The driver watched them, a feeling of contentment warming his heart. They really did look like brother and sister. And why not? The young miss was so adorable and gentle, who wouldn't like her?

Jiang Yi let Zhong Cheng lead the way, not because of any sibling affection as the driver assumed, but out of caution. Ultimately, she was an outsider, not truly a Zhong family miss.

Once inside the villa, Zhong Cheng continued upstairs. Jiang Yi, not wanting to follow any further, veered off towards the kitchen, breathing a subtle sigh of relief.

Zhong Cheng paused, glancing back at her eagerness to distance herself, his expression unreadable.

Later that evening, after washing up, Jiang Yi sat at her desk, her exercise book open. Tonight's tasks: an English essay and a science review.

Usually, she could finish an essay in twenty minutes, but tonight, she struggled. Her mind kept wandering.

One moment, she pictured Zhong Cheng standing up for her. The next, she saw his cold eyes accusing her of being dirty, only to kiss and hold her a second later. Then, his proud, arrogant expression flashed before her, his words urging her to come closer, to embrace him. And then, she heard the inexplicably rapid beat of his heart… She froze for a moment, shaking her head, trying to force her attention back to the task. But before long, those scenes replayed uncontrollably in her mind, refusing to dissipate.

A blush crept up the young woman's cheeks, warming her ears. Finally, she gave up, burying her face in her arms on the desk.

What did he mean by all of that…?

Just then, her phone, placed on the other side of the desk, vibrated. The buzzing traveled through the wood, reaching her ears.

Slowly, she lifted her head and reached for the phone. Seeing the name on the screen, her eyes widened, the dreamy languor instantly vanishing.

She took several deep breaths before answering.

After a split-second delay, Zhong Lin’s face appeared on the screen, hers in the top right corner.

“Big brother,” she whispered.

“Mm,” Zhong Lin responded, then looking at her image on the screen, he asked, “Why is your face so red?”

Jiang Yi startled, her mind racing to find an excuse. “I just showered. The water was too hot.”

Whether Zhong Lin believed her or not, he paused in thought. After a long silence, he changed the subject.

Their conversation followed a simple pattern: Zhong Lin asked, Jiang Yi answered. They mostly discussed everyday things: what she ate, how her studies were going, if anything had happened at home. Jiang Yi answered each question, occasionally returning the favor by asking about his work.

And somehow, they managed to chat about these mundane topics for over ten minutes.

Jiang Yi's anxiety gradually eased during their casual exchange.

After they had exhausted all the usual questions, a silence fell.

Zhong Lin’s gaze, intense even through the screen, remained fixed on Jiang Yi's face. Though his lips didn't move, his burning gaze seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.

A strange tension grew between them.

Jiang Yi looked away, unable to meet his eyes. The heat, which had just begun to subside, returned to her cheeks.

“What are you going to do next?” Zhong Lin asked.

“W-write my homework,” Jiang Yi stammered, her nervousness betraying her.

Zhong Lin suggested, “Position your phone so I can watch you do your homework.”

Jiang Yi imagined the scenario and quickly shook her head. “No.” Realizing her refusal was too abrupt, she added softly, “I’ll… I’ll get distracted.”