Chapter 97 — The Young Master’s Fake Little Sister
◎ “The Huangpu Boss Lady’s Little Pretty Husband” ◎
Ming Ming felt that Duan Miao seemed very aware of how good-looking he was.
He sat on her left side, always resting a fist lightly against his temple. That way, when he read or wrote, his head tilted slightly toward her, showing off the perfect line of his right profile.
And Ming Ming did enjoy sneaking glances at him.
Because, honestly, he was really nice to look at.
Easy on the eyes.
Sigh~
Sometimes, when Ming Ming stared too long, Duan Miao would casually turn his head. His eyes would curve with a hint of a smile, and his lightly pressed lips seemed to hold a quiet, unspoken tease.
Ming Ming felt her heart take a direct hit.
How could an elementary school boy have such high-level charm?
“Want to read with me?” Duan Miao asked, lifting the corner of his mouth. His voice was mild, but the invitation carried a surprising pull.
Ming Ming nodded before she could stop herself and leaned over to see what he was reading.
Most elementary school books were stories—fun, easy, and simplified, even the classics.
But Duan Miao wasn’t reading a storybook.
He was reading The Book of Songs.
Ming Ming: “…”
This made all her troublemaker-at-the-desk literature feel completely defeated.
She whispered, “Do you understand it?”
“Nope,” Duan Miao replied cheerfully, without hesitation.
“Then why are you…”
He slid the book between them and pointed to a line of poetry. “You’re the smartest in class, so you must know what this means. Can you teach me?”
Ming Ming looked:
“A graceful, modest lady—
A gentleman seeks her as a match.”
“There are notes and a translation right below,” Ming Ming exposed him.
Duan Miao’s smile didn’t fade. “I can’t read.”
“There’s pinyin.”
“Still can’t.”
They stared at each other in silence.
Ming Ming decisively raised her hand to call the teacher. “Teacher, Duan Miao says he can’t read—mmph!”
Her mouth was covered before she could finish.
Duan Miao surrendered. “Okay, fine, I can read.”
“I just wanted to hear you say it.” He lowered his eyes, long lashes fluttering and making his expression flicker softly.
In a quiet voice, he said, “It’s also what I wanted to say to you.”
“If it’s something you want to tell me,” Ming Ming asked, “why make me say it for you?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” Duan Miao suddenly looked aggrieved, in a fragile way that made people want to protect him. “I don’t dare. And…I’m not worthy.”
Ming Ming: “…”
Sweetheart, what’s wrong with you? Was starting The Book of Songs at your age just too early?
Why are you being shy now?
You look adorable like this, but…don’t tempt me. I really want to hug you!
“I heard you have a boyfriend,” he continued quietly. “They say he’s older than us. Is that true?”
Duan Miao didn’t wait for her answer. “I checked your birthday. I’m two months younger than you.”
He looked a little downcast. “I wish I were three years older…”
Pfft.
Ming Ming couldn’t help laughing.
So innocent, so earnest—how precious.
Resting her head on her arm, she said lazily, “If you were three years older, you wouldn’t see me now.”
Duan Miao’s eyes lit up instantly. He spoke without thinking, “So time and distance finally defeated you two?”
Ming Ming: “…”
Realizing he sounded far too gleeful, he quickly lowered his head and softened his tone. “I meant… um… can I… maybe… take his place someday?”
But the smile tugging at his lips could not be suppressed.
Look how happy he was.
“Wow,” Ming Ming said, shifting to rest on her upper arm. She freed one hand and clapped lightly. “So knowledgeable! You even know the phrase ‘the latecomer overtakes the earlier one’!”
Duan Miao blushed at the praise.
He nudged her arm. “Does it mean that? Really?”
Ming Ming only looked at him and smiled without answering.
Duan Miao grew anxious. “If you don’t say anything… does that mean…”
“Mean what?” she asked, curious about his guess.
He lowered his head again. “It means you still like him, and you two haven’t broken up.”
“…I was born too late. With my age, I can only be the ‘little’ one.”
Ming Ming: “?”
Excuse me—what do you mean by “being younger means I can only be the little one”?
Did The Book of Songs teach you that?
Duan Miao pressed his lips together, his expression tightly controlled, his trembling eyes revealing an inner tug-of-war.
He said, “Even if, in name, he’s the older one and I’m the younger one… if we ever run into him someday, can you not make me call him ‘big brother’?”
“Just let me pretend, even if only in my heart, that I’m not inferior to him.”
Ming Ming: “…”
You really do know how to make me feel soft toward you.
You win.
“I promise.”
Duan Miao instantly broke into a bright smile.
Ming Ming grew curious. “Lately, when you get home, do you read or watch TV? What have you been watching?”
Duan Miao lifted his eyes, puzzled by her sudden question, but answered seriously. “I watch the 8 p.m. drama The Huangpu Boss Lady’s Little Pretty Husband with my mom.”
“….” Ming Ming had a very bad feeling. “Is this ‘little pretty husband’ also the… younger one?”
“Yes,” Duan Miao replied matter-of-factly. “At first, the little husband is just the boss lady’s lover. She’s married, but she doesn’t like her husband—they just put on appearances. But while she spends time with the little husband, she gradually realizes that this incredibly thoughtful, loyal man is the one she truly wants to be with.”
Ming Ming admitted defeat—orz.
What a wild plot… she kind of wanted to watch it!
The Huangpu Boss Lady’s Little Pretty Husband, huh? She’d remember that and watch it when she got home.
“In the future,” she said, “whatever show your mom watches… can you tell me too?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” Duan Miao rested his elbow on the desk, propping up his head as he leaned toward her, as though he could never get enough of looking at her. “But why do you want to know what my mom watches?”
Ming Ming couldn’t exactly tell him:
Because your mom and I have the same questionable taste in dramatic TV, and I want to watch it too.
That would be embarrassing. She wasn’t ready to reveal her spicy-drama tendencies.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152