Keep My First Kiss Safe For Me - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Xie Yanyan raised her hand and lightly brushed the red mark on Fan Yue’s face, asking, “Does it still hurt?” Her voice was very soft, carrying an inexplicable tenderness and even a trace of heartache.

She remembered how Fan Yue had once been slapped by Fan Shicheng because of her, crying as she begged Xie Yanyan to leave. Now, Fan Yue had taken another slap because of her, but this time it was to stand up for her. Was that little girl—the one who protected her at every turn and brought her into the sunlight—finally back?

Fan Yue couldn’t decipher the complex emotions in her eyes. Shaking her head, she said, “It doesn’t hurt.” But her heart was still uneasy, and she asked huffily, “Why didn’t you explain yourself? You just let them talk rot!”

“What use is explaining? Once a rumor starts, anything you say is futile. I’m used to it,” Xie Yanyan sighed, almost inaudibly.

Fan Yue caught the hidden meaning and pressed further, “Used to what? Why are you used to it?”

Xie Yanyan didn’t answer. She looked deeply into Fan Yue’s eyes, and a sudden curve touched the corners of her mouth. “Thank you.”

This was the second time recently she had thanked Fan Yue. Fan Yue waved her hand dismissively. “What’s there to thank? That fight today was actually quite satisfying. Did you forget how tough I was when we were little? I wasn’t the ‘Big Sister’ of the Experimental School for nothing.”

Back at Experimental Primary School, Fan Yue’s rebellion had hit early and hard. Her parents’ divorce, her father’s remarriage, the birth of Fan Xinghang—every piece of her original life had been knocked off its tracks. She could only find a sense of existence by picking fights and causing trouble.

Xie Yanyan, naturally, had been her primary target. Tearing her notebooks or throwing paper balls at her was child’s play; Fan Yue had even cornered her after school for a one-on-one showdown, until Xie Yanyan, pushed to her limit, chose to fight back.

Later, Xie Yanyan went to a boarding school. When she returned three years later for middle school, she seemed like a different person. Their relationship entered a “glacial period”—though they no longer clashed, they treated each other like air. To mend the rift, Fan Shicheng had deliberately placed them in the same class.

However, they had zero interaction, so much so that their classmates didn’t even know they lived under the same roof. It wasn’t until a parent-teacher meeting, where Fan Shicheng was away on business and Xie Rong represented them both, that everyone learned of their connection and their discord with surprise.

How was it that after being separated into different classes, their estranged relationship of so many years was finally thawing?

Xie Yanyan’s fingers lightly grazed Fan Yue’s reddened cheek. Fan Yue watched as she slowly leaned in and blew gently on the bruise, just like the “magic breaths” she used to give her for every childhood injury. The breath was light and ticklish, intended to make the pain vanish.

Fan Yue turned her face away awkwardly. “I’m really fine. You don’t need to feel burdened. I just couldn’t stand that girl. No matter who she was talking about, I would have…”

“Sister,” Xie Yanyan said suddenly.

Fan Yue forgot what she was going to say next. How many years had it been since she heard that word? It seemed like the day Xie Yanyan and Xie Rong officially moved in, Fan Yue had exploded, shouting that she wasn’t her sister and forbidding her from using the title. Since then, Xie Yanyan truly hadn’t said it once, even though she used to follow her around chirping “Sister, sister” every day when they were small.

So, in the end, it was because she had been too immature back then.

Fan Yue gave a soft “Mm” and looked back at her. “I am the older sister. It’s only right that I protect you.”

As the words fell, Xie Yanyan gave her a light hug.

…

The disciplinary results were announced the next morning. Due to the “malicious nature” of the incident, both Chen Ru and Xie Yanyan were stripped of their guide qualifications. More severely, all three girls were expelled from the volunteer team.

Fan Yue wanted to argue with the team leader, but Xie Yanyan held her hand.

“I’m sorry. My impulsiveness cost you such a great opportunity.” Sadness, regret, and self-reproach flooded Fan Yue all at once, and her eyes grew red.

Xie Yanyan remained calm, her hand never letting go of Fan Yue’s as she comforted her. “It’s okay. I don’t care. Let’s go home.”

On the day of the Provincial Games’ opening ceremony, almost every household in Rongcheng was watching the live broadcast, but Fan Yue’s family didn’t even turn on the TV. Fan Shicheng had boasted to his colleagues and neighbors about Xie Yanyan being the lead guide; everyone was waiting to see his daughter. He hadn’t had the heart to tell anyone the sisters had been sent home on the third day of training.

Fan Xinghang was even more livid. He had bragged to his whole class that both his sisters would be on TV. Now that neither appeared, everyone would surely mock him for lying. Because of this, the “Little Chubby Pillar” ignored his sisters for quite a while.

The autumn wind blew, and the weather turned chilly. Autumn in Rongcheng was exceptionally short; before the leaves had fully turned yellow, winter arrived.

It was another weekend. Fan Yue was curled up on the sofa, eating snacks and chatting with Xiao Qian about Brother Ning Yuan’s latest variety show.

Princess Qianqian: Come to my house, I’ll show you the latest compilation of Brother. Little Moon: Not going. It’s too cold, don’t want to move. Princess Qianqian: Yue’er, confess! Do you have someone else? You haven’t come to my house lately! [Angry] [Angry]

Previously, Fan Yue hated seeing Xie Yanyan and would run to Xiao Qian’s at every holiday. As their relationship thawed, she realized it was more comfortable to lounge at home.

Little Moon: Calm your fury, my concubine. Your Emperor is just…

As she was typing, Fan Shicheng called. Fan Yue answered lazily, “Hello~”

“Yue’er, go pick up your brother.”

“Where are you guys? Why do I have to pick him up?” The wind was howling outside, and Fan Yue was reluctant to leave the house.

“Xiao Rong and I were both called back to our units unexpectedly. Your brother is still at his tutoring session at the Children’s Palace.”

“Fine,” Fan Yue agreed reluctantly. She replied to Xiao Qian with “I’m off to fetch the Little Prince” and slowly started getting ready.

Unlike the hands-off approach they took with her, Fan Shicheng and Xie Rong were very invested in Fan Xinghang’s education. They skipped the school attached to the research institute and bought a house in a top school district just for him, filling his weekends with tutoring and interest classes. On one hand, Fan Yue thought her father was being too intense; on the other, she felt sorry for the kid. She never had to work that hard when she was little. No wonder the “Chubby Little Pillar” didn’t look so chubby lately and seemed to be in a foul mood.

Just as she opened the door, Xie Yanyan emerged from her room, and their eyes met again.

Fan Yue spoke first: “You’re going out too?” Xie Yanyan hadn’t been doing part-time jobs recently and stayed home on holidays.

“Mm,” Xie Yanyan nodded.

The two of them walked downstairs together.

The Children’s Palace wasn’t far—just a short walk. Fan Yue walked in front while Xie Yanyan followed. As they were nearly there, Fan Yue couldn’t help but look back. “Where are you going?”

“To pick up Fan Xinghang.”

“Huh?”

Xie Yanyan said, “He is my brother too.”

“Oh.”

The research institute was preparing for a superior inspection, so both parents had been called back. Since no one was available to pick up their son, Fan Shicheng had called Fan Yue, while Xie Rong had called Xie Yanyan.

Thus, the two sisters began to walk side-by-side.

The weather was truly cold now, with wind gusting down their collars. Fan Yue shrunk her neck into her shoulders.

“Here.”

Fan Yue looked up at the voice. Xie Yanyan took a scarf out of her bag and handed it to her. She instinctively refused: “No need, I’m not cold.” Just as she finished the sentence, a gust of wind made her sneeze. Immediately, her neck felt warm as Xie Yanyan wrapped the scarf around her.

“Thanks,” Fan Yue’s voice was muffled by the warm wool.

Their parents had notified them too late. By the time they reached the Children’s Palace, classes had been over for a while, and the entrance was nearly deserted.

There was no sign of Fan Xinghang outside, and a search of the building yielded nothing. Fan Yue began to panic. “Where is he?”

Xie Yanyan frowned. “Let’s split up and look.”

The two searched in different directions.

“That brat dare go missing? Just wait until I catch him, I’ll make his butt bloom!” Fan Yue muttered, her feet never stopping. She finished searching the grounds and headed outside.

Fortunately, she found him.

He was at a fork in the road next to the Children’s Palace.

Fan Yue was sweating from the run. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to scold him. “Wait.” Xie Yanyan arrived and reached out to pull Fan Yue back.

Seeing Xie Yanyan looking ahead with a frown, Fan Yue suppressed her temper to see what Fan Xinghang was actually up to.

Three boys were standing next to Fan Xinghang, appearing to be several grades older. The sisters were a bit far away and couldn’t hear the dialogue clearly.

But as Fan Yue calmed down, she saw something was wrong. The older boys were acting arrogant, while Fan Xinghang kept his head down in silence. One boy snatched his schoolbag, rummaged through it, and dumped it out. His pencil case and books spilled onto the ground with a clatter.

How dare you bully my brother!

Fan Yue charged over, grabbed the kid who threw the bag, and barked, “What do you think you’re doing!”

The boys were startled. “No… nothing.”

Fan Yue turned to Fan Xinghang. “Tell me, what did they do to you?”

Fan Xinghang glanced at the boys and stammered, “No, it’s nothing.”

Kids nowadays are well-nourished and grow fast. It was unclear what grade these boys were in; they had the faces of primary schoolers but were already taller than Fan Yue. Hearing Fan Xinghang’s answer, they grew bolder. They looked at Fan Yue impatiently. “Who are you?”

“I’m his sister!” Fan Yue glared at them, but she had to tilt her head up, which took some of the wind out of her sails.

“So what if you’re his sister? I’m his brother! Get lost!” This kid was gutsy; he gave Fan Yue a forceful shove.

“Try moving one more time.”

A wooden stick was suddenly pressed against the tip of the lead boy’s nose. Xie Yanyan’s face was cold, her aura overbearing. Fan Yue thought to herself that her “Big Sister” days were for nothing—Xie Yanyan was the real boss.

The stick moved from the boy’s nose to his neck, tapping it with steady, heavy pressure. “I am also his sister. From now on, if anyone dares bully my brother, I’ll make them regret it.” Her voice was sharp and cold, sending a shiver through the boys. They nodded frantically, “We… we won’t anymore.”

The “Boss” issued her command: “Apologize.”

The boys bowed to Fan Xinghang in unison: “Sorry.”

Xie Yanyan pointed the stick at the bag on the ground. “Pick it up.”

The boys scrambled to gather everything, put it in the bag, and zipped it shut. They stood at attention, waiting for their fate.

“Remember what you just said. There won’t be a next time. Now, scram!”

The words had barely left her mouth before the boys vanished.