The next day, the early morning sunlight spilled gently into the living room through the thin curtains.
By nine in the morning, the two had already finished their simple morning routines.
At this moment, they were sitting peacefully at the warmly decorated dining table in the living room, enjoying breakfast.
After some discussion, Jiang Cheng took out his phone to call Si Nian.
Just as he was about to press the call button, a wave of guilt inexplicably surged in Si Qing's heart.
She hurriedly reached out to stop him, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency and unease.
"Maybe... let's not tell her yet."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng's movements paused slightly.
Not tell her? Wishful thinking.
If it wasn't brought into the open, wouldn't everything just stay as it was?
How could they fly together as a trio?
Jiang Cheng reached out, gently stroked Si Qing's hair, and soothed her softly, "Don't worry."
Jiang Cheng's psychological burden regarding this matter was minimal to begin with.
After all, from the very beginning, Jiang Cheng had been calculating.
Whether facing Si Qing or Si Nian, he maintained an attitude of seeing through things without speaking them aloud.
When dating or eating with them, even the moments they held hands, everything followed a natural course.
But he simply never took the initiative to confess his feelings.
So now that this situation had arisen, in his mind...
The question of who owed whom an apology didn't exist at all.
He felt perfectly clear-headed and unashamed.
Feeling Jiang Cheng's touch, Si Qing was slightly dazed for a moment; she thought for a few seconds and finally nodded gently.
The moment the call connected, Jiang Cheng quickly seized the initiative and spoke first, "Hello, Si Nian."
On the other end of the line, Si Nian was clearly caught off guard by this sudden call, completely unprepared.
Si Nian's normally crisp and pleasant voice now carried a clear sense of confusion and surprise.
"Jiang Cheng, what's wrong?"
In stark contrast to Si Qing's tension beside him, Jiang Cheng's tone remained natural and casual as he asked softly, "Are you in class right now?"
Hearing this question, a wave of panic swept through Si Nian's heart.
In fact, since morning, she had been wanting to message Si Qing.
However, after several internal struggles, she had ultimately forced herself to suppress that impulse.
At this moment, at such an awkward time, she had no idea if Si Qing was already at school.
Si Nian replied stutteringly and vaguely, "Um... I don't have class right now. What's up?"
Listening to Si Nian's slightly trembling voice, the corners of Jiang Cheng's mouth curled up imperceptibly.
A sly smile formed on his face.
"I just discovered something extremely terrifying. The real Si Nian is you, the one on the phone with me right now, right? But currently, standing right next to me is another 'person' who looks exactly like you, and she says her name is Si Qing."
As soon as those words left his mouth, the sound of Si Nian gasping for air came from the other end of the line.
Si Nian fell silent.
The very air seemed to grow tense because of this dramatic scene.
Even Si Qing, who had been silent, suddenly changed expression.
Her expression, which had been a facade of calm, was instantly replaced by nervousness.
Her fair little hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.
As if she were trying to crush the fabric.
She stared intently at the phone in Jiang Cheng's hand.
After several seconds, Si Nian on the other end finally spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Uneasy and stuttering, she replied, "You... you know?"
"So, you two really are twins?"
From the other end came Si Nian's voice, full of apology: "Yes, we are twins. I'm so sorry. We've been keeping it from you and deceiving you."
Jiang Cheng feigned a look of retrospective horror and said, "Holy shit, it's a good thing I drank too much and passed out last night, otherwise wouldn't it have been a disaster? This is just too ridiculous."
As Jiang Cheng's words fell, Si Nian's side once again plunged into a long silence.
Si Nian repeatedly mulled over Jiang Cheng's tone of voice in her mind, trying to catch some key information.
After a careful analysis, she found that Jiang Cheng didn't seem to show any signs of anger or fury.
Si Nian bit her lip and responded curiously, "How did you find out?"
Though her voice was still soft, it was laced with a bit of anticipation and trepidation.
Jiang Cheng glanced at Si Qing and continued, "When I woke up, I found you actually sleeping on the sofa in my room. Seeing that, my heart ached. How could I let you sleep on the sofa all night? So, I kindly tried to carry you to the bed, but who knew she'd actually scream 'indecent assault'? Don't you think that's ridiculous?"
Hearing Jiang Cheng's nonsense, Si Qing couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
But at the same time, she was secretly grateful that he had cleared her of any involvement in just a few words.
"I'm sorry, it's a long story. I don't know how to explain it all at once, but we didn't mean to deceive you. It's just a game we two sisters usually like to play."
Jiang Cheng naturally wasn't angry. What man wouldn't like the idea of a'sisters game'?
However, he tried his best to restrain the joy in his heart, making sure not to let even a hint of it show.
So, he continued to keep a straight face and questioned in a low voice.
"A game? So you're saying I'm just a part of this game of yours?"
This sudden questioning was like a bolt of lightning, causing Si Nian to panic instantly, not knowing what to do.
On the other end of the phone, she was anxious and hurriedly gestured as she explained.
She explained hurriedly, "No, listen to me. Please don't be mad at my sister. At home, we sometimes deliberately role-play to let our parents guess who is who, and now at school, we even take classes for each other. So at first, it really was just a whim combined with coincidence. Later on, we just never found the right chance to tell you."
Seeing that the score was settled enough, Jiang Cheng took the initiative to soften the mood, "Alright, my parents are coming over later, so I can't go see you. I'll spank you next time."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Cheng hung up the phone without hesitation.
On the other end, when Si Nian heard the words'spank you'...
She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and her entire face instantly turned beet red, like a ripe apple.
Since she met Jiang Cheng, the most intimate act between them had been nothing more than occasionally holding hands.
Now that he was saying such suggestive things, he probably wasn't angry anymore, right?
For the simple and shy Si Nian, it made her feel incredibly bashful.
Yet, she couldn't help but feel a hint of indescribable joy rising in her heart.
One had to admit, Jiang Cheng's move was extremely clever.
A simple sentence had not only successfully caused ripples in the lake of Si Nian's heart...
Her thoughts surged like a tide.
It also caused Si Qing, standing nearby, to involuntarily sink into deep thought.
Si Qing thought to herself again.
She really had unintentionally become the interloper, stealing away the sweet romance that should have belonged to her younger sister.
But things had already reached this point; she had 'eaten' many times already.
Trying to pretend nothing had happened was clearly impossible now.
Si Qing silently made a vow in her heart.
In this complicated emotional entanglement among the three of them in the future...
She must be more patient with Si Nian and give her as much care and protection as possible.
Seeing Si Qing dazed, Jiang Cheng put down his phone.
Then, he suddenly reached out a large hand and, with lightning speed, scooped Si Qing into his arms as easily as catching a small fish.
His restless hands began to wander freely, heading straight for Si Qing's chest with a clear target.
Si Qing first made a symbolic effort to twist her body in resistance.
But this resistance was insignificant compared to Jiang Cheng's strength, like an ant trying to stop a carriage.
Before long, her originally steady breathing gradually became rapid, and her breath grew ragged.
Her snow-white face was tinged with a faint blush from her heightened emotions.
Even her tensed muscles were clearly visible.
She reached out her slender fingertips, gently rubbing the muscles on both sides of her cheeks that had tightened from tension.
While staring straight at Jiang Cheng with resentful eyes.
"Don't... I already promised Si Nian yesterday that we'd go for hotpot tonight. Don't make me eat any 'corn cobs' anymore. If you keep this up, how am I supposed to eat spicy hotpot tonight?"
Seeing Si Qing pinching her own small mouth and looking at him pitifully...
Jiang Cheng immediately laughed, his smile carrying a hint of indulgence and helplessness.
With an innocent look, he replied with a grin, "How does eating 'me' conflict with you eating hotpot tonight?..."
Hearing this, Si Qing was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her fur instantly standing on end.
"The impact is huge, okay? Do you really not have even a little bit of self-awareness?"
After saying that, she huffed angrily.
"Tell me in detail," Jiang Cheng said, looking at Si Qing with feigned curiosity.
Seeing Jiang Cheng's deep eyes staring straight at her...
The dissatisfaction in Si Qing's heart was gradually replaced by a racing heart.
She lowered her head shyly, her hands constantly fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
After hesitating for a long while, she looked up and stole a glance at Jiang Cheng.
Then, as if making up her mind, she grit her teeth and muttered unwillingly, "Just tell me, do you know what that thing is like??"
Jiang Cheng listened to Si Qing's words, first frowning slightly as he thought.
Soon, a look of realization dawned on him, and he followed with a nod.
With a faint smile on his face, he replied, "Of course I know. Corn cobs, they're used to feed pigs in the north."
As soon as he finished, Si Qing immediately jumped up like an enraged lion cub.
"What pigs! Are you calling me a pig? You're the pig!"
As she spoke, she waved her fists in the air, seemingly wanting to give Jiang Cheng a few hits to vent her anger.
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing.
He reached out and pulled Si Qing back into his arms.
His hand was placed on Si Qing's chest as usual.
He said with a wicked smile, "I'm just speaking the truth."
Seeing Jiang Cheng lower his head and vigorously take her in his mouth...
Si Qing made a few muffled sounds.
She gently pushed Jiang Cheng and said coquettishly.
"I'm serious, hmph."
This ingenious metaphor was like a bolt of lightning across the night sky, instantly making Jiang Cheng realize the deep meaning in Si Qing's words.
Jiang Cheng suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and involuntarily reached out to rub his nose.
However, he quickly regained his composure and swiftly extended his right hand, giving Si Qing's round, perky, and incredibly bouncy buttocks two firm slaps.
With a crisp sound, a wicked smile curled on Jiang Cheng's lips.
He teased, "Well now, you actually dare to mock me secretly?"
With a scream of "Ah!", Si Qing reflexively covered her buttocks with both hands.
Her eyes widened, and she replied with a face full of defiance.
"I'm not wrong. I really am going to eat hotpot tonight. And it's spicy hotpot too; I haven't had it in a long time."
At the thought of the steaming, fragrant hotpot, Si Qing couldn't help but act like a seasoned foodie.
She subconsciously stuck out her tongue and lightly licked her lips, her eyes revealing an irrepressible longing and anticipation.
"What do you know? Other Girls couldn't get this even if they begged. You should be secretly happy later," Jiang Cheng shook his head and teased with a smile.
Si Qing hummed, "I don't care about 'later,' I care about now. I'm having hotpot tonight, so don't you dare..."
Jiang Cheng shook his head helplessly, secretly finding it amusing.
He knew well that when it came to 'eating,' although it was Si Qing's first time experiencing this kind of thing...
She was doing it quite well, it just took a bit long and she wasn't quite used to it yet.
Ignoring Si Qing's protests, Jiang Cheng picked her up and walked straight toward the nearby sofa.
Ten minutes later, Si Qing's mouth quirked, and a drop of glistening saliva trickled down from the corner of her lips.
At this moment, she just wanted to cry out: Your fingers are way too flexible!
In her moment of daze, Jiang Cheng had already reached out and grabbed her pants hanging by her legs.
With a forceful tug, he pulled them right off.
Seeing Jiang Cheng gently but firmly support her body...
He began to meticulously adjust their positions.
This sudden move caused Si Qing to panic instantly, her mind going blank.
Out of instinct, she subconsciously reached out her hands and tightly hugged Jiang Cheng's solid waist.
Her mouth, which had originally wanted to shout "No"...
Seemed as if it were under a magic spell; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make a sound.
Her heart was filled with complex emotions.
On one hand, she felt nervous and afraid of what might happen next.
On the other hand, a deep sense of guilt surged in her heart.
She knew that adult romantic relationships were definitely not limited to simple and sweet kisses, hugs, and being lifted high.
Si Qing silently swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
The thought of tonight's delicious hotpot involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
Causing her originally firm heart to gradually waver.
Finally, after an intense internal struggle...
Si Qing plucked up her courage and asked in a voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
"Um... is there any other way? Whatever the method, I'm willing to try, as long as it's not... eating it."
...