In the end, I still went back to the hotel for a nap—ironically, right back to my original plan. When I woke up that afternoon, Yejia Yin stood by my bedside and tossed out:

"Time to eat out."

The car ride felt endless, like crossing the entire city. We arrived at a quiet, elegant Chinese restaurant and entered the innermost private room. The attendants went to another room.

Inside, a young man in a sharp suit sat across the round table. His face looked familiar. Spotting us, he jumped up and bowed exaggeratedly. "Boss Ye! Good to see you!"

"Like hell it is," Yejia Yin snapped, glaring. "Bringing this many people, making such a fuss—planning a fight?"

"Ahem," he scratched his head awkwardly. "Provincial City isn’t our turf. I worried you and sister-in-law might get bullied. Where is she, anyway?"

Strange. This guy looked over twenty, yet called fifteen-year-old Yejia Yin "Boss Ye" like an elder. Sister-in-law? Boss Ye? Sister-in-law?

That’s me!

Just as Yejia Yin opened her mouth, a knock came at the door. She stepped out, exchanged quick words, then said, "You two start eating," closing the door behind her.

Only us two guys remained. The moment she left, he slung an arm around my shoulders. "Hey bro, what’s your name?"

"Luo… Luo Xiaoyao." I hesitated slightly—the second syllable in third tone, a feminine touch.

"Tsk. Sounds like a girl’s name." Exactly as I’d feared. He patted my shoulder. "I’m Lin Dong. Call me Brother Dong."

"Okay, Brother Dong."

"Xiao Luo," he poured me soda, clinking cups. "Still in school, right? No alcohol for you. What’s your role under Boss Ye?"

I sipped lightly. "Just a follower."

"Tch. Lying," he raised an eyebrow. "Boss Ye’s so close to you—you must be family. A distant relative?"

Close? I recalled her icy glare, even when I borrowed her phone. I chuckled weakly. "I guess so."

His eyes lit up. "Xiao Luo, have you seen sister-in-law these days?"

Sister-in-law? Me. I twitched my lips inwardly. "No. No chance."

"Right. Few have seen her. Boss Ye treasures her, hides her away."

No—she hides me because most visitors want me dead.

"Listen," he leaned in, whispering, "they say sister-in-law’s so beautiful she doesn’t look human. You must see her. Snap a photo to share!"

I’m not human—I’m a Nine-Tailed Fox demon. And seeing her? I’ll check the mirror.

"But tomorrow’s wedding—you’ll see her there, right?"

He gasped, thumbs-upping me. We chatted wildly—games, girls, nonsense—calling each other "bro" by the time Yejia Yin returned.

We sprang apart, coughing to act innocent. But a powerhouse like her heard everything through the door. She gave us a strange look, then sat down, amused.

"Having fun?" Her half-smile hinted at mischief.

"Fun! Fun!" Lin Dong chirped, digging his grave: "Brother Luo’s worldly—we hit it off!"

"Oh?" Yejia Yin arched an eyebrow. "What did you call him?"

I kicked him under the table. He ignored it. "Brother Luo. He looks school-aged."

"He is," she said flatly. "But earlier, didn’t you call him sister-in-law?"

"What?" He blinked, confused, glancing between us. "Boss Ye, what does this mean?"

"Well," I weakly raised my hand, voice soft. "I’m the bride marrying your Boss Ye tomorrow. This look’s just an illusion."

"Pfft!" Lin Dong spat out his baijiu, eyes wide. "Sis… you’re sister-in-law?!"

"Brother Dong—"

"No! Sister-in-law, my dear sister-in-law—never call me brother!"