"Come on, change your shoes..." Lu Qing pulled out indoor slippers from the shoe cabinet, bent down, and handed them to the man’s feet, a trace of tenderness in her eyes.

"Is Xia Tong back in her room again?" Shu Shu tilted his head to listen; the living room was silent.

"Yeah. She heard you were coming back and rushed upstairs without eating... that girl..." Lu Qing sighed helplessly.

"Take her some food later..." Shu Shu strode into the living room. "I’m heading to the study."

Lu Qing watched him turn away. "Stop!"

Shu Shu froze instantly. He feared nothing in this world—except the woman before him. If he told anyone who knew him, no one would believe it.

"Do you two really plan to keep this up forever? How long has it been since that incident? Can’t you just talk to her properly? Do you intend to do this for life? Are you even father and daughter anymore?"

"Absolutely not!" Shu Shu’s voice hardened, utterly unlike his earlier tone.

"You know the consequences... Precisely because I’m her father, it’s better for her to hate me than to resent herself..." His words carried a heavy sorrow.

"You think she can’t bear it—but can you? Do you think I don’t know?" Lu Qing pressed him.

"Enough. I’ll listen to you on everything else, but on this, you must obey me." Shu Shu’s voice held an irresistible force, forged from years in the business world. "Take Xia Tong some food... don’t let her starve." His tone softened.

Shu Shu avoided Lu Qing’s gaze, his expression grim as he entered the study. He stared at the photo frame on the desk—their smiling faces weighing on his heart.

...

He caressed the figures in the photo, then suddenly slammed the frame down, sucking in a sharp breath.

The woman watched her husband’s retreating back—tall and achingly lonely.

"If only it weren’t for that damn bowl of noodles..."

Lu Qing sighed deeply, glanced upstairs, and forced a brighter expression onto her face.

Upstairs, the girl’s fingers flew nonstop over her phone.

"Jerk! Not answering my calls or texts again..." Xia Tong hurled her phone onto the bed.

"What’s wrong? Who upset our little princess?" A woman entered with a food tray, smiling warmly.

"Mom?! When did you come in? Why didn’t you knock!" Xia Tong scrambled to grab her phone.

"Don’t hide it. Let me guess... that boy Ye Xi?"

Xia Tong’s face flushed crimson. She knew her parents saw through her, but being called out stung.

"It’s fine. I’m not stopping you. Just don’t cross that line..."

Watching Xia Tong’s flustered blush, the woman finally understood why her husband never interfered. This had never happened before.

"Eat something," Lu Qing coaxed gently.

"No! Dieting..." Xia Tong’s smile vanished instantly.

"Your dad..." Lu Qing’s voice trailed off helplessly.

"I said no! So annoying..." Xia Tong’s mood flipped; she shoved Lu Qing toward the door.

"Don’t starve yourself!" Lu Qing resisted leaving.

"No, no!" Xia Tong pushed her out, slammed the door, and locked it.

"That girl... no wonder they’re father and daughter—both starving." Lu Qing held the untouched tray, sighing. Maybe I’ll ask Jiang Chen to visit tomorrow.

Why won’t Ye Xi reply? Has that vixen Fang Yiyi really bewitched him? Xia Tong fumed. That girl’s eyes were all wrong.

What Xia Tong didn’t know was this wasn’t anyone’s fault. Her number had been blacklisted—while a certain brother blow-dried his sister’s hair.

The mastermind behind it all was now rolling on her bed.

"Tang Tang! Quick—where’s a place with few people right now?"

"Why?"

"I need to drag my brother out! If Xia Tong comes looking, she won’t find him. I just blacklisted her number on his phone. After the holiday, I’ll quietly remove her."

"Give it up. Nowhere’s empty! Why not go somewhere crowded? It’ll be fun!"

"My brother insists on quiet places. He hates crowds."

"Seriously? He clearly doesn’t want to go out. Every ‘remote’ spot is packed."

"Why not? The world’s huge—just find somewhere off the map!"

"Forget it. Any place you name is someone’s backyard." Tang Tang licked her lollipop, brainstorming.

"Ugh, stop that noise! Help me think—I’m desperate!"

"Even if I try, I can’t think of anything! Unless... skip tourist spots. Take your brother to the mountains for a few days?"

"The mountains?" Xiaoxi pondered.

"Tang Tang, you’re a genius! Love you!" Xiaoxi hung up.

"Yes!" She jumped to her feet.

On the other end, Tang Tang blinked in confusion. What did I say? Is she really taking him wilderness survival-ing? Brother complex is terrifying.

...

...

What’s it like to be comet-struck two days straight? Honestly, I never want to know.

"Can’t you talk properly without crushing me?" I glared at Xiaoxi sitting on my chest.

Xiaoxi ignored me, yanking my collar to lift my head.

"Ugh... this hurts..." My neck felt ready to snap.

"I’ve decided where we’re going!" She pressed her forehead to mine, dead serious.

"Great. Now get off me!" I squirmed away. Why’s she like Xia Tong—no sense of boundaries? I’m your brother!

"We’re siblings—what’s to fear? I’m not shy, so why are you acting like this?"

"Xiaoxi, that mindset’s dangerous. I’m still a guy..." I frowned.

"Enough. We’re visiting Grandpa and Grandma. Perfect for your ‘quiet place’ demand, right?"

"Huh?" Since when did she care about them?

"Huh what!" She plopped hard onto my stomach. "Doesn’t it fit?"

"Ow—!" My guts felt squeezed out.

"Yes, yes! I’ll go! Just let me breathe—and get off!"

"Deal! We leave tomorrow." She released my collar.

"Phew..." Breathing freely felt heavenly.

"Tomorrow’s too rushed—" I meant in a few days.

"Nope. Tomorrow. I’m leaving. Sleep on." She hopped off, giving no room to argue.

How did I get such a tyrant for a sister...

...

...

"Mom! We decided where to go!" Xiaoxi announced the next morning, munching toast.

"You’re actually going out?" Mom stared at me, stunned.

"Good brother act!" Besides, did I have a choice?

"So where?" Mom turned to Xiaoxi.

"Grandpa and Grandma’s! This afternoon—but call them first..."

"Smart idea. Your dad hasn’t visited in ages... but tomorrow’s better, no?" Mom looked surprised.

"Early’s better! Brother just sleeps here anyway."

"Hmm... I’ll come too. I haven’t seen them in ages."

"No need! You’ve got work. We’ll pass on your love."

"True... I’ll buy Grandma a bracelet. Take your dad’s pu’er tea for Grandpa—he wasted money on it but never drinks..." Mom headed for her room.

I silently spread jam on toast, invisible. They’d planned everything—I just had to follow Xiaoxi.

...

...

"Why are you still sleeping?" Jiang Chen pushed open the door, eyeing the lump under the blanket.

"Sister Jiang Chen? What are you doing here?" Xia Tong peeked out.

"Your mom asked me to drag you out for food—you skipped dinner last night." Jiang Chen crossed her arms. "You seem full. I’ll tell Auntie I’m busy."

"No, no! Perfect timing!" Xia Tong scrambled out, grabbing Jiang Chen’s arm.

"What?"

"Sit here!"

Xia Tong patted the bed with deliberate flourish.

“What’s this about? You’re being suspiciously sweet, kid. Up to no good?” Jiang Chen watched her, amused.

“Of course not! Look!” Xia Tong thrust her phone at him. “Ye Xi won’t reply to me!”

“First,” Jiang Chen said, “I barely know Ye Xi. How should I know why he’s ignoring you? Second, I couldn’t care less about your love life. My job’s just to keep you from getting scammed or bullied.”

“I know, I know! You’re the best. Forget that—just help me figure this out!” Xia Tong shook his arm.

“Seriously? You humiliated him at the sports meet. Of course he’s mad,” Jiang Chen muttered, exasperated.

“Really?” Xia Tong fell silent, thoughtful.

“Ugh, my silly little sister! Can we drop this? I have zero interest in your romance drama. I’m just here to take you out for dinner. Stop making this hard for me.”

“Should I go ask him directly?” Xia Tong chewed her finger.

“Are you coming or not? I’m leaving if you keep this up.”

“Coming, coming! I’ll get dressed now!” Xia Tong grabbed his sleeve. “I won’t ask you anymore, okay?”

“Hurry up. I’ll wait downstairs.” Jiang Chen shook his head. “You’ve got a whole forest out there. Why hang yourself on one crooked tree?”

“Because my eyes only see that one tree…” Xia Tong grinned at his words, utterly unfazed.

…………

…………

“Bro, stuff these in your suitcase!” Xiaoxi dumped an armful of clothes beside me.

“You’ve got your own suitcase. Use it.” I kept folding my shirts.

“You’ve barely any clothes! That big suitcase would be wasted!” She peered inside mine.

“You just don’t want to carry your own bag. Why sugarcoat it?”

“Hehe!”

“Stop grinning! If you’re putting stuff in, arrange it yourself. I’m not touching your underwear…” I sighed at my sister.

“What did you say?!” Xiaoxi’s face flushed crimson.

“Nothing at all.” I raised my hands. “You sort the clothes. I’ll grab Dad’s tea.”

Xiaoxi shot me a glare, smoothed her skirt, and crouched to neatly stack clothes into the case.

…………

…………

…………

“Xiaoxi… how much did you pack? This is way too heavy.” I hefted the suitcase, grimacing. Damn, how could it weigh this much?

“Just clothes… skincare stuff… and some snacks…” She ticked items off her fingers, then fell silent seeing my twisted expression.

“Fine, I’ll carry the tea. Give it here!” She held out her hand.

“You absolutely should.” I shoved the tea bag at her, teeth gritted. “People might think we’re moving house. Do you even see me as human?”

“Sorry! I’ll share my snacks there, okay?” Xiaoxi stuck out her tongue.

“Don’t! Just stay out of trouble and listen to me—that’d be a miracle…”

…………

…………

“Both kids are gone. Time to get back to work.” Mom stretched lazily.

*Ding-dong!* The doorbell rang.

“Who is it?”

“You’re…” Mom peered at the figure outside.