It was already ten in the morning when he returned to the apartment.
Today's events had greatly affected Lu Qing. If his interaction with Bai Xing could be considered research material, then the first half of the collection would only account for 30%, while the subsequent tailing portion would yield the remaining 70%.
"Indeed, the most fascinating material in this world is the secrets that people keep hidden in their hearts."
Lu Qing sighed deeply as he reached for the doorknob.
Click.
The crisp sound was accompanied by rustling from inside. When he opened the door, he saw Su Ling standing by the sink with a mop and cleaning supplies, appearing as if she was about to clean the room.
"Ah, welcome home."
Today she wore a sweet white nightgown that was light and neck-revealing, reaching her thighs, with a blue ribbon at the chest tied into an adorable bow. Her half-dried hair was casually tied to one side with a hair band, falling across her chest in a side ponytail.
Her snow-white legs were exposed to the air, like premium cream cake, a feast for the eyes.
"Ah, Su Ling, what made you suddenly want to clean the house? You don't need to do this, I'll take care of it later."
Lu Qing walked into the room, placing the panini on the tea table.
"Hmm~?"
The young woman shifted her gaze from his hands to his face, walking over suspiciously and asking, "By the way, where did you just go?"
"Downstairs to buy you breakfast."
"Buy breakfast?"
Su Ling thoughtfully circled to his front, looking him up and down, smiling sweetly: "But it's so cold outside, did brother go downstairs without a coat?"
"Uh."
This was bad.
Her astounding perceptiveness was no joke.
At this point, if he said he went downstairs with the neighbor and had breakfast together, it would surely make her uncomfortable, right? After all, he hadn't eaten with her, but instead with someone else...
Considering Su Ling's previous reactions, Lu Qing was 80% certain that telling the truth would worsen the young woman's condition.
"The breakfast shop is quite close to the complex, just around the corner, so I forgot to wear one."
He turned his face away, speaking stiffly.
"Oh. I see."
Su Ling's smile didn't fade as she gently sat down beside him.
"..."
Lu Qing sat there uncomfortably.
She softly placed her hands on his forearm, sliding down to cup his large hand in her palms, and said seriously:
"Hey, even if the breakfast shop is nearby, you shouldn't go out without proper clothes next time. You'll catch a cold."
As she spoke, the young woman leaned forward, and under his increasingly focused gaze, she half-stood and pressed her soft cheek against his forehead—
Embracing his neck, feeling his temperature in zero distance with genuine concern.
"Su Ling...?"
"Shh, I'm warming you up."
Sweet words entered his ears, fragrance filled his throat.
Every breath was filled with an intoxicating scent.
The lace at the sleeve of her nightgown brushed against his nose tip as she knelt with one knee on the sofa while keeping the other leg straight for support.
The subtle squatting position perfectly caused the ribbon at her chest to shift downward with gravity.
Although the nightgown had built-in padding, Lu Qing had no idea where to look anymore and could only close his eyes, his hands finding no place to rest.
The sensation on his forehead was peculiar – the delicate collision with the young woman's cheek, smooth and slightly cool.
He could tell she spent considerable time on skincare, as this level of moisturized texture was impossible without meticulous care.
"It was cold outside, wasn't it?"
"Mm..."
"It's already autumn, you can easily catch a cold if you're not careful. If you get sick, you won't be able to attend school properly."
Su Ling spoke while gently stroking his head, her movements tender, her voice natural.
"But don't worry, even if you're sick in bed, I'll take good care of you. And with me by your side, I won't let you catch a cold easily."
In that instant, an overwhelming sense of comfort enveloped the surroundings, making Lu Qing feel lighter, his mind empty.
He didn't notice the hidden meaning in Su Ling's words, only feeling that under such gentle care, any fatigue would be swept away.
Time seemed to slow down.
Unconsciously, his eyelids began to feel heavy.
Despite it being morning, drowsiness struck again.
How strange.
"Sleep, sleep, take a rest if you're tired. Autumn is meant for sleeping more, brother hasn't been sleeping well lately, so why not take this chance to catch up on sleep? I'll be good and eat my breakfast."
Under his half-closed eyes, the young woman gradually consumed the consciousness of the person in her embrace.
"Good boy."
"..."
Though her words were comforting, at this moment, Su Ling's gaze was filled with a darkness that completely contradicted her gentle speech.
—How displeasing.
Heh.
Brother left at six in the morning.
He wore a black fitted coat when he left.
When he returned, the coat was gone, and he said he went somewhere nearby to buy breakfast.
After three hours in the autumn wind, the breakfast must be completely cold, right?
Obviously, he wouldn't buy me cold food.
So, something must have happened in between.
"Hmph."
It's not my perfume.
It's a sweet fragrance that only girls, young women would use.
Come to think of it, the girls brother has mentioned recently...
Almost none.
And it doesn't seem like that artist from the screen I secretly glimpsed while pretending to sleep at the café last time.
Always asking brother for praise, sending him harassment messages every day... hmph, clearly a woman, that one.
So, if we exclude her, it seems only the neighbor next door remains.
Could it be her?
Would brother go out with the neighbor behind my back?
Does he like her?
No, impossible. Brother doesn't need women, he's been alone all these years.
So, she likes him.
She asked him out.
...
At this thought, Su Ling's gaze turned cold.
Why did she ask him out?
What does she want from brother?
Is she lusting after brother's body?
But if she was really that desperate, she would have made a move before I arrived.
Then why choose this timing?
Why make a move on brother after I appeared?
Is she targeting me?
Is it because of that boring female competitive spirit?
Trying to prove she's better than me?
Ridiculous.
He belongs to me, he is my only one, my entire world. How could I possibly let him go, give him to you outsiders?
No matter who it is, trying to take him away from me is not allowed, it will never succeed, never.
"Fine, I let it slide when you interrupted my maid costume welcome ceremony last time. Since you've now officially declared war on me, don't blame me for forgetting about being neighborly from now on. You little thief."
...
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