The meal passed rather uneventfully, filled with simple laughter and chatter.

Nothing unexpected happened. After a normal dinner, Xinyu stayed behind to work while Chen Yuzhe returned to his dorm.

*Better rest early tonight. Gotta wake up early tomorrow to have dinner with Sis Yan.*

——

——

Chen Yuzhe stood before an apartment building, a bag of nutritional supplements and skincare products in hand. He pressed the doorbell.

It rang for a long time. No answer.

*Huh? Hasn’t Sis Yan come back yet?* He checked his watch. Yan Qiuran should’ve been home from work by now.

He had his keys—he just enjoyed ringing the bell.

If she were home, they’d usually play their little game of pretending to be strangers.

Like:

*“Who is it?”*

*“Delivery!”*

*“Leave it at the door.”*

*“It’s cash on delivery.”*

*“What could possibly need COD?”*

*“Your precious little treasure, of course.”*

Silly? Maybe. But with Yan Qiuran, Chen Yuzhe never tired of it.

This time, though, the silence meant she was delayed. He unlocked the door himself.

The moment he stepped inside, he froze.

Yan Qiuran’s high heels lay abandoned on the floor.

Clothes were strewn across the sofa—a lace-trimmed dress, nude stockings, even her bra and panties.

Water splashed rhythmically from the bathroom.

*Sigh.* Chen Yuzhe exhaled softly.

Same as always. Polished outside, utterly careless at home. No concern for appearances when no one else was around.

He was used to this chaos.

Yan Qiuran always rushed straight to the shower after work.

She’d burst in shouting how exhausted she was, shedding clothes all the way to the bathroom. That short hallway became a trail of discarded fabric, tossed carelessly onto the sofa.

Chen Yuzhe had learned to stay in his room for the first few minutes after she got home. Avoid seeing things he shouldn’t.

He tidied her clothes, set his shopping bag in the bedroom, then slumped onto the sofa to watch TV.

The shower finally stopped. The bathroom door clicked open. A soft, surprised “Hmm?” sounded behind him.

Chen Yuzhe didn’t even turn his head. Kept watching TV.

Light footsteps padded closer. Someone crept up behind him.

“Done showering? Is dinner ready? I’m starving—”

Before he could finish, slender arms slid around his neck from behind.

Chen Yuzhe went rigid as stone.

Warmth pressed against his back. Steam rose from her skin, carrying the scent of shampoo and body wash. Damp strands of hair brushed his neck, tickling.

He felt Yan Qiuran’s chin rest on his shoulder. Her lips hovered near his ear as her breath whispered:

“Ah~~~~ Zhe~~~~~”

The sound melted his bones. Goosebumps erupted across his skin.

“…Sis Yan, what the hell are you doing?”

Her voice turned playful behind him. “Ara~ Didn’t you say you wanted to have some fun with your sister?”

“See how much I adore you? I’m serving myself up on a plate. Too scared to take a bite?”

*Yan Qiuran! You’re committing a crime! Woman, you’re playing with fire!*

Chen Yuzhe kept his face calm, eyes fixed on the TV. “Since when do you joke around before dinner?”

“Eh? So cold, Ah-Zhe.” She pouted, her voice dripping with mock hurt. “Am I just your personal chef to you?”

“I never said that. Does cooking make someone a servant?”

“What else could it be?” Yan Qiuran’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

Chen Yuzhe stayed silent.

*Damn it. Walked right into her trap.*

Only Yan Qiuran could fluster him like this. Magic to defeat magic.

He couldn’t say it—*wife*—that word would end the game. Checkmate.

*Yesterday I pulled the same trick on Xinyu… Karma’s fast.*

“Alright, alright. I surrender, Sis Yan. Won’t joke about you again. Happy?” Chen Yuzhe finally admitted defeat.

Yan Qiuran wrinkled her nose with a huff. “Hmph. Good.”

“Trying to tease your sister? Ah-Zhe, you’ve got a long way to go~”