"Huff... huff..."

Lingyuan leaned against the door, panting heavily. He’d covered three kilometers in just over ten minutes—the fastest he’d ever run in his life.

As expected, he was drenched head to toe. Puddles formed instantly beneath his feet wherever he stood.

Just as he fumbled for his keys, his eyes caught the umbrella propped by the door—still damp. He knew it well: a polished wooden handle, deep black fabric, clearly not some cheap twenty-dollar thing.

*She’s here again...*

The cold bit deep, his soaked clothes clinging to his skin. *If I don’t shower soon, I’ll catch a cold.*

Lingyuan twisted the key. The door swung open with a *clatter*—and his gaze met...

"Huh...?"

"Eh...?"

Yanxi stood in the living room, freshly showered and completely naked. Her eyes widened in shock. One hand flew to cover herself as she shrieked:

"Waaah—Big Brother’s a PERV!"

"Holy shit!" Lingyuan slammed the door shut, pressing his back hard against it.

*Damn. I must’ve opened the door wrong. Had to be...*

But the door clicked open again. Yanxi’s voice drifted out:

"Come in already!"

"You decent?"

Lingyuan hesitated, unwilling to trust the situation.

"Yes!"

Only then did he step inside.

"What the hell are you—" He froze. "This is *decent*?"

Yanxi had wrapped herself in nothing but a snow-white towel—a half-hearted attempt at coverage. Any teenage boy would’ve felt his pulse race at the sight.

After all, Yanxi was easily the most stunning girl at Hengjiang High. Her glossy black hair fell to her waist; her face, pale as a white peony, radiated delicate beauty. Raised in luxury, her figure had blossomed into perfect curves. Though not as striking as Yixinxue’s features, her ample bust and shapely frame exuded undeniable allure.

Lingyuan, however, felt nothing.

"So?" Yanxi plopped onto the couch, grabbing a hairdryer and comb. "You saw everything, didn’t you?"

Her blunt question made Lingyuan’s already chilled heart sink further.

"Why so quiet?" Her voice cut through the hairdryer’s roar—not angry, but teasing. "Was it *nice*?"

"Saw a little."

"Ew?" She switched off the dryer, studying him with playful curiosity. Only then did she notice his soaked clothes. "Hey... I called you this morning to remind you about the umbrella. Or... does Big Brother ignore his little sister now?"

"I brought it," Lingyuan said with a bitter smile. "Lent it to someone. Anyway, I’m showering before I get sick."

"Of course, Big Brother~ Need Yanxi to massage you while you bathe?"

"Miss High-and-Mighty, *you’re* the one who should be getting massages. I’ll count myself lucky if you don’t pull another stunt like last time!" He snatched clean clothes from the closet and ducked into the bathroom. The *click* of the lock was deliberately loud—a warning.

"Hmph." Yanxi pouted, then smirked. A mischievous thought flickered in her mind.

*Freezing... Gotta get under the covers after a hot shower.*

He’d barely stripped when a face pressed against the frosted glass of the bathroom door.

"HOLY SHIT! YANXI! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? GET AWAY!"

The translucent door hid details, but her ghostly silhouette clinging to the glass looked like a vengeful spirit.

"Big Broooother~ Open up~ Let Yanxi take a peek~"

"Peek at *what*? GET LOST!" Instinctively, Lingyuan grabbed his clothes to cover himself.

"Fine~ Fine~ So stingy~"

*Seriously...*

Cold sweat slicked Lingyuan’s skin. Only when her face vanished did he drop the clothes. He rushed through his shower, threw on pajamas, and bolted for his bedroom.

Yanxi was still blow-drying her hair. Seeing him emerge, she snorted.

"What’s so funny?" Lingyuan marched toward his room. "Don’t crawl into my bed tonight. Sleep in yours."

"Why not? We’re siblings!"

"No blood relation."

"Pfft, we’re *family*! I’m three months younger!" She killed the dryer, tossed it aside, and peeked into his doorway. "Right, Big Brother~?"

"I don’t get you." Lingyuan plugged in his phone. "Your mansion’s got AC and comfort. Why cram into this freezing shoebox? I won’t share my bed in winter."

"Oh~" Yanxi scanned his barren room. "I’ll install AC! Pocket change, really."

"Who pays the electric bill? Deduct it from my measly 1,500 yuan?" He burrowed under the covers.

"Big Brother, stop being mad at Father. He treats you well, so just—"

"Yanxi." Lingyuan cut her off sharply. "If you want to sleep in my room tonight, *don’t mention him*."

"Don’t be mad~ I just hate seeing you live like this..." She pursed her lips.

She truly didn’t understand. Their adoptive father and mother adored Lingyuan, showering him with care—but he refused it all. He took only 1,500 yuan monthly, renting this tiny apartment alone. He’d soften at mentions of his mother, but *father*? Rage flared, yet he’d never explain why. It left Yanxi utterly lost.

"I’m surviving. *You’re* the one trading a villa for this dump. Aren’t you uncomfortable?"

"Hehe." Yanxi grinned slyly. "You never kick me out. That house is all rules and manners. Here? I’m free."

"Tch. Go to bed. I’m gaming all night—you won’t sneak in."

He pulled out his phone, launching a ranked match. *Phone confiscation? Visiting the class rep?* Forgotten. *Focus wins games.*

"Mmm..." Yanxi tilted her head, watching him. She padded to the living room table, grabbed the bubble tea she’d bought for him, and quietly set it beside him.

Before leaving, she glanced back.

*Father said... Lingyuan wasn’t always like this...*

*What happened between them? They both seem so kind...*