Chu Chi · Chat

In the scorching mid-July of Haicheng, even the air feels thick and sticky. Cheng Yu'an drags a suitcase half his height through the front door of his apartment, dripping with sweat. Following behind him is a tall young man wearing a faded white T-shirt and carrying a battered canvas bag. "Chi-ge, this is my place! It's a bit messy, don't mind it!" Cheng Yu'an kicks aside a slipper blocking the hallway and greets him warmly. "My sister's at work and won't be back until around eight tonight. Go rest in the guest room first, and I'll go get you a fresh towel." Chu Chi quietly scans the cozy, simply decorated two-bedroom apartment, his gaze lingering for a couple of seconds on a pair of delicate white high heels sitting on the entryway shoe rack. He gives a "coy" smile. "Yu'an, I'm really troubling you and your sister. Once I find a part-time job, I'll definitely pay you back for rent." "Ah, don't stand on ceremony with me!" Cheng Yu'an waves his hand dismissively, dashes into the bathroom to grab a towel, and tosses it to him. "Go take a shower to cool off first! I'll head downstairs to grab some cold drinks. This godforsaken weather is killer." With a loud *thwack*, the front door shuts, and the apartment instantly falls silent. Chu Chi walks unhurriedly into the guest room, sets his canvas bag down, and listens to the noisy buzzing of cicadas outside the window. He strolls out into the living room, his gaze landing on a framed photo on the coffee table—a picture of Cheng Yu'an and his older sister. The girl in the photo wears a crisp button-down shirt, her long hair draped over her shoulders, her smile bright with a touch of spirited poise. She looks just like the photo he had sneaked a peek at on Yu'an's phone, only far more vibrant in person. The corners of his mouth curve up, and his fingertip lightly taps against the glass frame. Then, with a clear conscience, he steps into the bathroom. After traveling all this way covered in sweat, he really does need a good wash. At that exact moment, the elevator downstairs opens with a *ding*. 你 steps out carrying her laptop bag, a exhausted look on her face. The company let everyone off half a day early due to emergency electrical maintenance. All she wants right now is to rush home, kick off her high heels, take a cold shower, and flop onto the sofa. She pulls out her keys and unlocks the door. The apartment is dead silent. Assuming her brother hasn't arrived yet, she unbuttons her shirt with one hand while kicking off her shoes, charging barefoot straight toward the bathroom. "It's so hot..." Her mind is entirely consumed by the refreshing thought of cold water cascading over her skin. She doesn't notice that the guest room door is open, nor does she notice the faint veil of steam pressing against the frosted glass of the bathroom door. *SWOOSH!* 你 yanks the bathroom door open with all her strength. Instead of the expected blast of cool air, a warm, humid mist scented with body wash comes billowing out. Through the steam, the tall silhouette of a man standing under the showerhead with his back turned to her suddenly comes into view—and she completely freezes on the spot. Because that back... Broad shoulders, a smooth spinal groove, and water droplets running all the way down his tight waistline... dripping onto the floor tiles. The young man is turned sideways to her, one hand holding the showerhead to rinse foam from his hair, the other hanging naturally at his side. From this angle, 你 can even faintly trace the carved outline of his abs... Time completely freezes in this instant. Chu Chi seems to sense something and slowly turns his head. Wet, dark-brown short hair clings to his forehead, and drops of water trickle down his sharp jawline. A flash of surprise touches his handsome face first, but right after, an inscrutable glint swiftly flashes across those sapphire-blue eyes. Standing there completely unabashed and turned sideways toward 你, he tilts his head slightly, his voice carrying the husky, magnetic rasp of someone fresh out of the shower: "...Sis?" Water droplets slide down his thick eyelashes, framing a slow-motion, heart-stopping close-up. 你's brain goes *BZZZT*, like it's been tossed straight into a washing machine. Staring at those deep blue eyes glowing through the mist, her gaze involuntarily darts downward for a fraction of a second—before snapping back up instantly. Her mouth twitches open, and from the back of her throat, she finally squeezes out an earth-shattering— "AHHHHHHH—!!!" The piercing scream echoes through the apartment. With a deafening *SLAM*, the bathroom door is hurled shut by 你 at lightning speed. She slumps to the floor with her back pressed tight against the door panel, clutching her face in her hands, her cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg. Inside the bathroom, Chu Chi leisurely turns off the shower faucet and picks up the fresh towel to dry his hair. Looking at the slammed door, the corners of his lips slowly curve into a subtle smirk. He glances down at himself and whispers under his breath, "...Guess that wasn't very polite." Yet his tone carries not a single trace of remorse. Downstairs, Cheng Yu'an, who just bought cans of iced cola, twitches so hard he nearly drops them on the ground. He looks up at his apartment window, his heart dropping into his stomach: *Oh crap... did my sister come home early?* He sprints upstairs at full speed, four big words echoing in his mind on repeat: *I AM SO DEAD.*