Chapter 11

The receptionist smiled at him. “Your classes sell the best, sir. The boss probably won’t agree.”
Lu Zhaoye replied, “To the boss, selling any class is selling. It’s the same for you.”
“But your classes clearly sell better.”
“That doesn’t mean you can just take advantage of me. If your class isn’t selling, maybe you should reflect on yourself first.”
The receptionist: “…”
After sending off the last student of the day, Lu Zhaoye stepped into the corner and messaged Shen Youwei: “Coming to class tomorrow? I can schedule. ^_^”
Shen Youwei had spent the whole day editing videos and thought tomorrow would be a good day to get out. “I have a few outfits to reshoot, so if I come, it’ll be a bit late.”
Lu Zhaoye immediately replied: “No problem, I can wait for you.”
To make his message more playful, he sent a sticker of a dog wagging its tail.
Shen Youwei looked at it and laughed. Come to think of it, it really did resemble Lu Zhaoye.
Xie Mingqiu, noticing her smile at the phone, teased: “Who are you texting?”
Shen Youwei sent Lu Zhaoye a sticker back and placed her phone on the table. “Coach Lu invited me to class tomorrow.”
“Oh, he’s quite proactive.” Xie Mingqiu’s eyes twinkled. “Weren’t you supposed to meet some boys I introduced? I checked, none of them are as good-looking as Coach Lu. I won’t even send their photos.”
“Oh, okay.” Shen Youwei nearly forgot about that; since Xu Qairan left, she handled everything alone. If she planned to run her studio later, she’d be even busier, with no time to meet boys.
Xie Mingqiu leaned closer with a slightly teasing tone: “The aunties in our neighborhood are very well-informed. Want me to help you find out more about Coach Lu?”
“No, if I want to know something, it’s easier to ask him directly.”
Xie Mingqiu blinked and seemed to realize something: “True, you young people should communicate more.”
When Guan Shanyan came in, he saw the two of them whispering together. Guan Su, noticing him, carried the dishes from the kitchen. “Let’s eat. Everything’s ready, waiting for you.”
“Mm.” Guan Shanyan took off his coat and asked Guan Su, “What are those two talking about?”
Guan Su leaned close and whispered, “I vaguely overheard, seems to be about Coach Lu and Youwei.”
Guan Shanyan scoffed. “What could they possibly be talking about?”
Guan Su said, “Well, it’s probably that kind of thing between a guy and a girl.”
“…” Guan Shanyan thought his dad had a very narrow mind. There were plenty of things between men and women that weren’t just that.
During dinner, Shen Youwei’s phone kept buzzing.
All messages were from Lu Zhaoye.
Guan Shanyan stared at her phone and, imitating Xie Mingqiu, said, “Don’t play with your phone at the table.”
“…” Shen Youwei didn’t bother replying. He himself handled work messages during meals. “Coach Lu wants to tell me something.”
“What does he want?” Guan Shanyan’s tone was sharp. “You’re just a student, if a coach harasses a student’s private life, isn’t that crossing the line?”
“He’s sending me boxing gear. How is that harassment?”
Guan Shanyan understood. “Oh, so he’s trying to sell stuff.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
He was just being kind, helping her pick gear, and he turned it into ‘selling’!
Although she was buying it directly from the gym.
“We’re just brother and sister, not a couple. You interfering in my private life, that’s crossing the line, isn’t it?” Shen Youwei lifted her chin, looking at Guan Shanyan.
Guan Shanyan’s lips pressed down further. Xie Mingqiu intervened before a full argument broke out: “You’re right, Youwei. You’re both adults; you need some private space.”
Guan Shanyan snorted. Xie Mingqiu continued: “It’s fine that you care, but I’ve checked, Coach Lu is a good kid. Don’t worry unnecessarily.”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
Checked what? Lu Zhaoye’s photos?
Shen Youwei chimed in: “Exactly, exactly. Coach Lu has a great reputation!”
“Eat, eat. Today your godfather cooked well.” Xie Mingqiu served everyone, moving past the argument.
Before bed that night, Shen Youwei’s alternate account received another message from Guan Shanyan: [What to do when your little sister hits rebellious age?]
Shen Youwei: “…”
He’s really slandering her behind her back.
He Zhou: [Your sister is 25 already; rebellious age?]
Guan Shanyan: [Some people are late bloomers.]
He Zhou: [Explain. I’ll judge.]
Guan Shanyan: [She started boxing recently. That coach, thinking he’s handsome, flirts with young girls everywhere. I warned her, and she turned it on me.]
Shen Youwei: “…”
Adding fuel to the fire as usual.
He Zhou: [Do you have evidence, or is this just your imagination?]
He Zhou: [If you have proof, show it to your sister, she won’t be fooled.]
Guan Shanyan: [Not yet, he’s very good at hiding it. [smile]]
Shen Youwei: “…”
Confident but wrong, as usual.
He Zhou: [Hard to say. You think she’s rebellious; maybe she’s just venting to friends. Maybe it’s the brother having a rebellion phase.]
Guan Shanyan: “…”
Well, that actually sounds like something Shen Youwei would do.
He Zhou: [Learn to let go. Your sister won’t be with you forever.]
Guan Shanyan frowned at the message.
He never imagined being separated from Shen Youwei. Even three years ago, when he rejected her, he never thought they’d actually be apart.
But when his mother suggested introducing her to someone, he realized she was 25.
Would she fall in love, get married, and completely leave his life?
He had to admit, he didn’t like that future.
The feeling lingered. The next day at work, his mood was unusually low. Gu Fei, eating with him, asked: “What’s wrong? Heartbroken?”
Impossible. He worked every minute of the day; when would he have time for romance?
Guan Shanyan didn’t answer. Gu Fei tried again: “Could it be about Shen Youwei?”
“…” Guan Shanyan paused mid-bite.
Gu Fei caught it. “Wow, I didn’t expect your feelings for Shen Youwei are this deep. At 27, you’re still a fan, impressive.”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
Gu Fei only met him after he went abroad. In the past three years, Gu Fei didn’t know he even had a sister like Shen Youwei.
He didn’t bother explaining.
“But Shen Youwei hasn’t had much going on recently, right? The previous posts were cleared up, and her followers even increased.” Gu Fei scratched his chin, confused.
“If you have time worrying about others, maybe figure out why you don’t have a girlfriend.”
Gu Fei: “…”
After work, Guan Shanyan drove home alone.
Passing the boxing gym, he saw Shen Youwei coming out, followed closely by Lu Zhaoye, who politely walked her out.
Guan Shanyan turned the wheel and parked in front of the gym.
Lu Zhaoye was still scheduling their next class when a tall, handsome man stepped out of a car with a cold expression.
Shen Youwei froze for a moment, surprised. “You’re here?”
Guan Shanyan: “I happened to pass by and saw you, so I’ll give you a ride home.”
“…” Just a few steps; no need for a special escort.
Lu Zhaoye glanced at them and cautiously asked Shen Youwei: “Who’s this?”
Shen Youwei: “Oh, my brother.”
Hearing this, Lu wagged his tail like a little dog again. “Oh, so it’s your brother! Hello, brother! I’m Lu Zhaoye, the boxing coach here.”
Opposite his enthusiasm, Guan Shanyan remained cold. “Don’t call me brother. I don’t have a younger brother like you.”
“Oh, okay, okay.” Lu agreed quickly but still couldn’t break the habit. “Your brother looks familiar?”
Guan Shanyan frowned. “I said don’t call me brother. I don’t have a brother like you.”
“Ahem, his surname is Guan. Call him Mr. Guan.” Shen Youwei introduced Guan Shanyan.
Lu Zhaoye smiled. “Okay, Mr. Guan. Want to come in and sit? Have some water? I’ll get you a bottle!”
“No need.” Guan Shanyan didn’t want to correct him further. He opened the passenger door and told Shen Youwei, “Let’s go home for dinner.”