Chapter 53 - What Should I Do if My Younger Brother’s Crush Has Taken a Liking to Me?

Chapter 53 The rain seemed to be pouring even harder, the sound of rain on the umbrella became finer, and a moist, cool wind blew in from the alley, carrying the roaring sound of motor engines and the noisy chatter from the street-side food stalls. Even though no one seemed to be paying attention to this inconspicuous corner for the moment, just a dozen meters away, the bustling street was teeming with people, and anyone could come by at any time. This bold move made Xi Ning's heart skip a beat as she attempted to pull Kong Nianxi's hand off her neck, only to find the dim light under the umbrella blurring their proximity, and as she looked down, their lips accidentally met. "Ah..." Faint gasps could be heard in the background, but Xi Ning was preoccupied with the sound of footsteps approaching, so she half embraced and half pushed Kong Nianxi out of the alley before anyone could come. Back in the apartment, Xi Ning pressed the elevator button and only then did she notice Kong Nianxi covering her mouth, not saying a word. "What's wrong?" she asked softly. "You didn't feel it?" Kong Nianxi stepped closer, her hand brushed against Xi Ning's wrist, while her other hand pointed to her lips. "You hurt me with that kiss just now." Xi Ning paused and shot a glance at her lips - no broken skin, no blood, nothing seemed wrong. Unable to come up with anything to say, she straightened up and stared at the numbers climbing in the elevator. Seeing Xi Ning remain silent again, Kong Nianxi couldn't help but chuckle. With a somewhat desolate face yet easily embarrassed expression, her blushing ears looked quite adorable. "You're so cold." Her voice held a trace of discontent, but her face bore a smile. Kong Nianxi leaned over and reached out to pinch Xi Ning's chin, saying, "It hurts, blow on it~" Xi Ning looked into those eyes that held a smile, about to respond when the elevator suddenly stopped. Just before the doors opened, she took a step back. A girl holding a cat stepped into the elevator and stood in front of them. As the elevator continued to ascend, Kong Nianxi obediently stood beside Xi Ning. The cute Garfield cat lay on the girl's shoulder, and its big round eyes gazed at Kong Nianxi. She leaned lazily against Xi Ning, her eyes and eyebrows filled with an unyielding smile. After the elevator halted one floor up, the girl with the cat left to meet another girl waiting at the door. "What are you doing out so late?" "I couldn't sleep alone..." The elevator continued to ascend. Most of the residents in this apartment building were students from the nearby school, and Su Yuqi lived on the same floor, though she usually went home for the weekends. Thinking about going home... The door closed with a soft "click" behind them. "It's already 11:30. Should we take a shower first?" Kong Nianxi handed her a pair of slippers, waiting for Xi Ning to change before leading her into the room. "You've helped me undress in the bathroom before, so you should be familiar with it." "I didn't bring any spare clothes," Xi Ning said. "It's okay, I have some new pajamas you can wear, and if you need anything, you can wear my clothes tomorrow," Kong Nianxi replied. "Which one do you want?" Kong Nianxi tossed two nightdresses onto the bed. Xi Ning lowered her head and hesitated for a moment. Compared to the last time she stayed over at Kong Nianxi's apartment, this time felt different. She felt a strange sensation creeping up, yet the boundaries weren't entirely clear. Distracted, Kong Nianxi walked towards the bathroom with the clothes in hand, "I'll go wash up~" Her tone was casual and relaxed. Xi Ning watched her walk away and let out a sigh. It's just one night. Rather than staying in the bedroom, Xi Ning sat in the living room, aimlessly scrolling through her phone as she waited. As a high school student with strong self-learning abilities, Xi Ning naturally turned to the omnipotent internet to fill in the gaps in her vague concepts. As she glanced at the information, she came across terms like attacker, receiver, 1, 0, and TP, her eyes widened, and her ears began to heat up. Lost in thought, Xi Ning saw Kong Nianxi emerge from the bathroom, her nightdress showing off her perfect figure. Her damp hair fell around her slender neck as she approached, using a towel to gesture, "Go ahead, there are new toothbrushes and towels in there." Xi Ning abruptly turned off her phone screen, picked up her clothes, and headed into the bathroom. As the warm water poured down, she found herself frequently lost in thought, her mind bewilderingly cluttered with fragmented and random thoughts. After the shower, Kong Nianxi had already dried her hair and sat on the sofa, playing with her phone. When she saw Xi Ning, she patted the spot next to her and raised her eyebrows, "Finally done? Come over and let me help you dry your hair." Wearing Kong Nianxi's nightdress, which was deliberately chosen to be a longer one, Xi Ning couldn't ignore the fact that it still came up short on her due to her height, stopping right above her thighs. Twisting the hem of the dress uneasily, she walked over and took the hairdryer from Kong Nianxi, saying, "No, I'll do it myself." Kong Nianxi handed her the hairdryer without saying anything. She got up with a smile, "Well, hurry up then. When you're done, come to the bedroom. I'll be waiting for you in bed." With a wink, she turned and went into the bedroom. Xi Ning tightened her grip on the hairdryer, turned the fan to the maximum, and felt the hot air rush past her ears. Sometimes she couldn't help but wonder what on earth was going through Kong Nianxi's mind to say such things with such ease. Her hair dry to the point where it couldn't get any drier, Xi Ning looked at her phone. It was already midnight, and her body, accustomed to going to bed early, began to feel a bit tired. Setting the hairdryer down, she walked into the bedroom. Kong Nianxi was sitting at the edge of the bed, watching videos on her tablet, with one slipper dangling off her fair foot. Her long legs swung lazily as she laughed heartily at something. When Xi Ning approached, she took hold of her arm and sat her down. The screen displayed a collection of funny pet videos, which was exactly what Xi Ning, a fan of furry creatures, loved. They watched and laughed together for a few minutes before the video ended, and then she noticed that Kong Nianxi had somehow half-hugged her and was leaning against her, with one leg hooked under hers. The thin fabric of her nightdress made their bodies entwined feel particularly intimate. Shifting her arm that was encircled, Xi Ning looked towards the door, "It's late; let's go to bed." "Okay." Kong Nianxi let out a laugh and fell onto the bed, still holding onto Xi Ning. Startled, Xi Ning struggled to sit up straight, "Wait, hold on." "Hmm?" "I think I saw another guest room over there. I can sleep there, right?" "That's Tata's room. If you want, you can sleep under its cat tree." Kong Nianxi snorted, then rested her wrist on Xi Ning's shoulder and asked, "Xi Ning, what do you think our relationship is now?" Xi Ning slowed her breathing. Even though it wasn't explicitly stated, they both were perfectly aware that, from the moment she confessed, that final layer of separation between them had been torn down. Kong Nianxi met her gaze head-on, "Do you like me?" Xi Ning nodded. "Then don't hesitate." The bedroom was spacious, and the bed was broad enough. Kong Nianxi gracefully turned over, kneeling with her knees bent on the bed, facing Xi Ning. She reminded her, "You still owe me a deep kiss." Xi Ning hesitated with her hands on the bedsheet, fingertips grasping it tightly. Sighing softly, Kong Nianxi held onto Xi Ning's shoulder, leaned down slowly, and said, "I'll count to three, and I won't force you." "But if you miss this chance," she pressed against Xi Ning's leg, "your position in the future will remain the same, so don't think about turning the tables." "... " Suddenly, Xi Ning thought of the "new knowledge" she had just encountered. "One." "... " "Two." "... " The sound of the third word marked the moment when Xi Ning felt a warm, soft hand covering her, and a cool sensation on her lips. Xi Ning slightly parted her lips, lifted her head, and tentatively touched Kong Nianxi's lips with hers, her tongue awkwardly venturing to explore, cautious and careful. This was an extremely unfamiliar experience for Xi Ning. It was her first time taking the initiative to kiss someone, and it was not a reckless rush. Her actions were restrained, polite, and reserved, a kiss so gentle it reached right down to her bones. As Kong Nianxi's lips were carefully touched and licked, her back softened, and she placed a hand on Xi Ning's shoulder for support. Although the kiss was shallow and only lingered around the open gap of her teeth, not even touching her tongue. After a while of licking, she couldn't help but speak up, "You should go deeper." Xi Ning instantly backed away, her face turning red as if about to drip blood. This was the first time she truly experienced a pounding heart and the surge of blood in her veins. Kong Nianxi's eyes were filled with a hazy mist as the slight upward curve at the corners of her eyes was alluring. Embracing Xi Ning's neck with her arm and lifting her chin with her hand, she said, "Didn't I teach you before?" The warmth on her cheek reached the tip of her heart, and as Xi Ning pursed her lips, the cool touch of her fingertips rubbed against her, dispelling the heat. Kong Nianxi looked down at her, her charming gaze like that of an enchanting fairy, her voice carrying a hint of playful huskiness, "Will you do as you were told? Or shall I teach you again?" This couldn't be real. If they hadn't been together all along, Xi Ning would have even doubted if she suddenly became intoxicated. And indeed, Kong Nianxi was "intoxicated." Her heart had already drifted away when Xi Ning initiated the kiss. She couldn't contain herself and didn't want to restrain herself. Feeling the fingertips passing through her hair at the back of her head, a slight shadow loomed over her, and with a faint sweetness flowing through, Xi Ning's lips were sealed with a deep and intense kiss.