Batter My Heart,Mr Xi (Book 2)

Chapter XXI

As soon as the door clicked shut behind Xi Jinwei, Yang Zhilan let out a high-pitched squeal, her hands flying to her cheeks. She wiggled on the couch, a mixture of excitement and disbelief coursing through her.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," she chanted under her breath, her hangover momentarily forgotten in the wake of her giddiness.

The sound of a door opening made her freeze. Yang Chu emerged from his room, eyebrows raised at his sister's uncharacteristic behavior.

"What's going on?" he asked, stifling a yawn. "Is he coming back?"

Zhilan raised her head from the couch, giving her brother a deadpan look.

"What?" Yang Chu asked.

She shook her head slightly. "He will be back," she said, her voice neutral despite the butterflies in her stomach.

"Oh. So have you two like, done it already or something?"

Earlier, all she wanted from him was for him to help her family. She didn't expect to like him.

And the fact that, the god told her she was Wang Linxue even though she didn't remember; and was free to live her life especially after another goddess told her she was in a book, she didn't have time to fully take in everything yet.

"Chu! W-what are talking about? We did not do anything like that." She flushed blinking rapidly. They hadn't even gotten to the kissing stage yet.

Yang Chu rolled his eyes," Oh please. I'm a guy. If your boss is here early this morning, he either likes you or two you did the deed last night. I'm leaning towards the latter though."

" You jerk! Why can it be the former?"

Yang Chu took a good look at her and chuckled," No offense sister but he is a bit out of you league."

Yang Zhilan immediately attacked him with a cushion pillow fiercely.

" I'm kidding, I'm kidding..." He managed to say before the pillow hit him square in his face.

After they both had calmed down, Yang Chu hesitated before saying. "So Zhilan, what is going between you and mother. She said you haven't called her since you got discharged from the hospital and that you don't pick her calls. Are you two okay?"

Zhilan's expression deflated, replaced by a twinge of guilt. "I have been feeling  down recently but I shouldn't have ignored her. I know she's trying her best."

"She is," Yang Chu agreed softly. "She's always had your best interests at heart, you know."

"I know," Zhilan said, her voice filled with regret. "I'll talk to her later. Apologize properly." She paused, a faraway look in her eyes. "After all, she who gave me a chance at life. Without her..."

Yang Chu nodded understandingly. He knew the story well - how their mother had taken in Zhilan after the incident, raising her as her own alongside Yang Chu.

Zhilan's brow furrowed. "It does make me wonder though... about my birth parents. Who were they? What were they like?"

Yang Chu shrugged. "I don't know, sis. But does it matter? You're a Yang now, through and through."

Zhilan smiled softly. "You're right. I am."

"Well," Yang Chu said, stretching, "I'm going back to bed. But I'll be keeping my ears peeled for when your boss returns." He shot her a knowing look before retreating to his room.

Zhilan rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a small smile.

About twenty minutes later, a knock at the door jolted Zhilan from her reverie. She sprang up, perhaps a bit too quickly as her head swam, and made her way to the door.