"How do you know I was there the whole time?"

"Well, it was just a coincidence I saw your skirt peeking from behind the tree."historical

Li Chunhua: "...."

Shao Jingfei opened his bread package while saying, "If you are there, then you should have just come out and joined us."

Li Chunhua glanced in the direction her sister left, feeling an indescribable emotion building up inside her.

"I read it."

Shao Jingfei raised his head in bewilderment. "Huh? What is it?"

Li Chunhua frowned in annoyance. "Xiaoyi's manuscript. I read it."

His expression suddenly turned brighter at the mention of Li Caiyi's story. Li Chunhua was initially suspicious this guy probably had an ulterior motive towards her sister, but after listening to their conversation, she was convinced that Shao Jingfei only admired her talent and not the person herself.

"What do you think of it?" Shao Jingfei sat up in a straight position with an expectant look in his eyes.

".... It's good. I never knew Xiaoyi had such a profound understanding about the past and future." Li Chunhua said in a small voice.

Shao Jingfei flicked his finger with a satisfied smirk. "I know a smart person like you would realize her true worth. It would be a waste of such talent to remain hidden, don't you think so?"

Li Chunhua honestly couldn't answer that question. Although it was confirmed that her sister had fantastic writing skills, but with how their family works...

She wasn't sure if pursuing this path was the correct choice or not.

"That expression, are you currently thinking about something useless again?"

"What do you mean by 'useless'?" Li Chunhua retorted. "I just think that even if her skill is good, in the end, isn't the life of an author is very unstable? She will become so much happier if she pursues a more stable path. I don't think this is right for her."

"Sure enough, it was a useless thought." Shao Jingfei sneered. "I don't know what kind of environment both of you grow up in, but the future has always been unstable, little princess. There is no sure way to happiness or a better life. If you think you can be happy simply by following the rules, then you are an ignorant and arrogant person."

Li Chunhua felt like she was just being slapped in the face. She glared at Shao Jingfei furiously. "What did you say? What do you know about us, anyway?"

Shao Jingfei shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "As I said, I know nothing about that. However, I have met many people like you. People who always had better privilege than others claiming their way of living are the best while looking down on others who clearly did so much more than them."

Li Chunhua scoffed. "So you are offended when I say the author's life is unstable? Did I hurt your feelings by telling the truth?"

"No, you didn't piss me off by saying the life of the author is unstable. You pissed me off by saying this way of living wouldn't make her happy."

"What did I say wrong? You can ask so many people out there, and they will agree with me! Besides, I know Xiaoyi the best. She wouldn't be happy with such a life!"

"You don't get to decide which path could make her happy. Only Caiyi has the right to do that. Saying that you are sisters, so you are the one who understands her the most, is just arrogance on your part. I'm not telling you to understand her, but if you really care for her, then the least you can do is to not block her way."

Li Chunhua gritted her teeth. Each and every word of his burned her ears. Why did she have to hear such things from a person like him? He was just an outsider!

"How can I not, when she clearly will do just fine if she behaves herself? I see now that you are probably the one who encourages her to do this. Do you know how much she got scolded at home because of that?!"

Shao Jingfei raised his brows while giving her a weird look. "You seem eager to pin the blame on everyone. But did you ever stop to think that your family is probably the one who is wrong all along?"

"What?"

"At least, that's how I see it. I think your sister also knows that. That's why she tried her best to do what she wanted. On the other hand, what have you done except complaining and blaming other people? Don't say it's your sister's fault when you never put on the same amount of effort in anything like her."

Li Chunhua was flabbergasted. Shock, anger, and shame mixed together inside her as she listened to his words. Even if she didn't want to admit it, she knew she was actually shaken up by his logic.

It felt like everything she believed until now was slowly crumbling beneath her feet. She had always hated that feeling. It was hard for her to finally have something to hold on to, but this guy just had to come and ruin it.

Meanwhile, Shao Jingfei stared at Li Chunhua's figure hesitantly. Was he too harsh on her again? He wouldn't know what to do if she cried again because of him. His bread was already eaten, too.

"If you are so smart, then tell me..."

"Huh? Sorry, I didn't quite catch that," Shao Jingfei said.

"Tell me how to understand my sister better." Li Chunhua clenched his hand into a fist hard on both sides of her body. "I'm having a hard time because Xiaoyi doesn't like me that much anymore. If I can understand her, then we probably could be close again, just like before."

Shao Jingfei blinked his eyes a few times, surprised by what he had just heard. Her head was lowered so he couldn't see her expression well, but he could tell she wasn't used to asking a favor from other people, based on how her shoulders shook.

Shao Jingfei was blunt, but he wasn't that mean to tease a girl who had mustered all her courage to ask something from him.

"What makes you think I understand your sister better?" He asked seriously.

"Because I know the current Xiaoyi trusts and depends on you much more than she did with anyone. I can feel it." Li Chunhua forced herself to say the last sentence. "Please help me. If there is something wrong with me, then I want to change it."

Shao Jingfei grinned widely. "What? You are much cuter when you are being honest like this. If you don't mind, I can give you advice anytime. Let's exchange our contact information, and you can chat with me whenever you are lost and don't know what to do!"

Li Chunhua didn't know if trusting this person was a good idea or not, but for Li Caiyi, she was ready to do anything.

'Xiaoyi never looks that happy talking about something before,' Li Chunhua thought while recalling the scene where her sister laughed beside Shao Jingfei before she scoffed inwardly. 'Hmph, I can do it too if I try. I won't lose to him!'