Chapter 35

So... so handsome...

How had Tianchen... when had he grown into this? The skinny little runt in her memory—when had he developed a physique far superior to the models in magazines?

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, lean, firm muscles—not exaggerated, but just right. Every part of his body seemed perfectly sculpted to match her tastes.

Her gaze uncontrollably slid from his shoulders to his chest and abs, and a thought involuntarily surfaced in her mind—she wanted to touch his pecs.

What would they feel like under her fingers? Warm, or slightly cool? Would Tianchen's body tense up when her fingertips brushed against it?

Wait, what was she thinking, Ling Luochan? Wasn't this a little too perverted...?

Then... abs should be fine, right?

Just a light touch to check how they felt. That shouldn't be going too far... right?

Tianchen probably wouldn't refuse me either. I'm just curious...

Ling Tianchen finally finished admiring himself. When he turned his head, his gaze collided head-on with Ling Luochan's, who was standing not far away.

"..."

"..."

The two stared at each other as the air froze for about a second.

Wait, when had she seen him posing just now? Ah, how embarrassing!

Ling Luochan's reaction was even more intense.

Once discovered, she hastily withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and tried to flee. It was over—Tianchen had definitely seen her blushing, lovestruck expression. How was she supposed to put on airs as his older sister in front of him after this?

But before she could take two steps, her wrist was grabbed.

No! Had he... noticed? What was he going to say?

"Ahem." Ling Tianchen cleared his throat twice and spoke first. "Sister Luochan, I was just checking if there was anywhere I hadn't wiped clean. Don't misunderstand."

"...Huh? Oh?"

"Well, the bathroom's free now. Sister Luochan, you should go take a shower too."

Ling Luochan froze for a moment, then the huge weight in her heart came crashing down. So Tianchen was still rather dense in certain respects. She regained her composure.

"Then I'm going. No peeking, okay?"

"I won't. I'm not that desperate."

Ling Tianchen rolled his eyes speechlessly.

After coming out of the bathroom, Ling Tianchen swiftly slipped beneath the covers.

The bed was not particularly large. It was more than spacious enough for one person, but a little cramped for two.

The sheets and pillows carried a faint, refreshing fragrance unique to a young girl.

Breathing in that familiar scent, drowsiness soon washed over him. He barely struggled before sinking into sleep.

It felt as though only a second had passed when a warm, soft sensation enveloped him. Something wrapped around him from the front, and his entire face was buried between two soft mounds.

Still not deeply asleep, he groggily opened his eyes. It took considerable effort to pull his head free from the softness and regain his vision.

The room was pitch-black, but with his eyesight, he could still see everything clearly.

At some point, Ling Luochan had pulled his entire body into her embrace. They were hugging face-to-face, one of her legs draped over him, and the hem of her nightgown was rumpled into a mess.

This seemed a little too intimate.

"Sister Luochan, wake up. I can't sleep like this," he whispered, trying to wake her.

There was no response. She remained deeply asleep, her breathing even and steady, her face wearing a peaceful, completely defenseless expression.

Ling Tianchen fell silent for a moment. He had awakened immediately the moment something felt wrong. He refused to believe Ling Luochan could have fallen asleep in an instant.

"Stop pretending to sleep. I know you're awake." He reached out and lightly poked Ling Luochan's soft little cheek. "If you don't move, I'm moving myself."

That did the trick.

Ling Luochan slowly opened her eyes, looking sleepy, her voice carrying the lazy nasal tone of someone who had just awakened. "What's wrong with hugging while we sleep...? Didn't I often hold you like this when you were little, Tianchen?"

"I'm grown up now."

"That's not a reason. Our relationship hasn't changed. Besides, this bed really is a little small. If I don't hold Tianchen, I'm scared I might accidentally fall off the bed in the middle of the night. That would hurt."

"Then you can sleep on the inside. Let's see what excuse Sister Luochan can come up with now."

"Don't... It's been so long since we slept together. Just this once, okay? Can Tianchen fulfill this tiny request of his sister's?"

Ling Luochan's voice suddenly softened, her eyes filled with anticipation and a trace of barely noticeable nervousness.

And so, Ling Tianchen had a very tragic reaction.

God, the world must have gone mad. How could he be like this?

Didn't they say normal people wouldn't have the slightest improper reaction toward their biological older sisters?

Didn't they say siblings were naturally unable to feel attraction toward the opposite sex because their body scents were too similar?

Then what was this situation he was in now?

Could he really be an utter pervert?

While he was still fighting a battle between heaven and man in his mind, Ling Luochan's thigh slowly brushed against him again. She would definitely notice his abnormality!

If she found out, he would never be able to hold his head up in front of her again. She would probably treat it as an amusing story between them for the rest of their lives. He didn't want that!

He hurriedly pulled his waist backward, trying to avoid her on his own.

But Ling Luochan sensed him slipping out of her embrace and instinctively reached out to grab him, wanting to pull him back into her arms.

With that grab, her palm caught, without missing by an inch...

Both of them froze.

Ling Luochan reacted first.

She abruptly let go, then spun around at lightning speed as if she had been burned, turning her back to him and pressing tightly against the edge of the bed.

Ah—! This was a disaster!

Ling Tianchen was so frustrated that he wanted to use the Time-Reversal Domain to start over, but reversing time would not reset memories. Even if he went back, she would still remember that brief sensation.

He really had no idea what to do!

"Um, Sister Luochan, I-I didn't do it on purpose. It's just that you were too... well, and I only made the mistake any normal man would make..."

He stammered out an explanation. Even he found the defense pale and powerless.

"Mm, mm, I understand. I'm going to sleep first."

Her faint reply drifted from her lips. Then she stopped responding entirely, still keeping her back to him.

Oh, no!

Ling Tianchen felt as though he had suffered a crushing blow. Didn't women say, "I'm going to take a shower," or "I'm going to sleep first," whenever they were disappointed in a man?

Wasn't that exactly what was happening now?

Sister Luochan must have thought he was beyond saving. She did not even want to speak to him face-to-face and had ended the conversation with a single sentence.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to salvage the situation, but racked his brain without finding a single appropriate word.

In the end, he could only lie back down dejectedly, turn around like she had, face the wall, and silently reflect on his mistakes.