"You go wash first," Xia Shiqi replied lazily. She couldn't shower yet—there was something important Chuyun mustn't know.

"Mm, then I'll go shower first," Chuyun said to his sister before turning away.

Once Chuyun was out of sight, Xia Shiqi padded barefoot to the entrance hall on her tender little feet. She grabbed her rabbit-patterned backpack from there and hurried back to the sofa.

Placing the backpack down, she reached for her phone on the glass table. Shu Xiaoyue’s QQ avatar was still black. Xia Shiqi muttered impatiently, "What’s Xiaoyue doing? Why hasn’t she replied? If Chuyun comes out soon, I’ll miss my chance."

Beep beep beep.

The QQ notification chimed. Xia Shiqi instantly opened Shu Xiaoyue’s chat window.

Shu Xiaoyue: Xiaoqi, I’m back.

Xia Shiqi: I’m so anxious! My brother’ll finish showering in ten minutes. Xiaoyue, teach me how to use it fast.

Shu Xiaoyue: Mm-hmm, Xiaoqi. First, take out what I gave you.

Xia Shiqi: Got it out. What next?

Shu Xiaoyue: Put it in Chuyun’s drinking cup. It’ll dissolve slowly. Takes effect after two hours—one dose lasts about two hours. You decide how much to add.

Xia Shiqi: Okay, I know. I’ll do it now.

Shu Xiaoyue: Mm, good luck, Xiaoqi. Message me if anything happens.

Xia Shiqi: Mm-hmm, thanks, Xiaoyue.

Shu Xiaoyue: Hehe, you’re my best friend. No need to thank me. Hurry up—don’t delay.

Xia Shiqi: Okay.

After chatting, Xia Shiqi took a delicate little pouch to Chuyun’s special water cup. She poured tiny spheres into her palm: one… two… three… That should be enough.

Carefully, she dropped all three into Chuyun’s cup. Watching them dissolve, her face flushed with a sickly red.

Once done, she returned to the sofa as if nothing happened, waiting for Chuyun.

Chuyun always drank water after showering. He walked to his pre-poured iced cup and gulped it down.

"Oh yeah!" For him, ice water after a shower felt incredibly refreshing.

After drinking, he gently told his sister on the sofa, "Xiaoqi, your turn to shower. I’ll watch a movie with you after."

"Mm-hmm, I’ll go now," Xia Shiqi replied, her pure face beaming. Deep in her watery almond eyes, a trace of hidden lust flickered. Barefoot, she headed for the bathroom.

"Sure enough, Xiaoqi’s so cute when she’s not sulking," Chuyun thought, watching her graceful figure. If tonight went smoothly, her favor toward him might return to normal. They could rebuild their loving sibling bond—only the two of them left in this home.

Hmm… in a twisted way, that closeness did come true later.

Poor Chuyun didn’t know his water wasn’t as pure as it looked.

...

..

.

When Xia Shiqi emerged after her shower, clad in a strapless silk nightgown like a lotus fresh from water, the wall clock struck ten.

She gazed at Chuyun slumped listlessly on the sofa. Her cherry lips curled into a smile—but it held an eerie edge. She walked to him.

"Chuyun, I’m done!" Her soft, sweet voice jolted the drowsy Chuyun awake. He yawned, forcing himself to look up.

"Xiaoqi, what movie do you want?" Chuyun felt sudden sleepiness fogging his head. But he had to stay awake for her.

"Mmm… Chuyun, you seem tired. Let’s watch tomorrow instead."

"It’s fine, Xiaoqi. One movie’s no problem." Chuyun was almost tearful—his sister hadn’t been this caring in years. She’d truly grown up.

"Okay. I want this year’s new zombie film. The trailer scared me—I can’t watch alone."

"Oh, zombies?" Chuyun had feared ghost movies. Zombies were manageable—good news for his ghost-phobia.

Deeply moved, he said gently, "Mm, I’ll turn on the TV. Sit tight, Xiaoqi."

As Chuyun reached for the remote, Xia Shiqi’s soft hand grabbed his.

"Not here. This film’s only online or in cinemas."

"Huh? What do we do then?"

"Silly! Just watch on my computer in my room." She rolled her eyes and pulled him toward her bedroom.

Xia Shiqi’s room screamed girlish pink. Walls glowed with fragrant pink paint. A huge Simmons bed dominated the right, neatly draped in pink bedding beside a giant panda plushie. Left of the bed stood a pink computer desk. Beneath it sat a soft pink-backed chair, resting on a magic-circle rug. Fluffy pink carpet covered the floor.

Chuyun had visited often, yet still thought, "Way too pink."

But could that chair hold two people? Uncertain, he wanted to ask his sister.