Lin Shu had planned to nap on his dad’s bed, but his dad had been staying at Auntie Liang’s bar until dawn these past few days. He’d stumble home reeking of stale smoke and liquor, skip showering, and collapse straight onto the sheets. The stench made Lin Shu gag—he couldn’t last a second in there and fled back to the living room.

The sofa and dining chairs were thick with dust. His picnic mat was still tucked away in the school’s sports storage room. He could’ve napped there easily—plenty of time before the pre-class bell—but leaving Liang Caiyi alone at home felt wrong. What if she overslept and missed school?

He only had one key. If he gave it to her, how would he get back in? The house held nothing valuable, but leaving it unlocked was unthinkable. Losing some cheap trinket brimming with memories would still sting.

Frustrated, Lin Shu scratched his head and splashed water on his face to clear his mind. It backfired—he felt even sleepier once his skin dried.

*Better discuss it with Caiyi first. Give her the key, tell her to lock up and hide it.*

Remembering she was changing into his jersey as pajamas, Lin Shu knocked politely to avoid awkwardness. "Liang Caiyi? Done changing?"

No reply. He pushed the door open.

Caiyi lay on his bed, draped in his oversized jersey. She’d pulled the blanket just above her chest, exposing smooth thighs. Her slender calves were sheathed in black stockings, faint indentations marking where the fabric hugged her skin. *Guess she didn’t wear the shorts. Probably couldn’t fit them anyway.*

The jersey’s loose sleeves revealed a flash of pink bra strap and her armpit. A pair of tiny leather shoes lay toppled near the bed. Her eyes were closed, breathing even. Her uniform and pleated skirt were neatly folded on the nightstand, topped with the hat Lin Shu had given her. *Already asleep? I told you to study.*

Waking someone who just drifted off was cruel—and Caiyi had a notoriously short fuse. Morning grumpiness would hit hard.

Lin Shu’s bed was spacious. He usually slept on just half of it. Back when he shared it with his little sister, their parents never got around to giving them separate rooms. Lin Shu had wanted his own space but never dared ask—he knew a new house would fix it. To avoid awkwardness, they’d slept head-to-toe: his sister at the head, him at the foot. Sometimes she’d skip washing her feet before bed, leaving them grimy and pungent right under his nose. He’d drag her to wash them, dreading the nights she’d already passed out. Then he’d have to haul a basin of water to scrub her feet himself.

By morning, she’d often migrated to the foot of the bed too. *Did she get up for the bathroom? Feels like all that foot-washing was for nothing.*

His own feet probably reeked after morning drills. If he stank up Caiyi’s sleep, a scolding wouldn’t cut it. *Screw modesty—I’ll take the foot end.*

Lin Shu set her fallen shoes upright, then carefully climbed onto the bed from the foot end. He kicked off his own shoes and lay down beside her, separated by the blanket. *This is my home. My bed. I’m in the right no matter what.* He set an alarm before drifting off, determined not to oversleep again.

The phone’s shrill ring jolted him awake. Caiyi was still deep in dreams, curled on her side under the covers.

"Caiyi, wake up! You’ll be late again!" Lin Shu shook her shoulder.

"Mama, I know! I’m up—stop calling!"

Groggy, Caiyi sat up and yanked the jersey over her head like a hood. Her pale stomach peeked out, ribs stark against her skin. *Has she even been eating?* White cotton panties—mismatched with her bra—were visible. She’d even ditched her safety shorts for comfort.

She peeled off the jersey and grabbed her uniform. A chilly draft made her clamp her thighs together, rubbing them for warmth. Her eyes met Lin Shu’s. She froze. A blush flooded her cheeks. Then—

"*Ahhh!*" She hurled a pillow at him. "How long were you staring?! Close your eyes!"

"O-okay!" *How was I supposed to know you’d strip the second you woke up? I’m shocked too!*

Lin Shu squeezed his eyes shut, listening to the rustle of fabric. It sounded like yesterday’s routine—but this time, it was morning, and he’d *seen* everything.

After a full minute, her voice came, tight: "You can look now."

He opened his eyes. Caiyi stood by the bed in her uniform, one hand smoothing her skirt, the other pressing down her hat brim. She kept her head low, avoiding his gaze, cheeks still flushed.

"Lin Shu," she declared, "if you don’t cooperate and help me lie to Mama, I’ll tell her you spied on me changing. I’ll shatter her trust in you."

*Yesterday’s bait failed. Today, I paid the real price. Can’t let him get away with it.* She’d corner him with this leverage.

Lin Shu shrugged. "Go ahead. But if Auntie Liang stops trusting me, your whole plan collapses. Who’ll back you up then?"

"Eh?" Caiyi froze, mind short-circuiting. *Her scheme was doomed from the start? Failure hurt, but success would’ve cost her everything.*

Lin Shu waved a hand in front of her dazed face. "Time for school. We’ve got time, but let’s not waste it."

"I don’t care! You saw me—you *have* to help me!" she insisted petulantly.

"I didn’t see *everything*. You’re still covered more than in a swimsuit."

"I’ve never been to a pool! You’re the first person to see this much of me. You have to take responsibility!"

"You’re my *sister*. What responsibility?" Lin Shu chuckled helplessly. "But if you actually try—go to school, stop arguing with Auntie Liang—I might help you trick her sometimes."

He didn’t want this new family drowning in fights. First his parents bickered; now it’d be mother and daughter. No peaceful meals. *Dad’s the one who built this family. Why am I the one holding it together?*

"Deal! No take-backs. Pinky promise." Caiyi thrust out her pinky.

"You act like a kid."

He hooked his pinky with hers anyway.

"Pinky promise, a hundred years without changing," she chanted, swinging their linked fingers.

"I *am* a kid. I’m younger than you."

"Then call me ‘Big Brother’."

"No way! What kind of brother are you, you creep?"

"I *am* a brother. I have a real sister. What kind of sister are *you*?"

They glared, mutual disdain thickening the air.

"Is my blonde hair all hidden?" Caiyi asked, back turned.

"A bit’s showing."

Lin Shu adjusted her hat, tucking the stray tail of her ponytail beneath the brim.