Chapter 6

The sound of my heartbeat grew unbearably loud in the brief silence.

This was my first time actually kissing Shen Qi'an.

I bit my lip and leaned closer.

Our first kiss was brief, gentle, and soft.

Kissing him was pretty nice.

So I kissed him again.

The air gradually grew warmer.

I pushed Shen Qi'an down onto the bed.

His hair was tousled from our kisses, and his breathing had grown a little ragged.

I was thoroughly caught up in the moment.

Then came a knock at the door from my older brother.

“Lu Yumian, open up! I know you're in there! Don't hide in there and pretend you can't hear me!”

I pretended not to hear him.

“Is Shen Qi'an in there with you?”

I let Shen Qi'an go and panted for breath.

“Brother, I'm busy. I can't talk.”

Xie Sinian stood silently outside the door. He pulled out his phone with a locksmith's number on it, then put it away again.

In the end, he sighed, sang “Only a Brother Is Good to Me,” and left in sorrow.

The camera following Xie Sinian livestreamed the whole scene.

【The mistress has usurped the throne and is spoiling the concubine while neglecting the wife! This must be punished! Unless you two kiss for us to see—please, let us watch!】

【Brother Xie looks heartbroken. Is nobody going to do anything?】

【Mian-An wins! The truth wins! I'm so happy!】

【I was about to cry, then Xie Sinian's song made me laugh. He's so weird.】

【The Mian-Nian shippers went up to the roof, only to find Xie Sinian had jumped off it.】

15

It was soon the final day of filming.

The special event at the end of every season was the “Heart-Fluttering Choice.”

The guests would choose the person who made their heart flutter, and the couple with the most successful votes from the audience would watch fireworks over the sea together.

Xie Sinian and I had been leading the votes.

But after the production team removed the fake votes, Xie Sinian suddenly lost three hundred thousand and Shen Qi'an overtook him.

【Hahaha, Xie must have been stuffing the ballot box for himself.】

【Xie Sinian, you really are persistent.】

【Honestly, the three of them together wouldn't be so bad. I want to see it!】

【…】

Brilliant fireworks rose over the sea, tearing open the night like the afterglow of a dream—brief, yet profound.

The shifting light traced Shen Qi'an's profile.

He seemed nervous.

He glanced at his wrist several times without realizing he wasn't wearing a watch.

He took a few deep breaths before finally speaking.

“Mianmian, we've been together for quite a while now. I… I like you more than I ever thought I would.

“I agreed to be the second-in-command before, but now, whenever I see you standing with someone else, it really hurts.”

He lowered his eyes, his voice soft, almost coaxing.

“Could you not choose anyone else? Could it be just me?

“I promise I'll do better than a thousand, ten thousand other people combined, and make you love me.

“Choose me, okay?

“If you say no, then I'll… I'll be a cold-faced mistress. You won't see me smile ever again!”

Shen Qi'an had just finished his threat when I couldn't help laughing.

At that very moment, the most dazzling fireworks burst overhead, opening like the feelings we'd kept hidden inside.

“Will you marry me?”

The fireworks faded. In the quiet of the late night, only the waves surrounded us.

In that brief darkness, I kissed him.

“Shen Qi'an, I will.”

The night deepened, and the sweet dream went on forever.

16

That night, I was too excited to sleep.

I kept thinking how lucky I'd gotten.

After tossing and turning for a while, I quietly got up and messaged Xie Sinian.

【Brother, I still like him. I've made up my mind about him.】

Xie Sinian called me immediately.

I hurried out to the balcony to answer.

I thought he'd scold me again.

But he didn't.

Xie Sinian was silent for a long time, like all the air had gone out of him.

“Forget it.

“I knew this would happen. You've always been very sure of yourself, from the time you were little. Even if I didn't approve, you'd still be with the person you'd chosen… I just couldn't bear to see someone sweep you away so quickly.”

As he spoke, Xie Sinian sniffled.

“Remember, I'm always here. If he ever hurts you, I'll break Shen Qi'an's legs.

“No matter what happens, I'll always be on your side. So if he ever treats you badly, you have to tell me, understand?”

My heart softened.

I smiled, but tears had already welled in my eyes.

“I know, big brother.”

I always had.

17

The next morning, Shen Qi'an swaggered up to Xie Sinian.

“Good morning. Where's your wife?”

“What?” Xie Sinian looked confused.

“Hehe. Turns out your wife became mine.”

I couldn't take it anymore. I covered my face and stepped in.

I tugged at Shen Qi'an's sleeve. “Shen Qi'an, he's my brother.”

“Then who am I?”

“You're my boyfriend.”

“And him?”

“He's my brother.”

Shen Qi'an's eyes turned red again.

“Mianmian, didn't you say last night that you only wanted me? He doesn't have as many abs as I do, and he's 0.35 centimeters shorter than me. What does he have that I don't?!”

“No, I mean—Xie Sinian is my biological brother. My actual brother!”

Shen Qi'an looked completely stunned.