The insulation in the old house was poor; even from his room, Gu Yu could hear the faint, rhythmic pitter-patter of splashing water. Although he didn’t harbor any lewd or filthy thoughts, the situation made it difficult for him to find peace. The sound of the water served as a constant reminder that a female five years his senior was currently bathing in the bathroom.
This sense of unease was even more profound than the previous times Luo Ming had come over to tutor him.
Gu Yu finished making the bed and sat at the headboard. New messages kept popping up on his phone; a group of netizens who had originally been chatting fervently about anime had suddenly pivoted to topics concerning sex.
A group of strangers, separated by screens, chatted explicitly and excitedly. They were uninhibited, occasionally mocking each other for being “full marks in theory, zero in practice.” Gu Yu exited the interface and clicked on the novel he had been reading for a few chapters, trying to distract himself.
The story was fairly engaging, and the suggestive sound of water nearby gradually faded. He became absorbed in his reading until he was interrupted by the clicking sound of the door latch.
Yun Qianxin stood by the door. The pink rabbit pajamas she wore fit her slender yet curvaceous tall figure perfectly, lending her sharp, elegant features a touch of petite cuteness.
She had wrapped her hair in the blue towel, but a few stray strands had escaped, dripping water down the side of her face. The collar of the pajamas revealed a large portion of her delicate collarbones and her pale, tender skin.
“Is there a hairdryer in the house?”
“It’s broken. I’ve always let mine dry naturally.” Gu Yu felt a bit embarrassed. Looking at Yun Qianxin’s waterfall of long hair, it would likely take a long time to dry on its own. “Maybe use my towel to dry it? Mine is still dry—it’s the cyan one on the rack.”
“Is that… okay?”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind,” he said calmly. Aside from the footcloth, there truly wasn’t a third towel in the house.
“Alright then. Thanks, Xiao Yu.”
Yun Qianxin thanked him with a smile and retreated from the room.
Gu Yu waited for a few minutes before taking off his socks, getting out of bed, and heading to the bathroom to wash his face and feet.
The lingering steam inside hadn’t fully dissipated, and the air was thick with a faint, wispy scent of rose. He walked to the sink and noticed a plastic basin nearby containing a black lace bra and women’s panties, with other clothes underneath.
He couldn’t help but recall the explicit words from the group chat earlier. A flush immediately spread across his face in the mirror, and a sense of bashful shame surged through his heart.
He turned his head away, refusing to look further. He dampened his towel again, letting the cold water-soaked fabric rub against his face to regain his composure. As he did, he noticed a long, thin strand of hair tangled in the towel.
Gu Yu removed the hair, letting the water wash it away. After finishing his business, he returned to his room to find Yun Qianxin standing by the bed, holding his phone.
“Your phone kept ringing just now, so I picked it up for you. It was a girl,” Yun Qianxin said, turning to hand him the phone. “Her voice is very pleasant. I imagine she must be quite beautiful.”
Gu Yu checked the contact. “Yeah, she’s a good person.”
“So, what is the relationship between her and Xiao Yu?”
Yun Qianxin narrowed her eyes, a smile winding through her long lashes. A restless, violent aura surged beneath her calm exterior. As she stepped closer, her gaze locked onto Gu Yu’s eyes, capturing every hidden trace of his emotions without leaving any room for escape.
“A classmate, and a friend. She’s helped me a lot.”
“Then, does Xiao Yu like her?”
“I’ve never had those kinds of thoughts about her,” Gu Yu answered naturally. He truly had never considered such a relationship with He Yu. The girl came from a wealthy family, was beautiful, and had excellent grades; someone like him, curled up in the shadows, wouldn’t dare to dream of it. “Friend” was already the deepest connection they could achieve.
“I see.”
Sister Qianxin leaned in very close. She was slightly taller than Gu Yu, and when the boy lowered his head, he could glimpse the lush, full cleavage within her loose pajamas.
She suddenly embraced Gu Yu, her arms wrapping around his neck. Soft snow pressed against his chest, and her cheek rested in the crook of the boy’s neck. The familiar and seductive scent of roses swirled around the tip of Gu Yu’s nose.
“Goodnight. Big sister is very happy today.”
Gu Yu was at a loss. The body pressed against him was soft and fragrant. The woman seemed to still view him as that innocent little boy, showing no restraint in her physical proximity.
Perhaps it was the excitement of a long-awaited reunion; he could understand it to some extent, but he still felt the need to remind her.
“Sister Qianxin… I’m already seventeen.” Gu Yu carefully tried to pull away from Yun Qianxin’s embrace, only to find that she was holding him very tightly, effectively imprisoning him.
“I’m sorry. Big sister is just used to the old Xiao Yu. Back then, Xiao Yu loved being held by me.”
“I… just don’t do this in front of outsiders. Sister Qianxin, you’re a girl. This isn’t good for your reputation.”
“Alright, alright. Big sister understands. But for now, at least, let me hold you a little longer.”
Yun Qianxin’s voice was tender and affectionate, but in the shadows where Gu Yu couldn’t see, her eyes were cold and stubborn, showing an unmasked ruthlessness.
In her eyes, the boy’s body was still so small, his lines delicate and soft. His frame wasn’t particularly sturdy—it was thin to the point of fragility. Controlling him would be effortless.
The embrace lasted for over a minute before Yun Qianxin let go of Gu Yu and left the room.
That night, Gu Yu slept very soundly. The presence of another person seemed to dispel the desolation of the empty house. The loneliness of countless nights ended tonight as he drifted peacefully into a dream.
He dreamed of the times when the plane trees outside the window were lush and green. Dazzling sunlight flowed over a pale, exquisite face. The “big sister” in the white cotton dress played games with him, helped him with his homework, and kept him over for dinner.
The young boy had been naive, ignorant of the differences between genders. He loved following Sister Qianxin around, his affection for her simple and pure. He thought she was far more beautiful than the girls at school, and that she knew everything and was capable of anything.
There was one time he had argued with his father, losing his temper with the middle-aged man who worked so hard for the family. He was incredibly stubborn; after the outburst, he had bolted out the door and burst into Yun Qianxin’s home.
His father had looked at Yun Qianxin, who was being hugged around the waist by the boy, with a face full of helplessness. He asked for her help in talking some sense into the rebellious child.
Yun Qianxin had agreed with a smile. That night, she let Gu Yu sleep with her. Holding the young boy, she told him in a soft voice to be obedient—to listen to her, and to listen to his father.
That embrace was very warm, infused with a light fragrance. Little Gu Yu had involuntarily agreed, nodding obediently as he snuggled into her arms, sleeping soundly and securely.
The next day, the boy suppressed his stubborn pride and admitted his mistake to his father, bowing in apology. Looking back now, Gu Yu was still grateful to Yun Qianxin. Without her, he might have lived with the guilt of that incident for the rest of his life.
As the night grew deeper, a very soft knock sounded at the door of the silent room. The fast-asleep Gu Yu did not hear it, nor did he respond when the person outside whispered his name.
The door opened cautiously. A slender silhouette stepped inside and stood by the bed. Seeing Gu Yu lying on his side, his breathing faint and his sleeping face peaceful, she leaned down to observe him.
Her soft lips brushed against his cheek. She whispered “goodnight” once more, then left the room and closed the door.