Yuzhe was panicking.

His face remained calm, but inside, his thoughts were racing a mile a minute.

What was Yuche doing? Whatever else happened tonight, this was a bit much, wasn’t it?

When she’d suggested they bathe together, he’d managed to keep his eyes closed as much as possible and put up with it.

But why couldn’t she stay still even while sleeping?

Right now, Yuche was practically pressed against Yuzhe from head to toe.

Her calves were wrapped around Yuzhe’s thighs, and her arms were looped around his back.

It was as if she wanted to knead her whole body right into his.

After her shower, Yuche hadn’t needed to put on underwear when she changed into her pajamas.

Which meant the touch Yuzhe felt now was maddeningly real.

He could feel everything he should—and shouldn’t—be touching!

He’d always thought of her as a little kid before, but now, lying this close together, Yuzhe realized he couldn’t see her the way he used to anymore.

Mm... You can’t always tell how developed someone is just by looking. Sometimes you have to feel for yourself...

Yuzhe wholeheartedly agreed with that now.

But Yuzhe couldn’t let his composure slip. He had to keep up his poker face, or Yuche would only take things even further.

“Mm, I’m still awake. What is it? Go ahead.”

Yuche edged closer, stopping just short of touching Yuzhe’s nose. “It’s just... The way I dealt with Qi Xinye today... Do you think... think my methods were too cruel, or that I’m a terrible person...? I was just wondering... would you hate me for being like that, Brother...?”

It was rare to hear Yuche sound so flustered, so uneasy.

Yuzhe knew that Yuche, just like Zixiao, cared a lot about what he thought—so much so that they might care a little too much about his opinion.

So Yuzhe gave her a clear answer. “How could I? I know that’s just how you handle things. If anything, I think it’s kind of cool. Why would I hate you?”

Yuche’s worries hadn’t quite faded from her eyes, so Yuzhe added, “And none of that matters. I could never hate you, Yuche. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”

The clouds of worry cleared, and Yuche nodded firmly.

With her worries gone, Yuche thought about how she’d always been concerned that, when she was serious, she wasn’t as innocent as she was around her brother. She’d thought he might hate that side of her...

She was worrying again over something that was never in doubt. She knew perfectly well that her brother would never hate her.

After clearing up Yuche’s doubts, Yuzhe thought he could finally go to sleep.

But instead, he saw Yuche pouting angrily.

Her cheeks were puffed up, and she looked terribly wronged.

“Y-You... What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong again?”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, and you never would. The woman who came to our house today is the one at fault.”

“Qi Xinye? What about her? She already agreed to help us, didn’t she?”

Sometimes, Yuzhe really couldn’t figure out what Yuche was thinking, even though he knew her so well.

Like right now...

Yuzhe truly couldn’t see what Yuche was really angry about.

So Yuche had to explain, looking rather aggrieved. “Those things were only natural. That’s not what I’m mad about...”

Yuzhe looked puzzled. “Then what are you mad about?”

At that, Yuche puffed out her cheeks even more. “When Qi Xinye came in, you walked in holding her hand.”

“Huh?”

“And you glanced at her chest at least ten times! Is bigger really that much better?!”

“Uh, well... I... I...”

“And there’s more! You walked her out when she left, and you didn’t come back for more than ten minutes!”

“Uh... So what exactly are you trying to say?”

Yuche took a deep breath, then said each word clearly: “I’m saying I got jealous!”

Oh, he couldn’t take it anymore. Why was his little sister so cute?

Who just comes right out and says they’re jealous like that?

Forcing down the rush of blood to his face, Yuzhe reached out and smoothed the furrow in Yuche’s brow. “All right, you silly girl. What are you jealous about? Sister Ye and I aren’t like that. I was just being polite. And as for where my eyes went... that’s only natural...”

Yuche reached out too, taking Yuzhe’s hand and holding it in front of her. She didn’t seem to be blaming him.

After a moment, she calmed down and met Yuzhe’s eyes. “Well, I guess it can’t be helped. You might not realize how wonderful you are, Brother, but I’m sure lots of girls will gather around you from now on. I absolutely won’t stand in your way. Kicking every girl out as soon as she shows up would be too heartless.”

Yuzhe could only smile awkwardly. “It’s not like you say... I’m not some womanizer.”

Hearing that, Yuche could only sigh. “That’s what I mean when I say you have no idea... Anyway, I said I wouldn’t stop those girls from getting close to you, but I do have one condition.”

“A condition?”

Yuzhe himself had no idea why any girls would want to get close to him, but he was still curious about Yuche’s condition.

“That’s right, a condition. No matter how much love you give to other people from now on, you have to give me twice as much. No—squared! That’s absolutely non-negotiable!”

As she said this, Yuche had gotten so close that she was practically pressed against Yuzhe’s face.

Seeing how serious she was, Yuzhe immediately nodded and agreed.

Then he realized Yuche really was a little uneasy, and his expression turned more serious.

Yuzhe leaned his forehead against Yuche’s and cradled the back of her head with his right hand, gently stroking it.

Then he shared what was in his heart. “Don’t worry, my little princess. No one could ever take your place. You’re different from everyone else. Even if that day you’re talking about ever comes, you’ll still be my Yuche. That’ll never change.”

“Mm...”

Yuche slowly lowered her head until she was resting against Yuzhe’s chest, tucked into his arms.

“You know, Brother... Ever since Mom died, you’ve always seemed down. You tried your best to act like you used to, but I could tell. You were just forcing yourself to keep going.”

At those words, Yuzhe’s movements froze for a brief moment.

Yuzhe suddenly felt... How could he put it? His vision grew a little hazy.

He thought again of that white figure, calling his name and comforting him as he cried for reasons he couldn’t understand.

More than once, he’d gone alone to her grave and wept aloud. More than once, he’d spent the late hours of the night remembering all the moments they’d shared.

Ah... It’s been ten years, hasn’t it...? I still can’t forget you...

Mom...

Could Yuche really see right through the feelings he’d never shown anyone?

“You...”

Without realizing it, Yuzhe tightened his arms around Yuche, holding her close against his chest.

Yuche returned his hug, a tear glinting at the corner of her eye. “I’m so happy, Yuzhe, that you can lean on me like this. I used to lean on you and Mom, but you only had Mom to lean on. Then Mom was gone, and I still had you, but you had no one... So...”

Yuche’s smile had always been Yuzhe’s happiness. “So I want to work hard to become someone you can lean on. That’s how I feel. Can you accept that?”

“Ah... I understand. I’m so lucky to have a little sister like you, Yuche... Honestly, why are you crying? It makes my heart ache.”

As he wiped away the tears at the corners of Yuche’s eyes, Yuzhe knew he’d be even more determined than before to cherish the people by his side.

“There, I’m fine. Don’t worry. Let’s get some sleep. We have to go shopping at the mall tomorrow, remember? Don’t sleep in till noon again, or we’ll waste the whole day.”

“If I’m with you, Brother, even sleeping the whole day away wouldn’t be a waste!”

Seeing Yuche cheer up again, Yuzhe finally relaxed.

He didn’t matter, but the people he cared about couldn’t be unhappy.

“All right, all right. Let’s get some sleep. Good night, Yuche.”

Yuzhe’s gentle voice made Yuche feel as if she were floating.

And sleepiness washed over her all at once. “Brother... my good-night kiss...”

“All right... Let’s do that again. Good night, my little princess.”

Yuzhe lifted his head, brushed aside Yuche’s bangs, and gently kissed her forehead.

Yuche soon drifted off to sleep, perfectly content...

Yuzhe felt like he’d get a good night’s sleep too...

Well... Yuzhe meant, if Yuche could just not hold him quite so tightly...