You’re Still A Little Kid

"I-I can go in by myself, you really don't need to come with me!" Yang Zhizun stammered, standing nervously outside the bathroom door.

"W-What? You don't want me to go with you?" Yang Yuzun exclaimed, her eyes wide in exaggerated shock. She crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently as she looked at her little brother, who was shifting nervously.

"Yes! I'm big enough now! I can do it all on my own!" Zhizun declared, puffing out his chest in what he probably thought was a mature stance, though it made him look more like a proud little rooster.

Yuzun couldn't help but chuckle at his attempt to act grown-up. Sure, he was trying, but to her, he was still that tiny bundle she had spent years caring for. Time sure flies, she thought, fondly watching her little brother trying to be brave. Yesterday he had been crying his eyes out, and now, suddenly, he was trying to act like a miniature adult.

'Fufufu, my dear Zhi'er, you are still too young to outsmart me,' Yuzun mused, her mind whirling with plans to tease him. How can I let you off so easily when you're my main source of entertainment?

With a dramatic sigh, she shifted to a look of fake astonishment. "Wait, wait, wait—so you're saying you don't need your big sister anymore? Are you telling me I've been a burden this whole time?"

Zhizun's eyes widened, his face paling at the sudden twist. "N-No! That's not what I meant! I was just thinking—um, that you're so busy with other things, and I didn't want to trouble you with such small stuff—like bathing." His voice was frantic, clearly scrambling to fix the misunderstanding.

Yuzun turned her back to him, hiding her face in her hands. "I see… so you don't need me anymore. You're too grown-up now, huh?" she sniffled, making exaggerated crying noises that echoed through the hallway. Sniff Sniff "All these years… wasted!"

Behind her hands, a mischievous smile tugged at her lips, but she made sure to keep her back turned so he couldn't see it. The poor boy was panicking, his heart practically visible in his eyes.

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" Zhizun said, his voice shaking. He looked so guilty that for a moment, Yuzun almost felt bad for teasing him—almost.

Before she could stop herself, she peeked through her fingers to catch a glimpse of his distressed expression. Oops, maybe I've gone too far this time, she thought, fighting the urge to laugh. But just as she was about to break character and tell him she was only joking, Zhizun rushed up to her, wrapping his short arms awkwardly around her waist.

"I'm so sorry, big sister!" he cried, his voice muffled as he buried his face in her thighs. "I didn't mean to make you sad! I promise I'll never leave you!"

Yuzun blinked. Oh no, he's really serious now. She let out a small sigh, crouching down to his level and gently lifting his chin so he could see her smile. "Hey, hey, it's alright, Zhi'er. I was just joking! You don't need to apologize."

But Zhizun wasn't convinced. His eyes darted around nervously. "You were… joking?"

"Of course! Look, I'm smiling, right?" she said, beaming brightly at him. But to him, her smile looked like one of those fake ones adults make when they're hiding their true feelings.

His mind raced, replaying all the moments from his previous life where he had seen adults pretend to be fine when they really weren't. 'Oh no, she's definitely hiding it,' he concluded.

"I… I will never leave you!" he repeated, this time hugging her even tighter. His tiny arms wrapped around her neck as he pulled her in, his face full of determination.

Yuzun's heart melted for a second before she blinked in surprise. 'Wait, what? Where did this intense loyalty come from?' She could feel her teasing had gone too far, but it was so endearing that she couldn't help but enjoy it.

Still holding him, she decided to change the topic. "Alright, little guy. Since you're such a big boy now, why don't you go inside? I'll be right here if you need me."

Zhizun froze, his face turning red. He let go of her and turned his back, mumbling something under his breath.

"Huh? What did you say?" Yuzun asked, tilting her head.

"I-I said you… you can come in if you want!" Zhizun's voice was so soft it was barely audible, his face glowing as red as a tomato.

Yuzun blinked, and then burst out laughing. "Oh, Zhi'er! Are you actually inviting me? How sweet of you!"

Zhizun felt like the ground could open up and swallow him whole. 'Why did I say that? Why did I say that?' he screamed internally.

Before he could rethink his life choices, Yuzun was already guiding him toward the bathroom. "Alright, alright, no need to be shy now. Let's get you cleaned up, okay?"

He barely registered what was happening before he found himself standing in the bathroom, shirt half-off, Yuzun grinning as she tugged at his clothes. "Come on, Zhi'er. You said I could join, didn't you?" she teased, flashing him a playful wink.

Zhizun's blush deepened. "I-I didn't mean it like that!" he stuttered, trying to cover himself as Yuzun pulled off the rest of his clothes.

"Relax, you're still a little kid," she said, ruffling his hair. "Besides, I've seen everything before, haven't I?"

"Aaahh, stop teasing me!" he cried, his face now fully red as he tried to hide behind his tiny hands.

Yuzun chuckled as she handed him a small towel. "Here, use this. You can cover your important parts. But don't worry, little Zhi'er, I'll make sure you're all squeaky clean!"

She proceeded to hum as she filled the tub, all the while Zhizun stood there, mortified, covering his face. How did this happen to me?

Later, in the bedroom, Zhizun was lying in Yuzun's arms, his face still flushed from the earlier ordeal. He stared up at her, not really knowing what to say.

"Something on your mind, Zhi'er? You've been staring at me for a while now." Yuzun opened her eyes, looking down at him with a raised eyebrow.

"N-Nothing, I was just… you're really pretty," Zhizun blurted out, his mind blank as he desperately searched for a way to change the topic.

Yuzun blinked, then smirked. "Oh? So I'm pretty, am I? Well, then, listen to this pretty sister of yours and go to sleep."

"Yes, ma'am," Zhizun muttered, quickly closing his eyes, determined to forget the whole day had ever happened.