Waiting for Him to Get a Fever

(I'll build up the collection first. I'll update once there are a few more -3-)

One winter morning in high school, the dawn sky was a deep, ashen gray.

Lijia wrapped her white cashmere scarf tightly around herself and stepped outside. A quiet voice came from behind her: "Wait."

Jiang Xun bent down in front of her.

He tilted his head slightly, eyelids drooping lazily, as if he were still sleepy.

His long fingers carefully straightened the scarf she'd wrapped in a hurry. His fingertips occasionally brushed her chin, making her cheek grow warm.

Lijia looked up without a word and saw the open collar of his dark gray loungewear, revealing the clean line of his collarbones.

With nowhere else to rest her gaze, she settled on his lazily lowered lashes.

The fingertips clutching her hem trembled slightly, curling up and disappearing into her school uniform sleeve.

But the man in front of her was, in name, her older brother.

Whenever she tried to cross that line, those dark eyes, usually so casually amused, would instantly lose all warmth, turning distant and cold, silently driving away every unspoken thought.

-

*The two of them are not related by blood at any point in their romantic relationship.

- Coming soon: Waiting for His Fever to Break -

In a blended family, Ying Jia got a stepbrother one year younger than her.

Ying Jia gently disinfected his wound. When the cotton swab touched it, he tensed instinctively.

The boy lowered his lashes, his thin lips pressed tightly together.

Ying Jia felt sorry for him. After bandaging the wound, she opened her arms and hugged him. "We'll be a family."

Lost in her sympathy, she didn't see the boy's Adam's apple bob, his gaze darken, or his hand around her waist tremble with excitement, like a greedy snake anticipating inch by inch its delicious prey.

-

As a family member, Ying Xu was beyond reproach. More than a younger brother, he was like an older one: caring for her in every way, protecting her every step of the way, driving off drunk debt collectors, handling trouble, and being thoughtful, patient, and practically perfect.

Ying Jia fell for him, confessed her feelings, went to his room late at night, and began seeing him behind their parents' backs.

-

He grew increasingly clingy, always looking for chances to press his skin against hers. His fingertips left a burning warmth, and became recurring red marks on her waist.

He wanted her constantly and intensely. His unyielding grip pinned her wrists down, and he kissed and licked the side of her neck, like a beast marking its possession.

Ying Jia grew afraid and cautiously suggested that they return to the sibling relationship they'd had at the beginning.

Ying Xu looked at her quietly and smiled as he agreed.

Ying Jia thought that was the end of it. Who knew Ying Xu was even more messed up than she'd imagined?

Theme: Love life and stay positive