"Stupid dog, remember to protect my sister," Feng Ye said, watching Coco stand at the door in her Sacred Heart Academy middle school uniform. He couldn’t help but kick Rollroll’s fat, big butt. The husky reluctantly got up and shuffled to Coco’s side.
"Coco, you too—don’t let Rollroll bite people randomly," Feng Ye added.
"Got it," Coco replied, grabbing Rollroll’s leash. "Hmph. If the Servant hadn’t stopped me, I’d have blown up this school a million times already." With that, she trudged out the door, looking gloomy.
Rollroll ambled lazily beside her, yawning now and then. His mischievous dog eyes drooped with exhaustion. Even he wondered if battling too many lady dogs in his dreams had drained him.
After watching Coco and Rollroll vanish into the elevator, Feng Ye returned home. With Rollroll guarding her, he wasn’t worried about his sister’s safety.
Coco could bring Rollroll to school because Feng Ye had secured him a guide dog license. Without Rollroll, she’d get lost—so she needed him to reach school. After Feng Ye’s "money assault," the teachers and administrators fully accepted this, even ignoring Rollroll’s Siberian Husky identity. Truly, money worked wonders.
"What a leisurely end-of-month life," Feng Ye mused. Monthly tasks were done; his clingy sister was at school. Alone at home, he felt oddly idle. Just as he pulled out snacks to watch the latest *Cup War Side Story* update, his phone rang.
"Probably another scam call," he muttered. No one ever called him except scammers. He answered anyway, expecting a robotic voice: "Dear customer, congratulations on winning—" But instead, a crisp loli voice chirped, "Is this Brother Feng Ye?"
"Hmm... yes. Who’s this... Tangtang?" Feng Ye paused, recalling the voice.
Lin Tang’s face lit up slightly. "I thought you’d forget me after one day! But you remembered, hehe."
"Damn. Isn’t she *my* sister?" Lin Chuan muttered nearby, watching his sister’s smile with gloom.
"What’re you staring at, pervert? Don’t look at me with those creepy eyes," Lin Tang snapped, her voice laced with disgust. "Strutting around in just boxers? Should I tell Dad you’re sexually harassing me?"
Lin Chuan’s nose nearly twisted in rage, but his sister’s contemptuous glare made him slink away, head bowed. If Tangtang yelled for their dad now, that doting father would surely punch his face with proletarian fists. His cheeks were still swollen from yesterday’s beating—bruised eyes peering through puffy slits. No wonder Lin Tang was disgusted.
"Ah, Brother Feng Ye! That wasn’t about you," Lin Tang rushed to explain while Feng Ye blinked in confusion. "My perverted brother was leering at me, so I kicked him out. If he were here, he’d spit blood and faint."
"I see..." Feng Ye sighed inwardly for Lin Chuan, then asked, "Tangtang, why call so early?" He remembered giving his number to the siblings yesterday.
"I’ve registered your quota task," Lin Tang replied. "You’ll get the Awakened Association’s transfer soon."
"Already done?" Feng Ye was stunned. He recalled the tedious paperwork he’d endured before. But considering Tangtang’s background, he relaxed. "Thanks."
"Don’t thank me, Brother Feng Ye," she pouted slightly. "It’s our duty." She hesitated. "By the way... are you in any formal Awakened team?"
"Awakened team?" Feng Ye thought a moment. "No."
"Join mine!" Lin Tang chirped excitedly.
Feng Ye winced. He’d avoided Awakened affairs lately. "I need a job to support my family," he said gently.
"Awakened need side jobs?" Lin Tang sounded puzzled. "Killing Beasts and missions pay plenty!"
"Uh." Feng Ye rubbed his temples. Was she clueless or pretending? He sighed. "Sorry. I care for my sister daily—I won’t have time for missions."
Lin Tang grinned, tapping a paper. "But Brother Feng Ye, your sister’s at school Monday to Friday, right?"
Feng Ye froze. "You investigated me."
"Sorry!" Lin Tang’s voice turned apologetic. "Some things happen even if I don’t want them... I just peeked at your file out of curiosity. No deep digging."
Feng Ye paused. "I’ll join your team. But there are things—"
"AWESOME!" Lin Tang squealed, cutting him off. After her excitement faded, she added, "Don’t worry. If you hate a task, just say no. I won’t force you."
*She’s sharp*, Feng Ye thought helplessly. But he didn’t mind her cleverness—it came with good intentions.
"Meet near the Awakened Association later," Lin Tang said happily. "I’ll bring the contract!"
After hanging up, Feng Ye stood dazed. He’d agreed. He sighed softly. *I do miss the Awakened life...* "But joining this team might make those people at home back off," he murmured.
Ye Clan of City A.
What a grand signboard.
...
"Tangtang, are you really hanging out with that Ye Clan brat?" A scruffy-faced man emerged from his room, standing behind Lin Tang. "He’s their shame."
Lin Tang didn’t turn. "If Brother Feng Ye’s their shame, their whole clan’s trash. Yesterday, I saw him knock out a B-rank Awakened in one hit."
"Even with hidden strength, he’s nothing against the Ye Clan’s power," the man frowned. "I won’t let you get dragged into their mess."
"Dad, when did you get so cowardly?" Lin Tang huffed. "With our strength, we fear a declining clan?"
"*Because* they’re declining, I worry!" he insisted. "You’ve seen their chaos reports."
"It’s all in City A," Lin Tang shrugged. "They can’t touch Haven City. And would they dare attack me openly?" She glared at his boxer-clad form. "Also—put on clothes before talking to me! I’ve said it a hundred times. Do you want your cute daughter to get an eye infection? I’ll snap a pic and send it to Grandpa!"
Comrade Lao Lin’s face flushed crimson. "Sweetheart, I’m sorry! Don’t tell the old man—I’ll dress now!" He dreaded his granddaughter-loving father flying from City A to punch him, leaving him with a matching pig-face like his son’s.
"Why are my brother and dad both perverts?" Lin Tang groaned, twin tails swinging in annoyance. She almost wanted to run away. "Brother Feng Ye’s better—handsome, gentle, with that perfect older-brother aura." She pouted, remembering the security she’d felt in his arms yesterday. Staring at a photo of a little girl holding a Husky with innocent eyes, Lin Tang felt a strange twinge of envy.
