Fang Xin no longer wants to be Jiang Kuangyao's sister.
After she gathered the courage to confess to him, she was forced to move out of the home she'd lived in for eleven years.
And all he gave her was a casual, "You'll always be my sister."
-
At first, Jiang Kuangyao thought Fang Xin was just throwing a tantrum.
He could handle her being gone for three days.
After a week, he started losing sleep every night.
After a month, he went to the hospital.
The day he found out Fang Xin had a boyfriend, he was diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder.
-
On Christmas Eve, after a long cold war, the two of them returned to the old family home for dinner.
Jiang Kuangyao drank too much, and Fang Xin escorted him back to his room.
In the unlit room, the curtains swayed as colored lights glittered outside the window.
They both slumped on the sofa. The ring on Fang Xin's hand irritated Jiang Kuangyao with every flash of light.
Fang Xin said nothing. She stood to leave, her skirt brushing lightly against the back of Jiang Kuangyao's hand.
He reached up and caught the hem of her skirt, his voice as haughty as ever. "You're not allowed to be with him."
"He can't cook the food you love, he doesn't understand your little moods, and he won't take good care of you."
Fang Xin glanced at Jiang Kuangyao from the side, yanked her skirt free, and retorted petulantly, "You can cook the food I love. You understand me better than anyone."
"Too bad you'll always just be my brother."
Jiang Kuangyao gripped her wrist. His long fingers pulled the ring off her hand and flung it away. It struck the floor with a sharp clink.
"Jiang Kuangyao!" Fang Xin pulled her hand away. "You were the one who rejected me, and now you're the one grabbing at me!"
Jiang Kuangyao pulled her into his arms. His eyes reddened, and his voice turned hoarse. "Fang Xin, I don't have to be your brother."
"I can compete fairly with him for you."
[Bonus Scene]
After Fang Xin and Jiang Kuangyao got together, he drew up a list of several "house rules."
The most important one was: No giving each other the silent treatment.
And yet they argued that very day.
Jiang Kuangyao was so angry he slammed the door on his way out.
Fang Xin tore the paper to shreds and threw it viciously to the floor. "Jiang Kuangyao, you jerk! You can't even follow your own rules, but you expect me to?!"
Fang Xin swore she would never be the first to give in!
Then she saw the rain pouring down outside, and her resolve lasted barely half a minute.
She grabbed an umbrella and ran out, calling Jiang Kuangyao over and over. When she ran out of the garden, she saw him getting out of his car, holding a huge bouquet of her favorite strawberry almond biscuit roses.
He spotted her, smiled, and walked over. Gently pinching her nose, he explained, "I'm not giving you the silent treatment."
"I just went to buy flowers and ask you to forgive me."
[Reading Guide]
1. One-on-one romance, both leads are each other's first and only partner, happy ending
2. They are not related by blood and are not registered in the same household. The heroine was simply fostered by the hero's family
3. The heroine and her so-called boyfriend are only pretending to date
4. The hero really is willing to be the other man for love (he has questionable morals)
5. The hero is ten years older than the heroine
6. The heroine is from northern China, while the hero is from Hong Kong Island. The story includes habits and customs specific to their respective regions
Theme: If a million kisses can shatter a wall
