Chapter 5

Bai Tongsheng’s annoyance at Bai Shuangshuang’s unusual attitude lasted only that day. The next day, after being picked up and brought home, she returned to being pampered like a precious treasure held in the palm of their hands. She had long since forgotten all the unpleasantness between her and Shuangshuang.

Now, seeing her again so suddenly, Tongsheng momentarily forgot what Shuangshuang had said that day. Her impression of Shuangshuang was still fixed on the time when she had shamelessly insisted on playing the role of big sister.

After asking that question, she had no intention of saying anything more to her. Instead, she took a step back as if approaching a contagious virus, her tone brimming with disgust and dissatisfaction. “Even if Mom lets you into my room, I won’t.”

Shuangshuang looked at her for two seconds without saying a word, then turned and headed downstairs.

Tongsheng was left standing there, blinking in disbelief. Then she heard Shuangshuang chatting with Yu Xichi from downstairs.

“Auntie, my little sister’s up. Is there anything I can help with?”

“You’re up already? No need—the adults will handle the barbecue. Oh, you haven’t finished that cake yet, have you? Shuangshuang, go ahead and eat it first to tide you over.”

Tongsheng clenched her fists. She remembered now!

Shuangshuang had changed!

She was even more infuriating!

~~~

Yu Xichi noticed her daughter enveloped in an aura of low pressure, like swirling black mist, and walked over with an amused smile to pinch her cheek. “What’s wrong? So unhappy? Didn’t get enough sleep?”

Tongsheng slapped her hand away, huffed in irritation, and plopped down next to Shuangshuang. She said nothing, just stared at her with wide eyes.

Yu Xichi let out a chuckle, thinking she had figured it out. “Oh, so you’re upset that your big sister didn’t wait for you? Looks like Shengsheng’s really taken to her sister now. You two just sit tight—I’ll go call Dad and the others down so we can start the barbecue.”

Shuangshuang hadn’t eaten much at lunch, and by now her stomach was nearly empty. When Yu Xichi told her to finish the remaining cookies and little cakes, she didn’t refuse.

Tongsheng had just sat down beside her when Shuangshuang picked up a cupcake. Sensing her approach, Shuangshuang casually held it out. “Want some?”

Her dark eyes bulged wide, her nostrils flaring as if she might breathe fire at any moment. “No!”

Shuangshuang nodded and took a bite for herself.

Tongsheng sat there glaring daggers, watching her nibble away at the cake one small bite at a time. Shuangshuang didn’t spare her so much as a glance.

Shuangshuang peeled back the last bit of the paper liner and opened her mouth to take the final bite when the fuming girl beside her finally snapped. She darted her head forward ahead of her and snatched that last morsel right into her own mouth.

Tongsheng startled even herself with the impulsive move. She was just starting to regret it when she caught sight of Shuangshuang’s dumbfounded, blank expression. A rush of triumphant satisfaction welled up inside her.

With a gulp, the soft, sweet cake slid down her throat and into her stomach.

Yu Xichi caught the whole scene and couldn’t hold back her teasing laughter. “See? Sending you two to Grandma’s for the summer was the right idea. Tsk tsk, you sisters are so close now. Shengsheng’s never eaten anything after I’ve touched it, but she’s even closer to her big sister than to Mom. Mom’s heartbroken~”

Tongsheng’s already fair cheeks flushed crimson at the teasing—she wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or anger. She sprang up like a coiled spring, shoved away the encroaching Yu Xichi, and fled the scene amid her mother’s unrestrained laughter.

Yu Xichi doubled over laughing. Just then, Bai Binghan and the others came down, so she embellished the story as she retold it.

“What a shame you missed it—you came down too late. Shengsheng just fought Shuangshuang for a bite of cake. She wouldn’t even let her big sister have the last piece; she snatched it right from her. Her whole face turned red with excitement. I told you—Shengsheng likes Shuangshuang.”

Bai Binghan could hardly believe it. “Shengsheng really shared a cake with Shuangshuang?”

Everyone knew about Tongsheng’s severe food germaphobia. She had never once touched anything her own mother, Yu Xichi, had eaten.

And yet now she was fighting over the same cake with Shuangshuang?

Yu Xichi beamed smugly. “I should’ve gotten it on video, but trust me—that’s exactly what happened.”

Meanwhile, the other person involved, Shuangshuang, was still staring blankly at the crumpled paper liner in her hand, slow to snap out of it.

~~~

“Shuangshuang, it’s too smoky down here. Why don’t you go up to your little sister’s room and keep her company? When the food’s ready, Auntie will bring it up for you two. Grab a drink from the fridge for Shengsheng on your way and wait upstairs.”

Shuangshuang started to refuse, but the hopeful note in Yu Xichi’s voice was too obvious to ignore. She relented. “Okay.”

Bai Shuangshuang grabbed two cans of coconut juice and walked up to Bai Tongsheng’s door. She wasn’t at all surprised to find it locked.

She knocked tentatively. “Tongsheng?”

After two seconds of silence, a voice drifted out from inside. “Even if you beg me, I won’t let you in!”

Bai Shuangshuang didn’t hesitate for a moment. She set one can down right there. “I’ve left the coconut juice at your door. Grab it when you open up later.”

Bai Tongsheng’s room sat next to the master bedroom, with the guest room just beyond that. Bai Shuangshuang had stayed over before, but Bai Tongsheng had refused point-blank to share a bed, leaving Yu Xichi with no choice but to put her in the guest room.

She started toward the guest room for some rest but hadn’t even stepped inside when Bai Tongsheng appeared in the doorway. “Bai Shuangshuang!”

One hand rested on the doorknob as she tilted her head, gazing at her in wordless confusion.

Bai Tongsheng seemed to be scrambling for an excuse. She furrowed her brow and stared for a good long while, not saying a word the entire time.

“If there’s nothing else, I’m heading in.”

“I want the one in your hand!”

Bai Shuangshuang had no interest in bickering over something so petty. She let go of the doorknob, stepped aside, and placed the can in Bai Tongsheng’s palm. Then she bent down, picked up the one from the floor, and as she straightened up, she caught Bai Tongsheng muttering under her breath, “If you beg me just a little, I’ll let you in.”

She gave a faint smile. “The guest room works fine for me. I’m used to it anyway.”

Bai Tongsheng’s temper flared up again. In a fit of frustration, she flung the coconut juice back into Bai Shuangshuang’s arms. “Bai Shuangshuang! I hate you the most!”

The cans clinked together with a crisp sound. In the next instant, Bai Tongsheng slammed the door with a resounding bang.

Bai Shuangshuang paused for a beat, set one can aside, and turned toward the guest room.

A short while later, Yu Xichi came upstairs with the barbecue. Spotting someone in the guest room, she immediately knew Bai Tongsheng had chased her out again.

She rapped lightly three times on the open door. The woman reading a book looked up, and Yu Xichi flashed her a warm smile. “Shuangshuang, hungry? The food’s all grilled up.”

…

Bai Shuangshuang barely touched her food, leaving more than half on the plate. Once she was done, Yu Xichi picked up the plate and headed for Bai Tongsheng’s room.

She spotted the coconut juice by the door and felt a fresh wave of exasperation at her spoiled daughter. First, she knocked. “Shengsheng, open up. It’s Mom.”

As she waited, she scooped up the coconut juice.

Two seconds passed before she added, “Mom’s not like Grandma, you know. If you don’t open this door, I can always call someone to tear it down.”

Yu Xichi adored her daughter, but she wouldn’t indulge her the way others did, without limits.

Bai Tongsheng feared nothing and no one—except, perhaps, Yu Xichi, who could bring her to heel.

True to form, seconds after the warning, Bai Tongsheng opened the door without a fuss.

Yu Xichi pinched her puffed-up cheeks. “What an obedient girl our Shengsheng is. You’ve just saved Mom a bundle on renovations.”

Bai Tongsheng rolled her eyes without a shred of mercy. “I don’t feel like eating right now.”

Yu Xichi trailed after her into the room and shut the door.

“You wouldn’t let your sister in again?”

She’d thought their relationship was on the mend, but things looked as if she’d jumped the gun.

She braced for Bai Tongsheng to snap an impatient yes, but instead, the girl pouted like a child tattling to a grown-up. “I did let her in today. She just wouldn’t come.”

There was a hint of genuine grievance in her expression.

Yu Xichi arched a brow. “Really?”

“You don’t believe me!”

She patted her head soothingly, only to follow up a second later with, “What was the catch?”

She knew her daughter inside and out. Bai Tongsheng wouldn’t invite Bai Shuangshuang in unless something had shifted between them.

Bai Tongsheng dodged her gaze and mumbled quickly, “I only made her beg me a little. Nothing else.”

Yu Xichi heard every word and couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. “Knew it. You wouldn’t turn over a new leaf that fast. Old habits die hard.”

“You’re the one with old habits!”

“If I’ve got old habits, and I gave birth to you, then what does that make you? Hmm? Little habitual Shengsheng!”

Bai Tongsheng tuned her out. She was still stewing over her spat with Bai Shuangshuang. Grabbing the coconut juice, she cracked it open with a pop. The cool fizz cut through some of her irritation.

“Shengsheng, Mom needs to talk to you.”

She clapped her hands over her ears. “Don’t wanna hear it.”

It had to be the same old lecture about getting along with Bai Shuangshuang—words she’d heard a million times. The adults never tired of repeating them, but she was sick to death of it.

Yu Xichi wouldn’t let it go, though. She saw right through the childish ploy and didn’t bother prying her hands away. Instead, she plopped down in a chair, snagged a skewer of rice cakes, and took a big bite.

Bai Tongsheng protested. “Hey, that’s mine!”

She chewed with exaggerated smacks. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want any? Mommy will eat it for you.”

“I’m just saying not right now! I never said I didn’t want it!”

Yu Xichi held the remaining half of the rice cake up to her face. “Here, have a bite.”

Bai Tongsheng recoiled immediately. “I don’t want any you’ve already eaten.”

Yu Xichi arched an eyebrow. “Who was it that just snatched the last bite of Shuangshuang’s cake? Getting picky all of a sudden?”

Embarrassed and furious, Bai Tongsheng clapped a hand over her mouth. “Don’t talk about that anymore! Just forget it ever happened!”

She regretted her impulsive action from moments ago more than ever—acting without a second thought. She’d almost managed to put it behind her, but now Yu Xichi had dragged it up again, flooding her with fresh waves of shame.

She had actually eaten something from the person she despised most!

Yu Xichi gently pried her hand away, her smile vanishing. “So, does Shengsheng dislike Big Sis?”

Everyone knew Bai Tongsheng couldn’t stand Bai Shuangshuang, but no one had ever laid it out so bluntly before.

She didn’t even have to think about it. The words burst from her lips. “Of course! I hate her the most!”

“Then tell Mommy—why do you hate Big Sis?”