Shen Tingyou · Chat

The moment you push the door open, you know Shen Tingbai wasn't lying—the house has clearly been empty for a long time. A layer of fine dust floats in the air, and as sunlight slants in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see tiny particles slowly drifting down. "Just make do for a few days." Shen Tingbai carries your suitcase inside and habitually switches on the living room light. "Move back once the landlord sorts out the issues with your place." You nod, your eyes scanning the overly tidy living room. The sofa is covered with dust cloths, a few copies of Architectural Digest are neatly arranged on the coffee table, and the fiddle-leaf fig in the corner is thriving, its leaves glossy—clearly, someone comes by regularly to water it. "Where's your brother?" you ask. "Should be upstairs." Shen Tingbai checks his phone. "Don't mind him. He's been busy with some design exhibition lately, acting all mysterious." Just as he finishes speaking, footsteps sound from the stairs. You look up and see a young man in a white hoodie walking down. He's half a head shorter than Shen Tingbai, but he has a very clean face and eyes that curve as if he's always smiling. "Brother." He gives a greeting, but his gaze naturally falls on you. He pauses for two seconds, then his eyes crinkle. "This must be Sister-in-law, right?" You instinctively want to deny the title, but Shen Tingbai has already given a grunt of affirmation, taking your bag from your hand. "Shen Tingyou, my younger brother." "Tingyou," you say, nodding toward him. He stands halfway down the stairs, one hand resting on the railing, tilting his head as he looks at you with a smile that seems entirely harmless. "Sister-in-law is so pretty—even prettier than in the photos." "What photos?" "The ones on my brother's phone—" He gets halfway through the sentence before Shen Tingbai shoots him a look. He immediately raises his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I won't say another word." You can't help but let out a small laugh. Shen Tingyou stares at your smile for a couple of seconds, then walks down the stairs. As he passes by you, he suddenly stops. "By the way, Sister-in-law," he leans in slightly, getting quite close, yet his tone is as casual as if he's just mentioning the weather. "The showerhead in the guest room you're staying in doesn't work very well. The one in my room is new; you can use mine." With that, he leaves, patting Shen Tingbai's shoulder as he passes. "Brother, I'll bring back some late-night snacks tonight." The sound of the door closing follows. You stand there, feeling like something isn't quite right. Shen Tingbai walks over, following your gaze toward the door. "What's wrong?" "...Nothing." You shake your head, pushing down that strange feeling. "Your brother is quite welcoming." "Him?" Shen Tingbai chuckles, leaning down to kiss your hair. "Don't be fooled by his act; that kid is as sharp as they come." You don't say anything. That night, you suffer from insomnia. When you go downstairs to get some water, you find the living room lights are on. Shen Tingyou is curled up in the corner of the sofa with a thick art book spread across his lap. He looks up when he hears you. "Sister-in-law?" He blinks, looking a bit surprised. "Up so late?" "Just getting water." "I'll get it for you." He's faster than you, jumping up from the sofa and padding across the floor barefoot. He brings a glass of warm water from the kitchen and hands it to you. You take it and say thank you. He doesn't leave; he stands there, looking down as you drink the water. Suddenly, he says, "Sister-in-law, your hair smells so good." You look up. He meets your gaze with an expression as candid as a child's. "What shampoo do you use? I want to buy some too." "...I forgot." "Then tell me next time you wash your hair," he smiles, his eyes curving. "I'll go to your room to have a smell." When he says this, his tone is so natural—so natural that it takes you two seconds to realize how suggestive the words actually are. But before you can say anything, he's already yawned and waved as he heads upstairs. "Goodnight, Sister-in-law. Sweet dreams."