Early Morning

A faint white glow, almost dispelling the gloom of the night, streamed through the window and fell by the bedside.

Ye Shuang opened his eyes to find himself pinned down on both sides—two girls were still fast asleep, their steady breaths carrying a hint of sweetness. The morning light cast over them like a spotlight, their fair skin almost blindingly bright.

"At least we’re not at Chen Qin’s place…" Ye Shuang murmured to himself. Last night, Bai Yuyou had stubbornly refused to leave his bed, and Chen Qin had joined in under the pretense of "supervising," bringing things back to their usual arrangement.

Fortunately, since they were in his apartment, Ye Shuang hadn’t spent the night in nervous dread. The thought of their sleeping arrangements potentially being discovered by four elders had kept him awake until dawn in the past. Last night, however, he’d slept soundly—so soundly, in fact, that he hadn’t even noticed being smothered in a "face wash" hug all night.

Ye Shuang yawned, sitting up to let his swollen wound settle before finally climbing out of bed to prepare breakfast.

"Meow."

Yi Wan, hearing Ye Shuang’s footsteps downstairs, stretched out its paws, arched its back in a lazy stretch, and then wobbled over unsteadily, its limbs moving as if its controls had been remapped in a video game.

"Eat up." Ye Shuang poured some cat food for Yi Wan, and the orange tabby immediately dug in with gusto. The cat was currently in its awkward phase—its body lengthening, making it appear a bit scrawny.

Cats always grow like this—first lengthwise, then widthwise—especially a breed like Yi Wan, whose appearance seemed to change daily.

As the cat grew day by day, so did Bai Yuyou. Watching Yi Wan devour its meal, Ye Shuang couldn’t help but smile faintly.

After opening the fridge, Ye Shuang took out a carton of eggs. As he fried a couple of sunny-side-ups, a soft knock sounded at the apartment door.

No doubt, it was Tang Keke.

"Morning, Brother!" Tang Keke stood with her hands clutching her bag, a cheerful grin on her face, clearly in high spirits.

"Morning. Did something good happen?" Ye Shuang asked, amused by her obvious delight.

Surely, she wasn’t this happy about going to school? Tang Keke wasn’t exactly the studious type—her grades were proof enough of that.

"Yep! I went to the amusement park yesterday. My parents actually had a day off for once." Tang Keke rummaged in her bag for a few seconds before pulling out a small, neatly wrapped box.

"Brother, this is for you."

"What is it?"

"A little souvenir from the park. It’s a Pokémon collab—I bought a few." Tang Keke pointed at the box in Ye Shuang’s hand. "It’s Pikachu. Super cute."

Ye Shuang unwrapped the box to find a Pikachu fridge magnet, surprisingly well-made.

Glancing at the photo of him and Bai Yuyou stuck on the fridge, he placed the Pikachu beside it, the little yellow mouse adding a touch of charm next to the girl’s face.

The once-bare fridge door was gradually filling up with little mementos, and for some reason, Ye Shuang felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction—as if each item held a tiny, treasured memory.

There was no need to demand too much from life. Sometimes, the smallest things could bring the greatest joy.

"Thanks, Keke."

"Hehe, I can’t just keep mooching meals off you." Tang Keke’s eyes curved into crescents.

"That bottle of wine you gave me last time was way too expensive. A year’s worth of my cooking wouldn’t cover it," Ye Shuang said.

"Not at all! My parents actually thought it wasn’t enough. They even told me to bring over some jerky—we got it in Macau the other day. It’s really good." Tang Keke pulled out a bag of pork jerky from her bag, about a pound or two, and set it on the table.

"You’re too kind."

"Nah, nah! You and Yuyou should enjoy it. Good things are meant to be shared."

Tang Keke had a knack for social graces—charming, sweet, and always carrying a massive bag. Ye Shuang couldn’t help but like her. Then, the girl asked,

"Brother, have you ever taken Yuyou to an amusement park?"

"Not yet, but we’ve been to the aquarium," Ye Shuang replied.

"Well, I’ve got two extra tickets here—valid for two months. Why don’t you take her sometime?"

As Tang Keke handed over the tickets, Ye Shuang raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You sure these are 'extra'?"

"Yep!" Tang Keke insisted, struggling to keep a straight face.

She’d never admit she’d bought them specifically. Drawing from her vast knowledge of shoujo manga, she knew that for Bai Yuyou to win over Ye Shuang, mere daily interactions weren’t enough. They needed a bonding event—something to accelerate their relationship.

After all, the sudden appearance of a formidable rival like Chen Qin had put Tang Keke, the self-proclaimed strategist, on high alert.

"Let me pay you back," Ye Shuang said, examining the tickets with a smile.

"No, no! You’ve treated me to so many delicious meals already." Tang Keke shook her head like a rattle-drum.

Ye Shuang didn’t press further, thanking her before tucking the tickets away.

He considered it—maybe he’d take Bai Yuyou to the park this weekend. He wasn’t sure if she’d enjoy the rides, but the thought of seeing her usual stoic expression break on a rollercoaster filled him with anticipation.

While chatting with Tang Keke, Bai Yuyou finally woke up.

Chen Qin, however, was still fast asleep. Since it was still early, Ye Shuang didn’t plan to wake her, instead preparing breakfast for the other two.

Tang Keke gifted Bai Yuyou a small present—a Pikachu keychain and a Poké Ball pin, compared to Ye Shuang’s fridge magnet. The keychain held the apartment access card, while the pin adorned Bai Yuyou’s school bag.

The girl sat at the table, her gem-like eyes fixed on the swaying keychain as she softly thanked Tang Keke.

She seemed genuinely happy with the gift.

After breakfast, they left for school—though not before Bai Yuyou clung to Ye Shuang for several minutes, recharging her so-called "Ye Shuang energy" before Tang Keke finally dragged her away by the hand.

"Alright, that’s enough." Watching the two step into the elevator, Ye Shuang closed the door. After clearing the table, he checked the time.

Still early. He’d made a doctor’s appointment for Chen Qin last night—he’d talk to her once she woke up.

The system window had diagnosed her with a stomach ulcer, but only a proper examination would reveal the severity. If he hadn’t pushed her, Chen Qin probably wouldn’t have taken it seriously.