Liam met Suzy’s gaze, his dark eyes steady, serious.

"There’s nothing between her and me," he said. "There never was, and there never will be."

Suzy blinked, then smiled faintly. "Why are you explaining this to me?"

He nodded once. "Your misunderstanding would trouble me."

"...Alright," she shrugged.

They continued up the stairs, their footsteps echoing softly through the stairwell.

After a few steps, Liam spoke again.

"Wendy..."

Suzy looked at him.

His expression had turned more serious. "She’s hostile toward you." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"I know."

"It’s not just dislike." Liam stopped walking and turned to face her. "The way she looked at you just now... there was hatred in it."

His voice was quiet, but every word landed with weight.

"You helped my brother. You helped me." His tone lowered. "I don’t want you to become a target because of that."

Suzy smiled lightly. "Don’t worry. I can handle her. This isn’t the first time."

Liam studied her, as if he wanted to say more, but in the end, he only nodded.

They reached the twentieth floor, and Suzy stopped in front of her door.

"We’re here."

She turned to him.

Liam stood there in silence for a moment, then said, "If she causes you trouble..."

He hesitated briefly, searching for the right words.

"You can tell me," he said at last. "I owe you."

Suzy paused, then her lips curved into a small smile. "Alright. I’ll remember that."

She pushed the door open, then glanced back at him.

"See you tomorrow."

He nodded. "See you."

The door closed in front of him.

Liam remained where he was for a few seconds, staring at the closed door, before finally turning and heading downstairs.

Soon, he returned home.

He moved quietly inside and walked toward Noah’s room.

When he pushed the door open, candlelight flickered softly within. Noah lay on the bed, eyes wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

At the sound of the door, he turned his head at once. The moment he saw Liam, his eyes lit up.

"Liam!"

He tried to sit up, but Liam stepped forward quickly and pressed him gently back down.

"Don’t move. Lie down properly."

Liam sat at the edge of the bed and reached out to check his forehead. "Does your arm still hurt?"

At the mention of it, Noah perked up immediately. "It doesn’t hurt anymore! It’s so amazing!"

After the medicine was applied, the wound had turned cool and soothing, the pain fading away completely.

"That’s good." Liam let out a quiet breath of relief.

"Liam, Suzy is coming again tomorrow, right?" the boy asked, blinking up at him.

Liam nodded. "She will."

"That’s great!" Noah’s eyes lit up. "I like Suzy! She even gave me two candies. Here, one for you."

He opened his palm and offered one of the candies to Liam.

Liam paused, caught off guard.

Meanwhile, his brother had already unwrapped his own and popped it into his mouth. Speaking while chewing the candy, he declared, "Big bro, I’m going to marry Suzy when I grow up."

Liam’s eyes widened in surprise.

He was so stunned by his younger brother’s bold proclamation that he didn’t react for a long moment.

After a while, he swallowed and said slowly, "Do you even know what you’re saying?"

Noah looked at him with bright, clear eyes and nodded very seriously.

"I do."

Liam felt an urgent need to give his brother a proper lesson.

He straightened slightly. "Noah, do you know what marriage means?"

"Liam, I know all that. Don’t treat me like a kid," the boy said, pouting.

But you are a kid, Liam thought to himself.

"Forget it. You’re still young. You’ll understand when you grow up."

He reached out and ruffled his brother’s hair. Thinking it over, he decided he might have taken it too seriously.

Kids said all sorts of things. It didn’t mean anything.

But Noah was even more dissatisfied now. "I do know everything! Anyway, I’m going to marry Suzy in the future!"

Suzy was pretty and gentle. She helped treat his wound and even gave him candy.

She was basically an angel.

Liam, having already given up arguing, simply teased him instead. "You’re so much younger than her. That’s impossible."

Noah fell silent.

He quietly counted on his fingers. It was true... there was quite an age gap.

But that was fine.

As if struck by inspiration, he brightened again, confidence returning to his face.

"Being younger is an advantage," he declared proudly.

"How so?"

"When I turn eighteen, Suzy will definitely like me! I’ll be young and handsome then!"

At his age, Noah had already grasped the concept that youth was an advantage.

"...Where did you even learn this nonsense?"

Liam stared at him for a moment, then reached out to touch his head again, wondering if something had gone wrong somewhere.

Noah shook his hand off and huffed. "I saw it online."

He smacked his lips, swallowing the candy.

"Anyway, just don’t interfere when the time comes."

Liam didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. Shaking his head, he said helplessly, "Alright, alright. I won’t interfere."

Only then did Noah beam with satisfaction. His gaze quickly drifted back to the candy in Liam’s hand.

"Are you going to eat it? If not, can you give it to me?" he asked, blinking innocently, trying to coax it back.

Liam closed his hand around the candy and hid it behind his back. "You just gave it to me and now you regret it? No. I’m not giving it back."

Noah’s face fell instantly.

"You already had one," Liam said gently. "No more. If you get cavities, that’ll be worse. Get some rest. I’m heading out."

With that, he stood and walked out of the room without waiting for a response.

Noah pouted on the bed, clearly dissatisfied.

Liam returned to his own room and placed the candy on the table, staring at it for a long time.

Ever since he grew up, he rarely ate candy anymore. He had heard of this brand before. Supposedly, it was good, but he had never actually tried it.

He wasn’t particularly interested in sweets. And yet, almost without thinking, he picked it up again. He then unwrapped it and placed it in his mouth. The moment it touched his tongue, a sweet and tangy flavor spread across his senses.

...Not bad.

A light lemon taste, refreshing and clean.

He lay back on the bed, the candy dissolving slowly as Noah’s earlier words replayed in his mind, lingering in a way he couldn’t quite ignore.

Did that kid really understand what marriage meant?

Did he truly think he could marry Suzy?

No. That was ridiculous.

Children’s words couldn’t be taken seriously.

Besides, the age gap between them was too big. And this was the apocalypse. Whether they would even still be alive or see each other again in the future was uncertain.

Just childish nonsense.

Liam closed his eyes.

...Yes. The only reason he cared was because he was worried about his brother.

***

The next day, right on time, Suzy arrived on the thirteenth floor.

This time, she carried a small basket with her, filled with snacks she had brought for Noah.

Winning over a child’s favor was simple. You just gave them something to eat.

She knocked on the door and waited patiently.

Before long, the door opened.

Noah stood there, smiling brightly at her. "Suzy! You’re here!"

"How are you feeling today?" Suzy greeted him as she stepped inside and changed her shoes.

"I feel much better now," the boy replied obediently.