Bargains Struck and Shadows in the Sheets

As a young man with a strong sense of public duty, Ye Hao eyed the girl before him with a growing headache.

How the hell do you handle someone demanding tutoring while staring you down like trash?

He glanced at the sun, already dipping low as if waving goodbye and heading home.

Ye Hao let out a helpless sigh.

What a pain.

Blame his aura for shining too bright, I guess.

Sigh~

But hey.

Maybe he could turn this girl to his advantage…

A wildly absurd idea zipped through Ye Hao’s mind.

“I can tutor you. But I’ve got one condition.”

Condition?

The girl blinked.

This came with strings?

Under her skeptical stare, Ye Hao cleared his throat.

“Want my help? Simple. Be my girlfriend for these last two months. Deal?”

“No way.”

She shot it down without a beat.

All she needed was a score boost in the final stretch, riding this guy’s coattails.

And now demands? Forget the details.

Two months as his girl?

Out of the question.

She hadn’t even…

Ever dated anyone…

Ye Hao squirmed under her pervert-glare.

Awkward as hell.

Yeah, okay.

Diving straight in with that ask? Classic him.

“Uh, think about it? I mean, just on the surface—boyfriend-girlfriend. Behind closed doors? Nothing. No dice.”

“I’d never agree to that, you creep. Looks decent, acts like a dog. Tch…”

She was no stranger to his rep.

The sleaze who’d sweet-talk two girls, then ghost.

Now reaching for her?

Dream on!

Ye Hao: “…”

“It’s not like that. You play shield for me. I tutor you. Fair trade. Don’t want it? Fine by me. I’m out. If you change your mind? Hit me up~”

Ye Hao wasn’t pressed anyway.

He’d half-hoped to cut ties with Liu Qianxia for good.

She wouldn’t play along?

Oh well.

Li Mengying?

Ye Hao couldn’t read her half the time.

Felt like she just poked at him for laughs.

Life used to be simpler. Lately? Nonstop curveballs.

But…

Why did he feel like the villain forcing a girl into a corner…

Hiss~

No. No way.

How could he, Ye Hao, be the bad guy?

Everyone knew he was solid.

Right.

Ye Hao was a straight-up good dude!

***

“Yao Yao Sis, I… I… I’m home… Ha?!”

“Welcome back~ Hao Hao~♡”

What the…?

Ye Hao stared at Luo Yao kneeling in the entryway, all smiles.

A sledgehammer to the skull.

Mystery fog settled in.

My brain’s exploding!

“Hao Hao. Dinner first?♡~

Bath first?♡~

Or…

Devour your big sis all pretty-like~?♡”

Kneeling there, Luo Yao looked…

Off.

Ye Hao’s brow furrowed.

This couldn’t be straightforward!

Plot brewing for sure.

But what scheme from Yao Yao Sis…

Or wrong approach?

Ye Hao eased back out the door.

Snapped it shut.

Drew a deep breath.

“Definitely my bad entry…”

Who was Yao Yao Sis?

Luo Yao!

The she-beast who could split a table with one punch.

Hell no to a tough chick! My sister couldn’t be this cute!

Flash of those plump black-stockinged legs.

Those cherry-blossom lips. Ye Hao slapped his own cheek.

Fake. All illusion.

Hadn’t even made it home yet.

That was just a daydream.

Idiot.

How could he fantasize about his own sister?

Though Yao Sis had been…

Kinda weird since showing up.

Keys shaking in his grip, Ye Hao fumbled the lock a dozen tries.

“I… I… Ahem! I’m home, Yao… Yao…”

Gulping hard, Ye Hao slammed the door behind him.

Dropped to a squat in front of Luo Yao.

Her cheeks flushed deeper by the second.

Ye Hao seized her shoulders.

“Yao Sis! You okay?! Spill if something’s wrong! Hit me like old times if you need to! Don’t freak me out!”

Why notice now? No wonder yesterday’s reunion felt off.

Missing that iron-fist love from Sis!

Hit me! Punch me already! Real Yao Sis would’ve swung first thing!

Luo Yao: ???

Her head swam with question marks.

What gives?

Don’t guys dig this vibe?

Why’s Hao Hao acting like this?

In her little head, Ye Hao would’ve picked option three, no hesitation.

Then…

Under brother’s bold charge, weak sis retreats step by step.

Finally stamped with a lifelong mark…

Eeee!!! But why not!?

Was she, Luo Yao, not hot enough?

Or had Hao Hao gone the other way!? Made sense. A catch like him.

No girlfriend in ages.

Who’d buy it?

But no—Ye Hao really was single.

In a flash, that cursed thought hit again. My sweet brother…

“Hao Hao! Answer Sis one thing straight!”

“Huh?”

Luo Yao’s lion-roar left Ye Hao reeling.

He knelt before her, dazed.

Ye Hao: Where am I?

Who am I?

“Hao Hao. Any girl you really like? Truth for Sis!”

Ye Hao: ???

Really like?

Ha. Joke.

At a time like this, “really like” sounded like baggage.

No girl ranked that high. No clue why Sis asked.

But Ye Hao?

He’d say none, easy~

“Girls? Nah. No one I like.”

Luo Yao reeled like thunderstruck.

“But… If we’re talking for real… Yeah, two.”

“Who!”

Luo Yao surged up, clamping his shoulders vise-tight.

Two!?

Two more!?

Show me the little tramps stealing my man!

Folks were contradictory that way. Part of her prayed he wasn’t gay.

Part dreaded any girl near him. Ye Hao dodged her eyes.

Looked away, sheepish.

“Uh, actually… They’re… My mom…”

Buzz!

Luo Yao blanked.

She knew his dad passed early.

But…

A mom thing!?

Aunt Ye raised him solo all those years.

But… But this!? World crumbled.

Luo Yao’s dream haven shattered…

My brother’s not just gay…

He’s got a hard mom kink. How to fix!?

“And the other… Of course, Yao Yao Sis…”

So damn embarrassing!

Ye Hao had no clue what spilled from his mouth. No choice.

Girls barely pinged his radar.

What could he do? And studying? That didn’t hit right!?

***

Night fell.

Problems done, bath taken, Ye Hao padded to his room.

Steps fluid as ever. Bed called.

So tired~

Never figured someone on the forums would beef with him.

Dragged from nine to eleven.

But against a piano master?

Child’s play.

Ye Hao won.

Even became the guy’s elder.

The second he burrowed under the covers…

Something felt off.

Warm…

The sheets were warm?

Ye Hao bolted up to flip the light.

Then…

Arms locked him from behind…

Ye Hao: …

Ghost hour?

Sweat beaded his forehead unbidden.

Sadako!? Female spirit!?

“Hao Hao~~”

Ye Hao: “Whoa!~”

White crane soars!

Roc spreads wings!

Window gaze!

Crane flashes!

Cross hands!

Tiger crouch!

Crow jets off!

(TN: Special moves in karate movies, i.e. they start fighting)