Emily spoke softly beside him, her voice laced with helplessness. “Brother, I tried to stop her, but Sister insisted on staying in your room. I even warned her about your obsession with cleanliness, but she wouldn’t listen.”
Benjamin was silent for a long time as if holding something back. Then, at last, he spoke.
“Is it comfortable?”
I had expected anger, especially with how hard Emily was trying to stir trouble, yet all he did was ask those three simple words.
Rubbing my eyes, I gave a serious nod. “Comfortable. The scented candle helps with sleep.”
Benjamin’s brows lifted slightly, surprise flickering across his face as if he hadn’t expected me to know about the sleep-inducing effects of the incense.
“Then you can stay here.”
Emily’s expression froze.
She quickly found her voice again, her tone carrying a hint of grievance. “Brother, you never liked it when I entered your room before. Why is Sister allowed to sleep here?”
Benjamin didn’t spare her a glance. Instead, he turned to me, his tone casual yet oddly warm.
“Are you hungry?”
I nodded. “Don’t want to get out of bed.”
“Alright, I’ll bring the food up for you.”
With that, he nodded and left without hesitation.
Emily’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her teeth clenched and she practically spat out her words.
“Why? You just got back and he’s already treating you like this. He has a cleanliness obsession, yet he lets you sleep in his bed. He even allows you to eat in it. Why?”
I couldn’t be bothered to respond. Instead, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through videos, ignoring her entirely.
Emily looked utterly ridiculous, yet she refused to leave, lingering as if determined to witness how I would eat in Benjamin’s bed.
Before long, Benjamin returned, pushing a food cart.
The cart had a small foldable table, which, once opened, transformed into a proper dining setup. All I had to do was sit up and eat, convenient.
I stretched lazily, rinsed my mouth and started eating.
Benjamin, meanwhile, sat at his desk, focused on work, his attention locked on company affairs. He didn’t spare me a glance.
Emily, however, wasn’t ready to give up. She walked over and picked up the juice from the cart.
I knew what she was up to. She was probably planning to “accidentally” spill it on the bed, then put on a show about how I had no respect for Benjamin’s obsession with cleanliness.
I didn’t know how Benjamin would react, but one thing was certain: if she succeeded, I’d be forced to move rooms.
I was lazy. I didn’t want to move.
So, I simply lifted my phone and pointed the camera at her.
Emily froze, the juice inches from tipping over. After a beat, she forced a smile and instead handed it to me.
“Sister, have some juice.”
“No.”
I glanced at Benjamin and, as if sensing my gaze, he looked up at the same moment.
In that brief exchange, I noticed his eyes, deep, as they could see through everything.
“Emily, your college entrance exams are coming up. Shouldn’t you be focusing on your studies?” Benjamin’s voice was calm, but his meaning was clear.
Emily’s lips twitched. She knew exactly what Benjamin meant; he was telling her to leave. With no other choice, she turned and walked out.
After I finished eating, the housekeeper came in to tidy up.
As usual, I spent my time typing code with one hand while scrolling through my phone with the other. Time slipped away unnoticed and before I knew it, over three hours had passed. Drowsiness crept in again.
I figured I’d take a shower before heading back to bed.
Just as I was about to get up, Benjamin finished his work and walked over, setting a bottle of medicine on the bedside table.
“It’s herbal. Good for brain nourishment.”
“Thanks, Brother.”
I eyed him suspiciously. How did he know I needed brain nutrition?
But before I could ask, he had already left the room.
I wasn’t curious enough to chase after answers. Instead, I took a shower, swallowed the medicine and soon drifted into sleep.
For the next few days, I barely left the room.
Emily kept trying to stir up trouble, but she never found the opportunity.
Benjamin, on the other hand, worked in the room every day, though we spoke little.
Then, one morning, while I was still asleep, my blanket was yanked away without warning.
I startled awake, my eyes snapping open, only to find my biological parents standing by the bed.
The one who had pulled my blanket was my father.
His voice rang out, sharp and demanding.
“How can you sleep here?”
