Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I was jolted awake by Xia Mo’s voice practically screaming through my earbuds.

“Xie Zhiyu! Are you freaking dead?! Huh?!”

I looked up at the clock.

It was exactly twelve o’clock.

…If only it were noon instead of midnight, things would be a lot better.

Through the earbuds, I could also hear the meows of Qiuqiu, Zhou An’s cat.

Then came Zhou An’s voice, unhurried and persuasive: “It’s already come to this, just let her be…”

“No way.”

I spoke up, “Why didn’t you guys wake me?”

I shouldn’t have mentioned it.

As soon as I did, the person on the other end of the line exploded.

“You think we didn’t try? We took turns calling you for an hour until our voices went hoarse.”

“And you? You just rolled over, mumbled ‘Brother,’ and went right back to sleep.”

“Ha.”

Xia Mo let out a frustrated laugh.

I pulled my head into my shoulders, not daring to make another sound.

“Can’t you show a little backbone?”

Xia Mo sounded like she was mourning my lack of resolve. “You always drop the ball at the most critical moments.”

“I’m sorry…” I replied, sounding pathetic.

Zhou An’s drawling voice chimed in again: “So, are we still going out for fried skewers today?”

Xia Mo laughed and snapped, “You get lost too.”

***

I swore to myself that this would be the absolute last time.

After a week of going to bed early and waking up early to build up my energy, I felt like I was in the best shape of my life.

On Friday night, I repeated my old trick.

Xie Fengnan had just finished his shower and stepped out.

His hair was damp, with soft strands resting against his forehead.

His gaze fell on the cup I handed him.

“Zhiyu.”

He spoke, his voice gentle and warm, carrying a slight rasp from the steam of the shower. “Actually, I don’t always need to drink milk. That was bought for you…”

I blinked, momentarily stunned.

However, Xie Fengnan took the cup anyway. “But since Zhiyu made it…”

He lowered his eyes, looking at the milky white liquid in the cup.

His long lashes cast shadows downward.

His tone was incredibly submissive. “I’ll drink it.”

My heart felt like it was on a roller coaster.

Xie Fengnan finished the milk with measured poise.

As the rim of the cup left his face, his lips appeared slightly moistened by the liquid.

My heart skipped a beat.

Sometimes I felt like my brother was seducing me.

But I had no proof.

My face instantly began to burn.

“Thank you, Zhiyu.”

He set the cup down and reached out to ruffle my hair.

The movement was natural and affectionate.

“You don’t have to go out of your way to make it for me next time. Just take care of yourself.”

“…You always forget to make one for yourself.”

He walked toward the kitchen.

He brought back a glass of milk.

Just like countless other nights before.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

I drank it all.

Xie Fengnan took the glass to rinse it out.

Just to be safe, I had secretly prepared a cup of CHAGEE tea.

After slipping back into my room, I downed it in one go.

My consciousness felt like a malfunctioning traffic light.

One moment I was wide awake.

The next, I was hit with extreme drowsiness.

I forced myself to go to the bathroom twice.

I nearly fell asleep on the toilet.

In the end, I practically had to crawl back into bed inch by inch.