YABE - 19

Wen Siyu had indeed spoken her invitation fluently, but internally, she was still quite nervous.

She hadn’t held much hope that her idol would actually stay overnight at her house—it was far too dreamlike a scenario. So when Jiang Xu genuinely agreed, she was thrown into a surreal, almost unreal daze.

At this moment, the man was sitting on their somewhat messy sofa, wearing the brown bear slippers she had bought for 29.9 yuan on Taobao. Behind him was the cushion she usually sat on.

His posture was upright—not the carefree “Ge You slouch” she often saw on set.

After not being home for a month, Wen Siyu quickly scanned the room: magazines scattered across the floor, a pile of coats dumped on the single-seater sofa, a full trash can, and even an uncapped bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili paste and a bowl of leftover instant noodle soup on the coffee table. Her heart sank as she closed her eyes in despair.

Was Wen Siyuan some kind of garbage-generating machine?

She decided to text her parents later and complain.

And she really wanted to rush over and cover Jiang Xu’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Wen Siyuan had stopped pretending to smile altogether. Arms crossed, he stood nearby, watching his sister scurry around busily.

Ever since they entered the house, she had been enthusiastically fetching slippers for Jiang Xu, pouring him water, her expression so unnaturally well-behaved it sent shivers down his spine. Wen Siyuan swore that in his twenty years of life, he had never seen such a demeanor from her—and likely never would again.

While the little girl was in the kitchen preparing fruit, he grabbed her arm just as she was about to leave with a plate of washed strawberries. Pulling her back into the kitchen, he demanded: “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’s going on’?” The girl still held the plate of strawberries—big, red, and juicy-looking.

“What do you mean, ‘what’s going on’? How dare you ask me that? I want to ask you what you’re doing! Are you there to study or to chase men? Falling in love is one thing—you’re 20 years old—but bringing someone home in the middle of the night? And it’s Jiang Xu?! After just an internship and school, you’ve already managed to hook an A-list actor?” Wen Siyuan spoke rapidly, his face sour. He clapped his hands sarcastically, sneering: “My little sister is truly amazing. Silent until she shocks everyone. One relationship, and she brings home an Academy Award-winning actor.”

“Can you stop?” Wen Siyu nudged him with her foot. “There’s nothing between Teacher Jiang and me—our relationship is purer than mineral water.”

“There are still minerals in mineral water,” Wen Siyuan snorted. “From your tone, it sounds like you regret that. Who are you trying to fool? This guy Jiang Xu is practically old enough to be your grandfather twice over. If he wants to toy with naive college girls like you, it’d be a piece of cake. And the hostility he showed me earlier? If he’s pure-minded, I’ll eat this entire plate of strawberries along with the dish!” As he spoke, he snatched the plate of fruit from her hands, his tone sharp: “I bought these for you—they’re not for him! I’d rather feed them to a dog than give them to him!”

Wen Siyu: “….”

Unable to understand her brother’s irrational reaction, the little girl rolled her eyes, snatched the poor plate of strawberries back, and turned toward the living room.

Left behind, Wen Siyuan forcibly suppressed the overwhelming sense of abandonment and the grimace rising within him. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he followed her out.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw the two people on the sofa laughing and eating fruit—a beautiful sight.

The fruit, mind you, was the one he had bought.

Wen Siyuan felt deeply irritated.

So he walked over.

The man, standing at over six feet tall, squeezed himself between Wen Siyu and Jiang Xu, plopping down unceremoniously.

This resulted in him and Jiang Xu sitting nearly shoulder-to-shoulder, close enough to feel each other’s breaths when they looked at one another.

Wen Siyu: “….”

Jiang Xu: “….”

For some reason, Wen Siyu suddenly imagined the two men locking eyes and kissing. She shivered involuntarily.

With Wen Siyuan now seated, the atmosphere grew tense. However, the man sitting comfortably between them didn’t seem to notice. Leaning close to Jiang Xu’s face, he spoke: “Mr. Jiang is quite popular, isn’t he?”

Jiang Xu and Wen Siyuan’s noses were practically touching, yet neither backed away. Jiang Xu responded calmly: “Not particularly. Just average popularity.”

“Modest, Mr. Jiang,” Wen Siyuan finally cracked the first genuine, heartfelt smile since entering the house. “Since she was little, our Ah Yu has adored you. In second grade, she grabbed my arm and begged me to watch your movie with her, saying how handsome this uncle was.”

Jiang Xu: “….”

Wen Siyu: “….”

Wen Siyu shifted slightly away from both of them, opening her mouth: “Brother… Teacher Jiang was only 14 back then…”

Wen Siyuan whipped his head around, shooting her a glare: “Go to bed.”

The little girl protested: “It’s barely past ten!”

“Take a bath!”

“No!” Wen Siyu began siding with the guest. “What if you try something shady with Teacher Jiang while I’m gone?”

Wen Siyuan sneered: “What do you mean, ‘something shady’? Do you think I lack basic hospitality? Is that what you think of your own brother?”

The girl remained expressionless: “In my mind, you’re worse than that.”

Wen Siyuan ignored her banter: “Get upstairs now. I have important matters to discuss with Mr. Jiang.”

“What matters can’t be discussed in front of me?”

“Whatever it is, it can’t be said in front of you.”

“You have secrets with my little sister?”

“Stop it. Go upstairs, take a bath, sleep, or play some games if you want.”

“You don’t even know Teacher Jiang. What’s there to talk about?”

Wen Siyuan snapped: “Are you going upstairs or not?”

Wen Siyu whined: “Oh no, my feet are glued to the floor—I need to hear the secrets before I can move.”

“….”

Wen Siyuan wanted to strangle her.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xu leaned back on the sofa, calmly watching the sibling exchange with great interest. His true nature revealed, he reclined lazily against the soft sofa backrest, propping his chin up with one hand resting on the armrest. Tilted slightly, a faint smirk played on his lips as his deep voice rumbled: “Little Ah Yu, I need to talk to your brother.”

“….”

That single term of endearment struck Wen Siyu like an arrow, hitting her squarely in the forehead. The little girl blankly replied with an “Oh.”

After standing frozen for three seconds, she turned and headed upstairs.

“….”

Wen Siyuan: “??????”

Little Ah Yu??????

He had never called her that in all her life!

Once her figure disappeared around the corner, Wen Siyuan turned back, his expression menacing.

If looks could kill, Jiang Xu thought, he’d probably already be riddled with holes like a beehive.

Wen Siyuan’s face was cold, his eyes narrowed as he stared at him: “Mr. Jiang, I’m not stupid. From one man to another, I know exactly what you’re thinking—even if Ah Yu doesn’t. Let’s cut to the chase. I only have one sister, and I’ve protected her like a treasure her whole life. I won’t stand by and watch her get hurt. If you think chasing after naïve college girls is fun, you’ve got the wrong person.” He enunciated every word: “The entertainment industry is full of beauties. I’m sure you’re not lacking in that department.”

Jiang Xu listened silently, then slowly, very slowly, curved his lips into the faintest of smiles.

He raised his gaze and hummed softly: “I don’t know about the entertainment industry, but I am lacking.” He paused, then added: “I only lack her.”

Wen Siyuan froze for a second, then laughed: “Mr. Jiang, I’m not buying this act of yours.”

Jiang Xu thought to himself, I’m not trying to seduce you—I don’t care if you believe me or not. It’s Wen Siyu who needs to believe me. Outwardly, however, he maintained a serious tone, his voice unusually earnest: “I’m fully aware of who I am right now and why I’m sitting here. I’ve come today with clear intentions and full preparation. The things you’re worried about won’t happen—never will.” His deep brown eyes were steady. “I don’t know whether her feelings for me are purely those of a fan toward her idol or if there’s something else mixed in. But I’m very clear about my feelings for her. And no matter what position I hold in her heart right now, I’ll take it slow. I won’t give up.”

When he finished speaking, even the air seemed to grow heavier.

Wen Siyuan fell silent, his lips pressed tightly together.

After a long pause, he sighed: “Ah Yu doesn’t know you like her yet, does she?”

Jiang Xu hummed in agreement.

Wen Siyuan frowned, looking at him with confusion: “Seriously, what do you even like about her? You’ve only known each other for a summer.”

Jiang Xu chuckled.

“She’s adorable.”

When she solemnly planted flags during live streams, she was adorable. When she secretly watched him on set and, upon being caught, pretended to casually look away—she was adorable.

Her awkward, self-entertaining singing when he stumbled upon her was adorable. Her bouncing around like a little rabbit following him—adorable.

When she murmured sweetly, “Liking you is truly fortunate,” or softly called him “Ah Xu,” she was so adorable he wanted to pull her into his arms, stroke her fluffy little head, kiss her brows and nose, pin her beneath him, and listen to her whimpering his name in a soft, tearful voice. Her pale hands gripping his back, her creamy white legs wrapped around his waist—she was irresistible.

She was so adorable. How could anyone not fall for her?

Her smile, with tiny dimples that seemed to hold honey-like sweetness, made him willing to give her not just his heart but also his liver, lungs, and spleen.