Jian Youyou's scalp tingled with embarrassment. Being caught in the middle of the night trying to do this kind of thing by Yu Hekun's older brother... if she weren't exceptionally thick-skinned, her blush would definitely be showing right now.
She quickly composed herself, standing straight by Yu Hekun's bedroom door, and said, "I was just a bit thirsty, planning to go downstairs for some water. Brother, you're still up so late?"
This was the first time Jian Youyou had called Yu Mingzhong 'brother.' Yu Mingzhong raised an eyebrow, giving Yu Hekun's door a meaningful glance.
Jian Youyou removed her hand from Yu Hekun's doorknob, then turned and walked downstairs, her mental fortitude truly impressive.
Yu Mingzhong stood on the second floor, watching as she actually went downstairs, opened the fridge, and chugged a bottle of milk. He let out a soft chuckle before returning to his room.
Failing on her first attempt, Jian Youyou returned to her room, utterly unwilling to give up. If she could climb into Yu Hekun's bed tonight, she could go home tonight. One night was enough for her to return before dawn, as the buffer time for entering and exiting the worlds was roughly the same.
Lying in her own bed, unable to sleep, she tossed and turned for over an hour before sitting up again. She quietly opened her door and peeked into the hallway. Only wall sconces were lit, casting a dim but not dark light. It was so quiet you couldn't even hear a mosquito.
A furtive look of glee flashed across Jian Youyou's face. She crept out of her room, quietly closed the door, and stealthily made her way back to Yu Hekun's door. Her hand found the doorknob, and she pressed down slowly, inch by inch. Once fully depressed, she gave it a gentle push—it opened easily.
A triumphant smile spread across Jian Youyou's face. But before she could push the door open completely, a man's voice sounded from the other end of the hallway again. It wasn't loud or shouting, still that deep, pleasant tone, yet it pierced her ears like a demonic chant, making her hair practically stand on end along with her goosebumps.
"Miss Jian, thirsty again?" Yu Mingzhong stood at the top of the stairs holding a cup containing freshly warmed milk. His glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, masking the sharpness in his eyes. He appeared gentle and harmless, yet somehow made her teeth itch with frustration.
Jian Youyou had already opened Yu Hekun's door a crack. Just a little more and she could have slipped inside. But of all the rotten luck, Yu Mingzhong was still awake!
Jian Youyou turned her head stiffly, neck cracking slightly, to look at Yu Mingzhong, forcing a rigid smile. "Brother, you're still not asleep?"
Yu Mingzhong remained leaning against the second-floor railing by the stairs. He took a sip of milk, his tongue flicking out to catch a drop at the corner of his mouth. "Miss Jian isn't asleep either, I see."
"But Hekun is already asleep," Yu Mingzhong said. "If you have something, Miss Jian, you can tell him tomorrow."
Jian Youyou pulled Yu Hekun's door, closing the hard-won crack, her expression finally crumbling. "It's nothing, really. I just saw his door was open earlier, so I closed it for him as I passed by, haha."
Yu Mingzhong didn't comment, but the amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. Jian Youyou had no choice but to march downstairs right in front of him, open another bottle of milk, and chug it down.
After filling her stomach with milk and heading back upstairs, Yu Mingzhong was still standing at the top of the stairs. Jian Youyou felt a strong urge to push him right over the railing. This man wasn't just an obstacle; he was an eyesore!
Returning to her room and rinsing her mouth, it was far too late. Tonight's mission was clearly a bust. She reluctantly climbed into bed, closing her eyes and trying to summon sleep.
The result was that going to bed too late left her listless the next day. Jian Youyou, who almost never suffered from insomnia, even sported faint dark circles under her eyes.
Early in the morning, a rare sight in the dining room: Jian Youyou, Yu Hekun, and Yu Mingzhong all seated at the table. Yu Hekun finally remembered to formally introduce them. "This is my older brother."
Jian Youyou flashed Yu Mingzhong a well-behaved smile and dutifully called out, "Big brother."
Yu Mingzhong nodded. The three of them ate breakfast together. Yu Hekun kept glancing at Jian Youyou, sensing something was off about her today. He couldn't help but ask quietly, "You don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"
Yu Hekun added, "The family doctor is coming later; have him take a look at you."
But Jian Youyou shook her head, covering her mouth as she turned slightly to stifle a yawn. "It's fine, Brother Kun. I just didn't sleep well. I'll go catch up on some sleep after breakfast."
Yu Hekun nodded, but the previously silent Yu Mingzhong suddenly spoke up.
"I didn't sleep well last night either," Yu Mingzhong said, glancing at Jian Youyou before addressing Yu Hekun seriously. "I heard rustling sounds all night long. There must be a little mouse in the villa. It was quite disruptive."
Yu Mingzhong asked Yu Hekun, "Did you hear the little mouse?"
Yu Hekun looked utterly confused. He had slept quite soundly. Shaking his head, he said, "I didn't hear anything. How could there be mice? We put down poison in the villa regularly."
"There really was," Yu Mingzhong said, giving Jian Youyou a meaningful look that met her own as she lifted her head. A slight smile touched his lips as he stated confidently, "I saw it with my own eyes."
"Little Kun, make sure you lock your bedroom door tight at night," Yu Mingzhong said pointedly. "Otherwise, that little mouse might squeeze through the crack and crawl onto your bed to bite you."
Yu Hekun was disgusted by the thought. He already hated rats—those ugly, dirty creatures—and couldn't help but frown in distaste. "Let's not discuss such disgusting things during a meal!"
Yu Mingzhong fell silent. Jian Youyou was so angry her cheeks puffed out. Yu Mingzhong was absolutely talking about her!
This wretched man stayed up all night specifically to watch her, ruined her plans, and now was making these thinly veiled accusations. Jian Youyou mentally noted down a hefty grudge against him.
After breakfast, Yu Mingzhong left for the company, while Yu Hekun stayed home, waiting for the family doctor.
During this time, Jian Youyou took a walk with him in the garden. They stopped near the kennels holding Julie and the other dogs. Jian Youyou asked Yu Hekun, "When did you start keeping so many dogs? They're cooped up in cages all day without enough exercise. Don't they need walks?"
Yu Hekun seemed to recall some unpleasant memory, pursing his lips. He turned his head to look at Jian Youyou. "Why don't you try walking one? If Julie starts running, you might get to experience what it's like to be a kite."
It was true; Julie's size was enormous. Even a grown man might not be able to control her.
She laughed and bumped him lightly with her body. "Why do you have to be so sarcastic? It's a miracle that mouth of yours has gotten you this far in life."
The fact that Yu Hekun had a sharp tongue and was prone to making cutting remarks—how could he possibly have never been beaten up for it? Back in school, they were all a bunch of edgy teenagers. Young lads wouldn't care about your family background unless they were taught a harsh lesson. He had been cornered and beaten up several times, but each time, Zhan Cheng would rally his friends and beat the perpetrators back.
However, such embarrassing incidents were something he certainly couldn't tell Jian Youyou. He merely lifted his chin slightly, putting on an air of disdain. "You're the only one who dares to talk to me like that."
Jian Youyou pursed her lips. She strolled around the courtyard with him for another couple of laps before Aunt Yun sent a servant out to call them in, saying the family doctor had arrived.
Back inside, the family doctor examined Yu Hekun, giving him a leg massage and applying alternating cold and warm compresses to his eyes. In truth, Yu Hekun was almost fully recovered; he was just a bit pampered, requiring meticulous care in every aspect.
While Yu Hekun was on his IV drip, Jian Youyou sat beside him playing on her phone. Yu Hekun also worked on his laptop, handling some business. Their arms were touching, and though they didn't seem to be communicating much, their posture was very intimate. Aunt Yun, who came in to deliver some fruit, looked at the two of them with a touch of contentment in her eyes.
When Aunt Yun first saw Yu Hekun bring a girl back to the villa in that manner, although she had no standing to say anything, she genuinely disapproved in her heart.
The thinking of the older generation, while sometimes considered old-fashioned, is absolutely correct in its attitude towards certain matters. A kept relationship—how could it possibly last? In the end, it's nothing but a futile waste of one's body and emotions.
But recently, the relationship between the two seemed worlds apart from before. Aunt Yun had also learned about Jian Youyou jumping off the boat for Yu Hekun, which made her cherish Jian Youyou even more. She wasn't surprised by the change in Yu Hekun's attitude either.
Having taken care of Yu Hekun since he was a child, she knew he was a good kid, and that he was just lacking affection and care. In Aunt Yun's eyes, a lively and cheerful girl like Jian Youyou was just right to fill the void in Yu Hekun's life. The two of them were extremely suitable for each other.
What Aunt Yun didn't know was that while Jian Youyou was indeed lively and cheerful, the depth of her devotion was something Yu Hekun might not be able to handle.
Jian Youyou spent almost the entire day keeping Yu Hekun company, just sitting by his side. When she got tired from playing, she would lean against his shoulder or rest her head on his lap. They bickered occasionally and snacked, getting along particularly well.
In the afternoon, when Yu Hekun had to go to the company, Jian Youyou saw him off at the villa's main gate. She really did seem like a devoted, stay-at-home wife whose whole world revolved around one man. Yu Hekun had already driven a fair distance from the villa when he glanced in the rearview mirror and inadvertently discovered that Jian Youyou was still standing in the same spot, watching him leave.
This discovery made his heart feel as if it had been struck by something, leaping and pounding wildly for a long time. He too had once watched his parents leave him with that same eager gaze, had watched his brother Yu Mingzhong leave for the company every day, and even watched the retreating figures of Huo Jiaoyue and his brother walking together.
Yu Hekun understood that aching feeling all too well, so much so that he began to feel a similar ache for Jian Youyou because of this gesture. Just how much must she like him to be so reluctant to see him go?
He was happily lost in his own imagination over there, while Jian Youyou was simply enjoying the nice sunshine, having been cooped up inside for too long, and just happened to be standing there soaking up some rays. Everyone, please remember to bookmark the website or keep the website address in mind. The website is free, with no theft prevention or errors. If you need to find a book, look for chapters, or chat with fellow book lovers, this is the place.
