So uncomfortable. Can't breathe.

As my brain regained consciousness, my first thought surfaced: my eyelids felt as heavy as if a whole family lived on them. Worse, my body wouldn't move. Could this be legendary sleep paralysis!?

"So heavy... so weighty... this pressure—could it be Snorlax's Body Slam?"

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

The stinging pain on my face snapped me back to reality. I opened my bloodshot eyes, bewildered, staring at the small face inches away.

Jiang Xiaoyu's cheeks were flushed. Mine must be just as red—but from slaps. Only our household's "slave master" could deliver such a relentless barrage. So it wasn't Snorlax. It was wild little Jiang Xiaoyu bursting from the grass to unleash a combo of palm strikes.

I yelled angrily, "What are you doing so early in the morning!?"

"Hmph~ If you can't even bear your little sister's weight, are you even a man? Maybe you should just find work at a brothel (our other home) instead."

Her anger was weird. Girls hate being called Snorlax, right? But I hadn't lied. The fantasy that little sisters are always light as winged angels was wrong! Delusion is delusion. No matter how slender Jiang Xiaoyu was, having her whole body pin me down really did make breathing hard and nightmares real.

Xiaoyu seemed freshly awake too, storming into my room in just a tiny tank top and bare thighs. I wasn't mistaken—below her waist, only cotton panties covered her. Her hair draped softly over her shoulders as she lay thoughtfully across me, studying my face.

Even without the classic anime childhood-friend wake-up call of diving under my covers, this pose was plenty awkward. Seeing her state clearly, my swollen face burned redder. I coughed. "Get off first. You're not a kid anymore. Why barge in dressed like this?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean 'why'? I should ask why you rushed over so early."

Jiang Xiaoyu shook her head, tracing circles on my chest with one finger. Maybe it was my imagination or morning grogginess, but her gaze was unexpectedly tender today. "I didn't mean that. I asked why you want me to get off."

"Huh? Don't you think this position is... inappropriate?"

"It is uncomfortable. Poking me. So, virgins, huh..." Xiaoyu's cheeks flushed peach-red as she giggled, propping her chin up. Her jade-white legs swung lazily behind her. She'd noticed my... reaction. Humiliation burned hotter. Her fox-like eyes narrowed to slits as she whispered, "Hey... do you really not like this?"

Was this a dream? A delusion? If it were a dream, I'd have woken during the slaps. Every heartbeat pressed against the full weight on my chest. The "slave master" draped over me now purred like a cat craving affection. Such a stark shift could make even the most devout monk break his vows. I finally realized my little Xiaoyu had grown into a bewitching siren. When she dropped her guard, no one could resist her allure.

I should've been heart-racing, utterly flustered by this scene. But Jiang Xiaoyu's odd tension made me sense something off.

"You're nervous. Why?"

A flicker of shock crossed Jiang Xiaoyu's face, then a wistful smile. She balled her hand into a tiny fist. I yanked the blanket over my face—but she only tapped my forehead lightly. "Nothing gets past you. Weird. How's a dummy like you so sharp about this stuff when you're clueless about everything else..."

I peeked out cautiously. "What do you mean?"

Jiang Xiaoyu leaned down, wrapping her arms around my head. With half my face still buried, it felt like attempted siblicide. She murmured in my ear, "Don't talk."

Her hair tickled my ear. The faint orchid-musk scent mixed with shampoo foam seemed to itch deep in my chest. Was this really Jiang Xiaoyu—the "perfect little sister" treatment? My heart hammered harder. I blurted out, "Kiss me?"

"Kiss my sister."

Xiaoyu didn't scold my joke. She hummed dreamily, hugging so tight I felt her body tremble slightly. She was nervous, maybe scared too. But why? What could shake this fearless girl's confidence?

*You are my sister*, I wanted to say—but it felt wrong. Unsure how to comfort her, I stiffly patted her back from under the blanket.

"I'm going to do something very important."

What? A school trip?

This rare closeness made me want to laugh. I held it back—getting beaten was guaranteed otherwise. "Important?"

Xiaoyu nodded.

"But you lack confidence?"

Another nod.

So this was just an emergency hotline call. Relief washed over me, restoring my big-brother dignity. How long had it been since this troublesome siren relied on me?

"Are you not working hard enough? Or not smart enough?"

Jiang Xiaoyu shook her head fiercely.

"Then that's enough. Just do your part and give it your all. Don't overthink. I believe in you."

She lifted her head, staring intently into my eyes. "Really?"

I nodded solemnly. "Really!"

As if granted approval, a light I'd never seen sparked in Jiang Xiaoyu's eyes—yearning, anticipation, fervor. Suddenly, unease gripped me. What was she planning?

"But... speaking of which, you really are a hopeless pervert."

The mood shifted instantly. Slave master Jiang Xiaoyu reverted to her usual sneering expression, cool tone, and proud attitude. She smirked at me like a disappointing child. "Getting turned on by your own sister? Seriously. Virgins, huh..."

One second warm sibling talk—the next this!

Shame and fury made me shrink under the blanket. "It's a normal physiological reaction, okay!?"

Jiang Xiaoyu shrugged, as if to say *explain all you want*. She whistled casually, climbing off. Slipping on slippers, she headed for the door. At the threshold, she waved. "I'm leaving for a few days starting today. I mentioned it before. Not sure when I'll be back—I'll call if needed. But if I return and find you 'mingling' at that brothel (our other home) with those flirtatious women (Mom and my sisters)... heh. You'll regret it."

The door slammed shut. My perfect, lazy weekend morning vanished with the slave master. Jiang Xiaoyu had wrung me dry—I lay there, utterly lifeless, wide awake, too drained to wonder what that brat was up to.

Outside, Jiang Xiaoyu in her light outfit hadn't left. Leaning against the wall, she hesitated. Glancing at the MUA debut performance ticket for Cosmic Arena tomorrow afternoon, she sighed and tore it to pieces.