"Ahh~ Yue Ran-jie, press harder there."

"Does it feel good, Sister Yue Ran?"

"Mmm... I feel like I’m turning strange."

A sticky, breathy whimper escaped Mu Yue Ran’s lips before she clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling further embarrassing sounds.

It wasn’t that she lacked self-control—her body had simply grown unbearably sensitive. With every motion Ji Yueyi made, the soft swell of her chest pressed against Mu Yue Ran’s back, flattening slightly against her spine.

Ji Yueyi watched, fascinated, as Mu Yue Ran’s porcelain skin flushed from snow-white to peach-blossom pink—a living canvas painted crimson beneath her own hands. The girl’s cheeks bloomed with matching warmth, her scrubbing motions slowing to absentminded caresses.

While Ji Yueyi lost herself in the silken texture, Mu Yue Ran stared rigidly at the bathroom tiles from an angle Yueyi couldn’t see. *Does consciousness shape form, or does form reshape consciousness?* A philosophical debate worthy of university seminars. Yet right now, her own trembling body gave her the answer without hesitation.

Finally, the torturous pampering ended. Mu Yue Ran stumbled out of the bathroom, legs unsteady, and collapsed onto the sofa. Not even a finger twitched with energy left. This familiar-yet-alien exhaustion reminded her of a lonely high school night when her dormmate had shared an... *educational* film.

She craved a cigarette now, just to savor the lingering aftertaste of frustration.

Thirty minutes later, Ji Yueyi emerged from the bathroom wearing Mu Yue Ran’s oversized hoodie. The hem barely covered mid-thigh, leaving plump legs flushed pink beneath the fabric as she padded out, barefoot.

Mu Yue Ran wrenched her gaze from Yueyi’s legs to the laundry basket in her arms. Inside lay two starkly different sets of lingerie. Her hand trembled as she pointed. "W-What are you planning to do with those?"

"Just putting dirty clothes away. I’ll wash them tomorrow."

*Too much. This is too much.*

Mu Yue Ran’s mind went blank. Bringing Ji Yueyi home had been a mistake. She’d assumed sharing space with another girl would ease awkwardness—never imagining *she’d* be the one tormented. Her eyes flicked downward. *Brother, you died well.*

With chores done, exhaustion finally caught up. Since Mu Yue Ran lived alone, the guest room held no bed. Reluctantly, she offered her own.

"You sleep here tonight."

"And Sister?"

Ji Yueyi sat on the pristine sheets in that uniquely girlish pose—knees bent outward, white-socked feet peeking beneath the hoodie. The delicate curve of her ankles made Mu Yue Ran’s pulse jump. She looked away sharply. "I’ll take the couch. You have school tomorrow. Rest properly."

Before she could escape, a small hand caught her wrist. Ji Yueyi’s eyes held quiet desperation. "So much happened today... I’m scared. If Sister stays with me, I’ll sleep better."

That fragile grip unraveled Mu Yue Ran’s resolve. She squeezed Yueyi’s hand gently. "You’ll never need to be afraid again."

"Okay!"

Mu Yue Ran slipped under the covers. Yueyi scooted over, leaving ample space. The sheets, warmed by the girl’s body heat, carried a faint floral sweetness.

Just as Mu Yue Ran opened her mouth to speak, a golden head nuzzled into her neck. Hot breath ghosted over her collarbone, making her shift uncomfortably.

"Sister smells so nice..." Ji Yueyi inhaled deeply, as if trying to absorb the scent into her skin.

"We use the same shower gel?" Mu Yue Ran scratched her nose, confused. Yueyi smelled lovely too—just different.

"But yours is the best."

Mu Yue Ran’s warmth seemed to calm her. Yueyi’s breathing steadied against her chest, only the rise and fall betraying her heartbeat.

"Hey," Mu Yue Ran broke the thickening silence. "After graduation... any dreams?"

Yueyi hesitated. "A good university, I guess. After that... I haven’t thought much."

She’d always studied to ease her parents’ burden. Practical majors would come first—even if they weren’t her passion.

"That won’t do," Mu Yue Ran chided softly. She remembered her own aimless college years, the hollow regret near graduation. "Life rarely follows plans. But you can shape it piece by piece. The key is—"

"—knowing what you want."

Mu Yue Ran tapped Yueyi’s nose, imagining this girl breaking free, chasing a future truly hers.

"What *do* I want?"

"A job you love. Things to buy. Places to see. And..." Mu Yue Ran’s voice tightened. "People to share it with. Don’t let that scumbag Wu Fan make you hate all men."

She watched Yueyi anxiously, fearing trauma from the ex-boyfriend.

Ji Yueyi giggled softly. "I won’t."

"Good. Good."

"Also..."

Moonlight spilled through the window, dappling the bed with shadows like scattered petals. It painted the two girls tangled in sleep—Mu Yue Ran’s murmurs long faded, unaware of the sapphire eyes now open above her.

Of all her sister’s words, one promise echoed clearest in Ji Yueyi’s heart:

*The person you want to be with.*

Slowly, carefully, she tugged the blanket down. Their bodies pressed closer, heat mingling in the dark.

*Sister... if anyone stays by my side forever, I want it to be you. Now. Always.*

*What about you...?*