That evening, Shiyue left early. Ten minutes after her departure, at exactly eight o’clock, the front door clicked open again. Yichen recognized the sound immediately—it was Zixuan returning. He hurried downstairs.
Taking the steps two at a time, he crossed the living room and fixed his gaze on the entrance. There stood the familiar silver-haired girl he’d expected.
“Sis, welcome back.”
Zixuan had just slipped into her house slippers. Seeing Yichen, she beamed. “Mhm. I’m home, Yichen.”
The same silver-haired girl who’d stunned everyone at school today rushed forward and wrapped him in a tight hug. “Mmm~ Yichen’s scent! I haven’t smelled it in so long!” Her cheeks flushed as she rubbed her smooth face against his, inhaling deeply twice. Her ample chest pressed against him, flattening slightly against his frame.
Yichen’s face reddened instantly. “Hey! What are you doing, sis?”
“I missed you so much! I thought I’d die today—not being able to hug you, not even touching you once!” *Are you some creature who’d die without hugs?!* Yichen groaned inwardly, feeling his composure crumbling under her affection. He gently pushed her away. “Were you working till now?”
Since Zixuan was half a head shorter, she tilted her face up to meet his eyes. “Mhm. I came straight home after work. How’s school? Everything okay?”
“Fine. The tutoring’s helping—I’ll keep it up till semester end.”
“Don’t overwork yourself. Promise you’ll tell me if anything’s wrong?”
“You’re so naggy. Like the aunties at the market.”
Zixuan pouted, poking his cheek with her finger. “Calling me an auntie? Rude!” Then, a mischievous grin spread across her face. She cupped his cheek, leaning in so close her rose-like smile filled his vision.
Yichen fought to steady his racing heart. “Sis, what are y—”
“Hehe. Your face is red, Yichen~ Does seeing ‘aunties’ make you blush?”
“Ugh… stop teasing me!” Her unshakable confidence always flustered him—especially since she had every right to be confident.
Giggling, she stepped back. “I’ll change clothes first. Be right back!”
After she left, Yichen sighed, already exhausted.
Later, while studying in his room, Zixuan knocked and entered. She wore a pink yukata tied with a yellow sash, carrying a plate of peeled, cored apple slices speared with toothpicks. She set it on his desk.
“Studying hard?”
“Yeah. Thanks for the apples.” He picked up a slice.
Without hesitation, Zixuan slipped behind him, draping her arms around his neck. Fresh from the shower, the faint scent of her body wash filled the air. The soft pressure against his back made his cheeks burn.
“Sis… don’t.”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Uh…” He froze. Of course he liked it—who wouldn’t enjoy Zixuan clinging to them? But it shattered his focus. “Just… sit beside me.”
She puffed her cheeks. “Rejecting your sister?” Still, she pulled a chair close. “Need help with anything?”
“I’ve got it.”
“But you solved this one wrong.” She pointed at his math problem, grinning.
“Uh… then teach me.” He swallowed his pride. Even without attending school, Zixuan mastered every subject. A true genius—if she enrolled, she’d steal the top rank instantly.
“There we go.” She leaned in, explaining his mistake. “You mixed up this formula’s application. You always skip understanding the principles, assuming formulas work how you imagine. This one’s easily confused with another—that’s why you slipped up.”
“Oh. Right.” Her words cut through his confusion like clarity itself.
He scribbled a new solution.
“This problem has a simpler method too,” she murmured, guiding his hand with her slender fingers as she wrote.
Her breath warmed his ear. Her body heat seeped into his side. Embarrassing, yet… he craved this closeness.
“…Understand now?” Her voice snapped him back.
“Sorry—could you repeat that?”
“Daydreaming while I teach?” She pinched his cheek, scowling playfully.
*How do I say you’re too close?* He stayed silent as she explained again. After solving it, he bit into another apple slice—only for Zixuan to lunge forward and snatch the remaining half with her teeth.
“Sis?!”
“No apples if you zone out next time!” Her eyes sparkled. “Why’s your face so red?”
“N-Nothing!” He shook his head frantically. When she’d leaned in, her yukata had gaped slightly—her ample cleavage nearly spilling into view.
“Don’t do that! What if the toothpick pokes your mouth?”
“A toothpick? Please.” She smirked.
“…You’re confident about the weirdest things.”
Zixuan stayed beside him, chin resting on her arms, watching him work with a content smile. Yichen stole glances at her, warmth spreading through his chest. *I wish this moment would never end. I wish she’d always stay like this.* The selfish thought crept in.
Sometimes he resented fate—why was she his sister? Not that he disliked it. He just… wanted more.
But doubt followed: *If we weren’t siblings, would she still be this close?*
“Sis… are you really… the Chairman?”
“…Mhm.” Her voice turned distant. She always shut down when work came up.
He wanted to press further, but years of silence taught him it was pointless. An invisible wall stood between them. He hated it. *Am I not worthy of knowing her world?*
*I’ll become someone who is. For now… I’ll study harder.*
“Yichen?” Her voice broke his thoughts. “Wanna go on a date tomorrow?”
He remembered the basketball game. “I’m playing in a friendly match tomorrow afternoon—our school vs. Chengkong Academy.”
“Can I come cheer you on?” Her eyes shone with stars.
He hesitated.
“You don’t want me there?” Her smile faltered.
“No! I just… zoned out. Of course we’ll go together.”
Her radiant smile returned. “I’ll be your loudest cheerleader!”
