Every effect has its cause. Every outcome in this world follows its own logic.

Take the slap now stinging Lin An’s cheek. The moment he muttered *“we slept together,”* he’d already weighed three possibilities: twenty percent chance she’d burst into tears; another twenty, she’d pretend nothing happened and sarcastically praise him; the remaining sixty—she’d slap him. Once. Or twice.

It all hinged on his next words.

Xu Qinghuan’s hand trembled slightly—hitting him hurt her palm too. She stared at her younger brother, at the bright red mark blooming on his cheek, teeth clenched, voice unsteady. “Oh? So you’ve *grown some skills*, huh?”

A cold, mocking smirk curled her lips.

“I was drunk. She came on to me. Things just… got messy,” Lin An explained weakly.

Truth was, if Su Yuejin hadn’t deliberately spilled water all over herself later, he might’ve held back his greed.

Xu Qinghuan studied her seemingly obedient brother. After two or three seconds, the smirk softened. *An older sister must be tolerant.*

“Did you use protection?” she asked.

“She said it was her safe period… so I didn’t,” Lin An murmured.

Her fury reignited. *Slap.* Another stinging blow. She jabbed a finger at his nose, chest rising and falling with sharp breaths. “Do you have any idea some girls there aren’t clean?! Trying to die?! Huh?! Just loved *finishing inside*, right?!”

Lin An hesitated. Speaking might earn another slap; silence meant bigger trouble. After two seconds: “No… she was a virgin.”

Xu Qinghuan froze. Teeth clenched. Her raised hand hovered near his cheek—

Lin An didn’t flinch.

But the slap never fell. Her expression softened with quiet exhaustion. “She was… a virgin?”

“Yes. Her first time,” Lin An nodded.

“Tell me everything. Whisper it into my ear,” she sighed, sinking onto his bed. She tugged his sleeve, pulled him beside her, and gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

Her body was soft, but the backless sweater made Lin An hesitate to lean in. He gathered his thoughts. “Yesterday, I went to the bar looking for you. Didn’t find you. Met an eighteen-year-old girl.”

“First glance—I could tell she was upset. Bored, maybe. I was just sitting there when she joined me, drank a few rounds, played dice.”

“We chatted, drank more. She treated me. Didn’t drink much, but she got tipsy. I tried to send her home—she insisted on hot pot. Barely ate. Later, we sat on a bench downstairs for half an hour, talking. Then she asked me to walk her home.”

“I didn’t want to… but she was pretty, drunk. Worried something’d happen. At her place, she asked for water—spilled it all over herself… and then…”

“I didn’t know it was her first time. If I had, I wouldn’t have… She never said. Just stubbornly wanted to prove she wasn’t the ‘loose girl’ I assumed.”

“She was just caught in the halo effect.”

“After… I didn’t add her on WeChat. Transferred the money for her drinks and left.”

“That’s all.”

Logically, it didn’t quite add up—such simple steps hardly explained a girl willingly giving herself away.

…Of course, Lin An had used a tiny trick on impulse.

But the world is vast. What if she *wanted* to be reckless? And met *him*? Suddenly, it felt plausible. Holding him, Xu Qinghuan felt a faint unease—like he’d been stained.

“I see,” she murmured near his ear. “Not your fault… I forgive you.”

Lin An exhaled deeply. “Oh—there’s one more thing.”

“What?” She looked up.

“That girl… you know her. Classmate of yours. Su Yuejin.”

Xu Qinghuan stiffened.

“Su Yuejin?!”

“Yeah. Su Yuejin.”

*So the world really is full of wonders.*

“You took Su Yuejin’s virginity?!”

“Yes.”

“Damn,” Xu Qinghuan muttered. She knew Su Yuejin—distantly. Classmates, barely acquainted. Different worlds.

*Su Yuejin was a rich second-generation. A genuinely wealthy heiress.*

“She didn’t come looking for you today?!”

“She did. Demanded I take responsibility. I refused. She slapped me,” Lin An shook his head.

“Why not take responsibility after taking her first time?”

“She doesn’t love *me*. Just loved that drunk, silly feeling—where she could be foolish and feel cared for. In daylight? Why would she like *me*?”

“No future. Why bother? Besides… I haven’t broken up with my girlfriend yet.”

“Aren’t you close?”

“True,” Lin An nodded. “But I’m done dating. It’s exhausting.”

“How?”

“Pretending to like someone I don’t… so tiring. Not fun at all. Push me all you want—I won’t do it again,” he said earnestly.

Xu Qinghuan held his shoulder, eyes closed. “Okay. I won’t push you.”

Lin An gave a slight nod. Silence filled the room.

Ten seconds later—

“Hmm? Anyone still there?” A girl’s voice crackled through his headset.

Both froze.

“I think I just heard something *very* interesting, An An~” Chacha’s tone dripped with playful teasing.

Lin An stood dazed, stumbling to the computer. *Forgot to mute.* She’d heard everything.

“This is private, Chacha. Let’s pretend it never happened?”

“I’d love to… but remember, An An? We’re only a hundred kilometers apart.”

“I remember.”

“So… within a hundred kilometers, how many gorgeous girls named Su Yuejin are there? Hahaha! Su Yuejin… *she* had a day like this?” Chacha laughed gleefully.

Lin An’s brow furrowed. “You know Su Yuejin.”

“In our circle? She’s the most aloof. Ignores everyone at parties, wears that perpetual scowl… And *she* just gave herself away? Tsk tsk.”

Lin An’s voice softened. “Chacha… can you keep this secret?”

“I can… but An An, you owe me a meeting.”

“Huh?”

“I’m curious! You always seem like this gentle, sensible, game-skilled, charming older brother… Turns out you’re not so innocent either.”

“I’m really not.”

“So~ Let’s meet next week?”

“You keep it secret. *No one* hears this.”

“Deal~” Chacha’s voice sparkled with light amusement—unfazed, adaptable. Lin An never imagined such coincidence.

*What he didn’t know: this was only the beginning.*

“Well~ Off to sleep. Good night?”

“Mm. Good night.”

Lin An exited the call. Xu Qinghuan tugged his sleeve. “Who was that?”

“Companion app. She found me via ‘nearby masters.’ Chatted a month. Spoiled rich girl. Feels… troublesome.”

He disliked surprises. Preferred control. Forgetting to mute had unraveled everything.

“Alright. I’ll cook noodles. Wait here.”

“Mm.”

Lin An watched her turn—smooth bare back, elegant shoulder blades. “Why wear *this* suddenly?”

“Planned to coax you after last night… but *you* gave *me* the bigger surprise. Tsk.” She muttered, walking out.

Ten minutes later, she returned with noodles. They ate in silence. Outside, night had fully fallen.

Xu Qinghuan kept glancing at the hickey on his neck—glaring, irritating.

After washing dishes, Lin An’s thoughts drifted.

*He could’ve lied:* Girlfriend planted it. Slept drunk on the street. Su Yuejin would vanish. A flawless story.

But he chose truth.

Not because he was a good brother.

…So.

Are you jealous?

Worried?

Afraid?

Do you fear—pushing me step by step—

you’ll turn me into a truly bad kid?