Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

"Uh... Brother, when it comes to physical constitution, you seem to be the one who has the least say."

"I've been working out too, okay? Ask Zixiao!"

Tsk.

Yu Zhe gets angry whenever this is mentioned!

He used to be the older brother and Yu Che was always sick, but now it's completely the other way around!

Zi Xiao's stance on this matter was that she wouldn't side with Yu Zhe: "Brother... exercising isn't just about lifting dumbbells at home every day. How useful is that? I suggest you go for a run regularly like Yu Che. Otherwise, how can your physique improve? Yu Che is an example. Running really does help."

"Alright...alright, hey, we're not here for a family meeting today. Little Lychee, get ready. Your maid just told me to get ready to enter. It's your turn to perform."

"Performance?! Do I need to sing at the banquet?! I'm not prepared... no, I can't sing at all!"

"Who told you to actually perform! I meant you should be prepared! You'll definitely be asked to say something today. You're the main character today. Do you think you can just coast through until the end of the banquet like before? Don't you even think about why your parents are hosting this banquet?"

"I understand, I understand, haha... Brother Yuzhe, now that you say that, I suddenly feel nervous."

“Being a little nervous is a good thing. It’s impossible not to be nervous at all. This was the first time I spoke in public on behalf of the Su family, and I even stuttered and stammered several times.”

"..."

Yu Che thinks... her brother is just too gentle.

His first public speech was fluent and flawless. I guess he said that just to take care of Xiaolizhi's feelings and not put too much pressure on her.

Yu Zhe thought that Xiao Meng, as the class monitor, was quite good at public speaking, so if she were here, she could teach Xiao Lizhi...

Oh right, neither Xiaomeng nor Xiaoruoke are here today.

After all, the invitations to today's banquet were only sent to some influential families in Fenghai City.

Besides, the college entrance exam is just around the corner, and Yu Zhe didn't want to call them over for something that clearly fell into the realm of entertainment.

Anyone can see how anxious these students are as the college entrance examination approaches.

Yes, Yu Zhe, who was also preparing for the exam, thought so.

"Alright." Yu Zhe got up from the edge of the bed. "Let's not stay here. Let's go to the main venue. Sister Ye has arrived. Let's not keep her waiting."

Yu Zhe's words are a "guide to action".

girl

They got up together, opened the door, and prepared to go to the Ouyang family's banquet hall. Today's banquet was no ordinary banquet. If it were a normal banquet, they would only stay for a few minutes before leaving, since that would just be a formality.

Today is Xiaolizhi's birthday party, so everyone can stay until the party ends.

Yu Zhe was the last one to walk out of the room... well, not the last one, there was still Xiao Lizhi inside.

Why aren't you leaving?

"I...I want to prepare a little more. Brother Yuzhe, you...you go first. There's still half an hour before the banquet starts. I'll be there on time."

Anyone could hear the tension in his voice.

If you, the main character, are really late, then it's all over.

Yu Zhe turned around and gave Zi Xiao and the others a look.

They all understand.

Sigh... Little Lychee is lucky despite her naivety. She knows this isn't the time to fight over a man, so she'll leave things to her brother for now.

Zixiao responded sensibly on their behalf: "Okay, then we'll wait for you in the banquet hall, brother. Hurry up, if you're really late, Aunt Elisa will probably beat Xiaolizhi's head to a pulp."

"Don't worry, don't worry, with me here, everything will be fine!"

"Brother Yuzhe, let me save you a good spot!" Mo Lingyun pulled Yu Che, who was about to turn around and say something, and left.

Sister Yuche, don't let your possessiveness kick in now! Wait and see what happens!

So, only Yu Zhe and Xiao Lizhi were left.

Yu Zhe turned around and closed the door. After walking in, he looked at Xiao Lizhi sitting in the chair with concern.

She lowered her head, her usual smile absent, replaced by nervousness, and her hands clenched tightly on her dress.

Yu Zhe remained calm and composed.

He sighed and silently sat down on the edge of the bed where he had just stood up.

It's very close to Xiaolizhi.

After a long while, seeing that she remained silent, Yu Zhe spoke in a calm tone.

“I remember you used to say things like when you would grow up and be able to stand on your own, but when it really comes time for you to grow up, it’s not a happy thing, is it?”

"Um..."

What are you worried about?

"No...no, Brother Yuzhe, don't worry. I just need to calm down a bit...I'm still a little nervous about speaking in front of so many people later."

"Yes, it's good to know how to be nervous."

"Is it a good thing...?" Little Lychee didn't quite understand. "But I think it's not good... I always messed things up in formal situations because of this, and my mom said I was useless because of it... If I had a better mindset, I wouldn't be making things difficult for Brother Yuzhe now. It's true... Even though I'm eighteen and an adult... I want to become more mature, but my current nervousness tells me that I'm about to cause some trouble again... I haven't grown at all."

“So this is a good thing,” Yu Zhe repeated.

"Huh?"

"I can sense that your nervousness now seems different from your previous nervousness. What do you think?"

"They're different... I think they're the same, it's the same feeling of your heart pounding, that scary feeling..."

"But think about it, why are you nervous?"

Yu Zhe patiently guided her, and Xiao Lizhi followed his words and revealed her innermost thoughts.

"Because if I don't perform well... so many guests will think the Ouyang family is incompetent, that the next generation is incapable, and my parents will be disappointed. Besides, Yu Che... I think she also wants to see how I perform tonight to decide whether I can stay by Yu Zhe's side..."

Yu Zhe waited for her to finish speaking, then continued without pausing, "So what was the reason for your nervousness before? There weren't so many guests before, and you didn't need to come out and say anything then."

“Back then…” Little Lychee thought for a moment, then looked up and smiled, laughing at her own reason, “Back then I was afraid my mom would hit me on the head! Ah…”

"Right?" Yu Zhe winked at her. "You've actually grown up without even realizing it."

49. It must be fulfilled now.

That's what growing up is like.

Sometimes you feel insecure, thinking that you are the same as before and haven't changed at all, and you worry about it.

There's really no need for that.

As you grow older and gain more experience, the things that worry and frustrate you have long since changed. As they evolve, your mindset, psychology, and way of dealing with people will also evolve.

This is a natural process, and as long as you are fearless and forge ahead in this process, you will definitely make progress.

Just like the lychees we have now.

After listening to Yu Zhe's words, Xiao Lizhi, whose thinking was relatively simple, quickly figured out this very obvious and simple logical problem.

Her heart, which had just been filled with tension and gloom, suddenly cleared up, and she felt no pressure at all... Well, there is still pressure, but it's obviously not as suffocating as it was before.

"Brother Yuzhe, I understand! Things will work themselves out. There's no use thinking about it now. Anyway, I'll try my best to speak well when I get on stage."

"Silly boy... that's called 'things will work themselves out,' not 'towards the end'... well, that's not wrong, it's about moving forward. Just look ahead, don't look back. Remember your speech as student council president at the school sports meet? You spoke so fluently that time. My classmates even said they hadn't noticed we had such an outstanding student in our school before."

"Where's the student council president?"

"Oh yeah! I really went all out that time... Ah, thinking back, why was I so driven back then?"

Yu Zhe remembers.

But he didn't say.

Let's see if this little idiot can remember it on his own.

And thankfully, her memory didn't disappoint Yu Zhe this time: "Ah, I remember now! It was Brother Yu Zhe who said that if my opening speech went well, he would cook for me himself, and he would make whatever I wanted to eat, so I was motivated!"

"That's right. Having a goal gives you motivation, but does that mean you can't do it without a goal? Not necessarily. No matter what the reason was at the time, as long as you did it, it proves that you have the ability. The same applies this time."

"You're right... I can do that too."

An unprecedented confidence filled Xiaolizhi's heart; she had never felt that she had such potential and self-assurance.

And all of this... was given to her by her brother Yu Zhe in front of her.

She didn't know when it happened, but Xiao Lizhi, who had been so nervous just moments before, was now completely mesmerized by Yu Zhe's face.

Yu Zhe waved his hand in front of her: "Hey? Hey? Little Lychee? You're back, you're back. Where has your soul gone to play again?"

"Ok?"

Little Lychee focused her mind, patted her cheeks, and prepared herself to deal with any unexpected situations that might arise.

but...

Before that, there is one more important thing that needs to be done.

"Brother Yuzhe".

"Ok?"

"At the last sports meet, we agreed that I would get a reward if I succeeded. What about this time? If I succeed, can we still do it the same way?"

Yu Zhe was a little surprised; this guy had actually learned to ask for rewards on his own initiative.

He tilted his head and smiled: "Sure, shall we prepare what you want to eat? I haven't cooked in a long time, so I'll refresh my cooking skills."

"No..." Little Lychee blushed, a rare sight for her, and slowly lowered her head, her hands rubbing together in front of her. "Brother Yuzhe... I want this reward now. I'm all grown up now, I can't keep thinking about food all the time. Hmm... although I don't want to give up eating, at least not this time!"

"Oh?" Yu Zhe found it quite interesting. "Then tell me, what do you want this time, and do you want it to be fulfilled right now?"

"Yes..."

Her next request was self-evident.

Without needing to say anything, she had already expressed her demands through her actions.

Over the past few months, as agreed, Yu Zhe has taught her some common sense, and Xiao Lizhi now understands that there are other things lovers can do besides holding hands.

Little Lychee closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly towards Yu Zhe.

The two were about the same height, and that was enough; her beautiful face was now fully visible to Yu Zhe.