Der Bösewicht ist in Wirklichkeit mein Bruder

Kapitel 1

He died in 2019. (Chapter 1)

On the last day of 2019, Qi Yi'an, as usual, carried her laptop to the library to work on her thesis. University finals are always said to be tough once you get through them. But she couldn't keep going after just one line. She felt unwell when she woke up that morning, and now she was chilled and her muscles ached. Accompanied by waves of headache and dizziness, she fell asleep on a chair in the library.

Cold…so cold…the chill seeped into her very blood, making her feel as if she were back in her southern hometown winter, even in the warmth of the northern heating. Her memories after that were hazy. She vaguely remembered struggling to get up, staggering to the school hospital, shivering as she waited in line against the doorframe of the examination room for blood tests.

The doctor said she didn't have any major problems and didn't have a fever, only 37.3°C. He didn't understand why she was feeling so unwell.

Zou Yibei rushed to the hospital and helped her to the senior year's end-of-year meeting... Finally, she seemed to get back to her dorm and covered herself with all her clothes and blankets...

Still cold... Even though she was sweating, she was still bone-chillingly cold. The fever wouldn't go down, she coughed, and then she started having difficulty breathing. She would often gasp for air and then feel suffocated, her throat tearing with pain, and she would involuntarily cough up gas.

Fortunately, her survival instincts kept her waking up from time to time; she would sit up, gasp for breath, drink water, and then collapse again… The night felt like an eternity. Qi Yi'an thought, "I'll probably just die like this…"

"Qi Yi'an, 20 years old, died of a cold in 2019." Qi Yi'an imagined it with his remaining consciousness.

That would be hilarious; to think they wouldn't even live to 2020 is pathetic.

…And then…the world is fantastical, nothing is real…

"Little one, what are you thinking about?" The woman laughed through the wind, her long, soft, black hair slightly ruffled. Qi Yi'an, delirious with fever, wanted to reach out and tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He was too weak to lift his hand; the blanket was too thick… It was just a hallucination…

…

The next day, Qi Yi'an still lived to 2020.

But these points in time seemed meaningless; in the days that followed, she remained severely ill. During the day, when she was lucid, she suffered from severe diarrhea and could barely ingest anything other than water. Her mouth was also severely inflamed and swollen, making eating difficult. The illness was draining her body; her consciousness oscillated between reality and hallucinations, often plunging her into alternating hot and cold darkness.

A month later, the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in China. Qi Yi'an was so ill that she couldn't remember what was happening in the world, nor how she recovered. She learned from Weibo that tens of thousands of people had been infected with the unknown virus, and everyone was on edge, but she miraculously recovered slowly, feeling a sense of relief as if she had survived a catastrophe. Many days later, she got out of bed, lifted the hem of her pajamas, and looked at her pale face and protruding ribs in the mirror. At least she was still alive.

Many years later, when she looked back on 2020, she only felt that she was too young at the time and was glad that she had made her decision too early and too easily.

…

On the last day of 2019, Qin Ruoshui finished her work and went to a business-themed New Year's Eve party. Amidst the clinking of glasses and laughter, people waited for the New Year's fireworks on the terrace. Suddenly, a guest's wine glass shattered, and shards flew and embedded themselves in her ankle. The wound was deep, and blood flowed rapidly. Although it hurt, she didn't think it was a big deal; she was just unlucky.

Everyone present panicked, shouting, "Oh no, get Miss Qin to the hospital right away, quick, quick, quick!"

She was helped into the back seat of the car. Looking down, she saw that her ankle was still bleeding profusely. She had drunk quite a bit that evening while meeting with clients and was starting to feel dizzy. An English announcement was playing in the car: "...the coronavirus outbreak in China..."

Outside the car window, New Year's fireworks had already begun, a riot of colors bursting across the night sky, flickering and fading. The city had just been cleaned from rain, the air still humid, and the smoke from the fireworks filled the night. The blurry, flickering light shone through the car window onto Qin Ruoshui's face; leaning against the window, she drifted into a deep sleep amidst the shaking and swaying…

She didn't know how much time had passed, but it seemed she was in a hospital room, surrounded by white sheets, nurses and doctors in their white and blue uniforms, and swaying lights. Someone was hurriedly explaining the treatment procedures, as if surgery was about to begin. The doctor asked her questions to confirm her consciousness, and her girlfriend, Lin Miao'er, held her hand, her voice trembling slightly, and said, "It's okay, it'll just be a minor surgery. I'll wait for you outside..."

Qin Ruoshui closed her eyes again, feeling drowsy. In her weak consciousness, she thought, "Is it really that big of a deal? It's just a minor injury."

"Qin Ruoshui, 32 years old, died in 2019...from a wine glass explosion." This sentence popped into her remaining consciousness, and she found it funny.

But so be it, since being alive doesn't really feel real anyway. For example, right now, she fell asleep again before she could even feel the pain.

…and then later…she seemed to…

In the dappled light of the crowd, a pretty young girl smiled brightly at her. Though somewhat bewildered, she found herself unconsciously smiling back. The girl wore glasses, and Qin Ruoshui reached out to remove them so she could see the girl's features clearly through the lenses.

I raised my hand, but felt a sharp pain on the back of it… a needle? An IV drip? …Was it all a dream…?

…

Qin Ruoshui seemed to have slept for a long time, and somehow it all ended up in 2020. She didn't remember how she woke up or how she got home from the hospital. The TV was broadcasting news about the global outbreak of the coronavirus, and everyone was self-isolating at home. Unfortunately, her injuries hadn't fully healed, so she couldn't move around.

Life continued in its dull and uneventful way, except that her stocks had plummeted by forty percent. Was she on the verge of bankruptcy?

She was quite excited, finally feeling like she was living in the present. She felt satisfied with this sudden sense of historical participation, haha, isn't that a bit antisocial, getting excited about a major disaster…

Even many years later, when she looks back, she still feels an indescribable sense of nostalgia and longing for that time.

Perhaps it was from that time that she began to truly feel alive. It's strange.

…

A light rain had just passed, and L City remained overcast as usual, with distinct layers of gray clouds drifting in the wind. Qi Yi'an had been on exchange at this university for almost a month, and finally, Zou Yibei dragged him out for a stroll around the city.

Qi Yi'an's long-term anxiety about his thesis, coupled with L City's typical rainy weather, made living alone in a foreign country a little depressing. "Alright, forget about your thesis, it's academic garbage whether you write it or not," Zou Yibei yelled, "Instead of struggling so desperately with it, let's check out a bar together!"

Qi Yi'an raised an eyebrow and looked at the person beside her. She was the one who said to live in the moment, and she was also the one who stubbornly grappled with abstract concepts and logic. Every now and then, she felt like Zou Yibei was leading her down the path of paranoia and borderline personality disorder—how dangerous…

Right now, Zou Yibei is taking her to inspect the lesbian bars in the S district of L city. The S district is a famous area with many nightclubs and bars, where the city's night is just beginning.

"Zou Yibei, aren't you asexual?"

"No, it can't be defined like that. My feelings for Chihiro are purely emotional support, bringing me joy without any real troubles. It's not pure friendship, nor is it romantic love; it's a simulation of an ideal..."

It must be said that Zou Yibei's symptoms differ from those of a mental illness in that her logic and theories are self-contained, stable, and consistent. Qi Yi'an regrets mentioning her emotional issues; it's a black hole. Zou Yibei will pull you into her strange world of thought, using her skillful and complete thought system to make you increasingly confused.

If you delve too deeply into it, you'll go crazy.

Qi Yi'an habitually used the openness of his brain, directly outputting the text that Zou Yibei had typed without processing, letting it dissipate into the bustling night of S District. After accompanying her wandering from morning till night, his brain's information receivers were already saturated.

When he finally reached the bar entrance, Qi Yi'an thought he might have really lost his mind.

Growing up in a scholarly family, Qi Yi'an, who always studied hard and strived for excellence, was always considered an elder among his peers. He didn't gossip, didn't follow celebrities, didn't read online novels, maintained a regular schedule, exercised regularly, was very health-conscious, didn't smoke or drink, and had lofty ideals. Even though such a life didn't feel real to him.

Such a fine socialist youth was daydreaming in front of a lesbian bar in the middle of the night.

I chickened out.

Zou Yibei found her expression amusing and, without giving her a chance to escape, shoved her inside with a forceful wave of his hand. The bar was mainly underground. After verifying their ages and paying the entrance fee at the entrance, the two descended a narrow staircase. They could see the shimmering, wine-red lights below, and the air, vibrating with the music, gradually filled their senses.

Qi Yi'an wasn't used to such noise; she adjusted her glasses.

Let's just treat it as a sociological field study...

…

Everything was clear after the rain. Qin Ruoshui was nestled in the bay window on the second floor, reading a book and getting sleepy before going to bed, when Tang Yu started calling her nonstop to invite her out.

"Xiao Ruo, waaaah, come out and drink with me... I, hiccup, she waaaah, she lied to me again..." Tang Yu cried breathlessly on the other end of the line.

Qin Ruoshui was used to it and came again.

Tang Yu's awful girlfriend must have done something terrible again. Even now, Tang Yu still won't break up with her; I just don't understand her thought process. But hearing her cry so pitifully, Qin Ruoshui picked up her clothes and prepared to go out.

"Where are you?"

"I knew you were the best! I'll be waiting for you at S Bar in S District." Without further ado, Tang Yu continued to pour himself a drink.

After hanging up the phone, Qin Ruoshui recalled that Lin Miaoer had not appeared since she was injured and had surgery during the New Year.

Of course, she didn't take the initiative to contact them.

That person, or rather, feelings, were always something she could take or leave. If you didn't come, I wouldn't go; it didn't matter to her. People came and went, and she never really paid them any attention. They would gather when the mood was right and leave when the mood was gone. She could have sex with them, but she wouldn't stay with them.

She's been recuperating at home alone these days, enjoying herself. She doesn't feel empty, just a little bored; she hasn't gone out to play in a long time.

Tonight is perfect.

Chapter 2 The People in Dreams.

The next day, Qi Yi'an woke up in Qin Ruoshui's bed.

Zou Yibei made six calls before finally getting a response on the seventh. She launched into a rapid-fire barrage: "Qi Yi'an, where are you? Are you safe? Are you alright? How are things? Did anything happen? Did you enjoy... last night... how was the experience?..."

Qi Yi'an felt dizzy. Was this what they called a "hangover"? She felt as bad as a slipper.

"Uh...ah?...Uh..." Before she could even organize her thoughts, Qin Ruoshui, who had also woken up a bit, asked in a sweet voice from the side:

"Hmm?...What's wrong, baby..."

The slightly husky, languid, mature female voice instantly startled the children on both ends of the phone.

Zou Yibei was instantly petrified after the shock: "???"

Qi Yi'an's whole body went limp... Uh... baby...

As she stood there stunned, Qin Ruoshui stepped forward and pulled her into her arms from behind, softly murmuring, "...Hmm...sleep a little longer," while casually placing the phone in Qi Yi'an's hand aside.

But the call hadn't ended yet... Qi Yi'an thought, and reached out to chase after him.

Her hand, which was in mid-air, was immediately filled by another soft, white hand, their fingers intertwined. Qin Ruoshui hugged her even tighter…

"good…"

But… the phone… The next second, Qi Yi'an's mind went blank. Ignoring everything else, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the woman's warmth…

Is this what they call... a haven of gentle comfort?

…

Zou Yibei, a forgotten third wheel, felt the overwhelming lemon scent even through the phone.

After a long pause, she hung up the phone on her own, stared blankly for a while, and finally remembered to scream.

Aa ...

Qi...! Qi Yi'an?! The old cadre, the virgin Qi Yi'an?! Is this something she would do?!

Zou Yibei's text is garbled.

…

Last night, the crowd at S Bar was even more crowded and noisy than Qi Yi'an had imagined. Zou Yibei walked ahead, pushing and shoving, and was quickly swallowed up by the crowd and disappeared. Qi Yi'an was completely bewildered. Amidst the sounds and sights, his pupils struggled to focus.

She opened her eyes wide to discern the colors and people around her. Looking around, she saw so many women, and these women all seemed to be attracted to other women; the atmosphere was ambiguous—something she'd never seen before. The unfamiliar surroundings made her slightly timid.

But there's no denying that from the moment I stepped off, my heart was pounding with excitement!

Has this awakened a repressed, brooding spirit?

Qi Yi'an couldn't help but laugh, taking a step forward while looking around and chuckling to himself.

Amidst the flickering lights and deafening music, several pairs of women kissed, oblivious to their surroundings. Short-haired and long-haired women entwined, swaying and dancing passionately on the dance floor. Women of different skin colors embraced and kissed, their hands tracing the curves of each other's bodies. Women with exquisite makeup, drinking and chatting, cast enigmatic glances at her as she passed by… Qi Yi'an observed their expressions and postures closely, like a long shot in a film, revolving around each and every one of them.

Qi Yi'an knew she probably didn't fit in; she wasn't wearing makeup and was dressed simply in a black shirt and jeans. But she didn't care much. This interesting sociological observation was like visiting a zoo—it was fascinating. She only felt awkward when she occasionally met the stares directed at her… Compared to them, she was still a complete novice…

Women who frequent places like this... must be really good in that area...

It's like accidentally wandering into a predator's territory; a child like her could easily be devoured. She's at least aware of that.

Zou Yibei suddenly reappeared, shoving a glass of gin and tonic into her hand. "Come on, our little An'an, have a drink to calm your nerves..."

"Huh?" Qi Yi'an's expression surprised her. She thought Qi Yi'an would shrink into a ball timidly, but now she was... full of academic enthusiasm.

"Hey, Qi Yi'an, are you alright?"

"Hmm?" Qi Yi'an took a sip of her drink and frowned. She rarely drank because she felt her kidneys weren't very healthy.