Dongfang Keian planned to grab a bite on the street. After a whole day of wild fun with Qin Yage yesterday, she’d forgotten to eat. Just glimpsing Yage’s snow-pale skin had her feeling fully recharged—HP and MP maxed out.

But the body was the revolution’s capital. Only by keeping herself well-fed could she properly enjoy her adorable pet, Qin Yage.

"Sorry, cutie," the cashier said gently, "this shop doesn’t offer *that* kind of premium service. But if you’re hungry, I’ll sell you these bread rolls half-price." She clearly mistook Dongfang Keian for a penniless little girl.

Had Keian known the cashier’s thoughts, she’d have made her regret it—thoroughly.

Keian visited shop after shop. Even supermarkets refused card payments. Despair settled in. She recalled a famous quote: *"Nothing beats what’s held firmly in your hand."*

"Banks really are a scam," she groaned. Truthfully, it wasn’t her fault. In this second-tier city circa 2000, the economy lagged. Urbanization had barely begun. Card payments existed only in top-tier malls. Many still didn’t know what a bank card was.

Disheartened, Keian returned to Qin An’s apartment. The moment she opened the door, the heavenly aroma of instant noodles hit her.

She instinctively thought Yage had prepared this loving meal—completely forgetting she’d tied Yage up like a zongzi dumpling earlier. Chopsticks in hand, she was about to dig in.

"Thief!" A sharp shout froze her. The chopsticks clattered to the floor. She looked up.

A boyish face stared back. Jet-black hair gleamed like Yage’s. His wise eyes seemed to hold the entire world.

*Is this really Yage’s brother? My future brother-in-law? Should I call him ‘gege’ like Yage does? Or ‘bro-in-law’ straight off? Too bold?*

Keian’s face flushed crimson. She shook her head violently. Qin An wondered if he’d caught a neurotic kitten thief.

After three seconds of hesitation, Keian collapsed from exhaustion.

"Gege, what’s wrong?" Qin Yage emerged from her room in a pink dress, padding toward the kitchen.

"Nothing. Just caught a little thief-cat." Qin An hoisted Keian up, clearly ready to toss her out.

"Ah—Keke!"

Later, at the table, Keian patted her slightly rounded belly. "I never knew such divine food existed."

Her eyes lingered hungrily on Qin An’s half-eaten noodles. That desperate gaze resembled a starving wolf spotting prey—ready to devour it on the spot.

"Want it?" Qin An pushed his bowl forward, pitying the drool threatening to spill from her chin. *Poor kid. Wonder whose she is.*

"I’m not *that* hungry! I’m only eating because you forced me!"

"Sure, sure, Miss High-and-Mighty. Just eat."

"Hmph! I *loathe* junk food." Keian’s words contradicted her actions—she devoured the noodles like a ghost resurrected by hunger.

*Why are girls so stubborn nowadays?* Qin An glanced at Yage. She was glaring daggers at him, tiny fists clenched under the table. *Darn it! If my stomach weren’t full, I’d never let Keke the bottomless pit have this!*

Keian dabbed her lips with a tissue. The motion was flawlessly elegant.

Qin An’s seasoned eyes saw through her. As a former assassin, he knew noble etiquette was non-negotiable training. Across eras and borders, elites drilled their children in aristocratic manners—especially table etiquette. It was about face. About status.

"Big brother!" Keian beamed. "Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Dongfang Keian—‘Dongfang’ like the unbeatable swordsman, ‘Keian’ meaning ‘pitiable.’ But here, it means *adorable*! So you can call me ‘Keai’ too! Big! Brotherrr!"

*Keai? This brat’s got nerve.* But she did have the looks to pull it off. A cute cartoon tee paired with snow-white cropped pants. Milk-pale skin flushed like rose quartz. Silky hair framed doll-like features: willowy brows, long lashes dusted dark brown, fox-like eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Ugh!" Qin An winced as pain shot through his waist.

He turned to find Yage digging her nails into his side, her glare sharp enough to pierce steel.

"Big brother," Keian cooed, "am I cute?"

"*Cough cough.*" Qin An cleared his throat. "Average. Not as cute as my sister."

Yage’s grip loosened slightly. Her glare softened—just a fraction.

Keian’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons. "Of course! Yage is the world’s most adorable person. I’m not even one-thousandth as cute." Her smile held hidden depths.

She scampered over like a lost lamb, tugging Qin An’s sleeve. "Big brother~ I have a teensy favor..." Her voice dripped honey—sweeter than Yage’s candies. It could melt uncles instantly, cripple near-uncles. Keian wielded this weapon flawlessly. Only her mother was immune—the one she truly feared.

Qin An looked like a boy but carried an ancient soul. This ploy? It was Liluo Anrietta’s favorite trick—the Celestial Prison’s final boss. He’d long built immunity to such charms.

Seeing his hesitation, Keian’s heart sank. "No? If it’s impossible... I could sleep on your doorstep tonight..."

Yage showed zero sympathy. She twisted Qin An’s waist flesh like dough, clearly enjoying herself.

After a long silence, Qin An spoke. "Dongfang Keian. Since you’re Yage’s friend, I’ll call you ‘Keian.’ Okay?"

"No problem at all!" Keian nodded vigorously, like a bobblehead doll.

Qin An tapped the table, smiling gently. "It’s late. Nan’an City isn’t safe these days. I can’t let you leave alone—or sleep on my doorstep."

Keian nodded even harder.

"So staying here is fine. But—" His tone shifted. Keian’s heart leapt into her throat.

"—you must tell me why you’re not sleeping at home."

"Eh?!"

"No? Then I’ll take you home myself."

Keian was clearly a spoiled heiress. Qin An avoided rich people’s troubles—they crushed you with money before lifting a finger.

After a struggle, Keian gazed up with tear-filled eyes. Her voice trembled. "I... ran away. My mom beats me. Yells at me every day..." She spun a tragic tale of abuse, sobbing convincingly. Yage’s eyes welled up too—though she knew it was pure fiction, her own loneliness echoed in the lie.

*At least I have a good brother,* Yage thought fiercely. *He’s mine alone. No one takes him from me. No one!*

"Dongfang, you can—" Qin An faltered.

The apartment was spacious, but where to put her? Not the sofa or storage room.

"But gege," Yage cut in, "we only have two beds. Mine’s a single."

*Right. Two beds.* Yage suddenly remembered—where did her brother sleep? Some truths were buried deep, but once unearthed, they stabbed like thorns. Bitterness rose in her throat.

"I’ll take the sofa."

He was used to it. Sleeping well built character.

"No!" Yage snapped. "Sofas ruin posture! You’re still growing—I won’t have my brother shorter than me!" She sounded oddly scholarly. *Sugar-coated poison,* Qin An noted. *Is that even a real theory?*

"Then you squeeze with Keian. I’ll take your room."

"Absolutely not! A girl’s room is no place for a boy."

"But I’m your brother."

"*Especially* not you."

"This won’t work, that won’t work—what *do* you want? Unless you mean you and I—"

"Gege..." Yage’s flushed face burned brighter. Her gaze grew hazy. "I... I suppose I could squeeze with you. If I *have* to."

"What?!"

Qin An jolted. Keian shot upright like a stepped-on cat. "NO!"

Qin Yage froze instantly. Dongfang Keian hurriedly explained with a flattering smile, "Even though you're siblings, this isn't really appropriate, is it?"

Qin Yage's face flushed crimson. With a defiant air, her gaze steady, she lifted her little chin. "Yeah, we're siblings anyway. Sleeping together, bathing together—it's perfectly normal, right?"

"I think I'll just sleep on the couch!" Qin An mulled it over but still felt uneasy.

"Why?" Qin An's blunt refusal had wounded Qin Yage's pride. A bitter, sour anger surged within her. Forgetting her shyness, a hint of annoyance colored her face. "Am I poisonous? Will sleeping with me kill you? Do you really hate me that much?"

"What are you thinking?" Qin An laughed awkwardly. "I could hate anyone, but never you."

"What's so scary about squeezing in with me? I don't get it. Siblings sleeping together is totally normal, isn't it?" Qin Yage had forgotten her shyness entirely, now just stubbornly challenging Qin An.

"It's not that I'm afraid, but... I toss and turn a lot in my sleep. My sleeping habits are terrible." Qin An seemed to have found a good excuse. "Last month, I spanked your bottom and you called me a pervert. If I accidentally roll over and crush you, won't you call me a beast?"

"I..." Qin Yage was instantly speechless, her cheeks flushed red like a ripe apple.

Last month, because Qin Yage had been ambushing Qin An at the school corner, sabotaging his relationship with An Qi, and throwing tantrums, Qin An had disciplined her with family rules.

He spanked her little bottom. What a sin.

"Hmph, I don't care anymore. Sleep wherever you want." Flustered and angry, Qin Yage stormed straight to her adoptive parents' room and slammed the door shut, leaving Qin An and Dongfang Keian utterly bewildered.