The Ancient Gods' Whisper

Under the dim tree lights, Gu Jianlin wore a dark expression and corrected her: "First of all, I didn't buy what you think I did. Second, you need to understand, we're siblings."

"Really?"

Su Youzhu took a sip of brown sugar water, clearly looking much more comfortable than earlier. She lifted her long, slightly curled lashes and said quietly, "But we're not related by blood, nor are we registered on the same household booklet."

Gu Jianlin was left speechless by her remark, and after thinking carefully, it seemed she might actually be right.

Between the two of them, their so-called sibling relationship didn't even resemble a basic family bond; it was essentially no different from playing house.

"What exactly goes on in your mind every day?"

He glanced at the time on his phone. "Let's grab something to eat outside. The campus will be locked down shortly."

Su Youzhu hesitated for a second, then lightly pressed her lips together and stood up. As a gust of cold wind swept through, she visibly shivered.

Gu Jianlin noticed her petite, delicate frame and decided to take off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.

With his height of 1.85 meters, the oversized jacket naturally enveloped her completely. She looked endearingly cute wrapped up like that.

Su Youzhu froze for a moment, staring at him with an increasingly peculiar expression.

Hmm, still claiming you're not trying to gain favor, huh.

She sniffed the jacket cautiously—it smelled pretty nice.

"Next time something like this happens, remember to call me."

Gu Jianlin gave her a sidelong glance and spoke offhandedly.

By conventional logic, when it comes to things like dealing with periods, most girls would have close female friends—whether or not they're prepared themselves, they could always rely on a buddy to help out. There's rarely a need to sit awkwardly alone, curled up in a chair.

But in Su Youzhu's case, her reputation at school didn't seem to be very good.

More specifically, she wasn't well-liked among the girls.

Most boys might not understand this, but since elementary school, girls' social dynamics have always tended to be more intricate, with cliques and exclusion being constant themes. These conflicts rarely rise to the surface, maintaining the illusion that everyone gets along well.

However, it's not hard to notice who's being isolated if one pays close attention.

Even though their senior year Class 7 was a restructured group, it only took a week for new cliques to emerge.

In any circle, people generally don't like those who stand out too much.

Su Youzhu was a textbook example of this type. Her grades weren't good, but her stunning looks were undeniable. She'd already learned how to dress up properly, and more than two-thirds of the boys at school had secretly fancied her.

Adding to this, her introverted personality and hesitation to speak up further isolated her.

Someone like her being ostracized by the girls in the class was entirely predictable.

Even among the boys, she was considered too difficult to approach or court, so most had gradually given up.

Truth be told, Gu Jianlin only recently noticed any of this. He had previously been indifferent to school affairs.

"I just stepped outside to straighten myself up in the restroom."

Su Youzhu raised her snowy, exquisitely delicate face and then waved her phone, its screen dark. "My phone conveniently ran out of battery."

Gu Jianlin responded with a simple acknowledgment and led her toward the school gates.

The two siblings walked across the dimly lit basketball court and running track, brushing past various classmates.

Quite a few people sent puzzled looks their way upon seeing the pair together.

"It seems they've misunderstood something,"

Gu Jianlin remarked suddenly, "You don't mind, do you?"

Their unexpected sibling arrangement hadn't been disclosed to anyone—not even the school faculty or staff.

If seen together, it'd be easy to mistake them for a couple.

Su Youzhu showed no expression as she calmly replied, "Why should I mind? I'm not planning on getting a boyfriend. But as for you, walking so closely with me—it'll make finding a girlfriend harder for you."

Gu Jianlin merely shrugged indifferently. "I don't have any plans for that, either."

Su Youzhu glanced up at the boy beside her.

In truth, her reason for not dating stemmed from her own circumstances.

Don't be fooled by Peak City Second High being the best school in the area—good grades and adolescent rebellion aren't mutually exclusive. Many students appeared to mess around more than anyone, but once seated in the classroom, they'd dive into their studies with unrivaled intensity, pushing themselves to the limit.

Gu Jianlin, on the other hand, seemed entirely devoid of desires. He always wore simple yet clean-cut outfits, refrained from close interactions with anyone around him, showed little passion for hobbies, and never involved himself in school duties or events.

Occasionally, classmates spotted him in the library reading, or zoning out while staring at some spot, or playing basketball by himself.

Even gaming was merely a way to earn money as a temporary player-for-hire.

Before she started living with him, there were even girls in her dormitory who attempted to pursue him. She often overheard updates about his deeds, though the conversations always concluded with the same verdict:

Boring.

Back then, Su Youzhu had felt that perhaps those girls simply didn't understand him.

Many people are one way on the surface but entirely different in private.

It wasn't until she encountered him in the hospital that she realized her dorm mates had been completely accurate.

Regardless of whether he was unconscious or awake later on,

he spent most of his time staring blankly out the window, his gaze empty and unreadable. After leaving the hospital and dealing with his father's matters, his behavior remained startlingly obedient.

It was hard to believe that such a peculiar person genuinely existed.

Apart from sensing his unhappiness, there was nothing about him one could genuinely grasp.

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Gu Jianlin had no idea what the girl beside him was thinking. As they stepped out of the school gates, they were met with the brightly illuminated snack street ahead, packed with people and filled with the rich aroma of food wafting through the air.