Elimination Method

Consciousness gradually returned, and when Lin Yu realized what he was doing, half the blood in his body ran cold. His body stiffened in panic as he stopped moving, staring blankly at Xia Muzhu beneath him—her face flushed but lips slightly pale.

Skin against skin, bodies intertwined.

Xia Muzhu quickly noticed Lin Yu’s strange behavior. Seeing his horrified expression, her own face paled, then her entire body began trembling. Two clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

The usually silent and enduring Xia Muzhu suddenly turned forceful. She pushed Lin Yu off her, as if even that wasn’t enough to express her anger. As she shoved him away, she choked out a low, furious curse:

"Get off!"

Still dazed, Lin Yu instinctively pulled back and sat on the bed, utterly at a loss.

Then, his eyes landed on the scattered crimson stains on the warm yellow bedsheet.

Those drops of blood hit him like a sledgehammer, smashing his already muddled mind into complete blankness, nearly short-circuiting it.

Xia Muzhu wrapped herself tightly in the soft blanket, curling up with her back to Lin Yu, as if deeply wounded by his reaction.

The red stains on the sheets reflected in Lin Yu’s pitch-black pupils. He instinctively glanced down at the "culprit," confirming this was indeed the result of his own actions.

His heart grew even more chaotic. He looked up at Xia Muzhu, curled up under the blanket, and opened his mouth—but no sound escaped.

What the hell…

What the hell just happened?

How did things end up like this?

Click.

A crisp sound came from the living room, piercing the quiet bedroom.

Both of them recognized it—the sound of the door unlocking.

And there was only one person who could freely open that door.

Xia Yueshan was back.

At the sound of the turning lock, Xia Muzhu froze in fear, while Lin Yu broke out in a cold sweat.

This was it.

If Xia Yueshan found out he’d done this to her older sister, that tiger of a woman would stab him to death without hesitation.

To make matters worse, Xia Muzhu’s bedroom door wasn’t closed—it was wide open.

From this angle, if Xia Yueshan stepped inside and glanced even slightly to the side, she’d have a full, unobstructed view of the bed.

The door swung open, and Xia Yueshan walked in, expression neutral.

Acting purely on instinct, Lin Yu grabbed a corner of the blanket to cover himself.

As expected.

The moment Xia Yueshan entered, she only had to turn her head slightly before her eyes landed on the two of them.

First came shock—she clearly hadn’t prepared for this scenario in the slightest.

But then, seeing them sharing the same blanket, realization dawned. A delighted grin spread across her face—her sister and Lin Yu had finally taken that step!

Yet before her joy could settle, Xia Yueshan’s sharp eyes caught the tension between them. Her smile stiffened.

Frowning, she couldn’t understand why the atmosphere was so awkward and distant. They looked nothing like a couple who’d just been intimate.

Xia Yueshan frowned.

Xia Yueshan pondered.

Xia Yueshan seemed to think of something.

Xia Yueshan dismissed the idea—no way, she’d thrown that thing in the trash ages ago!

Standing in the doorway, she scrutinized the two on the bed, trying to figure out what was going on.

Lin Yu sat bare-assed on the bed, only a scrap of blanket covering his dignity. It was the first time he’d ever acted so meek in front of Xia Yueshan, guilty as a criminal facing the police.

Xia Muzhu remained curled under the blanket, her thoughts far more tangled than Lin Yu’s.

Her own strange behavior today, Lin Yu’s odd reactions, and what Xia Yueshan had said the night before last…

She didn’t want to believe her little brother could do something so despicable, but she couldn’t find any other explanation.

When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains—no matter how unbelievable—must be the truth.

"Xia Yueshan."

"Close the door."

"Then wait for me in your room."

This was the first time Xia Muzhu had ever addressed her brother by his full name. The ice in her voice even made Lin Yu flinch.

Xia Yueshan’s neck stiffened. Though he didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, an uneasy feeling crept over him.

After shutting the door, he grew more and more unsettled. Just in case, he turned and headed for the kitchen…

---

With the door closed, only Lin Yu and Xia Muzhu remained in the bedroom.

Still wrapped tightly in the blanket, Xia Muzhu turned her head and glared at Lin Yu.

"Turn around!"

"Oh—right."

Lin Yu obediently faced the window, careful to keep himself covered with the blanket.

His clumsy earnestness almost made Xia Muzhu laugh, but before her lips could twitch, the reality of the situation dragged her back down. Her eyes dimmed, heart heavy with grief.

Especially when she thought of that absurd possibility—it felt like her soul was sinking into an abyss.

She threw off the blanket, standing naked as she gathered her clothes from the floor and dressed.

Distraught, she didn’t notice the shameless pervert watching her reflection in the mirror—nor the fact that he was already reacting again, discreetly adjusting himself under the blanket.

Once dressed, Xia Muzhu left the room with slow, unsteady steps.

Finally alone, Lin Yu let out a long breath.

Too overwhelmed to think straight, he scrambled out of bed and pulled on his clothes.

Dressed, he sat on the edge of the bed, desperately trying to recall the day’s events—anything to explain this insanity.

But his mind felt like wood. Even remembering basic details was a struggle.

He sat there, less thinking and more just… blankly staring.

After a long silence, something occurred to him. He turned, gaze falling on the orange-yellow blanket. His breathing slowed.

Hand trembling, he reached out, gripped the blanket, and slowly pulled it back.

Just as he’d feared.

The bloodstains glared up at him, impossible to ignore.

"Damn it…"

Lin Yu exhaled like a deflated balloon, his entire posture collapsing as if that sigh had drained the last of his spirit.

Click.

The door opened again. Lin Yu reflexively yanked the blanket back into place.

Looking up, he realized it wasn’t Xia Muzhu—it was Xia Yueshan.

Xia Yueshan’s eyes were red. He gave Lin Yu a long, heavy look before lowering his head and speaking quietly.

"Leave."

"My sister says today was an accident."

"Just forget it happened."