By Saturday morning, with the basketball game not starting until the afternoon, Yichen stayed in his room studying.

Zixuan sat across from him, chin propped on one hand, her pretty face slightly unhappy.

"Yichen, are you sure you don’t need me to teach you?"

"I told you, I don’t. I understand all these problems."

"*Sigh*..." Disappointment flickered across Zixuan’s face. "These questions are tricky. How could someone as slow as you possibly solve them?"

"Hey, since when does a sister call her brother slow?"

Zixuan tilted her head, grinning.

"Since now?"

Watching her sweet, teasing smile, Yichen felt equal parts exasperated and amused.

"Alright, alright. I know you’re the best at everything. Now stop bothering me while I work."

"But I’m bored."

Yichen knew Zixuan hated idleness—she couldn’t stand having nothing to do.

"If you’re bored, go find something else to do."

"Nope."

She refused to let up.

Yichen raised his voice slightly.

"If you keep interrupting me, I’ll kick you out."

He expected her usual sharp retort. Instead, Zixuan fell completely silent, watching him work without a sound.

After a while, she suddenly stood and left. The room grew quieter.

Though undisturbed now, Yichen felt an unexpected pang of loneliness.

Minutes later, Zixuan returned with two cups of juice. She placed one before him.

"Yichen. Juice."

"Huh? Oh. Thanks."

She settled back across from him, sipping slowly through a straw, eyes fixed on his work. Not a whisper escaped her.

Time ticked by. From nine to eleven, Yichen finally finished the problem set.

"*Finally* done."

He stretched widely.

"Let me check for mistakes," Zixuan chirped, snatching his workbook.

"No! Give it back!"

Yichen lunged to grab it.

*No way!* He’d claimed he knew all the answers, so he’d forced his way through problems he barely understood. Several were surely wrong—if she saw them, he’d be exposed instantly.

Zixuan dodged his hand.

"Let your big sister check. You said you knew them all, right? I’ll see if that’s true."

A mischievous glint lit her eyes.

*She knows I was bluffing!* Panic shot through him. He absolutely couldn’t let her look!

Yichen shot up, reaching desperately—but Zixuan lifted the workbook high, evading him easily.

"Let’s see..."

She began flipping pages. Yichen rushed around the desk to chase her.

"Gotta catch me first!"

Zixuan darted away. They circled the desk twice before she suddenly veered toward the bed. Yichen sprinted, closing the distance just as she leaped.

"*Ah!*"

Zixuan gasped, caught mid-air. She landed face-down on the bed, Yichen braced above her, hands planted on either side of her shoulders.

Triumph surged through him—he’d caught her! He gripped her shoulders to flip her over, wanting to scold her properly.

"Heh heh, got you, sis. Think twice before—!"

His voice died abruptly.

Beneath him, Zixuan’s simple dress had slipped. One strap dangled off her shoulder, revealing a long neck, sloping collarbone, and the soft swell of her breast, barely contained.

Shock flashed across Zixuan’s face—then a faint blush spread as she offered a teasing smile. She made no move to adjust the strap.

"Oh? And what exactly does Yichen plan to do with his sister?"

"Sis, I—I..."

She lay utterly unguarded, the near-spill of skin laid bare before him.

"Hmm? Why hesitate?"

Her whisper was a caress. One hand drifted up, tracing slow circles on his chest.

A beast of desire gnawed at his reason. *One touch... and I could have her.*

Her flushed cheeks held no fear—only hazy eyes shimmering with either playful challenge or genuine longing. Was she teasing him? Or... inviting him?

Yichen knew Zixuan’s slender frame hid surprising strength.

*What would she do if I moved?*

*Punch me through the wall? Or...*

Then he noticed it—her legs, tucked beneath him, pressed together ever so slightly.

*She’s ready.*

*One wrong move, and those deceptively delicate legs would deliver a lethal groin kick.*

*She’s my sister. However much she spoils me... this could never happen.*

Yichen snapped back to his senses. He snatched the workbook, scrambled off the bed, and strode back to his desk.

"Hmph. I’m not playing anymore."

"*Huh?*"

He didn’t see Zixuan’s fleeting surprise melt into quiet disappointment as he turned away.

Her gaze grew distant, fixed on his back.

"Fool," she murmured.

Yichen buried himself in his books. Zixuan stayed on the bed.

He stole a glance. She lay on her side, smiling sweetly at him. Heat flooded his cheeks. He forced his eyes back to his studies.

Morning slipped away in their quiet companionship.

***

Around 3 PM, they arrived at Skyvoid Academy. Even on Saturdays, students returned for club activities. Scattered groups dotted the campus paths. Zixuan wore a borrowed Skyvoid uniform, her arm looped through Yichen’s, beaming.

Skyvoid’s girls’ uniform—a modified blue-and-white sailor dress—was famously flattering.

"Why wear our uniform? You’re not even a student here."

"I’ve always wanted to try a high school uniform. It’s lovely~ I wish I could attend school with you, Yichen~"

She twirled before him, white hair and skirt flaring. For a moment, she looked like a foreign exchange student.

Yichen scratched his head.

"Aren’t you the right age? You could enroll too."

He pictured walking to school with her every morning.

"But I have... things to do..."

Zixuan’s voice dropped.

"Sis? What did you say?"

She shook her head, suddenly smiling mysteriously.

"Yichen, I’m actually tens of thousands of years old, you know."

Yichen snorted.

"Trying to fool a kid?"

"It’s true! Don’t believe me?"

"Do I look like a kid to you?!"

Chatting, they reached the gymnasium.

The basketball court was outdoors, flanked by tiered bleachers. Though no pro arena, its 3,000-seat capacity made it one of the best high school facilities around.

As they entered, eyes turned toward them. Yichen stiffened, pretending not to notice. Zixuan walked on, utterly unfazed.

About 500 spectators sat scattered in casual clothes. On the court, two teams stood ready: Skyvoid in white jerseys, Chengkong Academy in blue. Yichen recognized Rong Tianyu—Skyvoid’s third-year captain, tall and rugged-faced—talking with Chengkong’s bespectacled, equally imposing captain.

"Yichen! Over here!"

Zheng Hong, in a white jersey, jogged over. Spotting Zixuan clinging to Yichen’s arm, he paled slightly.

"Y-Yichen... you and Miss Zixuan... the *Chairwoman*... came together?"

"My sister’s here to watch the game."

"O-oh! Right!"

Zheng Hong flushed crimson as Zixuan smiled at him.

"Sis, this is Zheng Hong—a friend from my class. You’ve met him before."

Zixuan nodded politely.

"Hello."

"Y-you too! Our captain needs you. Could you come?"

Yichen hesitated, glancing at Zixuan. A fierce urge to impress her flared. He nodded.

"Alright."

Facing the Skyvoid team, every player gaped. Though they didn’t know Zixuan was Yichen’s sister, her identity as school Chairwoman was campus legend. Many joked that winning her heart meant "living the high life."

"Lin Yichen... you’re something else. Landing the Chairwoman? Never saw *that* coming."

Even the famously bold Rong Tianyu stammered.

Yichen forced a smile.

"She’s my sister."

No one believed him.

Zixuan beamed at the team.

"Hello everyone. I’m Yichen’s sister."

Still, skepticism hung thick. Her arm draped possessively over his left little room for doubt.

Rong Tianyu recovered first.

"Lin Yichen, we’re thrilled you agreed to play. We’re counting on you!"

His voice brimmed with trust.

Yichen nodded.

"I’ll do my best. Why are the Chengkong players staring at me?"

He’d caught their intense gazes.

Rong Tianyu laughed.

"They’re very interested in you."

"In *me*?"

"Remember that one game you played? Someone uploaded footage online. Their captain saw your shots and mentioned you to me. I suggested a friendly match—you might play."

Yichen eyed the Chengkong team’s fired-up expressions. He felt utterly sold out.

"Don’t worry. Winning isn’t the point. I wanted our team to train against strong opponents. You’ll play the last twenty minutes."