Keep My First Kiss Safe For Me - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The Research Institute’s family quarters consisted of six-story buildings arranged in a staggered pattern. At mealtimes, the hallways were filled with the aroma of cooking. Fan Yue, who had been clamoring about dieting to lose weight, immediately quickened her pace up the stairs the moment she caught a whiff of the food.

Just as the door opened, a little “chubby nugget” came charging toward her, shouting happily, “Big Sister!”

Big sister my foot!

Fan Yue gave him a sharp flick to the forehead. “I told you not to call me ‘Big Sister’!”

Fan Xinghang clutched his head and plopped onto the floor with a heavy thud, lodging a complaint: “Mom! Yue-er hit me!”

“You…”

I didn’t even use any force! Devious little brat! Fan Yue glared at him irritably.

Fan Shicheng was at the stove in the kitchen, while Xie Rong emerged holding bowls and chopsticks. She barked a quick word at her son sulking on the floor: “Hanghang, stop fooling around.” Then, she greeted Fan Yue with a smile, “Yue-er, you’re back. Dinner’s almost ready. Wash your hands and let’s eat.”

Seeing that his mother wasn’t taking his side, the little nugget pouted. When he saw someone else enter the door, he immediately rushed over and hugged Xie Yanyan’s leg to continue his grievance: “Second Sister, you’re back! Big Sister hit me!”

Fan Yue raised her hand as if to strike him again, and Fan Xinghang scrambled to hide behind Xie Yanyan. After all, they shared the same mother; even though Xie Yanyan was always lukewarm toward this younger brother, Fan Xinghang was thick-skinned and loved clinging to her. This only made Fan Yue feel more like an outsider. At the thought of this, the hunger Fan Yue had felt moments ago vanished instantly.

“Everyone’s back,” Fan Shicheng said, bringing out a bowl of braised pork ribs with potatoes from the kitchen. He urged them, “Go wash up quickly, I made something delicious for you.”

Fan Yue gave a curt “Oh” and went to the kitchen to wash her hands, while Xie Yanyan went to the bathroom. Finally, the family of four sat down together.

Under the same roof, occasions where the whole family ate together were rare. Either Xie Yanyan was staying at school or Fan Yue was at a classmate’s house. The friction between the two sisters was a constant headache for Fan Shicheng and Xie Rong.

The couple had tried many ways to improve their relationship—taking them on trips together, having them share a room, or putting them in the same class—but nothing seemed to work.

Fan Shicheng placed a prime rib in Xie Yanyan’s bowl, while Xie Rong placed one in Fan Yue’s. This was their unspoken agreement: never show favoritism. Fan Yue looked at the rib in her bowl and said stubbornly, “I’m on a diet.”

Xie Rong gave an awkward smile, but Fan Shicheng’s face darkened. “Nonsense! You’re in your growing years, what diet?”

Xie Rong chimed in, “You need to eat more to grow taller.”

Talk about hitting a sore spot! Fan Yue, who was sensitive about her height, got even angrier.

And then there was the one who lacked any situational awareness.

“Yue-er, if you’re not eating it, I’ll eat it for you!” With that, Fan Xinghang snatched the rib right out of her bowl.

There was a whole pot of them, yet he had to steal from her bowl. Fan Yue glared at him, but the little nugget didn’t notice at all. His mouth was stuffed full, and he didn’t forget to smack his lips: “Mmm, tasty~”

Fan Shicheng knew his daughter was just being temperamental, so he placed another rib in her bowl to give her a way out. “Our Yue-er doesn’t need to diet; she’s such a cute girl.”

Fan Yue had always loved being praised. Her ruffled feathers smoothed down instantly, and she took the “exit” he provided. She took a large bite of the rib. After eating school cafeteria food for so many days, home-cooked meals really were the best.

“Yanyan, you eat more too. You’re too thin,” Fan Shicheng said, making sure to keep the scales balanced.

“Mm,” Xie Yanyan replied, but her chopsticks didn’t touch the ribs.

When the meal was nearly finished, Fan Shicheng cleared his throat. “Ahem. I asked you two sisters to come back today because I have an announcement.”

Both of them looked at him.

“School is about to start, and your brother is entering elementary school. To get Hanghang into a good school, we bought a second-hand apartment near Primary School No. 1. He will live there while he’s studying. His room here is now empty, so you two don’t have to squeeze into one room anymore.”

This apartment was a three-bedroom unit. One for the adults and one each for Fan Yue and Xie Yanyan. When Fan Xinghang was born, he slept with his parents. But when he was four, he suddenly demanded his own room. At that time, Xie Yanyan was in middle school and rarely came home. The parents couldn’t win against their young son and also wanted to use the opportunity to foster a bond between the sisters, so they took it upon themselves to move Xie Yanyan’s things into Fan Yue’s room.

Fan Yue, of course, had disagreed and thrown a fit for days. When Xie Yanyan found out, she didn’t make a scene, but she came home even less frequently. The parents were caught in a difficult spot, but Fan Xinghang insisted—rolling on the floor if they didn’t comply—so they gave in. Ironically, after getting his own room, the brat still ended up running back to sleep with his parents half the time.

“Are you guys moving there too?” Fan Yue asked, her voice neutral. She was older now and didn’t lose her temper as easily as she used to.

Fan Shicheng shook his head. “It’s convenient for Hanghang to live there for school. Rong and I will stay there to look after him, but we’ll come back whenever you girls are home for the holidays.” He always called Xie Rong “Xiao Rong,” acting all affectionate even at their age.

Xie Rong looked at Xie Yanyan. “The room is ready. Yanyan, you can move whenever you want.”

Xie Yanyan put down her chopsticks and stood up. “Moving now.”

Heh, can’t stand being in the same space for one more second, can you? Same here! Fan Yue grumbled internally.

“Second Sister, I’ll help you!” The little nugget wiped his mouth messily, getting grease all over his hands. Xie Rong tapped his hand with her chopsticks in reprimand: “I told you to use a tissue! Go wash your hands!” Her voice was gentle, carrying no real threat.

“Oh.” Fan Xinghang gave his hands a quick rinse in the kitchen and followed Xie Yanyan into the bedroom.

After finishing her meal, Fan Yue sprawled on the sofa, watching TV while chatting with her friend.

Little Moon: My dad bought a school-district apartment for my brother. That annoying brat is finally moving out! [Smiley face] [Peace sign]

Princess Cici: I’m so jealous you have siblings.

Little Moon: And I’m jealous you’re an only child!

Fan Yue truly envied Cici. Her family was wealthy, her parents were in love, and she was the only child—no dramatic family “dog blood” plots.

But Cici replied: Being alone is so lonely.

Fan Yue teased her: You still have me! Call me ‘Elder Sister’!

“Yue-er, didn’t you say you wanted to lose weight? Come on, let’s go for a walk!” After cleaning the kitchen, Fan Shicheng and Xie Rong were following their routine of going out for a post-dinner stroll.

Fan Yue answered lazily, “Not going.” She didn’t want to be a third wheel.

“Lazing on the sofa right after eating… watch out, you’ll get fat.” Fan Shicheng walked over and patted her head. “If you’re not walking, go help your sister move her things!”

“Why don’t you go!” Fan Yue muttered.

“We wanted to, but Yanyan said she didn’t need our help. You go, or get out of the house!”

“Can I choose neither?”

“No.” Fan Shicheng picked up the remote, turned off the TV, and jerked his chin toward the bedroom, signaling her to go.

“Fine, fine.” Fan Yue hopped off the sofa and pouted as she walked into the room.

The room was divided in half by a curtain. She and Xie Yanyan each occupied one side. On Fan Yue’s side, the walls were covered with posters of Ning Yuan, a row of dolls lined her bed, and her bookshelf held more magazines than books. It looked messy at a glance. The other side, however, was a picture of tidiness.

Xie Yanyan had already moved several loads and was currently organizing in the next room. Fan Xinghang, claiming to help, was actually just causing chaos, rummaging through Xie Yanyan’s things.

“Hey, what’s this?” Fan Xinghang pulled out a delicate, large box. Hearing this, Fan Yue craned her neck and saw the nugget open the lid and take out a rag doll.

Why does that doll look so familiar? Isn’t that the one I used to hold all the time when I was little? Fan Yue instinctively leaned closer to see.

“Who told you to touch my things!”

Xie Yanyan shouted from the doorway. For someone who was usually a person of few words, this shout was incredibly powerful. Fan Xinghang’s hand shook in fright, and the doll fell back into the box. Just as Fan Yue tried to see what else was inside, Xie Yanyan lunged forward and slammed the lid shut.

“Get out,” Xie Yanyan ordered coldly. Realizing his second sister was truly angry, the little nugget made a swift exit.

Xie Yanyan picked up the box and took it to the other room. After finishing the move, she didn’t come back.

After washing up, Fan Yue tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Once her curiosity was piqued, she couldn’t let it go. That doll Fan Xinghang found was definitely the one she had given to Xie Yanyan. She couldn’t have been mistaken. But wasn’t that doll broken and thrown away? Why did she still have it? What else was in that box? How had she hidden it so well that Fan Yue had never seen it before?

Tormented by curiosity and unable to sleep, Fan Yue sat up. Now that Xie Yanyan had moved out, the curtain wasn’t drawn, making the room feel much larger. The empty bed and bookshelf across from her looked lonely. Suddenly, Fan Yue thought back to when they were children…

She and Xie Yanyan used to be best friends.

After that one classmate gathering, although Fan Yue had waved goodbye and said, “Let’s play together again next time,” children are forgetful. She had quickly forgotten the promise.

One day, Fan Shicheng came home from work and asked her, “Do you remember the little sister you played with last time?”

Fan Yue shook her head until her father reminded her. Fan Shicheng looked like he was in a great mood. He told her, “That sister is moving here.”

“Really?” Fan Yue’s round eyes widened, and she clapped her hands happily. “That’s great! I have a new playmate!” Her mother was always busy and her father was at work. Most of the children in the housing complex were boys, and she didn’t like playing with the dirty, noisy boys. Having a pretty little sister to play with made her very happy.

“Tomorrow you can go find Yanyan to play.”

So her name is Yanyan. What a pretty name! Fan Yue began to look forward to the next day.

The next day was the weekend. As soon as Fan Yue woke up, she pestered her father: “Dad, when are we going? I want to find the little sister.”

Fan Shicheng tapped the bowl of porridge with his chopsticks. “Eat first.”

After breakfast, Fan Yue circled him again. Unable to withstand the pestering, Fan Shicheng sighed helplessly, “Alright, let’s go now!”

“Yay!” Fan Yue jumped with joy.

Fan Shicheng took her small hand and was about to head out. “Wait!” Fan Yue suddenly remembered something and sprinted back to her room. A moment later, she emerged clutching a rag doll. Fan Shicheng asked, “Why are you bringing the doll?”

“It’s a gift. A gift for the sister,” Fan Yue answered with a smile.

Fan Shicheng reminded her, “Think carefully. This is your favorite doll. I can buy you a different gift to give her.” Fan Yue often slept clutching this doll; he was worried she would regret it.

Hearing her father say this, Fan Yue hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head. “I won’t regret it. If you give a gift, you should give the best one.”

Fan Shicheng said no more.