The sun streamed in through sheer drapes, spilling light across the soft cream of the living room. But the warmth in the room had little to do with the sunlight.
Xiao Lin and Han Su sat side by side on the couch, both unnervingly quiet, fidgeting like two students summoned for punishment.
Bai Zhiqi stood before them, arms crossed, expression unreadable. She wore a crisp, pale blouse tucked into tailored pants, hair pulled into a loose knot—calm, elegant, terrifying.
Her gaze flicked between the two like a sharp scalpel.
"So," she said at last, voice dangerously even. "Which of you wants to explain why Ji Yanluo nearly lost control last night in his own home?"
Han Su scratched the back of his neck and offered a grin that had no business existing in the silence. "Technically, it wasn't last night. It was late evening."
"Han Su," Bai Zhiqi said slowly, "I'm giving you five seconds to make that grin disappear."
He wiped it off immediately.
Xiao Lin cleared her throat. "It's not what you think, Miss Bai. I mean—sort of, but not really—well—"
"I'll help," Bai Zhiqi said dryly, "You mixed up the bottles. Sleeping pills. Aphrodisiac. Identical containers. Han Su was delivering it 'for a friend.' The friend being himself."
Han Su gasped. "Slander!"
"Am I wrong?"
A beat.
"…No."
Xiao Lin groaned and buried her face in her hands. "I didn't mean to leave it next to the sleeping pills. I just set both down for a second to check my messages and—"
"And Ji Yanluo almost kissed me," Bai Zhiqi cut in. "Except it wouldn't have stopped there. You do realize what could've happened?"
The room stilled.
"I mean," Han Su said slowly, trying not to laugh, "you wouldn't *not* enjoy it—"
Xiao Lin elbowed him so hard he coughed.
Bai Zhiqi's eyes narrowed. "Han Su."
"Right! Right, sorry." He held up both hands in surrender. "I apologize. For the mix-up. For the chaos. For being born with this face that makes jokes at the worst times."
She turned her stare to Xiao Lin. "And you."
Xiao Lin winced. "I take full responsibility."
"You should," Bai Zhiqi muttered. Then she let out a slow breath and sat down opposite them, folding one leg over the other. "He didn't sleep."
"Because of you?" Han Su teased weakly.
"Because of the pill," she said, ignoring him. "But maybe also because of me."
Both Xiao Lin and Han Su stilled.
She leaned back against the couch, gaze lifted toward the ceiling. "Do you know what it's like to have him look at you like he's trying to resist fire with bare hands? And then step away like it killed him to do it?"
Neither dared speak.
"Anyway," Bai Zhiqi said, dropping her gaze. "You're both not off the hook."
Xiao Lin sat straighter. "Are you… angry?"
"No," Bai Zhiqi said after a pause. "But I'm not pleased either. This—whatever this thing is between me and him—it can't be forced. And if anything had happened last night, it would've been under the influence of something neither of us chose."
"Do you regret not letting it happen?" Han Su asked, a little too gently.
She looked at him, not blinking.
"I'm not answering that."
Xiao Lin bit her lip, then sighed. "So… what now?"
"Now?" Bai Zhiqi gave a small smile. "Now, we destroy the remaining bottle. You two owe him a week of peaceful, unmedicated sleep. And I," she stood slowly, brushing imaginary lint from her blouse, "am going to make breakfast and pretend none of this ever happened."
"You cook when you're stressed," Xiao Lin observed.
"Then you're lucky you're not on the menu."
Han Su laughed, relieved, standing as well. "Hey, just saying—next time something like this happens, maybe label the bottle *'Not for Sleep.'*"
"Next time," Bai Zhiqi said, arching a brow, "you'll keep your aphrodisiac fantasies out of my house."
He gave her a sheepish grin. "It wasn't for me. I told you, it was for a friend."
She turned, already walking toward the kitchen.
"Make sure your friend has better luck next time."
Xiao Lin and Han Su exchanged a glance as Bai Zhiqi disappeared into the hallway.
"She didn't deny she was tempted," Han Su whispered.
"She didn't have to," Xiao Lin murmured, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "That's the problem."