After a simple dinner, Dòu Táng stood at the sink washing dishes when Lu Zizhen suddenly
announced she was leaving.
"Hey, I'm heading home. I'll leave you siblings to your sweet little two-person world."
Standing by the entrance, she tugged on her high-heeled boots, then ducked into the bathroom
to touch up her makeup while she talked.
"What do you mean, 'two-person world'...?" Dòu Táng frowned. "And are you sure it's safe to go
back tonight?"
When she came out, face freshly powdered, Lu Zizhen's gaze swept from Huaiyin—whose ears
had turned bright red as she pretended to focus on her handheld console—to Dòu Táng, still in
an apron, sleeves rolled up, scrubbing dishes like a picture-perfect househusband.
"Hmph. What's this, Mr. Onii-Complex? Worried about me?"
It was just a joke—one of her usual teases. She never expected an answer.
But to her surprise, maybe the day's chaos had shaken something loose, because Dòu Táng
actually set the plate down, dried his hands, and looked straight at her.
"I am worried," he said seriously. "Are you sure it's okay to go back tonight? It might be
dangerous."
…Why is he suddenly being so direct?!
Caught off guard, Lu Zizhen laughed awkwardly, one hand pressed to her chest, the other
brushing her cheek.
"Y-you do realize saying things like that gives people the wrong idea, right? You're basically
inviting a girl to stay over when you talk like that."
Dòu Táng blinked. "Is there something wrong with that?"
In his mind, it was probably something like 'She's been staying here for days already—what's
one more night?'
He had no idea how that sounded to a woman.
For once, Lu Zizhen was the one flustered.
She exhaled slowly, forcing her voice to steady. "N-no… I can't. I've got work tonight—need to
update the site and fend off trolls. Comment section's a battlefield, you know?"
"Can you manage alone? Will you be safe?" Dòu Táng stepped closer, wiping his hands on his
apron, eyes calm but full of genuine concern.
Lu Zizhen lifted a hand to block his gaze, cheeks burning. After a small cough, she muttered,
"It's fine. My place is safer than yours. Don't forget—I'm a real Taoist priestess. Even if that spirit
shows up, she can't touch me at home."
"Want me to walk you back?"
"No need! My legs work just fine, thanks."
Her eyes darted nervously—then landed on Huaiyin, who was smirking like a mischievous cat.
That look clearly said: Trying to steal my brother and make him your Tom, huh?
The jab hit home. Lu Zizhen's pride flared. She dropped her hand, straightened her back,
and—though her face was flushed—tilted her chin up in mock arrogance.
"You just stay here and keep your sister company," she said coolly. "If anything happens, we'll
call."
Dòu Táng nodded, calm as always. He'd never been the type to argue when someone made a
decision.
"All right. Be careful on your way home."
Not this kind of calm! At least try to stop me, you blockhead!
Suppressing the urge to kick him, Lu Zizhen gave a tiny huff. "Fine. I'm going. Oh—and stay
alert tonight. That spirit isn't the type to give up easily."
"Got it. Don't worry."
She stepped to the door, hand on the knob—but paused.
Then she turned, shoved both hands into her pockets, and said, "Come here."
Dòu Táng blinked. "What's wrong?"
"Just come here." She crooked a finger.
He hesitated, but took two steps forward.
Behind him, Huaiyin's instincts screamed. "Wait, Onii-chan—!"
"What—"
Before he could turn fully, Lu Zizhen grabbed his collar, spun him around, and pulled him down.
Her lips brushed his.
A faint scent of powder and something citrus-sweet filled the air.
A kiss—brief, unexpected, but soft. Warm.
For that fleeting moment, even time seemed to falter.
When she pulled back, her eyes shimmered—lashes trembling, breath unsteady.
Dòu Táng stood frozen, mind blank.
Something stirred deep in him—old warmth, old sorrow, the faint echo of a memory that wasn't
entirely his.
He couldn't name it.
He only knew that her touch felt painfully human.
She savored the silence for a beat, then murmured with a wry smile,
"My new lipstick… not bad, huh?"
"I–it's… fine…" he said weakly, realizing his voice had tripped over itself.
"Good." She smoothed the wrinkles in his shirt where she'd grabbed him. "Next time,
though—when you open the door—don't look for Huaiyin first. I know I've got no right to ask you
to care about me, but… just wanted to say it."
Then she pushed him back lightly with a defiant little hmph.
Dòu Táng froze as she shot Huaiyin a sidelong glance—half challenge, half provocation.
That kiss, it seemed, wasn't just about emotion. It was a line drawn in the sand.
"Anyway. I'm off. Don't bother seeing me out."
Hands in her pockets, she strode out the door without looking back—head low, pace brisk, like
she was running from something.
Weirdo…
Dòu Táng touched his lips, sighed once, and returned to the sink as if nothing had happened.
At the table, Huaiyin puffed her cheeks, her controller unmoving in her hands.
Her small heel tapped irritably against the floor.
"What's wrong now?" Dòu Táng asked, drying the dishes.
"I heard it," Huaiyin muttered, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. "Onii-chan, help me
with my hair tonight. I want to cut it… make it prettier."
"That's a good idea," he said, stacking plates neatly. "At your age, you should take care of your
appearance. You'll be more popular when you go back to school."
Huaiyin froze. "Go back… to school!?"
"Of course." He turned toward her, tone calm, almost gentle. The kiss hadn't shaken him in the
slightest. "You can't stay cooped up forever. If you're scared, you don't need to be—I'll protect
you. I'll deal with that spirit haunting the school soon."
"…Idiot!"
The word tore from her throat, sharp and trembling—the loudest thing she'd said in a year.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/FicBridge