All Chapters of The Rising Temperature between Me and My “Step-brother”: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Asher lowered his gaze, studying the girl who clutched his shirt hem nervously, his lips curving into a subtle smirk."Relax. I'll take good care of her."Wendy met Asher’s eyes and shivered involuntarily."Good," Simone said.Hearing Simone’s footsteps descend the stairs, Wendy finally exhaled—but until the sound faded completely, she didn’t dare move. The man before her, however, had no such reservations.He lifted her effortlessly and carried her to the bed."Asher?"Wendy’s whisper trembled, her dark eyes glistening in the dim light. With no lamps lit, the only glow came from the faint sunlight seeping through the curtains, just enough to outline their shapes.The room was quiet, shadowed—but with his arm locked around her waist, Wendy felt the coiled strength in his muscles and the restless heat radiating between them."Aren’t you exhausted? You should rest."The

"Oh, right! There’s an open-air movie tonight!" Gina excitedly shook Wendy’s arm. "Wendy, come on, let’s go!""An open-air movie? Gina, do you know what they’re showing?""Does it matter? It’s all about the atmosphere! It’s so romantic!"Yeah, it’s so romantic. Wendy smiled and agreed. The library plans were instantly forgotten as the two eagerly rushed toward the lawn.A crowd had already gathered. Some, having heard about it in advance, brought picnic blankets, drinks, and fast food packed in woven baskets.The movie was set to start at 7:30 PM, with under ten minutes left. Gina licked her lips as she watched a guy diagonally in front of them devour a third of his burger in one bite.Gina: "Good thing we just had dinner."Wendy: "Yeah."Two minutes later..."Maybe I should grab some drinks. Wendy, save our seats. I’ll be quick—"Just as Gina stood up to le

It happened during the first week of school when they first met. Eleanor's self-introduction was straightforward and concise. Wendy, feeling the atmosphere was awkward, wanted to say more, so she explained her reasons for choosing her major. But seeing Eleanor's disinterested reaction, she trailed off."Well, my family's in China but my dad lives in the U.S., so I wanted a career that would let me travel between both countries—spending time in each place."Eleanor frowned. "Constant travel—doesn't that sound exhausting?""It definitely is," Wendy admitted. "But for family, any fatigue is worth it."Whether working for an international organization, corporation, or investment bank, her ideal career involved regular China-U.S. travel with a high salary.Besides, without seeking shortcuts, any honest work would be demanding.That Friday afternoon, five minutes before class ended, Wendy distributed mooncakes while briefly introducing

During preseason training, Asher had promised to pass to him if he stayed ready. So he’d trained relentlessly, clinging to that hope despite the odds.As captain, Asher encouraged everyone—but for a rookie like Tommy to actually get a pass in a real game had seemed impossible.Yet here they were. Perfect. Unthinkable.The trust behind that pass filled him like a dream made solid.Up in the booth, the announcers were dissecting Asher’s shocking decision."Voss completely blindsided Gold Mountain! Their defense ranks top-five, but Coach Matt swapped out half his offensive starters pre-game—including three freshmen. We all expected the spotlight on Voss and Davis, with the rookies just getting game-time experience.""Yet here they are, scoring pivotal points. This gamble paid off spectacularly.""This proves Lightning’s bench depth is even deeper than we’d anticipated."Ten minutes before the fi

His breath fanned hot over her ear."Really won't let me kiss you?"Wendy swallowed. Why did he have to ask? How was she supposed to admit how badly she wanted this?"Haah..." Her ears turned scarlet as she squeezed her eyes shut."Have you never had a girlfriend before?"Asher answered without hesitation. "No.""Am I the first girl you've liked?""You're my first." Asher tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze."The one I love."Then he added,"And the only one whose face alone undoes me."Wendy faltered under the heat of his stare. Thank God for his arm anchoring her waist and the door supporting her back. "Then why didn't you say you liked me? I thought I was just another girl, so..."Asher's lips curved. "Want to hear it? I'm afraid it'll overwhelm you."His intensity made her pulse race. Even if she craved those words, she knew she couldn't handle them now."...Then don't tell me."Whe