The Next Morning
At 8 a.m., Shen Xiyan returned home with dark circles under his eyes and a bag of breakfast in hand.
He headed straight to his aunt’s bedroom. As he pushed open the door, a soft feminine scent wafted into his nose.
The air conditioner hummed quietly, blowing out cold air. His aunt lay sprawled out on the bed, limbs flung in every direction under a thin blanket.
One glance at her sleeping posture was enough to know—this woman had no shame and even less worry.
But this carefree woman was the one who had raised him and his sister for ten years.
Shen Xiyan turned off the AC and gently shook her shoulder.
“Auntie… time to get up~~”
“You little brat! Quit bugging me! Our Jiang family doesn’t have garbage like you!” she groaned, pig-like, and kept snoring away.
The “family disgrace” didn’t give up. He kept shaking her.
“Didn’t you say you had to go to the hospital today? If we’re late, we’ll have to wait in line!”
“Auntie?”
“So annoying!”
Aunt Jiang grumbled and cracked open one eye. Taking a deep breath, she let out a dramatic “heeyah!” and kicked her long legs up in an attempt to launch herself out of bed like a kung fu master.
It failed—miserably.
Her soft, squishy belly just couldn’t handle such a physically demanding move.
“People who sit at a desk all day really shouldn’t try stuff like that,” Shen Xiyan said, reaching out to help her up.
But for a moment, a wave of déjà vu washed over him.
Back in the day, every winter morning he and Wenwen would stubbornly refuse to get out of bed, snuggled in their warm blankets like it was a lifelong commitment.
And it was always his aunt who yelled them out of their comfort zone.
Now they were the grown-ups… and somehow, she had become the childish one.
It was kind of wonderful.
He hoped she could stay “childish” like this forever.
“Is that move really harder than a bridal carry?” she huffed, shuffling out of the room in her tiny slippers, slap-slap-slap.
Shen Xiyan followed behind, helpless.
“Didn’t we already clear up that it was just a misunderstanding last night?”
They had almost had a full-blown family crisis.
A pretty female classmate stayed over, saw her handsome nephew, got tempted, and secretly launched a full-on seduction campaign.
Eventually, they ended up doing something stupid behind the grownups’ backs.
Or maybe it was the other way around—her nephew saw the pretty classmate, got carried away, begged and pestered her until she gave in. Even the fiercest girls can’t resist persistence.
If it were the former, his aunt would be deeply suspicious, thinking Qin Sheng was too unrestrained and didn’t know her boundaries—some things just weren’t meant to happen in high school.
If it were the latter, she’d be thrilled, proud of her nephew’s “game”—a few sweet words and the girl was ready to play “Left hand, right hand, slow motion replay” with him.
Then she’d clean house without hesitation.
Same situation, completely different reactions depending on the angle.
“Oh, so that bridal carry was a ‘misunderstanding’ too?”
Jiang Xi had been thinking it over since last night, and the more she thought, the more something didn’t sit right.
Who just randomly bridal carries someone for no reason?
What is this, a Mary Sue drama?
She’d never noticed this side of him before.
But Shen Xiyan was innocent! It was muscle memory—his brain had been half asleep and totally blank at the time.
“You keep saying you don’t like her, but your body’s clearly thirsty, huh? Shen Xiyan, you’re disgusting!”
“I didn’t—!”
“Wow! So grown-up now you dare talk back?” Jiang Xi roared as she brushed her teeth, kicking him over and over with her bare feet.
Shen Xiyan dodged with ninja-like reflexes.
“Can’t we talk about this after your checkup? You barely eat anything, I really worry about you…”
“Oh? You worry about your poor auntie now? How touching! Come, give Auntie a hug!”
She suddenly turned sweet, arms wide open, generous bosom inviting.
Shen Xiyan didn’t suspect a thing and walked right into the trap. Jiang Xi wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down with all her might.
And just like that—he went limp. Knocked out cold.
A few minutes later, he started squirming, muffled groans escaping.
“Begging won’t help you now. You’re not getting out of this!” Jiang Xi pressed down harder.
She’d nearly disowned him last night when she spotted… a suspicious white smudge at the corner of Qin Sheng’s mouth.
“Auntie! I can’t breathe! Let go!”
“Admit you were wrong!”
“I was wrong! I was wrong!”
“Will you do it again?!”
“No! Never again!”
“Hmph. That’s more like it.”
Satisfied, she let go of the so-called “family disgrace.”
Shen Xiyan gasped for air. Terrifying. Just because you’re a 36D doesn’t mean you can smother people like that. What ever happened to saving fabric for the nation?
“Let’s see you talk back again,” she said, glaring.
“I wasn’t even—”
“You still going?!”
“….” He swallowed his protest. No way to win this one.
In the end, Jiang Xi softened her tone.
“Listen, you’re still kids. There have to be limits. Just because I didn’t say anything doesn’t mean I’m okay with it. I’m worried her parents will kill you, got it?”
“Yeah, yeah…”
Yeah, yeah—what did he know?
He was completely under Qin Sheng’s spell.
If he really cared about his aunt, he wouldn’t be standing there all cheerful like nothing happened.
Ten minutes later, Aunt Jiang stepped out of the bedroom, fully dressed.
Flawless makeup, trendy hairstyle, blouse tucked into a skirt that hugged her tiny waist and emphasized her full chest, legs wrapped in sheer black tights…
If anyone ever needed a picture of “career woman goddess,” Shen Xiyan thought this was it.
If it weren’t for the two burdens clinging to her, she’d definitely have a boyfriend by now.
As for being pretty…
Pretty doesn’t put food on the table.
Those so-called campus goddesses—sure, you could rent one for 3,000 to 5,000 a night. But compared to the cost of a house, a car, and a wedding dowry?
They were peanuts.
Guys weren’t stupid. Who would be willing to raise someone else’s niece and nephew before even having kids of their own?
Shen Xiyan had changed too.
“Auntie, I’ll go with y—”
“Auntie, I’ll come with you to the hospital today.”
Before he could finish, Qin Sheng’s soft voice floated from behind.
He turned around to see her: pleated skirt brushing her knees, white sneakers, a loose pale-blue top. Her sweet, doll-like face made her look calm, innocent—a walking Pinterest board of forest-core charm.
Shen Xiyan stared… and suddenly felt two warm streams of blood trickle from his nose.
Jiang Xi waved her hand to decline.
“Why would I need a kid to come with me? I’m a grown woman, I can go to the doctor on my own.”
“It’s not about that—it’s just, the health card might not work as smoothly as cash. If something comes up, I’m the one who signed it, so it’s easier if I’m there.”
“Besides, it’s just a checkup—I’m an art student, not exactly pressed for time.”
Jiang Xi frowned, but it made sense. She nodded.
“Alright then. Eat your breakfast first. We’ll take the subway. Sorry for making you waste a bit more time today.”
“Mhm.”
“Auntie…”
“You stay home!” Jiang Xi cut off Shen Xiyan before he could say a word.
“Focus on your homework.”
“But I—”
“What, my words don’t count anymore?”
“…No, it’s just, you’re both girls—”
“And what about it? You wanna fight me?”
“No, I—”
“Hmm?” She narrowed her eyes.
Shen Xiyan instantly chickened out.
“Okay! I’ll stay home and watch Wenwen.”
Gotta trust science—whether he went or not wouldn’t change the test results.
“That’s better!”
***
At the breakfast table, they chatted casually as they ate.
After finishing her meal, Qin Sheng clung to Aunt Jiang’s arm and headed for the door. But halfway out, she suddenly ran back and told Shen Xiyan sweetly:
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring your aunt back in one piece.”
“Pfft! What kind of jinx talk is that?” Aunt Jiang scoffed.
Qin Sheng’s lips curled into a playful smile, her eyes crinkling like crescent moons.
“Be good. Wait for me at home.”