Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 27

What kind of person was worthy of Xia Wanshuang? Zhou Qinglang thought, at the very least, they couldn’t be worse than herself.

They had to be good-looking, tall, have good grades, and be physically strong.

Tsk, no, those were just the basic requirements.

They also had to be good to her sister. When her sister said east, they couldn’t go west. They had to understand her sister, know her sister, and give her a massage when she was tired.

Zhou Qinglang pondered this, picturing the scenario, her brows furrowed enough to kill a fly.

If anyone ever dared to touch Xia Wanshuang with affection, she’d want to break their hand.

Zhou Qinglang was unaware at this moment just how warped and strange her thoughts were, far exceeding the boundaries of normal affection.

••••

Some girls from another class walked past them, shyly glancing at Zhao Tianhang, pretending to walk by casually.

“The school heartthrob is so handsome! He looks great even in the uniform. He’s totally my idol.”

“I know, right?! But I think he’s waiting for Xia Wanshuang.”

“I think they look so good together.”

“I’m so jealous of Xia Wanshuang, being protected by two handsome guys, Zhao Tianhang and Lin Qiushui, and having Zhou Qinglang as a little sister.”

“Shh, keep it down. If the heartthrob is going to date anyone, I think Xia Wanshuang is the most suitable. She’s so gentle, a total first-love goddess. I can’t even be jealous of her.”

The two girls thought they were whispering, but Zhou Qinglang and Zhao Tianhang, not far away, heard everything clearly.

Zhou Qinglang turned, giving Zhao Tianhang the death glare.

This person is so annoying.

“Hey, hey, hey, stop looking at me like that. Shuangshuang is my sister, Hukou book warning, remember?” Zhao Tianhang’s expression stiffened under Zhou Qinglang’s gaze. He really was too naive before. He used to think Zhou Qinglang didn’t talk to him much because she was shy. Now he understood: she simply found him bothersome.

Zhao Tianhang had been adored by elders and had conquered all the older and younger girls since kindergarten. Only with Zhou Qinglang did he hit a wall.

Zhou Qinglang knew this, otherwise, this person would have been killed by her stare long ago.

“Sister.” Zhou Qinglang spotted Xia Wanshuang, ditched Zhao Tianhang, and walked over.

Zhou Qinglang, with her long limbs, put an arm around Xia Wanshuang.

“Tsk tsk tsk, the ‘Sister Protector’ strikes again.” Lin Qiushui’s voice, full of lazy laughter, came from behind. He walked over, hooked his arm around Zhao Tianhang’s neck, and stood next to Zhou Qinglang.

Zhao Tianhang patted the back of Lin Qiushui’s hand, telling him to get lost.

This was a chain of friendly contempt: Zhou Qinglang found Zhao Tianhang annoying, Zhao Tianhang was annoyed by Lin Qiushui draping his arm over him, and Lin Qiushui was annoyed by Zhou Qinglang’s clingy “sister-complex.” Only Xia Wanshuang stood at the top of the food chain.

Zhou Qinglang couldn’t be bothered to squabble with Lin Qiushui in front of Xia Wanshuang and just gave him an eye roll.

The four of them had agreed to have dinner together at a newly opened hotpot restaurant in the central district.

Zhou Qinglang and Zhao Tianhang rode bicycles. Xia Wanshuang was always ferried by Zhou Qinglang. Lin Qiushui was a young master and usually got picked up by a driver.

“Should I carry you or should you carry me?” Lin Qiushui looked at Zhao Tianhang. In their world, carrying Zhou Qinglang or Xia Wanshuang was not an option.

Because Zhou Qinglang wouldn’t allow it.

Initially, Xia Wanshuang had planned to buy two bicycles, as the family wasn’t short on money for them, but Zhou Qinglang was unwilling. She said since they went to the same school, one bicycle was enough, and she would carry Xia Wanshuang. Xia Wanshuang couldn’t resist her pleading and agreed.

“You carry me.” Zhao Tianhang stepped back. He was ticklish, and Lin Qiushui, that “dog,” always tried to tickle him whenever he sat on the back.

The students at No. 3 Middle School were used to girls carrying girls and boys carrying boys. The head of student affairs even once held them up as an example during the flag-raising ceremony and praised them. They used to be surprised and thought it was completely illogical, but after getting used to their personalities, they were completely calm about it.

“Crap, Zhao Tianhang, why the hell did you tickle me?” Lin Qiushui yelled, and the bicycle swerved.

“I didn’t do anything.” Zhao Tianhang innocently withdrew his hand, pretending nothing happened.

“Hey, you two, be careful! Don’t mess around in the middle of the road!” the worried “mother” Xia said, holding Zhou Qinglang’s slender waist, her long black hair gently swaying in the air.

“Shuangshuang, Zhao Tianhang started it!” Lin Qiushui cried out in protest.

“Who was it who laid a hand on me the last time I carried them? A gentleman’s revenge is never too late.”

“Pfft, I think you’re just petty.”

“I don’t care what you think, I care what I think. Listen to me: you deserved it.”

The two were about to start another epic fight on the bicycles when Xia Wanshuang timely called a halt.

“You two are so immature.”

“He’s the immature one. You know your brother is the most upright.” Zhao Tianhang deflected the blame, maintaining his school heartthrob dignity even on the back of the bike.

“Damn you.” Lin Qiushui spat back at Zhao Tianhang, thoroughly despising his hypocritical “wolf in sheep’s clothing” act.

“But Langlang hasn’t called me brother in ages. She used to say ‘Brother Tianhang’ all the time. I really miss those days.”

“Zhao Tianhang.” Zhou Qinglang spoke up, her eyes laced with a warning.

“Stingy. Can’t even call me brother.” Zhao Tianhang shrugged, feigning sadness.

Xia Wanshuang realized that not only had her girl changed, but her boy had too.

He used to be such a kind, adorable little gentleman. While he was still a gentleman as he grew up, he was completely different around close friends—occasionally a little troublemaker.

Only Lin Qiushui remained true to his persona, consistent inside and out. He seemed like the fiercest and most difficult one in the group of four, but he was actually the most naive and childish.

The autumn wind billowed their wide school uniforms. The setting sun bathed everything in a warm light. The ringing of the bicycles was like a hurried sonata, mixing with the sound of the teenagers’ laughter, causing Xia Wanshuang to unconsciously curve her lips.

Being with these kids, her own mentality felt much younger.

The sunset dyed the sky red, gentle and beautiful.

••••

“Langlang, did your class have a pop quiz today?” Xia Wanshuang recalled the last difficult math problem on their test and felt a slight headache.

They hadn’t been placed in the same class when they entered school. Lin Qiushui and Xia Wanshuang were in Class 1, Zhao Tianhang in Class 2, and Zhou Qinglang in Class 4.

Zhou Qinglang was quite unhappy with the class arrangement, but since Class 1 and Class 4 were on the same floor, she accepted it. However, she constantly “visited,” practically treating Class 1 as her own. The Class 1 teacher had complained, but the visits continued regardless.

“Mhm, we had English.” The girl’s slightly husky voice reached Xia Wanshuang’s ears.

“How did you do?”

“Fine.”

Hearing Zhou Qinglang say that, Xia Wanshuang knew the first place in the class quiz was undoubtedly Zhou Qinglang’s. It used to be Xia Wanshuang helping Zhou Qinglang catch up with her studies; now, it was Zhou Qinglang telling Xia Wanshuang how to solve math problems.

“Our Langlang is so amazing.”

“Sister, I’m not a child anymore. Why do you still praise me like I am?” Zhou Qinglang sounded a little helpless. They stopped at a red light, and she turned back to look at Xia Wanshuang’s face.

Like her personality, Xia Wanshuang’s appearance gave off a gentle feeling. Willow-leaf brows, apricot eyes, a delicate nose, and cherry lips. Her lips turned up even when she wasn’t speaking, and when she smiled, a deep dimple appeared on her left cheek, drawing one’s gaze in.

Zhou Qinglang loved the way her clear eyes reflected her face, as if pouring out all their tenderness, making her feel loved.

“But in my eyes, Langlang is still a child.” Even though Zhou Qinglang was now taller than her, in Xia Wanshuang’s eyes, Zhou Qinglang was still her little sister.

She still remembered how cautious Zhou Qinglang had been when she first found her, with her withered hair and a body so thin you could see her ribs. Time had passed so quickly, changing their appearances.

“Sister, hug my waist tighter.”

Xia Wanshuang tightened her embrace, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Touch my stomach.”

Xia Wanshuang rubbed it clockwise. It was flat with a slight firmness.

“If you can’t feel it clearly, you can reach inside and feel. Doesn’t Sister love touching it the most?”

Xia Wanshuang froze, recalling the time Zhou Qinglang had lifted her shirt hem to show off her abdominal muscles. Xia Wanshuang hadn’t had anything like that in either of her lives and was extremely envious, so she occasionally touched it in amazement.

Unlike Xia Wanshuang, who only exercised when necessary, Zhou Qinglang was committed to running, had trained in sprinting, and consistently did sit-ups and push-ups. She hadn’t slacked off after developing her abdominal muscles and had maintained them.

“Ahem, who loves touching it?” She was just envious! And amazed!

“Sister, you don’t need to be embarrassed if you like it. Everything about me belongs to Sister. But does Sister still think I’m a child now?” Zhou Qinglang’s slightly husky voice was like a mix of strong liquor, carrying a maturity beyond her age, yet her words held a childish innocence. This strange contrast mingled and was carried to Xia Wanshuang’s ear by the wind, making her heart feel numb.

“Yes, you are. You threatened someone with harsh words today. If the teacher hears about it, you’ll be criticized again.” Xia Wanshuang chuckled, placing her hand on Zhou Qinglang’s waist and tucking her wind-blown hair behind her ear.

“It’s his fault for being so annoying. Besides, the teacher won’t criticize me. She’ll only praise me for preventing a one-sided puppy love from happening.”

Zhou Qinglang’s voice deepened. She never concealed her protectiveness over Xia Wanshuang. To her, Xia Wanshuang was the most important person in the world.

If anyone tried to get too close to Xia Wanshuang, she became like an animal whose territory had been invaded, instinctively putting up defenses, threatening and intimidating the other person.

Even Zhao Tianhang, who had known Xia Wanshuang longer than she had, or Lin Qiushui, whom she had grown up with, Zhou Qinglang still held a certain wariness toward them in her heart.

When she was little, she was simple, believing she and her sister would be together forever. As she grew older, she realized that possibility was remote.

Just the thought that one day someone would appear in her and Xia Wanshuang’s lives, replace her position, become the most important person to Xia Wanshuang, and they would do more intimate things, and she would no longer be Xia Wanshuang’s one and only…

Zhou Qinglang couldn’t bear the thought.

Lin Qiushui laughed at her “sister complex,” saying she was too old to be so clingy, but he didn’t know how important Xia Wanshuang’s significance was to her.

Unique.

Destined.

A dream come true.