"Take your sister out for some fun this afternoon," said Zack's mother as she served Minnie dishes at the dining table, addressing Zack.
"Okay, got it," Zack readily agreed.
The lunch was abundant, with fish, shrimp, beef, and mutton, almost entirely hearty dishes, thanks to the guests.
After eating takeout for over a month, Zack finally tasted his parents' cooking again today, and he relished every bite.
He didn't mind taking his cousin out.
He had already anticipated this when he learned that his aunt's family was coming to Webb City.
Since the stock market was closed these two days, it wouldn't hurt to take his sister out. If the market were open, he would have to find excuses to stay in.
Earning money was the top priority for him now. He could even say confidently, "We're people who deal with millions every day; our time is precious!"
Of course, another main reason was that his cousin was indeed good-looking.
Zack, who was bowed his head eating marinated beef, glanced at Minnie.
Although he studied in the capital, he didn't stay at his aunt's house every weekend.
Therefore, he didn't meet his cousin very often.
And because they met infrequently, he was more impressed by her growth.
If it were a sister he lived with every day, he probably wouldn't notice whether she was pretty or ugly.
After living together for a long time, one subconsciously stops caring about the other's appearance.
Many people who initially seemed ugly to you may not look bad after becoming familiar friends.
"Minnie, where do you want to go this afternoon?"
Zack asked after swallowing the beef in his mouth.
"Auntie, stop putting food on my plate; I can't eat anymore," Minnie first scolded Zack's mother playfully and then smiled sweetly at Zack, "… It's fine, brother, wherever you take me."
"You're only this well-behaved when I take you out," Zack complained, making everyone at the table burst into laughter.
"School starts in half a month, and I won't have time to play then," Minnie moaned, her pretty little face falling instantly.
She wasn't the type to stay indoors. Every winter and summer vacation, she would travel with her parents and liked hanging out with friends.
Thinking about not having any time to play in her third year of middle school and having to study every day, she felt immediately depressed.
At this moment, her mother sternly said to her, "… You should learn from your cousin in this regard. You can't be playful in your third year of middle school anymore."
"… I don't expect you to get into a key high school. Just getting into an ordinary one will be fine; otherwise, you'll regret it later."
"Look at your cousin; he got into the Imperial Capital University of Finance and Economics, which is also a Project 211 university."
Kids of this age hate to hear their parents' nag. Minnie immediately retorted, "… I do well in my studies."
"… My brother didn't do better than me at that time. He told me that he was just average in high school and junior high school, and it was only by working hard in his senior year that he got into university."
Upon hearing this, Zack said leisurely, "… But I still got into the Imperial Capital University of Finance and Economics. We can't look at the process; we have to look at the result."
Saying this, he winked at Minnie.
Although college students seem to be everywhere in China, only 4% have a college diploma, a very low percentage.
And among these 4%, a Project 211 university ranks among the best. Honestly, not many people can get in.
Because of this, Zack's mother has always been proud. In terms of academics, Zack is also considered "the child of others" by many.
"How dare you talk back to me!"
His aunt immediately raised her eyebrows, put down her chopsticks, and stared at Minnie.
Minnie immediately backed down. No matter how eloquent she could be, she was still just a girl entering her third year of middle school, deeply afraid of her parents and teachers.
She could usually argue a bit, but whenever her parents got angry, she was scared into silence.
"Okay, stop scolding Minnie. Isn't she doing well in her studies? Let's eat quickly," Zack's mother immediately intervened.
Facing her sister, Zack's aunt couldn't say much and complained, "… You don't know; this kid is very naughty at home."
"My Zack was also like this when he was young, and boys are even more naughty."
The two began chatting about Zack's childhood.
Over there, Zack's father and her aunt's husband drank some liquor and began chatting about national affairs, paying no attention to what was happening there.
After the meal, Zack's mother and her aunt went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while the two men continued chatting in the living room.
"Minnie, it's so hot outside that you'll sweat just by walking. Why don't we go to the mall? At least there's air conditioning there."
"… There are many places to play in Webb City, but you're not a newcomer. Let's skip the gardens."
Sitting on the sofa playing with his phone and browsing Weibo, Zack looked up at Minnie sitting next to him, also leaning on the sofa and playing with her phone and speaking.
August was the hottest month of the year, and the south was not only hot but also stifling.
Although Webb City wasn't one of the famous furnaces, a short walk outside could be deadly.
"It's fine wherever we go," Minnie said casually.
She put down her phone and stood up, "… I'll take a shower before we go out."
"You're still going to take a shower? That's troublesome," Zack shook his head helplessly.
"Unlike you, who smells bad… You've been sweating all over after walking just a few steps; it's uncomfortable."
Minnie humphed and took off a string of small Buddhist beads from her snow-white wrist, which her aunt had blessed for her.
"Do you have a new towel?"
Sitting on the sofa,Minnie took off her pair of white lace ankle socks, placing her delicate bare feet in slippers, and asking Zack.
Before Zack could respond, he heard his aunt's voice coming from the kitchen, "… Do you think your auntie's towels are dirty and need a new one?"
"Minnie is a girl and should be careful… Zack, get a new towel for your sister. It's in the cabinet."
Zack's mother shouted at him.
"Got it," Zack replied and went to the cabinet to get a new towel for Minnie.
He agreed with his mother on this point. Minnie was a girl and should pay attention to these things.
"I'll take a shower first. Wait for me, brother," Minnie took the towel from Zack and went to the bathroom in her slippers. Soon, the sound of washing came from inside.
Zack sat on the sofa playing with his phone. It was just after eating, so it was also a good way to digest.
Girls always take a long time to wash up. After waiting for nearly twenty minutes, Minnie finally finished.
Since they were going out soon, she didn't wash her hair, but a few droplets of water clung to her black hair.
The skin of the girl who had just bathed looked even more delicate, and her rosy cheeks resembled beauty emerging from clear water. Her already excessively white jade-like skin was even more crystal-clear.
Zack instinctively glanced at her a few times and noticed that she hadn't changed her clothes, so he said, "… Don't you need to change your clothes?"
"I changed my clothes in the morning, and they're not dirty at all… Don't you want to take a shower too? You stink," Minnie waved her hand somewhat disdainfully.
Zack chuckled and said, "… Don't be ridiculous. I also changed my clothes today, and I haven't sweated much today. How could I smell?"
Although he was a man, Zack was always attentive to his hygiene and knew Minnie was just talking nonsense.
However, the weather was a bit stifling, and he had been outside, so he didn't feel very comfortable.
After thinking for a moment, Zack said, "… Forget it, I'll take a quick shower too."
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。