The Clothes Are Full of Your Scent

"You..."

Bai Xing opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound.

How could one describe this feeling?

Perhaps it was because she had lived alone for too long, that even such a small gesture of care caused waves of emotion to surge through her heart like a tsunami.

Looking at his natural expression, as if he hadn't done anything special, the young girl couldn't help but wonder—

Was his sister cared for this naturally every day?

Was such luxurious affection as common as eating and drinking for her?

Could she freely act spoiled with her brother, receive his unconditional love,

Be watched over, be cared for, be protected,

Could she have such a life without doing anything to earn it?

"..."

The young girl bit her lower lip and turned away, her expression darkening.

Although she was being cared for, this warmth was "borrowed warmth," destined not to belong to her, not inherently hers from birth.

She didn't like this.

She didn't like the feeling of having to return it eventually.

"Bai Xing?"

"..."

"There are seats in that convenience store where you can rest. I'll wait in line for you, so go wait for me there."

"Okay."

The girl nodded, her obedient demeanor completely opposite to her previous mischievous delinquent image.

Like an abandoned child, she walked alone into the morning convenience store, found a spot by the floor-to-ceiling window, sat down, and rested her head on the table, revealing only a pair of vacant eyes staring in his direction.

Lu Qing kept observing her.

Seeing her even more downcast than before, he wondered if his actions had been inappropriate, feeling somewhat confused.

However, at that moment, she pulled his black jacket tighter around herself, as if feeling it wasn't warm enough, and right there in her seat, she slipped her pale arms into the sleeves.

"..."

In his view, she started buttoning up the jacket from her modestly-sized chest down to her skirt.

Since Lu Qing's jacket was too long, she lifted her hips slightly to sit on the excess fabric. After adjusting her position, she lay back down on the table, resting her cheek on it, lost in thought.

"A girl's thoughts are truly hard to guess."

Lu Qing withdrew his gaze with deep feeling, once again convinced that choosing Bai Xing as a main character reference was wise.

Only such a vivid, lively girl was worth magnifying, worth exploring.

Her beauty, her character flaws, her innate conditions, her acquired skills, her inner darkness, her unspoken secrets—everything about her was worth discovering.

He firmly believed this.

Bai Xing didn't know that Lu Qing had already developed a strong interest in her.

And Lu Qing didn't know that the girl who had initially determined to win him over had now seemingly reversed her stance, falling into endless emptiness.

Why did this happen?

Where did this emptiness come from?

Perhaps even the young girl herself couldn't explain clearly.

She just felt that her initial thoughts of "I want to get your attention," "I want to successfully seduce you," "I want you to fall at my feet because of my white stockings," "I want you to be deeply attached to me, unable to leave me"—

Had suddenly transformed into "I want to feel more of your care," "I want to make your attention my own," "I want you to keep watching me forever," "I want to monopolize your warmth."

Her desire seemed to be escalating.

Bai Xing knew such thoughts were dangerous.

After all, she was just a junior at the same school, while Lu Qing was a handsome college student with an adorable sister, who could afford an apartment in the city center and live self-sufficiently without worries.

He seemingly didn't need a girlfriend; having a sister was enough.

And she didn't want to strive just for the goal of "becoming his girlfriend"—that would be meaningless.

Between a courteous relationship and unconditional love, Bai Xing wanted the latter.

For someone who had never experienced parental love since childhood, who didn't even know where her mother was or her father's name, how could she possibly be satisfied with mere romantic feelings?

In her eyes, physical intimacy was just a stepping stone, merely the first step in building a bridge between their souls.

If she couldn't truly enter his heart and gain his attention, she wouldn't be able to obtain what she desired most—"attachment."

—Mutual dependence and love.

"Damn it, damn it... why did it have to happen at a time like this, why did it have to disrupt my plans now..."

A sense of crisis surrounded her.

She thought quietly.

It was obvious that although Lu Qing appeared to be sister-obsessed now, he definitely hadn't developed any soul-deep connection with his sister.

After all, she had been living in the Tianhe Platinum Apartments for two years, and ever since discovering that her neighbor was a senior from the same school, she had never stopped secretly observing him, so she knew that his sister had only appeared these past two days.

What could change in two days?

Could someone receive so much affection in just two days?

Two days probably weren't even enough to enter his inner world.

This suddenly appearing sister was so annoying.

She had been here first, she had even discovered a stalker following him and called the police about it.

Yet his sister, who didn't even know these things about him, could come later and receive the most affection.

Wasn't this cheating?

"If only I could replace her."

"If only I could take all the affection she enjoys."

"If only I could make him focus his gaze on me alone."

Evil spread in her heart.

A certain desire gradually grew.

Fortunately, this darkness didn't last long before being interrupted by Lu Qing's return from the queue.

"Here's your breakfast."

He walked into the convenience store and came to her table.

"...mm, thanks."

The girl weakly rose to accept the cheese and bacon egg panini he handed her.

"I didn't know what flavor you'd like, so I ordered the signature one," he said.

"Okay."

Of course, Lu Qing wouldn't actually let the young girl treat him; he paid for her breakfast and even added double cheese.

After all, she liked sweet things.

At this moment, Bai Xing silently held the breakfast bag with both hands, her gaze directed downward.

Suddenly, she noticed he had two more portions of breakfast in his hands.

Given his appetite, he couldn't possibly eat two portions.

So, obviously, one was for his sister.

Her heart inexplicably sank.

It was her favorite food.

She was the one who had shared this hidden gem of a store with him.

Yet in the blink of an eye, his sister would get to enjoy it too?

Bai Xing turned away, put the food on the table, and raised her hands to her chest, about to take off his jacket to return it.

But then she heard him say: "Are you going home later? If not, you can return it to me next time we meet. It's very cold outside, don't push yourself."

"..."

Hearing this, the young girl's face froze.

"Oh."

She stopped her movements and responded coldly.

"What's wrong, are you still angry with me?"

"No."

"Then why aren't you happy?"

Lu Qing sat beside her, trying to understand the girl's psychology.

He had thought she was upset because he said his sister was cuter than her, which would naturally make her feel inferior and was understandable.

But her current state was clearly not just at that level; it seemed more like... a state before some kind of darkness took over?

Lu Qing couldn't say for sure, but he felt something was definitely wrong.

"It's nothing."

The girl closed off her heart, refusing to answer.

Seeing her like this, he understood that continuing to ask would be meaningless.

Trying to comfort a girl who's upset without knowing the reason is a very foolish act, often achieving the opposite effect.

So, Lu Qing stopped pursuing the matter and instead took out his own breakfast and sat beside her to eat.

...

The panini was sweet; it was his first time trying it.

Compared to sandwiches, the panini had a more pleasant texture.

The fragrant soft bread edges, the flowing butter, the fresh vegetables, the perfect cooking—indeed, it was enough to make this store a hidden treasure in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, until he finished eating, she showed no appetite to join him.

She just quietly waited for him to finish his meal before issuing a dismissal:

"I'm leaving now, senior, you don't need to accompany me, go back."

"Where are you going?"

"That's none of your business."

"..."

The two parted ways at the intersection.

Lu Qing watched as the young girl walked into the distance, observing her retreating figure before letting out a soft sigh, "It's really cold."

The temperature today was only three degrees above zero.

Now wearing his clothes, the girl probably wouldn't be shivering from the cold like before.

However, so early in the morning, where could she be heading?

Looking at the direction she took, it seemed to be toward the Grade-A hospital nearby...

He felt somewhat concerned.

"Hmm..."

Considering it was still early, and his sister wouldn't wake up for another hour or two...

After a brief moment of contemplation, Lu Qing made a rather questionable decision:

"Maybe I should quietly follow her and see?"

...

...