The night passed without incident, and morning arrived.
The pale sun broke through the haze at dawn, casting a soft glow across the sky.
"Mm, let's put it here." After waking up and washing, Ye Shuang moved the cat bed next to the TV—seeing Yīwàn's bewildered expression, he chuckled and crouched down to rub the cat’s increasingly round face.
"This spot is better. Your old place was blocking the feng shui."
"Meow?"
After relocating Yīwàn, Ye Shuang tidied up the living room a bit before tying on an apron to prepare breakfast.
"Hmm… her period should be coming soon. I’ll make some brown sugar water for her to take to school." Ye Shuang checked the calendar on his phone, where he had marked special dates. Bai Yuyou had mentioned before that Tang Keke suffered terribly during her period.
Their cycles were probably close, so he might as well make extra.
Ye Shuang opened the fridge and took out brown sugar, red dates, goji berries, and a piece of ginger.
This remedy was simple to make and perfect for that time of the month.
After boiling a pot of water, he added shredded ginger, letting it simmer until the water turned faintly yellow. Then he tossed in the brown sugar, pitted red dates, and goji berries.
While the brown sugar water simmered, Ye Shuang multitasked—placing frozen barbecue pork buns in the steamer before frying a couple of sunny-side-up eggs. Later, he’d butter some toast to make sandwiches.
Morning light spilled through the window, casting a lazy warmth over the kitchen where Ye Shuang worked with ease.
Perched on his shoulder was Yīwàn.
The cat no longer flinched at the sound of sizzling oil—familiarity bred comfort, just as Ye Shuang taught Bai Yuyou.
"Hey Yīwàn, have you gotten chubbier again?"
"Meow."
A little later, Tang Keke arrived.
She looked awful today—her face pale, lips colorless, and even her greeting was weak.
"Morning… bro…"
"Not feeling well?" Ye Shuang asked.
"Ugh, it’s that time," Tang Keke mumbled, clutching her stomach as she slumped into a chair. Some girls breezed through their periods, but Keke was the type who could barely speak from the pain.
"Here, drink this."
Ye Shuang set a cup on the table. Tang Keke cracked her eyes open and saw it was brown sugar ginger tea.
"Bro, how’d you know to make this?" Keke asked, surprised.
"Yuyou mentioned you’d be suffering around now. Since your cycles probably sync up, I figured I’d make some," Ye Shuang said with a smile. "Didn’t expect it to come in handy so soon."
"You’re really good at taking care of people, bro." Tang Keke picked up the cup but found it too hot to hold.
"Use a spoon." Ye Shuang handed her one.
"Hehe."
She sipped slowly, finishing the whole cup. The warm tea soothed her stomach, and she immediately felt better.
"Bro, do you need a live-in girlfriend? I’m low-maintenance," Keke teased.
"Pretty sure I don’t," Ye Shuang replied lightly before returning to breakfast prep.
Tang Keke then headed upstairs to wake Bai Yuyou—who, as usual, was the last one asleep. Yuyou stumbled downstairs half-awake, guided by Keke, swaying like a drowsy little penguin.
She even face-planted into Ye Shuang’s chest, burying her face against him for a long moment before being shooed off to wash up.
During breakfast, Ye Shuang brought up, "After the school festival, the entrance exams are coming up, right?"
Tang Keke stiffened, her appetite suddenly vanishing.
Bai Yuyou continued nibbling her food, blinking like a giant hamster.
"Once you’ve had your fun, it’s time to focus on studying. Students’ main job is learning. Yinshan Academy has plenty of extracurriculars, but only if you don’t get held back," Ye Shuang continued.
"I’m not worried about Yuyou, but Keke, you…"
"It’s not like I don’t want to study. The lectures just put me to sleep—like hypnosis," Keke grumbled.
"Compared to the gaokao, Yinshan’s requirements are lenient. Passing grades are enough to stay enrolled, though some majors have higher cutoffs," Ye Shuang said. "At least you won’t repeat a year."
"Suddenly, bro, you sound just like my dad. Not cool."
Ye Shuang laughed at Tang Keke’s muttering.
"Use this time to review what you’re weak in. Ask me if you don’t understand something."
"As for majors, I heard Yinshan assigns a career advisor to every third-year class after the exams. You can talk to them for guidance."
"Career planning…" Bai Yuyou murmured, only half-comprehending.
"Yeah, Yuyou, what do you want to do in the future?" Ye Shuang asked.
Bai Yuyou thought for a moment, then looked at Tang Keke. "What… Keke do?"
"Me? No clue," Keke said. "Yinshan has so many majors. If I had to pick, maybe something that’d help my parents with their work."
Bai Yuyou nodded, then turned to Ye Shuang. "Then… I learn major that helps Ye Shuang."
"I don’t run a company or shop. No help needed."
"Oh…"
Bai Yuyou seemed to process this before declaring, "I learn… major for cleaning Ye Shuang’s house."
"Pretty sure that major doesn’t exist."
Breakfast ended, and the two girls headed out. Before they left, Ye Shuang handed them thermoses filled with brown sugar ginger tea—one for each.
"We’re off!"
"Be careful. Keke, keep an eye on Yuyou."
"Got it!"
...
"Too bad the thermos doesn’t feel warm to hold." Walking side by side, Tang Keke poured a little tea, blowing on it before sipping.
Beside her, Bai Yuyou stared ahead blankly, her cool demeanor giving off an unapproachable vibe.
"Yuyou, what’s on your mind?" Tang Keke asked.
"Yuyou?"
Bai Yuyou finally snapped out of it, tilting her head slightly. "Majors… exams."
"Overthinking it! Just let bro take care of you forever," Keke said, waving a hand.
"Ye Shuang says… independence is important. Must learn to take care of self when grown up," Bai Yuyou replied, shaking her head.
Tang Keke winced as the tea burned her tongue. "Ugh—okay, bro’s got a point."
Then her eyes sparkled mischievously. She screwed the thermos shut and looped her arm through Bai Yuyou’s.
"Hey hey, next time bro asks what you want to be, I’ll teach you the perfect answer."
"Perfect answer?"
"Yep! Just say—I want to be Ye Shuang’s bride," Tang Keke grinned, giving a thumbs-up. "And make sure to look extra cute when you say it!"
"Hohoho, that’ll definitely seal the deal."