Bored, I lay on the bed watching mindless TV shows while city lights glittered beyond the window. Even as a homebody, I found the view oddly captivating. But after walking all day, my legs ached too much for another outing. A hot bath had eased the soreness, yet now my body felt like melted putty sinking into the mattress.
“Ahhh~” An unstoppable yawn escaped me. Sleep called. I switched off the lamp, settled into a cozy position, cranked the AC to max, and burrowed deep under the covers. Pure bliss.
*Thud-thud-thud!* Someone pounded on my door.
I rolled over. Annoying. I’d pretend not to hear.
*Thud-thud-thud!* It persisted.
Grumbling, I sat up and yelled toward the door, “Who is it?!” What lunatic knocks at this hour?
Silence answered. “Freak,” I muttered, flopping back down.
*Thud-thud-thud!* The knocking resumed—lower this time.
Ah. They were crouching by the wall. Time to meet this nocturnal pest. I yanked the door open, ready to scold—
A white blur darted under my arm into the room, trailing a sweet floral scent.
“Hey! Who are you? Stop barging in!” I couldn’t see the intruder from the doorway—they’d vanished into my blind spot. Forgetting the open door, I charged after them.
“Hi!” A girl greeted me, bathrobe loosely tied. Smooth shoulders and a pale neck gleamed under the hallway light.
“Xia Tong? What are you doing here?” My internal alarms blared. Why visit my room at midnight in just a robe?
“Later!” She sprang up, marching to the door. “Leaving it open? What if someone dangerous walks in?”
“Like you?” I shot back. “Why show up this late, half-dressed?”
“Ye Xi, joking again? I’m not a villain. Even I get upset when you say that.” She shut the door firmly and plopped onto my bed.
“My deepest apologies. Now—why are you here?” I stood facing her, deliberately shifting my gaze downward. The robe’s neckline offered a dangerously clear view from this angle.
Xia Tong noticed. Smirking, she rose and stepped closer.
“Don’t move! Sit back down!” I darted behind the bed, putting the mattress between us.
“Ye Xi, why?!” Her smile vanished. “I won’t bite. Why treat me like a threat?”
“Cut the act. State your business. Or leave. It’s late, and we’re alone.” I edged farther back.
“I missed you… Does that work?” She beamed up at me.
“Really?” I mirrored her smile. “Absolutely… not.”
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand—time to summon Jiang Chen. Only she could handle Xia Tong.
Xia Tong’s expression hardened. Abandoning all grace, she lunged across the bed to snatch the phone.
“Give it to me!”
“No… way…” I held it high, blocking her with one arm. But I’d forgotten one critical detail: Xia Tong stood on the bed. Half a head taller now, she had the advantage.
“Gi…ve… it…” She draped herself over my shoulders, fingers clawing for the phone.
Her foot slipped on the sheets. She lurched sideways. Shock jolted through me—I dropped the phone and caught her. We tumbled to the floor. My right hand braced the impact; my left shielded her head and neck. Pain shot through my palm, but she seemed unharmed.
“What was that?!” I snapped, pinning her beneath me. “Do you know how dangerous that was? What if I’d missed?”
Xia Tong’s eyes darted wildly, still trembling.
“Just go home,” I sighed, pushing myself up. She was just a scared girl after all.
Her gaze steadied. She inhaled sharply, then wrapped both arms tightly around my neck.
“Thank you, Ye Xi!” Her lips crashed against mine—cool, insistent, stealing my breath. Sweet fragrance flooded my senses. *Again?!* My eyes flew wide.
---
*Meanwhile, in another room…*
“Auntie? What’s up?” Jiang Chen murmured into her phone.
“How’s Xiao Tong doing?”
“She’s fine! With me here, what could happen? Don’t worry.”
“I trust you, but Xiao Tong…”
“She’s been great this trip! Eating, sightseeing—the works.”
“Then why did she suddenly want to leave home?”
“Well… she needed a break. High school’s stressful.” Jiang Chen’s voice wavered.
“Still hiding things? I heard others joined you this trip.” The tone turned sharp.
“Just… student council members.” Jiang Chen shrank inwardly. At school she ruled like a queen, but before her mother and Aunt Lu? A timid rabbit. She’d learned it from this very aunt.
“*Just* members? After the freshman orientation chaos? I know about the boy. Xiao Tong’s changed because of him. I deserve to know who he is.”
“Oh!” Jiang Chen sighed. No point lying. “He’s… decent. Good-looking enough. But he treats Xiao Tong like a nuisance!” She chuckled dryly.
“Someone finds Xiao Tong a *nuisance*?” Aunt Lu sounded stunned. Her daughter was perfection—her pride.
“Believe it.” Jiang Chen shook her head. *What a weirdo.*
“Her father hasn’t intervened, so I won’t either. But as her mother…” Aunt Lu’s voice tightened. “Watch her closely. Pushed too far, she’ll do anything. If she gets hurt, I’ll hold *you* responsible.”
A cold sweat broke on Jiang Chen’s brow. “Of course. She’s my sister—I’d protect her anyway.”
“Good. Arrange for me to meet that boy soon. It’s been years since I saw Xiao Tong smile like this. I owe him thanks.”
“I’ll try…” Jiang Chen winced. *If Ye Xi even agrees. Doubtful.*
“Rest now. Dinner at my place tomorrow!”
“Bye.” Jiang Chen hung up. *Better check on Xiao Tong.*
She threw on a jacket and knocked on Xia Tong’s door. No answer.
“Shouldn’t be asleep yet…” Jiang Chen frowned, then strode to the next room. *Thud-thud-thud!*
The door swung open seconds later.
“Miss? What’s wrong?” The driver rubbed sleep from his eyes.
“Keys for rooms 1006 and 1008. Now.”
Professional instinct overrode confusion. Still in pajamas, he sprinted downstairs. Minutes later, he returned with a wide-eyed hotel staffer.
“Miss! Here are the keys.”
The staffer gaped at the “Miss” title.
“Open 1008.” Jiang Chen’s face was grim.
The staffer unlocked the door. Jiang Chen flicked on the lights. The bed was empty. Xia Tong had vanished.
“Damn it!” Jiang Chen hissed. “That girl!”
She stormed out, snatching the keys from the staffer’s hand. “Leave. Now.”
“But protocol—”
“*Give them to me!*” Her command cut through the air.
The driver pulled the staffer aside. “Just hand over the keys. Stand by the elevator—we’ll watch from there.”
“Hurry!” Jiang Chen snapped.
The keys changed hands. Jiang Chen snatched them and marched toward room 1006.
The driver had roughly figured out what was going on. He murmured, "Ah, youth!" and strolled back to his room slowly.
...
"Are you crazy?" I pushed Xia Tong away hard and stood up.
Xia Tong licked her lips silently, holding the phone she’d just snatched.
"Xia Tong, you’re getting more outrageous by the day. Don’t you grasp the basic rule that guys and girls are different? Is kissing something you can just do casually?"
"There’s no ‘guys and girls are different’ between us," Xia Tong said carelessly. "Besides, I’ve given you my first kiss and my second one too."
"Should I be grateful for that?" How could Xia Tong be so clueless about boys?
This world was insane. I turned to leave. If I didn’t call Jiang Chen to fix this, tonight would never calm down.
But just as I turned, I heard a *whoosh*. Xia Tong hugged my waist from behind.
"You want to find Sister Jiang Chen, right?" Xia Tong pressed against my back, whispering.
"Mm-hmm!" I admitted. "Let her take you away!"
"Then go ahead! I’m not wearing anything anyway. What’ll you do?"
I looked down at her arms. Sure enough, the bathrobe had vanished, revealing snow-white wrists. So that *whoosh* was you stripping? No wonder you came over in just a robe.
"Xia Tong, I’m curious—why do you think I won’t do anything to you? You’re playing with fire. I am a guy, after all."
"I wish you’d act like a normal guy! I know you’re gentle. You’re not like those who only like my looks or family. They just call me pretty and well-bred."
"I’d say those things too—they’re facts! Is complimenting you wrong?" I’d thought Xia Tong stunning at first sight. What’s the problem?
"No, you’re different. You find me annoying. You don’t indulge me for my face or status. Only with you am I Xia Tong—just myself. You know that, Ye Xi..."
"So this is why you keep pulling stupid stunts?" I sighed helplessly. Xia Tong was perfect except her brain worked oddly. I got why constant attention annoyed her—but since when did my irritation become a plus? Was she a masochist?
I pried open her clinging fingers, yanked the blanket off the bed, and wrapped it tightly around her, hiding her body.
"Lie still and dress properly. Last time I’ll say this: protect yourself around guys." I bent to pick up her bathrobe.
"Is this you worrying about me?" Xia Tong pinched the blanket’s edge, looking pitifully cute.
"I’m teaching you common sense!" I snapped, tossing the robe at her. "I’ll wait in the bathroom. Get dressed and head back. We’ve got an early start tomorrow."
Just as I moved toward the bathroom to cool off, the door burst open. Jiang Chen rushed in, frantic. She froze, staring at Xia Tong—wrapped in blankets, wide-eyed and innocent—her face full of disbelief.
"You two..." She turned to me, waiting for an explanation.
"No... let me explain!" I stammered. "It’s really not what you think..."
