Yixinxue gently stroked Xinxin Miao’s soft belly. The cat lay comfortably, purring contentedly under her touch.

"If only Lingyuan could be as obedient as you," Yixinxue sighed softly.

"Meow~"

"I don’t know why, but I keep feeling like Lingyuan’s up to something bad."

Her hands stilled. A nameless unease prickled in her chest.

*Could Yanxi be taking advantage of this?* The possibility felt overwhelmingly real.

*[After all, I always sleep with Brother.]*

Her fingers clenched unconsciously. Though Lingyuan had called Yanxi’s words nonsense, anger still simmered within her.

Her fiery crimson gaze landed on the phone beside her pillow.

Right now, Lingyuan should be in evening study hall. If she guessed correctly, he was definitely playing on his phone.

Just as Yixinxue suspected, Lingyuan was deep in an intense team battle when a chat window popped up on his screen.

*[Not seeing other girls, right?]*

His excitement shattered like a snapped string.

"Holy crap, Lingyuan! Why’d you freeze mid-fight?!" his buddy across the aisle yelled.

Though physically in class, Lingyuan felt a dizzying rift in his vision—Yixinxue suddenly stood before him. She cradled his face gently, her voice dripping with jealousy.

"Don’t be scared, okay~"

*[Damn it! How is that NOT scary?!]*

Every kiss left him utterly flustered.

Hands trembling, he quit the game and opened his messaging app. He couldn’t answer the monitor directly—any reply would bring either reward or punishment. Time to deflect.

*[Monitor, why weren’t you at school today? Are you sick?]*

Yixinxue narrowed her eyes slightly. His evasive answer only deepened her dissatisfaction.

*Avoiding the question means he’s hiding something. That confirms my suspicion.*

*[Did Yanxi visit you?]*

Seeing this, Lingyuan’s confidence surged. He typed back instantly: *No!* Truthful. Who couldn’t muster courage for honesty?

*[Really?]*

As Lingyuan typed his reply, an all-too-familiar voice echoed outside the door.

"You in the back corner—no phones during study hall. Come to the Self-Discipline Office."

*Speak of the devil.*

Lingyuan’s blood ran cold.

"Dude, how’d they catch you on your phone again? The monitor busted you just last week!" Lan Feng groaned, shaking his head at Lingyuan’s rotten luck.

For Yanxi, catching him on his phone was just an excuse. She clearly wanted him alone.

"Ugh, life’s tough," Lingyuan muttered in agreement.

Heart pounding, Lingyuan entered the student council office alone. His eye twitched as he scanned the room.

*Why is it always just the Self-Discipline crew here? Last time it was Yixinxue. Now it’s Yanxi.*

"Brother?" Yanxi stood by the desk, tidying books.

"Yeah. Hey, is Yixinxue sick? I haven’t seen her all day." Lingyuan glanced at Yixinxue’s usual seat.

"Yixinxue…" Yanxi froze mid-motion. "Right… Brother only has eyes for Yixinxue now…"

The unexpected jealousy hit Lingyuan like ice water.

"That’s not true! I was just checking on a classmate—"

"I haven’t sought you out for two days, and Brother doesn’t care…" Her voice hitched. "Brother doesn’t like Yanxi anymore… Yixinxue’s stolen you away…"

"No! She hasn’t stolen me! Don’t imagine things!" Lingyuan hated seeing Yanxi cry. He stepped forward to comfort her.

"It’s exactly like that…" Yanxi turned away, fighting back tears.

"I’m sorry…" Lingyuan gently stroked her long hair. He knew she loved this—how soothing it felt.

When she still wouldn’t look at him, he sighed. "Fine. What do you want? But nothing unreasonable."

"Hehe." Yanxi’s triumphant smirk flashed. She leaned into his chest. "Once I finish helping with Father’s birthday banquet this week, I’m staying over at your place every single night!"

Lingyuan’s eyes widened.

"That’s impossible! Your mom will be furious—"

"Don’t worry! I told you—Mother wants us married~" Yanxi flicked her hair proudly. "And Father leaves the decision to you."

Parental approval gave her a head start over Yixinxue.

"So… I’m practically your fiancée, right~?"

"*Practically*…?"

"Well~" Yanxi leaned against the desk, fingers tracing her shoulder-length hair. "Honored Brother refuses… Yanxi respects your choice, of course."

*Respects my choice? Then why demand sleepovers without asking?!*

"But as my brother," Yanxi blinked, then opened her arms wide, "you have a duty to pamper your sister. Pamper me!"

"Huh?"

"Pamper me! What kind of brother doesn’t spoil his sister?"

Lingyuan could only stare, dumbfounded. After a long pause: "You weren’t this bold at school before."

Yanxi had always maintained a poised, well-bred young lady’s demeanor on campus.

When he didn’t move, she grabbed his hand. "Please, Honored Brother~ Pamper me~"

"*Sss—*" A tingling scalp. Her coquettish tone made refusal impossible.

"Just… head pats?"

"Okay~" Yanxi closed her eyes, nuzzling into his chest. His gentle fingers gliding over her scalp felt inexplicably soothing, making her melt under his touch.

*Is this why cats love being petted?*

Without Yixinxue, Brother would’ve fallen for her eventually. Why did Yixinxue have to appear? It felt like half his soul had been stolen—this possessive ache was unbearable.

Mid-stroke, Yanxi suddenly sniffed Lingyuan’s shirt—left shoulder, right shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Her cat-like behavior startled him.

"Checking for other girls’ scents." She nodded, satisfied. "Good. Only Brother’s natural scent~"

"That’s just sweat," Lingyuan deadpanned.

"Doesn’t matter! Yanxi loves it." She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging tight. "Hold me~ Just for a little while. I missed you so much~ I love being pampered by Brother~ Yanxi really, really loves you~"

Her whispered confession warmed his chest. *Is this what having a clingy little sister feels like?*

"Alright, alright. I get it."