I’m Done For…

“Yao Yao-jie, I’m back~”

Walking into the house and seeing the empty living room, Ye Hao scratched the back of his head.

Where is everyone?

Where’s Yao Yao-jie?

“Hao Hao, you’re back~”

“Y-Yeah, I’m back…”

Seeing Luo Yao suddenly appear behind him, Ye Hao instinctively shuffled to the side.

What’s going on? Why does something feel off? Yao Yao-jie seems… a little different today.

“Um, Yao Yao-jie, I’ll go take a shower first, haha… hahaha…”

A strange sense of pressure filled the air. Even though Luo Yao was still the same Luo Yao, Ye Hao’s instincts screamed that he needed to run—fast.

“Wait a second. You came back so late—aren’t you hungry, Hao Hao~?”

Her hand clamped down tightly on Ye Hao’s shoulder. Luo Yao smiled sweetly as she spoke.

Ye Hao broke into a cold sweat.

Why did he suddenly feel like a rabbit being stared down by a wolf?

“N-No, I’m good… I-I already ate, hahaha…”

Damn it! Why do I sound so guilty!?

It’s not like I did anything wrong! I just got dragged by that idiot Yuan Yuan to his house for dinner! Why should I feel guilty!?

I was going to call Yao Yao-jie too, but Yuan Yuan snatched my phone halfway through. I came straight home after eating!

“Oh? So my cooking isn’t good enough for you anymore? Out so late, no call, huh? Hao Hao’s really grown up, hasn’t he?”

Feeling the increasing strength in the hand gripping his shoulder, Ye Hao gave her an awkward smile.

“How could that be? Total accident this time! My phone died, and I came right back after eating. Really!”

Let go already!

If this keeps up, my shoulder bones are gonna snap!

“Is that so~? Then why do I not believe you~?”

“It’s true! Yao Yao-jie, go easy, my shoulder’s about to break!”

“Come here. Let’s have a proper chat.”

Still gripping his shoulder, Luo Yao led Ye Hao to the sofa and gestured for him to sit.

Ye Hao sat meekly, not daring to say a word, looking up at her nervously.

“Tell me. That boy named Yuan Yuan—what’s your relationship with him?”

Hands on her hips, Luo Yao stared him down.

She had wanted to ask why he didn’t come home last night, but this was more important. That Yuan Yuan boy seemed way too familiar with Ye Hao.

“Ah Yuan? We’re just normal friends! Though he’s kinda annoying sometimes, he’s a good guy.”

Ye Hao didn’t quite get what she meant. As far as he was concerned, Yuan Yuan was just a goofy buddy.

“I mean—what kind of relationship?”

“Uh… he’s sorta like my little brother? Not exactly, but he’s always followed me around since we were kids, so… yeah.”

Seeing how Ye Hao still wasn’t getting it, Luo Yao sighed helplessly.

This idiot… I’m asking whether you like boys or girls!

“Well, actually, I think that Yuan Yuan kid is pretty cute,” she said casually. “So I was wondering if you maybe liked that kind of cute type, Hao Hao?”

Ye Hao: …

Wait. What?

Cute? That idiot Yuan Yuan—cute? My god! That bear of a guy? Cute??

He makes me want to punch him most of the time!

Although… he is kind of funny sometimes.

“Well… Ah Yuan does kinda look like a girl, but he’s definitely a guy. Cute, sure, but… how could I like a guy? I’m not, you know… I like capable girls like you, Yao Yao-jie.”

Ye Hao stroked his chin as he spoke.

Yes. A woman like Yao Yao-jie—hardworking, cooks, cleans, gentle, caring. What’s not to like?

“Oh? So Hao Hao doesn’t like boys?”

Ye Hao: “Huh? What? Wait—what did you just say?”

Ye Hao froze.

Like boys?

Yao Yao-jie, what are you talking about!? I’m straight! 100% straight!

“C’mon, Yao Yao-jie, I know girls can have some quirks, but… your tastes are kinda… unique…”

No way—

So behind that gentle, sisterly face hides… a fujoshi?!

No way. No freaking way.

Feeling Ye Hao’s odd gaze, Luo Yao’s face flushed red. She had totally misspoken.

Oh no. Now Hao Hao must think I’m some kind of weird sister! My image—it’s ruined!

“Yao Yao-jie, it’s okay. I get it. You’re my sister, after all. We can be understanding about each other’s hobbies, I get it.”

Giving her an awkward thumbs up, Ye Hao slowly slipped away toward his room.

Watching him flee, Luo Yao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

After rushing into the bathroom, Ye Hao still couldn’t believe it.

His sister had that kind of hobby!? Damn it! He was a man!

How could she even think he’d do that kind of thing with another guy!?

Just imagining it made his scalp tingle.

After a quick shower, Ye Hao peeked into the living room.

No sign of Luo Yao.

He exhaled in relief.

He’d have to be more careful from now on. One wrong word and people might think he was into guys.

Headache.

Still towel-drying his hair and shirtless, Ye Hao walked upstairs—only to see light coming from his room.

Weird. I swear I turned that off this morning.

“Yao Yao-jie, what are you doing?”

Opening the door, Ye Hao froze.

Luo Yao stood there in her pajamas.

When she turned, she caught sight of his toned muscles and defined abs—usually hidden under his clothes—and her face went scarlet.

“Hao Hao, there’s a problem with my room tonight. So, I can only bunk with you.”

Huh? Problem with her room?

“Um, no need, Yao Yao-jie. I’ll just sleep on the couch.”

Throwing his towel around his neck, Ye Hao grabbed a blanket from the closet and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

In a flash, Luo Yao snatched the blanket from his arms.

“W-What is it?”

“Hao Hao, I’ve been here for so long, and every time you let me take the bed while you sleep on the couch. I feel so guilty.”

Guilty?

Seeing the way she hugged the blanket, Ye Hao immediately understood.

“Oh, I see. If you insist on sleeping on the couch, I won’t stop you. Night, Yao Yao-jie.”

Luo Yao: ???

Wait—

That’s not what I meant!

Earlier that morning, after Ye Hao left with Yuan Yuan, she had gone to tidy up his room as usual—only to catch a faint whiff of perfume on the bed.

A woman’s perfume.

Though faint, she was sure of it.

That must have been from that suspicious Yuan Yuan boy!

So disgusting!

She spent the entire morning washing the sheets and blanket—five times—with disinfectant spray in between each wash.

Now, they were spotless.

But without Ye Hao’s scent, the bed felt too empty.

If that Yuan Yuan kid could sleep next to him, then why couldn’t she?

When they were kids, she’d always slept cuddled up next to him.

After going abroad, she could only hug a photo of him to sleep every night.

Now that she was back, there was no way she’d pass up the chance!

“I meant—we’re sleeping together!”

Stuffing the blanket back into the closet, she pushed Ye Hao toward the bed.

Sleep together!? What!?

“Wait, Yao Yao-jie! This isn’t right!”

What kind of situation is this!? We’re not kids anymore!

“What’s wrong? We used to sleep together all the time.”

“That was back then! It’s different now! Maybe things are different abroad, but here—siblings shouldn’t be sleeping together!”

Ye Hao was sweating bullets.

If this continued, he’d explode.

“What’s this? You calling your sister improper now?”

“No, no! I’m just saying—you’re beautiful! You must have suitors lining up all the way from abroad to here!”

“Don’t change the subject! You’re not getting away tonight. Besides, while I was overseas, I thought about you every single day, you brat.”

Yeah, right. Thought about punching me, more like.

He still remembered—back when he was playing Contra one afternoon, totally engrossed—when suddenly her fist came down square on his head.

“Why’d you hit me, Yao Yao-jie?!”

“Hmph! I get itchy if I don’t hit you once a day!”

Her exact words.

So much for missing him.

“Is that so? I’m honored.”

“Of course. You should feel special.”

Yeah, yeah. I feel so special.

She just wants to hit me again.

“Alright, Yao Yao-jie. It’s late. You should rest. I’ll take the couch. Goodnight.”

Seeing how clueless he was, Luo Yao fumed.

He could sleep with a boy without complaint, but not with his own sister?

“Don’t move! We’re sleeping together tonight, no arguments! Try to run, and I’ll hit you!”

Ye Hao: …

See?! What did I say? The beast reveals itself.

She just wants to hit me!

Good thing I don’t have a girlfriend.

If she were like Yao Yao-jie—sweet on the surface, scary underneath—I’d die young.

“Yao Yao-jie, this is gender-based oppression! If you don’t let me go, I’ll scream!”

“Go ahead! Scream all you want! Even if you scream till your throat breaks, no one will save you!”

“Till my throat breaks! Fine, Yao Yao-jie, listen—we’re adults now! It’s really not appropriate to sleep together, okay? Be good.”

Absentmindedly, Ye Hao patted her head.

Big mistake.

The second his hand landed, realization hit.

This was Luo Yao! The woman who could crush tables with a single punch!

He just… patted her head.

He froze.

He was done for.

Completely done for.