Yan Han smiled and pulled out a dalmatian plushie from under the bed, rubbing its nose.
"Thanks for your hard work, have you been guarding the house well?"
When she left, Yan Han took most of her childhood toys with her, leaving only this one behind, saying it should stay to guard the house.
Lin Shuang laughed, "No matter how you look at it, this dalmatian seems a bit ugly..."
This was a birthday gift from Wanwan to Xiao Han one year.
"It’s actually very cute~ Cuter than I imagined! Besides, careful or I’ll tattle to Sister Wan!"
Yan Han held the plushie in her arms, as if comforting it.
These toys were also the frequently appearing actors when they played house in their childhood, old acquaintances!
Hmm, I remember this dalmatian even played Lin Shuang’s little sister.
In their role-playing games, she and Lin Shuang were the children of Wanwan and Xiao Han.
...What a confusing relationship!
Lin Shuang shook hands with the dalmatian plushie, continuing the sibling bond with empathy, "...so my childhood was really tragic! Always being forced to play your and Wanwan’s child!"
Yan Han immediately betrayed their pretend sisterhood, "It was all Sister Wan’s idea~ I actually always wanted to play husband and wife with Brother Shuang!"
Lin Shuang smiled and tousled her hair, "I wasn’t smart enough back then, should have just made you and Wanwan both play my wives, then all the toys would be our kids, think about what a happy family that would be."
A house full of children!
Imitating the dalmatian, Yan Han barked and hit him with the plushie, "Because back then you couldn’t beat Sister Wan! Hmph, now aren’t you getting your way?"
Lin Shuang let out a triumphant laugh, "Hehehe."
Yan Han sighed, "I didn’t expect you to be such a perverted Brother Shuang!"
She tilted her head, her shining eyes unblinkingly watching him, "But of course, I still super like Brother Shuang."
"I also super like Xiao Han."
Yan Han pouted, "With this atmosphere, you need to kiss me now, silly Brother Shuang."
So Lin Shuang hugged her, and the two of them fell back between the covers under the bed.
When they were little... they used to play hide and seek with Wanwan, often hiding together under this bed.
The two small bodies hugged together, listening to each other’s nervous heartbeats, praying not to be caught by Wanwan.
Now, over a decade later, the grown-up pair started kissing in the same spot.
The heartbeat was just as nervous as back then...
"Brother Shuang... Hehe."
Yan Han bit his lips, "Let me tell you a secret, actually when we were kids I kissed you while you were asleep."
Actually, as a child after applying baby cream, little Xiao Han found little Lin Shuang’s face fragrant and secretly nibbled a few times.
Incidentally, the taste wasn’t good, bitter indeed, so Yan Han remembered it vividly.
"...You’ve been eyeing me for a long time! Didn’t expect you to be such a perverted Xiao Han!"
"So Brother Shuang’s first kiss was mine."
"Kissing the cheek counts too!"
"I don’t care, kissing the cheek is still a first kiss! In any case, I’m definitely earlier than Sister Wan!"
That’s something Wanwan often said too! You should have a meeting with Wanwan and properly compete over who was earlier...
Lin Shuangxin thought he really lived a tough life as a kid!
While he was asleep, what did they do to his face besides drawing a turtle?
His innocence, oh oh oh!
Lin Shuang’s lips brushed hers, "Have it your way."
"Hehe, because Brother Shuang likes me the most."
Yan Han kissed him again, pulling him up.
"Alright, let’s start cleaning... originally planned to start after cleaning, but couldn’t help myself."
Lin Shuang spread his hands, "Blame me~"
The two spent some time cleaning every corner of the room, then made the bed in the bedroom.
Since childhood, Lin Shuang had shared this bedroom with Xiao Han, occasionally Wanwan would slip in too, the three kids squeezed into one bed, telling each other stories and falling into a deep sleep.
When they woke up in the morning, they often found themselves in disarray, sometimes even finding someone’s foot in Lin Shuang’s mouth.
Little Lin Shuang would, in the hazy early morning, think it was breakfast brought to his lips and take a bite.
Next... of course, it was the cruel part where little Lin Shuang would get beaten up!
...Yay, I’ve found the reason why Lin Shuang is especially interested in girls’ feet, it’s all trained since childhood!
It’s all Wanwan and Xiao Han’s fault!
After cleaning up the room and taking a bath, Yan Han sat on the bed hugging her stuffed toy, nervously tucking her feet in.
"Brother Shuang, do they look nice?"
"They look nice... No, I’m thinking about those childhood memories now!"
"Hmph, Brother Shuang has always liked to nibble on feet since he was little."
"It was all forced! Forced!"
Yan Han tensed up her foot arch and with a light tap of her toes, she knocked him over onto the bed.
She straddled him, leaning down to listen to his heartbeat.
"What about now, now, what is Brother Shuang thinking about."
"Thinking about Xiao Han."
"Hmph, that’s the right answer... Brother Shuang is really sweet-talking now."
"It’s all true words~"
"Anyway tonight, you are only allowed to think about me, Brother Shuang."
Yan Han leaned against his chest and pulled out a small piece of paper from her pajama pocket.
"Ta-dah! It’s an obedience coupon~ Brother Shuang has to be very obedient tonight."
It felt just right, like pulling out a magical tool on cue.
Lin Shuang received the small piece of paper, which, through the passage of time, had yellowed.
On the paper, somewhat faded handwriting, shaky and crooked, read: Lin Shuang must do everything Xiao Han says and follow all her requests today.
Below it was an even smaller Lin Shuang’s signature, even a red handprint, signed and stamped, secretly using dad’s inkpad.
"Is this... the birthday gift I gave you when I was ten?"
"Yes, I’ve always been reluctant to use it, saved it till now, hehe."
Lin Shuang wrapped his arms around her waist, "Alright, then from now on, I’ll fully obey Xiao Han’s commands."
Yan Han’s lips were against his chest, resonating with his heartbeat, "Tonight, Brother Shuang can only think about me."
"Don’t think about anyone else, or even I, Xiao Han, will get mad, okay?"
"Absolutely not! I’m very obedient!"
"Second—say, you like me."
Yan Han paused, "Say, you will always like me."
"I will always like Xiao Han."
"Say it a few more times."
Yan Han caressed his Adam’s apple with her fingertips, feeling each word he spoke.
"Every day... tell me every day, until forever, okay, Brother Shuang."
How far forever is, Yan Han doesn’t know.
But... for her, it doesn’t seem to be a vague word.
Brother Shuang, always by her side, isn’t he.
"I will always like Xiao Han."
"I will always like Brother Shuang too."
The somewhat childish vows said during childhood house play, from the past, have reached the present.
And they will last forever.