"Haha, you are so happy you can utter any words anymore? Well, that's understandable. I will bring it to the school tomorrow, so save your joy for the real deal, okay?"
"Yes, thank you, Jingfei."
"If you thanked me more than this, my head would inflate like a balloon. Oh, your sister probably will feel happy if she is the first one to know about this great news. Why don't you try telling her?"
"Xiaohua? Jingfei, are you friends with my sister?"
"She is my friend, but I doubt she will like it if you mention that, so keep it a secret from her I was the one who told you this, okay?"
Li Caiyi never knew that Li Chunhua and Shao Jingfei were pretty close. They both started fighting from the first time they met, so she had always thought they hated each other's guts. The hate mostly came from her sister, and Shao Jingfei was only playing with her, though.
Come to think of it, Su Suyin did say that Li Chunhua had been going out more frequently these days. Was it because she hung out with Shao Jingfei? Li Caiyi was very curious about their relationship now.
"Okay, I understand. But Jingfei, since when did you become close to Xiaohua? She isn't the type that opens up easily to anyone."
"Haha, she is surely as fiery as a firecracker, but her personality is actually pretty soft once you get to know her. Perhaps she is just awed by my coolness?"
Li Caiyi was surprised to hear him saying a good thing about her sister but later felt pleased about it.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"That's right. Sometimes, she is troublesome and reckless, but she isn't an inherently bad girl. I'm happy to hear she has a friend she can go to when she is in trouble now."
Shao Jingfei was quiet for a moment before chuckling, "What? I thought Chunhua's feelings were one-sided, but you also love her very much. Man, I'm jealous. Both of you should spare some of your love for a single dog like me."
"Haha, what are you saying now? Why should we share our sisterly love with you? You aren't our sister."
"Well, I can be one if I put my mind to it. Our height is the same, so maybe with some wigs…." There was a brief pause before he continued, "Why am I hurting myself by saying that?"
Li Caiyi laughed even harder at that. She could imagine Shao Jingfei's seriously pondering about this.
"Hehe, you finally laugh. Girls are prettier when they smile, so both of you should laugh often. Anyway, I need to go now. See you tomorrow, Caiyi!"
"See you, Jingfei! Thanks again!"
Li Caiyi pressed her phone to her chest, and the warmth from the device felt like it seeped into her chest. She still couldn't believe that this day would finally come. The day when everyone would eventually see the fruit of her hard work!
"I wonder if everyone will like it," Li Caiyi muttered, but her voice was giddy with excitement. She felt like she could burst at any moment just from the sheer happiness.
The first person who came to her mind as she said that was Li Chunhua, so she bolted out of the room and knocked on her sister's door.
"Xiaohua? I have wonderful news! Do you have time?"
"Sure, come in."
Li Caiyi opened her door and greeted Li Chunhua, who was wrapped in a blanket while sitting on her bed. She smiled brightly as soon as she saw her coming in.
"What's up, Xiaoyi? You look so happy. Is there something good that happened to you?"
Li Caiyi giggled, and because she couldn't contain it anymore, she ran and hugged her sister tight while slightly jumping up and down in excitement.
"Xiaohua, I did it! My first book has finally got its first print!"
"What?" Li Chunhua exclaimed in shock before wrapping her arms around Li Caiyi too. "Is that true? That's amazing, Xiaoyi! Wow, you are so amazing. Congratulations!"
"Yes, I'm so happy, I feel like I could cry right now."
"We should tell Mom and Big Brother too about this!"
Li Caiyi slowly released Li Chunhua from her embrace as she recalled her brother's compliment the other day. She wasn't sure if her mother would love to hear about this, but surely her brother's reaction would be better, right?
"Let's tell Brother Jie first. Do you know he likes your work very much?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLi Caiyi hung her head embarrassedly. "Yeah, he told me that before."
"Then he must be happy if he heard about this good news! What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Li Chunhua stood up from the bed first and dragged Li Caiyi by the hand, looking even more enthusiastic than herself.
Having someone to share your happiness with was always fulfilling, no matter what. A small smile escaped Li Caiyi's lips as she stood while Li Chunhua knocked on Li Junjie's door.
"Brother Jie, are you in there? Xiaoyi has something she wants to tell you."
There was a rustling sound coming from the inside, followed by Li Junjie's deep voice.
"What is it?"
"Can't you come out for a second? Or better yet, can't you let us in?"
"No," Li Junjie replied immediately.
"How mean! We are your sisters, not a plague you should avoid!" Li Chunhua retorted in disbelief.
Li Caiyi was a tad disappointed, but she should have expected this outcome whenever they had to deal with Li Junjie. So she tapped on Li Chunhua's shoulder and shook her head.
"It's okay, Xiaohua. He probably doesn't want anyone to bother him for a while."
"What could be so important that he couldn't talk to us for even a minute? Xiaoyi, you are still too soft. When dealing with a mule like Brother Jie, you have to be as thick-skinned as possible, or you will only give him a reason to push you away!"
Li Caiyi had never thought about it that way. If people didn't want to talk to her, she would assume that person wasn't interested in talking with her or was probably in a bad mood.
Perhaps this might be why Li Caiyi was the least close to Li Junjie compared to Meng Renshu or Li Chunhua.