The Older Brother of My Student is My Secret Crush

After writing the note, Xiao Chen was at a loss where to put it, and eventually decided to place it in the most conspicuous spot - on the coffee table.

He contentedly prepared to go to bed. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly remembered a post on a social media platform by Yu Na from a long time ago.

He took out his phone and opened Yu Na's profile. She didn't post much content, so he quickly scrolled to the bottom, back seven years ago, to the post Yu Na had made:

"I wish I had a Doraemon, so I could pull out from its pocket the things I want the most! Teehee~"

...

The sofa was soft but narrow and short. When he laid down on it, his legs stuck out. He managed to get through the night like this somehow.

At 6 am the next morning, Xiao Chen got up early. He had some things to take care of, but first he decided to make breakfast for Yu Na before leaving.

After getting up, Yu Na went to the bathroom. Seeing Xiao Chen busying himself in the kitchen, she froze on the spot. In a split second, the embarrassing fragments of memories from last night exploded in her mind one by one.

She tried hard to recall the events, but could only remember bits and pieces. Her complete memories stopped at the point before she started drinking.

And the parts she could remember happened to be in dangerous territory that should not be entered -

She had asked him for a hug.

She seemed to have said some cheesy things too, and also said that she liked him. She couldn't remember the exact words though.

But she was certain that those words had revealed the feelings she kept hidden deep down.

"..."

Yu Na extremely regretted and angrily knocked her own head.

This is what you get for drinking! Drinking recklessly!

What should I do now?!

Her true feelings were almost completely exposed.

Wasn't she determined not to let him know that she still had feelings for him? But after just one drinking session, her resolve had crumbled so easily.

If he knew that she still liked him, wouldn't their relationship rapidly deteriorate back to the pre-liberation period?

But why was he still here? Was it because he was worried about her? Planning to leave after she had sobered up?

Could the breakfast he was making be...the last breakfast?

She couldn't remember a single word Xiao Chen had said last night.

So all kinds of absurd guesses tangled together in her mind like a messy ball of yarn.

The only somewhat sensible decision left - resolutely don't let him know she still liked him.

After all, people can do all sorts of things when drunk. She had seen on TV people jumping off buildings after getting drunk. She had only inadvertently revealed some truths after drinking, what's the big deal? f𝐫eewe𝚋nove𝗹.𝗰o𝚖

As the weather was getting colder, daylight came later. At after 6 am, it was still pitch black outside.

The light in the kitchen created a pale glow, outlining his tall figure. His sharp side profile and tense jawline seemed to have a touch of softness under the light.

For a moment, Yu Na really wanted to tell him that the words she had said last night were not lies.

From childhood till now, she had only liked one person.

That was him.

But she couldn't say it.

When facing Xiao Chen, she couldn't poke holes in this window paper, to avoid future embarrassment.

It was precisely because she had poked holes in the window paper back then that he had rapidly distanced himself from her overnight.

She didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

Yu Na slowly walked to the kitchen. As it happened, breakfast was ready - frozen convenience food: fried crullers and soup dumplings.

He had even specially cooked a boiled egg and placed it in Yu Na's plate.

Finally, he heated two cups of milk.

When Xiao Chen saw her, he was startled for a moment, not expecting her to get up so early.

"Feeling better?"

Yu Na silently nodded.

"Eat."

After washing up, Yu Na sat down at the dining table. The small dining table could only seat two people. Xiao Chen sat across from her with a completely indifferent expression, as if nothing had happened last night.

Even if he had gently questioned her, Yu Na wouldn't feel so flustered.

She silently picked up the boiled egg on her plate.

An extremely awkward atmosphere inexplicably permeated between them.

Xiao Chen watched as Yu Na clumsily tried to peel the smooth boiled egg. In her hands, the previously smooth egg became pitted and full of craters.

Unable to watch any further, he clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Give it to me."

"Hm?"

"I'll peel it for you."

Xiao Chen took the boiled egg and tapped it against the plate twice, rolling it back and forth. The shell smoothly came off.

The pitted egg white only took up a small area. The rest was fair and smooth.

"Thanks."

Yu Na took a sip of milk, and finally still couldn't help but speak first. "Last night I—"

Xiao Chen's expression was indifferent. "What about it?"

"I didn't say anything weird to you, did I?"

His response was crisp and clean-cut. "You did."

"...oh."

Although Xiao Chen said she did, his expression didn't reveal any particular meaning.

As if her weird words were very normal to him.

Had her image reached this point in his heart?

Yu Na closed her eyes and threw caution to the wind. "Don't take it seriously!"

Xiao Chen: "..."

He slowly raised his eyelids and looked at her flustered appearance. Then he slowly ridiculed in a mocking tone, "What shouldn't I take seriously?"

"That is—" She nervously swallowed and said, "Everything I said."

His tone was not serious at all, as if he found teasing her very entertaining. "Hm?"

"I drank too much yesterday, everything I said was just drunk rambling. You absolutely can't take it seriously."

"...Oh?" Xiao Chen's eyebrows raised playfully, completely at ease. He was obviously joking, "What if I did take it seriously?"

"...If you did, then you already lost."

Since his expression clearly showed he wasn't serious, and he was obviously just teasing her, perhaps even trying to help her recall the crazy things she had babbled drunkenly last night, Yu Na also didn't take it seriously and retorted without backing down.

She forcefully controlled the surging emotions in her heart, maintaining a calm surface. After sobering up, she politely apologized,

"Sorry for causing trouble for you last night. Thank you for sending me home."

Xiao Chen put away his previous frivolous attitude and became more solemn. "Are you sure?"

With her head lowered as she bit into a fried cruller, Yu Na didn't look at him and lightly nodded.

This was the best acting she had ever done in her life, pretending as if the words last night were really just drunken nonsense.

There wasn't a hint that she was putting up a strong front.

His voice seemed to blend together completely with the cold weather. "Alright then."

After that, they both went silent.

After the meal, Yu Na took the initiative to stand up. "I'll clean up the table."

Xiao Chen: "Mm."

In just a few seconds, Yu Na tidied up the dining table and placed the utensils in the sink.

She didn't know why, but she couldn't help feeling apprehensive. She looked back and saw Xiao Chen putting on his coat. She hurriedly washed her hands and walked to the entryway. "You—"

Xiao Chen lazily raised his head, fully zipping up his jacket. "What?"

"Where are you going?"

"Work."

"Oh."

Yu Na clearly sensed his attitude towards her had obviously turned colder.

Was it really as she had guessed?

No matter how she tried to explain, it was useless?

Yu Na suddenly blocked his way and stood foolishly in front of him. "Xiao Chen—"

"What do you want?"

"I owe you a favor." She added, "Thank you for sending me home last night."

Xiao Chen ignored her and looked at the time. "Oh, I'm going to be late."

"...Okay."

Yu Na tactfully moved out of his way to let him leave. Seeing that she really was fine now, Xiao Chen also softened his stance.

He left her with an aloof and cold-hearted back view.

Leaning against the wall behind her, Yu Na deeply sighed as she gazed at the white ceiling.

If possible, she really wished she could delete the memories from last night.

It was too embarrassing!

After washing the dishes, Yu Na sprawled on the tidied sofa that Xiao Chen had rearranged. Even the messily placed plush toys were neatly lined up.

Yu Na completely failed to notice that in one Doraemon plushie's pocket, there was the Lifetime Free Stay voucher to Songyu Hotel Xiao Chen had given her last night, along with the note he wrote.