Brian Ford watched as Emily Carter's family of three played and joked around, making for a lively scene. Thinking of his own home, with its four bedrooms and two living rooms but only himself living there, it felt overwhelmingly large. Suddenly, he found himself missing his mom and dad.

This meal didn’t taste very good either; the fragrant braised pork felt like chewing wax in his mouth.

※※※

The place where Brian Ford and Emily Carter's families lived was an old alley in the city—literally called “Old Alley.” On both sides of this narrow street stood many old houses that had existed since before the Liberation. Only the “natives” and “original residents” of the city could live here. At the entrance of the alley stood a bluestone archway covered in climbing ivy, with the three red characters for “Old Alley” already faded and mottled, a testament to its long history. According to the elderly who lived in the alley, it had existed since the Qing Dynasty. Brian Ford once had the idea of chiseling off a brick from the archway to sell as an antique, but after being criticized and educated by Emily Carter, he gave up on the idea. He realized that national relics must be protected—even a single brick from a relic must not be touched!

But sometimes he wondered, since the whole alley was a protected relic, what did it mean that the residents inside were drilling holes and renovating their houses?

After finishing the meal and saying goodbye at Emily Carter's house, Brian Ford finally returned to his own lifeless home. Brian Ford's house and Emily Carter's house were in the same courtyard; after stepping out of her house and turning right, it was just a few steps to his. The house looked ordinary from the outside, with blue-tiled roofs, but the inside was anything but simple.

Four bedrooms and two living rooms, with a small step between the two living rooms, creating a split-level and extended space, making the house look even bigger. But Brian Ford really disliked this house because it was too big.

For a house with only one person living in it, it was simply too large. He had to hire a cleaning service to do the housework; if he really tried to do it all himself, he’d probably spend the whole day locked in battle with dust.

He changed into slippers and turned on every light he could, including those in the kitchen and bathroom. Only then did he walk into his room, toss his backpack aside, and lie on the bed staring at the ceiling in a daze.

During dinner, Emily Carter had complained that he rarely came over to her house anymore, and would rather eat instant noodles by himself. But did she know why he didn’t go? It was because seeing that kind of happy family scene always reminded him of his parents, who were always traveling the world but never came home.

Brian Ford continued to stare at the ceiling, then suddenly remembered that today he had borrowed an 18+ manga from David Clark. He had begged for two whole class periods to get it, and David Clark had only grudgingly lent it to him for one night.

He rolled over, took the manga out of his backpack, and lay back on the bed, reading with great interest.

“Click…”

A very faint sound made Brian Ford tense up. His hand froze in midair, and he listened carefully to locate the source of the sound. Could it be Emily Carter? There was no sound from the door, so probably not…

“Click…”

Another sound. This made Brian Ford even more nervous, and he thought of ghosts. In such a big house, there were places he rarely went—could there be a ghost hiding inside? The thought made him scared. He sat up and shouted loudly, “Who’s there? Come out!” hoping to give himself some courage.

As soon as he finished speaking—boom!

Brian Ford felt something suddenly press down hard on him, his body hitting the bed. His vision went black, and in that instant, he saw nothing.

Then something warm and soft blocked his mouth. It was a feeling he couldn’t describe—salty, wet, and very hot.

Brian Ford reacted instantly, reflexively jumping up from the bed, throwing off whatever was pressing on him, and leaping to the floor. “W-what is that…” He looked at the bed in panic, and what he saw completely terrified him.

He saw a person—a person lying on his bed. What made Brian Ford feel horrified was… it was a strange boy. Yes! A boy, not the kind of stunning girl often seen in manga and novels, not naked, not seductive, but a well-built boy…

Brian Ford could almost hear something shattering in his mind.

“Ah—!!” He screamed without restraint, sounding utterly miserable.

On a certain year, month, and day, the first kiss of fifteen-year-old Brian Ford was taken just like that.

※※※

Emily Carter was carrying her books as usual to help Brian Ford with his homework, but as she approached the door, she vaguely heard a scream from Brian Ford's room. Startled, she reached out to knock, then remembered she had a key, hurriedly opened the door, and rushed in.

“What happened?” Emily Carter stood protectively in front of Brian Ford, then she too was shocked.

A strangely dressed boy was lying on Brian Ford's bed, looking at them a bit helplessly.

“Where did he come from?” Emily Carter quickly regained her composure and pointed at the boy, asking Brian Ford behind her.

Brian Ford covered his mouth and pointed at the ceiling.