After a stretch of peaceful days,

Ouyang Ge used the money Firld left behind to buy groceries at a nearby supermarket, just like any ordinary morning after the usual bustle.

This leads to a peculiar truth about their world. Following a mysterious meteor impact, Earth’s tectonic plates had violently shifted. Low-lying island nations and coastal cities were wiped out by tsunamis and earthquakes. When the chaos settled, only two landmasses remained—the predecessors of today’s Unified Kingdom and the World Economic Union. East and West: two vastly unequal continents that sheltered humanity’s survivors. Thankfully, technological archives survived the upheaval. The discovery of Magic further accelerated progress, granting people a better life than before—this was the past century’s legacy.

Yet farmlands, once destroyed, couldn’t be restored so easily.

Meat and vegetables remained scarce. Even the wealthiest commoners received strict daily rations. Under the Unified Kingdom’s rule, this was considered generous—compared to the other continent...

Ouyang Ge spent every last e-credit on as much meat as he could carry.

“No choice. This is my limit,” he muttered, chuckling wryly at the bags weighing down both arms.

Rushing home, he cooked lunch immediately. He ate his small portion quickly, then packed the rest.

—Every noon, he delivered this meal to Firld.

Reaching Firld’s university gate at exactly twelve, he approached the guard.

“Hello, I’m here to see Miss Firld. May I enter?”

The guard, familiar with the boy’s daily visits, grinned. “You again, kid? Bringing lunch for your sister?”

“Yes, sir.”

After scanning Ouyang Ge’s ID card, the guard pressed a button. A side door clicked open.

“Thank you, big brother.”

“No problem.”

Inside the campus, students lounged in common areas during lunch break. Ouyang Ge, walking alone, stood out starkly. Girls around Firld’s age eyed him curiously—some with distinctly *predatory* gazes. A chill ran down his spine each time; he quickened his pace.

Thanks to daily training, his ten-year-old body held adult-level stamina. Though lean, it packed explosive strength far beyond his appearance.

He crossed the central corridor swiftly, reaching the sophomore classrooms.

*Stomach... so hungry...*

Inside one classroom, Firld slumped over her desk, weakened by hunger.

“Still waiting for your little brother every day?” teased her classmate—a blonde, buxom Young Mistress devouring a lavish homemade bento. She eyed Firld pityingly.

“His cooking’s addictive! School lunches taste like cardboard now...”

“Oh? Intriguing. I’m curious about this brother of yours.”

“Hands off!” Firld shot upright, glaring in panic.

“Why so jumpy?”

“He’s *mine*—”

*—the stray I found.*

She bit back the words. Ouyang Ge had been unregistered when she took him in. Orphans under fifteen required guardianship, but his parents were dead. He’d lived secluded due to illness, unknown to authorities. Only through Elvire’s covert help had he gained an ID a year ago—listing Firld as his legal sister. She couldn’t risk exposing his origins.

“Yours? Yours *what*?”

“........”

Silence hung between them—until Ouyang Ge appeared at the doorway.

“Teach—*Sister*?” He corrected himself instantly.

“Brother! You’re saving my life!” Firld lunged—not at him, but at the food box in his hands.

“Wait—!”

*Mmph! Gulp!*

She tore open the container, shoveling food frantically. Ouyang Ge sighed, smiling wryly. “Slow down...”

“’Cause I’m *sooo* hungry...” Her cheeks bulged, muffling her words.

“Tch. Messy.” He pulled out a tissue, rolling his eyes as he wiped crumbs from her lips.

“Hehe...”

A ripple of hushed gasps spread through the classroom.

“Oh? Brother-kun! Long time no see!”

“Uh... Hello, Miss Leticia.” Ouyang Ge turned to Firld’s classmate, bowing politely.

“Aww, so well-mannered!” Leticia swept him into a hug, pressing his face against her chest.

*Ghk!* Smothered by warm softness, Ouyang Ge flailed, choking.

“Hey! Unhand my brother!” Firld snatched him back, clutching him protectively behind her.

“How sweet,” Leticia purred, winking at Ouyang Ge. “Brother-kun, why not make *me* your sister? I can grant any wish at all~~~”

“I—”

“No!” Firld snapped before he could finish.

Her fierce reaction stemmed from Elvire’s orders to protect Ouyang Ge—and perhaps... something else.

“Jealous much? Lunch break’s almost over. Won’t teachers scold him for staying?”

“Huh?” Firld checked her phone.

*12:50 PM.*

Class started in ten minutes!!!

“Go! Run! Don’t get caught!” she hissed, shoving Ouyang Ge toward the door.

“Yeah, yeah. Who made me late again?” He shot her a deadpan glare, grabbed the empty box, and dashed out.

“Firld,” Leticia called after him, eyes gleaming. “My interest in your brother just skyrocketed.”

“BACK OFF! HE’S MINE!” Firld’s roar silenced the entire classroom. Everyone exchanged knowing smirks.

“.........”

Firld’s face burned crimson as she stared at her desk.

*Brother complex...*

*Total brother complex...*

*Definitely a brother complex...*

The whispers made her sink lower in her seat.