Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

What just happened hurt a lot.

In her panic, Zixiao lost her balance and fell to the inside of the bed.

The elbow reflexively seeks support.

Then...it naturally struck a very soft object.

It was accompanied by a painful scream.

"Yun'er?!"

Yu Zhe panicked and quickly pulled the blanket off.

Mo Lingyun, curled up in a ball, looked at Zixiao with a pained expression. She was clutching her stomach and still managed to complain with difficulty.

"Zixiao... I know I was wrong. I did sneak out today, but you can't... you can't be so cruel. You hit my stomach... It hurts so much, ouch..."

"Uh... Lingyun! I'm so sorry! Sorry...?" Zixiao had just recovered her composure. "I should apologize, but... before I apologize, shouldn't you two explain something to me?"

34. Does it still count?

"Explanation?"

Yu Zhe is someone who has seen a lot, but even he is quite unaccustomed to the current situation.

Clearly, Zixiao's elbow strike just now didn't cause too much damage, and Yun'er should be fine. But she's still pretending to be in a lot of pain, clutching her stomach, using her pain to express—don't let me speak! Don't let me speak!

I don't know how to explain it!

These were just Yu Zhe's first reactions.

But after thinking about it again, he knew what to do.

As someone who has made up his mind to build a harem, he can't be without a sense of responsibility. Maintaining a balance among the girls is what he should do.

Just like my mom said when we talked on the phone, maintaining this balance is not an easy thing.

Yu Zhe now understands.

He cleared his throat, changed his previous nonchalant attitude, and sat up in a proper sitting posture, meeting Zixiao's gaze.

"Zixiao, I can't explain this to you. I can only describe what happened earlier. Yun'er wanted to sleep with me, so she came from her own room. That's all."

Panic.

I'm really panicking.

Yu Zhe was afraid that saying it so directly would be unacceptable to Zi Xiao, but Yu Zhe had already made up his mind that he could not secretly build a harem, that would be too unreliable.

Zixiao was also sitting upright. After listening to Yuzhe's words, she smiled slightly and said, "Hmm, is brother finished?"

"Have you finished...?"

"You've finished talking, so are you panicking now?"

"..."

Zixiao suddenly surged with power, just like Yuche when he unleashed his fury.

“I remember saying that I don’t object to my brother having multiple girls around him, so we don’t need to start the discussion from this point.” Zixiao reasoned. “So there’s no need to be nervous, and neither is Lingyun. I just want to explain things logically.”

Mo Lingyun glanced at Zixiao, then at Brother Yuzhe.

Sigh, reasoning is fine... A gentleman uses words, not fists. Just now, when I hit her in the stomach, Mo Lingyun really thought Zi Xiao was going to beat her up, and she was quite frightened.

She released her hand from her stomach and sat obediently on the other side of the bed, listening.

Yu Zhe swallowed hard, composed himself, and said, "Okay, Zi Xiao, you go ahead."

"Actually, this is a topic that has been discussed a lot in our family. I haven't been able to bring it up in the past due to various circumstances, but since Yu Che isn't here today... I'll just make it clear."

"Like I said before, I don't object to my brother dating both of us at the same time, but everything has its priorities, its order, and its importance. If I have to live in constant fear like this every day, I think I'll really break down."

Has the situation become that serious...?

Yu Zhe asked worriedly, "Zi Xiao, could you be more specific about what you just said?"

"Seriously! Brother, you're such a blockhead!!"

"..."

If I remember correctly, this seems to be the first time Zixiao scolded him.

But it's okay... Yu Zhe can accept it.

"Ah...I'm sorry, brother, I was wrong. I shouldn't have yelled. That was so rude of me..."

"It's okay. In fact, I quite like you just the way you are, Zixiao. Just say what you have to say. I was really worried about what you just said."

"Okay, then I'll... explain in detail."

Zixiao turned her head to look at Mo Lingyun and said truthfully, "What I just said about priorities, importance, and order shouldn't really be brought up, but I just couldn't help it, brother. I've been holding back because of the one-year promise you made with us. You promised me that I would be the first... the first girl to do that kind of thing with you. I'm really looking forward to it, and this..."

"Getting first place...I think it's very important."

"This is a promise... and a symbol of the bond between my brother and me. I can endure until the very last moment, but Lingyun!"

"I'm here!"

Yun'er shuddered in fright.

"But you keep going to your brother's room! You're trying every way to break our year-long agreement early, is that right? Isn't that a bit too much!"

"I..."

Mo Lingyun felt very guilty after saying this.

At the same time, she felt very wronged.

She didn't actually intend to break the one-year agreement. It was just that she hadn't seen Yu Zhe for several years, and now that they were suddenly living under the same roof, the contrast between hell and heaven made her very excited and eager. The main thing wasn't that she wanted to have sex, but that she wanted to act cute with her brother Yu Zhe.

However, since they are both now at this age and no longer children, their attempts to act cute sometimes naturally create a subtle atmosphere.

She really couldn't help it... Seeing Brother Yu Zhe reminded her of all the little things from the past, and she came closer so that she could chat more and feel Brother Yu Zhe's warmth.

But in Zixiao's eyes, these must have been considered despicable acts...

That's normal. This was originally a place where Zixiao and her brother Yuzhe lived alone. She should be grateful for her moving in, and she's been taking the initiative all along. How could Zixiao feel good about it?

"Uh... I'm sorry, I was a bit harsh." Zixiao lowered her head. "I apologize... but Lingyun, I think we really should talk. You have your reasons, but I'm also living in fear every day. This first place... it sounds selfish, but I have to be this one, otherwise I can't accept it..."

No, this is not selfishness.

This was what Yu Zhe had promised her—absolutely number one.

"It's okay... Zixiao, I understand. I'm sorry, I was the selfish one. I only thought of myself and didn't consider your feelings. I'm really sorry..."

Between your words and my thoughts.

Both girls' eyes reddened, and they secretly wiped away their tears.

Yu Zhe felt a pang of pain in his heart as he watched this scene.

Zixiao and Yun'er... are both so sensible, so sensible that Yu Zhe loves them even more.

What was originally an irreconcilable conflict turned into a mutual apology and understanding after the two had only blamed each other for a moment.

That's why Yu Zhe loves them so deeply.

No, it's not just because of that; there are so many things about them that can touch Yu Zhe's heart.

"Zixiao, Yun'er, come here."

"Brother?" "Brother Yuzhe..."

Although they didn't know what to do, the two obediently moved closer to Yu Zhe at the same time.

After reaching a certain distance, Yu Zhe stretched out both hands at the same time, his left hand around Zi Xiao's waist and his right hand around Yun'er's lower abdomen.

At the same time, he pulled them both into his arms.

To their somewhat surprised looks, Yu Zhe grabbed the blanket and covered the two of them, naturally covering Yu Zhe's legs as well.

After covering them with the blanket, Yu Zhe hugged them even tighter.

"It's a bit chilly today. Would it be warmer if the three of us covered ourselves with the blankets?"

The two women could only nod in genuine agreement at this dreamlike warmth.

While indulging in this extremely indulgent pampering, Zixiao held onto Yuzhe's chest.

It's always been like this... My brother has never changed; this gentleness will always be Zixiao's treasure.

After letting out a long sigh, he shook his head with a wry smile.

"Brother...really...you're too cunning."

With just one action, all her resentment vanished as if it had never existed.

but.

There's one thing she absolutely cannot back down on today.

"So, brother, can you tell me in front of Lingyun whether our previous agreement still stands...?"

35. Real octopus

Does it count?

Of course it counts.

However, Yu Zhe's concern wasn't whether it counted or not, but rather that Yun'er was also there, and whether saying things too directly would hurt her.

Love itself has no weight, but there is always a sequence.

But there's no need to overthink it right now.

Yu Zhe will keep his promise to Zi Xiao, and he will make up for what he owes Yun'er in the future.

Therefore, Yu Zhe first looked at Zi Xiao in his arms on the left and nodded to indicate his approval.

Then he looked at Yun'er in his arms on the right and asked her very seriously.

"Yun'er, I have to tell you about this too. Over the years, while you were away, it was Zixiao and Yuche who accompanied me through these ten years. No matter what, they are like pillars to me..."

Before he finished speaking, Mo Lingyun already understood.

How could she let her brother Yuzhe be in a difficult position?