Pearl in the Palm

Forty-odd minutes later, Mingzhu's bedroom door opened.

The obvious sound naturally didn't escape Fang Xiao's ears. He lifted his head slightly, set down the wooden box in his hands, and glanced outside through the window, which hadn't been shut properly.

His younger brother wasn't wearing his windbreaker anymore. He had folded it over his arm instead. His shirt was much more rumpled than before, with creases and signs of tugging that wouldn't smooth out.

His somewhat messy black hair looked damp with sweat and no longer had its earlier softness. A satisfied expression showed on his face, and he walked with a much more languid air than before. Whether from exhaustion or not, he no longer seemed so wary of Fang Mansion.

His younger brother looked up, and through the window, their eyes met.

The gold-rimmed glasses were still sitting neatly on his nose, but this time they didn't make him look more refined. Instead, they clashed with his air and somehow made him seem dangerous.

Fang Xiao's lips curled upward.

Fang Xing seemed more like him this way. Anyone who saw them would know they were brothers, wouldn't they?

"Big brother." Yu Xing quickened his pace toward Fang Xiao. Fang Xiao opened the door to let him in. He didn't question his state, but took the windbreaker and hung it on the coat rack, then asked with a smile—

"How was it?"

Yu Xing gave a light cough, as if remembering how he'd said he didn't need it earlier. A trace of embarrassment showed on his face at being seen through. "Not bad."

"Sister-in-law is... very charming."

"If it was so good, why didn't you stay in there longer? I thought you wouldn't remember me for at least two hours." Fang Xiao teased him.

Yu Xing rubbed his aching