Semua Bab The Rising Temperature between Me and My “Step-brother”: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Wendy knew he was doing it on purpose—irritated at being ignored, deliberately provoking her in front of Simone—but there was nothing she could do to stop it.“What are your plans for this afternoon?” Simone held a slice of pizza, eating leisurely, occasionally tossing out questions to keep the lunch conversation lively.“I made plans to go shopping with someone today,” Wendy said, taking a sip of her iced lemon soda. She was always the first to answer Simone’s questions.“Wendy, you’ve already made new friends? If you’d like, you can invite them over for dinner. I won’t be traveling next week, so I’ll be home.”“They’re not exactly new friends. Simone, you probably already know—they’re the children of my dad’s acquaintances.”“Ah, I see. The Yangs? They’re a wonderful family.” Simone nodded repeatedly, completely missing how Asher’s expression had frosted over.“What about you, Asher?”“Heading to the base. Solo training.”Simone nodded. “Since you’re both going out, why don’t you dr

“I like you very much.” Surprising words came out of Asher’s mouth, deep, firm and magnetic.……Wendy froze. It took her a moment to speak. “That doesn’t matter.”“It does matter,” he insisted.“It doesn’t.” Wendy’s voice was small as she added the last word, lowering her head to stare at their shoes—touching, yet pointing in opposite directions.Her relationship with Asher had always been adversarial. In the past, now, and always would be.“Just like what you told me three years ago when I called you from summer camp—we’re not family. We have no connection.”When Asher didn’t respond, Wendy grew irritated. “You forgot again, didn’t you? You claim to remember everything, but you totally forgot!”Frustrated, she replayed the scene from summer camp three years ago for him.“…You pulled me aside and told me not to get ahead of myself. That you weren’t my brother, that we were just strangers with no ties.”Before coming to the U.S., Sam Wu had sung Asher’s praises over the phone. He said

That night, Asher stepped out of the shower to find Sam crouched in the middle of the second-floor hallway, busy with something, Wendy standing beside him watching. The father-daughter pair blocked his path completely."Wendy, this night light will turn off automatically when you walk away."The hallway lights had been switched off to test the night light's brightness. Sam took several seconds to notice Asher before hastily standing to let him pass."Asher, I installed a night light. Wendy has trouble seeing at night—what's that... what's the medical term?" Sam glanced at Wendy.Wendy looked at Asher and reluctantly said, "Nyctalopia (night blindness)."She'd memorized the word before coming to America, just in case she needed to explain herself. But admitting this vulnerability felt like exposing a weakness."This light's smart—it turns on when it senses movement and dims when you leave. No manual switching needed."Sam r

On Monday afternoon, on her way to the freshman pre-welcome party, Wendy received a message from Asher.[Wendy.]    [Feel like grabbing dinner out tonight?]Simone was attending a TV station reception tonight, and Sam had left in the morning for a long-haul job—he wouldn’t be back until Friday. If they went out to eat, it would just be her and Asher. It’d totally seem like a date.A date…Wendy texted back: [Heading to the school’s freshman warm-up party. Not sure when it’ll wrap up. Eat with the team—I’ll manage on my own. Don’t worry.]Around the start of the semester, clubs hosted orientation events for freshmen. With Syracuse University’s classes still two weeks away, Wendy—bored at home—had come to this casual pre-welcome party to kill time.“So Mike, what’s your major?”&ldquo

[I’m downstairs.]Wendy walked to the window and spotted Asher’s black SUV parked beneath a nearby tree. She hurried back inside to say goodbye to Gina and the others, grabbed her bag, and rushed downstairs.Just as she reached the bottom, Eric caught up with her."Hey, you forgot your coupons.""Thanks." Wendy took the coupons and asked if Eric and Gina would be attending the upcoming welcome events. After a brief chat, she finally got into Asher’s car."So, who was that?" The vinegar barrel in Asher’s heart tipped over, his expression darkening.Wendy glanced at him. "Just a freshman I met at the party.""Did he ask for your number?"Before she could answer, she heard a heavy exhale."You gave it to him?""That’s none of your business." Wendy turned her face toward the window, closing her eyes as if refusing to engage further."Are you mad?" Asher didn’t start the ca