Day 14: My Brother Loves Me Too Much

Page 1/3

Jiang Yanbai’s voice was not the typical low, standard announcer tone; it was clear and pure like a mountain spring, a harmonious blend between youth and maturity, exceptionally pleasant to hear.

Yun Zhiyi turned around to look at the man who had come down from the stairs into the kitchen.

“…Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Jiang Yanbai had been passing by the stairwell after showering when he noticed the lights on the first floor and heard Yun Zhiyi talking with someone. So, he came downstairs.

At first, he remained silent, standing quietly at the corner, watching Yun Zhiyi chatting with a young boy. Only after Xiao Nanxing left directly did he brush past the boy and appear in the kitchen.

Yun Zhiyi had been frail and prone to illness since childhood, with a weak digestive system and a habit of eating small, frequent meals—a habit Jiang Yanbai was well aware of.

His voice was indifferent: “Came down to see if there’s anything to eat.”

Yun Zhiyi’s eyes sparkled slightly as she looked at Jiang Yanbai. When she was little and ate little dinner, she would sneak into Jiang Yanbai’s room, waking him to find something to eat for her.

The Jiang family had many rules, especially strict regarding children’s snacks. Fruits and treats were provided but not allowed in excess; after the servants finished work, snacks were hidden away, and the fridge never contained much edible food.

Yun Zhiyi would coquettishly act pitiful, saying she was hungry, and Jiang Yanbai would take her to the snack cupboard to find cakes or bread. Once, after school, Jiang Yanbai secretly bought instant noodles.

Before their parents came home, the two children hid in the storage room of the Jiang family villa, eating the instant noodles quietly as the sun set. The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the two children’s faces, their smiles full of happiness.

Yun Zhiyi swore she had never eaten instant noodles that tasted so delicious. No matter how many different instant noodles she ate later, none matched the delight of those secretly shared noodles in the storage room.

Perhaps it wasn’t the noodles themselves but the stolen moments of joy and freedom that lent the food a special flavor.

Once, when Yun Zhiyi’s stomach was bloated and painful from eating something wrong, her eyes full of tears, Jiang Yanbai fed her medicine, held her gently in his arms, carefully massaged her belly, kissed her cheek, and soothed her in a tender voice: “Don’t cry, sister. It’ll stop hurting soon.”

As long as Jiang Yanbai was around, she never had to worry about hunger or troubles—he would always take care of everything.

Jiang Yanbai approached her, opened the refrigerator, scanned its contents, and said, “Want some egg noodles?”

“Yes!” Yun Zhiyi nodded eagerly.

He responded with a soft “Hmm,” and said, “Go sit for a bit.”

“Okay.” Yun Zhiyi’s beautiful face was full of smiles.

Jiang Yanbai took out two eggs from the fridge, closed the door, found noodles in the kitchen cabinet, and skillfully began boiling water to cook them.

Yun Zhiyi pulled out a chair near the open kitchen and sat, eyes fixed on him.

At first, Jiang Yanbai didn’t know how to cook. The family cook would leave after dinner, and since Yun Zhiyi often wanted warm food in the evenings, Jiang Yanbai learned to cook by following the family cook. From a young age, he could make many dishes.

Yun Zhiyi rested her chin in her hands watching Jiang Yanbai, thinking silently that his future wife would be very lucky.

In less than ten minutes, Jiang Yanbai had prepared two bowls of chicken broth noodles. He placed one bowl before Yun Zhiyi, garnished with a few vegetable leaves and some scallions, the broth fragrant.

“Eat.”

Yun Zhiyi sat at the table, picked up her chopsticks, and began eating.

Jiang Yanbai asked, “How is it? To your taste?”

So many years had passed; he wondered if her preferences had changed.

Yun Zhiyi looked up at him, smiling with satisfaction. “Delicious.”

A faint, barely noticeable smile flickered in Jiang Yanbai’s eyes. “As long as it’s good.”

Seeing her eat quickly, he warned, “It’s a bit hot, eat slowly.”

“Mm.” Yun Zhiyi’s cheeks flushed rosy from the steam, her fair, makeup-free skin glowing faintly with a delicate blush. Her amber eyes sparkled like stars, captivating.

Jiang Yanbai looked away and calmly ate his noodles.

The dining room was quiet, the atmosphere warm and cozy.

After finishing most of her bowl, Yun Zhiyi felt her stomach warm and comfortable. She put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.

“I’m full.”

Jiang Yanbai said, “It’s late, you should go back to your room and rest.”

Yun Zhiyi felt their relationship was becoming like before, so natural. “Then, I’ll go first.”

Jiang Yanbai watched her leave, sat in the dining room for a while, silently tidied the table, then washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.

…

Satisfied and content.

Yun Zhiyi returned to her room to wash up. Xu Xinran wasn’t there and came back after Yun Zhiyi finished; they weren’t close, so they exchanged little conversation.

After applying skincare, Yun Zhiyi lay on the bed and sent Jiang Yanbai a message on her phone.

The show prohibited guests from exchanging contact information or following each other on social media, but she and Jiang Yanbai already had each other’s contacts and secretly messaged, as long as they weren’t caught.

Jiang Yanbai returned to his room, washed up, opened his laptop to reply to some work messages, and was about to sleep when he noticed Yun Zhiyi had messaged him half an hour earlier.

Page 2/3

Yun Zhiyi: [Good night, brother.]

Jiang Yanbai stared at the message for over ten seconds and replied with two words: [Good night.]

The villa’s lights gradually went out. The newly acquainted reality show guests fell asleep. The first day had ended.

Because each guest had different professions and had to work during the day, the next day cooking duties fell to Zhu Hongyi and Fan Jing, so they didn’t need to prepare breakfast for everyone.

The earliest riser was Zhu Hongyi. He went for a morning run and met Xu Xinran coming downstairs in tight sportswear.

Xu Xinran smiled, her barely made-up face glowing with a Korean-style vibe in the morning light. “I thought I was the earliest riser—didn’t expect you to be earlier.”

“I have a habit of morning runs,” Zhu Hongyi said. “Were you just exercising?”

Xu Xinran laughed, “I was running on the treadmill and doing back exercises for a bit.”

Zhu Hongyi’s gaze fell on her slender, toned shoulders. “You’re very slim.”

Implying she didn’t need to work on slimming her back.

Xu Xinran shrugged. “Exercise requires persistence. If you don’t keep it up, you’ll gain weight again quickly.”

Zhu Hongyi’s eyes showed admiration. “You’re right.”

Xu Xinran asked, “Have you eaten breakfast?”

Zhu Hongyi shook his head.

Xu Xinran said casually, “I’m making coffee and a simple sandwich. Want some?”

Zhu Hongyi sensed she was trying to win his favor. “No, thanks. I have to rush to work.”

“Okay,” Xu Xinran’s tone dropped slightly. “Then I won’t keep you.”

Zhu Hongyi went upstairs.

Xu Xinran watched the tall, aloof man’s retreating back. Though cold on the surface and hard to approach, he had actually grown quite fond of her. Half her mission for the day was accomplished.

Men can’t resist a little flirting.

Xu Xinran went to the kitchen to brew coffee.

Though she disliked cooking, she needed to put on a show early in the competition to win favor with the male guests.

The livestream opened on time.

Viewers saw Xu Xinran up early, busy in the kitchen alone, and praised her.

“Wow, Sister Ran is up so early.”

“Up this early to prepare breakfast for everyone?”

“Isn’t it Zhu Hongyi and Fan Jing’s turn to cook today? Why aren’t they up to make breakfast?”

“The female lead is stunning and kind-hearted—a goddess-level beauty.”

“Why are the others still not up for breakfast?”

“Here they come.”

“Hey, the third male, Chi Yu, and the third female, Fan Jing, are coming downstairs together—they seem to be chatting happily.”

The aroma of coffee filled the first floor in the morning.

Chi Yu wore casual light gray clothes, while Fan Jing wore an apricot silk blouse and off-white pants, looking gentle and professional. They talked about medical jargon, which Xu Xinran didn’t understand, so she interrupted.

“Good morning! I made coffee and sandwiches. Would you like to try some?”

Fan Jing was about to make a point but stopped silently when interrupted.

Chi Yu and Xu Xinran had worked well together yesterday and got along pleasantly. He smiled gently, “Sure, I haven’t eaten breakfast. I’d be honored to try your cooking.”

Fan Jing replied calmly, “Thanks, I’m off to work now.”

She glanced at Chi Yu, who was heading to the table, then walked toward the door.

Chi Yu remembered the unfinished conversation, turned back to Xu Xinran, “Sorry, I have something to ask Fan Jing. I’ll try your coffee next time.”

He followed Fan Jing, and the two left the villa together.

Xu Xinran suppressed her rising disappointment and posed for the camera with a forlorn expression.

The chat box filled with sympathy for her.

“What’s going on? They all just walked away like that—someone made breakfast early, and no one appreciates it.”

“Such unlucky people. If someone makes breakfast, it’s a treat. Let me eat it.”

“Don’t be sad, Sister Ran. We all want to drink your coffee.”

“Men change so fast. Yesterday Chi Yu and Xu Xinran were so close, and today he’s already so friendly with Fan Jing.”

“Oh my god, I knew not to ship a couple right after the show starts. Regretting shipping Xu Xinran and Chi Yu.”

Soon after, Zhu Hongyi hurried downstairs and left the villa, followed by Jiang Yanbai in formal attire who didn’t even glance at the kitchen before leaving.

Xu Xinran: “…”

Only Xiao Nanxing, Yun Zhiyi, and Liang Shanshan remained asleep in the villa.

The carefully planned performance fell through. Xu Xinran sat down with her coffee and sandwich, eating quickly. She had work to do, so after a few sips of bitter coffee and half a sandwich, she went upstairs to get ready and left the villa.

Yun Zhiyi’s phone rang beside her bed. She groggily reached for it and answered.

A familiar male voice came through: “Are you up?”

“No.” Yun Zhiyi’s voice was soft and fuzzy.

“I ordered express delivery for you. It’ll arrive in about fifteen minutes. Get up and grab it.”

Yun Zhiyi exclaimed softly, sitting up as sunlight poured through the window onto her. She looked at her messy black hair with a dazed expression, looking especially cute on camera.

Chat reactions:

“Screaming! The second female is too adorable!”

“Whose call woke up the little cutie? So unfair.”

“I want to kiss the cute little one.”

“Does Yun Zhiyi have no job? Everyone else’s at work, and she’s still sleeping in.”

“Show producers, please reveal the guests’ professions. I’m so curious what the little cutie does.”

“The second female is 22, just graduated from college, probably not working yet.”

“…”

Yun Zhiyi yawned and rubbed her eyes. She must have been exhausted from yesterday’s filming and socializing, hence sleeping in until nearly ten—a rare long rest.

“Don’t sleep anymore,” Jiang Yanbai’s calm voice came through the phone. “If you sleep longer, you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Yun Zhiyi woke slightly and whispered, “Got it.”

Her assistant reminded Jiang Yanbai about a meeting. She said, “I’m up now. You go ahead.”

After washing up, Yun Zhiyi received a call from the delivery service. She went downstairs to get a thermal bag containing breakfast: a serving of meat porridge, shrimp dumplings, and a cup of soy milk.

Not much, just enough for her.

Yun Zhiyi ate breakfast in the dining room when footsteps approached. A young man wearing a black T-shirt with gold trim and carrying a black backpack appeared.

Yun Zhiyi greeted politely: “Morning.”

Xiao Nanxing’s handsome face was cold as he nodded coolly.

Yun Zhiyi asked, “Where are you off to?”

Xiao Nanxing: “To the base.”

Base? The livestream broadcasting base?

Curious but respecting the show’s rules, Yun Zhiyi didn’t ask more and smiled, “Bye.”

Xiao Nanxing left the villa.

Yun Zhiyi rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought. Upstairs, she took out her laptop. She had already rented a personal studio and needed to find an interior designer and renovation company to redesign and personalize the office space.

The day passed quickly.

Evening.

Guests gradually returned to the villa. Zhu Hongyi and Fan Jing cooked dinner together. Their atmosphere was harmonious but without any romantic tension; they looked like ordinary colleagues working together.

Yun Zhiyi sat in the living room, wearing Bluetooth headphones and listening to music.

Suddenly, she received a message from the production team asking the female guests to go to a designated spot to select a gift.

This gift would be related to their future dating partner, so the female guests were asked to choose carefully.

The first date arranged by the reality show was about to begin.