The hallway was narrow, and when we met, he flinched, then straightened his jacket before speaking. "Miss Shen, I'm here to see Xinran." Cheng Junyu was Fu Shenyan’s brother in all but blood. Some say you can tell if a man truly cares for you by how his closest friends treat you. I didn't even need to look at his attitude; the way he addressed me was enough. To them, it seemed, I would always be just "Miss Shen." Such a polite, yet distant, title. It doesn’t do to dwell on the details; it only breeds resentment. I forced a smile and stepped aside to let him pass. "Go on in," I said. Sometimes, I truly envied Lu Xinran. All she had to do was shed a few tears to receive the warmth I had spent half my life trying to earn. Back in the bedroom, I found a set of clothes Fu Shenyan had never worn and carried them downstairs. Cheng Junyu's examination of Lu Xinran was quick. He took her temperature, prescribed some fever medication, and was ready to leave. Seeing me in the living room as he came downstairs, he offered a detached smile. "It's getting late. Aren't you going to bed, Miss Shen?" "In a bit," I replied, holding out the clothes. "Your shirt is damp, and it's still raining out. Change into something dry before you go, so you don't catch a cold." He seemed surprised by the offer, a flicker of uncertainty on his handsome face before he managed a smile. "No, thank you. I'm fine, really." I pressed the clothes into his hands. "Fu Shenyan has never worn these. The tags are still on. You two are about the same build, so they should fit." With that, I turned and went back upstairs to my room. I wasn't being kind. Years ago, when my grandmother was hospitalized, Cheng Junyu had been her surgeon. An internationally renowned doctor like him would never have agreed to operate if it weren't for the Fu family. The clothes were just a way of repaying that debt. The next morning. After a night of torrential rain, the morning sun carried the fresh scent of damp earth. I was used to rising early. After washing up, I went downstairs to find Fu Shenyan and Lu Xinran already in the kitchen. Fu Shenyan stood at the stove, a black apron tied around his slender frame as he fried eggs. The sharp, cold aura that usually clung to him had dissipated, replaced by a surprising air of domesticity. Lu Xinran’s bright, dark eyes followed his every move. Her delicate face, still flushed with a rosy hue from the fever, looked both adorable and captivating. "Shenyan-ge, I like my eggs a little crispy," she cooed, popping a strawberry into his mouth. "But not too crispy, or they'll be bitter." Fu Shenyan chewed the strawberry, his dark eyes glancing at her. He said nothing, but that single look was filled with enough affection to fill a room. A handsome man and a beautiful woman. They looked perfect together. The scene, their warm and playful interaction—it was painfully sweet. "They make a good pair, don't they?" a voice said from behind me. I stiffened, turning to see Cheng Junyu. I'd forgotten that with the heavy rain and Lu Xinran's fever, Fu Shenyan would naturally have had him stay the night. "Morning," I said, managing a faint smile. My eyes fell to the clothes he was wearing—the ones I had given him last night. Noticing my gaze, he raised an eyebrow. "These fit perfectly. Thank you." I shook my head. "Don't mention it." I had bought them for Fu Shenyan, but he had never deigned to touch them. Perhaps hearing our voices, Lu Xinran called out, "Sister Shen, Junyu-ge, you're up! Shenyan-ge made eggs. Come and eat with us!" Her tone was that of the lady of the house. I gave a small smile. "No, thank you. I bought some bread and milk yesterday; they're in the fridge. You should eat more, you're still recovering." This was, after all, the house I had lived in for two years. The deed had both my name and Fu Shenyan's on it. And no matter how weak I might be, I refused to let someone else take my place in this home.