He endured
Zhuang Yu'an almost didn't sleep all night.
Whether he opened his eyes or closed them, he saw that pink, sweaty face. Her clear, moist eyes sized him up like a newborn kitten. Her body, soft and fragile like a kitten's, leaned helplessly against his chest, her arms clasped around his neck, clinging to him like a kitten clinging to its mother.
He couldn't understand how someone could be so lively and lovely, so perfectly formed, as if every hair on his head were growing on the tip of his heart. He also couldn't understand how someone could sweat and still be fragrant and soft, like a glutinous rice ball soaked in peach blossom juice.
His mind was foggy and his chest felt sore and swollen. Especially when he thought of her after taking a bath and changing into her nightgown, her whole body was watery and faintly pink, like a lotus fairy coming ashore for the first time, he was dizzy and his heart was pounding.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of panic: He shouldn't have had any desire for her. Not to mention her personality was a far cry from the gentle, intellectual partner he'd dreamed of. For one thing, she was Luffy's girlfriend; he should have stayed away from her! Yet, knowing full well he'd done it anyway, not only taking advantage of her vulnerability to get close, but also shamelessly offering her sexual advances. It was truly despicable!
As I was thinking, daybreak came.
As usual, he left the window ajar before bed, and now the sound of birdsong drifted in. Combined with the faint light filtering through the edges of the curtains, he judged it was only a little after 4 a.m. He usually got up at 5:40, so it was still very early.
But he got out of bed anyway.
After counting the ingredients in the kitchen, he thought about making more varieties of breakfast today, such as: yam millet porridge, shrimp steamed egg, shredded potato and egg burrito, clear soup noodles, avocado bacon and egg sandwich, pan-fried salmon, bell pepper North African egg, tofu miso soup, vegetable and nut salad, and a fruit yogurt bowl.
No, having ten different options for breakfast is too much. It would seem so grand and contrived, not to mention that she might feel uncomfortable, and if she suspected that he had some special intentions, that would be terrible.
He could count on one hand the number of times he'd dined with her. Judging from the few times they'd shared a table, she seemed quite unpretentious, enjoying cuisines from all corners of the globe. At their meal at the Aranya beach, she'd shown a particular fondness for Mediterranean cuisine.
In the end, he decided on today's breakfast: pan-fried salmon, an avocado, bacon and egg sandwich, a vegetable and nut salad with vinaigrette, a berry yogurt bowl, and freshly squeezed grapefruit and pear juice.
I looked at the time and it was only 5:00. Assuming breakfast was at 8:00, I could start preparing after 7:00. For example, I could marinate the salmon with sea salt, lemon juice, and black pepper before frying it at 7:50. I could also prepare the salsa: chop bell peppers, onions, cilantro, and tomatoes, and toss with olive oil, black pepper, and salt. To serve, I'd add lemon slices and cherry tomatoes, and garnish with balsamic vinegar.
His daily routine is consistent: he usually wakes up at 5:40, spends 20 minutes washing up and taking care of his cat's food, water, and toilet. He then walks his dog for 40 minutes at 6:00, then returns home to exercise for half an hour. Breakfast is usually served at 8:00, and at 8:30, the siblings leave for work. Today, with an extra hour, he decided to prioritize his workout and dog walk, then head to the market to stock up on ingredients for lunch and dinner.
Peter Pan was lying on the dog mat, snoring. When Zhuang Yu'an finished his exercise and shower, he was still fast asleep. He gently scratched his furry face and put the leash on the confused dog.
At 7:40, all the ingredients were ready, but the two girls were still nowhere to be seen.
Zhuang Yu'an knocked on the door for a long time, and finally waited until his sister opened the door with sleepy eyes: "Brother, I don't want to eat breakfast, let me sleep a little longer..."
He only needed one sentence to make her submit: "Zuo Xiao injured her foot, and three meals a day must ensure nutrition."
Fifteen minutes later, Zhuang Yu'an stood at the door of the guest room and heard his sister calling, "Brother, you can come in!"
He suppressed his pounding heart and walked into the room.
The curtains were half-drawn, revealing a warm and peaceful room filled with a faint fragrance. Zuo Xiao, wearing a soft silk suspender nightgown, sat lazily on the edge of the bed. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes slightly narrowed, and a closer look revealed a tinge of blue beneath them, clearly indicating a lack of rest last night.
Zhuang Yu'an couldn't help but feel distressed, and a hint of regret: If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have woken them up, even if breakfast hadn't been as tasty since it had been sitting out for so long. But then he thought: If she waited until he left before getting up, who would help her move? It was clear that relying on his sister alone wouldn't be enough.
He walked to the edge of the bed, bent down, and picked her up sideways.
She didn't hook her arms around his neck, but tilted her face and leaned it against his chest, then closed her eyes.
Zhuang Yu'an felt his heartbeat was about to burst through his chest. Fortunately, her head was resting on his right chest, otherwise she would have heard his drum-beating heartbeat and understood his shameful thoughts!
His hands and feet suddenly felt a little weak, like a stiff baguette that had gotten damp. He took a deep breath, managed to calm himself down, and turned to walk towards the door.
While she was washing up, Zhuang Yu'an was in the kitchen making breakfast. Halfway through, her sister called him again and moved him from the bathroom to the dining table.
After a while, breakfast was served.
"What a great breakfast today!" my sister exclaimed. "It's even prettier than what they sell in the store!"
Zhuang Yu'an quickly explained: "I've done all this before. Don't you remember?"
"It seems so. But it doesn't seem to be this exquisite, nor has it been matched like this before. They look really good together! Hehe, you are worthy of being my brother, constantly reaching new heights!"
The more she praised him, the more Zhuang Yu'an felt he was pushing it too far. He was well aware of his conflicting feelings: he wanted to be nice to her and impress her, but at the same time, he worried he might be too pushy and arouse suspicion.
His throat felt dry, and he lowered his eyes and said, "Eat quickly."
The younger sister ate and praised the food, and asked Zuo Xiao: "How does it taste?"
Zuo Xiao said, "It's delicious."
Those three short words made his heart blossom. From last night until now, it had blossomed several times—she hadn't refused his embrace; she had said his chicken wonton soup was delicious; she had thanked him; she had grown increasingly reassured and reliant on him...
He is really crazy.
Seeing that 8:30 was approaching, Zhuang Yu'an stood up and said, "I'm going to work. The protective gear and elbow crutches will be delivered this afternoon, so please check them. There are two types of protective gear. The ankle brace is for sleeping. Wear the walking boot during the day. It has a better braking effect."
"Yes, sir!" said my sister with a smile.
Before leaving, he reminded me, "I'll make dinner when I get back. Auntie will make lunch. The ingredients have been bought, and I'll send her the menu. If there are any questions or emergencies, please call me."
"Okay! Let's go to work, bro!"
At noon, Zhuang Yu'an sent a WeChat message to his sister, asking: "Have you applied the medicine to Zuo Xiao?" But he deleted it before sending it.
At this moment, he received an obituary from Luffy: his grandfather passed away last night and a farewell ceremony will be held this Sunday.
Zhuang Yu'an was in a complicated mood and replied after a while: "I will come to see you off on Sunday. My condolences and take care of yourself."
Luffy had met his grandfather a few times; he was a retired provincial official. Luffy's family had three generations living together, and he had a deep bond with his grandparents. A few years prior, his grandmother had passed away, leaving him feeling depressed for a while. Now that his grandfather had also passed away, his heartache was undeniable.
A sense of guilt arose in his heart: Luffy was going through a dark moment, but as his good friend, he was coveting his girlfriend... Zhuang Yu'an felt that he was very despicable, and his heart was blocked and embarrassed.
However, after months of struggle, he'd learned that his emotions were beyond his control. He could only promise not to overstep the bounds in words and actions, but he couldn't control what he thought. But such an excuse smacked of self-deception...
All afternoon, he was torn between the two extremes, tormented and pulled. Sometimes he would reflect on himself, solemnly admonishing himself to control the limit and not overstep the line. Then he would worry about whether her foot hurt or if she had twisted it again from jumping around. Occasionally, he would flash back to the memory of that morning, and his heart would feel like Coke meeting Mentos, with countless bubbles erupting and aching.
Oh my God, he's lost his mind! He's possessed!
He wondered if this inexplicable obsession was temporary. What if it wasn't? What if she and Luffy really did end up together? Would he be left alone forever?
"...Mr. Zhuang?" He heard Mr. Hong's call.
Oh yes, they are evaluating the cooperation plan proposed by Yan Qing.
Her family not only operates a chain of veterinary hospitals but also has interests in other sectors of the pet industry, including pet store franchises, contract manufacturing of pet food, and even pet insurance. She expressed her admiration for Pet Planet's product development capabilities and hopes to establish it as a distributor for its products through offline channels. The two companies will also jointly develop products and establish a new brand, aiming to enter the "pet fashion" market with mid-range and high-end pet apparel and parent-child wear.
Zhuang Yu'an preferred to establish a partnership with the company focused on sales of existing products. As for entering the pet fashion market, the company had already conducted an internal evaluation a year prior. The mid-to-high-end pet apparel market was too niche and required extremely high supply chain and inventory management capabilities, making it unsuitable for business expansion. Furthermore, he personally disapproved of excessive pet attire. Therefore, he opted to enter the pet outdoor products market, establishing a new brand specifically for this purpose. Within just six months of its launch, the brand had already turned positive, exceeding expectations.
"Let's communicate based on agency sales first, and then consider the possibility of further cooperation later." Zhuang Yu'an made the final decision and adjourned the meeting.
There were still two hours before the end of the get off work day, but he had reached the limit of his patience.
"I have to go out for something." He instructed Chen Quan, "Talk to the two PR director candidates recommended by the headhunters for me first."
When I got home, both girls were in the living room, one playing guitar and the other practicing her badminton swing. It was a very odd scene.
"Brother?" The younger sister stopped and said, "Why are you back so early?"
The piano stopped playing. He told a harmless little lie: "I was just meeting someone nearby and came back after that."
"Oh oh." My sister said carelessly, putting down the racket, "I thought you came home just to cook!"
"...Have you got the protective gear and elbow sprain?" he asked knowingly.
"Here I am! Look, I'm wearing it right on my foot."
Zhuang Yu'an turned and looked at Zuo Xiao's right foot, which was resting on the stool. It was now encased in a large, bulky walking boot, like a robotic foot attached to a human body. It was a bit pitiful, yet also a bit tragically funny.
I asked casually, "Are you feeling better?"
"Much better."
"That's good." He was about to leave, but after a moment's thought, he reminded her, "Walking boots are for braking. Keep them away from the ground. Use crutches if you need to walk."
"Okay, got it."
I entered the kitchen and soon heard the sound of a guitar. I turned off the water and listened.
She was playing "Sweet Child O' Mine," a song from the 1980s rock band Guns N' Roses. Compared to the band's vocal version, her fingerstyle guitar version sounded more refreshing and lively.
She played smoothly, and he felt relaxed and happy. Coincidentally, he didn't listen to much rock music, and she happened to play a piece he was familiar with... He couldn't help but smile.
Applause broke out, followed by the sister's exaggerated exclamation: "Master, this is amazing! I admire you so much! How can your hands be so fast? It's like magic!"
"This is just a simplified version. There's a great guy overseas called Luca, and that's really awesome." Someone said excitedly, as if having a blast. "You know, not only is his hand speed incredibly fast, but he can also play two guitars with both hands. It's awesome!"
"Is this true? Is there a video? I want to see it!"
Zhuang Yu'an shook his head, a helpless smile creeping up the corner of his mouth: How can a girl talk about reproductive organs all the time?
However, she only seems to do this occasionally. It's cute though...
I was washing vegetables when I heard my sister yell, "Holy crap! That's really awesome!"
The smile froze at the corner of his mouth.
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