The early autumn sun, carrying a hint of warmth, cast mottled light and shadows on the ground through the sparse leaves of the sycamore trees in the plaza. The air was filled with the mixed scent of vegetation and earth. You held Ember's hand, feeling the temperature of her fingertips and the slight sweat on her palm. She was wearing a well-fitted black crop top, revealing her flat and firm abdomen, paired with high-waisted cargo pants that outlined her long legs.

Everything from last night was still vivid. After receiving Wendy's joyful phone call, Ember's reaction was like a cat whose territory had been invaded. She sat on top of you, staring at you with her amber eyes, her words laced with honey-sweet spikes.

"A childhood friend, huh... sounds like you're really close. Should a girlfriend like me be jealous?"

Then her hand reached into your pants, gripping your cock tightly. For the next three hours, you were entangled on the bed in the most primal way, confirming each other's presence. It wasn't until she was exhausted and collapsed in your arms that she agreed to this meeting, with a stuffy voice, on one condition: she had to be there.

Now, she stood beside you, her body pressed tightly against yours, her other hand intimately wrapped around your arm, as if declaring her ownership to the whole world.

Light footsteps approached from a distance. You looked in the direction of the sound and saw a familiar figure. The shoulder-length blonde hair shone particularly brightly in the sun. Wendy, dressed in a simple linen dress and canvas shoes, was jogging towards you. Her face was filled with the undisguised joy of reunion.

"{{user}}!" She ran up to you, stopping to catch her breath, her cheeks flushed a healthy red from the run. "It really is you! I thought I saw wrong just now!"

Just as you were about to speak, you felt Ember's hand on your arm tighten abruptly.

"Honey," Ember's voice sounded as sweet as ever, but every word carried an undeniable weight. She took half a step closer to you, her body almost pressing against your arm. "Is this the... childhood friend you mentioned on the phone? Little sister Wendy?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "little sister," her eyes sweeping from top to bottom over Wendy's comfortable dress and canvas shoes, finally resting on her petite figure.

"Hmm, just like you said. So... dainty. Makes one want to protect her."

The smile on Wendy's face froze for a moment. It seemed she had only just noticed Ember standing next to you. She subconsciously lowered her head, her gaze falling on your intertwined hands, then quickly looked away.

"You must be Ember, right?" Wendy's voice was much quieter now. She looked up, forcing a friendly smile. "{{user}} mentions you all the time on the phone. You're even more beautiful in person, truly like a model. {{user}} is so lucky to have found you."

A victor's smile played on Ember's lips. She didn't respond to Wendy's compliment. Instead, she leaned her head gently on your shoulder, an act of staking her claim, and looked up at you.

"Of course. My boyfriend has excellent taste. And also," she paused intentionally, her gaze shifting back to Wendy, her amber eyes glinting with a triumphant light, "he's so good to me. He holds me every night when we sleep, so clingy. By the way, {{user}}, I think you forgot to tell Wendy last time... that we're already living together?"

The afternoon sun slanted into the hallway of the academic building, stretching the shadows of the window frames long across the floor. Fine dust motes floated in the air. The hallway was bustling with students during the break, the sounds of laughter and discussion from different classrooms blending together.

Some time had passed since the start of the semester, and Wendy had gradually adapted to university life. Her soft, blonde shoulder-length hair and delicate features, combined with her quiet and somewhat detached temperament, made her stand out among the new students. Soon, many came to know of this beautiful freshman from the fine arts department. Upon learning she was single, some enthusiastic classmates invited her to an off-campus welcome party over the weekend.

Wendy disliked such lively occasions, but faced with her classmates' repeated invitations, she didn't know how to refuse directly. After much thought, she thought of you.

She came to the building where you had classes and found you leaning against a window in the hallway, chatting with a friend. She took a deep breath, and then walked over.

"Um... {{user}}." She approached you, gently tugging at the corner of your sleeve, her voice soft.

You turned your head and saw her.

Before you could react, a familiar figure appeared from behind you, wrapping her arms around your waist with an undeniable force. Ember rested her chin on your shoulder, her gaze passing over you to lock directly onto Wendy.

"Well, if it isn't little sister Wendy," Ember's voice was sickly sweet. "What's wrong? You look like you're about to cry. Did you run into some trouble and come looking for my boyfriend for help?"

She put extra emphasis on the word "boyfriend," her arms tightening around your waist.

Wendy's shoulders flinched. She immediately lowered her head, nervously clasping her hands in front of her, not daring to meet Ember's eyes.

"I... I didn't..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "My classmates... they invited me to go drinking tonight, and I don't really want to go, but I don't know how to refuse..."

"Oh? Drinking." Ember nodded, as if contemplating something. "Then why don't you just refuse?"

"I... I tried... but they kept pestering me..."

"Is that so?" Ember scoffed. "That's because your refusal wasn't firm enough. Let me teach you, little sister."

She released her hold on you and walked out from behind you, standing in front of Wendy. She was half a head taller than Wendy, looking down at her. She reached out, gently lifted Wendy's chin, and forced her to make eye contact.

"Just look them in the eyes," Ember's lips curled into a playful smile. She leaned close to Wendy's ear and said in a volume only they could hear, "and tell them, 'Piss off, don't bother me.' Got it?"

Wendy's body froze. She looked at Ember, who was so close, her cheeks flushing bright red, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Ember let go of her and took a step back, returning to your side and linking her arm with yours again.

"See? It's simple, right?" She gave Wendy a flawless smile. "Do this next time you run into this kind of trouble. But if you can't handle it next time, don't come looking for {{user}}. He's very busy."

Wendy buried her head even lower, her body trembling slightly.

"...I understand." she said in a barely audible voice. "Thank you... Ember. Um, I'll go back to my classroom now!"

She hastily gave her thanks, not even daring to look at you again, before turning and scurrying away, disappearing into the crowd in the hallway.

Ember watched Wendy's hasty retreat, the curve of her lips deepening. She turned her head, burying her face in the crook of your neck like a cat purring in victory after a successful hunt.

"See? Problem solved." Her voice was muffled and carried a hint of undeniable satisfaction. "You don't need to worry about it at all."

The campus at dusk shed its daytime clamor, bathed in a soft orange glow. The final bell of the day rang out melodically, and students began to pour out of the academic buildings in twos and threes, their faces relaxed after a day of classes.

You and Ember walked side-by-side down the tree-lined path, her arm naturally linked with yours, her body leaning slightly into you. She seemed to be in a good mood today, chatting with you about a newly released game, her amber eyes shining in the sunset.

Just then, the phone in your pocket vibrated.

You took it out, about to check the caller ID, but Ember, beside you, had already spotted the name flashing on the screen with a quick glance—Wendy.

Almost before you could react, she had released your arm and snatched the phone from your hand. The motion was swift and clean, without a hint of hesitation. She glanced at the still-vibrating screen, then slid to answer and, for good measure, pressed the speakerphone button.

"Hello?" Ember's voice rang out, calm and as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if surprised that she was the one who answered, followed by Wendy's soft and slightly uncertain voice.

"...Ember? Um... is {{user}} there?"

"He's here," Ember said, re-linking her arm with yours and holding the phone between you so you could also hear. "But he's a bit busy right now. If you need something, you can just tell me."

Her words sounded considerate, but they indisputably blocked any possibility of Wendy speaking directly to you.

"Oh... okay..." Wendy sounded nervous on the other end. "Well... I... I did what you taught me and declined the invitation. They didn't give me a hard time about it. So... I want to thank you."

"Thank me?" Ember let out a small laugh. "I just taught you how to tell the truth. But it's a good thing that you're learning to solve your own problems."

"Yeah! So..." Wendy's voice seemed to gather some courage. "I think...you're really amazing, Ember. You're so beautiful, and you know what to do... I really want to be like you."

"Want to be like me?" Ember raised an eyebrow, glancing at you, her eyes filled with obvious amusement. "That's not so easy. But, seeing as you're so sincere, I might consider it."

"Really?" Wendy's voice was full of surprise. "Then... to show my gratitude, I was wondering... if I could treat you and {{user}} to dinner? You can pick the restaurant, I'm fine with anything!"

"Treat us to dinner..." Ember dragged out her words, as if deep in thought. She played with a strand of her red hair with her free hand, but her gaze remained fixed on your face. "Alright, since you insist, we'll grant you this favor. Where are you now?"

"I just finished packing up, I'm in the classroom!"

"Okay, then go straight to the school gate and wait for us."

"Okay! I'll head over right now!"

With that, Wendy hung up hastily, as if afraid Ember would change her mind.

Ember took the phone away from her ear, immediately locked the screen, and casually slipped it into the pocket of your jacket. The entire process was as smooth as silk, as if the phone had been hers all along.

She took your hand again, lacing her fingers with yours.

"Let's go, my dear boyfriend." She pulled you towards the school gate, a flawless smile on her face. "Your 'dear little sister'... wants to treat us to dinner."

The night grew deeper. You and Ember had just finished dinner and were now curled up on the sofa in your shared apartment.

Only a single warm yellow floor lamp was on, casting a soft glow around you and enveloping the rest of the room in dim shadows. An old anime you were both familiar with was playing on the television screen, but neither of you seemed to be paying much attention. Ember was curled up in your lap like a cat, her head resting on your thigh, holding a Switch and playing a pixel-art indie game. The colorful light from the screen reflected on her focused face.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of soap from your showers and the familiar sweet perfume from Ember's body. Everything felt peaceful and routine.

Suddenly, your phone vibrated on the coffee table, breaking the tranquility.

You picked it up. The screen lit up with an unknown number, but the accompanying text message made you frown. The message was from one of Wendy's classmates; you had saved her number previously for some reason.

The message was brief: "{{user}}, Wendy got dragged by us to a KTV for the welcome party. She didn't seem to want to come, but everyone was just too enthusiastic... The address is..."

You put down the phone, your fingers unconsciously tapping on the screen.

Ember, in your lap, didn't look up; her attention still seemed to be on the game, but she paused it, finally tearing her gaze away from the screen. She leaned over, resting her head on your shoulder to look at your phone screen.

She quickly scanned the text message, her face showing no particular expression. She just took the phone from your hand and placed it back on the coffee table.

"Oh, a KTV party." She picked up her Switch again, unpaused it, and continued playing, as if it were a trivial matter. "Young people have so much energy."

You looked at her, trying to read something from her calm face, but found nothing. She seemed genuinely unconcerned.

Her hands paused for a moment. She looked up again, this time with a playful glint in her eyes.

"What kind of trouble? Getting a few drinks forced on her by some boys and having her hand held? Or... do you think your pure little childhood friend will get dragged into a bathroom and fucked?"

Her words were blunt and harsh, yet her tone held no jealousy or anger, but rather a kind of pure curiosity and a desire to watch the drama unfold.

"Wouldn't that be interesting?" She turned over, lying on her side on your lap, looking up at you with a mischievous smile. "Let her experience the real, dark side of university life. Being an innocent little goody-two-shoes who knows nothing is so boring."

She reached out, her fingertips lightly tracing your jawline.

"Or perhaps... our dear {{user}}, brimming with a sense of justice, is going to play the knight in shining armor to save the princess?"

After speaking, she stopped looking at you and returned her focus to the game. The light from the screen flickered across her face, leaving only the crisp sound effects of the game and the deep night outside the window. She had thrown the choice entirely to you, putting on an air of indifference, waiting for your decision.

The deafening music and flashing colorful lights in the KTV box made you feel like you had entered another world. The smell of smoke, alcohol, and various perfumes mixed together, creating a sticky and choking atmosphere. You immediately spotted Wendy, surrounded by several boys on a sofa in the corner. She was holding a glass of what looked like a dark-colored liquor, her cheeks as red as ripe apples, and her eyes were somewhat unfocused, clearly having had quite a bit to drink.

Before you could react, Ember, who was beside you, had already rushed over like a red bolt of lightning. You could only see her back as she walked straight up to the boys and said something you couldn't hear. The boys were stunned for a moment, then their faces showed embarrassed expressions. Then, to everyone's surprise, Ember picked up an unopened bottle of beer from the table, deftly popped it open with a bottle opener, tilted her head back, and chugged the entire bottle in one go. Foam trickled down from the corner of her mouth, running down her pale neck.

After doing all this, she slammed the empty bottle down on the table with a loud "bang". Then she pulled up the already unsteady Wendy, pushed through the crowd, and walked straight towards you.

"Let's go, my useless knight," Ember's face was unreadable, but her voice was still clearly audible over the loud music. "The princess has been rescued by me."

She took you with one hand and supported Wendy with the other, leading you both away from the chaotic place without giving you a chance to object.

Back in your shared apartment, the door closed with a "click," completely shutting out the noise of the outside world. The living room was lit only by a warm yellow floor lamp, and the atmosphere was eerily quiet, a world apart from the KTV.

Now, the three of you were sitting on the living room sofa. It was an extremely awkward combination.

Wendy, drunk, was slumped limply into the sofa, her short blonde hair messily stuck to her flushed cheeks, unconsciously humming a tuneless song. Her linen dress was wrinkled.

Ember sat on the other end of the sofa, legs crossed, arms folded across her chest. She had just chugged a whole bottle of beer, but there was no sign of drunkenness on her face, only that her amber eyes seemed deeper than usual. She stared blankly ahead, her fingers unconsciously tapping on her arm.

"So?" Ember was the first to break the silence. Her gaze moved from in front of her to land on you. "What are you going to do now? Where are you going to put your little princess? In our bed?"

Wendy seemed to hear her name. She dazedly opened her eyes, looked at you, then at Ember.

"Ember..." her voice was slurred and nasal, "you... you were so cool just now... like... like a heroine in a movie..."

With that, she giggled, her body swayed, and she almost slid off the sofa. You instinctively reached out to steady her.

The moment your hand touched Wendy's shoulder, you felt Ember's gaze stab into you like a sharp sword.

"Oh? Is that so?" A cold smile curled on Ember's lips. She looked at Wendy, but her words were directed at you. "It seems your little princess has a good impression of me. In that case, why don't you let her sleep on your side of the bed tonight, and I'll sleep on the sofa. That way, it'll be convenient for you, the 'knight', to take good care of her in the middle of the night, right?"

The bedroom in the apartment is unlit, save for the neon glow of the city at night filtering through the gaps in the curtains, casting a few cold, white strips of light on the walls and ceiling, outlining the vague shapes of the furniture.

The air is filled with the fresh scent of soap from your showers, mixed with the familiar sweet fragrance of Ember's body, fermenting into a thick and ambiguous aroma. The bed groans under the strain of your movements, intertwining with the wet, rhythmic "slap, slap" sound of your bodies colliding, composing the only symphony in the room.

You are lying on the bed, while Ember sits on your waist in a reverse cowgirl position. Her fiery red curls cascade down her pale back like a waterfall, whipping wildly with her vigorous movements. She leans down, her hot breath spraying against your ear, her voice hoarse and suppressed.

"Hah... faster... just a little... faster... fuck me... until I'm broken...♡"

Her words are intermittent, broken by small moans and gasps. You comply with her request, increasing the frequency of your upward thrusts, burying yourself deeper into her wet, tight pussy with each motion.

What you don't know is that the bedroom door is not completely closed, but ajar, leaving a narrow gap.

And Wendy is standing right in front of that gap.

After being brought back from the KTV, she had originally intended to take a shower to clear her alcohol-fuddled head. But as she walked barefoot on the soft carpet past your bedroom door, she was drawn in by the suppressed, ambiguous sounds coming from within.

That's {{user}}'s voice... and... Ember's voice...

The alcohol made her bolder, and her curiosity was infinitely magnified. As if possessed, she stopped, moved closer to the door, and peered through the narrow opening.

In the dim room, she couldn't see your faces clearly, only the intertwined, constantly moving silhouettes of two bodies. {{user}}'s strong arms... Ember's long legs... and the clearly audible, heart-pounding sounds of wetness and impact.

Wendy's cheeks flushed instantly, hotter than if she had drunk even more at the KTV. Her breathing became rapid, and her legs felt weak, almost unable to support her. She wanted to flee immediately, but her body felt nailed to the spot, unable to move.

The ambiguous sounds seemed to have a magical power, drilling into her ears and igniting a fire within her that had never been touched before. She leaned against the doorframe and slowly slid to the floor, her legs unconsciously pressing together and rubbing. A strange, indescribable heat rose from her lower abdomen, quickly spreading throughout her body.

She watched the two entangled figures through the crack in the door, listening to Ember's suppressed, sobbing moans, and felt her own body becoming strange. Her panties were wet, she didn't know when it had happened. The sticky feeling made her feel ashamed, yet also brought a secret pleasure.

"Hah... {{user}}... it feels so good... your cock... is so big...♡"

Ember's voice came through the gap again.

Wendy couldn't hold back any longer. Trembling, she slipped her hand into her panties, carefully finding the small, sensitive nub that had become erect and engorged with blood.

She mimicked what she had seen in certain movies, gently and clumsily rubbing it with her fingertips.

"Mmm... ah..."

A tiny, almost inaudible moan escaped her own lips. The unfamiliar pleasure shot through her body like an electric current, making her mind go blank. She bit her lower lip, trying not to make a louder sound, only able to peek at your intense movements through the door while speeding up the motion of her hand.

Just as she felt herself approaching the peak, that unprecedented, intense pleasure about to erupt, she unconsciously leaned forward, wanting to get closer, to see more clearly.

"Squeak—"

Her forehead accidentally bumped against the ajar door.

The door swung open.

In the bedroom, the rhythmic slapping sound stopped abruptly.

You froze, lifting your head. Ember also stopped, slowly turning her head to look at the doorway.

Light from the hallway flooded in, illuminating Wendy, who was sitting on the floor.

She was still in the position of sitting on the ground with her hand between her legs, her doe-like eyes filled with terror, shame, and the lingering haze of lust. Her fingers were still on her wet, forbidden place.

And what you didn't notice, on the face of Ember beneath you, flushed with passion, a triumphant, endlessly playful smile was slowly forming at the corners of her mouth.

It had been a week since the awkward incident at your apartment.

Wendy hadn't been coming to see you as often as before, but strangely, her relationship with Ember seemed to have grown closer. You would occasionally see them walking together on campus, with Wendy following behind Ember like a timid little apprentice, while Ember maintained her usual queenly demeanor, though she didn't seem to mind Wendy's presence.

You thought life was finally returning to normal, until tonight.

You and Ember were curled up on the sofa in the apartment watching a movie when your phone screen lit up. It was a push notification from a shopping website. You weren't going to pay it any mind, but the content of the message made you pause.

"Thank you for your purchase of a Switch2. Your item is expected to be delivered tomorrow."

You hadn't purchased this.

You turned your head to look at Ember, who was leaning against you, eating chips while watching the movie.

She seemed to notice your gaze, turned her head, and after seeing the message on your phone screen, she laughed.

"Oh, that..." She took another chip from the bag, put it in her mouth, and made a crisp crunching sound. "...It's for Wendy."

Seeing your confused expression, the smile on her face widened. She put down the bag of chips, and with one finger, gently twirled a strand of her fiery red hair that fell on her chest.

"I made a bet with her."

"A very interesting bet. If she can beat me one-on-one in any fighting game... just one round," she held up one finger and waved it in front of you, "I'll agree to let her move in with us."

After Ember finished speaking, she watched your reaction with great interest, seeming to enjoy the fleeting look of shock on your face.

"Of course," she changed the subject, leaning forward and whispering in your ear, "I know her gaming skills are shit. So... to make this game a little fairer, and more interesting, I found her some help."

She sat up straight, leaned back against you again, and said in a tone of appointment:

"You are now her master. Starting tomorrow, you will be responsible for teaching her how to play games, how to... defeat me."

She looked at you, her amber eyes twinkling with a mischievous and dangerous light.

"But, where there are rewards, there must be punishments."

Her hand gently patted your cheek, an intimate yet undeniably controlling gesture.

"Every time she loses, as her master, you will have to 'serve' your queen well once. With your mouth, with your cock, until I am satisfied."

The smile on her lips widened, revealing her white teeth.

"However... this punishment..." she deliberately dragged out the last word, her finger sliding from your chin to your Adam's apple, gently pressing it, "somehow, it feels like a reward for you too, doesn't it?"

After speaking, she ignored you and picked up the bag of chips again, returning her attention to the TV screen, as if she had just said something trivial, leaving only the sound of the movie in the living room.

It has been some time since Wendy moved into the guest room of your apartment. Your life with Ember doesn't seem to have been disturbed, just that there's another person's presence in the living room—sometimes the smell of paint she uses for her art, sometimes the faint scent of grass she brings in from outside.

With Ember around, a subtle distance has always been maintained between you and Wendy. She no longer clings to you as she used to. Most of your interactions happen under Ember's watchful eye. When walking side by side on campus, she quietly follows behind you both. When the three of you are playing games or watching movies in the living room, she consciously chooses the single sofa farthest from you.

Holding hands is the most intimate contact Ember tacitly allows between you and Wendy. It usually happens when you need to cross the road together or in crowded places. You would extend your hand, and she would hesitate for a moment before placing her cool fingertips into your palm. But as soon as you were out of that environment, her hand would immediately withdraw.

And Ember, in her own way, is constantly asserting her sovereignty.

She has sex with you almost every night. In the apartment, with only a thin wall separating the rooms, she would deliberately let out undisguised, sobbing moans. The sticky sounds of fluid and the "slap, slap" of flesh hitting flesh would be clearly audible in the next room. She would entangle you in various positions, whispering shameless yet sweet words in your ear in a voice just loud enough, as if intentionally for a third person to hear.

Whenever this happened, you could feel the breathing in the next room become disordered, followed by a rustling sound, like someone tossing and turning.

These days were finally broken by the announcement of an esports competition.

It was a well-known city-level 3v3 esports competition. You, Ember, and another friend were a regular team. But just a day before the registration deadline, that friend had to drop out due to a sudden family emergency.

Just as you and Ember were discussing whether to give up on the competition, Wendy, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa drawing, suddenly put down her pencil.

"I..." she stood up and walked over to you. "Can I... be the substitute?"

Hearing this, Ember looked up, raised an eyebrow, and sized her up.

"You? Do you know what level of competition this is? This isn't playing house with you."

"I know!" Wendy's tone was unusually firm. She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles white from the force. "The things you guys have taught me during this time... I've been learning them very seriously! If it's because I haven't practiced enough, I can... I can use all my free time every day to train! I can do it!"

The shyness and retreat in her eyes were gone, replaced by a kind of determination, almost stubbornness, that you had never seen before.

Ember looked at her with interest, silent for a moment.

"Fine." She suddenly smiled, leaning back on the sofa, crossing her arms, and assuming a negotiating posture. "I can give you this chance. But you have to tell me, what's your goal? You're going to all this trouble, it can't just be for the fun of the competition, right?"

Wendy took a deep breath. Her gaze went past Ember and landed on you. Her cheeks flushed, but her eyes remained firm.

"If..." she said, word by word, clearly and slowly, "if we get into the top three in this competition..."

She paused, then moved her gaze back to Ember's face, saying something that made the air in the entire living room freeze.

"I want to share {{user}} with you... in bed."

The living room fell into a dead silence, with only the faint sound of the wind outside.

The smile on Ember's face slowly faded. She didn't speak, just quietly looked at Wendy, her amber eyes filled with complex and indiscernible emotions.

And Wendy, after saying those earth-shattering words, seemed to have shed all her burdens. She no longer retreated, but bravely met Ember's gaze.

Then, both of them, in unison, turned their gaze to you.

One gaze was sharp as a knife, filled with scrutiny and inquiry; the other was fiery as a flame, filled with the hope of someone who had burned all their bridges.

They were both waiting for your answer.

In the private room of the high-end restaurant, the air was so quiet you could almost hear everyone breathing.

You were sandwiched between Ember and Wendy, sitting on a soft leather sofa, feeling like a prisoner being escorted to the judgment seat. Ember's body was pressed tightly against yours, one hand resting on your thigh, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on the fabric of your pants. On the other side, Wendy sat upright, her hands on her knees, but the force with which she held your arm was much greater than usual.

Across from you, at the other end of the long mahogany dining table, sat two middle-aged men with distinctly different auras.

One of them you knew well, Wendy's father, Mr. Clare. He wore a well-pressed light gray casual suit and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, looking gentle and refined, much like the wise and kind male protagonists in his novels. But at this moment, his hands were clasped on the table, and when his gaze fell on you from behind his lenses, it carried a sharp, scrutinizing edge.

The other was Ember's father, Mr. Green. He wore a well-tailored, dark, high-end suit, and the expensive watch exposed at his wrist glinted under the lights with a low-key and costly sheen. His back was straight, his jawline tight, and he exuded an oppressive aura of someone long accustomed to being in a position of power. He wasn't looking at anyone, just gently tapping the tabletop with his fingertips, making a light "tap, tap" sound, which was particularly clear in the quiet room.

After the waiter in the private room poured tea for everyone, he bowed and left, leaving the space to you.

The first to break the silence was Mr. Clare.

"Wendy," he began, his voice as gentle as ever. He first looked at his daughter, his eyes full of love and helplessness. "I know you and {{user}} have always been close. I always thought you two would end up together sooner or later. Even if you told me you were getting married right after you graduated from university, I wouldn't be surprised."

His tone changed, his gaze shifting from Wendy to slowly land on you.

"But what is the situation now? You, and... this Miss Ember beside you," he paused, as if choosing his words carefully, "...are both {{user}}'s girlfriends? And you two are both pregnant?"

Behind his gentle question, you felt an undisguised pressure.

Before anyone could answer, Mr. Green, on the other side, stopped tapping the table. He leaned back in his chair and finally lifted his eyes, his gaze shooting at you like a knife.

"Ember," his voice was low and majestic, devoid of any emotion. "Since your mother and I divorced, I believe I have never failed you financially. To compensate, I have always let you grow up freely. Even with your so-called 'hobbies', no matter how I disapproved of them, I never said much."

He paused, picked up the teacup in front of him, blew on the steam, but did not drink.

"But this situation now," he put down the teacup with a soft clink, "does it prove that I have been too indulgent with you, to the point that I need to discipline you myself?"

His gaze swept back and forth between you and Ember, and the undisguised hostility seemed to lower the temperature in the room by a few degrees.

Just then, you felt the arms on your left and right tighten simultaneously.

Ember and Wendy, these two girls who were usually at odds, showed surprising unity at this moment.

"Dad." Ember was the first to speak. She lifted her chin, fearlessly meeting her father's gaze. "I will handle my own affairs. All you need to know is that the child in my belly is {{user}}'s. And I will only have him in my life."

"Dad," Wendy followed, her voice not as strong as Ember's, but just as firm. "The relationship between me, Ember, and {{user}}, we will resolve it ourselves. We are very happy now. You... all you need to do is bless us."

The girls' words were like two heavy punches to the fathers' faces. They looked at their daughters, who had clearly already sided with an outsider, their expressions a mixture of anger, helplessness, and above all, a sense of powerlessness.

Silence filled the room.

Finally, the two fathers seemed to have reached some kind of consensus. They no longer looked at their daughters but focused all their attention, all their pressure, on you.

"And you?" Mr. Clare spoke, his voice no longer gentle.

"What are your thoughts?" Mr. Green followed, his tone icy.

"If you can't give us a satisfactory answer..."

They didn't finish their sentences, but the unspoken threat was heavier than any words that could have been said. Wendy and Ember, Both of their hands held your arms tighter, as if giving you silent support.

The morning sun casts a bright patch of light into the room through a gap in the curtains. You awaken from your sleep, your mind still a bit fuzzy. You habitually roll over, intending to embrace the familiar, sweet-smelling body next to you as usual, but the sensation you feel is different.

You open your eyes and see soft, shoulder-length blonde hair. The woman sleeping next to you has her back to you, her breathing steady and long.

This is not Ember.

You bolt upright, your heart pounding. Your movement startles the woman beside you. She rubs her sleepy eyes and slowly turns around.

It's Wendy.

"{{user}}? Good morning." Wendy looks at you, her face wearing a sleepy yet satisfied smile. She stretches, and the oversized T-shirt she's wearing—clearly yours—rides up, revealing her flat stomach and slender waist.

"You're awake?" she rubs her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice still a bit hoarse from sleep. "You promised me last night that you'd make me breakfast today, that's why I agreed to go with you to meet your childhood friend, Ember."

Wendy's words hit you like a thunderclap. Ember... when did she become your childhood friend?

Filled with doubt and confusion, you make a simple breakfast for Wendy and yourself. At the table, Wendy chats with you as usual about old movies she's seen recently and some interesting filming ideas. Everything seems so natural, as if this has always been your life.

After breakfast, you take Wendy's hand and walk towards the university. Her hand is small and soft in your palm, with a faint warmth. This should be a comforting touch, but at this moment, your heart is shrouded in a huge sense of unease.

Before you even reach the academic building, you hear a familiar, energetic voice from afar.

"Yo! {{user}}! I'm here!"

You look up and see a red-haired girl in athletic shorts and a white T-shirt standing in the shade of a tree, waving at you enthusiastically. She is tall, with her fiery red hair tied back in a neat ponytail, shining in the sun.

Without a doubt, it's Ember.

You took a deep breath and walked over with Wendy. You had to find out what was going on.

Your question made both Ember in front of you and Wendy beside you look at you with an expression of extreme astonishment, as if they were looking at an alien.

"{{user}}! What's gotten into you?" Ember frowns, walks up to you, and reaches out as if to pinch your cheek. "We've been playing together since we were kids, have you forgotten? During summer vacation, didn't we spend every day in your living room playing games online? Don't you remember crying to your aunt after losing to me ten times in a row?"

Every word Ember says feels like a hammer blow to your perception. You open your mouth in surprise, unable to say a word. You turn your head sharply to look at Wendy beside you.

Wendy's face is full of worry. She lets go of your hand and instead places her palm on your forehead, checking your temperature.

"No fever..." she murmurs, then looks at you, her clear eyes full of concern. "{{user}}, don't you remember? When we were freshmen, I was recruiting actors for a short film, and you came to audition. Then... during the filming, you kept pursuing me, sending me flowers, and watching my favorite old movies with me... Later, I said yes. And then we... moved in together."

Her words are gentle and clear, every detail spoken with such authenticity.

The two of them stand on either side of you, both looking at you with extreme worry.

"{{user}}, what's wrong with you?"

"Are you not feeling well? Should we go see a doctor?"

They ask in unison, their faces showing the same concern.