And so the two of them ate, slow and steady, one bite at a time; steam curled like morning mist, and bacon snapped like dry autumn leaves.

“Xue’er, your cooking’s really something.” Lu Ke spoke around a strip of bacon, the salt and smoke clinging like campfire on his tongue.

“Heh, it’s just okay...” First time someone had praised her food; the blonde girl twirled a strand by her ear like winding silk, and that small, shy motion froze Lu Ke in place like a deer in lamplight.

“Um, big brother, what are you staring at?”

“My apologies.” Shame pricked him like a thorn; he drew a deep breath, trying to settle the ripples inside.

“Big brother, I’ve got a lot of questions.” Little Loli’s voice was honeyed, but her gaze was clear as a winter pond. He kept his eyes on his plate.

“Ask away.” Last night flashed back—blood like spilled ink, wounds blooming like wilting flowers. What kind of storm turns a girl into that? He chewed bacon, knowing some truths don’t come just because you ask, and waited for the blonde girl’s next words.

“Where is this? And any news about City A lately?” She sipped milk as white as new snow.

“City A? That’s a long road from here. I’ve only been once.” Lu Ke dabbed his mouth. “It’s been lively there, though. Heard about a terrorist attack—streets blown up like cracked earth.”

“Terrorist attack?” The blonde tilted her head; excuses spun by officials, as familiar as old smoke. “Any wanted notices, anything like that?”

“Wanted notices? No.” Lu Ke looked puzzled, like a man reading fog. “Do we even have those?”

“Forget it. Where exactly is here?”

“This is City M. Not big, not small—still a far cry from City A.” He finished the bacon and moved on to the eggs, the yolk bright as sunrise.

“Xue’er, how’d you make these eggs? They’re amazing.”

“I’m glad you like them. My mom... my mom taught me.” At the thought of her parents, Xiao Qianxue’s pupils cinched tight, like a startled bird’s wing. Something clenched around her heart like a fist.

“Xue’er, you alright?” One moment she’d been fine; the next she’d gone still, her pupils flickering like storm-lit water. Lu Ke saw it instantly.

She must’ve lost something vital. Parents in trouble? A family taken hostage, and she alone tore free? When terror hits, pupils snap shut like doors. In a medical clan, you learn to read that like weather.

“No... Dad... Mom...” The blonde hugged her chest, whispering like wind through reeds, her small body shaking the way leaves shiver before rain.

“Let me.” Lu Ke moved to her side and pressed a fingertip into a point on her body, firm as a pin set in silk.

“Mmh!”

She blinked back to herself and found his finger on a spot just above her chest; the suffocating pressure fell away like a tide withdrawing, that near-breaking edge fading into breath again.

“Um... could you move your hand?” She knew he was helping, yet her voice still came out shy, like a flute in the dusk.

“Good. Works fast. I need to jot that down.” He withdrew, face straight, heart thudding like a drum: That was skating on thin ice. Good thing I kept my head.

“I had to tap an acupoint. If I hadn’t, the next step gets messy.” He returned to his seat and his food; his expression stayed a bit stiff, like wet paint not yet set.

“Sorry to trouble you again, big brother.” Little Loli knew if that state had kept spiraling, the end would’ve been a cliff.

“Big brother, could you agree to one request?” She laced her fingers together like a knot of vines and lowered her head. “Could I stay here for a while?”

“Hmm...” Lu Ke pondered; inside, fireworks—A cute girl wants to live with me! This is amazing!

“So—what can you help me with?” He asked it half-teasing, like tossing a pebble into a lake to watch the rings.

“Uh... well...” She rubbed her fingers like smoothing rice grains. “I can clean and stuff... and be cute sometimes... but warming the bed is a hard no!” Under her golden fringe, her eyes were watery as spring pools, fixed on the not-bad-looking boy.

“Of course. I’m no crazed loli-chaser.” Lu Ke tapped the table to nail it down. “You can stay—but promise me one thing.”

“As long as it’s not too much, I can accept it.” She’d tried the system and combat mode one by one. Nothing answered. So the system must’ve sent her here and burned itself out; maybe even overdrew—no combat mode, no edge.

In short, she’d become harmless as a lamb again—soft voice, slight frame, easy to topple. Best choice: stay, wait for the wind to change. So the blonde sold off her pride like flakes in a river, no bottom line today.

“I’ve always wanted a little sister. So, to indulge me—could you call me Onii-chan from now on?” Lu Ke forced it out, word by word, holding his giddy tide like a levee holds spring floods.

“I know it’s not exactly humane. If you—”

“Onii-chan?” The blonde tipped her head, eyes narrowing playfully, the three syllables slipping out like sugar on the tongue. A bit embarrassing, sure. But if it means I can stay, it’s not impossible, Little Loli thought. Her golden hair fell like sunlight down her shoulder, and her voice melted into Lu Ke like warm candy, straight to his heart.

“Thank you, Xue’er.” He drew another deep breath and smiled at Little Loli, warmth like firelight in winter.

“It’s okay, Onii-chan.”

“Ah! This is too good!” The joy burst out of him like a cork popping. “Ahem. Since we’ll be living together, let me give you the short version of my situation.”

He straightened. “I got into university early with top scores and medical talent. I asked my parents to let me live on my own, so this place is all private.”

“Onii-chan’s a top student!”

“Don’t say that. I’ll blush...” He drank a sip of milk, smoothing his mood like a hand over velvet. “My whole family’s practiced medicine for generations. I’m good at it; good grades come easy. We’re comfortable enough, so I rented a decent place and even have a car. I used it to bring you back last night.” He stood, took the Audi key from the shoe cabinet, and spun it, showing off like a coin catching light.

“By the way, Onii-chan, I still haven’t thanked you properly. If you hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t have made it through the night. If someone else had found me...” She let the words fall away like ash.

“Yeah. No wonder you pointed a knife at yourself then.” Lu Ke scratched his head. “Still—thanks for trusting me.”

“Onii-chan, the medicine you used last night was expensive, wasn’t it?” Little Loli tested the ground with a toe in the water. “How else would my wounds be this much better already?”

“Nah. Just simple stuff. A medical family has a few tricks up its sleeve.”

“Thank you, Onii-chan.” Having something confirmed, the blonde dipped a little bow; her sweet tone rang with clear sincerity, like chimes in a steady breeze.

“Enough talk. Finish eating, then I’ll take you shopping. We need a new sofa too.” Moved, Lu Ke sat and dug back into breakfast, like a man stoking a small fire.

“What a glutton, Onii-chan.”

“Can’t help it. Yesterday wiped me out.”