"You and Dongxue are not the same." He Teng replied in a stiff tone.
"How are we different? We both share the He surname, and we’re both your sisters." He Zhilan pouted. "Are you saying that even after divorce I’m still your sister was just a lie?"
With that said, He Zhilan halted her steps, her tear-brimmed eyes staring at He Teng, "Brother, are you planning to kick me out of the He family?"
"No." He Teng quickly shook his head, then gave up on the argument, sighing inaudibly. He pointed to a wonton stall not far away, "Let’s eat some wontons before you go back to your post. It’s getting late, there won’t be anything left in the canteen."
He Teng had no doubt that if he insisted on letting go of He Zhilan’s hand, she might really burst into tears.
Although He Zhilan technically remains his sister, He Teng’s sister, and the He family’s daughter even after her marriage, things are indeed different from He Dongxue.
After all, she also carries the title of an ex-wife now.
Upon reaching the stall, He Zhilan ordered two bowls of wontons, seated He Teng down and declared, "Brother, I’ve found a way to earn money now. I’m treating you to this bowl of wontons today!"
He Teng knew about He Zhilan’s plan to set up a stall. Watching He Zhilan’s face lit up with a smile, He Teng couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly.
"You got into a police station on the very first day for getting into a fight, and you still seem pretty happy?" He Teng didn’t mean to dampen He Zhilan’s spirits, but honestly, her fighting with Gu En in the middle of the street was quite unexpected, "Did the wound heal and you’ve forgotten the pain already?"
He Zhilan stiffened, "How did you know?" There’s no way Gu En personally called He Teng to complain that she, He Zhilan, initiated the fight and wronged Gu En, right?
"He Zhilan, how old are you?" He Teng’s tone got considerably stern.
He Zhilan answered timidly, "Nineteen."
He Teng didn’t originally intend for He Zhilan to answer him, but her nonchalant reply made him suppress a laugh, his stern tone faltered somewhat when he tried to speak again.
"Nineteen is not the same as nine, fighting in the streets, even getting taken to the police station. You’re becoming more and more successful as you age." He Teng shook his head, "If you can’t avoid Gu En in the future, don’t fight with her. She is wicked, ferocious, and heavy handed. You’ll lose if you fight her. I heard she caught your hand several times, causing it to swell, let me see."
"The swelling has already gone down! But she didn’t get away unscathed either! I specifically aimed my punches at her stomach!" Seeing that He Teng did not truly intend to reprimand her, He Zhilan boldly waved her hand and said, "When I was chatting with Lin Chan, he taught me to aim punches at areas the clothes are covering during a group fight when others can’t see. It’ll be easier to play the victim role later!"
That was the experience Lin Chan gained from fighting. He Zhilan learned it from him and employed it on Gu En. Truth be told, at the police station, compared to Gu En, He Zhilan seemed worse off. Thus, playing the victim had more effect in her case.
He Teng examined He Zhilan’s hand, only after finding no trace of the mark did he relax. But accidentally, he saw the burn scars left on He Zhilan’s chopstick-holding hand. His gaze involuntarily darkened.
He Teng learned about He Zhilan’s fight from Bian Xiulin when he was on the phone with Xing Ye. On that day, after hearing the news, aside from blaming He Zhilan’s impulsiveness, he was also concerned about her being at a disadvantage.
However, upon further reflection, Gu En had been bullying He Zhilan in the past and when He Zhilan didn’t fight back, she was still bullied, wasn’t she? So, after coming to terms with that, He Teng didn’t actually blame He Zhilan for engaging in a fight with Gu En on the street.