After being reborn, who wouldn't want to have a younger sister?

Chapter 520 Compromise
The tomatoes upstairs are ripe, and Xiao Yangzhi's obsessive-compulsive tendencies are being used to prune the branches and leaves.

Xiao Yangzhi is a very rigid girl who always does things in a very methodical and inflexible way.

The dozen or so tomato seedlings were all pruned to almost the same height, and even the number of tomatoes picked was the same, making them look like specially pruned ornamental plants.

The cantaloupe seeds that Tao Shuxin bought have blossomed and borne fruit after two months of cultivation, and they will probably be fully ripe after the summer vacation.

The rooftop is where Xiao Yangzhi frequents the most. Whenever no one is home, she often stays there for the entire day.

Tao Shuxin initially wanted to buy the penthouse simply because she had never lived in a duplex before and wanted to experience it on a whim.

Once she actually moved in, Tao Shuxin's initial excitement wore off, and she no longer wanted to go upstairs for a stroll, finding it difficult to tidy up.

Xiao Yangzhi, however, really liked this little attic. It had a small rooftop where she could grow vegetables, and the surroundings were quiet and had a lively atmosphere, making it much more comfortable than living in a detached house.

Normally, Xiao Yangzhi would follow Xu Mingyuan around whenever he was home, but she didn't today. It must be because Tao Shuxin made her cry, and she was too embarrassed to be near him.

In fact, Xu Mingyuan had already calmed down. Tao Shuxin didn't take her anger out on Xiao Yangzhi, nor did she get very angry with him, which shows that after a year of getting along, Tao Shuxin understood Xiao Yangzhi to some extent.

However, understanding does not mean acceptance; a period of adjustment is still needed.

Yang Zhi also didn't understand Tao Shuxin's actions. Wouldn't it have been better to just pretend not to know, like before? Why make things so awkward for her? There's so much to it...

"Sister Tao Tao, would you like some water?"

Seeing Tao Shuxin staring at the ceiling without moving, Yang Zhi thought for a moment and then brought her a glass of water.

"Don't drink."

Tao Shuxin didn't appreciate Xiao Yangzhi's greeting. She turned her body to face the back of the sofa and continued to ponder her future, which was a tangled mess of no clues.

Tao Shuxin has considered breaking up with him more than once these past few days, but she doesn't even need to say it out loud. She gets annoyed and thinks about it for a while, but then unconsciously shifts her attention elsewhere.

But today was different. Tao Shuxin was truly enraged. Was she just Xu Mingyuan's outlet for his anger? He was utterly despicable!
"Sister Tao Tao, do you want some tomatoes?"

Yang Zhi held out a bright red tomato to Tao Shuxin's face.

"Don't eat."

Tao Shuxin buried her head in the sofa cushions, not wanting to pay attention to Xiao Yangzhi, who had made her so angry.

"Have one. Didn't you tell me yesterday to bring you one? I was in a hurry today and forgot to take it," Yang Zhi said.

"I suddenly don't want to eat today," Tao Shuxin said sullenly.

"Try it."

"I won't try it."

"It's delicious, all homegrown, and you even watered it."

"I don't like tomatoes."

"Not sour at all."

"I won't eat it if it's not sour."

"Just one bite," Yang Zhi insisted.

"I already said I'm not eating!"

Tao Shuxin hadn't seen Xu Mingyuan even once since she returned from outside, and she was feeling sullen, so she had no appetite for these things.

But when she turned her head, she saw Xiao Yangzhi holding a tomato above her head. Seeing that her arm was trembling slightly, as if she had been holding it for a while, Tao Shuxin felt a little embarrassed, but still took it and took a bite.

The food she grew herself tasted better than what she bought in the market, but Tao Shuxin still thought it tasted bland and wasn't very palatable.

"You're easier to please than my brother."

Yang Zhi smiled gently, took out a tissue, and wiped away the juice that had splashed on the sofa.

"What? You have to feed your brother?" Tao Shuxin said sarcastically.

“No, a few years ago, when I was in my third year of junior high school, my mom ran away and my dad went to prison. I was so scared that my brother would abandon me and leave me to face life alone,” Yang Zhi said.

"What are you afraid of? Isn't your brother very responsible?" Tao Shuxin said while biting into a tomato.

"Yes, but back then I had no idea what kind of person he was. I was just trying to please him and test him little by little to see if he would care about me."

"Why didn't you just ask directly? Why are you trying to please me..."

Tao Shuxin pouted, feeling a pang of heartache.

That brat thinks she can seduce her own brother just because she's pretty. Does she have any moral compass at all?

"How could I dare? My brother had a terrible temper back then. If he found me annoying, he would kick my butt or flick my forehead. It hurt so much," Yang Zhi said. "Really? But when your brother was in high school, he was like a pile of firewood, ready to ignite at any moment. He was always causing trouble," Tao Shuxin recalled.

"Isn't it a bit too much?" Yang Zhi asked curiously.

"That's about it." Tao Shuxin took the tissue handed to her, wiped her hands, threw the tomato stem into the trash can, and asked, "What happened next?"

"Later, my brother realized I was scared, so he stopped getting angry in front of me," Yang Zhi said.

"Is he really that bad? He even got angry at you?" Tao Shuxin asked in surprise.

“My brother just found me annoying, he never got angry at me, he got angry at the salespeople. At that time, there was a problem at home, and he was very anxious. I often saw him lose his temper by himself, and he would tear up the prepared proposals to shreds. Especially his eyes, they were terrifying,” Yang Zhi said with lingering fear.

"Scary? How is it scary?"

"Hmm...it's that kind of sharp gaze; once someone's staring at you, you don't dare to move," Yang Zhi said after thinking for a moment.

"Really? How come I didn't know that?"

Tao Shuxin was a little puzzled. In her memory, Xu Mingyuan was quite sunny and hardworking during his senior year of high school. She didn't expect him to have such an impatient side behind the scenes.

“My brother rarely shows his emotions in public,” Yang Zhi explained.

"Hmph, so you two have been through thick and thin together, huh?"

Hearing Xiao Yangzhi say this, Tao Shuxin felt even more upset.

"No, my brother's bad temper only lasted for less than half a year. He wasn't like this before the college entrance exam."

"Aren't you afraid of me? Why are you saying all this to me?" Tao Shuxin suddenly asked, somewhat puzzled.

“My brother is home, why should I be afraid?” Yang Zhi retorted.

"Fine! What are you afraid of when we go back? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you!"

Tao Shuxin glared at her angrily. This pretentious little girl must have been playing the victim in front of Xu Mingyuan! Now she's coming to fawn over him. How scheming!
"I'm afraid you'll grab the steering wheel," Yang Zhi explained, frowning.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Would I do something so foolish?" Tao Shuxin said angrily.

"..."

Yang Zhi didn't speak, but looked at her suspiciously, not trusting her words at all.

Tao Shuxin is quite emotional; her joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all written on her face. Yang Zhi is also afraid that she might suddenly lose her mind and come after her.

"Get out of here! Do you think I'm as stupid as you? You got scammed and still want to pay up? You're the biggest fool in the world!" Tao Shuxin shouted, sounding on the verge of collapse.

Yang Zhi was a little confused by her self-introduction. When had Xu Mingyuan ever lied to her?

But having been scolded for no reason, Yangzhi was unwilling to talk to her anymore and quietly got up to leave.

“Come back!” Tao Shuxin shouted.

"what……"

"You haven't told me yet, why are you telling me all this? Is it just to show off?" Tao Shuxin asked.

"Huh? What's so great about that?"

Yang Zhi scratched his head in confusion, not understanding Tao Shuxin's thought process.

"Isn't that right? Then what else could it be for?"

"Sister Tao Tao, what I just wanted to say is that my brother has been very anxious lately. I don't want him to become like he used to be. Please don't argue with him. Wouldn't it be better to be like before?" Yang Zhi advised.

"What does his anxiety have to do with me? Am I the one who's at fault?"

Tao Shuxin could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down her face.

In fact, Tao Shuxin had already understood what Xiao Yangzhi meant. Xiao Yangzhi had compromised enough times and for long enough, and she wanted her to compromise once more.

But how can feelings be compromised?
What angered Tao Shuxin the most was that Xiao Yangzhi actually thought she was being ridiculous.

Do you eat tomatoes?

Unexpectedly, her good intentions backfired, causing Tao Shuxin, who had been calm, to start making a fuss again. Yang Zhi couldn't help but feel annoyed, so she grabbed a tomato, trying to shut her up.

"I...I don't want to eat!"

Tao Shuxin choked for a moment, then continued to wail with her mouth open until it was stuffed shut.

Immediately afterward, Tao Shuxin stopped howling and grabbed Xiao Yangzhi, ready to hit her.

(End of this chapter)