If time could rewind to two years ago, had Sharkai Bai continued down his own path...

He might have kept winning endlessly—or lost once and never recovered.

Thankfully, before either could happen, his family forced him into Celestial Carving Academy.

After adapting to its quiet rhythm, he’d even begun to imagine a lifetime of such calm.

But everything seemed far too simple, didn’t it!?

"Darling-kun~ Could you brew me a cup of black tea?"

Cecilia Xuelian called out from the sofa, eyes glued to the massive screen playing a show.

She’d barely convinced her father—who’d come to fetch her—to let her stay at the academy longer.

Though... was Vox making things difficult for Bai? Xuelian’s tuition was entirely covered by him!

Almost immediately, Xia Feina spoke up from the other side of the living room. Perched on a chair, she stared intently at her laptop screen.

"Pervert Bai, grab me that new orange juice from the convenience store on your way back!"

Just then, Hesna poked her head out from the kitchen while clearing dishes.

"Since you’re going anyway, pick up some vegetables too."

The girls made such requests often. Sharkai Bai had grown used to them.

His grandfather’s allowance alone could no longer cover everything.

Thanks to Zhiminghan’s recommendation, he’d landed a part-time job at the academy’s café.

Combined with his wages, he could now visit the convenience store once a week to stock up on groceries. The fridge held milk, orange juice, vegetables, and meat; the counter always had black tea ready.

If luck allowed extra coins to spare, Sharkai Bai would sit on the bench beneath his dorm building, pulling a can of coffee from the vending machine.

"Got it."

After handing Xuelian her steaming cup, Bai glanced at the wall clock.

Almost time for the café to open.

*(Gotta hurry to the shop.)*

Wrapping the black scarf Hesna had knitted for him around his neck, he dashed out the door with a warmed carton of milk in hand.

This life, he thought, would likely never reach its end.

With 3,152 apprentices at the academy, a handful remained during breaks. Shops like the convenience store and café kept regular hours—but the academy doubled subsidies to ease the owners’ burden.

"Honestly! So! Slow! Change into your uniform and get to work!"

Zhiminghan seized Sharkai Bai’s wrist, dragging him toward the staff room.

Bai had only been one minute late after sprinting all the way, yet Zhiminghan’s strict sense of time demanded a scolding.

"Try today’s new menu!"

A girl in a white chef’s coat emerged from the kitchen.

Qian Nami Shizuru.

"If the owner catches you, they’ll dock our pay, Senior Shizuru!"

"What’s the big deal?"

"You’ll drag Bai down with you!"

Zhiminghan stepped firmly in front of Sharkai Bai. She wouldn’t let Shizuru’s antics cost him his job.

"Tch. A mere junior dares speak to me like this?"

Shizuru tossed the words over her shoulder as she retreated to the kitchen—empty threats, all of them.

Truthfully, the butler uniform suited Sharkai Bai. It sharpened his presence.

He took orders and delivered drinks to apprentices as usual, politely deflecting extra requests from female customers.

Shift’s end finally came.

After bidding goodbye to Qian Nami Shizuru and Zhiminghan, Sharkai Bai headed toward the convenience store—2,000 meters from the café to his dorm.

Holiday emptiness draped the academy roads. Bai relished the quiet.

Only the whisper of wind through leaves broke the stillness.

"Found you."

A familiar voice drifted from the side.

Bai turned, convenience bag in hand.

A girl half a head taller than him stood there.

Long black hair tied in twin tails, a white scarf and sweater, white thigh-high socks.

Head-to-toe white—except for her raven hair and dark eyes.

Her face and voice were anything but strangers to him.

"Celestial Carving is huge. I almost got lost."

Her voice rang out again.

"What? Not welcoming me, dummy brother? The one who refuses to go home every break?"

Sharkai Bai’s younger sister: the lovely Sharkai Peach.

At 173cm tall, Peach beamed down at her brother.

"You actually have time to visit?"

"Family business is light this year. Thought I’d check on you."

Walking beside a woman taller than himself—his own sister, no less—

Most men would feel awkward.

But Sharkai Bai’s expression stayed utterly calm.

He’d long grown used to this.

"Months without seeing you, Brother dear~ Though your height still hasn’t worked any miracles~~"

Peach tapped her chin with a finger, stroking Bai’s white hair.

"Instead of mocking me, why not ask Sister Xuelian for tips on growing *other* things?"

Bai delivered the fatal blow.

*Thud!*

An invisible arrow pierced Peach’s heart.

"Oh? Heard you still haven’t gotten a boyfriend?"

"You look heavier than last year."

"Still whining about painting your nails?"

*Thud!*

*Thud!*

*Thud!*

"You—"

"ENOUGH ALREADY!"

Peach clapped her hands over her ears, crouching on the ground. Arrows bristled from her chest.

"Hmph. Let’s go."

Bai smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately.

"Waaah—! Brother’s the best! I-I’ll never tease you about being under 170cm again!"

*Thud!*

"Oh-ho-ho-ho. Is that so? How wonderful."

He kept stroking her head as she buried her face in his chest—though Bai’s eyes went blank, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"It’s been ages since we bathed together, Brother dear."

"Yeah."

"Ages since we slept together too."

"Mm."

"Then tonight—let’s relive it! Brother dear!"

"Sure."

To outsiders, their campus stroll sounded scandalous.

But to Bai and Peach? Perfectly normal sibling stuff.

Back in the dorm:

"This is my sister, Peach."

"Peeeeeaaach~! You’re here!"

"Oh."

"B-B-Big... Brother’s sister? H-h-hello!"

Three wildly different reactions—exactly as Sharkai Bai expected.

Xuelian radiated reunion joy.

Xia Feina shrank into her usual social awkwardness.

Hesna managed polite panic.

*(Eh. Let them figure it out themselves.)*

Girls’ relationships were Bai’s weakest subject anyway.