, intending to leave side by side.

Liu Qujing blocked the path, not letting them through. Classmates gradually came out from the classroom, and Qu Chaozong called from behind, "Shi Yang! Hey! Wait for me!"

Everyone saw Shi Yang holding a little girl and blocked by the class flower from class three. The classmates who were originally busy and noisy instinctively quieted down and turned to watch the commotion.

Indeed, Shi Yang was sometimes stopped by girls seeking a confession or phone number outside the first-year class door, but today was different. The person blocking him was the class flower of class three, Liu Qujing.

Liu Qujing was pretty and the most adored doll-like type by junior high school boys, with big eyes, double eyelids, and long black hair tied at the back, revealing a smooth forehead, resembling the dolls in display cases, drawing lots of affection.

Qu Chaozong hurried near Shi Yang, without much tact, he stroked Zhao Meimei’s head, "Hey, Meimei!"

Zhao Meimei turned, seeing it was Qu Chaozong, she quickly greeted, "Hello, Brother."

Qu Chaozong grinned, asking her, "How do you feel about your first day at school?"

Zhao Meimei responded honestly, revealing her shortcoming, "I talked to my deskmate and was called out by the teacher to recite my name."

Qu Chaozong burst into laughter, "Ah? You got called out on the first day for talking?"

Embarrassed by the teasing, Zhao Meimei, with her small face turning red, hugged Shi Yang’s waist and snuggled her face against him.

Shi Yang shoved Qu Chaozong, "What’s so funny about that!" He said, and then glancing at Zhao Meimei’s bashful, coy look, he couldn’t help but smile too.

Shi Yang dragged Zhao Meimei around Liu Qujing and walked forward.

Liu Qujing caught up behind, "Shi Yang!"

Shi Yang didn’t look back, and when he reached the stairs, he scooped up Zhao Meimei’s arm, hugging her, carried her down the stairs, treating her like a cherished treasure, indulging her immensely.