“How about this—let’s add each other on WeChat. Next time you want to hear someone get scolded, just buy a ticket from me in advance, and I’ll set up a seat for you at the door?” Brian Brooks yanked his school jacket off his shoulder and tied it around his waist—who knows what he was even trying to cover up—then leaned halfway out, looking sincerely concerned for her, “Standing there listening to someone get yelled at is exhausting.”

　　“Exac—”

　　tly.

　　Before Ethan Turner could finish, there was a loud “bang” as he slammed the door shut with a force that shook the heavens, inexplicably venting his bad mood. The gust of wind he stirred up carried a strange, unfamiliar scent, cold and sharp as it hit her face.

　　In the summer thicket, rosy clouds lingered like a crimson shawl, tree shadows swaying across the ground. Ethan Turner could still faintly hear the lingering sounds from inside the house, mixed with the tireless chirping of cicadas, echoing through that scorching, brilliant June.

　　“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?” The woman, just like Grace Hill, had a sharp tongue and refused to let him off the hook. “Is this how you talk to girls? Are you proud of all your romantic entanglements? Would it kill you to speak properly?”

　　“If I can’t, then that’s just how it is,” he replied carelessly, shuffling inside in his slippers. “In your eyes, even if I say a word to a dog, it counts as flirting.”

　　“Keep pretending. You’re a master at sweet-talking people—I can’t be bothered with you. And if you’re going to wear your jacket, wear it properly. What’s with tying it around your waist? So sloppy.”

　　“With how fast I had to answer the door just now, did I even have time to put on underwear? Didn’t you see her staring right at my crotch?”

　　Ethan Turner: ????????

　　I swear I’ll die if I looked.

　　--------------------

　　Author’s note:

　　Brian Brooks: She definitely looked, I swear.

　　ps:

　　This draft was saved a long time ago. Actually, the earliest version was entirely from the male lead’s perspective, so that’s what I chose at first. But now, after who knows how many revisions, the POV is probably split about half and half, so I changed it to ambiguous.

　　The drone part was in all the previous drafts, but in the latest version, I rewrote a section and forgot to add it back in—oops.

　　Thank you to all the little angels who gave me “霸王票” or watered me with nutrient solution between 2021-08-01 16:56:13 and 2021-08-06 18:55:35~

　　Thank you to the little angels who sent deep-water torpedoes: 花生树oovooo 2;

　　Thank you to the little angels who sent rocket launchers: 辣鸡晋江 2; Lll, 花生树oovooo 1 each;

　　Thank you to the little angels who sent hand grenades: 花生树oovooo 1;

　　Thank you to the little angels who sent landmines: 牛魔王老娘, 花生树oovooo 4; 木子宁o 3; 快乐加倍, 44281450, 41676315, 45337363, Lindy Hill, 凭远, , 随随平安, 十一点五, Swan, 少吃鱼, 48003135 2; 倦怠, 黄雨萱, 小巷大人, 谢小侯爷., 一只眠羊, 51712018, 明明就, Eiileen_, 罂, 沱沱, 打烊, 41145762, 桑延一定岁岁平安！, 三朵花, 老公让我学好理科, 我不叫小王, 花路入溪口, 梵希的大喵, 我有一只鸿鹄, 温林, , 张张张张娉, 50095677, 靳译肯小娇妻, 啊啊啊阿流, HYY, 41408980, 26958701, 辣鸡晋江, 25054602, Matthew Ford, 懒宰, 54185160, Reasverrrr, 来日纵是千千晚星, 付雪梨, 贩卖星球便利店, taedaily 1;