If Nalan Madam was the Empress Dowager in the inner court of my mind, then Little Qiuqian was the precocious Little Princess—even if she was too early to grasp the throne.

Unbeknownst to me, my patience had been completely worn thin by the fervent enthusiasm of Miss Qianqiu. My half-baked understanding of that dark prince couldn’t possibly keep up with Nalan Qianqiu's expert analysis. At best, I could offer a feigned outrage and melodramatic gasp when I was "spoiled" about the taboo romance between the Jiang brothers.

It was hardly unexpected—how could a magazine aimed at teenage girls not feature a hint of "rotten culture," dreamy flower-filled skies, and sharp-jawed heartthrobs with long legs? It’s practically a formula for success in commercial fiction: harems, reverse harems, gut-wrenching angst, fanservice, and plenty of... well, scandalous moments. In that respect, Yuzuru Sensei's popularity started to make a conspicuous sort of sense.

But still—how could the female lead’s biggest enemy end up being her utterly harmless little brother? That... that’s absolutely deranged!

"By the way, have you finished your homework yet?"

With no customers around to distract me, I was forced to cut through Little Qiuqian's endless chatter.

Nalan Qianqiu yawned and stretched lazily. "Of course I’ve finished it! I even caught up with all the new anime episodes before coming down here to offer my royal condolences."

I nodded approvingly—a sense of triumph creeping up despite my rather shameless nature as a bad student who’d sooner skip homework than copy answers. Pretending seniority had its perks, though, and it was particularly amusing to imagine becoming Qiuqian’s stepdad one day. Ah, how lofty a dream!

It was a warmth—a dignity—that I hadn’t felt in a long time when dealing with Jiang Xiaoyu. The principle of "elder brother equals father" was clearly lost on him entirely!

"Alright then, off to bed, okay?"

Nalan Qianqiu rubbed her eyes and nodded dazedly. Then, like a zombie resurrecting, she held out her hands to me—her large, innocent eyes staring intently.

"What’s... this supposed to mean?"

Nalan puffed up her cheeks, pouting indignantly. "Idiot—when a girl stretches out her arms, she wants you to carry her! That’s a boyfriend’s job, don't you know?"

"Fine, fine, whatever you say."

I scooped up Qianqiu’s delicate, pillow-soft frame and carried her up the stairs. Of course, I didn’t take her words seriously—after all, if every little word from a grade schooler was treated as gospel, it wouldn’t take long for people to label me as some kind of deviant. To me, "boyfriend duties" translated neatly into "fatherly responsibilities," and it was another satisfying step closer to domestic musings. A happy progression, one might say.

"Do you even know what a boyfriend means?"

"Of course I do! Stop treating me like a kid!"

Qianqiu’s ahoge sprang upright with sudden defiance as she jabbed my face with one accusatory index finger.

Who told me this sort of thing? Words like hers were already proof they were still kids. No matter how prematurely her mind had been poisoned by scandalous dramas, she couldn't possibly grasp the real meaning of relationships—a bond pure, reciprocated, and detached from sordid transactions.

"Alright then. So tell me—what’s the difference between the primary sexual characteristics of boys and girls?"

"Um... um, well, boys stand when they... uh, pee, and girls squat!"

Not technically textbook science, but not wrong either?

"How’s that for an answer?"

Qianqiu tilted her chin triumphantly, though her dissatisfaction with being carried like an infant was all too clear.

Honestly, she was leagues ahead of me when I was her age. Back then, I didn’t even understand why there were two separate bathrooms. I mostly mocked Xiaoyu for having weak muscles that forced him to squat like the girls...

"Alright, alright, you’re not a kid. You’re... a loli."

"There's no difference! Hmph. If I’m a loli, then you’re a lolicon!"

"My apologies, but I only date older sisters, thank you very much—the petite, sultry type that practically begs to be swept off her feet."

"Rude! You just wait—ten years… no, seven or eight years from now, I’ll be so big up here you won’t be able to say that anymore!"

Little Qiuqian reddened, fiercely covering her flat chest in embarrassment, even though I hadn’t said anything remotely triggering.

Her room was an explosion of adorableness—stuffed high and low with oversized plushies. Small as her bed was, two life-sized dolls had already claimed the left and right spots: one Totoro, one Snorlax. It gave the place a cozy, charming atmosphere that simply invited people to leap in.

"The boss lady never told you boys weren’t allowed in girls’ rooms?" I teased idly, surveying the room for her reply.

Qiuqian kicked off her fluffy slippers, diving headlong into Totoro’s cuddly embrace. "She did! But in her eyes, you don't count as a boy—and besides, that rule only applies to strangers. You’re my blue friend! Not a stranger."

Blue friend? What's that supposed to mean—mascot employee?

My chest tightened dramatically as if I’d taken an arrow straight to the heart. "Why... do I feel completely unflattered?"

Qiuqian fixed her big, puppy-like eyes on me once again. "What now?"

"Two people, alone in a room together—don’t you have anything to say or… uh, anything you want to do?" Qianqiu licked her lips, perched atop Snorlax’s fluffy stomach like an inquisitive fox.

Two people, sure, but lonely’s too generous—and I’m not buying the "maiden of solitude" angle. She’s an overripe loli at most. Scratching my head awkwardly, I managed a polite bow instead. "Greetings, Princess."

"That’s not fair game!"

She slowly closed her eyes, lashes trembling slightly as though awaiting... something. Her pose was undeniably adorable.

"Enough games. Good night."

I shook my head and smiled before gently closing the door behind me.

Watching the door swing shut with a quiet clang, Qiuqian was left clutching Snorlax’s throat in pure disbelief as she kicked, punched, and wailed. "Idiot! Girls close their eyes because they want to be kissed!"

By the time I descended the stairs, rain streaked across the glass windows in soft, silvery streams. The faint rustling outside mingled with the ticking of a clock, ushering in the realization that it was already late.

A black sedan rolled up smoothly outside the store, and from the driver’s side, a man stepped out with practiced elegance, raising an umbrella as he opened the passenger-side door.

Two sleek legs emerged first, clad in high-heeled shoes, followed by a figure I could never have guessed would appear at this hour—Madam Nalan stepped out, the faint gloss of her tortoiseshell glasses and sleek tailored suit standing in stark contrast to her usual calm. The well-read, leisure-loving widow I knew had transformed into a sharp and poised business executive. Even her chilling, stormy expression nearly robbed her of recognition.

She nodded curtly to the driver before he departed, leaving only the melancholy chime of the bell above my shop door as she strode inside.

Madam Nalan’s stern features softened slightly upon seeing me, and she removed her glasses to rub at her temple. Leaning against my shoulder, she teased casually, "Not curious?"

Curious? Of course I was curious. What would lead a diligent bookstore owner and modest mother to suddenly channel the air of a corporate mogul? But I’d long outgrown the impulsive, face-first curiosity of youth. Everyone has their unspeakable sides—digging too deep is an invitation for unwelcome truths. Just like the elusive Yuzuru Sensei. Or the strange old priest. Or Mary the nun. Or... me.

"The last time I became curious about a woman, let’s just say it almost ruined me."

I reluctantly guided her elegant yet weary figure toward the sofa and poured her a cup of oolong tea.

Madam Nalan took the cup with a faint smile, her posture relaxing as she sank into the cushions. "What a sweet young man. No wonder Qianqiu’s so fond of you. Even that little Xiaoyu taught you well, didn’t he? Keep this up and I might have trouble living without you myself."

"Isn’t that the long game?"

Having become accustomed to caring for the dazzlingly disorderly Cici, I began massaging the stiff joints of Madam Nalan’s neck instinctively.

She glanced sidelong at me and chuckled. "Silver-tongued scoundrel. Careful not to joke too much. Ah—less pressure, dear! Where’s Qianqiu?"

"She’s already asleep upstairs. But good heavens, your neck is practically stone—how? You don’t strike me as the frazzled type."

Her laughter was soft yet knowing. "With you looking after her, I can rest assured at least."

I eased off, hesitating for a moment before murmuring, "What if I wasn’t joking?"

Madam Nalan turned slowly, narrowing her eyes as though dissecting me piece by piece. An eternity passed before she finally shook her head. "You’re just a boy trying to grow up too fast. The more seriousness you feign, the more glaring your naivety. Do you understand?"

Fresh off a scolding from Little Qiuqian and now faced with Madam Nalan’s gentle rebuke, I gritted my teeth. But for once, her words stung deeper than mere playfulness, and I asked stubbornly, "What does that mean?”

She sighed quietly, the barest trace of pity rippling in her gaze. "You’re looking for someone else’s shadow. That's all. Am I wrong?"

Her words struck as cold as a winter bell toll, and, for the life of me, I couldn’t summon a retort. Everything caught in my chest, tangled and inert.

"Hey—!"

I yelped in pain as Madam Nalan flicked her slim finger against my forehead.

Despite her uncharacteristic action, her smile shone with warmth. She pinched my cheek lightly and whispered, "Were you anyone else, I might have thrown you into the lake to feed fish for daring to pine for me as a replacement. But... you? For all your blundering honesty, I don’t mind you."

Her voice lingered with unexpected compassion. “When you truly figure out who you are—when you recognize what you're searching for—ask yourself again if this place feels like home. If your heart still answers yes, then I’ll be waiting.”