No mistake about it: this mature beauty, blending the vibrant charm of a college student with the poised confidence of a career woman, is my older sister, Ouyang Qian. Her name is pronounced "Qian" with the fourth tone, and her nickname is Xi Xi.
She’s the kind of laid-back person who can push slave master Jiang Xiaoyu to give her all. Whether it’s height or figure, Xiaoyu can’t compare to Sis Xi. But my sister has youth and liveliness on her side. Just look at Mom’s graceful elegance—you can tell Xiaoyu hasn’t grown into a "big shark" yet. Her potential is limitless, so for now, they’re evenly matched rivals.
"Sis Xi."
Xiaoyu greeted her flatly, on guard as if facing a formidable foe, not daring to move.
"Mmm, I thought you’d be swamped too! Good thing I got back first!" Ouyang Qian climbed off the sofa, grinning as she sat beside Xiaoyu. She patted little Lian’s head, then stuffed fancy dumplings and cold dishes into her mouth while announcing, "I’m starting!"
"Slow down, there’s plenty more," Mom said with a gentle smile. Ouyang Lian cheerfully handed her bowl to her sister.
Damn, that’s the assertiveness an older woman should have. Idiot female PhDs are nothing compared to this. The dinner table warmed up again, harmonious as ever.
She silently dissolved the awkwardness, in complete control, smoothing things over without a trace. Even when talking to herself, she didn’t seem embarrassed. Her seemingly rough eating was actually precise and efficient, maintaining grace. Most impressively, she devoured the disastrous dish without batting an eye—a classic scheming, carnivorous-type woman. If someone asked me right now what femininity is, I’d point straight at Sis Xi across the table without hesitation.
Just then, a soft, fluffy sensation brushed my leg. What the? I glanced around with a weird look, reached down to touch it—and found a plump, slender calf resting right on my thigh. That feeling... stockings.
Sis Xi blushed, shooting me a reproachful glance, but didn’t pull her leg away. Instead, she doubled down, placing her other leg on mine too. Like a cat, she rubbed against my legs, using me as a sofa to rest freely.
"What were you talking about just now? Keep going, don’t leave me out!" Ouyang Qian said without missing a beat.
"We were just saying Brother Lan is super popular at school!" Lian added with relish, deftly skipping over Xiaoyu’s words to return to the awkward starting point. After all, "popular" is usually for girls, right? What scheme was this two-faced little devil plotting now?
Detective Sis Xi’s eyes turned sharp instantly. She sized me up like a wife eyeing a cheating husband. "Hmph, so Lan has finally reached the age of raging hormones? Don’t you dare two-time anyone!"
With those two tempting calves on my lap, it was hard to stay calm. Two boats? I’d capsize with even one! I stammered, "Don’t listen to Lian’s nonsense. I barely have any friends, let alone popularity."
Mom propped her chin on one hand, studying my profile with concern. "Maybe you really should get a haircut. Being too reclusive isn’t good."
These are completely unrelated things! Why is Mom still hung up on this? Personally, I think a long ponytail like Sasaki Kojiro’s—or even one as long as a clothesline pole—has masculine charm. Why does mine get labeled feminine? Wait, big sister Kanzaki Kaori’s floor-length ponytail is pretty alluring too...
"Confess! Do you have a girlfriend?" Sis Xi demanded, pointing chopsticks at me angrily.
"No!"
"A boyfriend then?" Ouyang Lian chimed in.
"Even more impossible!" I flicked Lian’s forehead. Having this gossip-loving little sister at the same school was terrifying.
Xiaoyu cleared her throat pointedly. "It’s about time. Since we’ve finished eating, we should go." At the same moment, excruciating pain shot through my left foot. Was this some kind of combo retreat signal? What a painful realization!
I echoed pale-faced, "Ah... yeah."
"Huh? In a hurry? You rarely visit!"
"Yeah, stay tonight! The rooms are all ready!" Mom looked at Xiaoyu eagerly, as if she held all the power. I was completely treated like a freebie with a phone top-up. Yep, like a freebie—twice for emphasis.
"But I have evening study hall. It’s almost time." Xiaoyu’s expression was convincingly apologetic, yet faintly distant, perfectly showing her helplessness. Damn it, she never treats me like this normally!
Normally, anyone would back down. But this wasn’t normal, and big sister wasn’t a pushover. Sis Xi secretly hooked her feet around my thighs, oil stains still on her face, yet she declared righteously, "Let me talk to your teacher. Even with college entrance exams important, occasional rest is necessary!"
Xiaoyu said with difficulty, "No, really, it’s fine. Getting on the teacher’s bad side isn’t good. Brother needs serious tutoring too." When was the last time I heard "Brother" from Xiaoyu’s mouth? Two years ago? Three? I couldn’t remember... Sadly, I wasn’t in any tutoring classes. The only one at the table who didn’t know I skipped school was my naive mom, who believed everything I said.
But with the "Lightning Poison Dragon Drill" on my foot, I nodded with a face full of fake eagerness.
Sis Xi’s lips curled slightly, as if hearing a huge joke. She gave me an "extremely gentle" look that meant: shut up and behave.
"Let’s not mention a certain hardworking student. Xiaoyu, you’re at No.1 High, right? I graduated from there too. Come to think of it, Principal Cui probably hasn’t retired yet—he absolutely hates teachers giving private lessons for extra cash..."
Highly effective. Xiaoyu’s eyes darted away, and the pressure on my foot lightened. A top student like her, beautiful and talented, didn’t need tutoring. Her evenings were spent on random classes—dance or piano? Lately, she’d been sneaking out without even telling me.
Propping her cheek, Sis Xi pressed on, "Could it be a boyfriend? Well, if so, there’s nothing to be done. Mom’s not stubborn. As long as grades aren’t affected, mutual things like that are perfectly allowed."
"Whoosh! Whoosh! With Sister Xiaoyu’s high standards, her boyfriend must be super handsome!" Lian whistled, eager to stir up trouble.
Only Mom glanced at me with slight worry, head down, silent. But I had no time to notice this oddity.
Boyfriend!? That was a real possibility. My first reaction was to purse my lips and stare straight at Xiaoyu, searching for any trace of shyness. My heart felt sour and uneasy.
"Hah?" Xiaoyu’s surprise mirrored mine, and I inexplicably relaxed. She fidgeted, "N-no, it’s just a tutoring class I signed up for myself."
"Then it’s even less of an issue! Our family rarely eats together—you can’t run off!" With a few words, Sis Xi dissolved Xiaoyu’s excuses. No wonder—she was an experienced overseas returnee. She must be a skilled maneuverer at Uncle’s company too. I keenly noticed Xiaoyu’s face darken, her lips twisting into a "tsk."
"I know you’re picky about beds, so I won’t force you to stay overnight. But at least sit a while longer? I have things to tell you," Mom added softly, as if she were the guilty little girl. The mother-daughter roles were completely reversed...
The slave master finally nodded reluctantly. "Just a little while, okay? I really have things to do."
With Mom’s words, the two daughters—older and younger—though reluctant, stopped insisting. I breathed a sigh of relief too. On the bed-picky point, Xiaoyu and I stood firm. The older and younger sisters were indeed smart and likable girls. What made me accept this blended family was mostly that from the first glance, they always treated me as a man.
But the problem was right there. Whenever I stayed overnight at Uncle’s house, late at night when I was half-asleep, there’d always be an extra person in my bed... That was the most terrifying thing.
After a barely satisfactory dinner, Sis Xi refused my help and volunteered to clear the dishes, bustling in the kitchen with Mom. Just as I was about to return to the slave master’s side to watch TV, a small hand pulled me into a little room.
