Chapter 196 - 196 Childish Cousins
196 Childish Cousins
Shen Xi held her head. She needed someone to tell her how to deal with her two childish cousins.
At the end of her patience, she shouted, “Stop it!”
Lu Lin and Zheng Huai tactfully shut their mouths; both looked at Shen Xi with pitiful eyes as if they had been wronged. They each hoped Shen Xi would stand on their side against the other.
Shen Xi felt a headache brewing behind her eyes. “A family should be harmonious. I won’t recognise either of you as my cousins if you don’t learn to get along and treat each other with love and respect.”
Lu Lin frowned. He and Zheng Huai were mortal enemies; how were they supposed to love and respect each other?
Zheng Huai faced a similar dilemma. He and Lu Lin had been classmates in elementary school and had never been on good terms since they were young. Zheng Huai did not know how he could fulfil Shen Xi’s demands.
“What? Are you two unwilling to play nice? If that’s the case, I’d rather not treat either of you as my cousins. I don’t want a scene with you two bickering as a backdrop to our familial relations,” Shen Xi huffed unhappily.
Lu Lin instantly grew uneasy. He grabbed Zheng Huai by the shoulder and plastered a smile on his face, “What do you mean? We were just messing with you. We’re actually really close!”
Zheng Huai reciprocated by twining an arm around Lu Lin’s waist, pulling him closer. “Lu Lin is right. We are old classmates. How could we not have a good relationship? Xixi, you’re overthinking things,” Zheng Huai coughed nervously, forcing himself to smile.
With a pained expression, Lu Lin said, “Zheng Huai is right. Ah… Why’d you let yourself get hurt? You’re going to bruise. I can’t bear the thought of a blemish on your face. Let me touch it.”
Although Lu Lin appeared apologetic, he was secretly happy when he noticed Zheng Huai’s skin darkening into a bruise.
As a high achiever and an excellent student, Zheng Huai had always been everyone’s favourite. Who could have imagined he would one day be reduced to such a state? If anything, he deserved it.
Zheng Huai bit back a curse, enduring Lu Lin’s less-than-gentle caress. With pursed lips, he forced out a few words, “I’m fine. You should let me look at your arm. Why is it all red? I can’t bear to look at it anymore. You should have been more careful earlier.”
Zheng Huai may have said he could not bear to look at Lu Lin’s swelling arm, but his hands unconsciously dug into the latter’s exposed flesh, brutally pinching him. Lu Lin would not make a peep, even if he were in agonising pain.
Unwilling to suffer a loss, Lu Lin retaliated, exerting more strength as he caressed Zheng Huai’s cheek.
Shen Xi heaved a sigh of relief. At least they were trying to get along. Lu Lin was her cousin from her mother’s side, while Zheng Huai was her cousin from her father’s side. The friction between the two put her in a difficult position.
“I’m glad you’re getting along with each other so well. However, about what happened today…”
Before Shen Xi could finish, Lu Lin interjected, “Xixi, don’t worry. I’ll handle everything; just wait for me to give you the news.”
Zheng Huai added his two pence, saying, “Xixi, why don’t you let me handle this matter? After all, I’m also a victim of this scandal; it would make more sense for me to take over. Besides, I’m sure Lu Lin is very busy since he’s a rising star in the entertainment industry. It would be bad publicity if his fans learned he always appears at Zhuo Ying High School, and you might even suffer!”
Lu Lin glared at Zheng Huai. “You’re always by Xixi’s side, yet you never seem to be able to handle the situation. I doubt you’d have the ability to resolve the matter as cleanly as I can,” he said sarcastically, “Xixi, there’s no need to pay attention to someone like him. He’s all talk but no action, and I’m sure he’ll make a mess. Trust me.”
The result was another argument between the two. After a long while, Shen Xi managed to restrain the two, groaning helplessly because of her cousins’ antics. “Both of you can help each other and me. I have faith in you two.”
Solemnity overtook Lu Lin and Zheng Huai’s expressions. “That’s natural. Who are we? Between a genius doctor and a top-notch actor, what is there we can’t do? We will uncover the truth and prove your innocence, Xixi.”
Shen Xi offered them a weak smile. “I’m glad I can rely on the two of you.”
Shen Xi’s praise was water in the desert for Lu Lin and Zheng Huai, who each sported bright smiles as they shuffled awkwardly.
–
The day’s first lesson had ended when Shen Xi returned to her classroom.
“Xixi, why’d you have to go to the principal’s office? Is it because of the rumours spreading on the school forum?” Jiang Xue asked, feigning concern as she greeted Shen Xi.