The undergarments and shirt slid down entirely, revealing the girl's beautiful figure before Zhou Yi's eyes.
After taking it all in momentarily, Zhou Yi quickly turned away, his face flushed with discomfort.
He hadn't expected Qiao Xi, who always appeared so delicate, to possess such a curvaceous figure.
Her chest... Could this be what they call "youthful face, mature body"?
Qiao Xi frantically pulled her clothes back over her chest, concealing herself once again.
Her voice trembled as she stammered, her cheeks burning crimson, "I'm sorry, Yi-Gege... I only meant to stop you."
Zhou Yi knew she hadn't done it on purpose, so he simply replied without turning around, "I understand. Rest well—I'll leave now."
Though relieved, Qiao Xi couldn't shake the memory of their brief eye contact.
She had been fully exposed in front of Yi-Gege.
A wave of shyness mixed with an unfamiliar fluttering sensation washed over her—a feeling she'd never experienced before, one she couldn't quite put into words.
As she lay down, she buried her face deep into her pillow, dreading the thought of trying to sleep after everything that had just happened.
That night, sleep eluded her entirely. By morning, her heart raced every time she thought about Zhou Yi—her feelings for him growing stronger than ever.
---
Zhou Yi, meanwhile, slept soundly on the couch.
The next day marked the visit he'd planned with Xia Qiuzhi to the orphanage.
Rising early, he noticed that Qiao Xi was still asleep, having stayed up late the previous night.
Not wanting to disturb her, he sent her a quick message on WeChat:
[Zhou Yi: Xiao Xi, I'm heading out to take care of some things. I won't be back until the afternoon. If you're hungry, heat up yesterday's leftovers.]
After double-checking the house, Zhou Yi left. The Star Orphanage was far away, requiring nearly an hour by taxi.
Xia Qiuzhi arrived earlier than him.
As Zhou Yi approached, he spotted her waiting at the small intersection ahead.
Dressed in a simple white dress and canvas shoes, Xia Qiuzhi looked every bit the picture of youthful innocence.
Her wide, sparkling eyes radiated purity and charm.
Even the plainest outfits seemed to transform when worn by her, drawing admiring glances from passersby.
She stood out like a beacon of light against the backdrop of the bustling street.
Zhou Yi stepped out of the car and walked toward her.
Spotting him, Xia Qiuzhi waved enthusiastically, calling out, "Yi-Gege!" With a bright smile, she ran toward him, just as she used to countless times in the past.
Her eyes gleamed as she asked, "Are you hungry? Let's grab breakfast first—I can tell you haven't eaten yet."
Zhou Yi gave a faint smile. "You're right. Let's go."
Xia Qiuzhi searched his face but found no trace of the warmth and affection he once held for her.
Now, his demeanor carried a distant coldness. Her heart clenched painfully, yet she forced herself to look up and say, "Yi-Gege... I know I was wrong before. I'll try to change."
Zhou Yi merely nodded slightly. "I know. Let's go."
Xia Qiuzhi lowered her gaze, her hands tightly clenched. Taking a deep breath, she summoned her usual cheerfulness and suggested, "Let's go to the place we used to visit. It's been ages since we ate there together."
They began walking down the familiar path lined with small eateries, each shop brimming with life.
This road led to the orphanage—a path they had walked countless times before, through wind, rain, and changing seasons.
Their memories lingered in every corner.
"Yi-Gege, do you remember playing hide-and-seek here?" Xia Qiuzhi reminisced about their childhood games, prompting Zhou Yi to recall flashes of their playful moments.
"I remember," he said softly.
"And you were already so tall back then. When it rained, you'd carry me on your back to keep my white dress clean."
"So you do remember. I thought you'd forgotten everything," Zhou Yi remarked, his tone tinged with subtle irony.
[Xia Qiuzhi's regret meter increased by 10.]