Part 3The Brother’s Secret Manual

Asher practically fled my room.

At nearly six feet three, he used his hands and feet, running as if tumbling and crawling.

He didn’t even see me hiding by the door, observing him.

He simply transformed into a stubborn fish, diving headfirst into the bathroom, splashing water on his face.

I waited until the sound of running water in the bathroom stopped.

Only then did I walk over and ask:

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

The sounds inside abruptly ceased.

After a long moment,

Asher’s unsteady voice finally replied:

“Nothing…”

I said, “Oh.”

“Then I’ll go back to my room.”

“Wait!”

The door was abruptly pulled open.

Asher stood at the doorway, still dripping water from his face, staring at me with a complicated expression, wanting to speak but holding back:

“Willow, are you… do you have someone you like recently?”

I feigned confusion, frowning:

“No, I’m busy looking for an internship lately. I don’t have time to think about romance.”

Asher fell silent.

He looked me over gravely, and only after confirming I truly wasn’t lying, did he breathe a sigh of relief, as if escaping a disaster, and wiped the water from his face.

Right.

The “brother” written in the diary might not necessarily be him; it could be some male celebrity.

No problem, no problem, the sky hasn’t fallen, the home hasn’t been destroyed, sister is still sister.

I subtly pursed my lips:

“Brother, if you’re all right, I’ll go back to my room now.”

With that, I turned around.

I pulled a manga book from my backpack and casually dropped it on the floor.

A loud thud echoed in the empty room.

Asher instinctively looked towards the sound.

On the title page,

several glaring big words— “Sister Becomes Wife.”

“…”

Asher’s breathing abruptly stopped.

Then,

trembling, he pressed his finger to his philtrum.