No Such Fetish（3）

Shi Che had always felt powerless against Ling Chuxia. 

Yes, he did feel powerless against her. 

-

Shi Che could still remember his first encounter with Ling Chuxia. 

It was a clear, sunny day. The heat from the sun shone straight down as if to burn the ground. 

Summer in Liang Cheng was extremely scenic. The trees were lush and the colorful flowers in full bloom as they vied for the attention of passers-by. In contrast, the unbearing heat was stuffy to the point of making one restless. 

Shi Che was merely ten years old then. That was the age of childhood innocence and liveliness. 

However, he was destined to be anything but innocent and lively. Since childhood, he was resigned to strict education through endless literature, mannerisms, skills, and other such classes.

As the only successor to the Shi Family, he was destined to a life of glory and wealth, which also destined him to carry the responsibilities that came with it. 

When his mother brought Ling Chuxia and Ling Yunshu home, he was reading one of his dull books. Even the most patient reader would have felt a tinge of restlessness. 

He heard his mother call for him and walked out of the study. He went down the spiral staircase and immediately noticed the two girls in the living room. 

They were both in pink dresses and each had two small braids to the back of their heads. They appeared reserved and their standing posture prim and proper, suggesting it was their first time in such a place. 

As he moved down the steps, a pretty pair of big eyes invaded his vision.

Those eyes were black and bright and seemed to glitter with a crafty expression. They reminded Shi Che of the brightest star in the night sky that captivated one's soul. 

The little girl did not expect her curious examination to be caught in the act and got a shock. Perhaps due to young age or plain courage, she did not look away but responded with a wry expression straight to his face. 

She was not too shocked by Shi Che, which could not be said vice versa. Shi Che lost his balance and stumbled, almost missing a step. Fortunately, he grabbed the handrail in the nick of time and regained his posture. 

The little girl, on the other hand, covered her mouth and appeared to be laughing up her sleeve, as if she was mocking his clumsy behavior! 

Shi Che should have been reasonably angry. However, for some reason, as he observed her big eyes that glittered with a wry expression, her flushed cheeks, and the grin around her lips, his heartstrings were tugged at and rippled inside of him. Her smile was like a cool breeze that swept away the heat suffocating his heart. 

Even when he walked to stand in front of them, the ripples in his heartstrings continued to reverberate. 

His mother pointed at the two girls who had the exact same face and introduced them to him. "The girl on the left is the older Ling Yunshu, and on the right is the younger Ling Chuxia. They are twins; aren't they pretty?"