CITM - 3

The soundproofing in the tube building was poor. The brothers’ rooms were separated by wooden panels, and any slight movement could be heard clearly in the adjacent room.

Ye Yun’s mind went blank, as if caught red-handed doing something wrong. Her heartbeat pounded against her chest, threatening to burst out. Wenbin stopped talking, his rapid breathing stirring the darkness. The room fell silent until the sound of a door opening and footsteps fading away signaled that everything had calmed down. Only then did Ye Yun feel her breath return to normal.

Wenbin held her soft hand under the blanket, trying to comfort her: “It’s alright. Even if Big Brother heard, he wouldn’t say anything.”

But Ye Yun couldn’t calm down. Sleeping with Wenbin so soon after arriving at the Bai household, possibly overheard by others, filled her with shame.

Wenbin nonchalantly kneaded her delicate fingers. Each touch made Ye Yun uneasy, her nervousness like being repeatedly grilled over a fire. She pulled her hand back and told Wenbin: “I need to use the restroom.”

Hurriedly getting up from the bed, Ye Yun grabbed her outerwear and rushed out. Opening the door, the cool night breeze blew on her flushed cheeks, dissipating some of the redness. Just stepping out, she saw a figure reclining in a bamboo chair by the door, eyes closed with legs crossed.

The blush that had faded from Ye Yun’s face returned in full force. Her heart tightened, and her voice trembled as she called out: “B-Big Brother…”

She almost blurted out why he wasn’t sleeping in his room but swallowed her words. Everyone knew the reason; saying it aloud would only make things awkward.

Bai Wenfu didn’t look at her, simply responding with a faint “Mm,” not moving from his position.

After closing the door behind her, Ye Yun headed towards the washroom. Halfway there, she realized there probably wasn’t a toilet in the washroom. Back home, the outhouse was by the field embankment, and at night, they used chamber pots indoors. But here, Ye Yun didn’t know how to manage.

She stopped and hesitated before turning back. A few steps from the door, she noticed the silver lighter placed next to the stove.

The situation earlier had been chaotic. She didn’t know when Bai Wenfu had returned. If she could hear the sound of his lighter from his room, then their conversation and movements must have been clearly audible next door too. This thought slowed her steps, and waves of embarrassment threatened to drown her.

Bai Wenfu heard the abrupt halt of footsteps and lifted his eyelids, glancing sideways.

The dim moonlight spilled into the corridor. Ye Yun’s loose hair hung to one side, and her white blouse was slightly wrinkled, perhaps from prolonged wear. The collar was loose, revealing her porcelain-like collarbone. The wind blew through the corridor, pressing the fabric against her body, outlining her delicate figure. The moonlight illuminated her flushed face, making her appear charming and alluring.

From a few steps away, Bai Wenfu eyed her, his deep eyes like ink, bottomless and unreadable.

Ye Yun tightened her outerwear awkwardly, her voice barely above a whisper: “Big Brother… um… where can I…”

Although Bai Wenfu was Wenbin’s older brother, to Ye Yun, he was still an unfamiliar adult man. She wanted to ask him but found it difficult to speak.

Before she could continue, Bai Wenfu tilted his chin upwards: “Straight ahead.”

Ye Yun nodded and walked past Bai Wenfu towards the other end.

At the end of each floor’s corridor in the tube building was a shared toilet. A wooden sign hung on the door, with “Male” written on one side and “Female” on the other. Before entering, one flipped the sign, and others queued outside.

When Ye Yun reached the end, two men were already standing there, and the sign on the door had been flipped to “Female.”

One of them, Feng Biao, seeing Ye Yun’s timid appearance, stepped forward: “Are you in a hurry? If you are, go ahead of me.”

Ye Yun awkwardly replied: “No, thank you.”

The other man teased him: “Do you even know her? Letting her cut in front of you—aren’t you afraid your wife will beat you when you get home?”

Feng Biao puffed out his chest: “What am I afraid of? Let her try!”

As they spoke, a door nearby opened, and a young man peeked out. Seeing Ye Yun’s unfamiliar face, he pushed the door open and approached her: “Which unit do you live in?”

The other two men, curious, turned around. Surrounded by three men late at night, Ye Yun’s heart raced to her throat.

“Over there,” she mumbled, nervously glancing back.

Bai Wenfu heard the commotion and glanced over. Ye Yun’s face turned pale, her gaze flickering uncertainly. Catching sight of Bai Wenfu still by the door, she felt somewhat reassured.

As Ye Yun turned her gaze back, Bai Wenfu kicked the stool he’d been resting his feet on and slowly stood up.

The young man asked with a smile: “Miss, how old are you?”

Ye Yun pursed her lips and ignored them. Feng Biao teased: “Little Liu, she doesn’t want to talk to you. Go home and sleep.”

The men laughed, exchanging jokes while staring at Ye Yun. She pressed herself against the wall, trying to avoid their gazes.

Suddenly, their laughter froze on their faces. A shadow loomed, and Ye Yun turned to see Bai Wenfu walking over, standing behind her. His expression remained indifferent as he scanned them: “Go downstairs.”

Little Liu stammered: “Fu Ge…” before rushing back inside and slamming the door.

Feng Biao and the other man looked uneasy but didn’t dare confront Bai Wenfu. They turned and descended the stairs.

The toilet door opened, and Aunt Huang emerged, glancing between Ye Yun and Bai Wenfu.

“I’m done. Who’s going in?” she said before leaving.

Bai Wenfu turned his back, and Ye Yun quickly entered the toilet.

The thin door barely blocked sound, amplifying every rustle in the quiet night. Ye Yun moved cautiously, careful not to let the fabric of her pants make any noise.

Her heart pounding, she adjusted her clothes and stepped out, meeting Bai Wenfu’s gaze. Her face burned fiercely.

Head bowed, she quickened her pace towards home, trying to shake off the lingering shame. But upon reaching the door, she froze—it was closed, and she didn’t have the key.

She stood there, embarrassed, stealing a glance at Bai Wenfu. He approached leisurely, his mocking gaze like a thorny hook, making her attempted escape seem comical.

Bai Wenfu took out his keys and opened the door. Ye Yun slipped inside without a word.

Wenbin was already asleep. She pulled back the blanket and lay down near the edge of the bed, but sleep eluded her. Every slight sound from the neighboring room kept her nerves on edge, tossing and turning throughout the night.

Wenbin slept soundly, not moving or crowding Ye Yun. By the early hours, she finally managed to sleep more peacefully.

Ye Yun woke earlier than Wenbin. Aunt Tong greeted her with a knowing smile, causing Ye Yun to avert her gaze.

There was no rice porridge this morning; instead, noodles were served. Aunt Tong fried eggs, and the aroma of oil spread through the corridor. Spring Di, smelling the scent, came out and teasingly asked: “Aunt Tong, is there good news at your house?”

In a good mood, Aunt Tong didn’t hide it: “Just giving my son some nourishment.”

This “son” naturally referred to her younger son, Wenbin. Seeing the fried egg atop his noodles, he exclaimed: “Didn’t you say we were out of eggs?”

Aunt Tong glanced at Bai Wenfu, who had just come out of his room: “Your big brother brought some back last night.”

Ye Yun carried her bowl into the room, nearly colliding with Bai Wenfu as he exited. He wore an open-collared jacket, freshly shaved, with neatly trimmed temples, exuding a crisp, refreshing aura. Ye Yun stopped abruptly, last night’s awkwardness flooding back. The bowl wobbled, splashing hot noodle broth onto her hand, making her frown in pain.

Bai Wenfu clicked his tongue, taking the bowl with one hand: “Go rinse it.”

Ye Yun rushed to the washroom. When she returned, Wenbin asked: “How’s that? Did it burn?”

Ye Yun picked up her chopsticks: “It’s fine.”

From across the table, Bai Wenfu glanced at her reddened thumb.

Aunt Tong placed another fried egg on Ye Yun’s plate. Ye Yun tried to decline: “Auntie, you eat it.”

Aunt Tong chuckled: “Stop calling me Auntie. It’s time to call me Mom.”

Back home, Ye Yun had already served tea to her mother-in-law, but she still found it hard to address her as “Mom.” Hearing Aunt Tong’s words, she reluctantly called out: “Mom.”

Wenbin smiled: “Call her more often, and it’ll become natural.”

Aunt Tong’s smile reached her eyebrows. The three of them appeared like a harmonious family, making Bai Wenfu seem like an outsider.

Soon after, Aunt Tong went to the washroom to do laundry, leaving the three of them alone. Ye Yun hadn’t been out of bed long last night, and Wenbin had fallen asleep shortly after, so he didn’t know what happened later.

He asked Bai Wenfu: “Did you go out again last night?”

Ye Yun kept her head down, eating her noodles. Bai Wenfu didn’t elaborate, calmly responding with a faint “Mm.”

Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning last night’s incident.

Unable to speak from nervousness, Ye Yun remained silent. Wenbin’s hand moved to her back, tightening its grip, and flipped her onto her back beneath him. Ye Yun’s hands shielded her front, her face red as if it could drip water. Wenbin chuckled, grasping her wrists and pinning them to the pillow, leaning down to kiss her tender neck.

An involuntary soft moan escaped Ye Yun’s throat, stirring passion.

But at that moment, a faint “click” sound brushed past Ye Yun’s ear, close as if it were in the same room. Recognizing it as Bai Wenfu’s lighter, her face tensed instantly, and she pushed Wenbin.

Wenbin obviously heard it too and sighed, lying back down. He said to Ye Yun, “Big Brother’s back.”