A Winner in Life since Kindergarten

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

When Liu Wenjie heard the summons, he thought, Visitors, already? Slipping into his flip-flops, he padded out of the bedroom.

The instant he looked toward the doorway, every pretense of cool indifference shattered.

The person standing there hit him like a depth charge—his already simmering emotions boiled over.

He stood slack-jawed, eyes narrowed in exaggerated disgust at the pretty little brat.

White sandals, a floral dress, twin ponytails so glossy they looked freshly washed, swaying with every small step.

"Xu Feifei..."

Normally chattering nonstop, Feifei was on her best behavior today—after all, this was someone else's home. Until she understood the situation, politeness came first. She glanced at the plainly dressed Liu Wenjie, cheeks faintly pink, and gave a soft hum. "H-hello... long time no see. Sorry to bother you."

Liu Wenjie: "..."

Uncle Xu broke into a delighted grin the moment he spotted Liu Wenjie. "It's been ages since we last saw Xiaojie—he's growing more handsome every day."

Ignoring Feifei for the moment, Liu Wenjie greeted the adults first. "Good afternoon, Uncle Xu, Aunt Xu."

Uncle Xu turned to Liu Yingjun with a chuckle. "Actually, the main reason we came to Director Liu's home today is to thank Xiaojie."

Liu Yingjun looked puzzled. "Thank him? What did Xiaojie do?"

Madam Xu explained, "Xiaojie is in the same class as our Feifei, right? Last semester something ridiculous happened, and Xiaojie helped Feifei find evidence to clear her name. Without his help it would've been a real headache—after all, at school the parents can't just barge in."

Lin Xiaoli returned from the kitchen carrying the good tea leaves, hearing this for the first time. "There was such a thing? Xiaojie never told me. Come, sit, sit—tell us exactly what happened."

The adults settled onto the sofa. Uncle Xu went on to describe the recent complications.

"We'd planned to visit the moment summer vacation started—Feifei had been looking forward to it—but work kept us tied up. Coming in the evening felt too informal. Feifei asked us every single day for a month, 'When are we going? When are we going?' I figured we couldn't delay any longer, so I took today off."

The moment Feifei heard her parents spilling her secrets, she waved her little hands frantically. "Dad! Don't talk about that! I only asked a couple of times—no big deal!"

Her mother laughed. "Only a couple? You asked twice a day! Don't you remember? 'Liu Wenjie this, Liu Wenjie that,' all day long."

Feifei's face flamed. She shot a mortified glance at Liu Wenjie in the distance and waved even harder.

"Mom, really, I didn't!"

Lin Xiaoli studied Feifei's reaction and sighed. "So you two are close at school—I had no idea." She turned to her son. "Xiaojie, you never told me you and Feifei were that friendly."

Liu Wenjie let out an odd, cold chuckle.

One Xia Ying was already enough trouble—now there were two?

Feifei's mother tugged her daughter's hand. "You've been talking about your Older Brother Xiaojie all month, haven't you? Go on—go play with him."

Feifei stared, cheeks crimson. "Older Brother? Since when?"

But with so many adults watching—and a strange urge to make a good impression—she had no choice. She edged over, face burning.

"Let's go to your room," she whispered when he still didn't move. "Why are we just standing here?"

Liu Wenjie: "..." A sly grin spread across his face.

He hadn't planned to take advantage, but if this was going to shatter his peaceful day anyway, why not make her squirm? He couldn't always be the one getting hurt.

"Call me Older Brother and I'll take you."

Feifei saw that smile and knew nothing good would follow. "Wh-what are you saying?!"

Liu Wenjie feigned innocence. "Didn't hear me? Say Older Brother and I'll escort you to my room. Come on—Older Brother."

All four adults turned to watch, clearly enjoying the show.

Feifei's mother added fuel to the fire. "Go on, Feifei. Call Older Brother Xiaojie—what's there to be shy about?"

Feifei clenched her fists, her tsundere eyes glaring at Liu Wenjie, cheeks puffed out in silent protest: Don't push it.

He merely shrugged, utterly indifferent.

At last, eyes squeezed shut, she forced out, "O-Older Brother! Older Brother Xiaojie!"

Liu Wenjie's lips curved. Teasing little kids was strangely satisfying. With a sigh, he turned to lead the way. "Follow me."

Feifei ground her teeth, gave a soft huff, and trailed after him.

"Jerk."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the house, little Xia Ying was still rummaging for medicine. "Where is it? Where did it go?"

Once inside Liu Wenjie's room, Feifei's eyes widened.

It was almost bare: a bed, a desk, a bookshelf crammed solid with books—nothing else.

"So plain."

Liu Wenjie blinked. "Plain? It's got everything."

Feifei thought of her own bedroom—stuffed with hundreds of plush toys, pink cartoon curtains, a pink fluffy carpet, pink princess bed drapes, and an entire wall of toy shelves.

"This feels empty."

Liu Wenjie wiped imaginary sweat. "Now I can't even picture your room. Everyone at kindergarten says you have tons of toys—don't tell me your bedroom's floor-to-ceiling dolls?"

Feifei answered honestly, "Not really—just a few. The rest are in another room."

By "a few" she meant three or four hundred.

She added silently, Though with a room this bare, I suppose it fits. You've never been normal anyway.

Liu Wenjie chuckled, too lazy to argue. "Want fruit? I'll bring some."

Feifei continued wandering, poking around. "Sure."

"Once you have your fruit, just sit tight until the grown-ups finish chatting. Then you can leave. Best if we don't say a word to each other."

With that, he left.

Feifei watched him go, puzzled. What was he muttering?

As if she'd sit still.

Once she was alone, she surveyed the room again. Her gaze settled on the unmade bed. She leaned in, nose twitching, cheeks pink. "His scent is so strong in here—much stronger than on the jacket he lent me."

Drawn by the smell, she clasped her hands behind her back and crept closer.

Holding her breath, she lifted the quilt to her nose and inhaled deeply, eyes half-lidded, face flushed. "Smells so good... what shampoo does he use? I need to check the bathroom later."

Wrapped in the scent, she closed her eyes blissfully. "I wish I could lie down for a bit... he probably won't be back for a while."

Half a minute later Liu Wenjie returned with a fruit platter—and froze.

Feifei lay sideways on the bed, hugging the quilt, breathing it in.

Catching his stare, she realized he'd come back sooner than expected. Heat rushed to her face.

Liu Wenjie found his voice. "Care to explain? If you don't have a good reason, I'm throwing you out."

"Ahh! It's not what you think!"

A pillow flew; he caught it and flung it back, knocking her flat with a squeak.

Thirty-plus stamina points—worth every one.

In the living room, the adults perked up at the commotion. "What are those two doing?"

Feifei's mother laughed. "They get along so well. I never knew Feifei liked playing with Xiaojie this much. She has plenty of friends, yet he's the only one she talks about every day. She's even called his name in her sleep."

From the bedroom, Feifei shot upright. "Mom, I did not! Don't make things up!"