Chapter Fifteen: Washing Her Hair

At eleven o’clock, the three of them had already returned to their own beds, but Liu Ruoxi suddenly complained that she was hungry and insisted that Qin Xuan make her a late-night snack. Qin Xuan knew perfectly well she was just trying to torment him, but he still complied—after all, he had raised her with his own hands...

Liu Ruoxi stared at the cold noodles placed before her. The color? The aroma? The spicy scent teased her taste buds, making it impossible not to pick up her chopsticks and take a bite.

“Holy—!” Liu Ruoxi couldn’t help but spit it all out, the noodles landing right on Qin Xuan’s face, who had been watching with his chin propped up, waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

Qin Xuan had been quite pleased to see her like this, but this sudden attack...

He wiped his face with a napkin, pulled a few stray noodles out of his hair, and then prepared to stuff them into Liu Ruoxi’s mouth in retaliation.

But seeing his disheveled appearance, Liu Ruoxi burst out laughing behind her hands.

“You’ve got the nerve to laugh?” Qin Xuan fumed. “I went out of my way to make you a midnight snack, and this is how you thank me?”

“Well...” Liu Ruoxi felt a twinge of embarrassment, but then quickly retorted, “You’re the one who put in so many chili peppers! How is that my fault?”

“Nonsense!” Qin Xuan grew even more irritated. “The trash can is right under the table—are you blind?”

“I’m not blind! I just felt like it!” Liu Ruoxi, invoking her usual privilege, declared, “Either way, it’s your fault!”

Qin Xuan, realizing he couldn’t win, simply gave up. He slunk off to wash his hair in silence. Perhaps feeling she had gone too far, Liu Ruoxi watched him retreat to the bathroom, then quietly got up as well.

Qin Xuan, unaware of her presence, busied himself with washing his hair. Once she saw him, head bowed and eyes closed, she finally relaxed and entered.

Standing behind him, she made a few boxing gestures in the air, then composed herself and stepped to his side.

She reached out and began to massage his hair. Qin Xuan jumped at first, but upon feeling those familiar hands, he relaxed.

When they were children, Liu Ruoxi had often helped Qin Xuan wash his hair. Even after they grew up, it still happened from time to time. Liu Ruoxi had once declared that only she was allowed to touch Qin Xuan’s hair, just as only he was allowed to hold her waist!

Although that was something Liu Ruoxi had said as a child, both of them had faithfully abided by it ever since.

Liu Ruoxi was uncharacteristically gentle as she kneaded his scalp. They both cherished this rare moment, but tonight Qin Xuan, perhaps because of something his mother had said earlier, felt a strange turmoil inside.

And Liu Ruoxi was no different. Ever since Aunt Wang—no, since "Mom"—had spoken to her, she’d felt unsettled every day. After several failed late-night attempts to get her way, she’d been holding in her frustration, eager to teach Qin Xuan a lesson!

But now, her hands in his hair, she remembered their old promise, and even her urge to tease him melted away.

A few minutes later, Liu Ruoxi was drying Qin Xuan’s hair with a blow dryer. Qin Xuan sat obediently in the chair like a well-behaved child as she tousled his hair, inhaling the scent of the shampoo: so fragrant, she almost wanted to wash it again.

“Liu Ruoxi, you never told me what my mom said to you!” Qin Xuan suddenly remembered.

“Huh?” Liu Ruoxi paused, blow dryer in hand. “Are you sure you want to know?”

“Yes,” Qin Xuan replied, a hint of suspicion in his tone, but he nodded anyway.

“Your mom said…” Liu Ruoxi leaned in close to his ear. Qin Xuan felt her breath and his heart skipped a beat.

After hearing her out, Qin Xuan’s face clouded with confusion.

What a mess. He hadn’t even figured things out for himself, and now his wife had already been decided?

“So, Qin Xuan!” Liu Ruoxi looked down at him. “What are you going to do about it?”

Qin Xuan pondered for a while, his mind a muddle. “I don’t know either…”

“Let’s just sleep on it, we can talk about it later.” When in doubt—procrastinate!

Watching him dash to his room, Liu Ruoxi ground her teeth in frustration. “Qin Xuan, you little brat! You can’t escape the palm of my hand!”

Qin Xuan lay flat on his bed, questioning his own existence. Thinking about Liu Ruoxi, who’d grown up by his side, he couldn’t quite put his feelings into words. She no longer felt just like a childhood friend—she was more like family.

After all, she was always freeloading his meals, and they’d never really had any conflicts. It was a strange feeling. He’d once wondered, after Liu Ruoxi married, would they still be so close? Probably not. So maybe, as his mother had suggested, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing—they were used to each other’s presence already.

Enough, he decided not to think about it anymore. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes, turned off the light, and prepared to sleep.

Outside the door, Liu Ruoxi fought the urge several times to go in, but managed to restrain herself.

“Restraint! Liu Ruoxi, you must show restraint!” She finally dropped her hand and went back to her own room.

That night, Qin Lin’er had a dream. She dreamt she was attending a wedding. The venue was just as she’d imagined her own wedding would be. But when she saw the groom—

“Brother!”

And the bride—

“Liu Ruoxi!”

As she rushed forward, wanting to separate the two as they leaned in for a kiss, her parents and the crowd held her back.

“You’re just his little sister!”

“Your brother and Liu Ruoxi are made for each other!”

“You’ll never win against Liu Ruoxi!”

A chorus of voices echoed in Qin Lin’er’s ears.

Gasping, Qin Lin’er jolted awake, breathless.

What an awful nightmare! She was left doubting everything.

After a trip to the bathroom, she found herself standing outside Qin Xuan’s door. After some hesitation, she quietly opened the door.

Seeing Qin Xuan sleeping soundly, alone in his bed, she let out a sigh of relief. But the memory of her dream unsettled her, and without thinking, she kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed beside him.

Staring at Qin Xuan, mouth slightly open in sleep, Qin Lin’er lifted the covers and slipped inside. The familiar scent of his hair calmed her nerves—until she realized she was cradled in her brother’s arms.

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to leave. It had been so long since she’d felt the warmth of his embrace; the last time they’d shared a bed was in middle school.

Afterwards, whenever she wanted to sleep next to her brother, he’d always refused, saying boys and girls shouldn’t be so close. But! She’d seen Sister Xi sleeping in his room not long ago! The more Qin Lin’er thought about her dream, the more she feared it would come true, and she shivered involuntarily.

“No! I can’t let that happen!” Qin Lin’er intertwined her fingers with Qin Xuan’s.

She was certain that she and Qin Xuan were meant to be! Hadn’t Mom promised to talk to him? Then why didn’t he know yet?

Qin Lin’er’s mood grew heavier as she imagined the moment her brother learned the truth about their relationship...

Suddenly, she was desperate to see his reaction—it would be priceless!

With those thoughts in her mind, she rested her head on his arm and drifted off to sleep.

In his drowsy state, Qin Xuan sensed someone beside him. Thinking it was Liu Ruoxi, he didn’t give it much thought, even reaching out to pull her closer.

And then, the next morning...