"Mom, Happy New Year~~~!"

The moment I opened the door, I was met with the scowling face of the woman before me. Honestly, I was a little intimidated, so I plastered on an overly sweet smile.

But my greeting only deepened her glare as she crossed her arms, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"I thought you’d flown the coop for good and weren’t coming back for the holidays. Check your phone—what time do you call this?"

"I wanted to be back earlier too, but the roads were jam-packed!"

"Xiaoxi’s more reliable than you. At least she came home early to help."

"She’s your little sunshine, of course she is~~ Are you boiling dumplings? Smells amazing!"

After swapping my shoes, I took a few exaggerated sniffs of the air.

Truthfully, my distraction tactic was clumsy, but luckily it was New Year’s Day. Mom had already scolded me and was feeling generous.

"Sharp nose you’ve got. They’re not even cooked yet. Get in here!"

"Coming!"

I chirped eagerly and trotted after her. The moment we rounded the foyer, I spotted Xiaoxi and Dad in the living room, wrapping dumplings.

"Dad, Happy New Year!"

"Hmm…"

"And a Happy New Year to you too~~"

I ruffled Xiaoxi’s hair hard the second I reached her. I’d missed her so much my palms itched, but she clearly wasn’t thrilled—her eyes narrowed in pure disdain after I messed up her hair.

"*And*? Lame! Scram, scram!"

"What’s there to scram about? You’ve gotten even prettier since I last saw you."

Realizing my slip-up, I quickly bowed my head in apology.

Though Xiaoxi and I attended the same university and shared an off-campus apartment, she’d returned home days earlier due to graduation chaos.

New year, new look—she’d transformed so completely I almost didn’t recognize her. Since when did my little sister wear thigh-highs? I still remembered her in diapers!

"Obviously! Do you even know who I am? When have I *not* been stunning? Everyone at school envies you for having a sister like me."

"Right, right! Thanks for making me proud. But… did you really wrap all these?"

I eyed the dumplings before her suspiciously.

Back at our place, I always cooked—not just because I doted on her, but because Xiaoxi flat-out refused to lift a finger. Seeing her suddenly so diligent made my chest tighten with a weird, sour pang.

"Pretty good, huh? Not as neat as Dad’s, but way better than Mom’s. Look—she’s wrapping them like soup dumplings!"

"I can *hear* you!"

"Hehe~~"

I hadn’t expected Xiaoxi to roast Mom right to her face.

She just grinned sheepishly. Mom, in a forgiving mood, let it slide. I used the moment to wash my hands in the kitchen before joining them.

"Your dad and I were saying—we’d be thrilled if you two brought someone home this year. And wow, you really didn’t disappoint us, did you?"

"…"

Xiaoxi and I exchanged a glance. Here we go again—the annual ritual. Mom truly never got tired of this.

"Why rush? Plenty marry at thirty. We’re barely past twenty!"

I’d never met parents who started wedding pressure *in college*. Mom was one of a kind.

"*I’m* in a rush! You’re both good-looking, our family’s comfortable—not rich, but better off than most. How have you stayed single this long? You’re practically pushing thirty!"

"Hold up! Backtrack right there! I’m a senior, Xiaoxi’s a junior—when did we ‘push thirty’?"

Mom’s exaggerations were almost impressive. Hadn’t she noticed Dad’s expression?

*Grandkids will find their own happiness.* He’d long since checked out of this battle.

"After twenty, you’re on the downhill slope to thirty! How is it not bizarre that you’ve never dated after four years of college?"

"Hmm… definitely bizarre. Especially for Xiaoxi!"

"Huh?!"

Xiaoxi probably expected my usual defense—"What’s bizarre about that?" followed by a rant listing counterexamples. That’s how I’d handled it the past few years.

But after years of the same script, I craved a twist. If Mom never tired of nagging, *I* was tired of refusing.

"Fine, scold me—I’m a guy, no rush. But you? Swarmed by suitors in your prime! Why not try dating? See how much Mom worries!"

"You—!"

Betrayed by her former ally, Xiaoxi’s eyes blazed. Flour-dusted hands twitched like she wanted to slap my face—but I caught her wrist lightning-fast.

"*You* what? Look how much stress you’re causing Mom! She banned us from dating in high school, now she’s pushing us in college. Doesn’t that deserve respect?"

???

"And these dumplings? Flour’s expensive, meat’s expensive, veggies are expensive! Find a boyfriend and eat at *his* house. Mom can barely afford us two!"

??!

Xiaoxi froze for two seconds, then processed my words—and instantly switched sides to become Mom’s new lackey.

"Totally true!"

Now Mom had no grounds to scold us. We’d both "understood her sacrifices." Repentant sinners, forgiven.

"Look at how your dad and I married! When Mom found the right person, she stole the marriage license. Do you have that guts? Learn from her!"

"I’ll… try…"

"You *dare*? Don’t think I missed the sarcasm in your voices!"

"Sarcasm?"

I frowned at Xiaoxi. Predictably, she shook her head like a rattle.

"Your imagination, Mom? Brother just told me to learn from you! How’s that sarcastic?"

Xiaoxi trampled mother-daughter bonds, twisting "sarcasm" into pure theater.

Mom’s obsession with marriage was baffling. She’d panic when we were single, then snap the second we teased her about it. What did she even want?

"Fine. Forget I said anything. But listen—seriously—you’ll start interning after New Year’s, right?"

"Yeah."

As the topic shifted from marriage to work, my expression sobered.

Final semester of senior year. Time to step into the real world. Soon, I wouldn’t have this luxury—casual chats with family, before work crushed my spirit.

"Job lined up?"

"Hmm… what can a liberal arts major do? Editing at Xia Corp’s news division. Similar to your old role."

Science students snagged internships effortlessly. Humanities grads? We were free labor—if companies even bothered to exploit us.

Being male didn’t help in this field. No front-desk or secretary roles for me.

I’d considered being a kept man, selling my looks—but rich, blind heiresses are hard to find. So I’d evolve from student to office drone, like everyone else.

"So you two still living together?"

"Yeah. I picked a place near campus. How could I leave Xiaoxi alone?"

My internship *had* to be close to school—walking distance home every night. No salary could tempt me otherwise.

"So *that’s* why nothing’s happened! Siblings shouldn’t shack up like this! I’ve meant to say something for years but kept forgetting!"

"And if you remember? You want me to take a distant job just to separate us?"

"No way! I’m counting on Brother to feed me!"

Xiaoxi cut in before I finished. For three years, she’d mooched off my kitchen. Freshman year aside, I’d cooked double portions nonstop.

Mom suggesting separation felt… wrong. I’d grown used to our bickering rhythm—I handled outside stuff, she managed home. (Except cooking. She did laundry and cleaning.) Going solo would be too quiet. But Mom saw it differently.

"You can cook yourself! Will your brother support you forever?"

"Why not? I *want* his cooking!"

"What about cafeterias and takeout?"

"Mom! Drop it. We’re fine like this. And it has nothing to do with dating! Even with a boyfriend, why move out? Everyone shares apartments these days—does that mean no dating? Xiaoxi’s my sister. We’re closer than random roommates!"

Mom’s worry made no sense. We were just roommates. If Xiaoxi dated, fine—I wouldn’t glare at her boyfriend.

…Wait. Actually, I might.

If some guy hit on her right in front of me? Poisoning his food would be the *polite* option.

"But—"

"Done! Dumplings are ready, Brother! Help me boil them."

Spotting Mom about to argue again, Xiaoxi shoved the tray of dumplings into my hands and dragged me toward the kitchen. Her grip—stronger now after years of growth—sent a familiar warmth up my arm.

"Brother, nice save today. Covering for me~~"

"Obviously! When haven’t I?"

Her praise was unfair. I’d always shielded her from Mom’s scolding—today just worked better with reverse psychology.

"But… you didn’t take Mom’s ‘move out’ comment seriously, right?"

"Seriously? About what? Relax. She was just talking. Stay as long as you like. Supporting you’s easy."

A girlfriend would drain my wallet. Xiaoxi? Just an extra pair of chopsticks. Coming home to her welcome was worth every penny.

"It’s not about *can* you support me. But… forever? What about what you said last time? What if Mom brings it up again?"

"Obviously! I’ll support you until you find a guy to dump you on."

"Then I’ll never date. I’ll eat you bankrupt!"

"Try me… like you could!"

I pinched her nose with a laugh. She pulled away, stepping back three paces. Then, with exaggerated formality, she clasped her fists and bowed deeply.

"Brother, Happy New Year! May your new year be smooth and blessed!"

"What’s this? Since when are you so sweet? I don’t have red envelopes for you."

I’d always been the one wishing *her* Happy New Year. Today’s sun must be rising in the west.

"Like I need your pocket money?"

"Anyway, your card's with me~ I'm just making sure you work hard. Otherwise, I wouldn't have any money-managing duties at all."

"Not done yet? You're being a more overbearing sister than a wife! A wife only handles the salary card, but you're controlling my pocket money. Seriously, this is too much!"

"Nyah nyah~ Stop chatting! The water's boiling. Hurry up and drop in the jiaozi!"

"Every time this topic comes up, you dodge it. Ugh, I give up..."

The moment the jiaozi hit the pot, crackling firecrackers erupted outside the door. I turned to Xiaoxi beside me, who was eagerly licking her lips. In the bitter cold of midwinter, my heart swelled with endless warmth.