After the awkwardness in the reading room, her realization that Cao Yang was a man was fresher than ever.

But after Xia Rou moped the whole night, she had finally convinced herself.

In the past, Cao Yang must have been the same. It was just that this aspect of himself – he had never revealed it before her.

In front of her, he had always been so grim that it was a little scary, but… he had always been a reliable brother for her to lean on.

A person had tried to keep his image pristine for her for several long years.

Xia Rou was finally enlightened. In the past, Cao Yang… It must have been difficult for him in front of her…

She looked at the man before her with guilt.

How much had she worried him, how much had he worked himself for her?

"I know… " she said. "But this… doesn't conflict with the fact that you're my big brother."

"To me, you are big brother."

"Just big brother." Translated by The Novelst

"Big brother, yesterday's…" she bravely continued, "Who was it? Was it your girlfriend?"

Cao Yang was speechless looking at Xia Rou. He thought, this little girl…

In the end she hasn't grown up yet!

Just now she had been embarra.s.sed and blus.h.i.+ng red, but within seconds she'd started nosing into his business.

"No," he replied.

She wasn't? Xia Rou was a little disappointed.

He still hadn't started dating w.a.n.g Man? Ah, probably. If he had started seeing her he wouldn't be hanging out with other women, right?

Xia Rou also had a double standard.

It this were another man, she would definitely scold them for being "nasty." But this was Cao Yang, so she reasoned for him within her mind.

She thought it was natural that before he dated w.a.n.g Man, it was his right to have the freedom to play with other women.

"When are you going to get a proper girlfriend?" She muttered to herself.

"Are you really trying to manage me?" Cao Yang gritted his teeth.

"No… I wouldn't dare," Xia Rou retreated quickly.

She really couldn't hide her thoughts. The things she had suppressed in her mind for a long time were coming loose, as she opened her heart again to Cao Yang…

Unable to hold back, she asked, "What do you think of w.a.n.g Man?"

"What do you think of w.a.n.g Man?" Cao Xiong had asked.

Cao Yang remembered Cao Xiong asking him the same question. Why was everyone so fixated on w.a.n.g Man?

"What do you mean?" he had responded.

"My last trip to the capital I spoke with her father. w.a.n.g Man is single now and doesn't have a boyfriend," Cao Xiong took a pause to inhale on his cigarette. "w.a.n.g Ting was full of praise for you, so it seems he's taken a liking to you."

"I'm not that close to her," said Cao Yang truthfully.

Someone with a background like Cao Yang wouldn't date a princess like w.a.n.g Man lightly.

She was different than the women he usually went for. They had equal family backgrounds, so he didn't dare treat her rudely. If they really started to date, both their parents would have eyes on them.

If something happened, he might be forced to marry her.

That was why Cao Yang and his friends still hadn't given much thought to getting married. They wanted to play around a few more years, keeping well away from wealthy daughters.

"You're thirty-one already. It's time you settle down," Cao Xiong said unhappily, his fingers drumming softly on the table.

"Sooner or later, you will need a wife. I've looked around for you, and there's no one that compares to w.a.n.g Man. Are you going to miss this opportunity and marry worse later on?"

This wasn't the first time Cao Xiong brought up settling down. Ever since Cao Yang had entered his thirties, it was true that his thoughts had changed when compared to his twenties.

Also, he felt that what Cao Xiong was saying to him did make sense.

"Maybe I'll give it a try," he said. Translated by The Novelst

Summer break ended. Xia Rou became a senior and started to study with her head attached to a beam and stabbing her thigh with an awl*. She even asked Cao Yang to hire a tutor for her on the weekends.

The longer she went, the more she recognized the difference in her intelligence level when compared to the others. Whether in the past or present, there was no doubt that she was lacking when it came to studying.

To be able to live another life – though she wasn't able to win it all, she must at least not waste the second chance that had been so graciously provided to her. She must at least do a little better than her past.

Even if she failed, as long as she worked hard, then at least she would not have regrets.

That was why she would make up for her natural shortcomings with hard work.

Cao Yang was a little worried she was overdoing it.

"Just do your best," he said. "Don't be too stressed."

Life wasn't only for studying, and they weren't expecting much from her. Since they had taken her in as a child of the Cao Family, they would naturally take responsibility for arranging her future.

Although it was nice to see her working so hard, they didn't want to see her put herself through too much stress.

A girl didn't have to be too successful. All she needed was to get a certification, dress herself up, and live a happy and healthy life. That was enough.

When she hit the right age, they would find her a good husband.

With the Cao Family behind her, they would be able to guarantee a good match.

As long as the Cao Family was there, and as long as he was there, he could provide a happy and peaceful life.

It was good. Translated by The Novelst

Quite good.

Note:

*Study with her head attached to a beam and stabbing her thigh with an awl (idiom): to study a.s.siduously and tirelessly.

Proofread by: Hannah