The weight Xiao Qingqing placed on “Sister Xixi” was unmistakably heavy—and for a split second, panic flickered in my chest.

But Xiao Ke’er, clueless about the tension, kept up her Oscar-worthy act. Fighting exhaustion and ragged breaths from overexertion, she still chirped in that impossibly sweet, innocent loli voice—

“Yes, I really like Sister Xixi! Are you jealous, big sister? Hmph!”

“I *am* a little jealous,” Xiao Qingqing purred. “You little wild cat sneaking treats… I’ll find a chance to properly discipline you.”

Why did that feel like a jab at *me*?!

“Enough teasing Sister Xixi. Dinner’s ready. Come down.”

Footsteps retreated down the stairs.

Seemingly unsuspicious, Xiao Qingqing had left.

Only then did Ke’er and I exhale. We locked eyes—and shared a knowing, relieved smile.

“Now Ke’er is Sister Xixi’s very own little pet dog~”

Sly as a fox, she pressed against my chest, breath warm at my ear, whispering scandalously.

Then, teasing me, she jiggled her tiny chest. “Sister Xixi’s flat-chested—can’t you tell? Even Ke’er has a little shape now~ When little Ke’er grows up, Master Xixi can have *so* much fun~”

Her words left me flustered enough to consider breaking the law.

Whoa. Breathe. She’s *eleven*. Lolis have three charms… Ugh, stop it!

I could vividly picture it: if that little demon Xiao Qingqing found out what I’d done to her sister, she’d ship me straight to Thailand for surgery—no hesitation.

Once my face cooled and heartbeat steadied, I played it cool and headed downstairs.

Ke’er smoothed her hair in the mirror, slipped into white bow-tied slippers, and slipped back into that pure, huggable little loli image.

Could this really be the same girl who’d just played that game with me?

This acting talent… honestly, wasting it would be a crime.

“Let’s go, Sister Xixi!” The bolder-by-the-second girl looped her arm through mine, descending the stairs with deliberate intimacy.

Hmm… I had a sinking feeling she was trying to get me killed. If Xiao Qingqing saw us like this—

“Hmph. You two seem awfully cozy?”

Xiao Qingqing stepped out from the first-floor corner, expression shadowed.

Why did her timing *always* feel like cosmic sabotage?!

I opened my mouth to explain—but Ke’er, flawless and grinning, chirped: “Yep! Sister Xixi is *mine* now~ Big sister, you can step back!”

KE’ER!!!! I’M DEAD!!!

Xiao Qingqing’s gaze lingered on us—soft, ambiguous—before she shrugged. “Junior Xixi… didn’t know you were so good with kids.”

Her tone was ice.

“I…”

“Super skilled! Right, Sister Xixi?” Ke’er tightened her grip on my arm, eyes sparkling with mischievous glee.

Immortal Ke’er, *please* spare me!

Bracing for doom, I expected fury. Instead, Xiao Qingqing smiled faintly. “If you two get along, I’m glad. Now come eat.”

…That’s it? So… gentle? Am I dreaming?

“Still spacing out? Come down.”

Phew. She hadn’t noticed. I’d escaped disaster. Correction: *my balls* had narrowly dodged the blade…

At the dining table, my mood dipped.

I’d pictured a mansion-worthy feast—maybe even a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast. Nope. Just supermarket frozen meals.

Frugal? Or did Xiao Qingqing just not care?

Even Ke’er pouted. “Big sister, we have a guest… *this*?”

“Xixi? Honestly, this is the best meal he’s had in months,” Xiao Qingqing said calmly.

…Yeah. Sadly true.

“Alright. Let’s eat.”

Dinner hummed with subtle tension. Xiao Qingqing chatted lightly but kept probing Ke’er about the “tutoring session.”

“Ke’er, be honest—did Xixi do anything… strange?”

“Strange? Nope~” The loli blinked with angelic innocence.

Thank goodness for Ke’er’s flawless acting. In her version, I was the model tutor: diligent, responsible, utterly professional. Without firsthand memory, I’d have believed her.

KE’ER! YOU’RE MY SAVIOR!