Lost again. From 10:30 PM till now, I've lost nine games straight.
Lingyuan checked his phone. Almost 1 AM. Frustrated, he sprawled on the bed, arms wide.
This is ridiculous. No one loses ten games in a row, right?
One more loss.
Lingyuan glanced at the computer on the windowsill.
Screw this. I'm switching games.
Suddenly, something soft and fluffy wriggled into his arms.
Wow, unimaginably soft. It slid from his thigh up to his chest. No need to guess who had burrowed under his blanket.
"You—" Lingyuan was about to shoo Yanxi out when a voice piped up from under the covers.
"No reaction at all? Don't tell me you're... incapable?"
"How could I react to my sister? You've watched too much anime! That's abnormal!" Lingyuan said helplessly.
Yanxi popped her head out and made a silly face. "But we're not blood-related!"
"But we're family," Lingyuan turned over, ignoring her.
"Huh?" Yanxi hugged him from behind, muttering, "This conversation feels... familiar somehow."
"Stop hugging me. Let go. It's hot."
"Hmph."
Hearing his disdain, Yanxi sulkily let go. But she wasn't done. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I never thought... Brother-sama would start rejecting me. Our bond is fading... He used to dote on me..." she sobbed.
"Don't gross me out! Stop making things up! I've always been like this!" Lingyuan sat up, staring dumbfounded.
What nonsense. This emotional blackmail made him feel intensely guilty.
A year ago, when he first met Yanxi, she wasn't like this. Back then, she was a poised, high-class lady. Every word and gesture showed her refined upbringing.
Six months ago, his adoptive mother had to go on a business trip. The housekeeper and maids were given time off. She entrusted Yanxi to Lingyuan's care.
That was Yanxi's first exposure to otaku culture. In just a few days, she binge-watched many super popular anime.
She became especially obsessed with brother-themed shows like 'Yosuga no Sora' and 'Oreimo'.
And then... she turned into this.
This gave Lingyuan a huge headache.
How did it come to this? He'd watched plenty of anime but never craved a sister.
"By the way, why were you running around the living room naked today..."
"...Aah! Don't say it, Brother!" Yanxi quickly covered his mouth, turning away shyly. "I just forgot my change of clothes..."
Come to think of it, in her other home, maids always prepared her clothes. Yanxi never had to lift a finger.
Her mother was highly successful. Yanxi had lived a pampered life since childhood.
"Sigh... I can't deal with you." Lingyuan turned over, picking up his phone to start another game. "Go to sleep. You're a good student. You need to focus in class tomorrow."
"Got it! Sleeping next to Brother makes me feel safe."
Yanxi's voice came from behind. True to her word, she soon started snoring softly.
The room was quiet at night. Lingyuan could hear her gentle breaths clearly.
"Sigh..." He gently set down his phone. He moved the arm draped over him back to Yanxi's side and pulled the blanket up.
Soft moonlight streamed through the window. Yanxi curled up quietly in the warm blanket, like a docile kitten.
As if truly because she was sleeping next to him, a faint smile lingered on her face even in sleep.
Lingyuan watched helplessly. If Yanxi's suitors saw them like this, he'd probably be torn to pieces.
Compared to the unapproachable Yixinxue, Yanxi was very outgoing. She had many friends and never had conflicts with them.
So Yanxi was very popular at school. Naturally, she had many male admirers.
Unfortunately, Yanxi always rejected them with the excuse, "I have a boyfriend."
Did Yanxi have a boyfriend? No one had seen him. Only Lingyuan and a few close friends knew it was just a lie.
...
At 6:15 AM, the phone alarm rang on time. A hand reached out from under the blanket and tapped it—snooze for five minutes.
His eyelids were heavy. Yesterday, he'd fought until 5 AM to win back the nine lost ranked matches.
How could just over an hour of sleep be enough?
"Ta-da! Time to wake up, Brother-sama!" Yanxi, already dressed and washed up, kicked the door open.
"Mmm—" Lingyuan grumbled, pulling the blanket over his head and turning over.
"Hmph..." Yanxi pouted, took a few steps back, and pounced on him.
"Holy shit..."
The pounce nearly knocked the life out of him.
Little miss! I only slept for an hour! You're killing me!
"Wake! Up! Now!" Yanxi pushed the half-dead Lingyuan. "Uncle Wang is waiting downstairs! We can't keep him waiting!"
"Mmm..."
Uncle Wang was the family's full-time driver, responsible for taking Yanxi to and from school.
Lingyuan struggled in bed for a few minutes before getting up. He staggered to the bathroom to wash up. Then he saw a plate of noodles on the table.
The noodles didn't look great. The sauce was thick and gloppy. The noodles were loose, many broken into soft, mushy clumps.
"Hurry up and wash up! Try the spaghetti I made for you!"
Proudly showing off her 'achievement', Yanxi held the plate right in front of him.
"You call this spaghetti?" Lingyuan tilted his head, dumbfounded. "I may not be educated, but I know what spaghetti is! This is overcooked tomato noodles!"
"Oops, caught by Brother-sama~" Yanxi grinned mischievously. "But I promise, it's delicious!"
"Uh, I hope so." Lingyuan rolled his eyes and headed to the bathroom. After a quick wash, he sat at the table, ready to taste the so-called "spaghetti".
"Yanxi will feed Brother-sama!" she volunteered, reaching for his chopsticks. But he shook his head, refusing.
"No, wait." Lingyuan sensed something. That grin was pure mischief.
From experience...
He picked up a single noodle with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. His face contorted from the sweetness.
Yanxi, trying to cover up her failed breakfast, must have dumped in how much sugar!
"Next time... I'll cook for you..."
Lingyuan covered his face, on the verge of tears. His cooking wasn't five-star, but it was edible! Especially instant noodles—he was good at those.
"Hmph! That makes me so disappointed, Brother!" Yanxi pouted, arms crossed. "I'll tell Mom you skip breakfast. I'll make you a different dish every day!"
"No thanks. I want to live a few more years."
