"You talk such crap. What do you mean 'sucking up'? She's a Gemini, so she's just a bit slow to warm up. I've been talking to her for almost four years. Do you guys know her better than I do?"
Zhao Zikang defended himself, a dreamy smile on his face. "You don't get it. Qianqian is really different from other girls."
"Besides, I'm not good-looking, and my family's not as well-off as yours. My parents are just ordinary folks. It's already pretty amazing that I'm dating a girl like her."
Zhao Zikang blew out a smoke ring and laughed at himself. "So I don't dare to aim high with those other girls. I'll leave them for you guys."
After hearing this, the other three guys exchanged glances, not sure what to say, and just continued smoking.
Even though it was still before midnight, they were feeling unexpectedly down, both about their future and their current lives.
"Why be so insecure? If you're not chasing pretty girls, should you go after the ugly ones? Zikang, you should never look down on yourself," said Shen Lang, placing his hands on Zhao Zikang's shoulders and speaking loudly.
"As long as you're brave and confident and can chat with girls, there's no girl you can't chase. That's how I got Su Lexuan. Would I lie to you?"
"But you're good-looking and tall," Zhao Zikang countered. "And now you've got a great body, chasing girls should be easy."
"Bullshit. When I was chasing Su Lexuan, my body wasn't in shape at all."
"Seriously? Is that true?" Wen Jie interjected.
Back then, Shen Lang looked so unmotivated that no girl would be interested in him.
"Why would I lie to you?" Shen Lang patiently added. "Plus, I only learned to chat with girls while talking to Su Lexuan. Chasing girls isn't as hard as we think."
"Besides, you're not exactly a catch. You have your own apartment in Jianghai City, you're kind and honest. As long as you work on yourself and improve your communication skills, you can definitely attract beautiful girls."
Zhao Zikang almost bought it. "Am I really that great?"
Shen Lang patted him on the shoulder. "Damn right, my bro is awesome!"
"Well, if I'm that awesome..." Zhao Zikang had a sudden realization and, after finishing a whole cigarette, tentatively asked, "How about... you introduce your sister to me?"
"Are you out of your mind? Rabbits don't eat grass near their burrow!" Shen Lang was taken aback at first, then laughed angrily. "I'm trying to give you some advice, and you're making demands!"
"Haha!"
Everyone laughed, and Zhao Zikang's mood improved a lot.
"Alright, alright, we'll see."
Zhao Zikang flicked away his cigarette butt, took a deep breath, and said, "If Qianqian really won't give me a chance, I'll just cut ties with her."
The mood lightened up as the group of friends, who hadn't met in half a year, started to complain about life after graduation.
"Damn, that team leader at my company is so annoying. Always making me work overtime for free!"
"Tell me about it. The work assigned by school is total crap!"
"Hey, Shen Lang, are you still writing novels?"
"Yep, stepping back now, I'm about to show off!"
"Holy crap! Over a million?! Did you rob a bank or something?"
The five of them strolled along the cobblestone path, chatting and laughing, their shadows stretching longer in the moonlight.
.....
"Shen Lang, get up and have breakfast."
The next morning, Shen Lang was woken up by Cheng Lijuan. "Your dad and I have things to do. You need to drive your sisters to school."
"It's not even daylight yet!"
Shen Lang, still groggy, shuffled to the living room, seeing his sisters in their school uniforms sitting obediently on the sofa. He scratched his head impatiently. "You're grown-ups now, still needing someone to drive you? Have some self-respect!"
"Just deal with it. Yuck!" Shen Linlin made a funny face.
Shen Ranran urged, "Hurry up, you're making us late!"
"Really can't deal with you two."
Shen Lang shook his head helplessly, quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face, grabbed a bun, and headed to the parking lot with his sisters.
Seeing the brand-new Mercedes in the parking spot, the sisters eagerly ran over, curiously circling around the car.
Shen Lang's parents could afford such expensive cars too, but they found them impractical, so they had been driving the same Volkswagen for four or five years.
After unlocking the car, Shen Ranran happily opened the door. "I want the front seat!"
"No way, I want to sit there!"
Shen Linlin blocked her. "You can sit there next time!"
"No, I don't want to!"
"Ugh, what's with you two?"
Shen Lang, sitting in the driver's seat, watched his sisters bickering outside the car and couldn't help but intervene. "Shen Linlin, you're the older sister. Can't you let her have it this time?"
"Yeah, brother knows. Can't you just let her have it?"
Shen Ranran smirked and happily took the front seat, opening the sun visor to check her makeup.
Shen Linlin, fuming, climbed into the back seat, slammed the door, and sulked, her stubbornness showing.
Shen Lang sighed in frustration, reminding himself not to come home if there's nothing important next time!
Usually, the sisters got along well.
But when Shen Lang was around, they would act like they did when they were younger, bickering and being childish.
They'd compete over everything he gave them.
At the entrance of Linghua High School, Shen Ranran met up with her roommate and asked Shen Lang to drop her off there.
Through the rearview mirror, Shen Lang saw Shen Linlin still looking out the window, clearly bothered by his favoritism towards Shen Ranran.
Shen Lang deliberately parked in a lot near the school. As he unfastened his seatbelt, he said, "It's Monday, and the school entrance is going to be packed. Let's walk over, and I'll drop you off."
"Who needs you to drop me off!"
Shen Linlin spat stubbornly and opened the car door, heading towards the exit.
"Watch out for cars in the parking lot."
Shen Lang got out and caught up with her, pulling her into a hug and softly coaxing, "Come on, it's just the front seat. Is it worth getting so upset?"
"Let go of me, go to hell, and find your good sister!"
Shen Linlin pushed Shen Lang away, but not with much force.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong. I shouldn't have favored that girl. Besides, aren't you my sister too?"
Shen Lang rubbed Shen Linlin's head, not caring about her struggling, and continued, "How about this? Next Saturday, I'll take you both out for some fun. Sound good?"
Though Shen Lang often spoke to Shen Linlin with irritation and rejection, if she was genuinely upset, he'd soften and comfort her since she's his little sister.
Once he said that, Shen Linlin stopped moving, looking up at Shen Lang with a hopeful face. "Really?"
Shen Lang nodded. "Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
Shen Linlin made a demanding request. "Then, this time I want the front seat!"
"Sure thing!"
Shen Lang grinned slyly. "As long as you're not mad, you can sit on my lap!"
"Gross! You're disgusting!"
Shen Linlin couldn't help but laugh, and, under Shen Lang's gaze, she quickly turned her head away in a proud manner.