Chapter 3: You Saw Everything, Didn’t You?

“Huff… huff…”

Ling Yuan leaned against the door, gasping for breath. Three kilometers in just over ten minutes—he’d never run so fast in his life.

As expected, he was soaked to the bone. Wherever he stood, a puddle quickly formed beneath him.

As he fumbled for his keys, his gaze fell on an umbrella by the door, still dripping wet.

He knew that umbrella all too well—polished wooden handle, deep black canopy, clearly not some cheap thing you’d pick up for a few bucks.

She’s here again…

The weather was cold, and he was drenched. If he didn’t shower soon, he’d catch a cold for sure.

Ling Yuan didn’t have the energy to think about it.

He turned the key, and with a “whoosh,” yanked the door open. When he looked inside…

“Huh…?”

“Eh…?”

Their eyes locked.

Yan Xi, fresh from a shower, was standing in the living room—completely naked.

Her eyes widened in shock as she frantically covered herself, screaming.

“Waaah—Brother, you big pervert!”

“Crap!”

Ling Yuan slammed the door shut, pressing his back against it.

‘Crap, I must’ve opened the door wrong! That’s gotta be it…’

But moments later, the door swung open again, and Yan Xi’s voice called out.

“Come in already!”

“Have you… put something on?”

Ling Yuan didn’t dare step inside without confirmation.

“I’m good!”

With her assurance, he cautiously entered.

“Look, you…”

Ling Yuan froze.

“This is what you call ‘good’?”

Yan Xi was wrapped in nothing but a white bath towel, like she couldn’t be bothered to do more.

This kind of eye candy would make any teenage boy’s heart race.

And, well, Yan Xi’s looks were top-tier at Hengjiang High.

Her glossy black hair reached her waist, her face as delicate and radiant as a white peony.

Raised in wealth, her figure was practically perfect.

While her beauty might not outshine Yixin Xue’s, her fuller chest certainly did.

Not to mention, her curvaceous yet balanced frame exuded feminine charm.

But Ling Yuan?

He wasn’t interested.

“What else do you expect?”

Yan Xi plopped down nearby, grabbing a hairdryer and comb to dry her hair.

“You saw everything, didn’t you?”

Her sudden comment made Ling Yuan, already chilled from the rain, feel his heart freeze over.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Yan Xi’s voice was louder than the hairdryer, and her tone wasn’t angry—more like she was teasing him.

“Was it nice to look at?”

“I barely saw anything.”

“Eww, really?”

Yan Xi switched off the hairdryer, eyeing him with interest. Only then did she notice he was soaking wet.

“Hey, didn’t I call you this morning and tell you to bring an umbrella? Or… does Brother not care about what his little sister says anymore…?”

“I brought it.”

Ling Yuan gave a bitter smile.

“Lent it to someone else. Anyway, I’m gonna shower before I catch a cold.”

“Alrighty, Big Brother! Need Yan Xi to give you a massage while you’re in there?”

“My dear lady, with your fancy status, you’re the one who should be getting massages. Just don’t pull the same stunts as before, and I’ll be grateful!”

Ling Yuan grabbed clean clothes from the wardrobe and headed to the bathroom, making sure to lock the door loudly as a warning.

“Hmph.”

Yan Xi pouted unhappily, but a sly smile crept onto her face as an idea sparked.

‘Damn, it’s freezing. Gotta take a hot shower and crawl into bed.’

Ling Yuan had just stripped when a face appeared in the frosted glass of the bathroom door.

“Crap! Yan Xi! What the hell are you doing!? Get away from there!”

The door was semi-transparent—you couldn’t see details, but Yan Xi’s silhouette clinging to it looked like a ghost straight out of a horror movie.

“Big Brother~ Open the door~ Let Yan Xi take a peek~”

“Peek at what!? Get lost!”

Ling Yuan instinctively grabbed his clothes off the floor to cover himself, even though she couldn’t see anything.

“Fine, fine~ So stingy~”

Seriously…

Ling Yuan broke out in a cold sweat.
Only when Yan Xi’s shadow disappeared did he drop the clothes.

He didn’t dare linger in the shower.
A quick rinse, and he slipped into pajamas, ready to hide in his bedroom.

Yan Xi was still drying her hair.
When she saw him emerge, she couldn’t help but giggle.

“What’s so funny?”

Ling Yuan headed straight for his room.

“Don’t sneak into my bed tonight. Sleep in your own room.”

“Why not!? We’re siblings!”

“No blood relation.”

“Oh, come on, we’re family already! I’m three months younger than you!”

Yan Xi switched off the hairdryer, tossing it aside, and poked her head into his doorway.

“Right, Big Brother~?”

“I don’t get you.”

Ling Yuan plugged in his phone.

“Your place is so comfy, yet you keep coming to my dump. There’s no AC here. Come winter, you’ll freeze! I’m not letting you sneak into my bed.”

“Oh~”

Yan Xi glanced around the bare-bones room.

“Hey, I could buy you an AC. It’s pocket change.”

“Who’s paying the electric bill? You gonna take it out of my measly 1500?”

Ling Yuan buried himself in his blankets.

“Come on, Brother~ Don’t be mad at Dad. He’s been good to you, you know…”

“Yan Xi.”

Ling Yuan cut her off, his voice sharp.

“If you want to sleep in my room tonight, don’t mention him.”

“Don’t be so harsh, Big Brother~ I just think you’re living too frugally…”

Yan Xi pouted.

She genuinely didn’t understand.

Their adoptive parents adored Ling Yuan and wanted to treat him well, but he refused to accept it. Living off just 1500 a month, renting this tiny place on his own.

Mentioning their mom was fine, but bringing up their dad made Ling Yuan furious, and he wouldn’t explain why.

It always left Yan Xi confused and at a loss.

“I’m getting by. But you? Leaving a mansion to crash here? You’re not afraid of slumming it?”

“Hehe.”

Yan Xi flashed a cheeky grin.

“You haven’t kicked me out, have you? That place has too many rules and etiquette. I feel freer here with you.”

“Tch. Go sleep in your room. I’m staying up late tonight, so good luck sneaking in.”

Ling Yuan opened his phone, picking a game to start his late-night grind.

Phone confiscation? Going to the class president’s house?

All forgotten.

How could he focus on ranking up if he was distracted?

“Hmm…”

Yan Xi tilted her head, watching him for a moment. She returned to the living room, grabbed the milk tea she’d bought for him, and quietly placed it by his side.

Before leaving, she glanced back at him.

‘Dad said… Ling Yuan wasn’t always like this…’

‘What happened between them? They both seem like good people…’