Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

After returning the car to Department Head, Jiang Linyuan checked his bank balance.

Excluding the decimal point, his Wall Street Wolf skill had already earned eight digits from the stock market, and it was still steadily growing.

He just wasn’t sure if, when he went to withdraw money at the bank in the future, he’d need to show transaction records first.

If the teller was a guy, he hoped he’d be lenient. If it was a woman, he hoped she’d be strict.

What? They’re checking my records, not the teller’s? Then forget it. Suddenly I kind of want to be a bank teller.

Jiang Linyuan hailed a taxi. He didn’t go home, nor did he go to the bank. Instead, he went to a 4S dealership and bought a car.

Having his own car for the trip back to the hometown for New Year’s would definitely be more convenient. Not to mention, on New Year’s Eve, sneaking out to find the Thief Saint—he couldn’t exactly use the family car for that round trip, right?

What would he say if Mom and Dad asked where he was going?

“Twenty years old, a college student, got my first car.”

After putting up temporary plates, Jiang Linyuan drove off and bought several new phones.

One for Dad, one for Mom, and one for Haji Yao.

Actually, forget just a phone—let’s get Haji Yao a full ecosystem of electronic devices.

That way, everything could interconnect, and it’d be more convenient for her to use.

With his shopping mostly done, he headed home!

As he stepped through the front door, Father Jiang and Mother Jiang were at work.

“You’re back? It took you that long just to return a car?”

Jiang Zhiyao heard the door open, walked out of her room, and saw Jiang Linyuan carrying bags upon bags. She helped him take them, asking with surprise:

“What did you buy? Phones?”

“Yeah, this is for you. Consider it a New Year’s gift.”

Jiang Linyuan handed her two bags.

Jiang Zhiyao peeked inside.

A phone, a tablet, earbuds, a power bank, a smartwatch, and a laptop.

“This must have cost a lot, right?”

She looked up at Jiang Linyuan.

“Heh, your big brother is a rich man now. This is barely a drop in the bucket.”

Jiang Linyuan waved dismissively.

Money was meant to be spent, wasn’t it?

He didn’t have huge ambitions anyway.

Living it easy, finding a few bed buddies to share a blanket with, and just enjoying life—what was wrong with that?

“True, you did make a lot from stocks.”

Jiang Zhiyao remembered the brief glance she’d caught of Jiang Linyuan’s account a few months ago.

Almost a million by then.

“But don’t just keep gambling on stocks. I don’t want to have to find you on a rooftop someday.”

Jiang Zhiyao reminded him.

“I know what I’m doing.”

Jiang Linyuan said.

Once a Wall Street Wolf, always a Wall Street Wolf.

“Alright, come here.”

Jiang Zhiyao suddenly set down the bags, grabbed Jiang Linyuan by the arm, and pulled him into her room.

The curtains in the room were drawn, making it quite dim.

Jiang Zhiyao rummaged through her wardrobe, looking for something.

Tsk, this felt a bit off. Good thing the door wasn’t locked, or else he’d have to make a run for it.

After a moment, Jiang Zhiyao pulled out a brown scarf and handed it to him:

“I was actually planning to give this to you when we got back to the hometown.”

“But since you gave me something early, I’ll give this to you now. Try it on?”

Jiang Linyuan took the scarf and wrapped it around his neck.

It was quite warm, and it didn’t itch.

“Such nimble hands. Which store sells these? I’ll buy another one.”

He said with a cheeky grin.

“I knitted it for you myself! You can’t buy it anywhere!”

Jiang Zhiyao stood in front of Jiang Linyuan, rose on her tiptoes, and used her delicate little hands to adjust the scarf.

Her fingers were long and slender, her nails a pale pinkish-white, giving her a very fresh and refined look.

“It looks nice on you.”

After putting the scarf on him properly, Jiang Zhiyao stepped back a couple of paces, looked at Jiang Linyuan in front of her, and nodded with satisfaction.

“How does it feel?”

“It’s super warm. Plus, the AC is on in the room.”

Jiang Linyuan sat down on the bed and loosened the scarf a bit.

“I asked if it feels comfortable to wear.”

Jiang Zhiyao said.

“Yeah, it’s pretty comfortable. How long did it take you to knit this?”

Jiang Linyuan asked again. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

“Not that long. I just worked on it during my spare time here and there.”

Jiang Zhiyao sat down next to him, scooted her butt back a little, and swayed her small feet:

“From start to finish, about a month, I guess.”

“This is the first thing I’ve ever knitted. If you think it looks bad, give it back!”

Jiang Zhiyao said, making a move as if to snatch it back.

Jiang Linyuan twisted his body and dodged:

“Once something is given as a gift, how can it be taken back? It’s mine now! This is your first time, and it’s my first time getting a hand-knitted scarf from someone!”

Jiang Zhiyao withdrew her hand and gave him a light nudge with her shoulder:

“Then don’t forget later.”

“Don’t forget what?” Jiang Linyuan asked.

“Don’t forget later that there was a girl who knitted a scarf for you.” Jiang Zhiyao said, her head lowered, her voice very soft.

Jiang Linyuan didn’t look at her face. He just touched the scarf around his neck.

It was almost burning hot.

“A gift from my little sister? Of course I won’t forget it.”

That was all he could say right now.

Slowly, the warmth faded away, replaced by a quiet, chilling silence.

Jiang Zhiyao was quiet for a moment, then grabbed a pillow and threw it at his face:

“Get out! And take all the stuff you bought with you!”

“Hey, why are you kicking me out?! And even if you’re kicking me out, why are you kicking my stuff out too?!”

“I’m kicking everything out!”

Jiang Zhiyao said fiercely, baring her teeth like an enraged tigress.

“If you kick me out of this house, I’d really be homeless.”

Jiang Linyuan said.

“Go find your ‘good friends’ then! I’m sure they’d be happy to take you in! Su Muzhi! Yu Songsong! Whoever!”

Jiang Zhiyao shouted.

She thought she was being ridiculous, even throwing a tantrum.

If she weren’t his sister, would she even have the right to give him a scarf? Would she even have the right to say these things?

At the same time, she was incredibly nervous. This petulant tone of hers made her feel a twinge of regret.

Should I not have said that? Am I being too hurtful?

As her mind spiraled into chaotic thoughts, she heard his answer.

“But… right now, the person sitting next to me is you. The person who knitted me this scarf is you. And the person who’s in the same home as me is also you.”

Jiang Linyuan said, closing his eyes.

“And what about the future?” Jiang Zhiyao asked.

“That kind of thing… isn’t something I can decide by myself, is it?” Jiang Linyuan said.

The room was quiet. Both of them had their heads down, not looking at each other.

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”

Jiang Zhiyao bumped into him.

“Life has plenty of chances to try and fail.”

“What if you keep failing?”

“Then that means there was never a right answer in the first place.”

Jiang Zhiyao lifted her head, looked at Jiang Linyuan’s face, opened her mouth, but only said:

“Anyway… let’s just leave it at that for now.”

Between the two of them, this matter didn’t really need an answer. Having no answer was actually the best answer.

Why did I have to lose control right now, after all these years?

He should know. He should understand.

What good would it do for either of us to force this out in the open? This is fine as it is…

“Bro…”

“…I’m here.”