Qin An tiptoed to the bathroom, peeled off his sweat-soaked underwear reeking of hormones, and splashed icy cold water on his face to calm his restless heart.
Staring at his deflated little monster, he wrestled with a thought: Should he hit the red-light district to blow off steam? Or maybe pick up a girl at a bar? He’d almost forgotten he was just a twelve-year-old shota—though shotacon ladies might happily solve his "problem."
He took a bone-chilling shower, dousing his urges deep.
*Clatter! Bang!*
Kitchen cabinets rattled like a starving rat tearing through cupboards.
Qin An dashed in wearing only flashy crimson briefs. An oversized "rat" was bent over, rummaging inside a cabinet.
He yanked the culprit up by the collar. "Dongfang, were you starved to death in your past life? Raiding kitchens at midnight?"
Dongfang Keian turned mechanically, eyes wide. "B-Big Brother! You’re awake?"
"Ahhh! Pervert! How dare you show up in just underwear before a lady? This is so misleading!" She covered her eyes—but peeked through her fingers, cheeks flushed crimson.
"Big Brother… am I not ready yet?"
"Even if you like me, think of Yage! I’m her best friend!"
Qin An was speechless. She wore only a skimpy nightgown—if his sister saw this, she’d tear him apart.
Keian sat rigidly at the table, bracing for interrogation.
"Where’d you crawl from, beggar?"
"Beijing! I’m no beggar!"
"Why break into my home?"
"Free food and pretty girls."
"Your next move?"
"Living here, obviously."
"How long?" Qin An’s temple throbbed.
"Look, kid. My wallet’s thin. Feeding a bottomless pit costs." He sighed, helpless.
"Pfft! I’m not a glutton! I’m *adorable*." She slapped a bank card on the table. "100k RMB inside. Password’s Yage’s birthday. Greedy Big Brother."
Qin An pocketed the card—*Longxing Bank VIP tier*. *Little heiress*, he mused.
His face lit up. "What’ll you have, Dongfang?"
"Instant noodles left?"
"Gone."
"Gone?!" Her face fell. His junk food had bewitched her.
"But I’ve got something similar. Interested?"
Keian shot her hand up like a schoolgirl. "Yes! But stop calling me ‘Dongfang’—it’s cold! Call me Keke or Cute. Also…" She winked. "Those briefs? *Very* tempting."
Qin An coughed, flustered. "I’ll stick with Dongfang. Wait here—I’ll grab clothes."
"Okay, Big Brother."
He threw an army coat over his hips.
In the cramped kitchen, Qin An’s knife flashed—slicing pork with surgeon’s precision. *Maybe I’d make a decent chef*, he thought wryly. *Just swapping humans for livestock.*
To a killer, ordinary people were no different from beasts. Worth less, sometimes.
He pulled the last coil of flour from the bare cupboard, patting his empty wallet. *Bare walls*, he realized.
This sour-spicy noodle dish relied entirely on Aunt Xia’s generosity: pickled cabbage, eggs, even dried chilies. Without her family, survival was unimaginable.
The aroma had Keian drooling. But she kept glancing up every few bites, grinning slyly. *Do I have a flower on my face?*
She set down her bowl, dabbed her lips with a tissue—elegant, flawless.
"Big Brother… you did something *very* bad earlier."
Qin An froze.
"I smelled it in the bathroom." She pinched her nose. "Disgusting."
"I—"
"Heheh. Don’t explain. I *know* what it was." Her eyes narrowed. "And I found the same substance on Yage’s panties. Same scent. Same source—you. The truth is clear: You’re a perverted beast of a brother."
She struck a pose like Detective Conan—if she had his red bowtie and high-tech glasses. Both shared one trait: extreme shortness.
Her evidence left Qin An defenseless.
"Beastly Brother, any last words before judgment?"
Qin An’s smile turned dark—a villain’s grin.
"Right. I’m a beast. What’ll you do, Dongfang? Blackmail me?" He loomed closer. Keian’s head tilted back, sliding off her chair.
"Exactly! Unless you grant me three wishes—I won’t tell Yage."
"Sounds like a raw deal to me, kid."
Her heel caught the chair leg. She stumbled backward—only for Qin An to catch her waist, pulling her flush against him.
"Beastly Brother! What are you doing?!" She pattered his chest weakly.
"If I’m a beast… and a little rabbit hops into my den?" His breath warmed her ear. "Does the wolf refuse the meal?"
Keian’s head spun. Her *future brother-in-law* was inches away. Betraying Yage already? With her own brother? *Forbidden. Thrilling.* More exciting than sneaking kisses with Yage.
She squeezed her eyes shut, lashes trembling, body curled small.
She waited. And waited.
Silent tears slipped down as she drifted to sleep.
Qin An sighed, tucking the army coat over her on the worn sofa. *Worst day ever. My deepest shame exposed by a child.*
She wasn’t family. Not even a friend. Just a stranger tied to Qin Yage.
Back in bed, the sheets still held a faint, embarrassing scent.
No one had threatened him in years. In a killer’s world, hostages were suicide—assassins were emotionless machines.
Yet here he was, cornered by a half-pint loli. *Adorable.*
He’d never been a true killer. Even as the S-rank strongest, the title "King of Assassins" belonged to *that man*. But he wasn’t pure either—haunted by a love he’d never confessed. Watching his woman marry another from the shadows. Too late when she was abandoned, penniless. Some chances aren’t missed—they expire.
"*Harukawa Toshimasa*," Qin An whispered into the dark. "In this life, don’t make me your enemy. You’ll die screaming."
He pulled Keian’s warm, soft body close, vowing no more restless dreams.
Midnight cold woke Keian. Her feet were icy—like freezer-burnt chicken feet.
She rolled over. The army coat slipped to the floor. Staring at it, a thorn buried in her heart dissolved.
Tears fell soundlessly. *Having a brother… wouldn’t be so bad.*
She crept to Qin An’s room. Qin Yage slept like a ripe melon. Keian planted a loud kiss on her cheek.
Then she eyed Qin An. "*Can’t play favorites*," she mumbled.
A butterfly-soft peck landed on his cheek. He stirred. Keian leapt back like a startled rabbit, hand on her chest. She shot them a jealous glare before slipping out.
After the door clicked shut, Qin An’s lips curved. He wiped away her drool.
