Upstairs, under the dim light, a magnetic and muffled voice suddenly rang out, startling Xie Yun.
He spun around instantly and saw a tall youth staring at him. Lu Yibing’s slender upper body was wrapped in black silk pajamas with a V-neck; he had his arms crossed, his gaze was indifferent, and his long legs—clad in pajama pants—were positioned casually as he leaned against the wall.
“I saw you hesitating in front of the door for a long time. What’s wrong?” the youth asked.
His reddened knuckles tightened slightly. Xie Yun regained his composure, looked at him expressionlessly, and squeezed out a single word: “Nothing.”
…What’s with this inexplicable feeling of guilt?
After saying that, he hurriedly brushed past Lu Yibing and headed downstairs.
When did he appear behind me? Like a ghost, Xie Yun evaluated dispassionately.
Descending the grey-and-white glass staircase, he reached the living room and pulled open a cabinet to find a neatly arranged row of miscellaneous items. He couldn’t find the key. Xie Yun searched for a long time in various spots, but still came up empty-handed.
Should I call a locksmith? It’s too late; they’re probably off duty. I’ll just have to bother my parents and ask if there’s a spare.
The sound of footsteps suddenly clicked against the floor. Xie Yun looked back and met the gaze of the person with his arms crossed.
Xie Yun: ……What exactly does he want?
“It’s late. Why are you following me instead of sleeping?” Xie Yun’s indifferent gaze swept toward Lu Yibing, who had followed him down and was now leaning against the wall in his pajamas.
The youth against the wall smiled and asked back, “What is Brother doing here?”
“I’m thirsty,” Xie Yun turned his gaze back, not looking at him again. “Going to the fridge to get some water.”
Seeing that he had been in the living room for so long without making a move toward the kitchen, Lu Yibing’s smile deepened. Yes, I totally believe him.
“By the way, do you know where the guest room key was put?” Xie Yun added just as Lu Yibing turned to head back upstairs.
The youth by the stairs turned back, his expression full of confusion as his brows knit slightly. “The key is missing?”
Xie Yun nodded.
“Have you searched the whole house?”
“Things are organized neatly. Aside from the three bedrooms upstairs, I’ve basically searched everywhere.”
Lu Yibing raised an eyebrow subtly.
The atmosphere dipped into a slight awkwardness. Suddenly, another bolt of lightning struck outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, followed by continuous heavy rain.
Why is he being silent for so long? Xie Yun frowned.
“If you don’t know, I’ll go ask Mom and Dad,” he said coldly. As he moved to brush past Lu Yibing, a warm sensation clamped onto his wrist.
“Mom and Dad usually sleep early. What if you disturb them at this hour?”
Xie Yun’s legs stalled. He looked sideways at the person stopping him. The other’s voice was like a fine needle sinking into the sea—silent in the quiet, rain-soaked night.
“Brother, how about… you come sleep in my room?”
Lu Yibing tilted his head at him with a smile.
Their parents did have to get up early tomorrow for work; disturbing them now truly wasn’t a bright idea.
“Then where will you sleep?” Xie Yun said instinctively.
Lu Yibing let out a muffled “Hmm?” from his throat and laughed. “My bed is very large.”
“Brother, you’re a Beta and I’m an Omega. Besides, you’re my brother. It’s fine to squeeze together for one night, right? ^^”
…So that was your real goal when you were smiling at the dinner table.
For some reason, Xie Yun suddenly remembered that comment on the forum about Lu Yibing having “nefarious designs” on him…
Xie Yun didn’t reply. He simply pried the other’s hand off and turned back toward the living room. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.” He wasn’t used to sleeping with others.
Lu Yibing: “?”
“But Brother, there’s thunder and lightning outside tonight…”
“I can turn on the heater. It’s not cold.”
“What I mean is… I’m scared. And if Mom and Dad wake up early and find Brother sleeping on the sofa… TT”
Xie Yun was completely speechless: ……How old are you that you’re still afraid of thunder?
[Agree to it.] The system popped up at an inopportune time.
Xie Yun wanted to curse again. Under several layers of pressure, his legs—which were about to walk away—stopped in place. After a few seconds of stalemate, Xie Yun finally turned around and brushed past him to go upstairs in a gesture of compromise. “…I don’t like being crowded when I sleep. Don’t stick to me later.”
Lu Yibing:
He followed the other’s pace upstairs and the two entered the second bedroom.
The hazy night light reflected through the window, spilling onto the soft, grey-and-white bedding. The surroundings were quiet. Lu Yibing switched on a cool-toned light. Like Xie Yun’s room, the layout was minimalist: a desk, hanging paintings, green plants, and a wardrobe. It gave off a slight “ascetic” vibe.
The air conditioner blew a gentle breeze. Sleeping in the same bed with someone else for the first time made Xie Yun feel a bit ill-at-ease. Seeing that Lu Yibing had already lifted the covers and gotten into bed, he circled around to the other side to get in.
The soft bed felt the weight of another person tonight. Xie Yun didn’t strike up a conversation; he simply lifted a corner of the quilt and squeezed onto the edge of the bed, sleeping with his back to the other.
Lu Yibing hadn’t lied; the bed was huge, more than enough for two people.
Xie Yun closed his eyes. With his arm resting on the bedding, Lu Yibing glanced at him.
“Brother, I’m turning off the lights,” he said to Xie Yun’s back.
The quilt was filled with Lu Yibing’s scent—a light sea salt fragrance. It was a bit stifling but not exactly unpleasant.
Xie Yun kept his eyes closed, his tone loose. “Mm.”
The word, drowned in sleepiness, spilled from his teeth. Perhaps sensing his fatigue, Lu Yibing turned off the bedside lamp and stopped talking.
In the depths of the night, rain pitter-pattered against the windows, falling relentlessly.
After an unknown amount of time, someone propped themselves up on their knuckles and sat up. His ink-dark eyelashes drooped and trembled slightly as Lu Yibing silently watched Xie Yun’s peaceful sleeping face.
Slightly messy bangs partially obscured Xie Yun’s closed eyes. His long lashes cast a small shadow on his fair face. With a high bridge of the nose and relaxed thin lips, he looked quite well-behaved. When asleep, he had a sort of fragile, shattered quality; the daytime coldness had vanished, leaving only softness.
Looking down, Xie Yun was only half-covered by the quilt. The loose, deep blue silk pajamas wrapped around the youth; the collar was pulled a bit low, and his collarbones rose and fell with his breathing. A large expanse of snowy, flushed skin entered Lu Yibing’s sight.
Perhaps he was too tired, as his breathing was even—he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
A flush colored the observer’s cheeks. Lu Yibing felt his body becoming as hot as if he had a fever. His fingertips unconsciously reached toward the sleeping boy, lightly touching Xie Yun’s bangs. Hot breath and a soft touch burned the other’s fingers simultaneously as he pinched a small lock of the dark hair.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
His heart crashed out of control. Although he had been in close contact more than once, why was his heart beating so fast this time?
Outside, the rain drummed on. The night, like mist, enveloped the two on the bed. Looking at the way Xie Yun lay obediently beside him, Lu Yibing felt his body getting hotter the longer he looked.
With a slight knit of the brows, the sleeping Xie Yun suddenly turned over. Lu Yibing gasped and hurried to retract his hand.
The brother who had just been facing away from him was now suddenly inches away from burying his face in Lu Yibing’s chest. Lu Yibing was dazed, his body freezing in place as if turned to stone.
So close…
He swallowed nervously. Close enough to even smell the scent on him. The faint cedarwood fragrance tickled Lu Yibing’s nose. The other’s exquisite, three-dimensional features were impossible to look away from.
Brother is truly too handsome.
He hadn’t realized he would be this good-looking without his glasses. A faint red bloomed on the lips that were slightly parted in relaxation. Lu Yibing thought of the scene in the classroom. They had, it seemed, shared an indirect kiss.
Lu Yibing’s cheeks turned red. He didn’t know why he had stuffed the macaron into his brother’s mouth then, nor did he understand why his brother hadn’t dodged. Was it because he hadn’t reacted in time?
But… this brother, who never lifted a finger for chores, had actually made him his favorite macarons.
He loved him so much.
The silver key still clutched in his palm was placed into the bedside drawer. Lu Yibing lay back down to watch him, his face red as he gently tucked the quilt around him.
The horizon was covered in dark clouds. The seaside, after a night of rain, was dim and slippery; the scenery outside the window was a blur of mist.
Eyelashes fluttering, Xie Yun opened his eyes. The space beside him was empty, though the bed still held a lingering warmth. He pulled out his phone to check the time.
Nine in the morning.
Strange. I usually sleep very little; how did I sleep until this time?
He sat up and rubbed his aching brow, instinctively pulling up the pajama top that had slipped off his shoulder at some point. Putting on his dark house slippers, he headed downstairs in a bit of a daze.
“Young Master is up? Come have breakfast quickly.”
Looking toward the source of the voice, Auntie Qian was turning on the robot vacuum. Her kind smile entered Xie Yun’s sight. Lu Yibing was also sitting at the dining table, seemingly having just woken up not long ago.
On the table were the usual items the Eldest Young Master Xie ate: a cream and ham sandwich with a cup of unsweetened black coffee. Sometimes, depending on his mood, he would have two cookies.
Xie Yun gave a flat, heavy “Mm” and slowly walked to the table to take a sip of coffee. The bitter taste of the neat drink slid down his throat, making him feel much more awake instantly.
Taking his seat, he picked up the sandwich and took a bite, chewing slowly. Lu Yibing happened to be sitting directly opposite him.
Pinching a cranberry croissant between his fingers, he watched Xie Yun while breaking off a small piece to put in his own mouth.
Outside was a world of mist, but the dining room was exceptionally bright. The person opposite him was still in pajamas, the corners of his eyes were red, and his bangs hung messily. Those eyes, usually cold as frost, were now filled with the drowsiness of someone who had just woken up.
Under the daytime lights, the person before him looked even clearer. Long fingers, a beautiful face, and flushed collarbones all fell into Lu Yibing’s eyes. He averted his gaze.
After the meal, Xie Yun’s phone went ding-dong.
[Teacher Yu]: Xiao Yun, are you home? I’m coming over to give you your lesson. ^^
[X]: I’m here, Teacher.
After quickly typing the reply, Xie Yun remembered to change out of his pajamas into loungewear. After changing, Auntie Qian happened to be coming upstairs. Xie Yun asked with a smile, “Auntie Qian, I couldn’t find that key in the cabinet last night. Where exactly did you put it?”
Auntie Qian was confused. “No? I saw it there in the cabinet this morning. Did you not see it, Young Master?”
Xie Yun: ?
As she spoke, she pulled the silver key from her pocket. “I just went to clean the guest room and tucked it in my pocket.”
Auntie Qian wouldn’t lie. He figured it wasn’t a big deal and didn’t ask further, simply smiling. “Then I probably just didn’t look carefully enough last night. It’s fine.”
The two parted ways, and Xie Yun went back downstairs. His house slippers hung half-off his snowy-white, slender feet as he leaned back on the sofa to wait for Teacher Xiaoyu.
In the original book, the protagonist Lu Yibing was supposed to go to the stables every Sunday for an ambiguous encounter with the lead Alpha. Yet today, after breakfast, he unexpectedly sat on the sofa as well. He wasn’t looking at Xie Yun, just scrolling through his phone.
It was a bit strange. Xie Yun asked directly, “Aren’t you going to the stables today?”
Lu Yibing turned his gaze toward him and smiled. “I’m a bit tired today. I don’t want to go.”
System, the protagonist is deviating from the original plot again. Xie Yun reported.
The system let out a bitter, forced laugh: [Don’t worry, Host. The previous trip to the stables was the important plot point. Since that’s passed, it doesn’t matter whether he goes or not. There are no hidden tasks…