After regaining consciousness, Jiang Fan found himself already seated on a flight bound for Moscow.

The moment he woke, he realized he’d been sleeping against Anna’s shoulder. No wonder they called that stun gun “100,000 volts”—it truly lived up to its name.

“You’re awake, little bro?” Anna’s voice cut through his daze. “You scared us half to death when you passed out earlier. How are you feeling now?”

Jiang Fan’s head still swam, his limbs tingling faintly. But overall, he was fine—the stun gun was meant for self-defense, not serious harm.

“Mm, I’m okay. Thanks for worrying…” He turned to ask her something but froze for a split second.

Anna had changed out of her revealing room outfit. Now draped in a pure white dress and white sandals, she sat quietly like a lily—fresh, untainted, utterly ethereal.

Anna caught his stunned expression. *A silent compliment to my charm*, she thought. Vanity was human nature, after all.

Jiang Fan snapped back quickly. The flicker of awe was involuntary, but staring openly would be rude—even if Anna didn’t seem to mind.

“Done staring already? Hehe, don’t worry. I won’t tell your girlfriend.”

Anna loved teasing him, but always with finesse—just enough to fluster him without crossing lines. Perhaps it was their ambiguous closeness that made it work.

“Sis Anna, please don’t joke…” Jiang Fan averted his eyes slightly, scratching his cheek as a faint blush rose. His words were genuine, but half the fluster was an act. With his thick skin, blushing didn’t come easy.

*Just playing the innocent card to win some favor.*

Unsuspecting, Anna’s smile widened. Seizing the moment, Jiang Fan asked, “About earlier… how did things end?”

He could guess. With him unconscious, Anna and Mu Yuli couldn’t have settled anything. At most, they’d traded barbs and threats before parting bitterly.

Since he’d bought time until boarding, Mu Yuli couldn’t press him now. By the time they landed in Russia, his SIM card would be useless. Even if she came after him later, he’d have excuses ready.

*Smart move back there*, he praised himself inwardly. *No mercy, no stability. Good thing I’m ruthless with myself.*

“Oh, we had a lovely chat!” Anna chirped, suddenly sisterly earnest. “Little Mu adores you. When you fainted, she told me straight: ‘If he’s harmed, I’ll make you pay.’ Treasure her, okay?”

Jiang Fan blinked. *Lovely chat? That woman wanted to grind me to dust!*

And *Little Mu*?

That cutesy nickname for *Mu Yuli*?

*Oh my god. If I ever called her that to her face, I’d never get out of bed the next day.*

Anna continued, oblivious: “After Little Mu hung up, Snowpup delivered our new clothes. I decided to shower and change—no way I’d wear *that* outfit outside. The room was sweltering. I was sticky and uncomfortable.”

Jiang Fan’s hand instinctively brushed his own uniform.

*Since when did Yizhong High’s scratchy uniform feel this silky?*

Cold sweat prickled his temples in the cool cabin. He didn’t dare look down. Instead, he turned to Anna with desperate hope.

“Mid-shower, I remembered,” Anna said casually. “You’d been sweating in that thick uniform, sleeping in that hot room. Russia isn’t like China—it’s chilly. You might catch a cold.”

Jiang Fan forced a smile more pained than joyful. His voice dripped with survival instinct: “So you… just wiped my sweat and changed my clothes? You must’ve worked so hard!”

*Please, Sis Anna, lie to me. Or I won’t live to see my next paycheck.*

Anna shook her head honestly. “Wiping? Too much trouble. I carried you to the shower and washed you properly. First time caring for a little brother—I couldn’t half-ass it!”

Her expression was utterly guileless, not a trace of embarrassment.

Jiang Fan knew she saw him as a sibling. But Mu Yuli? She’d never believe it.

“Sis Anna!” He gripped her hands, pleading. “Pretend this never happened. She’ll kill me.”

“Her? Little Mu?” Anna’s eyes dimmed. “But… it was just a sister caring for her brother. Is that strange in China?”

“It’s… complicated. We’re adults. Well, I’m half a year from adulthood—but that’s not the point! Even real siblings don’t shower together at our age. She’s fiercely jealous. She won’t listen to excuses.”

He hated crushing her sincerity but had no choice. Not while Mu Yuli’s shadow loomed.

“Oh… I understand.”

Anna’s spirit visibly deflated. Jiang Fan couldn’t promise anything—not until he broke free from Mu Yuli’s grip.

*Strange she didn’t ask why I fainted… I’ll need to explain later.*

Silence settled between them as the plane hummed onward. The chill outside seeped in.

*Soon I’ll see Mom…*

*It feels like forever.*