The road was a little slick. Luckily the wind wasn’t strong. Xu Zhi held the umbrella over Lin Ran with a tight grip.

“It feels like... I’m dreaming,” Xu Zhi muttered.

“Wake up,” Lin Ran said flatly.

“No. I still have to ask. Why are you so good to Big Sis?”

“Because I want more than your body. I want your heart,” Lin Ran replied, deadpan.

“Well, Big Sis’s heart already belongs to you. Don’t believe me? Go inside Big Sis and listen?”

“...”

Xu Zhi knew he was joking. This was their usual banter. But today, something weird threaded through it.

“I said before, whoever gives me four hundred thousand, I’ll marry him. Mr. Lin Ran, will you marry me?”

“I’d rather not.”

“What if I can’t pay you back?”

“Then pay it back slow. No rush.”

“How about this? Those girls on the sixth floor charge 300 a session, 600 a night. Big Sis will give you a discount. Sleep with you two hundred nights. Call the debt even, okay?”

“By day I call you Big Sis, by night Big Sis calls me?” Lin Ran arched a brow and tossed out a lame line.

“Okay or not?” Her voice turned deliberately soft and syrupy. Lin Ran’s body gave a little shiver. “Alright, alright. No need to rush the repayment. It’s not like you don’t know—I’ve got nothing to spend money on.”

“I know,” Xu Zhi said, even softer.

“I’ll work hard and pay you back soon.”

“Do it in a way that makes you happy. As long as you’re happy, anything’s fine.”

“Then the happiest way is to repay you with my body, and you still won’t agree. You’re the worst.”

The rain stopped. Xu Zhi folded the umbrella and set it in the little basket on Lin Ran’s bike. Then she wrapped both arms around him and pressed her cheek to his back.

“I think I can hear your heartbeat. It sped up a little.”

“It’d be weird if you couldn’t hear it, okay?”

Streetlight spilled down. Xu Zhi seemed to be smiling, bright and carefree. Her voice chimed like silver bells. Lin Ran looked relaxed, pedaling his little bike at an easy pace. Several taxis had already driven past, but Xu Zhi didn’t want to get off. She never raised a hand to flag one.

“Hey, Lin Ran.”

“Say it.”

“Can you help me again tomorrow?”

“Hm? With what?”

“I’m taking my mom for surgery tomorrow... Can you play my boyfriend? I’m afraid she’ll worry the money is... you know.”

“Is there an appearance fee?”

“Repay with my body. Big Sis in black stockings.”

“No.”

“Then hot pot tonight?”

“Deal.”

“You’re such a weird one,” Xu Zhi muttered.

“You’re the weird one,” Lin Ran said helplessly. “I’ve known you this long and you’re always so mysterious. Then suddenly an amazing ex pops up. You never mentioned her.”

“What’s there to say about an ex?”

“But she’s Su Nisheng. Su. Nisheng.”

“And you’re Xu Zhi.” Lin Ran stopped his little bike. “Take away all the halos, and people are just people.”

He was home.

Xu Zhi still hadn’t flagged a taxi. Now they’d reached the run-down outskirts in the south of the city. No sane driver would head out here. But Lin Ran had never brought it up. That felt like permission.

“You’re coming home with me?”

“What else? Big Sis has been sitting here this long. You won’t invite me in to sit?”

“Sit?”

“Do.”

“That’s enough.” Lin Ran parked the bike, took her hand, and led her upstairs. The voice-activated lights worked on and off. The air felt a little eerie, so Xu Zhi shrank close behind him.

Lin Ran unlocked the door. The cat launched at him as usual. But when it saw a woman behind him, it puffed up and bared tiny teeth.

No effect. Lin Ran ignored it and walked in with Xu Zhi. He glanced at her, a little helpless. “I don’t have a sofa. We’ll have to share the bed.”

“Then we share.”

A faint blush spread across Xu Zhi’s cheeks.

“I don’t have pajamas for you.”

“Give me one of your T-shirts.”

Lin Ran opened the wardrobe, found a white tee, and tossed it to her. Then he closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, her camisole, hot pants, and white lace underwear were neatly folded on the nightstand. The white tee hung loose on her. It had been washed too many times, turning a little sheer.

Lin Ran washed up and flopped onto the bed. Xu Zhi promptly pounced.

Too bad he expected it. He caught her, flipped her, and pinned her to the mattress. Then came the smack-smack-smack.

Spanking.

“Big Sis” did sound lovely, but now there was a hint of a sob in it. “Stop... It hurts.”

“Gonna behave?”

“Nope. So you like this kind of play.”

“...I should really tie you up with a rope.”

“How about stuffing a... too?” Xu Zhi blinked at him.

Lin Ran stared at her, aggrieved. A beat or two passed before Xu Zhi broke into a smile. “Fine. I’ll go wash up. You hit so hard, you... got me wet.”

She came back after washing, wearing Lin Ran’s slippers. The front of the tee was dotted with a few water spots. Then she slipped under Lin Ran’s blanket. He liked to run the AC and still use a quilt.

“Can you really sleep?” Xu Zhi whispered.

“What else?”

“So I’m that un... charming.”

“It’s not about charm. I’m tired. It’s time to be tired.”

“Okay. Then... good night.”

“Good night.”

Lin Ran closed his eyes.

...

After a whole night of emotional whiplash, how could Xu Zhi possibly sleep? She lay facing Lin Ran. He’d already closed his eyes. His breathing was steady. By the desk lamp’s glow, Xu Zhi stole a look at his profile, her gaze a little dazed.

The cat hopped up and wedged itself between them. It seemed a bit hostile toward Xu Zhi. She didn’t notice. She patted its head and spoke very softly. “Go sleep in your own nest. Don’t disturb his rest.”

The cat stared wide-eyed at her, but didn’t dare swipe.

If she clawed Xu Zhi’s eyes now, she might manage to blind her. But tomorrow, Lin Ran might toss her straight off the fifth floor. So she didn’t dare.

In the end, the cat burrowed into Xu Zhi’s arms. She held it gently.

That meant she couldn’t hug Lin Ran. But this was nice too. The cat was warm and soft. Xu Zhi leaned over and brushed a light kiss on Lin Ran’s lips. Then she closed her eyes, satisfied.

She wasn’t in a hurry.

This was good.

But the more she thought, the hotter her face felt. Her heart sped up. Sleep wouldn’t come.

...

A bright morning after a misty drizzle.

Xu Zhi rubbed her eyes. Lin Ran was still asleep on his side. The cat had run off. She scooted closer. Before she could land a kiss, Lin Ran suddenly opened his eyes.

“Morning,” Xu Zhi said softly.

“Morning.”

“Want a good-morning bite?”

“Please die immediately.”

Blasted with her brain-dead dirty joke right after waking.

Lin Ran sat up. Xu Zhi’s T-shirt was a mess. Her skin was so white. The tee’s white and the white beneath weren’t the same shade. There was a faint pink, too. Lin Ran didn’t dare look again. He turned his gaze away. “Shall we head out?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Xu Zhi sat up and noticed where he’d been looking. She paused a beat, then whispered, cheeks flushing, “Turn around.”

“You didn’t say that last night.”

“I’d had some drinks and I was happy, so... that’s why. Just turn around.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll take it off. Want a kiss?” Xu Zhi’s hand gripped the hem, lifting it a little. A slim, pale waist showed. A cute belly button. Before he saw more, Lin Ran obediently turned away.

Xu Zhi changed fast. They washed up and headed to the hospital in the north of the city.

...

It was Lin Ran’s first time meeting Xu Zhi’s mother.

And his first time meeting her sister.

He’d heard before that she had a younger sister. A second-year in high school. Grades pretty good. Just turned eighteen not long ago. But the sisters didn’t seem to get along.

Xu Zhi’s sister was named Xu Mo.

Their names were chosen by their mother—gardenia and jasmine. The mother’s condition had worsened recently. She was hospitalized, and Xu Mo was the one caring for her.

Right now Xu Zhi’s mother was asleep. Xu Zhi lowered her voice.

“I’ll take care of Mom. You go to class.”

Xu Zhi knew Xu Mo had taken leave. A whole week. In the pressure of second-year study, she read by the bed. Two tangerines sat on the bedside table. Light from the window fell on the peels, golden and bright.

Xu Mo slowly lifted her head. She glanced at Xu Zhi, then her eyes fell on Lin Ran beside her.

Lin Ran looked Xu Zhi’s sister over too.

The two looked like they were cut from the same mold. But Xu Mo was four years younger. Simple T-shirt and jeans. Fine features behind black-rimmed glasses. Hair down. A gentle, well-behaved air. A streak of snow-white ankle below the jeans. She was quite tall. Her skin was very fair. Pretty without makeup.

Xu Mo ignored Xu Zhi’s question. Her gaze at Lin Ran held a touch of confusion and disdain.

“Who are you?”

“Your sister’s boyfriend,” Lin Ran answered softly.

“Oh,” Xu Mo replied.

Only then did she answer Xu Zhi. “I took a week off. I can read here myself. Go do your stuff.”

Her voice was gentle, but overly polite. As if she was speaking to a stranger, not her own sister.

“Alright, I’ll go pay the surgery fee.”

Xu Zhi tugged Lin Ran’s hand and went to find the doctor to arrange payment and prep.

“You and your sister aren’t close?” he asked.

“We were when we were little. After I dropped out of middle school, not so much.”

“Why’d you drop out?”

“Mom couldn’t afford two in school. I wasn’t that good anyway. Better to leave the chance to my sister.”

“Then why the bad blood?”

“Kids, you know. To keep her from feeling guilty, I put on a rebellious act, like I didn’t want school. Then I worked the nightclub as atmosphere staff. She thinks places like that are a mess. She’s like, with all the options, why go there... Basically, I’m a fun-loving deadbeat sister in her eyes.”

“You could’ve explained, right?”

“We hid Mom’s condition from her then. Didn’t want to mess with her studies. But I knew. If not this, how else do you get quick cash? I had a day job, and at night I did game-companion work. I was dead tired. Who had time to explain? Honestly, if I hadn’t promised Mom I’d stay clean, I probably would’ve rotted. Cornered with no choice. What could I do?”

“Kids live in their own world. They only trust what they see. Overexplaining doesn’t mean much. Her goal is to study hard and get into a good university, not to pour energy into understanding me or sharing my load.”

Xu Zhi looked carefree. Lin Ran nodded slightly.

He thought Xu Zhi was a good sister.