A Winner in Life since Kindergarten

Chapter 48

Chapter 48

The air-conditioner hummed like a swarm of bees, deafening in the sudden silence.

Feifei sat frozen, a statue carved from disbelief.

Had she misheard?

Impossible.

No... she'd heard every word. The four syllables childhood sweethearts had been spoken crystal-clear.

What real little sister calls her own brother a childhood sweetheart?

Feifei's neck creaked as she turned toward Liu Wenjie; stone dust crumbled from her petrified throat.

Her voice came out flat, her eyes glassy, empty hands still hovering where the cards had been. "Liu Wenjie, is what she said true or not? You and Xia Ying aren't brother and sister?"

Wenjie plucked a grape from the fruit platter, popped it into his mouth, and casually brushed the debris from his lap. "Of course it's true. You didn't honestly think we were blood-related? We've known each other for ages—didn't you even know I'm an only child? I'd hate to think you're that dense. She calls me Older Brother because she likes the sound of it. You called me the same thing a minute ago, remember?"

Little Xia Ying's ears pricked up at a key phrase. With wide, innocent eyes she tugged Wenjie's sleeve. "What does that mean? Feifei called you Older Brother, Older Brother? Why?!"

Wenjie gave her a helpless look. "It was just a joke, not like the way you say it every single day."

Feifei watched the two of them—sitting shoulder to shoulder, Xia Ying's hand still clamped around Wenjie's arm—and memories flashed like a slideshow. Two whole years. They walked to school together, walked home together, sat together at PE.

A faint crack sounded inside the room.

Her small fist clenched so hard her knuckles popped. Feifei's head drooped, bangs casting a dark shadow over her eyes.

She was trembling with rage.

Wenjie noticed. "What's wrong? You still want to play?" He'd learned his lesson. "Next round I'm calling landlord no matter how awful my hand is. As long as I don't have a pig teammate, I—"

"Liu Wenjie—go to hell!" Feifei lunged like a starving wolf, a furious tabby cat pouncing on its prey, and tackled him onto the bed.

Wenjie landed flat on his back, pinned beneath her. "Feifei, have you lost your mind?! What are you doing?!"

Feifei was beyond reason, watery eyes blazing, cheeks scarlet. "Drag you to the underworld with me, Liu Wenjie! I'm furious!"

Xia Ying rushed to pull her off. "Feifei, what are you doing to Older Brother Wenjie? Let him go! Don't pin Older Brother Wenjie to the bed!"

The commotion drifted into the living room; the adults cocked their heads, curious.

Feifei's mom covered a laugh with one hand. "Those two are thick as thieves. Looks like Feifei will be visiting often."

Liu Yingjun chuckled. "Kids should play together more."

Uncle Xu glanced at his watch. "Director Liu, we'd better head out. It's nearly lunchtime."

Liu Yingjun waved the thought away. "Stay for a bite. I'll ring the restaurant, and Xiaoli can whip up a couple of dishes."

Uncle Xu stood, smiling. "Your kindness is appreciated, but we really must go. We've already put off a mountain of work. If we linger, I'll be at the office past midnight."

Liu Yingjun didn't insist. "All right, then drop by whenever you're free. We're practically neighbors."

"Count on it."

Feifei's mom called out, "Feifei? Time to go. You can play again next time, okay?"

A minute later, Feifei stood at the door, her hand in her mother's.

Feifei's mom smiled warmly. "Director Liu, Sister-in-law, Xiaojie—goodbye. The car's downstairs, no need to see us off."

Polite farewells echoed.

Wenjie straightened his shirt, still rumpled from tiny, ineffectual fists, and gave Feifei a sheepish nod. "Goodbye, Uncle, Aunt—and Feifei..."

Feifei snorted, shot Xia Ying a final glare, then marched after her parents.

I'll never forgive that infuriating jerk!

Liu Yingjun watched the visitors leave, then glanced at the fuming little girl disappearing upstairs. "Was it just me, or did Boss Xu's daughter look angry?"

Lin Xiaoli looped an arm through her husband's and glanced at their son and little Xia Ying. "You weren't imagining it. Right, Xiaojie? What exactly happened in the bedroom?"

Wenjie shrugged, bewildered. "Nothing much. We were playing cards when Feifei suddenly went nuts. Who knows what goes on in these brats' heads?"

Xiaoli chuckled. Something told her it wasn't that simple—little Xia Ying's worried, faintly jealous face said as much.

"Older Brother Wenjie, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. She's annoying, but her punches don't hurt—barely a tickle."

Upstairs, the Xu family climbed into their Mercedes and sped toward their estate.

Aunt Xu sighed happily. "After talking today, I realize Xiaojie's even more impressive than I thought. I assumed he topped his class, but he's actually first in the entire grade. Feifei's made quite the friend."

Feifei ground her teeth.

Her mother studied the steaming little kettle beside her. "What's wrong, Feifei? You look upset. Didn't you have fun with Xiaojie?"

Feifei's face was sour with jealousy; she couldn't even put today's humiliation into words. All this time she'd thought that girl was his little sister.

"Nothing, Mom. I had tons of fun. Let's go home—I need to call Jiajia."

Sometimes adults just don't get kids. "Missing Jiajia already? All right, home we go."

The Mercedes whisked them back to their complex. The proud little girl kicked off her shoes, dashed to her room, and locked the door.

She speed-dialed her best friend.

Zhang Jiajia picked up at once. "Feifei? What's up? Want to hang out? Wait till I finish lunch—"

"Hold the phone away from your ear first."

"Huh? Okay... why?"

"Far enough?"

"Yep." Her best friend's voice drifted from a distance. "I'm holding it out."

Feifei sucked in a lungful of air and roared, "Aaaaah! I'm going to explode!" She punched the empty air. "Jiajia, you have no idea how awful that jerk is! Xia Ying isn't his real sister! He has other friends besides me, plays with other girls every single day! And I actually felt sorry for him and kept thinking I should keep him company!"

Jiajia listened with one eye squeezed shut. When the volume dropped, she said, "What sister? You mean Xia Ying? She was never his sister—just a classmate from kindergarten. They're only friends."

Feifei was stunned. "You knew? And you didn't tell me, Jiajia!"

Jiajia gave an awkward laugh. "I thought it was obvious. Xia Ying's last name is Xia, Liu Wenjie's is Liu—they don't exactly scream siblings, right? Besides..." She giggled. "You're the one who wanted to play with him, Feifei. Since when were you keeping him company?"

Feifei's eyes stung. "I'm going to cry, I swear! All this time I thought Xia Ying was a Liu. Am I actually stupid? I'm supposed to be smart!"