“Older Brother, did you hear me?”
Song Fuxue urged.
“Mm…”
As soon as she finished speaking, the man wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his arms and restraining her. His other hand moved to the back of her neck, stroking lightly.
His tone turned slightly cold. “What if I said… I don’t agree?”
The strength with which he held her was strong.
Song Fuxue felt her waist ache from the tight hold. “Older Brother, loosen up a bit first…”
Pei Shangyue did not respond. His expression was somewhat frightening.
Song Fuxue quickly surrendered, shouting, “Older Brother, Older Brother! I was wrong!”
“I was joking, just teasing you! I’m not leaving, not abandoning you! Older Brother, Older Brother!”
Pei Shangyue froze for a moment. The force in his hands loosened slightly, and some of his rationality returned.
Song Fuxue caught her breath, then suddenly burst into laughter. “I didn’t expect I’d really trick Older Brother!”
“So Older Brother cares about me that much, can’t bear to part with me at all!”
“Honestly, if I hadn’t tested you, I wouldn’t have known. You’re usually like a silent gourd, always with that straight face, never saying anything—I thought you didn’t even like dealing with me.”
“But the moment I said I was leaving, Older Brother looked like he was about to fall apart.”
Pei Shangyue: “……”
“Song Fuxue, if there’s a next time…”
“There will be a next time!”
Song Fuxue lifted her chin, completely fearless.
Pei Shangyue: “……”
“Alright, alright, Older Brother, don’t be mad anymore.”
After teasing him, Song Fuxue began to coax him instead.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled against him, soothing him. “How could I possibly leave?”
“Even though I’m not used to Beijing yet, I’ll get used to it after staying a few more days. It’s not like Hong Kong Island, but it has beautiful, romantic snow—and most importantly, it has Older Brother!”
“If I leave you, it’d be like a fish leaving water—I’d die!”
Her coaxing left Pei Shangyue with no temper at all.
“You’re not lying again?”
“I’m really not lying, Older Brother. If I am, I’m a puppy.”
Song Fuxue laughed.
Pei Shangyue released her.
“Then may I ask this little puppy who skipped dinner—what would you like to eat later?”
“Hmm… I actually am a bit hungry. I want fresh fish slice clay pot congee…”
Song Fuxue thought about the menu, then suddenly realized something. “Wait, I’m not a puppy!”
Pei Shangyue chuckled softly and went downstairs.
“So annoying, I got tricked!”
Song Fuxue jumped out of bed and chased after him. “Brother, you’re done for! You’re really done for!”
She caught up to him, jumped onto his back, wrapped her limbs around him, and locked her arm around his neck.
Pei Shangyue had long gotten used to her sneak attacks. One hand held ingredients, while the other supported her legs to keep her from falling.
“Do you still want to eat fish congee or not?”
“Hmph, for the sake of you cooking for me, I’ll let you off this time. Who told me to be so generous? I won’t stoop to your level!”
Song Fuxue let go of his neck, but still clung to him, circling around him restlessly.
Pei Shangyue’s cooking movements were skilled and efficient. His focused expression was especially pleasing to the eye.
Song Fuxue watched for a while before lazily leaning against him again.
“Older Brother, I really like staying with you…”
Pei Shangyue paused slightly.
After spending several days with Song Fuxue, he had already realized that all her sweet words were sincere.
She was warm, vibrant, and wholehearted—never stingy in expressing her feelings or affection.
She was the complete opposite of him.
Many times, her warmth had burned against him. Even though he knew it was wrong, knew she would eventually regain her memory and leave, he still found himself drawn closer, addicted, deceiving himself.
“Brother, what are you spacing out for? The congee’s boiling! It’s about to overflow!”
Pei Shangyue snapped back to his senses and lowered the heat.
After thinking for a moment, he said, “I’ll stay home with you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow’s not the weekend. Are you taking a day off?” Song Fuxue asked, confused.
“Brother, you should go to work. If you don’t earn money, how will you support me? I’m expensive to keep!”
Pei Shangyue: “……”
Song Fuxue snuck a slice of braised beef, chewing as she curiously asked, “Brother, how big is your company? What does it do? How much money do you make in a day?”
“How many assistants do you have? Are they all tall, handsome guys over 180 cm?”
“Oh right, Older Brother, how old are you? And how old am I? Am I still in university, or already working?”
Song Fuxue only knew she had an Older Brother, but everything about herself—and all memories related to him—had been wiped clean.
“How strange. Why hasn’t any of my friends contacted me? Otherwise I could ask them.”
She popped a few cherry tomatoes into her mouth and continued chattering.
“Older Brother, can I have a kitten? The kind where you take care of it and I just pet it whenever I want?”
“Older Brother, Older Brother, Older Brother…”
Half an hour passed. Song Fuxue finished an entire plate of cherry tomatoes and complained, “Older Brother, why aren’t you answering me?”
Pei Shangyue took a deep breath, his head buzzing. “You asked at least thirty questions just now. Which one do you want me to answer?”
“Did I? What did I even ask?”
“……”
Song Fuxue’s thoughts jumped from one thing to another. She asked whatever came to mind.
And yet, her memory was terrible—she forgot her own questions almost immediately after asking them.
“Forget it, whatever!”
“Brother, I’m hungry, I’m hungry—feed me already!”
Song Fuxue leaped onto his back again, wailing dramatically.
“Almost done.”
Only the final seasoning remained.
Pei Shangyue picked up the seasoning jar and was just about to add salt—
When a slender, soft hand suddenly reached out and touched his Adam’s apple, giving it a squeeze.
Pei Shangyue’s hand trembled, nearly adding an extra spoonful of salt.
“Older Brother, your Adam’s apple moves—it’s so interesting!”
Song Fuxue squeezed it a few more times, her hand slowly sliding downward.
“Brother, do you usually work out? Do you have abs?”
“Can I feel them?”
As she spoke, Song Fuxue undid one of his shirt buttons and reached her hand inside…