Scheming Hearts: My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 1

I had been hopelessly chasing after Ricky for over a year, and he finally agreed to be with me. In a moment of boldness, I booked a luxurious round bed suite for $200.

When I woke up in the morning, I found someone else beside me.

The person lying next to me, half-asleep and muscular, was my childhood crush.

When we were kids, he was a tiny bundle I used to hold in my arms. Now, I was the tiny one being held in his arms.

**1**

Can anyone understand this? Waking up with a handsome guy in my arms, feeling a mix of excitement, nervousness, and an urge to touch. Oh, I meant his abs.

We hadn't seen each other for years, but I was sure this was my neighbor's younger brother, who was five years younger than me.

At this moment, he was still in a deep sleep, having just turned over.

I checked under the blanket and found myself completely naked.

This was a disaster.

The best strategy was to escape.

I grabbed a piece of clothing to cover my important parts and planned to sneak out.

"Madelynn, you're awake?"

I... haha, could I pretend I wasn't?

I turned my head to explain, but he had just lifted the blanket and was getting out of bed.

He seemed to be planning to get dressed, not expecting me to turn around suddenly.

He was slightly stunned and quickly pulled the blanket to cover himself.

Too late, I had already seen everything.

His broad chest and, well, his lower body...

Do young men get this excited in the morning?

I quickly turned my head, afraid he would see my embarrassed expression.

Unexpectedly, Kevin's face was even redder than mine, his ears looking like they were about to bleed.

"Sis, your clothes fell off," he pointed out.

In my excitement, the clothes had fallen to the floor, and I had been standing naked in front of him for quite a while.

Embarrassed, I rushed into the bathroom.

Kevin's family ran a foreign trade business. When Alexandra was pregnant with Kevin, the business was just starting. She went back to work a hundred days after giving birth.

My mom had health issues and had been trying for a second child without success.

Seeing Kevin was like seeing her own son, so Kevin spent most of his time at our house.

Honestly, I had even changed his diapers.

Help: What do you do when you wake up next to someone you practically raised?

While I was squatting in the bathroom, wondering if I should wrap myself in toilet paper to go out, Kevin knocked on the door.

"Sis, your clothes."

If I don't feel embarrassed, then it's him who will.

**2**

After getting dressed and washing up, Kevin had already ordered breakfast from the hotel.

"We haven't seen each other for years, and you've grown up," I said, racking my brain for a topic.

"Don't you know best if I've grown up?"

Kevin smirked, handing me a bowl of black rice and red bean porridge.

"You were exhausted last night, sis. You need to recharge."

I was dumbfounded. Was this still my model student, soldier brother?

Was he implying what I thought he was implying?

Memories started flooding back in bits and pieces.

I seemed to have been clinging to someone, begging for kisses, and finally being pushed onto the bed, with someone calling me "sis" in a fluctuating voice...

I...

I drank too much, but I didn't lose my memory.

Give me a lever, and I could lift the entire memory.

I stared at the handsome face across from me, unable to swallow my bun.

What a miserable life, eating a bad bun and still getting teased.

But I was stubborn since childhood and wouldn't admit defeat.

"Explain to me why you were the one in bed?"

"Who did you hope it would be?"

Did boys change their expressions this quickly?

Kevin placed his hand on my chin, as if he would crush it if I said something wrong.

I shamefully ran away.

**3**

When I walked into the office, my colleague Leslie sneaked up to me and whispered, "How was it? Was Ricky good?"

Why is she talking so dirty in broad daylight?

My mind automatically switched to the scene I saw in the morning, and my face turned red.

"Didn't you go to the hotel together yesterday?" Leslie persisted.

Damn, the whole office knew I had booked a hotel room!

And the supposed male lead of last night, Ricky, looked completely drained.

After the meeting and rounds, I cornered Ricky.

"Tell me, what happened last night?"

Ricky scratched his head, trying to remember. "I drank too much."

"Then, then, it seemed like someone took you away."

"I woke up lying on the floor of the room."

It was a confusing mess.

I pulled out my bank card number. "Pay me back for the room."

Damn it, he slept in my big round bed, and I ended up with the wrong guy.

I couldn't take this loss, and I wouldn't pay for it.

"How about we go again tonight?" Ricky suddenly suggested.

I looked Ricky up and down.

Shaking my head, I sighed inwardly. There's no comparison...

Chapter 2

[1]

When I got home, my mom was engrossed in her TV drama and didn't even glance at me. After a quick wash, I lay on my bed, feeling utterly defeated.

Kevin seemed different today. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, firm abs, and those V-lines. Ahem, I was getting sidetracked. It was his personality that had changed.

Kevin looked a lot like Matt, with a buzz cut, round eyes, and dimples when he smiled. He used to be my little shadow, always following me around, asking for this and that. So adorable.

As I got busier with work and my studies, I spent less time at home, and he joined the military.

I opened my phone and found his Whatsapp.

"Can we talk?"

No reply.

"Did you take me home last night?"

After a moment's thought, I added, "We're both adults, so... you understand?"

I left it at that, assuming he got the message. He didn't reply for a long time, so I thought he had tacitly agreed.

Just as I was about to fall asleep, a video call came through. My hand slipped, and I answered it.

On the screen, Kevin was shirtless, water droplets still clinging to his hair and trickling down his chest. I was instantly wide awake. Staring any longer would be disrespectful to his physique.

"Are you pretending not to know me now that you're all dressed up? You were praising me last night, you know? And you kissed me all over..."

Oh my, what a calculating man...

I hung up the call and grabbed my tablet, diving into some Korean comics. I chanted to myself: Reject all calculating men, I want a whole world of options.

[2]

It was past 1 AM by the time I finished the surgery. Home was too far away, so I went back to the apartment I rented near the hospital.

There was a figure standing at the corner downstairs, perfectly upright, with a military backpack on his back. I was too exhausted, so I asked him to call home and let them know I was safe, then get some rest.

Kevin obediently called Alexandra, keeping it brief, "I'm at Madelynn's place."

When he called my mom, he put it on speaker, and I could hear her voice clearly through the screen.

"Kevin, tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you tomorrow. Madelynn's bed is the one your uncle and I picked out from IKEA last time. It's really comfortable. Let her sleep on the couch; she's tough..."

I looked up at the ceiling. After 20 years of working at Walmart, my heart had become as cold as my knife.

Ugh, I was being too self-righteous.

Hearing me sigh, Kevin quickly ran over.

"Are you hungry?"

I nodded. After a six-hour surgery, my stomach was feeling a bit off.

He looked thoughtfully at my wound. Then, he brought my fingers close to his lips...

What the heck, had this kid been reading too many old romance novels?

I slapped him on the head. "If you don't get a band-aid soon, the wound will heal on its own."

Kevin rolled his eyes at me, clearly reluctant.

In the end, he made me a bowl of tomato and egg noodles, which turned out to be surprisingly delicious.

[3]

The next day, Kevin and I both went home. My mom had already prepared a table full of dishes. Steamed fish, braised ribs, sweet and sour pork, eggplant with garlic sauce... all of Kevin's favorites.

Case solved, I must have been adopted.

I said, "It's been years since gender equality became a norm, we shouldn't favor boys over girls."

My mom gave me a look and placed Kevin's utensils between hers and my dad's.

At the dining table, my mom kept piling food into Kevin's bowl with her chopsticks. My dad, who rarely drank, brought out a bottle of his favorite liquor and poured Kevin a glass.

"Come, have a drink with your uncle. It's been years, and you've grown into a fine young man."

My mom chimed in, "Yes, have a drink. Your parents aren't home, so if you drink too much, you can sleep here."

Why did this feel like a mother-in-law evaluating her son-in-law?

I must not have slept well last night. I shook my head and focused on eating. Only good food and good company could heal my lonely soul.

At the table, my mom kept talking. One moment she was saying my childhood friend had just had her second child, the next she was mentioning my previous blind date had gotten married. Even our dog, Lucky, had found a mate.

I got it instantly, she was hinting at marriage.

Better her than me.

I pointed at Kevin. "He's grown up too. You can introduce him to someone suitable."

Kevin paused, looking at me with an innocent expression. His face screamed, "Sister, you're bullying me."

I looked down, pretending not to see him.

My mom grabbed Kevin's hand, patting it reassuringly. "Our Kevin is so excellent, I'll definitely find the best girl for you."

Kevin, always obedient to my mom, nodded and said, "I'll listen to Auntie, but I prefer older ones."

Older? What older? Age? Or...?

I glanced down at myself, then looked up to meet Kevin's slightly amused eyes.

Ugh, little rascal, he had learned to be naughty.

Chapter 3

[1]

Have you ever seen a tiny, chubby Samoyed puppy? The kind that's just a few months old, all fluffy and adorable. When you feed it, its little tongue licks your palm, and when it's happy, it pounces on you, trying to burrow into your clothes. That's exactly the situation right now.

Kevin had too much to drink, and I was his target. I