5: Chapter 5 Brothers First

"I do."

Three words, clear and calm, yet carrying the power of a thunderclap.

It instantly blew everyone's minds around the campfire.

The girls looked at the girl who spoke with a mix of surprise and admiration.

Qi Yun also abruptly raised his head, looking at the source of the voice in disbelief.

Bai Yu stood there quietly, still wearing that calm, ripple-free expression.

It was as if that earth-shattering "I do" from just a moment ago was as simple as answering "What's for dinner tonight?"

"Bai Yu, you..."

Ke Yun spoke up; as a teacher, she instinctively wanted to stop her.

"Do you know what this means? You... don't have to force yourself."

Bai Yu tilted her head slightly and looked at Ke Yun, a hint of pure confusion appearing in her clear eyes.

"Mating behavior and its physiological and psychological effects."

"It is one of the preset topics on my personal research list."

"Now, this experiment can change my career, help the Tribe obtain rewards, and increase the Tribe's survival rate. This is a very good opportunity."

"Most importantly, Qi Yun is a very good experimental subject, and I am very satisfied with this."

That girl who usually lacked expression now revealed a faint smile, stunning everyone present.

Even Qi Yun was a bit dazed watching her; Bai Yu looked so beautiful when she smiled.

"Thief."

Shu Qianxue lowered her head and muttered, feeling a wave of loss in her heart, as if something important had been stolen.

Bai Yu, however, did not care about anyone's gaze or reaction.

She took a step and walked straight toward Qi Yun, who was on the other side of the campfire.

Her pace was steady, her target clear.

The campfire cast warm and ambiguous shadows on her fair face.

She stopped in front of Qi Yun, and then, under the breathless gaze of everyone, she lightly stood on her tiptoes.

Qi Yun's brain went "buzz" and instantly went blank.

The sound of waves, the wind, the gasps of others—all disappeared from Qi Yun's mind.

Only the unique, faint fragrance of the girl, which had suddenly drawn near, remained.

Along with the strange and soft sensation on his lips.

While Qi Yun was completely frozen, forgetting even to close his eyes.

Bai Yu had already pulled back, her heels landing on the ground, as if she had just completed a standard operating procedure.

"I have researched some materials; kissing is required before mating. I hope I didn't make a mistake, Qi Bao."

Bai Yu lightly pursed her lips, as if tasting or analyzing.

Then she nodded and summarized in that calm, emotionless tone:

"Data shows that when humans kiss, they secrete endorphins and dopamine, producing a sense of pleasure. Preliminary verification: the softness and moisture of the lips meet expectations."

"Qi Yun, your reaction time was slightly long. You may lack relevant experience, or your stress response speed to sudden situations needs improvement. This needs to be recorded."

Watching this scene, Shu Qianxue forgot her sense of loss; her eyes went wide, and her fingers clenched tightly.

Chen Xiaolin's mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg; after a long while, she managed to squeeze out, "Holy... crap... she actually dared..."

The other girls had varied expressions; some covered their mouths, some blushed, and some looked away, not daring to watch.

There were also those full of jealousy, just like Shu Qianxue.

"Preliminary contact sensory feedback: positive pleasure."

"Recommend conducting a second verification to confirm data stability and reproducibility."

After finishing her meticulous analysis, Bai Yu calmly announced her conclusion again.

And then, she stood on her tiptoes once more!

"Wait!!"

Shu Qianxue could no longer hold it in and abruptly stood up.

The feelings in the depths of her heart, which had long sprouted but had always been hidden under the name of "brothers," were completely ignited by Bai Yu's actions at this moment.

Yet Bai Yu did not stop because of her words; this time, she closed her eyes and kissed even more earnestly.

A few seconds later, Bai Yu pulled away again and turned to look at Shu Qianxue, whose chest was heaving slightly.

Bai Yu's eyes were clear as she asked:

"Do you also want to participate in this experiment?"

Shu Qianxue met Bai Yu's gaze; this time, she did not want to run, nor did she want to use the brother status as an excuse anymore.

She straightened her back, the blush on her face not yet faded, and said clearly, word by word:

"I do too! I, I... I want to get with Qi Bao!"

"Hiss—!"

"Oh my god!"

"She actually said it!"

The sound of many girls gasping in shock rose one after another, and several girls instinctively covered their mouths.

They exchanged looks of shock, excitement, and disbelief, secretly nudging their companions with their elbows.

A real-life version of "two women fighting over a man"? This plot was more exciting than any idol drama! No one could bear to look away.

Chen Xiaolin's mouth was formed into an O-shape, her eyes wide and round.

"I... holy cow..."

She muttered in a low voice, instinctively grabbing the arm of another girl beside her.

"They're doing this for real? Is it this exciting?"

This scene made even her want to say "I do."

Ke Yun felt her worldview had suffered an unprecedented shock.

Her lips trembled as she wanted to summon her teacher's authority to stop this absurd scene.

But thinking of Bai Yu's rational-to-the-point-of-coldness analysis, and the precarious survival pressure on this island, all words of reprimand were stuck in her throat.

Qi Yun's CPU was about to burn out at this moment.

Who am I? Where am I?

My brother... did she just say she wanted to get with me?

Happiness came too suddenly, but the situation was also too much of a battlefield!

"According to standard procedures and the principle of first-come, first-served, you may reserve the experiment slot for tomorrow night."

Bai Yu stated calmly, completely failing to sense the jealousy in Shu Qianxue's words.

"I don't want tomorrow night! I want tonight! Right now!"

Shu Qianxue did not retreat a single step; she was already dominated by some kind of impulse.

Her first kiss had been stolen, and as for that other kind of first... she didn't want to give it up again!

Watching the two beautiful girls in front of him, with vastly different styles yet equally outstanding, arguing in public over the question of "who goes first."

And the core of the dispute was himself.

Qi Yun felt like he was having an absurd yet erotic dream.

This damn, heart-pounding battlefield!

"Why?"

Bai Yu tilted her head slightly; her logic processor seemed to have encountered an unconventional command.

Facing Bai Yu's question, Shu Qianxue scratched her head. Why? Why? Right, why?

Logically speaking, according to first-come, first-served, it should be Bai Yu tonight.

"Because... because..."

Shu Qianxue was momentarily speechless; in her anxiety, that excuse she had used countless times slipped out again.

"Because I am Qi Yun's brother! His best brother! Brothers are like limbs! So I have priority! Brother Priority!"

Qi Yun: "???"

All girls: "???"

The whole scene fell into an eerie silence again, with only the campfire crackling in confusion.

"Huh? Huh?"

Not just Qi Yun, all the girls present were full of question marks.

"Brother... priority?"

Bai Yu repeated this unfamiliar phrase, appearing to think for a brief moment.

To her, society was full of common sense that was difficult to fully parse with logic.

This was perhaps another one of them.

A few seconds later, Bai Yu nodded, stepped aside half a step, and spoke with her usual steady tone:

"Understood. Based on the additional social relationship criterion of 'Brother Priority,' you will conduct tonight's experiment."

"I will observe and record the relevant processes and data from the side to provide a reference for subsequent experiments."

She actually believed it! She actually accepted this nonsense excuse just like that! And she even wanted to make observation records!

Chen Xiaolin was already clutching her stomach, trembling from holding back laughter, her face flushed red as she whispered to the person next to her:

"Bro—Brother Priority? Hahahaha... Shu Qianxue, you are truly a genius! This reason is invincible!!"

Shu Qianxue: "..."

She herself was stunned; she hadn't expected the nonsense she spouted in her anxiety to be accepted so solemnly.

Looking at Bai Yu, who was earnestly waiting for the experiment to begin, she felt a bit guilty instead, her face reddening even more.

The courage she had just moments ago, like burning the boats behind her, felt like it had been poked with a small hole, leaking air with a hiss.

"Brother Priority?? Can it even work like that??"

"What did we just watch?"

"Bai Yu actually believed it?!"

"That's not the point! The point is, are they really going to... tonight?"

The girls' gazes became even more intense, scanning back and forth between Qi Yun and Shu Qianxue.

Curiosity, shyness, envy, and a hint of an indescribable expectation.

As night fell, the cold wind became increasingly biting, and the girls one after another walked into the house.

Shu Qianxue, face flushed, yet unusually firm, grabbed the hand of Qi Yun, who was still somewhat dazed.

Under the gaze of everyone with their varied meanings, she walked straight toward a relatively quiet corner inside the house.

Xia Jin arranged the night watch personnel for the night, while simultaneously feeling a bit more respect for Qi Yun in her heart.

Because the house's location was so good, not only was the number of night watch personnel required low, but it also greatly reduced the patrol pressure on the night watch personnel.