Part 3Operation: Doctor Love

That night, I lay in bed tossing and turning. The events of the day and Ethan's meaningful words replayed in my mind.

Shame, confusion, and an indescribable throb entangled together.

Compelled by some mysterious force, I grabbed my phone, opened an anonymous forum, and typed a post with trembling fingers:

[Confession] My neighbor brother, who is a doctor, caught me using a "massage stick"! He didn't expose me then and even confiscated the toy, but he kept teasing me with words at the dinner table. I'm dying!!! Online waiting, urgent!!!

Not long after the post went up, notifications started pinging. A skyscraper of replies built up instantly.

"First! Waiting for updates!"

"Wait, sister, the point is the massage stick. Why didn't you dodge when he reached for it? That move itself is wild!"

"Upstairs +1. And he mentioned it at dinner? He's definitely doing it on purpose! It's too easy for a doctor to verify if you really had a cramp. He's just teasing you! Enjoying your panic. This guy has high-level game!"

"Just imagining it makes my toes curl... but honestly, why do I ship it? Calm and restrained neighbor brother VS socially dead childhood sweetheart. This plot is bestseller material!"

"Suggest OP play along! Next time he mentions it, flirt back. Like, 'The effect is indeed mediocre. Do you have a better recommendation, brother?'"

Reading these replies, the heat on my face rose again. These netizens have sharp eyes! Their words were like keys trying to pry open my closed heart.

Just then, a reply quickly upvoted to the top jumped out. Sharp and to the point:

"What are you afraid of? He's clearly interested in you. Men know men's games best. Attack directly. Just ask him: 'Brother, you took my stuff... do you want to demonstrate how to use it personally?' Guaranteed he'll be more flustered than you."

"Boom—" I felt all the blood rush to my head.

This reply... too bold, too naked!

It was like stripping my guilt and secret expectations bare under the sun.

But a voice deep inside screamed: They're right! Ethan's behavior can't be explained by just being a "brother"!

With trembling fingers, I liked that reply, as if injecting myself with a bit of lonely courage.