TFRLTOP Chapter 98 Part1

Chapter 98 — The Young Master’s Fake Little Sister (XI)
◎ Asura vs. Asura ◎

“So… ignoring me and breaking up with me—was it all because of this guy?”

Song Junyi pointed at Duan Miao in disbelief, his fingertips trembling, his eyes bloodshot as he stared hard at Ming Ming.

That shattered expression could make anyone feel a pang of sympathy.

After all, Ming Ming had originally liked him for his face.

Who could resist a boy who somehow never tanned even after playing basketball outside?

Ming Ming felt a bit guilty.

But no—every time she saw him now, she would remember that explosive scene at school earlier.

The kind of scene that would be her eternal black history.

Duan Miao had been watching Ming Ming’s expression closely.

Without realizing it, he clenched his fists.

Song Junyi had shot up in height after entering junior high, already carrying the air of a young teen, while Duan Miao and Ming Ming were still childish little carrot-heads.

Putting him next to Song Junyi for comparison, Duan Miao thought to himself, of course, a girl would choose the more mature-looking boy.

His gaze dropped, expression dim.

Song Junyi shifted his attention to Duan Miao.

“And where did you crawl out from, you little brat? Don’t you know she already belongs to someone?” he asked coldly. “You must’ve heard she has a boyfriend. So why’d you still try to get close? A kid like you with no shame—growing up, you’ll just be some useless pretty boy living off a woman.”

Duan Miao snapped his head up, face cold as he met the older boy’s glare.

“Song Junyi, how can you say that? That’s really rude!” Ming Ming protested. She didn’t like him speaking that way about Duan Miao—because right now, Duan Miao was the one she favored.

“You stay out of this,” Song Junyi barked. “I want to hear this kid explain who taught him to steal someone else’s girl.”

Duan Miao’s eyes immediately reddened, but he still stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of Ming Ming.

Calmly, he said, “Don’t be fierce with her.”

“All of this was just my own wishful thinking.”

He shouldered all the blame himself. Ming Ming looked at his side profile, her thoughts spiraling.

Strictly speaking, this whole thing was just the two of them teaming up, equally guilty—there wasn’t really a question of right or wrong. But with Duan Miao taking all the responsibility in front of Song Junyi… well, she had to admit, it was pretty likable.

What a responsible little kid.

“You’re older than me, so I should call you ‘ge’,” he said softly. His eyelashes trembled, giving him a fragile, broken look. “But standing here today—I didn’t come to call you my brother.”

Ming Ming felt the line was familiar… wasn’t it from The Boss Lady of Huangpu and Her Pretty Boy Lover? Something the pretty boy said to the original husband…

But her attention was quickly pulled back.

Duan Miao continued: “Back when you two were together, your goal must’ve been to spend time with each other, to keep each other company. But now that you’re in junior high, the workload gets heavier and heavier. How much time do you actually have left to spend with her? Doesn’t that go against the reason you were together in the first place?”

…?

Ming Ming turned to look at him.

This kid has ideas.

“I just want to keep her company when you’re not around. How can that be called stealing? I’m simply filling in for you—making up for your mistakes.”

“…” Ming Ming was stunned.

A natural-born debater! Incredible!

Even Song Junyi was at a loss for words, practically steaming from the top of his head.

Duan Miao lowered his gaze again and said, “If you still want to hold this against me, then I can only…”

He turned to glance at Ming Ming. His eyes shimmered like he was on the verge of tears, as though overflowing with sadness and reluctance.

A message conveyed without words.

Too provocative!

Song Junyi lost it, rolling up his sleeves and lunging forward.

“Stop!” Ming Ming quickly intervened.

She looked at angry-faced Song Junyi, then at pitiful, trembling-lashed Duan Miao, and felt an invisible hand pushing her onto some predetermined storyline.

This was…

I don’t want to…

But…

You see…

I mean…

Right…?

This had to be the system’s fault!

System: “I’ve just been offline for a while, I’m not dead. Stop blaming me for everything! Wait—what were you trying to say?”

Looking at the goosebumps on her arms, Ming Ming took a deep breath and forced herself to speak:
“Don’t be like this. Duan Miao doesn’t have bad intentions.”

“You’re a good person. I know your heart is kind. Even if we separate, you can move forward bravely. You’ll meet someone even better.”

“But Duan Miao is different. He… needs me.”

Ming Ming lifted her eyes, speaking sincerely.

Boom!

It was like a thunderclap exploded inside Song Junyi’s mind.

Even Duan Miao stared at her in shock.

Neither boy had expected that outcome.

“Xiao Xinx– Ming Ming, you…” Duan Miao’s lips trembled, as if he couldn’t believe it. He tentatively reached for her hand, and when Ming Ming didn’t pull away, they ended up holding hands right in front of Song Junyi.

Song Junyi staggered back, letting out a bitter laugh. “So that’s your choice? Ha… turns out I’m the one being thrown away. Fine. Fine…”

Then his expression turned vicious as he glared at Duan Miao. “You think just because she picked you now, you’ve won? No—you’ll be abandoned the same way someday.”

Duan Miao’s expression was calm. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

The arrogance of the victor.

Song Junyi turned and stormed off.

Their delay had made it late, and the two still needed to sneak back before school ended.

On the way back, Ming Ming seemed a bit down.

“You’re unhappy? Did I make things difficult for you?” Duan Miao asked softly, swinging their linked hands.

Ming Ming shook her head.

She looked at their intertwined hands, mentally replaying:
Even if seas dry and rocks crumble, even if heaven falls and earth splits, we’ll stand shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand…

What a dramatic scene that had been! With those lyrics, it felt even more romantic!

If only they weren’t fourth graders… and one seventh grader…

It felt like performing an epic maneuver only to end up wheezing afterward.

Just when she was almost over it, the system deliberately chimed in—
“Hand in hand! Hand in hand!”

Seriously?!

After hurrying as fast as they could, they finally returned to the school wall, preparing to climb back over like before.