Transmigrated into the body of a villain, I became my sister's savior.

Lin Jianshen opened the door, still angry.

Standing in front of the door was not the landlord, but Xia Tingwan.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the openwork stone window at the corner of the staircase, casting her long, slanted shadow onto the mottled, peeling wall.

She seemed to have run very fast, still panting heavily, her cheeks flushed from exercise, and a fine layer of sweat beading on her forehead.

Her beautiful peach blossom eyes were now wet and red-rimmed, clearly from crying.

Lin Jianshen's face darkened: "Why are you crying? Did someone bully you?"

Xia Tingwan didn't say anything, but just looked up at him with her eyes fixed on him.

Seeing her silence, Lin Jianshen's heart skipped a beat, and he asked again, "Are you feeling unwell? Are you sick?"

His tone already carried a hint of anxiety.

He reached out and touched Xia Tingwan's forehead, asking in confusion, "You don't have a fever?"

Xia Tingwan suddenly threw herself into his arms: "Brother, don't leave me."

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist: "I have nothing but you. Please don't leave me."

Lin Jianshen froze.

It felt as if a tiny electric current surged through his body from the point of contact, causing all his muscles to lose control and become stiff and clumsy.

Xia Tingwan's tears slid down his cheeks, soaking his short-sleeved shirt and burning his heart.

He could feel her body trembling slightly.

Time seemed to stand still for a few seconds.

Lin Jianshen slowly tightened his arms, his movements somewhat hesitant.

He could even hear his stiff joints making a slight "creaking" sound when he moved them.

He finally hugged her.

Their figures overlapped in the setting sun.

The image, projected onto the uneven wall, resembles an oil painting with rough brushstrokes yet vibrant colors.

He gently patted Xia Tingwan's back: "Don't cry."

"You came back because you were afraid I'd leave you, not because you're feeling unwell?"

The head in her arms nodded vigorously, and a "hmm" with a heavy nasal tone came out.

Xia Tingwan raised her face, her eyes red as she looked at him: "Brother, why did you make me live at school?"

"Did I do something to upset you?"

Do you hate me? Do you think I'm a burden?

Lin Jianshen looked at her red, swollen eyes and nose, and said, "What are you thinking?"

"Let's not talk about this anymore. I'll eat first, or the noodles will get soggy."

Xia Tingwan listened, lowered her head and paused for a moment, a feeling of inexplicable grievance welling up in her heart.

Her nose stung, and tears almost welled up again—she was crying so hard in his arms, yet he was only worried about his noodle soup?

But then she cheered up because his very first words to her upon meeting her were about how worried he was about her.

I was worried that she might have been bullied at school, or that she might be sick.

Although his movements were stiff, he did not push her away.

She stopped crying and started laughing again.

Lin Jianshen was bewildered by her alternating crying and laughing.

Are girls' thoughts really that hard to guess?

He gently patted her back and patiently explained, "I don't see you as a burden, nor do I dislike you."

He softened his tone: "If there's something you need to say, sit down and talk it over. But don't worry, I won't abandon you."

Xia Tingwan looked up at him, tears still streaming down her face: "Really?"

Lin Jianshen nodded: "Really. I'm still waiting for you to earn me a million."

Xia Tingwan then loosened her arms around his waist, lowered her head, and unconsciously rubbed her toes against the ground.

"His voice was so gentle just now."

"Yes, he is actually a very gentle and kind person."

Lin Jianshen pulled her wrist: "Come in first, we'll talk inside."

"Otherwise, if others see this, they'll think I'm bullying you again."

Xia Tingwan obediently let him pull her inside.

As she closed the door, she found that warm feeling of home.

She finally calmed down, and a feeling of shyness belatedly swept over her.

It made her cheeks burn and her heart skip a beat.

Her brother just hugged her.

She buried her head deeper, trying to hide the expression on her face.

Lin Jianshen looked at her strangely, her head down and silent, and asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Xia Tingwan's voice was so weak it was barely audible: "Not...not yet."

Lin Jianshen's eyes lit up: "Perfect, I made two bowls, let's eat together."

"Two bowls?" Xia Tingwan's eyes curved into a smile. "It seems he cares about me a lot."

"Otherwise, why would someone home alone make two bowls of noodles?"

"Subconsciously, he probably wanted me to stay at home, right?"

The two sat down at the dining table, each with a bowl of noodles in front of them.

Just like the bowl I had when I first arrived, it was pork noodles with minced meat sauce, with a poached egg and ham sausage added.

The difference was that both of them sat at the dining table.

Their mindsets have also changed.

Both of them felt that they now had a family.

Outside the window, the setting sun finally lost its last rays.

As dusk settled, it gently enveloped the city.

Lin Jianshen always eats very quickly.

After finishing his meal, he didn't leave the table immediately as he usually did, but instead remained seated, patiently waiting for Xia Tingwan to finish eating.

Xia Tingwan sped up, her cheeks bulging out like a greedy little hamster.

Lin Jianshen looked at her puffed-out cheeks and the way she was chewing with such effort, and found it quite adorable. He couldn't help but remind her, "No rush, eat slowly."

Xia Tingwan finally finished her noodles.

Lin Jianshen then asked, "How's school?"

Xia Tingwan took a sip of noodle soup—she didn't want to waste anything her brother had made.

"The school is great, the teachers take good care of me, and they even found me the best student to be my deskmate."

"Yes, that's a good thing." Lin Jianshen nodded, then changed the subject, "So why did you come back? Is it because you don't want to live on campus?"

Xia Tingwan nodded, her tone pleading, "Brother, the school's accommodations aren't good. I want to stay at home."

Lin Jianshen knew that Xia Tingwan was not a pampered person who couldn't endure hardship.

This is probably just an excuse.

He patiently explained, "You've fallen behind in your studies. Living at school will give you more time to study."

"After you go to live on campus, I'll live in the company dormitory too, which will save on commuting costs."

"Brother." Xia Tingwan spoke up for the first time. She raised her head, her eyes unusually firm. "I'll listen to you about anything, but I want to make my own decision about this."

Even if you hit me... I won't change my mind!

Lin Jianshen tried to persuade him, "I've been busy with work lately, so I might come home late and disturb your sleep."

Xia Tingwan said, "It's alright."

Lin Jianshen was about to persuade her again when he saw Xia Tingwan's eyes redden again at a visible speed.

Her long eyelashes trembled, and large tears, one after another, splattered into the noodle soup.

Her nose was red from crying, her shoulders trembled slightly, and her face was streaked with tears.

Like a small, helpless animal about to be abandoned on the street by its owner.

The moment her tears fell, Lin Jianshen felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

Even with a thousand reasons, at the moment she cried, all the blame fell on him.

Lin Jianshen felt he was doomed; Xia Tingwan's crying had left him completely helpless.

"Fine, fine, if you don't want to live on campus, then don't live on campus." Lin Jianshen immediately gave in. "Stop crying."

"Really?" Xia Tingwan managed to stop her tears.

"real."

"So... you're not staying in the company dormitory anymore?"

"Actually, the commuting cost wasn't that much." Lin Jianshen sighed. "This place has a mixed population, and it's not safe for you to be home alone at night."

Xia Tingwan lowered her head and pulled a few pieces of tissue from the roll of paper to wipe her tears.

A sly smile played on her lips: "Sure enough, he can't stand it when I cry."

"Hmph, easy peasy."

She knew that "taking advantage" of her brother's soft heart was somewhat "cunning".

But... well, he's the older brother, after all.