Chapter 39: The Person in the Dream Was Big Brother Part 1

Late at night, Li You woke up thirsty.

He wriggled around in the blankets like a silkworm in its cocoon for a while. Even though he was reluctant to leave the warm covers, he still squinted his eyes, got up with his messy hair sticking out, shuffled off the bed while holding up his disheveled pants, and looked around for water to drink.

Li Ye’s room was large, but sparsely furnished. The curtains were drawn tight over the windows on all four sides, except for one slightly open window on the left. The wind made the curtain sway lightly, and the leaves outside rustled. Moonlight refracted in, perfectly illuminating the unlit room just enough.

Li You couldn’t find his slippers, so he walked barefoot on the carpet. When he reached the cool porcelain floor area, he paused, looked down at his heels covered by the long pant legs, then looked up toward the kitchen island not far away.

Someone stood on the inner side of the island, back turned to him.

The man wore a white shirt and a black leather strap, perfectly outlining his sturdy torso and arms.

Li You blinked slowly, walked forward, placed both hands on the edge of the island, and carefully observed the figure.

He smelled a familiar scent.

“Bro.” Li You called out.

The man standing in front of the wine rack with his back to him turned around, his face illuminated by the moonlight.

It really was Li Ye.

Li You was puzzled and asked, “Are you thirsty?”

Li Ye hummed in acknowledgment, placed the prepared drink emitting a blue glow on the island, and looked up at Li You. “Why’d you wake up?”

“I’m a bit thirsty too,” Li You said. “I was looking for water.”

“What do you want to drink?”

“Hot water.” Li You looked at the crystal-clear blue-pink drink under the moonlight, then at Li Ye who was preparing hot water for him. “Why are you drinking at this hour?”

“Low alcohol content, like a beverage.” Li Ye said.

“Oh.” Li You’s throat bobbed. For some reason, he felt even thirstier. He thought for a moment and asked again, “That drink looks pretty. Does it have a name?”

“Deep Sea Heart.” Li Ye gazed into Li You’s eyes.

“…” Li You stared at the drink, reached out with both hands to grasp it. “Can I try some? Just a little sip.”

“You can drink it all.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll make another.”

Li You held the glass and took a sip. It didn’t taste like the stereotypical alcohol he imagined—no harshness, but rather refreshing, with a faint strawberry sweetness and a touch of floral brew.

He must have been extremely thirsty, because he quickly drank the entire Deep Sea Heart. He licked his lower lip with the tip of his tongue and handed the glass back. “Can I have another?”

This time, Li Ye handed him the cup of hot water.

“Drinking cold then hot might upset my stomach,” Li You said. “Bro, make me another Deep Sea Heart.”

Li Ye didn’t refuse Li You’s request. He calmly prepared another Deep Sea Heart for him and watched the young man finish it before saying, “Li You, you should go back to sleep.”

Li You braced both hands on the island, his head dizzy. He looked into Li Ye’s eyes, shook his heavy head twice, tugged at his collar, and muttered, “Why… does it feel a bit hot.”

He looked toward Li Ye approaching him. “Bro, this drink really isn’t strong?”

“Not strong.” Li Ye came to Li You’s side, pressed one hand on his shoulder to make him face him, and used the back of his other hand to touch his slightly feverish cheek. “This is a normal reaction.”

Li You’s eyelashes, shrouded in a layer of heat mist, blinked slowly. His throat bobbed repeatedly as he softly called, “Big Brother.”

The back of Li Ye’s hand touching his cheek slowly slid down, his fingertip pressing on Li You’s lips. “What?”

“What’s in this Deep Sea Heart?”

“White rum, gin, blue curacao, strawberry-peach, ice.” Li Ye’s fingertip rubbed Li You’s feverish lower lip. “And some pack beast extract.”

Li You froze, his lips parting slightly. His lower lip tingled under the rub of Li Ye’s fingertip scarred from a single mark. He licked his lips, unable to ignore the growing heat in his body or his brother’s touch, and softly asked, “Pack beast extract from Kailenoa?”

Li Ye looked at him without speaking.

“…Why put that in?” Li You’s face burned, his breath hot. His face leaned into Li Ye’s cool hand somewhat dependently, yet he couldn’t accept the overly intimate gesture. He tilted his head back. “Doesn’t that make people hot and restless?”

Li Ye’s other hand cradled the back of Li You’s head, slid down, pinched his nape like grabbing a kitten by the scruff, fingertips lightly kneading twice, pulling the head-back-tilting youth back. He leaned down, nose tip brushing Li You’s nose tip.

“You’re right, it does make you hot and restless.” Instead of denying it, Li Ye turned accusatory. “Which greedy cat insisted on drinking it? And even asked for a second glass?”

“I—” Li You’s whole body went numb from the close distance and their entangled breaths. His hands gripped Li Ye’s arms, not daring to meet his eyes directly, heart pounding wildly, breath tense. “I asked you, and you said I could try it, and…”

Li You tried to shift away a bit but couldn’t break free from his brother’s hold. He lowered his voice, dodging the approach. “…And I only drank because you said it wasn’t strong. Who knew you put pack beast extract in it.”

He glared at Li Ye. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

Li Ye looked at those sparkling blue-gem-like eyes without explaining. With one arm, he scooped Li You up and hoisted him over his shoulder, striding toward the bed.

The world spun. Li You lay over his brother’s shoulder, dazed for two seconds before angrily twisting his head and flailing fists and feet at Li Ye—not too hard. “What are you doing?!”

Li Ye strode to the bed and set the youth down gently. But Li You, startled by the sudden hoist, was still a bit angry. He propped up his upper body and complained to Li Ye. “I can walk myself. Don’t just hoist me like that out of nowhere!”

The man in front of him parted his legs, knee pressing between them, leaning over without pinning him down. His left hand pinched Li You’s ankle, palm enveloping the youth’s cool sole.

“Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

“I couldn’t find them.” Li You stated confidently, uncomfortably using his bent knee to push against Li Ye’s abdomen. “Don’t hold me down. Let go!”

He felt very uncomfortable now, body heating up. He’d experienced the effects of pack beast extract before—it wasn’t pleasant, very unpleasant!

Li You was a bit angry, but on second thought, his anger wasn’t entirely justified. He’d asked for the drink himself, and Li Ye wasn’t affected by pack beast extract, so making it for him made sense. In the end, Li You had brought it on himself.

But if this guy had just warned him earlier…

Feeling aggrieved, he lifted his other leg to vent by kicking, but it was caught by Li Ye’s hand, immobilized.

Li You’s knees were parted again. He looked up at Li Ye, whose expression was unreadable in the backlit silhouette, and a strange feeling gradually welled up in his heart.

This was different from the insistent heat on his body. It stemmed from the current situation and their highly improper posture, breeding waves of scorching sensation in his heart.

Li You had no time to be angry. He stared dazedly at Li Ye, lips parting slightly, voice extremely soft. “Big Brother?”

Li Ye lowered himself, forehead pressing against Li You’s forehead, hair brushing and tickling him a bit.

He squinted, hands pressing Li Ye’s shoulders. “Bro? You—”

“Li You, you’re reacting.”

“……………”

A silence lasting dozens of seconds. Li You’s head and ears buzzed continuously. His slow reaction finally kicked in as he blinked, uttering a short, uncertain sound. “Huh?”

His clothes on his lower abdomen were lifted. Li Ye’s scarred hand pressed there, fingertip circling slowly. “No feeling?”

Li You dumbly looked down, seeing Li Ye’s distinctly knuckled hand rubbing his lower belly. Something exploded in his mind.

He sat up in shock, only to be pressed back down. His fingertips and body trembled slightly, finally registering the body’s shameful reaction.

It had rubbed against his pants, a bit painful.

He bristled instantly, propping up to roll aside and flee, but was caught back by Li Ye. He struggled wildly, clamped his legs together, knees pushing against Li Ye’s chin, feet with nowhere to go stepping on Li Ye’s thighs as he knelt on the bed, face red as he glared. “Let go!”

Li Ye’s hand hovered lightly on his knee, fingertip rubbing the red mole there.

His other hand still pressed Li You’s lower abdomen, pinching twice. The one lying on the bed instantly went soft.

Li You uncontrollably let out a sound that made even his own scalp tingle. He hurriedly covered his mouth, but Li Ye, leaning down, pulled his arm away.

“What’s wrong?”

Li Ye’s voice was as casual as chatting about daily life or the weather. That hand with the scar and thin callus lightly hooked Li You’s hem, fingertip grinding the soft fabric. His lowered gaze first fixed on Li You’s slightly fleshy belly, then lifted to his eyes. “Didn’t eat much tonight?”

“I-I…” Li You’s breathing grew tight. “I ate cake this afternoon.”

“Mm, the steamed fish from Dongjia that I brought back for you—you didn’t even come home when it got cold.” Li Ye said unhurriedly. “Next time you go out, don’t stay so late. I’ll worry.”

“Got it…” Li You clamped his legs tight, not daring to move or look into Li Ye’s eyes. But when his face was cupped by one hand, Li Ye pinching his chin to adjust his line of sight, he had no choice but to meet his brother’s gaze.

The back of Li Ye’s hand lightly stroked Li You’s face as he asked, “Uncomfortable?”

Li You’s voice trembled. “…Big Brother, good big brother, let me go. I want to go to the bathroom.”

“What for?” Li Ye countered. A cool tendril emerged from the shadows, slowly climbing up Li You’s calf, slipping under his pant hem, inching up along the delicate leg flesh.

Li You’s heart jolted. He quickly said, “To the bathroom to use it, of course!!”

Li Ye used his knee to part Li You’s legs, poking holes in his full-of-loopholes excuse. “Wrong. You want to do something naughty.”

“I really just want to use the bathroom!” Temper didn’t work, so Li You switched tactics, pitifully softening toward Li Ye. “Big Brother, let me go.”

Li Ye remained unmoved and suddenly asked, “Li You, you still haven’t told me about that dream. Who did you dream of?”

Li You fell abruptly silent, tensely watching him, wanting to shake his head, but his chin was held immobile.

“What did you dream?” Li Ye pressed, tone carrying a hint of speculation. “Or rather, did you do something naughty to that someone in the dream? Right?”

Li You shook his head. His swollen lower abdomen was pinched, and he couldn’t suppress a trembling soft hum. He hurriedly covered his mouth again, muffledly retorting, “I didn’t.”

He used both arms to shield his eyes, only relaxing after a long while, palm pressing against Li Ye’s chest, fingertips curling. “Big Brother, you’re acting so weird. Don’t do this.”

“Scared?”

“I’m not afraid of you…”

“Li You.” Li Ye released his chin, kneeling between his legs, gaze dropping to Li You’s rising-and-falling lower abdomen with each breath. His fingertip hooked the loose waistband of his precarious pants. “Why are they so messy?”

Li You’s face exploded red.

Li Ye asked him, “Can you do it yourself?”

“Wh-what?!” Li You froze in shock, puzzled, then realization dawned.

How could such words come from Li Ye’s mouth? From his brother’s mouth??

Li Ye, something’s wrong with you!!

Before he could figure out how to respond, Li Ye had already hooked his waistband and pulled down, saying, “Want me to help?”

“No—”

Li You kicked toward him, but his brother steadily caught his foot with a cool palm. The sole tingled itchily; he shrank back, feeling that large hand again, body shuddering uncontrollably…

Bang.

A loud crash in the room. Li You, who had rolled off the bed onto the floor, lay sprawled out. His hair was a mess, clothes and pants sleep-tousled beyond recognition.

He opened his dazed, stunned eyes still hazy with confusion, sat up blankly, woodenly glanced at the blanket covering him, then turned to look out the window.