Yan Wei emerged from the side room, holding two nightgowns and a change of underwear.
“Youyi, why don’t you go take a shower first?” She tossed a black T-shirt dress with a rabbit print, wrapped around a pair of light blue polka-dot panties, to Jiang Youyi, keeping a gray daisy-print camisole for herself. “The underwear is new, never worn.”
Jiang Youyi instinctively caught the nightgown, then shyly bundled the panties inside, staring blankly for a moment at the camisole in Yan Wei’s hand.
Yan Wei waved the floral-print dress. “Do you want to wear this one?”
“No… maybe you should go first?” A suspicious blush spread across Jiang Youyi’s face, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Wei asked, then noticed Jiang Youyi’s flushed cheeks and quickly understood, teasing with a smirk. “Are you embarrassed?”
Jiang Youyi choked back a reply. Perhaps feeling that her awkward hesitation was too humiliating, she straightened her face with a heroic expression. “Where’s the bathroom?”
Yan Wei suppressed a laugh, clearing her throat and pointing seriously. “Just down the hallway, the glass door on the left.”
As Jiang Youyi walked past Yan Wei, she suddenly heard her add, “Actually… if you don’t mind, we could shower together.”
Jiang Youyi stumbled, her left foot catching her right, nearly falling.
“Why so clumsy?” Yan Wei feigned concern, hiding a mischievous grin as she stepped forward to steady Jiang Youyi, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Jiang Youyi didn’t dare let her touch her, stiffening like she’d been shocked and scurrying away with awkward, mismatched steps, pretending she hadn’t heard Yan Wei’s last remark.
Once the glass bathroom door clicked shut, Yan Wei clicked her tongue, unable to hold back her delight.
How had she never noticed how adorable Jiang Youyi was before? She’d missed out on so much in her past life.
“What’s got you so happy?” Yan Chu peeked out from the kitchen, just in time to see Yan Wei standing alone in the living room, smiling toward the hallway—a rather eerie sight.
“Just thinking about something amusing,” Yan Wei replied, her lips curling into a smile.
Yan Chu grew even more curious. “What is it? Tell me.”
“No,” Yan Wei refused firmly, winking at her sister. “It’s a secret.”
“Ugh!” Yan Chu shivered in mock disgust. “I can guess anyway—it’s definitely about little Jiang, isn’t it?”
“Hehe,” Yan Wei chuckled without confirming.
“Fine, keep your secrets. Who cares?” Yan Chu dropped the subject, turning to take a carton of milk from the fridge. “Hot or cold?”
“Hot, I’ll do it.” Yan Wei followed her into the kitchen, skillfully taking out a small milk pot. She poured enough milk for about three cups, heated it over low flame for a minute and a half, then turned off the heat and poured it into glass cups.
Yan Chu was surprised. “Wow, you’re a pro. Do you heat milk for yourself at home too?”
Although their parents were strict about their studies, they took meticulous care of them in daily life, handling everything except schoolwork—even small tasks like heating milk.
Yan Chu had only learned to do chores after leaving home. She’d assumed Yan Wei was just like she was in high school—utterly inexperienced in household matters.
To her surprise, Yan Wei handled it effortlessly, with perfect timing. Had she just been too lazy in high school?
With her back to Yan Chu, Yan Wei paused at these words, nearly spilling the milk. She steadied herself just in time and mumbled vaguely, “Occasionally. Maybe I just have a knack for it.”
“The talent for warm milk,” Yan Chu chuckled. “Pretty good.”
Yan Wei poured the milk and, while cleaning the small milk pot, tried to change the subject by making small talk: “Does Sister Su come home so late every day?”
“Not always this late. She’s been working on a tight project recently, and we made plans to watch a movie tomorrow, so she had to work overtime tonight.” Yan Chu took a sip of the milk, wrinkling her nose. “I told her she didn’t have to keep me company if she’s busy, but she wouldn’t listen, insisting on pushing herself.”
Yan Wei felt like she’d been force-fed half a pound of dog food, choking so much she couldn’t even drink her milk.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough!” Yan Wei lightly kicked her sister. “Throwing dog food around at the drop of a hat—your little sister here is still single! Please show some care for the fragile heart of a minor, okay?”
“Isn’t it perfectly normal for a minor to be single?” Yan Chu retorted shamelessly.
Yan Wei rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you embarrassed saying that?”
“Nope,” Yan Chu grinned. “Anyway, I’m an adult now.”
What kind of human suffering is this?
Hearing the sound of a door opening and closing in the hallway, Yan Wei immediately downed her milk in one go and pushed the empty cup toward Yan Chu. “Help wash this, thanks!” Without waiting for a reply, she picked up the last cup of milk and headed toward the door. “I’m done talking to you. Cherish life, keep your distance from non-singles.”
Yan Wei walked down the hallway. The bathroom light was already off.
She stood outside the side bedroom door and knocked gently. “Youyi, can I come in?”
“Sure,” Jiang Youyi’s voice came from inside.
Yan Wei pushed the door open. Jiang Youyi had already changed into her nightgown and was sitting on the edge of the bed drying her hair.
She had taken off her bra and was hunched over self-consciously. The little rabbit print on her night swayed gently with her movements.
Her short hair, just past her ears, was damp, strands hanging over her forehead. Her large, dark eyes were half-hidden behind her hair, her eyelids lowered as if trying to stare a flower into the floorboards.
It was a perfectly normal scene, but as Yan Wei approached and caught the faint scent of Jiang Youyi’s hair, her heart suddenly raced.
“Drink the milk, it’s warm. I’ll go get the hairdryer from my sister.” Yan Wei placed the glass on the nightstand and turned to leave quickly, almost fleeing in panic.
Closing the door behind her, Yan Wei sighed in frustration, rubbing her forehead.
“Out so soon?” Yan Chu stood not far away, arms crossed, amused by Yan Wei’s flustered state.
Her younger sister had always been mature for her age and carried a lot on her mind. It was rare to see Yan Wei so panicked, and Yan Chu found it quite fascinating.
Yan Wei felt both embarrassed and annoyed. Not only was Yan Chu not offering any advice, but she was also enjoying the show!
“Where’s the hairdryer?” Yan Wei decided to pretend she didn’t understand Yan Chu’s teasing expression.
Pushing any further might make her snap, so Yan Chu held back, smiling at Yan Wei. “In the master bedroom. I’ll get it for you.” With that, she turned and walked away.
Yan Wei stood with her back to the door for a moment, rubbing her face vigorously to psych herself up: The chance to share a bed doesn’t come easily. This is a great opportunity to make an impression—can’t mess it up!
“What… are you doing here?”
The side bedroom door suddenly opened. Jiang Youyi stood inside holding an empty glass, looking at Yan Wei’s back with surprise and confusion.
Yan Wei’s knees went weak, almost buckling on the spot.
Fortunately, Yan Chu appeared just in time, bringing the prop to save the scene.
Yan Wei took the glass from Jiang Youyi’s hand and shoved the hairdryer into hers. “You dry your hair, I’ll take the glass over.”
Before she could finish speaking, she had already breezed past like a gust of wind down the hallway. Soon, a clattering sound came from the kitchen.
Yan Chu frowned in concern. Was her little sister about to wreck the kitchen?
In the hallway, Jiang Youyi and Yan Chu exchanged puzzled glances.
Yan Chu asked, “Is she always like this?”
Jiang Youyi wore a subtle, confused expression, raising one eyebrow slightly. “Well… shouldn’t you know better?”
“Uh.” Yan Chu couldn’t argue with that, after all, she was Yan Wei’s older sister.
Yan Chu decided to drop the topic. “Go dry your hair. It’s still cold, and it just rained. If you don’t dry it in time, you might get a headache.”
Jiang Youyi obediently agreed and went into the room with the hairdryer.
Half an hour later, after Yan Wei had calmed down and finished showering, she stood outside the side bedroom door, clenching her fists in frustration over her earlier behavior.
One hand on the doorknob, Yan Wei glanced down at the spaghetti strap dress she was wearing.
She was on the slender side, but still had a few more pounds than Jiang Youyi. Her figure was still developing, giving her a budding, youthful innocence at this age.
Earlier in the bathroom, she had repeatedly adjusted the dress in front of the mirror. The neckline of the spaghetti straps was deliberately designed to reveal a hint of cleavage, but now at the door, she felt uneasy. Nervously and anxiously, she tugged the collar up a bit.
She hesitated for several minutes, unable to make up her mind.
If only she hadn’t chosen a spaghetti strap dress—it was too… ahhhhh!
Jiang Youyi, who happened to open the door again at that moment: “…”
This is too hard.