Chapter 36 - What Should I Do if My Younger Brother’s Crush Has Taken a Liking to Me?

Chapter 36 Just now, she was in a hurry when taking the clothes. Everything was in black, and Xí Níng didn't pay much attention. But when she turned her head for a closer look, they didn't seem to be typical pajamas. Wrinkling her brows curiously at the second glance, Xí Níng was left empty-handed as Kǒng Niàn Xī took the clothes and closed the door. "..." Xí Níng stood doubtfully by the door for a few seconds, then had no choice but to turn back to the living room. Looking out through the tightly closed windows, it was pouring rain outside, but the soundproofing of the room was quite good, with only faint sounds of "pattering" rain being heard. The thunder had stopped, and Tǎ Tǎ was lying on the sofa. When Xí Níng sat down next to it, it disdainfully flicked its tail across her. Xí Níng rubbed its head. "Meow!" Tǎ Tǎ's whole body jolted, then it leaped off the sofa, hissed at her, shook its head, and walked away with cat-like steps. Feeling somewhat rejected, Xí Níng helplessly pursed her lips. Sitting alone in the unfamiliar living room, surrounded by silence, she felt a sense of frozen time. "Clack." The cat bowl made a crisp sound as it hit the floor. Tǎ Tǎ had returned without her noticing, squatting on the ground and looking at her. "Are you hungry?" Xí Níng was surprised to see the cute cat bowl at her feet. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she stood up, preparing to feed it. However, she stopped after a few steps. —This was her first time at Kǒng Niàn Xī's place, and not knowing where the cat food was kept, it would be impolite to wander around in someone else's home in such a situation. She looked apologetically at Tǎ Tǎ, "I'm sorry. Please bear with it for a while. Let's wait... until your owner comes out before I find you something to eat." "Meow~" Tǎ Tǎ took a bite of her shoelace, then turned and walked a few steps before looking back at her, gesturing for her to follow. Raising an eyebrow, Xí Níng followed the little one to the kitchen and found a bag of cat food and some cat treats in the cabinet in front of Tǎ Tǎ. "..." For the first time, Xí Níng was both surprised and delighted to communicate with the little cat without obstacles. She quickly squatted down and poured some cat food into its bowl. However, Tǎ Tǎ didn't even look at it, instead hopping onto the cabinet and fetching a bag of treats, which it then dropped by her side. "You haven't opened this yet..." Xí Níng hesitated, gazing at the unopened bag. "Meow~" Tǎ Tǎ meowed softly and, for the first time, nuzzled her hand with its head. Unable to resist, Xí Níng tore the packaging and fed it. It finished in no time. Tǎ Tǎ: "Meow~" more. Thinking like a cat care expert, Xí Níng frowned slightly and hesitated, "Shouldn't you eat too much at night?" "Meow—" Tǎ Tǎ's growl was somewhat fierce, but it stopped halfway, its ears twitched, and it scurried out of the kitchen. Noticing the movement in the living room, Xí Níng, thinking that Kǒng Niàn Xī had finished showering, lifted her foot to go out. Under the bright light of the living room, a few wet footprints were visible on the floor. The bedroom door was half open, and Tǎ Tǎ quickly ran in, only to reemerge a while later, followed by a slender figure. Seeing the person clearly, Xí Níng was stunned and almost didn't recognize her— Wrapped in a soft, thin black fabric, a close-fitting one-piece suit accentuated her body. The top had a V-neck design, revealing her fair skin on her arms and shoulders. This kind of clothing was quite demanding on one's figure; any imperfections would be exposed. But Kǒng Niàn Xī, with her slim waist and long legs, was the perfect fit for it. A long, slender red ribbon was tied around her waist, accentuating her stunning figure. With the addition of the black mask covering the bottom of her face, Xí Níng was momentarily dazed. As if in a daze, Kǒng Niàn Xī walked barefoot in front of her, joining her hands in an improvised gesture and, finally, leaning in, "Ninja art, Fireball Jutsu!" She gently blew towards Xí Níng. "..." Xí Níng's eyes twitched, and after a while, she moved her lips, "Is... is this your pajamas?" The slight red blush at the corner of Kǒng Niàn Xī's eyes had not faded. She squinted, and her lips curved under the mask. Her voice was muffled, "Yes, it's the most special one. Do you like it?" Finishing her question, she opened her arms and turned around. Xí Níng then noticed that the back of the one-piece suit had an open design, exposing her perfect shoulder blades. Her long hair, still dripping with water, was loosely scattered in front of her shoulders. Xí Níng changed the subject, "Your hair is still wet. You should blow dry it and rest early." "You haven't answered if you like it," Kǒng Niàn Xī stood still. "..." Since she wasn't fully awake, Xí Níng took a deep breath and, in a lowered voice, said, "It looks good." Kǒng Niàn Xī chuckled silly, removed the hot mask, and turned to get the hairdryer. She was still a bit unsteady on her feet, but she seemed able to move on her own. Xí Níng was unsure how people behaved when drunk, but as Tu Xiao Yuan had repeatedly reminded her, she dare not take it lightly. Kǒng Niàn Xī sat on the sofa, obediently drying her hair. Xí Níng hesitated for a few seconds, rubbed her brow, and walked over to sit opposite her. But not long after, as the blow-drying continued, she stifled a yawn and abruptly tossed the hairdryer aside. Leaning back against the sofa, she looked unhappy. Approaching her as if she were a worried nanny, Xí Níng turned off the hairdryer, "What's wrong?" With her face lifted, slightly parted lips, her natural lip color akin to a moist red rose under the night lamp, Kǒng Niàn Xī complained, "I'm tired…" Seeing her blink a couple of times and about to doze off, Xí Níng pulled her up, "Your hair isn't dry yet. You'll get sick if you sleep now." But as soon as Kǒng Niàn Xī closed her eyes, she couldn't open them again. Without support, she swayed and fell into Xí Níng's embrace, leaving her no choice but to sit, supporting her with one hand. "Mmm, it's okay," Kǒng Niàn Xī mumbled. Apparently feeling uncomfortable, she half-opened her eyes, twisted to lie back against the sofa. Seeing her in this state, Xí Níng made a decision and opened the hairdryer, taking the opportunity to help dry her hair. It was already pouring outside, and through the indoor light, they could see the "curtain of water" on the French windows. The hairdryer buzzed, and as her fingertips glided over the smooth ends of Kǒng Niàn Xī's hair, despite her utmost caution, they occasionally brushed against her bare back. Her gaze unavoidably landed on Kǒng Niàn Xī's shoulder blades. With each blow, her heartbeat inexplicably thudded. When her hand paused, she turned her head to look at the phone on the table with the screen lit, sighed, and checked it. It was a message from the local meteorological department warning of strong winds and heavy rain over the next two days, advising citizens to take precautions and avoid going out. Below that was a message from Tu Xiao Yuan, inquiring about her situation. However, Xí Níng didn't have time to reply at the moment. After a pause, she turned the hairdryer back on, and without thinking too much, set the temperature and airflow to the maximum, intending to make it a quick job. Perhaps the previous gentle breeze was more comfortable, as Kǒng Niàn Xī struggled uncomfortably a few times during the process. Despite being held down, Xí Níng continued to dry her hair, and it was not until later that she was completely dried. Finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, Xí Níng stood up and prepared to leave. However, Kǒng Niàn Xī suddenly made a dissatisfied "hmm," rolled over, and carelessly kicked her in the waist. Although the force was light, Xí Níng, out of self-defense, instinctively pressed her bare foot against her leg. Before Xí Níng could say anything, Kǒng Niàn Xī suddenly exclaimed, rolled onto her back, slightly lifted her leg, and accidentally kicked her in the waist. Despite the slight force, her wet eyes held a complaint as she said, "It tickles…" And then, she collapsed onto her. "..." For a long time, there was no movement. This time, it seemed like she had finally fallen into a deep sleep. Her hair was also completely dry. Carrying her to the bed, Xí Níng finally completed her task. Before leaving, as she closed the door, it was already eleven o'clock. Normally, Xí Níng, with her regular routine, would have been resting in bed by this time. Leaning against the wall to catch her breath, Xí Níng received a voice call from Tu Xiao Yuan. Tu Xiao Yuan: "Hello? Níng Níng, how's it going over there? You haven't replied for so long; I've been really worried. Hey, I didn't turn on video to protect your privacy, considerate of me, right? Quick, praise me." Xí Níng: "What nonsense. There's nothing to protect between me and Kǒng Niàn Xī." After a pause, she added, "She's fine. She's asleep now." Tu Xiao Yuan: "Wow, I didn't expect that you'd be quite good at taking care of people. Did you also sleep beside her?" Xí Níng was at a loss for words, "No, stop talking nonsense." Tu Xiao Yuan seemed to click her tongue from the other side, "How am I talking nonsense? It's late, and both of you are girls. It's normal to sleep together, isn't it?" For a moment, Xí Níng felt speechless. Tu Xiao Yuan continued, "So, are you coming back tonight? I haven't finished watching the movie with Zhuai Zhuai. If you come back, we can order some fast food for all of us." Of course, Xí Níng wanted to go back, but— "Um, can I ask you something? Do people who were drunk forget what happened when they wake up?" There was a quiet moment on the other end, with a hint of surprise in her tone, "Níng Níng, you... didn’t take advantage of the situation, did you?" "I—" Xí Níng couldn't find the right words, speaking haltingly, "Nope, I didn't." "Then...?" The tone made Xí Níng feel as if she had made a mistake and was struggling to explain, "I just said I wouldn't leave last night. Now that she's asleep, so..." "I see. Since you made a promise, you should keep it and stay there. There’s no need for you to come back." "..." Feeling like she had put her foot in her mouth, Xí Níng hesitated for a moment before forcing herself to say, "I didn't say I was coming back." "In that case, should I bring some toiletries for you?" Thinking of taking a shower in Kǒng Niàn Xī's bathroom, Xí Níng felt a bit awkward, "No need to trouble yourself. I'll go downstairs and take a shower before coming back up." So, after showering in Su Yuqi's room on the fifth floor and changing into her pajamas, Xí Níng took the elevator back to the top floor. She lay on the sofa, covered with the blanket brought from downstairs, feeling physically and mentally exhausted, her mind blank. Haphazardly, she had accidentally spent a night at Kǒng Niàn Xī's home. Early the next morning, perhaps due to exhaustion from the previous night, Xí Níng's body clock was all messed up, and she awoke much later than usual. When she regained her consciousness, she felt a bit suffocated and, upon opening her eyes, saw Tǎ Tǎ's furry head. Its two paws were pressing against her chest, and it was gazing at her with its bright cat eyes. A little dazed, she was halfway awakened by the fluffy head, unconsciously breaking into a smile. Soon, she noticed the figure next to her, slightly turning her head to see Kǒng Niàn Xī sitting cross-legged on the reclining sofa, right beside her. With a handheld game console in hand, she was leisurely playing, looking up from the game and raising her brows upon noticing Xí Níng's gaze. Outside the French window, it was already bright, but the room remained dim due to the rainy weather, which led to a grayish morning. Suddenly sitting up, Tǎ Tǎ jumped off her, "Meow!" "You finally woke up. You slept even later than me." Kǒng Niàn Xī casually placed the game console on the table. Xí Níng bit her lip, feeling tongue-tied. Did she not consider who took care of her last night? Kǒng Niàn Xī tugged at her own clothes, "The pajamas you picked for me last night?" Xí Níng's expression stiffened, and she hastily explained, "Last night... you asked me to help get your pajamas. I just picked one at random." Kǒng Niàn Xī smiled, "I know, I remember." Xí Níng: "..." "So, thank you for taking care of me last night," Kǒng Niàn Xī leaned over to straighten her long hair, her cheeks showing a subtle but quickly suppressed blush. "You're welcome." Xí Níng lifted the blanket off her legs and sat up, still in her pajamas. The white cotton pajama pants were a bit short, making her legs look particularly long when they were let down, revealing a straight calf. "Is there anything you wanted to say to me?" Kǒng Niàn Xī leaned back, looking at her with a half-smile, as if the subtle blush on her cheeks earlier was just an illusion, "You seemed to have something to say in the stairwell yesterday." Xí Níng's breathing slowed down a bit. She knew that Kǒng Niàn Xī had chosen to quiet down, giving her the chance to clear up any misunderstandings. After a moment, she sighed and struggled to find the right words, attempting to handle the social situation she wasn't adept at as smoothly as possible. "If my... issues have affected you, I also feel a burden. So... I hope to do what I can to make up for my mistakes." Despite trying to carefully choose her words, she still felt uneasy after saying them. As expected, there was a long silence from the other side, and her laughter held a hint of chill, "What exactly do you want to make up for?" Kǒng Niàn Xī squinted, with a mocking smile, "Your burden? Don't tell me you think I have a one-sided crush on you, and feel sorry for me?" Xí Níng was taken aback, shaking her head in a panic, "That's not what I meant." "Then what is it?" Xí Níng hesitated and said, "Last Friday, you skipped all your afternoon classes, which made Tian Jiabao lose his temper." Kǒng Niàn Xī chuckled indifferently, "Oh, him? Let him stew, it makes him look younger." Xí Níng pursed her lips, "But such extreme truancy will have a bad influence on you." "..." The atmosphere was quiet for several seconds, until Kǒng Niàn Xī suddenly chuckled softly, leaning closer to her, "You... are most concerned about this?"