As If It Were Yesterday

The next morning.

The first rays of sunlight, like melted honey, streamed through the window and spilled into the room.

Amid the chirping of birds, the alarm on his phone rang.

Gu Luo slowly opened his eyes but didn’t turn off the alarm. Instead, he stared blankly at the ceiling.

Everything that had happened last night in Shu He’s room was still vivid in his mind.

By the end, it had turned into Shu He comforting him—one-sidedly.

And yet, she was the one who had been wronged, the one who felt helpless, the one who had been rejected.

At the thought, Gu Luo rubbed his temples hard, unsure how to face Shu He later.

The alarm beside his pillow continued ringing tirelessly, each beep piercing his eardrums, yet he barely registered it.

His mind was filled with nothing but memories of the little demon.

Several minutes passed like this.

Only when he remembered he still had to prepare breakfast and lunch for his four younger sisters did Gu Luo drag his heavy body out of bed and head to the bathroom.

He squeezed toothpaste onto three toothbrushes, one after another.

His own toothbrush already had toothpaste on it, carrying a refreshing minty scent.

That meant the little angel had already finished washing up and was now in the kitchen preparing ingredients.

As Gu Luo brushed his teeth, he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

For some reason, he suddenly felt like punching himself.

But just then, his brushing came to an abrupt halt.

Because in the mirror, a petite figure in a black nightgown appeared.

"Good morning, brother."

Luo Shuhe’s face remained as expressionless as ever, her tone flat.

Everything from last night might as well have been a dream.

Gu Luo was momentarily dazed. When he finally snapped out of it, he quickly rinsed his mouth and spat out the foam, his voice laced with complicated emotions. "Morning, Shu He."

"Mhm."

Luo Shuhe gave a slight nod before turning on the faucet to wash her face with warm water.

Gu Luo studied her profile for a long time but couldn’t detect even a hint of abnormality. After some hesitation, he finally asked, "Shu He, what do you want for breakfast and lunch? I’ll make it for you."

Yet, unbidden, his mind flashed back to his first morning in the apartment, when he had mistaken Shu He for Shu Ning.

Back then, when he asked what she wanted to eat, her answer had been—"You."

Even though two months had passed, it felt like yesterday.

"Whatever sister likes is fine. I’m okay with anything."

As she spoke, Luo Shuhe squeezed out some facial cleanser, the fine foam spreading across her palms before she gently applied it to her face.

A clear signal that the conversation was over.

Seeing Shu He yield to him and Shu Ning, Gu Luo felt no joy at all.

He had always wanted to keep his distance from Shu He.

But now that the day had come, it felt like a piece had been carved out of his chest, leaving behind a hollow emptiness.

What a joke.

Gu Luo shook his head self-deprecatingly. Before leaving, he said softly to Shu He, "I’ll make dishes you and Shu Ning both like today."

His voice carried a trace of longing—one he didn’t even realize himself.

In response, Luo Shuhe merely nodded indifferently.

"Whatever."

With that, their exchange ended.

Gu Luo left the bathroom.

Luo Shuhe continued washing up.

Just like any ordinary siblings in any ordinary household.

Meanwhile, in Gu Ximan’s room.

Two beautiful girls sprawled haphazardly across the large bed, their sleeping postures as unrestrained as could be.

Gu Ximan’s panda-themed pajamas were twisted around her body, revealing a slender strip of her waist.

Luo Shuling, already awake, was grinning mischievously as she played with Gu Ximan’s ample chest.

"Stupid Gu Luo… what are you… doing…"

"Xue… Xuexue… help me…"

"… …"

Clearly lost in a dream unfit for the season, Gu Ximan’s cheeks were flushed as she mumbled incoherently.

Luo Shuling couldn’t hold back her laughter, her hands growing bolder.

"Mmm…"

Finally, Gu Ximan slowly opened her eyes, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the ceiling.

Her brain was only half online.

Ah, what a wonderful dream—another threesome.

Wait, last night… last night, Ling-jie came over, didn’t she…?

What did I say to Ling-jie again…?

Right… and the thing about the photos.

Ling-jie and the others went to Caixin County when they were kids.

I should ask that idiot Gu Luo about it later.

As her brain gradually booted up, Gu Ximan grew more and more awake—until Luo Shuling’s laughter reached her ears.

"Xiao Man, you were talking in your sleep just now."

"Oh, and do you want to change your pajamas?"

Talking in her sleep…

Changing pajamas…

Eek!

The moment she fully processed the words, Gu Ximan bolted upright, her face instantly burning red—the flush spreading rapidly down her neck and ears.

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