Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I was woken up by the sunlight.

Half my body was on the bed, and the lower half was still on the floor.

Something was wrong.

Something was very wrong.

No matter how tired I was, there was no way I could have fallen asleep after drinking CHAGEE.

That stuff is powerful enough to keep me up all night.

I wobbled to my feet and went to wash up.

Today was Saturday, so the breakfast shop was closed.

A familiar, subtle sound of cooking and a sweet aroma wafted from the kitchen.

I walked over and leaned against the doorframe.

Xie Fengnan had his back to me, standing before the stove frying pumpkin pancakes.

His movements were practiced as he flipped the pancakes with a wooden spatula. His profile was calm and gentle, and there seemed to be the faintest hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

Hearing my footsteps, he turned his head.

The sunlight fell into his eyes, reflecting a warm, shimmering glow.

“Zhiyu, you’re awake?”

His tone was natural, carrying the soft relaxation unique to early mornings.

“The pumpkin pancakes will be ready in a moment. I made them with the crispy edges you like.”

My brother’s smile was completely cloudless.

It was as pure as the bright morning light streaming through the window.

I looked at him.

The suspicion and guilt in the depths of my heart grew wildly.

Xie Fengnan, my brother.

He looked so kind, so innocent, so…

So perfect it didn’t feel real.

To suspect someone like him made me feel like I was committing a heinous crime.

But…

I took the golden, crispy pumpkin pancake he handed me and took a bite.

It was sweet, chewy, and warm.

My brother… it seemed like he…

Wasn’t entirely oblivious to everything.

Xia Mo resisted to the death the idea of eating spicy hot pot at a roadside stall.

We found a small snack shop along the street and went inside to enjoy the air conditioning.

Xia Mo bit her straw and took a deep sip.

“You useless thing. If it were me, I would have used an aphrodisiac and a sleeping pill together. That way, even if he was unconscious, his body could still get down to business.”

I looked at her in horror.

“Could you not be so aggressive? I’m still very innocent.”

Zhou An slowly sipped his iced lemon tea and looked up at me.

“Is it possible that the heavens just won’t let you succeed?”

I slumped onto the table, burying my face in the crook of my arm, and muttered gloomily,

“Really?”

Xia Mo comforted me, “Think on the bright side. Maybe your brother drugged you too.”

I snapped my head up and locked eyes with her.

Xia Mo’s lips curved upward. “Then that would mean-”

I followed suit with a smile. “You mean-”

We said in unison:

“Your brother likes you.”

“My brother likes me.”

What a beautiful thought.

The smile on my face widened.

Xia Mo’s lips also curled up-

“I don’t think that’s possible,” Zhou An said.

Xia Mo and I turned our heads in unison to glare at him. “Who asked you?”

Zhou An shut his mouth.

He lowered his head and continued drinking his tea.

I wilted again.

I buried my head back into my arms.

“I know… but can’t I just talk about it?”

Xia Mo patted my shoulder. “It’s fine. Your brother hasn’t found a girlfriend yet. As long as he’s single, there’s still a chance.”

“By the way, when you two are at home, is there ever… you know, those kinds of ambiguous moments?”

It wasn’t that there weren’t any…

But every time I met my brother’s pure, kind eyes,

I felt like I was the one overthinking things.

Xie Fengnan was like a saint reincarnated.

It was hard to imagine him having those kinds of desires unless someone else forced them upon him.

I shook my head.