Yue Xingxing and Yue Qingqing were completely unaware that their younger brother was being targeted.
They just noticed that Yue Xiaohu had been coming home later and later every day, barely eating a few bites of dinner, always looking as if he had already had his fill outside.
Lin Chunju found it strange, for Xiaohu had a large appetite due to his physical activities; usually, he would eat at least one more helping. Why was even half a bowl a struggle now?
When asked, Yue Xiaohu honestly answered, "I ate outside."
Yue Xingxing frowned and asked, "Where did you get the money?"
The Yue family raised children unlike other families that favored sons over daughters, even slightly the opposite.
They were always generous with the self-disciplined Yue Xingxing and Yue Qingqing.
Ever since Yue Xiaohu was caught using his allowance to go to the arcade several times, getting pocket money had not been easy.
Yue Xiaohu patted his stomach, quite proudly stating, "A friend treated me."
Yue Xiaofang let out an "aiyo," "Our Xiaohu is unlike Jiannan; he’s the type who loves making friends."
Yue Xiaohu chuckled twice.
Before he could feel proud, right after dinner, Yue Xingxing grabbed and interrogated him.
"Tell me the truth. Are you hanging out with some sketchy people? Why would they treat you? Are they expecting you to help them fight?"
Yue Xingxing was a very responsible and strict sister, with many thoughts flashing through her mind in an instant.
Nowadays, many boys in their grade were not focusing on their studies and instead mixed daily with local hoodlums.
Yue Xiaohu had always been strong. Once, when accosted by a local delinquent outside school who failed to extort money from him, he had fought back hard.
He even found and took ten bucks from the delinquent’s pocket, treating himself nicely to a meal.
Yue Xingxing scolded this act as robbery.
Worried by the thought of unknown friends treating her brother daily, Yue Xingxing couldn’t help but be concerned.
Yue Xiaohu looked baffled, "No, it’s a girl."
Suddenly, he noticed something off in Yue Xingxing’s gaze.
"You’re dating? Qingqing, did you hear that? He actually found himself a little girlfriend."
Yue Qingqing looked serious, "I really didn’t expect... that you would be , Xiaohu."
Yue Xingxing, heartbroken and incensed, had the face of someone blaming him for not aspiring for more and instead opting to date.
"Is your girlfriend’s performance good? Do you want me to tutor you both on the weekend?"
Yue Xiaohu’s bafflement deepened.
"No... I just met her... I don’t like her."
She looks too much like Sister Qingqing, how could I possibly date her?
Yue Xiaofang, coming in to bring some fruit and having surreptitiously overheard something at the door, said sternly, "If you don’t like her, you shouldn’t accept her treats. Make it clear to the girl. Our Yue family cannot produce a scoundrel. Don’t follow your little uncle’s example."
At this moment, Yue Jiannan, who was devotedly engaged in science with his wife, might have sneezed.
But Yue Xiaohu protested, "I really haven’t!"
Yue Xiaofang responded dismissively, "Alright, alright, nothing, nothing. It’s your kids’ matter anyway; I won’t get involved. Xingxing and Qingqing, you keep an eye on him."
Seeing his aunt’s "I know you care about your face, so can’t I just pretend it didn’t happen?" attitude, Yue Xiaohu felt even more wronged.
After Yue Xiaofang left, Yue Xingxing insisted that Xiaohu clear things up with this girl.
"Be tactful when you speak, don’t hurt the girl’s feelings. Did you hear me? Just say you need to focus on your studies right now and can only be thankful for her affection, that you aren’t worthy of her."
Yue Qingqing contributed some pocket money she had saved up with perseverance, relentlessly advising.
"Treat her to something nice tomorrow. We can’t be freeloaders."