"So this is what it’s like inside," Liang Caiyi murmured as she stepped into the shop, hands clasped behind her back, curiously scanning every corner.

"First time here?"

"Yeah. Weren’t you just in my mom’s bar for the first time a few days ago?"

"True enough."

Though their families ran neighboring businesses, the adults socialized often—while the younger generation barely interacted.

"Good afternoon, Aunt Yan," Caiyi chirped sweetly to Jiang Yan. They knew each other well.

"Shu and Caiyi, have you eaten lunch yet? The manager just left."

"Not yet. We gave them some alone time."

"Clever kids," Aunt Yan chuckled, pinching both their necks playfully and nudging them toward the kitchen. "Go fix yourselves something to eat back there."

"What do you feel like having?"

Caiyi hated so many foods. Every day, Aunt Liang cooked one or two dishes she disliked—or mixed them together—scolding her for being picky.

"Hmm… nothing looks appetizing." The pre-made low-fat meals and veggie boxes seemed utterly unappealing.

"Stop complaining. If you don’t want it, don’t eat it."

Lin Shu wasn’t about to indulge her. Her bad habits came from being spoiled. After days of Aunt Liang’s cooking, he had zero desire to cook himself—it’d never taste as good, and cleaning pots and pans was a hassle.

"Do you often cook for others?"

"Not really. I’m not that skilled. Last week was the only time someone ate my food."

"A girl? Your girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"Hmph. Knew it."

"She probably lied and said it was good to please you. Fine—I’ll eat whatever she ate. I won’t go easy on you. If it’s bad, I’ll spit it out."

Shu barely remembered what he’d cooked that day. He’d improvised with whatever ingredients were handy. Su Nuan might recall, but asking her would invite teasing. Luckily, she always snapped photos before meals and posted them on her social feed—though the posts had zero comments, likely restricted to close friends.

Pan-seared chicken breast, fried eggs, veggie salad, multigrain rice, and passion fruit honey tea. Shu checked the kitchen—everything was there. He tied on an apron and got to work. Caiyi propped her chin on her hands, watching his back, kicking her legs lightly as she whispered, "Family… big brother…"

For the first time, it felt real.

Before Shu could call her to help serve, Caiyi darted over, snatching a piece of fresh chicken straight from the pan. She popped it into her mouth, then gasped, puffing air and shaking her tongue from the burn.

"Don’t steal food with your hands. Use chopsticks. You’re acting like a kid."

"I *am* younger than you," Caiyi shot back, defiant. She’d dyed her hair to seem mature, yet here she was admitting she was a child.

Shu ate without enthusiasm, but Caiyi devoured everything—wolfing down tomatoes and broccoli too, her appetite bigger than his. He smiled faintly. "Good, huh?"

It felt nice when someone enjoyed his cooking.

"Tastes awful."

"Your stomach says otherwise."

"Hunger makes anything delicious."

Shu’s cooking couldn’t match Aunt Liang’s, but Caiyi’s appetite vanished daily under her mother’s scolding. If Aunt Liang called her picky, Caiyi would stubbornly refuse to eat. With Shu, she felt relaxed. This light meal was new and exciting.

After lunch, Caiyi cleared their plates and headed to the sink without being asked.

Shu needed to grab his backpack from the shop. Caiyi trailed behind him, hiding in his shadow.

Dad and Aunt Liang hadn’t cleared the table yet, waiting for them.

"Where’ve you two been? Food’s cold," Aunt Liang snapped, still upset. Her tone made Shu uneasy.

"Aunt Liang, we ate at Dad’s gym—some light meals."

"Mom, I’ll go to school this afternoon," Caiyi added meekly.

"Really? Or another lie?"

Aunt Liang’s face brightened instantly, then darkened again—she’d been fooled before.

"You say you’re going to school, then vanish. Your teacher says you never showed up."

"This time’s real. I’m listening to big brother. He says go, so I’ll go."

"Shu’s got a way with her," Dad sighed, patting Aunt Liang’s back. "Kids today are smarter than we think. Too many lectures just annoy them. Sometimes, the same words from us backfire. Let Shu handle it."

Aunt Liang nodded firmly, gripping Shu’s shoulder. "Shu, I’m counting on you. If Caiyi misbehaves, scold her—or hit her. I can’t bring myself to do it, so she gets away with everything."

Under Dad’s watchful eyes, Shu swallowed his reluctance for the sake of this new family.

A part-time staffer arrived to open the shop. Dad headed to their new place to prepare.

"You’ll really go to school?" Shu asked suspiciously.

If Caiyi skipped and Aunt Liang found out, he’d be branded her accomplice—ruining his reputation.

Caiyi thought the same: if Shu cooperated, they could trick Mom together. If not, Mom would stop trusting him and stop using him to scold her.

"Of course. It’s probation period. Mom’ll check with my teacher. Once she thinks I’ve reformed, I’ll skip again."

Shu didn’t believe her. If she were this obedient, Aunt Liang wouldn’t worry.

"I’ll walk you to school. Watch you enter the gates."

At least today had to look convincing.

"So eager to see me in uniform? Pervert."

Why would she think that?

"Let’s go then. To your place—or *our* place? How should I say it?"

"Why your place?"

"To change uniforms. I can’t wear this to school," Caiyi tugged her shirt.

Her apartment was just blocks away, behind Wanda Plaza.

"Mom and I live in Building A1—a tiny studio."

"I’ll wait downstairs," Shu said outside the elevator.

"Come up. Or I might run off. You don’t trust me anyway." She yanked his sleeve as the doors closed. Shu lunged inside just in time.

The cramped space held a fridge and kitchenette on the right, a bathroom on the left. A wall-mounted TV and sofa filled the center, with a bed, closet, and laundry rack by the window—no partitions, just one open room.

"Help yourself to water. It’s practically your home too."

Caiyi grabbed her blazer uniform from the wall. Used to living alone, she forgot Shu was there. She dropped her jacket, unbuttoned her top—and froze when her bra showed. "Eek!" She crouched, arms crossed over her chest, fumbling to redo the buttons crookedly.

Shu hadn’t moved. He lay sprawled on the sofa, fast asleep. *He must’ve seen everything. He’s faking sleep to avoid blame. No way he can resist peeking. I’ll catch him.*