Chapter 497: Day 25 into the Alien War Story

Chapter 497: Day 25 Inside the Alien War Novel

An Cheng: "...Mm."

In the end, all he managed was a single syllable.

"I see." Shi Luo pushed up his glasses, his gaze flickering between An Yi and An Cheng. A thoughtful glint passed behind his lenses.

He had noticed An Yi's difference since the very first day of school.

That difference wasn't put on deliberately—it was woven into every detail, from An Yi's mannerisms and clothes to his daily habits, to the ease and insight that occasionally slipped out in conversation.

The stationery An Yi used, the clothes he wore, the water cup he drank from, even the habitual way he sat when reading—all of it reflected a refined bearing honed from childhood.

This polish wasn't flashy—it was the kind of taste and grace that only years of immersion in a privileged environment could instill.

And this older brother, An Cheng...

Shi Luo sized up the tall guy in front of him.

Same vibe.

Add in the bits and pieces An Yi had let slip—his mom runs a company, the family's well-off...

Shi Luo quickly pieced together a story in his head: a rich family with two sons—one studying physics, the other finance.

Was this about setting up the future inheritance? Or was there something deeper going on? Rich family drama? Brothers at odds? Fighting behind the scenes over the money?

He thought back to the look An Cheng had given An Yi—that complicated gaze full of pain and struggle.

And the way An Yi had introduced him—"This is my brother"—in that weirdly calm tone.

He figured he had it figured out.

It all clicked into place.

Shi Luo smirked, a glint of knowing insight flashing behind his glasses.

He felt he saw it all clearly, seeing right through the private mess between these two brothers that wasn't meant for outsiders.

That's it! Rich family drama!

"Bro, I'm gonna head out then." An Yi's voice cut through Shi Luo's thoughts.

An Cheng hesitated, his lips parting like he wanted to say something.

His gaze settled on An Yi's face, his eyes swirling with too many unsaid things. But in the end, he asked nothing.

He simply nodded. "Mm... Xiao Yi, I..."

He stopped.

The rest of the words got stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.

An Yi watched him, calm, like he was waiting for him to go on.

But An Cheng just stayed quiet.

Finally, An Cheng dropped his gaze and said in a low voice, "Okay."

"See you!" Chen Heguang waved, his grin still bright.

An Cheng nodded and turned to leave.

"Your brother..." Zhang Yuankai spoke up, scratching his head with a slightly puzzled expression. "Feels kinda hard to get close to."

"He's just like that." An Yi withdrew his gaze. "Doesn't talk much, but he's a good guy."

"Yeah, I can see that." Chen Heguang said, his eyes still on the direction An Cheng had walked off in.

But he felt like when An Cheng looked at An Yi, his gaze was especially... how to put it, really focused.

He paused, trying to find the right word—like An Yi was the most important person in his whole world.

He got it! Brothers for life!

An Yi smiled.

Only Zhang Yuankai didn't get any of it, urging everyone to hurry up.

Saturday at nine in the morning, An Yi received a call from Lin Yiduo.

His phone buzzed on the desk, the screen lighting up with the name "Lin Yiduo."

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An Yi had just finished getting ready and was sitting at his desk flipping through a book.

He was somewhat surprised—at this hour, Lin Yiduo, who didn't have class, was usually still sleeping in.

He picked up. "Yiduo?"

"An Yi! I'm at the front gate of your school!" A crisp female voice came through the receiver, speaking rapidly with obvious excitement. "Come pick me up! I brought you guys presents! They're killing me, so heavy!"

An Yi was even more surprised. "Yiduo? Why are you up so early?"

"I keep a healthy routine! And my school's only four subway stops from yours! Quick as hell!"

Lin Yiduo's voice was bubbling with excitement. "Hurry, hurry, I've got so much stuff my hands are about to break off! Get here fast!"

"Alright, wait for me. I'll be right there."

An Yi hung up, shut his book, and got up to change.

Lin Yiduo—his classmate from elementary through middle school, that little girl with the two pigtails and a round face—had now grown into a poised, elegant young woman.

After middle school graduation, because her parents got transferred for work, she'd moved to this city for high school. They'd kept in touch—texting now and then, sending holiday wishes—but they hadn't met up much.

This would be the first real time they'd met since she transferred.

When An Yi reached the school gate, he spotted Lin Yiduo from a distance.

She stood by the roadside, wearing a white tank top and shorts, with a light overshirt on top. Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail that swayed gently behind her as she moved.

She was holding two large paper bags that looked heavy, the handles digging into her fingers until they turned red.

She was on her tiptoes, craning her neck to look into the campus, an expectant look on her face.

Lin Yiduo's eyes lit up the moment she saw An Yi, and she waved vigorously: "An Yi! Over here!"

An Yi walked over, looked at the heavy paper bags in her hands, and reached out to take them: "Why'd you bring so much stuff?"

"Presents for you and your roommate!" Lin Yiduo smiled sweetly, two shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks.

She shook out her sore wrist and said breezily: "Snacks my mom made, plus some cool stuff I picked up—oh right, I also sent a package to Shu Tiantian, but unfortunately he's not in this city, he lives too far to come join us."

Shu Tiantian was another close friend of theirs, still in high school back in their original city, getting ready for next year's college entrance exams.

"Thank you." An Yi smiled, weighing the paper bags in his hand—they were indeed heavy: "And tell your mom thanks for me."

"Aw, don't worry about it!" Lin Yiduo naturally walked beside An Yi, looking around as she went, her eyes full of curiosity and excitement: "Let's go, let's go! Show me around your school! I'm definitely applying to this university next year! I checked—my scores should be good enough!"

She chattered on like an excited little bird, and An Yi listened quietly, occasionally responding with a gentle smile.

The two walked side by side along the main path of the campus.

When they reached the dormitory area, they happened to run into Zhang Yuankai, who had just returned from breakfast at the cafeteria.

Zhang Yuankai saw An Yi walking with an unfamiliar girl, his eyes lit up, and he immediately came over with a mischievous grin: "An Yi, your girlfriend?"

An Yi shook his head and answered seriously: "A friend."

He turned to Lin Yiduo and introduced: "This is my roommate, Zhang Yuankai."

Then to Zhang Yuankai, he said: "This is my old classmate, Lin Yiduo."

Lin Yiduo waved generously: "Hi! I'm his old classmate—we basically grew up together!"

"Oh, oh! Old classmate!" Zhang Yuankai immediately dropped his teasing expression and greeted her properly: "Hello, hello!"