After showering, Qinmu stepped out of the bathroom and tossed her chest binder into the laundry basket. With Mom away on business lately, she’d grown lazy and relaxed at home.

"Huixiang, hurry up and shower. Stop watching TV," Qinmu called, patting the couch where Huixiang was glued to the screen, grinning like a fool.

Huixiang sprang up at the words, switched off the TV, and eyed Qinmu—who’d just emerged from the bath—with sweet admiration. "Ah, Onee-sama! You look stunning. That feminine aura of yours? Ordinary girls could never match it."

Qinmu threw a clean set of clothes she’d grabbed from her room right at Huixiang’s face. "Cut the flattery. How old are you? Fetching your clothes for you? Listen—if you don’t shower now, no dinner tonight."

Huixiang snatched the clothes off the floor, snapped a playful salute, and dashed into the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of running water filled the air. Qinmu headed to the kitchen to rinse rice. Through the window, she saw smoke billowing from neighbors’ kitchens, instantly thinned by the cold outside.

Their own kitchen was simple—just a stove, cabinets, and clutter—but spacious enough for Qinmu to move freely. Cooking fell to her naturally: Mom worked late constantly, eldest sister Qingyu was rarely home, and Huixiang avoided kitchens unless food was involved. Qinmu loved cooking anyway, so reality and passion aligned perfectly. Mom had even praised her to Huixiang’s face: "If your brother were a girl, she’d be more ladylike than you." Little did Mom know her wish had come true—Nangong Qinmu *was* a girl now.

After starting the rice cooker, Qinmu began stir-frying: fish-flavored shredded pork, blanched cabbage, and tomato scrambled eggs—Huixiang’s favorite. These dishes were second nature to her. A flick of the wrist, a splash of soy sauce and oil, heat adjustments, and each dish slid perfectly onto porcelain plates. Even Mom, her first cooking teacher, clapped in awe. Qinmu’s meals were heavenly. Mom often rushed home just to eat them, secretly relieved Qinmu was male—no risk of losing her to marriage, meaning endless home-cooked meals.

*Ring-ring!*

*"Todokanai basho wo zutto mitsumeteru / Negai wo himeta tori no yume wo..."*

Her favorite song—the tearjerker theme from Key’s *Air*.

Qinmu turned off the stove and answered in the living room. An unknown number flashed on-screen.

"Hello? Is this Nangong Qinmu?" A crisp, sweet female voice.

"Who’s this? What can I do for you?" Qinmu asked cautiously.

"Waaah! You forgot me? I’m heartbroken! It’s Yufei Han—your online chat buddy from this city!" The voice turned pouty and urgent.

"Oh, *you*. How’d you get this number? What’s up?"

"Heard your school’s sports day is tomorrow—same as ours! I’m coming over. You *will* host me properly."

"Sorry, I’ll be swamped tomorrow. Might not have time to tour you around. Just... explore on your own? It’ll be lively." Qinmu hedged carefully.

"Seriously? No manners at all! A girl visits your school—you, a *boy*, should welcome her! ‘Just wander’? What’s there to see? I came to see *you*—I mean, the *games*!" Yufei nearly slipped but caught herself.

"Fine. If I’m free, I’ll show you around. If not... you can stick with me, though it’ll be boring."

***CRASH!***

A shattering sound erupted from the bathroom, followed by Huixiang’s scream.

Panic seized Qinmu. She dropped the phone on the couch and bolted toward the bathroom. The phone auto-disconnected after seconds of silence.

"Hello?! HEY!!" Yufei yelled into the dead line. *Call ended.* She checked the signal—full bars. Redialing only triggered the robotic reply: *"The user you’re calling isn’t available. Please try later..."*

Qinmu slid the bathroom door open. "Huixiang! Are you okay?!" Her voice trembled with worry.

Huixiang had slipped on the wet floor. Pain shot through her body. She cradled her throbbing thigh, tears welling. "Onee-sama... help me up. I can’t move. It hurts... and it’s freezing!"

Qinmu averted her eyes, flustered. "I—I can’t! Brothers and sisters shouldn’t see each other naked!"

Huixiang snapped, "What ‘brother’? You’re a *girl* now! Hurry up, you idiot sister!"

Qinmu turned back—and froze. Huixiang lay sprawled naked on the tiles. Her foot was numb from hitting the wall; her arm bled from a gash scraped against something sharp, crimson droplets staining the floor.

Qinmu’s heart clenched. She forced her gaze past... *certain areas*. Huixiang was right—they were both girls now. This was fine. She knelt, hooked Huixiang’s arm over her shoulder, and lifted her slender waist, guiding her to sit on the washroom stool. Then she sprinted to draw every curtain in the living room. Returning, she gently patted Huixiang dry with a clean towel. Huixiang squirmed, giggling. "Stop touching me, Onee-sama! It tickles!"

Yet she didn’t pull away. After years of failed attempts to get close to her brother, this intimacy as sisters felt like a twisted victory.

Qinmu’s cheeks flushed with annoyance. "So careless! Thank goodness I’m a girl now. What if I were still your brother?"

Huixiang grinned mischievously. "Then today, I’d let Brother have his way with me~"

Qinmu scowled. "Nangong Huixiang! Are you insane? I’m your *sister*. Do you plan to cling to me forever? Brat—you daydream too much. I’ll tell Mom and spill all your secrets!"

Huixiang smirked, holding up a finger. "Then *your* secret’s out too, Onee-sama."

"You... fine. I won’t tell." Qinmu stiffened, flustered by the near-confession.

"Now fetch my clothes! How long will you stare?" Huixiang patted Qinmu’s shoulder, then winked. "Or do you *like* seeing me naked? Ew! Sis, you’re such a pervert!"

Qinmu’s face burned. "Nonsense! Why would I—?!"

"Would you like *what*?" Huixiang teased.

"Ugh! I won’t help you dress. Sit there naked!" Qinmu crossed her arms, stubbornly ignoring the clothes within arm’s reach.

Huixiang pouted. "Be reasonable! If I could dress myself, I’d have done it in the bathroom!"

Sighing, Qinmu helped her into dry clothes, careful to avoid her wounds, then guided her to her bedroom bed.

Huixiang giggled. "Brother~ You’ve seen all of me now. If I can’t marry later, it’s your fault."

Qinmu flushed. "I’m a *girl* too! What’s there to lose?"

"Emotional damage! Physical damage! *Damage!*" Huixiang protested the "assault without responsibility."

"Fine! I’ll compensate you!"

"Nope. I want kisses and hugs."

"You’re so clingy! I’m your *sister*, not your boyfriend—"

"Sis, turn on the TV. And scoot me over."

"...Fine."

Leaving Huixiang’s room, Qinmu’s head spun from the visual overload. *Stop it. I’m a girl too. Why am I thinking weird things?* She shook her head. Since becoming female, Huixiang had grown bolder—teasing her, saying things she’d never dared before. Qinmu was baffled... but maybe sisterhood had finally bridged their old divide. She pushed the thoughts aside and carried dinner to Huixiang’s room.

Placing the tray on the nightstand, she found Huixiang glaring. "Do I look like I can feed myself? *Feed me*."

Helpless, Qinmu spooned rice into her mouth. Huixiang beamed up at her, savoring every bite.

"We’re going to the hospital after this," Qinmu said firmly, eyeing Huixiang’s swollen leg. "If untreated, this could cause permanent damage. Ruin your life."

"Okay... but you carry me, Onee-sama~"

"Obviously."

After dinner, Qinmu supported Huixiang toward the nearest clinic. Huixiang groaned after a few steps, refusing to walk.

Qinmu crouched down. "Get on my back."

Huixiang climbed on, but Qinmu staggered under the weight. "Seriously, Huixiang—you eat *way* too much. No dieting? I can barely carry you!"

HuiXiang whispered coyly into Qinmu’s ear, “Hmph. If Sister can still carry me, it means you’re heavier than me. So you’re the one who really needs to lose weight.”

Qinmu immediately denied it. “Nonsense. I’ve weighed myself properly—it’s been around 116 pounds lately. That’s normal for a girl, right?”

“I’m only 110 pounds♪~” HuiXiang hummed a light tune, utterly relaxed. Being lighter than Qinmu made her heart swell with quiet satisfaction.

“Then you stay skinny,” Qinmu said, too tired to argue. Admitting it wouldn’t change anything anyway.

“Sister, you’re giving up~ giving up~” HuiXiang laughed heartily, almost forgetting the pain she’d just endured.

“Yeah, HuiXiang, I surrender. So please stay still, okay? I’m exhausted.” Qinmu tightened her grip on HuiXiang’s restless legs, afraid she’d drop her and cause more injury.

“Okay, Sister. I’ll be quiet and still. Just carry me to the hospital.”

---Inpatient Department

HuiXiang lay on the hospital bed. After an emergency checkup, her wounds had been disinfected and cleaned.

The doctor spoke worriedly to Qinmu: HuiXiang’s leg had suffered a heavy blow, resulting in a minor fracture. Her wrist was bruised too. She’d need to stay hospitalized for two or even three weeks before discharge.

Qinmu felt deep unease. With tomorrow’s sports meet looming, caring for HuiXiang tonight was already her biggest challenge. Staying up all night would leave her drained and unsteady tomorrow.

Minutes later, a nurse entered, clipboard in hand. “Are you the patient’s sister?”

Qinmu nodded. “Yes. What is it?”

The nurse spoke calmly. “Please sign these admission forms. Then get prescriptions from the doctor, and pick up medicine downstairs…”

Qinmu hadn’t been to a hospital in ages. The procedures felt foreign. After finally sorting everything out and returning to the room with medicine, she leaned against the window for a moment. Gazing at the starry sky, her restlessness faded into calm.

Then Mom called, asking about the mess in the bathroom.

Qinmu softened her tone. “HuiXiang had a fall. She’s at the hospital now.”

“A fall? In the bathroom?” Mom guessed right—she’d spotted a trace of crimson blood there. “How is she? I’m coming right now.” No parent could stay calm when their child was hurt.

“She has a minor fracture. She’ll be hospitalized for a while and can’t go to school.” Qinmu answered honestly. No white lies here.

“Qinmu, stay with her. I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay.”

Qinmu hung up and stared at the moonlight spilling over the world. She let out a long sigh.

Turning, she watched HuiXiang in bed—one hand in a cast, the other scrolling her phone. Scolding her felt wrong now. Qinmu sat quietly on the bedside chair, thinking hard: Who’d care for HuiXiang by day? Medicine doses? Bathroom needs? Sickness was never easy. Money wasn’t the issue—Mom’s salary covered expenses, and Dad’s remittances helped. But the time and mental strain weighed heavily. Who’d handle daily routines?

“Sister, why so gloomy?” HuiXiang had just finished a funny comic and turned to Qinmu’s pensive face.

“No. Did you take your medicine? I’ll get water.” Qinmu unclasped her tightly held hands and walked dazedly to the table. The water bottle was nearly empty.

She hurried out to the hot water room nearby. The cold air sharpened her senses. Just then, Mom called again. Qinmu answered quickly.

“Mom? What’s wrong?”

“HuiXiang? I called Qinmu’s phone.” Mom sounded confused by the voice.

Qinmu snapped fully awake. “Sorry, Mom. I get hoarse when tired.”

“Oh? That’s interesting. I’m almost there. Room number?”

“Inpatient Department, 12th floor, Room 1201.” Qinmu glanced at the sign as she walked back with the water bottle.

“Wait for me.” Mom hung up, removed her purple scarf, and hurried in leather shoes past the main building toward the inpatient ward.

Soon, she pushed open the door. “HuiXiang? Qinmu? This room?”

Qinmu smiled faintly. “Mom, you made it.”

“How’s HuiXiang?” Mom’s eyes filled with worry and guilt as she looked at her daughter.

“Mom, I’m fine! Thanks to Sister—ah, Brother’s care, I’m much better.” HuiXiang grinned, trying to sit up despite the pain, hiding her discomfort to spare Mom worry.

“Don’t move! The doctor said to ask me first.” Qinmu rushed to support her back, propping up pillows for comfort.

“Qinmu, thank you for taking such good care of your sister. I’ll handle tomorrow.” Mom’s eyes grew moist, touched by their sibling bond.

“But Mom, you have work. I can manage alone.” Qinmu frowned, thinking fast. “Or… I could ask Sister Xiaoling. She might be free.”

“Sister Xiaoling’s at university in River City. She’s busy. Sister Qingyu’s coming back soon—she can help.” HuiXiang showed her phone: a chat with Qingyu from that morning.

“Qingyu’s returning? Why didn’t she tell me?” Mom’s face darkened with hurt. Her eldest daughter hadn’t even informed her.

“Sister Qingyu made me promise secrecy.” HuiXiang winked, smiling mysteriously.

“Sister’s coming back?” Qinmu’s hands clenched. Panic flickered under her calm, hiding a surge of anger.

Time had dulled the pain, but memories never faded. Qinmu still saw that rainy night four years ago: Qingyu dragging her suitcase, no goodbye, vanishing in their father’s car. Qinmu had chased until her legs gave out…

For four years, Qingyu had been like a kite with a snapped string—distant from Qinmu, only texting HuiXiang. Just hearing “Australia” made Qinmu furious. She’d torn Australia from maps and ripped every page about it from her geography textbook. The burning paper scraps carried away her childhood love for Qingyu…

“I’ll call her. HuiXiang will have company.” Mom smiled warmly, pulling out her phone to dial across the ocean.

Qinmu sat stiffly in the chair, head bowed, pressing her temples. Locked memories surged back, choking her tears. She wanted to cry but couldn’t.

*“Qinmu, this is your gift. Open it.”*

*“Wow, Sister! The latest RC car! Thank you!”*

*“You love it? I’m so happy. Little Qinmu and HuiXiang are both adorable. I love you both.”*

*“Sister smells so nice.”*

*“Silly kid. Am I pretty?”*

*“Of course! Because you’re Qinmu’s sister.”*

*“Then Qinmu will be beautiful too. You look so much like a girl. If you stay this way, you’ll be popular at school.”*

*“Sister… I’m not a girl…”*