Lin Lue wore a gentle and harmless smile on his face as he discreetly avoided the greasy palm she extended toward him.
“Rest assured, I’ll definitely pay on time.”
The Landlady saw how unappreciative Lin Lue was being and wanted to get rougher, but her vision blurred as Lin Xue’er suddenly appeared in front of Lin Lue like a ghost, shielding him.
The Landlady instantly lost her nerve.
After all, while this little girl looked weak and delicate, she was like a bristling little beast when it came to protecting her brother, her eyes fierce and stubborn.
The last time she had tried to drag Lin Lue into her room, the girl had found out and lunged at her like a madwoman, nearly biting her ear off.
The Landlady subconsciously covered her left ear, feeling a phantom ache.
“Damn — stop acting so high and mighty, ptooey!”
The Landlady left, grumbling and cursing.
Lin Xue’er watched the woman’s bloated figure vanish before finally relaxing her small body.
She gently pulled at the corner of
Lin Lue’s clothes and whispered, “Brother, maybe… don’t pay my tuition yet. Use it for the rent first.”
Lin Lue reached out and lightly tapped her small head.
“Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about?”
“I’ll figure out the rent myself. Your studies are the most important thing.”
He reached out and pinched his sister’s soft cheek.
“Speaking of which, your vacation is almost over, and you’ll be heading back to school soon. I’m taking you to buy a few sets of new clothes today.”
“I don’t need them…” Lin Xue’er said softly.
“No, you do.”
“In this world, there is a type of necessity called ‘Your brother says you need it.'”
Without giving her a chance to argue, he smiled and took his sister’s small hand, firmly leading her outside.
His sister, Lin Xue’er, was wonderful and amazing — the number one sister in the world — but her personality was too soft, too obedient, and far too sensible.
So, at times like this, he had to be a bit firm.
Lin Xue’er looked up at her brother’s broad, warm back, then looked down at her hand being held tightly in his.
She quietly moved closer, leaning gently against her brother’s arm.
Seeing that Lin Lue didn’t push her away, she squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
“Brother…”
“Hmm?”
“The sunlight is so warm.”
They had already stepped onto the street.
Lin Lue looked up at the morning light washing over the road.
“Yeah, it is.”
“It’s another fine day today.”
***
In the Lower District, the climate was volatile.
Because of the Witches, it could be sunny one second and pouring rain the next.
Lin Lue noticed the flickering silhouette of a Witch amidst the dark clouds.
A sudden rain washed away some traces of the day.
The damp air carried a mixture of cooking fumes and a musty, humid stench.
In the shadows of the alleys, several women dressed in eccentric, non-mainstream styles were discussing “interesting news,” such as where another Fallen Witch had appeared.
As his shoes stepped through shallow puddles, creating murky ripples, Lin Lue flicked his finger across his phone screen.
His eyebrows twitched slightly as he looked at the incoming notifications.
The phone was broadcasting news about a Fallen Witch.
“Last night, a Fallen Witch was eliminated… Let us thank these Guardians…”
Lin Lue understood that, as the name implied, Fallen Witches were transformed from Witches.
To some extent, they shared the same origin as their enemies.
Lin Lue felt it was somewhat ironic.
He noticed the back of a figure in a bright red qipao in the news report.
Although her face wasn’t captured, Lin Lue could deduce her identity from that dazzling blonde hair.
Moreover, he was far too familiar with that slender, graceful waist and back.
He couldn’t even count how many times he had whipped her.
Lin Lue pulled a Black Notebook with softened, worn corners from his pocket and began writing seriously with his head down.
The pages were covered in dense handwriting, all containing information related to the two Witches, Molly and Yuexue.
When it came to his work, he was serious.
‘I’m quite diligent,’ Lin Lue mused. ‘Opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared.’
Therefore, he deserved to earn this money.
Lin Xue’er watched all of this with her pink eyes.
“Brother…”
A soft, slightly aggrieved call pulled Lin Lue back from his complicated thoughts.
His pen stopped.
He looked down and met a pair of moist eyes.
Lin Xue’er was looking up at him with her small face.
Her pink, tender lips were slightly pouted, and her cheeks were puffed out with a bit of soft flesh, clearly spelling out “I’m unhappy.”
Her brother had personally said he would spend time with her.
But from just now until now, his eyes were always on his phone or his notes… His mind was clearly not on her.
‘Brother is a liar.’
The well-behaved and sensible Lin Xue’er hadn’t wanted to disturb her brother’s work, but the tiny bit of grievance and curiosity in her heart was simply impossible to suppress.
Seeing Lin Lue looking at her, she gently tugged his sleeve and acted spoiled in a low voice.
“Brother… are you done with your business?”
“What’s wrong, Xue’er?”
Lin Lue took a look and realized he had recorded enough.
He tucked the notes away, softened his voice, and reached out to rub his sister’s soft hair.
“Brother wasn’t even looking at me…”
Lin Xue’er watched him put away the notebook and exhaled in relief.
Her heart relaxed, and the urge to act spoiled could no longer be held back.
“What were you busy with?”
“Nothing much, just a small matter regarding work.”
“It’s handled now.”
A flash of undetectable exhaustion passed through the depths of Lin Lue’s eyes, but he quickly hid it.
Lin Xue’er’s eyes lit up, and she immediately forgot her previous grievance.
She began skipping and hopping while swinging his hand.
“Brother, where are we going next?”
“Naturally, we’re going to the best supermarket chain in the Lower District. I’ll buy you some pretty dresses and the candy and little cakes you love.”
Lin Lue squeezed her soft little hand.
He felt she was still a bit too thin, which made him very dissatisfied.
He felt that as an older brother, he had failed his responsibility by not raising his sister to be a little plumper.
“Ah, Brother, that’s too much… I don’t need so much.”
Lin Xue’er said softly, “It’s not easy for you to earn money.”
“I’m very happy, really.”
“But I truly don’t need those things.”
“It’s enough for me just to walk with you like this.”
“Brother… Brother???”
Lin Xue’er looked at Lin Lue again and saw two trails of clear, dramatic tears streaming down his face, which momentarily left her speechless.
“Touched! I’m so touched!”
Lin Lue choked up and shouted loudly!
“My sister really is the cutest in the world!”
Lin Xue’er’s white, delicate face was instantly flooded with heat, turning a deep crimson.
“Bro… Brother! What are you saying?!”
It was so embarrassing!
However, a wave of sweetness welled up in Lin Xue’er’s heart.
Holding hands, the two continued forward.
The streets of the Lower District weren’t very wide.
The signs of the shops on both sides flickered on and off.
Pedestrians came and went, most of them carrying expressions of numbness and detachment.
Therefore, when Lin Lue had shouted just now, people only spared him a glance before ignoring him to continue their own business.
However, Lin Lue’s appearance was simply too extraordinary.
Especially in the Lower District, being a male with such a clean aura made certain “bad women” very much want to “stain” him.
Along the way, the gazes of many female passersby fell upon him.
Some were malicious peeks, while others were bold enough to lick their lips or whistle.
Some even looked like they wanted to unbutton their tops.
Having struggled in the Lower District for many years, Lin Lue was long accustomed to such looks and remained calm.
He didn’t stop his pace, his expression indifferent.
But Lin Xue’er beside him was not pleased.
Her small brow furrowed, and like a little beast protecting its food, she quietly leaned closer to Lin Lue and wrapped her arms tightly around his.
She glared fiercely at the female strangers who kept staring at Lin Lue, her expression “fiercely” adorable.
‘Bad women, go away, go away!’
Lin Lue noticed and couldn’t help but let out a low laugh.
Really, who was it that invented such adorable creatures like little sisters?
“Don’t worry, Xue’er.”
“I am worried. Brother, there are a lot of bad women outside. Don’t let your guard down.”
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