"Really? I don't believe it. Dare you lie down?" Lin Yiyi pulled Lin Shu onto the bed, challenging him with a smirk.

"What's there to be scared of? Don't look down on me."

Liang Caiyi scrambled onto the bed right after.

Lin Yiyi rustled as she took off her jacket. She unzipped Lin Shu's school uniform, helped him out of it, and hung both coats on the wall hook. She placed her phone on the pillow, then gently pressed his chest down.

"Brother, let's nap. We've got exams and studying this afternoon."

Lin Shu's brain hadn't caught up yet—how did it come to this?

He lay in the center of the bed. Lin Yiyi slept on his left, her head resting on his arm. Liang Caiyi lay on his right, facing away.

He'd only meant to protect his sister's nap time from Liang Caiyi's interruptions. Now, they were all sharing the same bed.

Shouldn't Liang Caiyi hate him? Didn't she want him out of the house, renting somewhere else?

What was his sister thinking? But Yiyi was smarter than him—she must have a reason.

Yiyi just wanted to sleep with her brother. Alone, they acted like normal siblings, needing excuses for everything—like saving money.

But with another girl around, it was easier. Anything with Brother needed no explanation.

The taunt worked well. Liang Caiyi didn't seem to dislike Brother subconsciously—in fact, she might even like him. Why else sleep together so often? She just had no clue herself.

Liang Caiyi would live with Brother as a sister. Sparks would fly. This would desensitize him to sisterly affection, letting the real sister join the battle sooner.

Having this stepsister wasn't all bad—just don't let her steal progress.

Liang Caiyi regretted it deeply. What was she doing? She'd come to catch the siblings' secrets, but now she couldn't even turn to look at Lin Shu. She lay on the edge, hands under her head, no pillow. One wrong move, and she'd roll onto the floor.

Lin Shu's bed fit two perfectly. With three, it was cramped. Lin Shu was big; Yiyi and Caiyi weren't slim. Both had to lie sideways. Yiyi rested her leg on Lin Shu's.

Lin Shu stared at the ceiling, wide awake, mentally reviewing morning lessons.

Liang Caiyi waited ten minutes. Her arms went numb. Her body stiffened. She didn't know what she was waiting for.

She shook her tingling hands and sat up. She glanced back—were Lin Shu and Yiyi cuddling in sleep?

Instead, she locked eyes with Lin Shu. Why aren't you asleep? Aren't you a quick sleeper?

Caiyi didn't know Lin Shu snored when he slept.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Lin Shu clamped a hand over it, pinching her cheeks.

"Shh."

Yiyi slept soundly. Lin Shu glanced at his sister, then signaled Caiyi to stay quiet with his eyes.

Caiyi pinched Lin Shu's cheeks, stretching them sideways. She glared fiercely—no understanding at all.

They froze like that for a minute. Lin Shu feared she'd shout if he let go. Letting Yiyi sleep longer was worth it.

He didn't release her; she didn't release him.

Rebellious Caiyi never surrendered. She nibbled his palm with her teeth. He didn't flinch.

She wanted to bite him but couldn't reach. So she licked his hand instead.

A warm, itchy sensation spread in his palm. Lin Shu trembled slightly. His grip loosened. Caiyi licked harder, sensing it worked.

Lin Shu finally let go. He turned his palm up, covered in spit, to avoid dripping on the bed.

Caiyi released his face, rubbing her sore cheeks. She bit her numb tongue lightly—feeling like she'd licked off a layer of skin.

Lin Shu raised an eyebrow, sliding his wet palm toward her, signaling for tissues.

"Dream on. Grossed out? Just wait—it'll dry soon." Caiyi smirked, keeping her voice low.

Lin Shu pretended to wipe his hand on her clothes, trying to scare her into fetching tissues. He couldn't move.

"If you dare, I'll take you down with me!" Caiyi shrieked in panic. She forgot she knelt on the edge. She jerked back and tumbled to the floor, landing hard on her butt with a loud thud.

Ruined. All ruined.

Movement came from Lin Shu's left arm. Yiyi nuzzled his sleeve, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she slowly sat up.

"Brother, good afternoon."

"Already rested? Not sleeping longer?"

"Enough's enough. Oversleeping makes me dizzy and groggy. Plus, sleep quality's high next to Brother."

"Brother, what happened to your face?" Yiyi cupped his cheeks.

"Well..."

Lin Shu felt awkward. Their childish antics left faint red marks on both their faces.

"Liang Caiyi, why are you sleeping on the floor?"

"You think I want to?"

Caiyi winced, tears welling as she rubbed her sore bottom. So unlucky.

"See? You really don't dare sleep with Brother."

Caiyi couldn't be bothered to argue with Yiyi now.

"Hoo hoo..."

Yiyi blew soft breaths on Lin Shu's cheek. Sleepless Lin Shu felt drowsy, eyes half-closed in comfort.

"Better now, Brother?"

"Mm, much better."

"Hoo hah..."

Yiyi switched to his other cheek.

Suddenly, the breeze stopped. A soft, wet touch landed on Lin Shu's cheek. His eyes flew open. Caiyi on the floor stared, frozen, forgetting to snap a photo.

"Hehe, I must be half-asleep."

Yiyi tapped her head cutely, stuck out her pink tongue, and reached for her jacket.

Just sleepiness. That had to be it.

Lin Shu reached down to pull Caiyi up. Still shocked, she took his hand and climbed up without thinking.

Her hands felt slimy—her own spit. Caiyi snapped, "Lin Shu, I'm gonna kill you!"

She dashed to the bathroom, scrubbing her hands with soap three times.

"I'm totally hated now." Lin Shu shrugged at his sister.

"Brother, wash your hands too. They stink." Yiyi pinched her nose.

Watching Caiyi wash so thoroughly, Lin Shu leaned on the doorframe. "It's your spit. Why so grossed out?"

"And you're the grossest!"