Yuche was overjoyed to finally see the brother she’d been longing for.

The moment she entered the apartment, she practically ran to Yuzhe’s bedroom door.

She took a deep breath and made sure there wasn’t a sound.

Then she pushed the door open, ready to leap straight onto Yuzhe’s bed.

But the instant she saw what was inside...

She froze.

Every movement stopped dead.

The light vanished from her eyes.

This lovely morning suddenly didn’t feel so lovely anymore...

...................

Yuzhe wasn’t fully awake yet, but he had the distinct feeling that something was staring at him.

Staring hard...

The gaze was starting to creep him out, so Yuzhe slowly opened his bleary eyes.

As his vision came into focus, he saw a small face that looked remarkably like his own.

She was smiling sweetly as she crouched on the floor, her face only a few centimeters from his—practically touching.

If he hadn’t known her, Yuzhe would’ve thought he was looking in a mirror.

But he knew better. He knew exactly who was in front of him.

“Yuche...?”

“Mm-hm, it’s me, big brother.” Yuche kept smiling, so sweetly. “You seem to have slept really well last night.”

All Yuche could see was Zixiao sleeping soundly, curled up against her brother.

How had things ended up like this?

But Yuzhe just sat up and rubbed his eyes, as if nothing had happened. It was hard to tell whether he’d even noticed Yuche’s displeasure.

“Mm, not bad... Sorry I didn’t come pick you up, Yuche... Hm? Why are you here so early?”

“Big brother... you did that on purpose, didn’t you...?”

“Hm?”

Looking at her brother’s innocent expression, Yuche felt like she’d punched a pillow.

He was way too calm!

“Big brother, you... Ugh, forget it. I give up. I understand all the reasons, but could you get Zixiao off you first?”

“Mm, okay.”

Yuche was used to how calm Yuzhe acted in situations like this, as if he had no idea what was going on.

But she knew perfectly well that he was only pretending to be calm.

Just like that barely noticeable smile when he turned back toward her. Plan successful!

Then she’d play along with her brother. As long as he didn’t get too flirtatious...

Hold it in for a while, and all will be peaceful...

How am I supposed to put up with this?!

“Ah, enough! Su Zixiao, get up! No more sleeping!!”

Yuche’s sudden shout made Yuzhe jolt all over. This time, he finally lost his composure.

She was really angry!

Yuzhe hurriedly shook Zixiao’s arm beside him. “Zixiao, Zixiao, wake up, wake up! Yuche’s getting mad!”

“Huh?”

Still groggy from being startled awake, Zixiao barely had time to collect herself before looking up and meeting Yuche’s slightly reddened eyes.

“Uh...” She understood the situation instantly.

“You’re finally awake?”

Yuche said with a cold laugh...

“Now that you’re awake, let’s go talk in the living room.”

Yuzhe could tell that Yuche sounded calm, but things were about to get very troublesome...

...................

It was barely dawn in the living room.

The three of them sat around the table like they were at a meeting.

Though there were only two chairs for the three of them.

Yuzhe and Zixiao sat facing each other.

As for Yuche, she was small enough to sit right on Yuzhe’s lap.

Then she glared warily at Zixiao, sulking.

At the same time, she wrapped her white-stockinged legs around Yuzhe’s right leg, as if afraid he’d run away.

The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment...

So, as usual, Yuzhe was the one who had to break the silence. “Um... Yuche, we had some things to talk about last night, and we got so tired that I let Zixiao sleep in my room.”

Then he added, “And we absolutely didn’t do anything we shouldn’t have. We couldn’t possibly do anything like that! Right, Zixiao?”

As he spoke, he shot Zixiao a meaningful look.

Zixiao immediately nodded along. “Mm, that’s right, nothing happened. I was just a little too tired. But as for big brother saying we couldn’t possibly do anything... I’m not so sure I agree.”

Why are you getting carried away too?!

It’s not like we were going to do anything!

Oh no. Yuzhe could feel Yuche trembling with anger in his arms.

Yuche was the ultimate brother-con. She couldn’t handle hearing something like that.

But Yuche calmed down again surprisingly quickly. Her self-control was incredible.

Then she said slowly, “Of course I know nothing’s going to happen. I know how much courage big brother has. If it were that easy, I wouldn’t have to work so hard.”

“??”

What kind of bizarre conversation was this?!

Yuche was facing away from him in his arms, so he couldn’t see her expression.

He only heard her continue, “I’m just a little unhappy. I texted you yesterday and told you to keep Zixiao away from your room today.”

She sounded genuinely hurt as she went on. “You even promised me, big brother. So why did I come here and find this?”

“Th-this was an accident...”

Yuzhe had no real excuse. He could only call it an accident. When in doubt, calling it an accident was always a safe bet.

“I’m sorry. This really is my fault, but I have to say, big brother made that promise to you. I didn’t.”

Zixiao, stop fanning the flames! Yuche’s going to blow up again!

“Oh?” Yuche was a little surprised that Zixiao had been so quick to challenge her this time.

She also tightened her legs around her brother.

Then she put on a condescending tone. “Zixiao, I think you’re getting a little full of yourself.”

“You think so?”

“You are. Now it’s ‘big brother’ this, ‘big brother’ that. Did you learn that from me?” Yuche put on a nostalgic look. “I remember someone who used to only dare call Yuzhe ‘Young Master’ and kept asking me to let her see him. And now that big brother pays attention to you, you’re acting like you can do whatever you want?”

Zixiao clearly didn’t like having an old sore spot brought up. “What?! That was then, and this is now! Things are different. Being alone with big brother is my right, isn’t it? Even you can’t just forbid me from seeing him, Yuche!”

But Yuche wasn’t buying it. She shot back, “A real younger sister has rights of her own. So maybe you should talk less. In the end, didn’t you get accepted by big brother back then because I helped you?”

“Hmph! That may be true, but you never said your help meant I had to keep my distance from big brother.”

“You’re just twisting things to suit yourself.”

As the two of them traded barbs and got more and more worked up, Yuzhe wanted to interrupt their pointless argument.

But he could feel Yuche’s white-stockinged legs pressing harder against his, a warning to keep quiet.

“Fine.” Yuche didn’t seem to want to argue with Zixiao anymore. “If you’re so confident, let big brother decide. Who’s more important to him?”

As she spoke, she turned to look at Yuzhe. Zixiao looked at him too. Both of them were practically brimming with expectation, as if they were sure he’d say their name.

But Yuzhe noticed the faint hesitation in Zixiao’s eyes.

Compared to the certainty and confidence in Yuche’s gaze, Zixiao seemed a little less sure of herself.

Compared to Yuche, she’d never seemed to win.

But Yuzhe was the one in the most trouble!

How was he supposed to choose? This was a question with no safe answer.

But after thinking for a moment, he came up with a plan.

Maybe he didn’t have to answer directly.

He could just change the subject.

Yuzhe lowered his head, burying it in Yuche’s beautiful silver hair. He parted a few strands and rested his forehead against hers.

In an incredibly gentle voice, he said softly, “Your hair smells nice today, Yuche. I really like it. Did you use a new shampoo...?”

Looking into Yuzhe’s sky-blue eyes from so close, Yuche’s brain went blank with a bang!

Y-you... Big brother, that’s cheating!!

Her face flushed bright red. She lowered her head and buried it deep in Yuzhe’s chest. Her legs loosened considerably, and her whole body went limp.

She couldn’t get a single word out.

Yuzhe’s utterly absorbed expression had even caught Zixiao in the crossfire.

Mission accomplished. As long as they stopped arguing, that was all that mattered.

I knew I had it in me!