This was a dream he had.

A dream that belonged to him, yet didn’t.

The era felt ancient. Though no date marked the tale, his senses whispered of deep antiquity.

Ancient, yet vividly close.

Before his eyes lay a violet-haired girl and a violet-haired boy.

The girl lay sprawled in a pool of blood. The boy knelt beside her, clutching her hand, sobbing uncontrollably.

She was fading fast.

With trembling effort, she lifted her arm and gently brushed the boy’s cheek. Her eyes held longing—

and guilt.

“I’m sorry… I dragged you into this…”

Her voice was barely a whisper. Had others been near, her words might never have reached him.

So frail.

Just hearing it made her mortality undeniable.

“Sister… don’t die…”

The boy gripped her arm desperately, tears and snot streaking his face, body shaking.

He couldn’t lose her. Not this sister who’d raised him since childhood.

“It’s alright, be good.”

Her gaze grew distant. Her raised hand swayed weakly in the wind.

Her soul drifted away on the breeze. Her life’s flame guttered, near extinction.

Blood seeped endlessly from her stomach wound. But she was powerless to stop it.

An Aberrant curse clung to the gash. No healing magic could save her while it remained.

And now, she had no strength left to break it.

Only one path remained—

Death.

“After I’m gone… touch… the purple orb… on the ground…”

She forced out the words, then coughed violently, spitting blood.

Ah.

Time was running out.

Death was near.

What now?

Only her brother could carry on.

If he was to live, he must shoulder this fate.

She’d never wanted this burden for him. She’d meant to bear it all alone.

This destiny was too heavy.

Because she loved this boy—her brother by bond, not blood—she’d shielded him from her path.

But…

No choice remained.

Though against her will, one truth mattered above all—

He must live.

He couldn’t die here.

She refused to let him die here.

So to ensure his survival, she had to pass this duty to him.

“Sister… no… I don’t want you to die…”

“Listen… be good… remember the purple orb…”

Enemies drew closer. Time was bleeding away.

She longed to stay, even one more second…

But—

No time left.

“Don’t rush…”

She smiled softly as she bade him farewell.

“We’ll meet again.”

These were her final words to him in this life.

Magic gathered within her—

The last dregs of her power—

And she crushed her own heart.

Thus fell the 231st Thunder God.

◆

Nangong Shiyu blinked awake, bleary-eyed.

The first face he saw wasn’t the ceiling—it was Xia Zixin’s sleeping face.

Usually a back-sleeper, Shiyu had curled on his side today.

Slightly unusual, but not strange.

After all, he’d fallen asleep holding Xia Zixin last night.

He gazed at that beautiful sleeping face, feeling weightless. Her warmth through the thin pajamas was an anchor—solid, safe.

Fair skin flushed faintly pink. Her chest rose and fell steadily. She slept deeply.

Hmm… What day was it again?

Shiyu thought for a moment.

Ah, right. Sunday.

If it was Sunday, lingering in bed a little longer was fine. He decided.

Getting up now—for the kitchen or bathroom—would force Xia Zixin awake. Seeing her sleep so peacefully, he couldn’t bear to disturb her.

*Sigh*. Might as well laze a while longer.

Shiyu grabbed his phone from the bedside and scrolled through yesterday’s group chat. Posts were either about the anime convention—photos galore—or desperate students tagging the class genius for homework answers.

Come to think of it, Luo Qitian had promised to lend him homework to copy today. But who knew when he’d show up?

He might’ve forgotten.

“Copying homework” was mostly a joke anyway. Relying on yourself was more dependable than waiting for help.

Right. So after buying groceries this morning, he’d be stuck doing homework all day. Skipping it meant failing to submit tomorrow.

Ugh. Such a hassle.

Wait—what time was it?

Shiyu glanced at the phone’s top-left corner. 8:40 AM. He usually woke naturally at six. Sleeping this late meant yesterday had truly drained him.

8:40. No more dozing.

If he didn’t hurry to the market, the aunties would snatch up all the fresh produce.

“Xia Zixin. Time to wake up.”

Shaken gently, Xia Zixin rubbed her eyes and sat up.

“So loud this early? Sister hasn’t had enough sleep.”

“Up you get. After breakfast, I need to buy groceries. No ingredients means no food today.”

“Huh? Grocery run?”

“Yep. So rise and shine.”

Shiyu stood, dispelled the magic binding the too-tight women’s pajamas he wore, and headed to the wardrobe to change.

“I’m not interested in your body, but parading around naked? Really?”

Xia Zixin’s remark jolted Shiyu.

He was completely naked.

*Oh no*.

Sleep had addled his brain.

Flustered, he crouched, arms crossed over his chest, trying to cover himself.

“Ah! I totally forgot!”

But…

Wait. If his reasoning was correct, Xia Zixin used to be male too, right? Her body changed because of the Thunder God’s Mystic Pearl?

“Hold on.”

Shiyu frowned, straightened up, and ignored Xia Zixin’s stare as he dressed.

“Aren’t you a guy too, originally?”

What was there to be shy about between guys? Seriously.

At heart, Xia Zixin was still a boy, wasn’t she?

“My, my, little Shiyu,” Xia Zixin chimed with bell-like laughter that raised goosebumps on his skin. “So careless.”

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” She turned her face away. “Just… yours is so small. Not impressive at all.”

“Shut up! Or I’ll skip your breakfast!”

“Gurk… Sister apologizes…”

“Enough jokes. Get up, change, wash up.” Dressed now, Shiyu strode toward the bathroom. “Today’s a mess of chores waiting.”

Especially those thirteen test papers.