C9 Brother Are You Afraid of Thunder?

Jiang Nan bolted upright and declared, "I'm not scared!"

"I know you are, hehehe!" teased Jiang Xiaoxiao.

Like a whirlwind, Jiang Xiaoxiao dove into Jiang Nan's bed, snuggling in with a satisfied chirp, "All is well, all is well. Your sister's here, no need to be scared!"

What could Jiang Nan possibly do with her?

Clearly, she was terrified of the thunder and too apprehensive to seek out Jiang Jixue, so she turned to him instead!

"Brother, you're so warm!" exclaimed Jiang Xiaoxiao as she clung to Jiang Nan restlessly.

He had to laugh; after all, he was a young man in the prime of life!

Thankfully, Jiang Nan's self-control was strong, and he managed to avoid a nosebleed.

"Boom!"

The sound of thunder boomed again, sending Ling Xiaoxiao into a panic, burying her head into Jiang Nan's back, her body curled up and her face deathly pale.

Jiang Nan, unaccustomed to such a spectacle, quickly wrapped his arms around her.

"Don't worry, Big Sister, thunder is harmless. There's nothing to fear!" Jiang Nan whispered soothingly, as if calming a frightened child.

It took a while for Jiang Xiaoxiao to regain her composure.

"Brother, you're so kind. Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Outside, a gentle rain began to fall.

"But..."

"But nothing. I'm your sister, and I'm staying here tonight!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao was determined when she arrived; regardless of Jiang Nan's protests, she was set on staying.

Her phobia of thunderstorms exceeded what most people could endure, something Jiang Nan hadn't quite grasped.

Later that night, Jiang Xiaoxiao was scrolling through TikTok, bursting into laughter at the videos.

"Nan, I brought you some water..."

The Eldest Sister entered with a tray, only to be met with the sight of a man and woman lying together on the bed!

"Crash!"

The tray hit the floor as Eldest Sister's anger flared.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiang Xiaoxiao leapt up to explain, "Eldest Sister, it's not what it looks like. Please, let me explain!"

"What's there to explain? How long has it been since you've seen a man, and now you're throwing yourself at your own brother? I think you're in need of a visit to the orthopedist. I swear, I won't let you off easy today!"

Jiang Jixue grabbed a broom and was about to swing it in anger.

Jiang Nan quickly intervened, "Big sister, you've got it all wrong!"

"Wrong? Ha! You're clueless about Seventh Sister. She's a reincarnated lech, drooling over your photo when you weren't around!"

"Seventh Sister... she's terrified of thunder!"

"Terrified? She chased a lioness for miles in Africa! She's bold enough to snatch the moon from the sky. You're so naive about the world's dangers!"

The silence that followed was what she feared most...

Jiang Nan turned to see Jiang Xiaoxiao, her cheeks flushed and eyes brimming with tears.

"I... I'm truly scared!"

Jiang Nan believed her and quickly reassured Jiang Jixue, "See, sister, she's frightened! And nothing happened between us, I promise!"

Jiang Jixue finally relaxed, "You little rascal, at least you've got a conscience! Remember to keep it in check, got it?"

Tears still in her eyes, Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded. With her secrets laid bare by Jiang Jixue, how could she ever maintain her goddess facade?

Once the eldest sister was gone, Jiang Nan couldn't bring himself to face Jiang Xiaoxiao.

He had to admit, staring at his own drooling photo, his sister was right about the hectic life of women.

"Come lie down, why just stand there? It's freezing!"

His eyes wide and innocent, Jiang Nan lay down, shivering.

Jiang Xiaoxiao snuggled into his arms, "Relax, little bro, I won't pick on you!"

But the thrill Jiang Nan initially felt was gone; he realized he'd been played.

The next morning, after a night without words, Jiang Nan awoke to find Jiang Xiaoxiao had vanished.

He stretched and washed up before heading downstairs, where breakfast was already waiting in the dining room.

Jiang Jixue was mid-bite when she caught sight of Jiang Nan. "Brother, come sit down and eat!" she urged.

As Jiang Nan settled in and started eating, he asked, "Where's Seventh elder sister?"

"What, you haven't had enough of her teasing?" Jiang Jixue teased with a sly grin.

Rubbing his head, Jiang Nan replied, "Not at all. She's always so kind to me; I just wanted to know where she is."

"Oh, she left for Europe early this morning after the rain stopped."

"To Europe... for a film?"

"No, she's on vacation, no work lined up. I had her visit the Givenchy headquarters to have a suit made for you. It's not fitting for you to keep dressing like this now that you're back. It looks like we sisters are neglecting you!"

Jiang Nan didn't object and kept eating, though he was secretly thrilled.

"You know the saying, 'Clothes make the man.' With a new Givenchy suit, you'll outshine even Seventh elder sister on screen!"

Jiang Nan hastily demurred, "No, no, no, I couldn't possibly outdo Seventh elder sister. She's the true acting genius!"

After breakfast, Jiang Nan needed to head to school for his noon class.

"Let my driver take you, and I'll come along to show some support," she offered.

"There's no need, sister. You're busy, and I can manage on my own. I'm not a kid anymore!"

"You'll always be a kid to me, no matter your age. Plus, I'm free. Isn't it only right for me to accompany you? Be patient, just wait for me to finish eating."

Jiang Jixue's tone left no room for argument, and Jiang Nan didn't dare to resist.

To lighten the mood, he joked, "Big sister, you're really enjoying your meal. Eating too much for breakfast isn't good for your stomach, you know."

Jiang Jixue set the bread aside and let out a soft sigh, a hint of melancholy in her gaze.

"Nan, you have no idea. Before our father adopted her, my sister went from meal to meal, never sure of the next one. The thought of breakfast was like a fantasy. Now, even with money, she can't shake the habit of overeating. Sigh."

As the eldest sister, Jiang Jixue quickly composed herself, reclaiming her authoritative demeanor.

Jiang Nan stepped out, trailing behind Jiang Jixue like a loyal younger sibling.

In the parking lot, two dapper figures in suits and white gloves stood by the rear door of the parked Rolls-Royce Phantom, exuding charm and stature.

"Good day, Director Jiang, and to you, young master!"

They bowed respectfully and adeptly opened the car door.

The Rolls-Royce's imposing reverse-opening door left Jiang Nan momentarily dazzled as he eagerly climbed in.

The car glided forward so smoothly that without looking outside, one wouldn't even know it was moving, thanks to the impeccable suspension system.

Soon, they reached the school.

The driver hastened to open the door for Jiang Nan.

"Goodbye!"

Jiang Nan waved to the departing Rolls-Royce.

Jiang Jixue, reluctant to part, pulled the curtain down to watch Jiang Nan walk away.

As students bustled in and out of the campus, many turned their heads to see Jiang Nan step out of the luxury car, his ordinary attire striking a stark contrast. They whispered among themselves, speculating about the connection between the two.

Having grown up in the care of others, Jiang Nan had become adept at reading between the lines and understanding unspoken judgments. He was well aware of the disdain from onlookers, but it didn't bother him. What mattered was living well.

The first class of the day was theoretical. Jiang Nan chose a seat on the side, pulled out his textbook, and began to follow the teacher's lecture, oblivious to the fact that a girl was quietly inching closer.

"Are you Jiang Nan?"

"Whoa!"

Startled, Jiang Nan turned to see a demure girl seated beside him.

She lacked the statuesque elegance of his sisters, instead exuding the delicate charm of a refined young lady.

"Hi there, senior! I'm Qin Anruo, but you can just call me Ruo Ruo. I've heard from Zhou Cheng that your sister is the famous Jiang Xiaoxiao!"

Qin Anruo didn't beat around the bush. "I'm the ultimate fan of Jiang Xiaoxiao. Could I trouble you to get her autograph for me? It would mean the world to a little fan like me."