Chapter 11

Chapter 11

I tossed my phone onto the bed and covered my face.

The skin beneath my palms was burning.

My ears were ringing, blood rushed to my head, and my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from my chest.

Zhou An’s words echoed repeatedly in my mind.

“He likes you.”

“It’s definitely more than just family affection.”

How could that be possible…

But…

I slowly lowered my hands and stared at the ceiling.

Moonlight leaked through the gap in the curtains, cutting a silver-white streak across the floor.

I picked up my phone again, my finger hovering over the screen for a moment before I started typing.

Human Nature: How do you know?

Sent.

Zhou An replied almost instantly.

AN: If my sister was downstairs being confessed to by someone and I saw it, I would definitely ask her if she was in a relationship.

– I’d want to know if that guy was any good, if he was worthy of her, and if he was being sincere.

– Given how much your brother cares about you, it’s impossible for him not to say a single word.

– Avoidance itself is an attitude.

I watched the lines of messages pop up, my breathing gradually becoming shallow and rapid.

AN: Xie Zhiyu.

AN: Here’s a suggestion. Go and pierce that thin veil between you and your brother right now.

Human Nature: Why?

AN: He probably hasn’t asked you because his mind is a mess right now.

– Once he figures it out, he might start distancing himself from you.

– You’re the sister; you can be willful and reckless.

– But a brother can’t.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Twice.

Three times.

The surging emotions in my chest slowly calmed down, replaced by a cold resolve, like someone burning their bridges behind them.

I picked up my phone and typed.

Human Nature: I’m going.

Only a single floor lamp was lit in the living room.

The light was limited, leaving most of the space submerged in a soft gloom.

Xie Fengnan was sitting in the corner of the sofa with a book spread across his lap.

His head was slightly lowered, his soft hair drooping down.

He looked completely non-threatening.

I walked over to him.

Xie Fengnan looked up at me, his gaze clear.

I reached out and took his cup.

I intentionally made my footsteps heavy as I entered the kitchen.

I found the strawberry milk tea powder I had bought before and poured it into his cup.

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

I didn’t know when Xie Fengnan had walked over to the kitchen door.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching me quietly.

I poured in the boiling water and stirred.

The pale pink liquid swirled in the cup, releasing a cloying, sweet aroma.

“Zhiyu,” he spoke, his voice very soft. “What… is that?”

I didn’t answer.

I handed the cup to him.

“Brother, I’m not in a relationship.”

Xie Fengnan was visibly stunned for a moment.

He looked at me, his long lashes casting small, fan-shaped shadows under his eyes.

The light fell on his face, making his expression look somewhat blurred.

Then, he reached out and took that cup of “unidentified pink liquid.”

Xie Fengnan’s fingers were long and clean, with distinct knuckles.

As he gripped the handle, his fingertips turned slightly pink.

He lowered his head, looking at the liquid rippling in the cup.

He paused for about three seconds.

Then, he lifted the cup to his lips.

He drank it all.

Like some sort of obedient, docile animal.

I took the cup back and rinsed it under the running water.

Xie Fengnan’s gaze remained fixed on me.

“Zhiyu.”

He called my name again.

His voice was slightly hoarse.

“What… was that?”

I said, “An aphrodisiac.”