Chapter 2 Not Free Tomorrow

He stared at her for a while, seemingly thinking of something, and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes. Then, his interest was piqued for no apparent reason. He lowered his brows and deliberately lowered his voice, "Hmm."

"......" Lily couldn't stay calm anymore, almost breaking down. "Did Mom and Dad agree?"

There was another brief silence.

The man licked the corner of his lips, his tone carrying a smile, "As long as it looks good, isn't that enough?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lily was stunned again.

Compared to Andy's voice, this one was clearer and softer. When he spoke, his tone lingered at the end, sounding both ambiguous and intimate.

Completely, utterly, different from her brother's cold, irritating voice and manner.

"Kid," he chuckled and continued, "Come over and see if your brother looks good or not?"

Lily immediately sensed something was off.

At that moment, there was movement behind her. The sound of a door opening, followed by the noise of shoes hitting the floor.

Lily instinctively turned around.

She instantly saw Andy's face.

The man had broad shoulders and a slim waist, looking slightly thinner than a few months ago. His hair was damp, a towel draped over his shoulder-he seemed to have just taken a shower. Seeing Lily, he smirked, picked up a fork from the fruit platter in her hands, stabbed a piece of watermelon, and walked inside.

As if she had seen a ghost, Lily trembled and stuttered, "B-brother."

"What?" Andy glanced at her and took a bite of the watermelon. "Stunned by my handsomeness again?"

"I..."

Before she could finish, the man behind her suddenly laughed, interrupting her.

Lily, rarely feeling so flustered, couldn't help but glance at him.

What entered her sight was a presence even more dazzling than the sunlight outside.

His features relaxed, looking less distant and unapproachable. His eyes lifted slightly at the corners, and his light-colored pupils shimmered with scattered light, filled with warmth-like a seductive demon who could steal souls.

Lily's heartbeat stalled for a moment.

As if she had been enchanted, her heart was easily captured.

Thinking he was mocking her, Andy turned to him, "Lucas, what the hell are you laughing at-"

Since Lily was present, Andy didn't finish his usual crude remark. He changed the topic, picked up his phone, opened his messages, and waved it at Lily.

"Kid, what trouble did you get into this time?"

The screen displayed their recent conversation.

The brief moment of daze was instantly erased by Andy's interruption. Lily quickly refuted, "I didn't get into any trouble."

Andy raised an eyebrow at her, "Better not have."

"......"

Lily had a favor to ask, so she gritted her teeth and forced a polite tone. "But, brother, I need a little help..."

A stranger she had never met was standing there. Lily glanced at him, then at Andy, her eyes hinting at something as she hesitated to speak.

Andy pretended not to notice.

Then, the stranger spoke, his tone amused, "Andy, this your sister?"

Andy sat down on the bed, "What, you think she's my daughter?"

"......"

Lily returned the courtesy and asked, "Brother, who is this?"

Andy gave a concise answer, "Roommate, Lucas."

"You don't recognize me?" Lucas said. "Didn't you just call me brother?"

Those words made Lily recall her foolish assumption earlier. Her already tense expression collapsed instantly, looking visibly frustrated.

Andy sneered, "That was quite affectionate."

During the conversation, Lucas had already walked up to Lily and crouched down. He looked at her seriously, his light-colored pupils both gentle and mesmerizing. "I'm Lucas, your brother's friend."

Lily averted her eyes, looking somewhat uneasy. "Oh."

Having solemnly introduced himself to a kid, Lucas turned his head, regaining his usual laid-back demeanor. "Andy," he asked, "Do I look that much like you?"

What kind of question was that?

Andy paused and then looked up, "Go look in the mirror."

"Then," Lucas took the fruit platter from Lily's hands. "Why did this little one just ask me-"

"......"

A brief pause.

Lucas chuckled again. "If I had plastic surgery?"

"......"

After a short silence.

Andy said coolly, "What do you mean by that?"

"Brother!" Fearing Andy would get angry and refuse to help her, Lily hurriedly changed the topic. "Didn't you say you weren't coming home?"

"Kid." Andy, recalling her expression from earlier, remained expressionless. "You really thought he was me?"

"...N-no."

"And even thought I got plastic surgery to look like him?"

"......"

"Where did that idea come from?" Andy, always confident, sounded both smug and mocking. "Me? Plastic surgery? And turning into him-"

Seeing that he wasn't going to let it go, Lily got mad. "Wouldn't you want to look like him anyway?!"

"......"

"Mom didn't even tell me you brought a friend home," Lily huffed, revealing her usual boldness. "And he was the only one in the room. Isn't it normal for me to think that way?"

Andy rubbed his ear impatiently. "Lower your voice."

Lily scowled. "Why should I? I'm not disturbing anyone."

The two siblings locked eyes in a standoff.

Andy had no intention of backing down to his little sister, adding fuel to the fire, "You're disturbing me."

Seeing the argument escalate, Lucas stepped in to ease the tension. He waved Lily over, "Kid, come have some fruit."

With a guest present, Andy lost interest in teasing his rebellious sister. He glanced at his phone and said to Lucas, "Wanna take a shower? Then head back to campus."

"No need." Lucas stabbed a piece of watermelon and handed it to Lily. "Let's finish the fruit before leaving."

Lily pursed her lips and subconsciously glanced at Lucas.

At that moment, the childish and embarrassing argument with Andy replayed in her mind.

And this seemingly kind and approachable older brother had just casually exposed her most embarrassing moment.

A wave of unspeakable grievance rose in her chest.

A sudden feeling of being abandoned by the whole world.

Her cheeks burned uncontrollably, her eyes tingling with a stinging sensation.

She began to feel humiliated.

Lily took the fruit in silence, trying to hold back the heat rushing up her nose. She fought it with all her might, but a choked sob still slipped from her throat.

Lucas froze.

Andy heard it too and looked up. "...No way."

The moment those words dropped, Lily's tears broke free, spilling out uncontrollably. Her suppressed sobs erupted, filling the room, echoing off the walls and drifting into the living room.

"......"

The two grown men were frozen on the spot.

Hearing the noise, Rose hurried in from the living room. "What's going on?"

Andy reacted quickly and shamelessly blamed, "Lucas, how could you bully my sister?"

Lucas stiffened.

He had never encountered a situation like this before and had no idea how to respond.

Before he could explain-

Lily grabbed his shirt, hid behind him like she was terrified, and pointed at Andy while sobbing to Rose, "Mom... uuu... brother... brother hit me..."

Andy, "......"

--

The little girl cried so pitifully, tears falling like beads, as if they were landing straight on people's hearts. Rose, rarely seeing Lily cry like this, immediately sided with her, comforting her softly before turning and scolding Andy in the living room.

The door opened and closed with their movements.

With one person gone, the atmosphere cooled. Lily let go of Lucas's shirt, her sobs subsiding.

Lucas turned back to look at her.

She was small for her age, barely reaching his chest. Her big eyes were now red and puffy as she sniffled-just like a little rabbit.

Then, she pitifully took a bite of watermelon.

The crying stopped completely.

Lucas chuckled, grabbing a tissue from the table. "All done crying?"

Lily, feeling a lingering sense of embarrassment, remained silent.

Seeing their height difference, Lucas bent down and used the tissue to wipe her tears. "Go wash your face in a bit."

Lily, used to being taken care of, didn't resist.

After a moment of silence, a thought popped into her head.

A thought that would seem abrupt to any stranger.

After hesitating for a while, Lily cautiously asked, her voice still carrying a trace of childish softness, "Brother, are you leaving soon?"

Lucas lifted his eyelashes and hummed, "Why?"

"Are you free tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Lily mumbled, "Tomorrow."

Lucas chuckled. "Why are you asking about my schedule?"

Since he didn't directly say he was free, Lily hesitated, struggling to say it, "I just, just..." After fumbling for words, she returned to her original question, this time adding a flattering title, "Brother, are you free tomorrow?"

Lucas lowered his gaze lazily. "And what if I'm not?"

Lily panicked. "That won't do!"

She had already upset Andy-he definitely wouldn't help her. Now, her only hope was this man in front of her.

She clenched her fists and dryly threatened, "You must be free. If you're not, I'll... I'll tell Mom that you two ganged up to hit me-a mixed doubles match of bullying!"

"......"

A mixed doubles match?

Lucas smirked. "Kid, you're really unreasonable, huh?"

Lily glanced at him and weakly replied, "I'm still young."

"Hmm?"

"I don't know how to be reasonable yet."

"......"

Alright then.

Lucas, half-amused, said, "Tell me first-what do you need tomorrow?"

Lily hesitated before speaking slowly, "Can you pretend to be my real brother?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"And tomorrow," she hesitated, her voice dropping lower, "go see my teacher with me..."

Lucas instantly understood. "You got called in for a parent meeting?"

Lily fell silent, as if tacitly admitting it.

"For what reason?"

Thinking about the excuse she had come up with in the car, Lily wasn't sure if he would believe it. She scratched her head and hesitated. "Can I not say?"

"You can."

Before Lily could relax, Lucas casually added, "Then I'm not free tomorrow."