"Brother-in-law, I need to talk to you about something~"

Lin Feng stood before him, frowning deeply with a face full of resentment. Su Shui felt utterly confused.

*He’s the one who got my secret stash confiscated! Why does he look like I scammed him?!* Su Shui grumbled inwardly.

"What’s up? What do you need?"

Su Shui led Lin Feng to the sofa, seizing the chance to dodge chores.

"Um, brother-in-law…" Lin Feng avoided his gaze, glancing around nervously.

"Kid, spit it out already!" Su Shui snapped impatiently. "I’ve got work waiting!"

"Easy there, brother-in-law~" Lin Feng whispered only after confirming Su Qing wasn’t paying attention. "I want to live in the school dorm~"

"Dorm?!" Su Shui stared at him, baffled that anyone would ditch a home for a dorm. "This calls for a family meeting! Honey!"

…………

……

In the living room, Su Shui and Lin Ning sat on the large sofa. Su Qing perched on a small side sofa as an observer. Lin Feng had to drag a tiny stool to sit before them.

"You guys don’t have to do this…" Lin Feng squirmed under their stares.

"Quiet! It’s not your turn to speak yet!"

Somehow, Su Shui and Lin Ning had donned white wigs, sitting like stern judges.

"Explain yourself," Su Shui crossed his legs, hands clasped before him. "Why abandon a perfectly good home for a dorm?"

"Yeah," Lin Ning added gently, "is something uncomfortable at home? Just tell us what you need~"

"I, I…" Lin Feng burned to confess: *I like your sister! I’m doing this to get close to her!*

If he said that, Su Shui would tear him apart—Su Qing’s presence aside.

He stammered but choked out nothing.

"What’s really going on?" Su Shui clapped Lin Feng’s shoulder heartily, then unconsciously tightened his grip, remembering the money lost. "I won’t retaliate over a tiny bit of secret savings. Relax!"

"Huh? A tiny bit?" Lin Ning, who’d been nodding along, suddenly yanked Su Shui’s collar. "I need a word with you too…"

"Huh?"

Lin Ning dragged Su Shui to the bedroom. Half an hour passed…

"Never mind that!" Su Shui returned to the sofa, bruised and dabbing his bloody nose like nothing happened. "Let’s get back to Xiao Feng’s issue~"

Lin Ning counted cash as she walked into the living room.

"Honestly, hiding money in your shoes? It stinks!"

"If it stinks, give it back!"

"Dream on!"

Su Shui pouted pitifully as his last secret stash vanished, then slumped back down.

"So, Lin Feng," Su Shui gritted his teeth at the money-siphoning kid, wishing he’d vanish. "Why the dorm?"

"Well, uh…" Lin Feng racked his brain. "Life experience! Yeah, life experience!"

He beamed like he’d found treasure.

"Life experience???" Su Shui and Lin Ning exchanged baffled looks.

"What’s there to experience?" Lin Ning frowned at his excitement. "Didn’t you live in dorms abroad?"

"Not the same! Now that I’m back, I want to feel life with classmates~" Lin Feng lied earnestly.

"And how’s Gaokao dorm life like overseas? I crave that intense study vibe in shared rooms~"

Seeing his righteous sincerity, Lin Ning couldn’t refuse.

"O-okay… I’ll have Su Shui arrange it after school tomorrow~"

"Thanks, sis!"

Lin Feng nearly kissed her in excitement. Su Shui yanked him back instantly.

"Be happy, but don’t kiss my wife!"

…………

……

"Honey, why’d Xiao Feng suddenly want dorm life?" Su Shui scrubbed dishes, chatting with Lin Ning.

"He said life experience~" Lin Ning replied innocently.

"You believe that nonsense?" Su Shui scoffed. "He’s hiding something. Watch me pry it out~"

He dried his hands and headed for Lin Feng’s room.

…………

……

"Today’s a happy day for us common folk~"

Lin Feng bent over, packing luggage for days of seeing Su Qing at school.

"Xiao Feng~" Su Shui strolled in with a glass of water. "What’re you up to~"

"Nothing much. Just packing~"

"Oh~" Su Shui sipped lightly. "Dorm life won’t match home comforts~"

"I know~"

"And no private bathroom. Can’t shower daily~"

"I’ll manage!" Lin Feng declared, ready to endure anything for Su Qing.

"Good, good~" Su Shui feigned relief.

"Hey, Xiao Feng~ I lived in dorms too, back in the day~"

"Huh? I thought you were always with my sister~"

"Nah, she went abroad in middle school~" Su Shui leaned close, grinning mischievously. "Dorm life was my golden era~"

"How so?" Lin Feng leaned in eagerly.

"You wouldn’t believe it—I was the guy every dorm girl relied on~" Su Shui gestured dramatically.

"Why?" Lin Feng gazed at him like a starstruck fan.

"My charm, obviously~" Su Shui thumped his chest. "Hanging with girls daily, helping them out… heh heh~" He shot Lin Feng a *you-know-what-I-mean* look.

"That awesome?!" Lin Feng memorized every detail, already picturing a bright future with Su Qing.

"Yep! Sometimes I’d sneak into girls’ dorms under the guise of helping~" Su Shui grinned like a clown.

"Oh!" Lin Feng’s eyes sparkled with dorm-life fantasies.

"Also," Su Shui added like a seasoned veteran, "treating girls to snacks or midnight feasts earns big points~"

"Noted, noted!" Lin Feng nodded, planning snacks for Su Qing.

"So your dorm plan is for…"

"Of course for Su—" Lin Feng blurted, almost spilling the truth. "For Su, Su—"

"What?" Su Shui smirked.

"For books! To study in the library!"

"Tch. Wasted all that effort~"

Seeing Lin Feng’s guard up, Su Shui’s plan failed.