"At last—kept this auntie waiting long enough."
Himeko slipped the borrowed key into the lock, turning it with care. Earlier that day she'd had a long talk with Mei and reached a conclusion: Mei harbored a hazy crush on Mo Li. Noted. But that wasn't going to stop her.
After New Year she'd be twenty-seven—nearly thirty by teasing standards. She wasn't like Mei, timid and hesitant. Once Himeko set a target, she moved in fast and finished the job.
Mo Li's looks, competence, and temperament checked every box. And she wasn't worried he'd use her and walk away—she'd spent enough time around him to have a very good read on his character. And even if he did run? She'd chalk it up to pathfinding for the little sisters who fancied him. Either way, she wasn't the one losing out; a man like Mo Li wouldn't lack admirers anywhere.
"They call me 'auntie,' huh? Tonight I'll make him 'Uncle Mo Li.'"
She nudged the door shut behind her. The room was dim, still. Barefoot, heart thudding despite all her poise (a first time is still a first time), she crept to the bedside, hesitated—then slipped under the quilt.
Mo Li jolted. Something had just crawled into his bed; anyone would freak. "What the—"
He flipped the quilt—and blinked at the silhouette of a very curvy woman. In the soft light, Himeko's refined face was all smiles. The gauzy nightdress did nothing to hide that mature figure—slender waist, generous lines, every curve a provocation.
"Hime…ko?" he stammered. "How did you—"
She twirled the key between two fingers. "Borrowed your spare this afternoon."
"…Right." He cleared his throat. "So what brings you here this late?"
Himeko didn't answer. She flowed forward, twisted her waist, and pinned him to the mattress. "What do you think big sis came for?" Her breath was warm, her eyes misted. "Must I always be the one to start?"
Between today's hints and tonight's delivery, even Mo Li couldn't pretend not to get it. And he wasn't some rubber-spined, chivalry-to-a-fault anime protagonist. If Himeko was climbing aboard, he was hardly going to shove her off.
All one could say was: trust Himeko to bring the heat—hotter even than a certain "pink fatty." First times for both, but instinct filled the gaps; words dissolved into laughter, then into wordless rhythm—
—strings plucked and stilled, crescendos and hush, the melody rising like sudden rain, falling to a private whisper—
—and then quiet.
"Not bad for a 'little man,'" Himeko murmured at last, cheek on his shoulder, eyes still hazy with warmth and nerves all knotted together.
Mo Li drew her close, grinning. "Maybe I've never eaten the pork, but I've seen the pig run." He paused. "You, though…"
"What? Too forward for your taste?" she teased.
He shook his head quickly. "On the contrary—pure Himeko sensei charm."
That earned a pleased smile. After a minute with eyes closed, she sat up and reached for the light nightrobe.
"Where are you going?"
"Back to my room to sleep, obviously."
"…Huh?" After studying together you're going to sleep separately? Mo Li tugged her back under the quilt. "From now on, just sleep here."
"Bold." She laughed softly, then wagged a finger. "But not public. Not yet."
Mo Li blinked. With what she'd just entrusted to him, shouldn't she want them to go official? "Why keep it secret?"
Himeko only smiled, then quipped, "What, afraid I'm sneaking off to some other man?" He shook his head. Since moving into the studio she barely went out—and the place was a women's dorm, basically.
"…Wait," he squinted at her. "You didn't… convert one of our sisters, did you?"
"…"
Her lips curled. "Sure, I turned Mei."
Mo Li rubbed his chin. "Mei does have a bit of the lily vibe. Checks out."
"Idiot, you really believed that?" She flicked his forehead. He smirked. "How do you know whether I'm playing along—or playing you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Enough. I'm tired. I'm going back."
"Nope." He hauled her in again.
"Don't make trouble."
"Relax. No bullying tonight. Just holding you."
"That's not the issue. If someone sees us in the morning—"
"So they see. We'll explain."
She sighed and let his arm settle. "Good deeds treated like donkey liver…" she thought wryly. In truth, she would like to announce it. But then she pictured the other girls and hesitated.
If it blew open now, some would quietly step away—not from disgust, but because none of them would fight a sister. Their bond went back more than ten years; they'd promised never to split apart. Liking the same man wasn't the problem; forcing choices was. If Mo Li were the kind to push, she wouldn't fret. But with his temperament, if she didn't keep it under wraps, the others would simply bury their crushes and move on—and what then? Would they stay single forever and keep the old dream afloat?
She wouldn't say, "I hope you take us all," either. That line had to come from him, backed by spine and responsibility. What she could do was keep their secret for now and quietly test the waters—if someone liked him, she wouldn't stand in the way; if they all let go, she'd announce things openly.
"Forget it. If we're found out, we're found out. I'll talk to them one by one."
With that—and after quite a study session—drowsiness finally won. Mo Li didn't push his luck. They drifted off.
Until morning, when a knock snapped the air taut.
"Boss? Are you awake?" Mei's voice at the door.
Four eyes flew open. Himeko mouthed: Later.
Mo Li mouthed back: Now?
The handle turned. Daylight—and consequences—were here.
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