Chapter 15 – Neighboring Big Sister (Part 5)

He really liked them.

It was the first time in Wen Ye’s life that someone had bought him clothes.

Back when he was young and poor, Wen Shulan used to ask for outgrown hand-me-downs from relatives, then alter them for him to wear.

Wen Ye never once complained. She had already done her best to provide him with what she could. The clothes she modified always fit well and had no real flaws.

But after Wen Shulan married Chu Keyong—when their living conditions should have improved—his life somehow became even worse.

People often said you should wear new clothes for the new year. But not him. Chu Keyong was aggressive at home but obsessed with keeping face in public. He refused to let his stepson appear before relatives, perhaps out of fear that Wen Ye’s ragged clothing would embarrass him.

Later, when Wen Ye started going to school, he only had a school uniform—bought with the money he earned from odd jobs.

…

Wen Ye never thought of himself as pitiful.

He didn’t yearn for familial love or affection. Maybe in the beginning, he hoped Wen Shulan would still treat him the same as when he was little. But eventually, when her heart grew cold, he woke up too.

He treasured the clothes Jiang Jiang had bought him and neatly stored them in the closet.

But none of them had Jiang Jiang’s scent.

He didn’t want her to think he was ungrateful. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “I really like the clothes you bought, Jie-jie. They look really good, so I didn’t want to wear them just yet. I’ll wear them tomorrow.”

His face showed a perfectly obedient smile.

One he had practiced in the mirror for a long time earlier.

But Jiang Jiang just looked at him deeply.

After dinner, she opened his closet. Squatting down to inspect it, she suddenly looked up and asked, “Is it really because you don’t want to wear them, or…”

Wen Ye looked back at her.

“Is it because they don’t smell familiar?”

Wen Ye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. A blush quickly spread across his pale face. “…Maybe it’s just that the detergent smells different.”

He tried to bluff his way out.

Jiang Jiang gave him a knowing look. Of course she knew what he was thinking.

“Hmm…” she said thoughtfully. Then asked, “Your closet seems kind of small. Want to put some of your clothes in my room instead?”

Wen Ye: “……Okay.”

He felt as if she had seen right through him.

But wait—if she really understood what was going on in his head, wouldn’t she find it disgusting? Would she still offer to let him store his clothes in her room?

He had never dared imagine that Jiang Jiang might actually like him.

Even if he fantasized about being with her, it was always under the condition that she found out his true identity and liked his face.

What qualifications did he have now to be liked?

---

After showering, Wen Ye lay in bed in the guest room, unable to fall asleep.

Although, calling it a “guest room” wasn’t quite right anymore. Jiang Jiang had filled it with everyday essentials. It was strange—he had lived in that “home” next door for ten years and never once felt a sense of belonging.

Yet this tiny room, in just one day, made him feel at ease.

And now, he couldn’t stop thinking about Jiang Jiang.

He wanted to see her—or just catch a whiff of her scent.

Wen Ye quietly got out of bed and opened the door, standing in front of her room. Through the crack, he couldn’t see any lights.

She must’ve already fallen asleep.

…

But then, he felt disgusted with himself.

Jie-jie had helped him so much, treated him so well—and here he was, having these thoughts?

Wen Ye felt deeply inferior in front of Jiang Jiang. Yet growing up neglected and abused had honed his ability to read others’ expressions and moods.

And he could clearly sense that Jiang Jiang treated him differently.

Maybe even… doted on him?

He didn’t dare call it love, afraid that a twisted, filthy thing like himself would sully such a beautiful word.

Still, her softened attitude gave him the courage to step closer.

Wen Ye lowered his eyes and slowly pushed open the door. Inside, Jiang Jiang was fast asleep on her bed, phone still in hand, screen still glowing.

She must’ve fallen asleep mid-scroll.

Wen Ye walked over and gently pulled the blanket over her. Her phone slid from her hand.

The screen lit up in the darkness, standing out sharply in the dim room.

Wen Ye caught a clear glimpse of the search bar.

“What to do about anorexia?”
“Symptoms of anorexia?”
“Hospitals that treat anorexia?”

He was almost certain—those searches weren’t about Jiang Jiang.

After all, people with anorexia didn’t eat four full bowls of rice for dinner, then declare that girls had “a second stomach just for desserts,” and proceed to polish off two small cakes.

So then…

Was she looking it up for him?

Wen Ye blinked. A smile slowly curled on his lips in the dark.

She was actually thinking about him this much?

He tucked the blanket in more carefully and, in the silence, traced her gentle features with his eyes.

Yes—gentle.

It might not sound like a word to describe someone’s looks.

But that’s how Jiang Jiang made him feel.

Wen Ye had never imagined what it was like to truly like someone. If he had, he’d have thought that person would be gentle—someone who offered him care he’d never experienced, someone he could completely rely on.

But Jiang Jiang wasn’t like that.

She knew how to protect herself, even knew to use legal means when needed.

She had her own job. She could even forget to eat because of work.

She was strong.

Not the delicate canary he once imagined.

But even better.

She was like an immortal bloom—one that would never wither.

Wen Ye cautiously reached out his hand, letting his fingertips hover above her cheek—too afraid to actually touch.

“Jie-jie…” he whispered silently, eyes filled with sickly obsession. “Why are you so good to me?”

Was it pity? Or just simple kindness?

Either way, it made his heart ache and sweeten all at once.

But his feelings didn’t matter.

He couldn’t let her keep worrying about his health.

---

After Wen Ye left the room—

Jiang Jiang opened her eyes.

Hehe.

She was faking it the whole time.

10086 clapped in the corner: 【Queen!! Even your breathing was flawlessly faked!】

Jiang Jiang smugly hummed.

She remembered from the original novel that Wen Ye died from a stomach-related illness.

Sure, that kind of illness was practically a male lead curse in every CEO romance novel…

But the problem was—this isn’t even a CEO novel!!

10086: 【The male lead doesn’t actually have anorexia.】

Of course Jiang Jiang knew.

But she still needed an excuse—something to let him know she had noticed.

---

The next morning, Jiang Jiang got up especially early.

She sat across from Wen Ye and watched him eat breakfast, prompting a surprised look from him.

He gave her a sweet, obedient smile: “What’s wrong, Jie-jie?”

Jiang Jiang narrowed her eyes at him playing dumb. “That’s all you’re eating?”

He’d only eaten half of what she did!

There was no way Jiang Jiang was going to admit she just ate too much.

So clearly, the problem was him.