Poisoned by Drinking the Wrong Water
Ji Shuhe's first week in Yong'anli.
She was getting used to it, sort of. Every morning, she went to the market with her grandmother to buy groceries. At noon, she helped with the cooking and set the table. After meals, she insisted on washing the dishes. Then, during the long afternoons, she'd curl up on the first floor with her grandparents, watching TV—from war dramas to palace intrigue—motionless like a well-behaved, pretty doll.
Outside, people came and went. Kids of all ages ran wild through the alley, their laughter and shouts never-ending. Ji Shuhe didn't know anyone, so she pretended to genuinely enjoy watching TV, not complaining even when her eyes grew sore.
To outsiders, the Ji family's little granddaughter seemed quiet, obedient, and considerate—a stark contrast to most kids in the neighborhood. She even made Granny Zheng next door envious, often saying she wished Wen Shaoyu could be as easy to manage. Wen Shaoyu happened to be nearby when she said it, his expression unreadable. Ji Shuhe seriously wondered if he would hold a grudge against her for that.
Another two days passed, and Ji Shuhe's older cousin, Ji Shulang, who was home doing homework, couldn't stand it anymore. Not only could he not stay put, but he also insisted on dragging Ji Shuhe out, vowing to show her around properly. The Ji grandparents gladly agreed—kids needed vitality, and Ji Shuhe ought to get out more and familiarize herself with the area. They told Ji Shulang to take care of his sister and sent the two out.
Ji Shulang was a year and six months older than Ji Shuhe. Since his birthday fell late, he started school later, so he and Wen Shaoyu next door were both going into their second year of high school after the summer. The two were close in age and temperament, and since they lived in the same building, they were thick as thieves—partners in crime. When they caused trouble in the alley, they certainly didn't do it alone.
He said he was taking Ji Shuhe out for a walk, but instead, he hooked up with Wen Shaoyu and some classmates to play basketball. According to municipal planning, even amidst rows of tall buildings and scattered shantytowns, green coverage had to be maintained. Near Yong'anli, there were stretches of shade trees and a public basketball court.
Ji Shuhe was settled on a bench under the trees by the court. Late August, the afternoon sun blazed as fiercely as midsummer. Ji Shuhe didn't understand how these people had the energy and enthusiasm to play ball during the hottest part of the day.
Chin in hand, she observed. The younger kids from the alley were gathered around to watch; the rest were Ji Shulang's classmates and friends. Setting aside familial bias, the two who stood out the most were her own brother and... that Wen Shaoyu.
Ji Shulang was slightly shorter than Wen Shaoyu but sturdier, with round eyes, straight eyebrows, and a high nose bridge—an aura of straightforward sunshine. For a boy his age, Ji Shulang was actually quite good to his suddenly appeared sister. He didn't ignore or belittle her; afraid she might feel out of place, he brought her out to play and often introduced her to girls her age in the alley.
As for Wen Shaoyu...
What good was a pretty face? He was moody and clearly not a good person. Ji Shuhe couldn't pinpoint exactly what Wen Shaoyu had done to offend her. Maybe it was after she saw him grab that chubby kid by the collar and threaten him again. The fragile camaraderie from their night walk had faded, replaced by the first impression of his fierce, unruly nature that lingered in her mind.
Not familiar, not easy to get along with—better to keep her distance.
Ji Shuhe sat a while longer, suffocated by the hot air. Fanning herself did nothing, and on the court, sweat poured. A boy leaped up to dunk, his shirt lifting to reveal a lean waist. The ball went through the hoop, and he landed, high-fiving his teammates joyfully despite the sweat.
Ji Shuhe thought of something, patted her little bag, looked around, and slipped out through the court's gate.
Just as Ji Shuhe left, Ji Shulang, who had just shown off, turned to brag to his sister. Seeing the empty bench, he immediately stopped playing and dragged Wen Shaoyu to help find her.
"Bro, your sister is fourteen, not four. It's only eight hundred meters from here to home. She could find her way back with her eyes closed in broad daylight."
Wen Shaoyu was speechless. He turned and sat on the bench, refusing to move. He was naturally pale, and after being in the sun, he looked even paler—fair with a touch of red, the picture of a delicate pretty boy.
Ji Shulang couldn't stand it. Leaning against the back of the bench, he retorted, "Damn it, what the hell do you know? My sister just got here. She doesn't have anyone she can talk to. And she seems sensitive, cautious, and quiet—the type who doesn't say much. If I don't look out for her as her brother, who will? Her parents? Our grandparents?"
"Yeah, right. You sure sound sweet calling her 'my sister,'" Wen Shaoyu scoffed, lifting his shirt to fan himself. "A cousin who popped up out of nowhere—you really like her that much?"
"What do you mean 'popped up out of nowhere'?!" Ji Shulang fumed. "Get this straight: my grandpa is her grandpa, my dad is her uncle, her dad is my uncle. So from the moment she was born, she was destined to be my sister." Still not satisfied, he punched Wen Shaoyu lightly. Though still growing, the two boys had visible lean muscle lines under their skin.
"Don't let my sister hear that, or I'll really punch you."
Wen Shaoyu raised an eyebrow, pretending to rub his chest. "I didn't know you were such a sis-con."
"What's wrong with being a sis-con?! I think you're just jealous—jealous that I have a sweet, adorable sister who calls me 'big brother'~" Ji Shulang was insufferably smug, taking the teasing as a compliment.
"Don't flatter yourself. I don't care."
Wen Shaoyu put his hand to his forehead, ignoring Ji Shulang. He half-closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and let the sunlight filter through the leaves onto his face. He didn't lack siblings—half-siblings, actually, closer by blood than Ji Shulang and Ji Shuhe.
"I know you. You're just being stubborn. Deep down, you're dying of envy! Too bad, you'll never have that. From now on, I'll have my sister call you by your full name."
Ignoring Wen Shaoyu's noticeably dimmed expression, Ji Shulang gloated and started planning, making Wen Shaoyu think again that this guy must be born without a care in the world. Not a bad person, just incredibly dense.
Both from the same family, but his sister was much more cautious. Given Ji Shuhe's timid nature, she'd probably just stay far away from him, no need for Ji Shulang to worry.
Still... maybe not. She seemed to try to please everyone in that family. What if she actually listened? Wen Shaoyu's brow furrowed into a knot, his eyebrows and mouth turning downward. "You're really boring."
"You're also really boring," Ji Shulang said, annoyed. He sat down next to Wen Shaoyu. "You don't get it. When I was little, I really wanted a little sister."
"You know the twins at No. 22? I got into a fight with that kid in kindergarten because he always showed off his sister in front of me. Later, I couldn't take it, so I asked my mom for one. She said there was no chance of a real sister, but my uncle's family had a little cousin—white and well-behaved."
"Xiaoshu didn't come to Xinhai often. I saw her when she was two, but we were both too young to remember." Ji Shulang spread his hands regretfully. "But it's not too late now. My sister is an angel, you know? She said she'd help me with my homework a couple of days ago."
Crazy, so that's what he was getting at. Wen Shaoyu didn't take the bait. "Not remembering anything at two or three? That's a bit much, isn't it?"
But Ji Shulang knew how to get under his skin. "Don't change the subject. I'm telling you, Xiaoshu said yesterday she wanted to buy stationery..."
Forget it. No point explaining to a hopeless sis-con. Wen Shaoyu gave up trying to convince Ji Shulang that he really didn't care about his bragging. He cut in as Ji Shulang took a breath. "I thought your family didn't get along well with her."
"No way." Ji Shulang blinked, confused. "Why would you think that?"
Wen Shaoyu twitched his lips but said nothing. He rested one arm on the bench back, tapping his fingertips lightly on the treated wood.
Ji Shulang wasn't completely dense. After a moment's thought, he caught on. "Actually, my uncle comes back every New Year, but he only stays a couple of days before going back to Yuanjing. You and Granny Zheng always spend New Year there, so it makes sense you wouldn't know..."
"So you don't think it's strange that she's living here now? Your parents don't find it odd?" Wen Shaoyu interrupted, not wanting Ji Shulang to steer the topic toward him.
"Why should my parents and I find it odd?" Ji Shulang blinked, speaking honestly. "We think it's great. Just yesterday, we said we'd take Xiaoshu shopping before school starts."
Wen Shaoyu narrowed his eyes and stared at Ji Shulang for a long time. Seeing nothing but sincerity in those wide eyes, he frowned even deeper and swallowed his original words.
"Forget it." Wen Shaoyu hesitated. He tried to convince himself that there really were people in this world who weren't driven solely by self-interest.
"I know! I know what you're trying to ask!" Ji Shulang finally caught on under Wen Shaoyu's intense gaze. "You want to know if the demolition compensation will be affected! Right!"
That was indeed the gist, but did he have to be so blunt? Wen Shaoyu quickly nodded before Ji Shulang could broadcast it to the whole world.
Ji Shulang didn't feel offended by the prying into family matters. He continued explaining, "My mom said that before she married my dad, my uncle voluntarily moved to the attic to free up the second floor for them as a wedding room. She remembers that favor. And although this house is small, by all rights, my uncle deserves his share."
Favor? Can favor compare to cold, hard cash? Wen Shaoyu didn't buy it. He deliberately stirred trouble. "But what about your grandparents? If they don't leave you their share, it's all yours."
Ji Shulang seemed prepared. He waggled his finger. "My mom also said, if you want something, you have to earn it yourself. Always coveting what others have will get you nowhere in life."
"My grandparents have two kids. It's up to them who they want to give to. If they want to give to me, I'll take it. If not, I'm not going to think about what my uncle or cousin might get. That would be too..." Ji Shulang wanted to say more to elevate his image, but his vocabulary couldn't keep up with his thoughts. Finally, he gave up. "Ah, whatever. It's hard to explain to someone with a complicated family and inheritance to fight over."