The next morning, Ye Chen woke to the smell of something delicious wafting through the villa. He quickly dressed and headed downstairs, where he found Jiayi in the kitchen, her back to him as she worked on breakfast.
She wore a fitted blouse and an apron, her hair tied up in a loose bun. The sunlight streaming through the window highlighted her graceful figure.
"Good morning, Sister Jiayi," Ye Chen said, stepping into the kitchen.
Jiayi turned to him with a warm smile. "Good morning, Ye Chen. Did you sleep well?"
"Like a baby," he replied.
"Good," Jiayi said, walking over to him and giving him a light hug. "You'll need your energy today. We're cleaning the attic."
"The attic?" Ye Chen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Jiayi said, laughing softly. "It's been years since anyone cleaned it. I thought it would be a good project for all of us."
"Sounds like a plan," Ye Chen said, though he wasn't entirely convinced.
Just then, Meixiu strolled into the kitchen, her hair a little messy and her expression still sleepy. She wore an oversized shirt that hung loosely over her curves.
"Morning," she mumbled, heading straight for the coffee pot.
"Good morning, Sister Meixiu," Ye Chen said.
Meixiu turned to him, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Why do you look so cheerful this early?"
"Because he knows he's stuck with us all day," Jiayi teased, earning a laugh from Ye Chen.
Meixiu smirked and walked over to him. Without warning, she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "There. Now you have a reason to smile."
"Meixiu!" Jiayi scolded, though her tone was more amused than serious.
"What? Just being nice," Meixiu said, sitting down at the table.
A few moments later, Lianyi appeared, carrying a stack of books. She wore a simple cardigan and a skirt, her delicate beauty shining as always.
"Good morning, Ye Chen," she said softly, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"Good morning, Sister Lianyi," Ye Chen replied.
Lianyi hesitated, then walked over and gave him a gentle hug. "Did you sleep well?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Yes, I did. Thank you," he said, smiling warmly.
Jiayi clapped her hands. "All right, everyone. Let's eat breakfast and get started on the attic."
After breakfast, the group headed upstairs to the attic. The space was dimly lit, with dust covering almost every surface. Boxes were stacked high, and old furniture was pushed against the walls.
"This is going to take forever," Meixiu groaned, crossing her arms.
"Not if we work together," Jiayi said firmly.
Lianyi sneezed softly as she picked up a duster. "I'll start with the shelves."
Ye Chen grabbed a box and opened it, revealing a collection of old photo albums. "Look at this," he said, holding one up.
Jiayi walked over and knelt beside him, her knee brushing against his. "Oh, I remember these," she said, flipping through the pages.
The album was filled with pictures of the sisters from their younger days. Jiayi smiled nostalgically, while Meixiu peered over Ye Chen's shoulder.
"Look at this one!" Meixiu exclaimed, pointing to a photo of herself as a child, her face covered in cake. "I was adorable, wasn't I?"
"Adorable or messy?" Ye Chen teased, earning a light smack on the arm from Meixiu.
Lianyi joined them, sitting quietly as she looked through the photos. Her fingers gently traced the edges of the pictures.
"These bring back memories," she said softly.
As they worked, Meixiu found an old music player and turned it on. Upbeat music filled the attic, and she started swaying to the rhythm.
"Come on, Ye Chen, dance with me!" Meixiu said, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet.
"I don't know how to dance," he protested.
"That's fine. Just follow my lead," Meixiu said, twirling around him.
Jiayi laughed. "You're supposed to be cleaning, not dancing."
"Relax, Jiayi. We're multitasking," Meixiu replied, grinning.
Lianyi watched from the side, her smile soft and genuine.
After a few hours of cleaning, they took a break. Jiayi handed Ye Chen a cold bottle of water and sat beside him on an old sofa they had uncovered.
"You've been working hard," she said, her voice filled with warmth.
"It's nothing," Ye Chen replied. "I'm happy to help."
Jiayi leaned in closer, her gaze meeting his. "You're always so thoughtful."
Before Ye Chen could respond, she kissed his cheek lightly. "Thank you, Ye Chen."
Across the room, Meixiu pretended to gag. "Ugh, stop being so sweet. It's nauseating."
Jiayi turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Jealous?"
"Maybe," Meixiu said, walking over and sitting on Ye Chen's other side. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You're mine for the rest of the break," Meixiu declared.
Lianyi quietly approached, holding a small flower she had found in one of the boxes. She knelt in front of Ye Chen and offered it to him.
"It's pretty, like you," she said softly, her cheeks turning red.
Ye Chen took the flower, his heart warming at her words. "Thank you, Sister Lianyi."
Jiayi and Meixiu exchanged amused looks, but neither said anything.
By the end of the day, the attic was spotless, and everyone was exhausted. They sat in the living room, sipping tea and reminiscing about the day.
"You did a great job, Ye Chen," Jiayi said, her voice filled with pride.
"Thanks, but I couldn't have done it without all of you," Ye Chen replied.
"Don't be so modest," Meixiu said, poking his arm. "You were the MVP today."
Lianyi nodded in agreement. "We're lucky to have you here."
As the night wore on, Jiayi leaned her head on Ye Chen's shoulder, while Lianyi rested her hand lightly on his. Meixiu stretched out on the couch, her feet in his lap.
"This feels nice," Jiayi said softly.
"Yeah," Ye Chen replied, feeling a deep sense of belonging.