Instead, it only made things worse. She wrapped both arms around his neck and half-draped herself over him.
Sleepiness crept in, and she began humming a soft, silly tune against his chest.
Xiao Yunmu listened carefully. It sounded like the ridiculous song she’d once made up herself: “There’s Only One Best Big Brother in the World.”
“…Enough already.”
He tried to pry her arms loose, but she only hugged him tighter.
Left with no options, he lightly patted her and said, “Let go. Go lie on the bed and sleep.”
Still half-asleep and stubborn, she mumbled, “Brother… I love you…”
“Yeah, yeah. I love you too. Now go sleep.”
“No…” Ming Ming lifted her head and stared at him with bright, unfocused eyes. “You’re the handsomest man I’ve ever seen. Want to join my imaginary royal court? I’ll make you the leader.”
Xiao Yunmu frowned. “Watch your mouth. What nonsense are you talking?”
She clicked her tongue. “So serious… no fun at all…”
Before he could reply, she leaned in too close.
Xiao Yunmu reacted instantly and moved back, eyes full of shock.
“Ming Ming, what are you doing?”
She drifted closer again, soft and clingy, still calling him “brother” in a sleepy voice.
“Your lips are really soft…” she mumbled dreamily, then laughed to herself. “You’re so bad at this kind of thing…”
At thirty years old, Xiao Yunmu had never imagined he’d face a situation like this.
“Do you even know who I am?” he asked in a low voice.
“Of course I do.” She blinked playfully. “Xiao Yunmu.”
She leaned against him again, acting spoiled. “Don’t go. Stay and play with me…”
His expression darkened. His voice trembled.
“Have you… ever acted like this around anyone else?”
Why is she so casual about closeness? Why does she seem so practiced? Did someone take advantage of her when she wasn’t fully conscious?
Ming Ming tilted her head, confused. “What are you talking about?”
She thought for a moment, then suddenly shook her head.
“I don’t like being close to other people,” she said, sliding her face into his chest. “I only… feel safe with you.”
She lifted her head, trying to look for his eyes again. “Just stay a little longer…”
Xiao Yunmu couldn’t stay in that situation. He gently pushed her back onto the bed and stood up, turning away in obvious disarray.
Halfway to the door, he stopped, turned back, and warned harshly, “Sleep properly. Don’t kick off the blankets. I’ll deal with you tomorrow.”
Ming Ming lay on the bed, smiling lazily. She lifted the blanket and patted the space beside her in a teasingly inviting way.
Xiao Yunmu didn’t look back. He left immediately.
That night, he couldn’t sleep at all. He stood on the balcony smoking, replaying more than ten years of memories in his mind, unable to figure out where things had gone wrong.
The next morning, Ming Ming woke up feeling refreshed.
“I thought I’d have a headache from drinking…” she muttered, rolling around on the bed. Then she whispered, “System, I had the weirdest dream last night.”
The system said nothing.
She sighed. “I even dreamed about something embarrassing…”
The system remained silent.
She pulled the blanket over her face. “Maybe if I go back to sleep, I can finish the dream…”
The system strongly disapproved.
When Ming Ming got up and saw Xiao Yunmu, she jumped in surprise.
He looked exhausted, unshaven, and strangely worn down, with the faint air of a troubled, overly serious adult.
“Brother… what’s wrong?” she asked carefully.
He didn’t answer, only gave her a flat look.
That single look made her shiver.
She couldn’t remember much from the night before, but judging from his state, she guessed she’d made a mess of things while drunk.
Alcohol really is terrifying, she thought.
From that day on, she behaved like a model citizen.
And Xiao Yunmu started coming home late and leaving early.
They both felt that a little distance was… comfortable.
When exam results came out and it was time to apply for university, Ming Ming’s scores were excellent, just as Xiao Yunmu had predicted.
She wanted to go to University S in City A.
“Where?” Xiao Yunmu’s voice rose sharply. “No.”
He was furious.
Running that far away—is that how she planned to avoid him?
“You’re staying in this city. University M. Major in whatever you like. Don’t even think about anywhere else.”
Ming Ming was stunned.
She thought university meant freedom.
She didn’t expect feudal-era parental control.
“You can’t control my application choices.”
“I can’t?” Xiao Yunmu stared at her darkly. “Then who can? I’m saying it clearly—either you go to University M, or you don’t go to college at all. Choose.”
She was speechless.
When school was about to start, she happily prepared for campus life—only for Xiao Yunmu to inform her that she’d be commuting from home.
“Are you serious?” she protested. “Our house is in the east, the school’s in the west, and my schedule is packed every day. Is this punishment? What did I even do?”
He said nothing.
In the end, he bought an apartment near the university and moved there with her.
Life became more complicated and heavier than before.
In her first year, Ming Ming was one of the younger students. Most of her peers were already adults, but she only turned eighteen halfway through the semester.
That’s when she ran into someone unexpected.
Lu Beichen.
He and Yin Muya had gone their separate ways. He barely made it into University M and had to accept whatever major he was assigned.
They’d had no connection before, but in a campus this big, they ran into each other again and again.
They slowly became familiar.
Ming Ming learned he was actually a year younger than her.
University suited him. He’d grown taller, looked healthier, and lost the gloomy, withdrawn air he used to have. With a decent haircut and a calmer personality, he’d gone from “troubled boy” to “quiet, polite junior.”
Exactly her type.
And more importantly…
He was the male lead.
Because of her past experiences, Ming Ming couldn’t help but notice him more.
Would they develop a relationship?
She found herself looking forward to it.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yunmu was still trying to figure out whether Ming Ming’s feelings were just confusion — something like misplaced dependence or emotional imprinting.
When he finally organized his thoughts and came to talk to her…
He saw her staring at another man with bright, interested eyes.
And in his eyes, that man looked nothing like him.
To hell with psychology.
Who the hell is that guy?
Sena Rachma On [QTC] MBDT Chapter 1085