u're going to be
m the tumultuous sea of desire, wit
le, and combined with his slightly mischievous yet handsome f
stained, no longer wearable, so I tossed it into the
death so casually," I sai
ey, added some soda, and went to
n't bother looking. I used them all
ink to fre
slammed the glass down on the table, picked up the clothes
ssed and
work on. I can't ent
act like a stranger af
n work tomorrow. I'm leaving for training out of town the day
ed at his words. "I'd love to work tomorr
ll him about us, so you don't h
o
around shouting about it, it'll look like I go
wooden stool and stood in front of me, eyes r
we to each othe
ed inw
we be but friend
ng me to watch silly movies, wanting to go to amusement parks a
hat this kid genuine
n in college, and the s
him partly to get
es to touch my shoulder, stroke my leg, poke my waist, make
ng a stepmother to a grown man, I had to
he year I graduated wi
hundreds of applicants and securin
rtably in this first-tier city, as
, my parents
'll graduate from college. By then, your father and I wi
ake care
ers not being able to afford school, and my father's curses that no one would eve
tration out of my family, I gav
on, I considered
in revenue with a proposal, earning a permanent pos
career path might have conti
with a good figure and a great sense of style,
in the company h
pt f
a twenty-five-year-old woman about how lonely and hard it was to raise his son alo
interest was more about de
agreeing to his advances might
that besides being young and attractive, I was also a va
rying to woo me, giving gifts, creating ph
t my wi
iness trip, Tristan tossed me a ca
sity, searched around, and could
re he answered, sounding
mployee at your
ing him off before he could speak further. "Give me an address, or I'll broad
unk in a bar nea
aring, and a group of college stu
e crowd and pulled
ir short and fluffy, with diamond ear
ong and slightly red from the alco
I slammed a bottle on the table to g
e I got him into the car, m
la, he suddenly leaned over, sniffing my shoul
thoughts often a
e of giving me a ride home after a business meet
ious jade ring, worth
appearing gentle and a
night was dark, the car lights dim, the scent o
ouse, unbuckled my seatbelt, and climbed onto Ja
s lips with precision, teasing h
d to take control, I quickly pulled back,
me with red eyes, not daring to make a move, his
elt while leaning in to kiss him again, w
ly make yo
as very
lso meant he was
it was he who led me, and I found my
y burning hot, his head nuzzlin
lightly, but he kissed my earlobe,
an, fresh and alluring, but now, deep in
n's car was a chaotic mess a
oft cushion, it felt like an electric current surge
g, I woke up in
eep, one arm dra
night, he slept deeply. I moved his arm aside, an
ah, did Jared cause you
N
the previous night; my voice wa
tender and lingering, "Lilah, don't talk t
s, I've got nothing to los
myself and e
nd me another copy of the final version of the
e message, sil
personal matters so effortlessly. He didn
uments, his fingers brushed slowly across the bac
unpleasant things being said. It wasn't until I spoke softly to h
me, and when it comes to tac
industry. If I quit, it would be hard to
re legs on the floor, when suddenly J
ll a bit groggy f
ned to look at him, and smi
of bed, and headed to the bathroom to shower. "You sa
s surprised
ion me about last night, and
t I saw at the bar las
than adults, and as a typical rich kid, Ja
ow the score, and once it's
n my high heels, and waved goodby
s soon as I got in the car, Jare
zily, "Takin
umpled from the young master, with
ct that I had indeed been
o have found myself
nnoyed, "You just pla
at, do you wan
t, Jared's voice came through, cold and a bit like hi
by sweet talk
augh, hung up the phone, and t
ter, when I went out for breakfast in the morning, I
the cold, his eyes wet and showing a hint of helples
been waiting at your
ge. We all knew the rules of the game, and if there was no inte
rst young guy wh
eating a problem, and extended a hand to h
e fried bread-and two bowls of tofu pudding-a savory tofu dish-before putting down his
home and seriously ask, "Do you want
, and after stammering for a wh
d naturally gifted, so maintaining a lon
tly, he was T
or his charm but va
couldn't escape his grasp, so he t
d helpless was probabl
right under his nose was
ht, I slowly sm
row, so I can't keep you
e and didn't use protectio
k out a condom, and handed it to Jare
moment, his face s
t to undress him. Young guys like wearin
ight, I didn't notice you
y hand explor
pants, equally loose, e
d, he held my hand, his eyes
panted, "I
evel for me, leaving me unfazed. I rep
to gently kiss
ightened, and finally, unable to resist
s, causing me some discomfort, b
took a shower to wash away the marks on my body, and when I came out
can leave after," I said me
th a hint of grievanc
.
thing to eat,
.
itchen, saying as I went, "I
, you shou
the fridge from a couple of days ago. I qu
ork and looked up at me, "Sis,
of wine and replied in
let me cook
good
to my senses, I neither agreed nor disagreed,
e longer, kissing my fingers repeated
the message
I'm
y morning class. Remem
en a few days
ame at seven tonight. I'm the small
lly wanted to refuse, but Jared quickly sent a photo of himself in a blue
oftened un
ed my tasks and drov
and by the time I arrived,
, scoring quite a few po
basket. Amidst the cheers, he turned around, an
ergetically before quick
I found myself moment
and part-time jobs, leaving little time fo
e bright lights of the court shone down, I felt a
h Jared's team win
me, asking with a hint of p
a smile, "Yo
in my living room when Jared's sweat dripped ont
eyes had a captivating cha
ut of place on him; instead, i
many girls at s
me, he turned down two gir
g a bit dejected, occasi
on me, and asked cautiously, "Sis,
t you have classes
ularly aggrieved, "
posals day and night, I
then I remembered Tristan had just returned from a business trip
iately lit
each other's shoulders. Jared turned back to say something
, we've got
ve Jared back
received a ca
med particularly impatient, "I know, I'm not a
asketball,
hings to do
m sideways, "Your dad's just conc
ned abo
ly cared, he should have taken better care
other brought a hint
I already knew about J
y and married Tristan, supporting him
ill, and by the time they discovered it was la
ay when Jared
so I took advantage of a red light
m passed, he brought a new woman home, and soon afte
nd him or t
rfect either," but outwardly, I smile
k, quickly looking a
e nothing
ilding entrance. Jared hurried after me, repeatedly explai
ke y
closed the door, and pulled Jared into my embr
ering as he reached to undo
kling softly, "The night is yo
ke up to find Jared ha
d egg and milk with c
I pulled out a game console from the drawer and tossed it
said, "I'll
d my fo
really
ully, "Sis, don't you wa
in, "You can help c
re
fa, as if I had offered him
I was selecting milk when a familiar voice, t
ing a familiar face with handso
ex-boyfriend from
entanglement with Rick
d we had engaged in the
eek, smiling coldly, "Lilah, you'll never
g gently, "I know, but we
et through a
bout next month's living exp
ts had stopped supporting me, an
ecame more demanding, and juggling part-
e, I was let go by t
en Ricky
is high school sister at a rate mu
d by alcohol, Ricky a
f the hotel room, he looked
his neck, laughing so
ibbling my neck, his voice hoar
I starte
er forgetting to give me expe
s affection was conditional on
utoring services but couldn't acce
I refused again, Ricky's expression darkened, "Lilah, if
O
tly, "Then le
hen we said it was over, we reall
, and I hadn't expecte
of me, glaring at Ricky with vigilance, but h
me, your taste in men
le, but his eyes were cold, "I
ionless, coldly retort
old my hand, "
dn't
es before it quickly turned into the familiar look
ed up at Ricky, "No need for you to worry
"Lilah, I never thought yo
his head, boldly declaring,
th her, what's w
en lowered his eyes briefly before picking up a bottle of milk from the shelf and placing
remember to drink milk regular
, he left with
f milk back on the shelf and picked a new
in the kitchen and called Jared to e
it in his bowl, but didn't eat it. In
brow. "What do
ah, who was that
out Ricky, so I answered honestly, "An ex
.
still l
moment. "I use
ate his meal, saying nothing more. His expression was somewha
s, but on the third day, he had
reluctant to go and ins
out to pull away, he suddenly grabbed my chin
into my eyes from up close and
y and lied, "I'l
s brightene
all
e, it wa
redibly clingy. I had a pile of unfinished
oking into Jared's innocent, puppy-dog eyes, I
working on to Tristan. He flipped through a couple of pages befo
her. "Mr. Wade, you sho
highlighted several key figures, but I haven't figured out the
"You can organ
as my hand touched the doorknob, Tr
ith a smile, "Lilah, have you b
y, and I replied with a f
to focus on my career f
priorities and what shou
kind, but it made me
k, I received a call fr
amiliar, noisy voices
t was my ten-year-
't lik
didn't lik
ons, pretending to express their feelings over the phone. "Sis
xpressionlessly.
her end, followed by my mother's fu
r so many years, and Erik an
the big city while your bro
ful wre
f expletiv
"I've recorded this. If you call again
and changed directi
equila. Gradually, I felt a bit dizzy, resting my head on my hand and
ed as I stood up, then sat ba
I dialed Ja
n half an hour. The tall, slender young man stood at
nned the room and wal
im through my
meeting my eyes, and
your eyes
d on his shoulder and wh
of the bar, hailed a
uncomfortable. Once inside, he gently laid me on the sofa and was a
and his eyes grew darker. I kissed
, I'm
like me?
ered, but he fin
i
e game too often, he ha
ere sincere, but his w
, I fell asleep in th
ven know me
uld he real
d my leg around his waist, slipping my hand under hi
born col
my mother held me a
and said I l
ou must like your brothers, paternal and mater
ly. You must selflessly
y also said
can I handle it if
won't treat
d with heat. I clutched Jared's shoulder,
didn't dare move, gently wi
erward, I couldn'
and rarely get drunk, but ev
p. I lay on the sofa, covered with a blank
he, poured myself a glass of
ere was a kno
d threw it on, then w
a bright smile, a lar
and I began li
ist his soft approach. He tugged at my sleeve, acting cute and eve
bedroom, opened the closet, and s
d Jared wasn't quite
like an adorable puppy-like guy. When he sat on t
partment, so Jared naturally e
s liked to cling to me in his slee
is abs and nuzzle his neck, and before
many courses yet. Most of the time, he stayed with me
h, don't miss me. I'm just gone
gies and secured the big project with Hummingbird Corporation. Trist
saved, it was just enough to b
eemed like only a home could give
to humor him, "Alright, I'll be a
ared to boast about his culinary skills again. Instead, he asked
ntly, "I don
ely understand my mood a
late, I found him sitting at the table
es, yet his once elegant ha
d raised a hand, "Sis, I learne
it a
st a shimmering glow into his ey
ared's cooking
ks in my heart, while also stir
erwhelming u
sitting at the table, headphones on, watching s
ting down recipes from a video tutorial, notin
p down, there was a warm se
added ice, and sat on the bed
before Jared put down his pen an
ed in surp
pple bobbed, and
it on
fore dressing, swirled the wine glass so the cold liquid trickled d
ed me, and I l
angle, his fa
rp, his lips presse
smiling, he resemb
d me because Tristan represented too m
ore disgusted I felt inside, th
g him to bend down, kissing his li
his hand slipping under
my nails digging into t
ispering over and
l die in
ile and whispered, "No, y
od for me to
how i
e pure hormonal desires co
others, but never
I finally pulled away from the dept
y got up and
e returned with
e adding, "I found your medicine and health report in the cab
e before taking the milk an
calcium
nd could earn my own money
amboo shoot after rain, but without enou
bed in the living room, I felt as if my bo
on the table and reache
e darkness, softl
d closed my e
intuitively un
g when I woke u
ssing, and the spare key I had given
while, then calmly went to heat s
, Jared didn't send
ckly pushing aside any stray thoughts. I spent my days at the
ome, it was already
immediately saw Jared leaning agains
hile, had grown long, c
at me, his eyes red, his face pale,
then walked past him expressionlessly,
llowed m
s and turned around, a searing
ing from my lips down my nec
d I let out a soft moan, but he
ushed him away, turnin
ered back a couple of steps, looking
e three days, I didn't reach o
ined s
and then he suddenly stepped forward, lifting
to answer. I know you
turning all the unspoken matters into another k
ertips trembling, yet he remained on top of
several noticeable
when I dressed, silently watched him
I didn't have to work late tonight. After work, I wobbled to the underground p
to scream when a hand
acco, with a cool touch of jade
n my throat, and I near
hao, I just praised you for knowing your place,
hed over the hic
s, forcing myself to stay calm, "Mr. Wade, I'm a
chuckl
t that he and Jare
eir eyes would lift slightly, and t
d par
ffing at my neck befor
ped back, watc
t a year. No woman has dare
g, but don't t
nds trembled slightly
ark, and Jared
stomach, then staggered back to the be
was a
x years
so they sent me to live with my
after a heavy rain, most of th
climbed over the wall
sweaty hand, reaching under t
ning to see his face. My hand groped ar
k, and he let out a scream that
he slapped me hard across th
alled, and my parents c
ngs. My mother glanced at me with disdain and said coldly, "Lilah
h
untryside, so I deliberately seduced a local
n people, yet I found myse
is
room lights flicked on. I squinted and looked up to s
overlapped with Tris
ressionlessl
, and tears suddenly
s.
ept on the couch
ned my eyes, Jared was standing in
e smell of fried eggs wa
st. Then I looked up at Jared, who was wat
ar
faintly at him. "Do you sti
voice almost breaking. "Sis
s on yourself,
y and chuckled,
you are Tri
I shouldn't have taken out my wo
t happe
n this world. Why should I be
will take you
I w
and T-shirts, now included a fin
y with my striped b
ght until it got dirty in bed, and he h
planted a kiss on his lips. "Be good, little
e, I was
ould easily aff
dim light left on by the bed, his eyes were misty and wet as he look
. To put it poetically, it was like w
felt like I was having
veted was intimately close with his son. Th
n my body, willingly succumbing to desire
I guess I'm th
econd phase, and I was often too busy t
aring snippets of his life, and I co
nd he wandered around me with his bare chest, while I was busy checkin
on the edge of the bed. "Sis, a
ips. "Little brother, entertain yourself for a whi
th
entertain himself
when he pressed me onto the bed and kisse
y grinned smugly. "Sis, I'm on the school basketball
back with two tickets to
selling out in a second. I had n
. "I got them through a friend with
l be popu
singly. "Little brother, d
I did
rassed. "I just found yo
op through m
wave, but I was genuinely in
concert, and watching my favorite bands p
and I went to a Wood
ng water at the entrance
y. Ricky, seeing his stance, burst into laughter. "L
yed s
happens between Lilah and
so have some s
by my full name, which was quite unusual
y. It seemed not many people spoke
smiled at me. "Lilah, you're a smart
t pe
pinned me
art, and Tristan s
were bo
a lu
, then turned to Ricky, whose face had suddenly turned sour, and smile
ver the h
is probably
urned icy as h
ternoon, but I waited until eight in th
in the crowd, singing and dancing along with everyon
I turned around, grabbed Jared by the
place; many couples arou
of Ricky in the crowd, watching me with a
intercepted Jared and
nless one, he leisurely chuckled, "Lilah, this
eart
filled with malice. "Well, Lilah, you've rea
ond, he turned and
eating figure, feelin
or a while before suddenly saying, "Big sis, I'll get my d
ied, "Hmm," still pon
nt to tell my
ish, I looked up at hi
is eyes. "Big sis, I've wanted to say this for a long time. You work so ha
it, ri
earned my place in your company fair and squ
ects. How can I
n't have missed it. He shrank back
the building, it was
eling a bit restless, and lit a
back and reached out to st
for you
e cigarette, and kissed him, the
ips, quickly tasting a hint of blood. He didn't mind at a
g s
e with those gent
he always put on this puppy-dog look i
other, I've worked hard to get where I
muffled. "Big sis, com
ship being exposed, un
e excuse I
I didn't know. And I d